Sample Mountain Bike Program

Bronze Practice

Location: Copland Tops Sate Conservation Area
Program: The program duration is two days and one night; focussing on skills development.

In preparation for the qualification journey, students will be coached in key outdoor expedition skills as well as skills specific to Mountain Biking. This program is based at “The Steps”, BOAC’s riverside outdoor education playground; a purpose built onsite single track network is a perfect location for our Instructors to begin coaching good biking technique and skills.

This skills development is further reinforced with additional rides through our extensive trails, dropping from the Copeland Tops Conservation Area into the “The Steps” riverside base camp. Expect to be challenged and rewarded, encountering a rich variety of forest types including; Riparian, Wet and Dry Rainforest, and Open Woodlands.

Bronze Test

Location: Dharug National Park
Program: This program is two days and one night in duration and allows participants to test the skills developed through their training expedition. Riding challenging and intriguing trails through this rugged sandstone landscape on the northern banks of the Upper Hawkesbury River.

Only 55km from the centre of Sydney the Dharug National Park, is rich with native flora and fauna, with over 700 plant communities recorded in the park,  participants can expect to encounter open forest, dry rainforest, scrub, heath, reedland and mangroves. Dharug NP is also steeped in history with Aboriginal and Colonial sites of significance found throughout.

Silver Practice

Location: Copeland Tops Conservation Area and Kiwarrak State Park
Program: This program is three days and two nights in duration; it is run out of “The Steps” Copeland Tops Conservation Area and Kiwarrak State Park base camps, and is again heavily focussed around Mountain Biking Skills development. Utilising the extensive single track networks offered at these purpose built venues.

Participants can expect to have a great time as their bike handling skills develop rapidly. Further skills out of the saddle are also targeted in bike maintenance and bush bike mechanic workshops, as well as reinforcing participants growing competence of outdoor living skills.

Silver Test

Location: Watagans National Park
Program: This program is three days and two nights in duration; it is designed to allow progression with participants testing skills developed in the previous expeditions. The program incorporates both Trial and World Class Single Track riding, passing through a gorgeous and historic environment. The Watagan Mountains, located just 90 minutes north of Sydney are rich with spiritual significance, as well as home to many threatened species. Occupation of Aboriginal people across this area is evident by the extensive range of engraving sites, shelters and art sites.

Gold Practice

Location: Jilliby State Conservation Area, Ourimbah State Forrest and Watagans National Park.
Program: Designed as an extension of skills developed in previous programs, this program looks to develop further skills in the saddle as well as physical and mental endurance. The program is four days and three nights in duration and will follow an expedition format. Participants will encounter some familiar, as well as some new trails which include extensive world class single track.

Gold Test

Location: Barrington Tops National Park, Copeland Tops State Recreation
Program: Designed to challenge and reward participants with extensive and flowing use of the skills developed throughout the award. Four days and three nights in duration this program allows participants to ride out of the mountains of the world heritage listed Barrington Tops, over the Copeland Tops Conservation Area and down again to revitalise in the pristine waters of the Barrington River.
The Barrington Tops National Park is full of contrasts. Carved out of an ancient volcano, it rises from near sea level to over 1500m. In the lower valleys, you'll find World Heritage-listed subtropical rainforests. Up on the plateau, there is subalpine woodland which regularly sees snow in winter. Most of the area is declared wilderness, and it's a well respected destination for bushwalkers with an excellent network of tracks. The park's varied environments are home to a wide range of plants and animals, and it protects more than 50 rare or threatened species. In this area, many northern and southern plants meet the limit of their range.

OR

Location: Engadine Switzerland
Program: This program is highly prestigious and unique; each program is crafted to suit individual group requirements, as well as achieving the requirements outlined in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Imagine riding through the Northern European Alps where Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are a stone’s throw from each other. Riding single track from the exclusive Winter Olympic town of Saint Moritz to the Austrian/ Italian Border; passing through Switzerland remote and renowned eastern corner and Switzerland’s only National Park. Expect spectacular views, amazing wild flowers, marmots and even perhaps a rare Steinbok mountain goat. Expect to be amazed.