Outdoor Leadership activity: Mountain Biking

Mountain biking takes us off the beaten path and onto the tracks and trails, with options for everyone from beginner bikers through to advanced thrillseekers.

These electives are for people working in mountain biking, who wish to grow their skills in leading this activity. They were developed jointly with the New Zealand Professional MTB Association and the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors' Association.

Before you start

To enrol in these programmes, you need to be working in outdoor recreation, in a paid job, self-employed, or as a volunteer with regular and consistent shifts.

If you don't have a role lined up, contact us to talk about how we can help.

What's involved?

The mountain biking elective is available at Level 4, Level 5 (Guiding) and Level 5 (Instruction). 

You'll be trained, observed and assessed in the workplace, and some or all of your assessments will be completed online. 

You will complete a Fundamentals module, in addition to the mountain biking elective. Once you've completed Fundamentals at each level, you can add further electives without having to repeat it. 

The evidence required at each level is outlined below:

Level 4 graduates will be able to plan, prepare, lead and evaluate mountain bike activities in 'front country' terrain on Grade 2 trails.

  • At least two hours' personal riding on MTBNZ Grade 3 trails
  • At least 30 hours' riding on Grade 3 trails.

Level 5 (Guiding) graduates will be able to plan, prepare, guide and evaluate mountain bike activities on Grade 4 trails, including in 'back country' terrain.

  • Personal riding on trails up to Grade 4 as well as trails that are at least five hours long
  • At least 30 hours' riding on trails at Grade 3, and 30 hours' riding on trails at Grade 4, including a minimum of 40 hours as leader and 20 hours of guiding 
  • Guiding experience can be as an assistant guide or co-guide.

Level 5 (Instruction) graduates will be able to instruct participants in the mountain biking skills required for a positive experience on trails up to Grade 4.

  • Personal riding on trails up to Grade 4 as well as trails that are at least five hours long
  • At least 30 hours' riding on trails at Grade 3, and 30 hours' riding on trails at Grade 4, including a minimum of 40 hours as leader and 20 hours of instructing
  • Instructing experience can be as an assistant instructor or co-instructor.

Did you know...

Once you've achieved your Outdoor Leadership certificate, you will be registered with the New Zealand Register of Recreation Professionals. You can keep your registration current by re-registering every three years.

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