NEYC ADVANCED Skills - 28 - Berm Turns

This video provides guidance on understanding and navigating berm turns while mountain biking, offering specific advice for both riders and coaches. Understanding Berm Turns Definition: Berms are built-up sections of dirt or wood on a trail, positioned at an angle to provide support and traction. Purpose: They allow riders to corner with more confidence and speed than on flat ground by providing an angled surface to push against. Technique for Riding Berms Fundamentals: The approach to berms is largely the same as for flat turns. Riders should: Maintain a low, ready position. Look toward the next point of the trail. Lean the bike in the direction of the turn. Utilize twisting and counterbalancing as needed. Line Choice and Speed: Path placement within the berm should correspond to riding speed: Slow: Stay low in the berm, but avoid loose material at the very bottom. Medium: Position the bike in the middle area of the berm. Fast: Take a higher line up the berm, leaning the body and bike to stay perpendicular to the surface. Guidance for Coaches Skill Development: As trails become more advanced, riders need to be taught how to adjust their path based on varying speeds and potential obstacles like rocks, roots, or holes. Pre-ride, Re-ride, Free-ride: Coaches should encourage this progression to help riders gain confidence and familiarity with the terrain before attempting full speed. Common Errors: Entering too low: If a rider enters too low at high speed, centripetal force may pull them up the berm, potentially causing them to lose control or fly over the top. Entering too slow/high: Riders attempting a high line at slow speeds may be pulled down by gravity, causing them to lose their line. Bonus Tip: Pre-turning: Riders can "pre-turn" by setting up on the inside of the trail before cutting across to the berm, which helps them stick to the turn more securely. This differs from a flat turn, where one would set up on the outside.