About Us

As a non-profit organization and Cycling BC affiliated club, our goal is to provide more opportunities for kids of all income levels to get on bikes. The goal is to have fun on bikes in a safe and supportive learning environment, and to help riders develop bike skills that also translate into powerful life skills of resilience and teamwork. Youth will feel empowered to explore and grow into lifelong leaders, in a space where everyone’s opinion matters and is valued. The vision is to provide a platform for community to come together, have fun, and support each other, all centred around the amazing sport of mountain biking in the village of Cumberland, B.C. Our club instructors are passionate about mountain biking and helping the youth of the community explore and develop their bike skills.

Mission:

To provide fun, exciting and educational experiences for youth. We aim to get more kids of all backgrounds and ethnicities in nature, building skills, confidence and fitness to help them push the boundaries of what they thought they were capable of. Collaboration and encouragement as well as individual success is important to us. Our mission is also to bring the community together and collaborate via this positive club platform. Membership fees will cover operating costs, and will help create scholarships for youth to access our programs.

Vision:

Be change makers in the bike industry! Our vision is to level the playing field for more kids to get on bikes. To see the community rally together to support all demographics and provide avenues of play while developing skills for all kids.

Values:

Fun, safety, skill development, inclusion, performance, community

Programs

Our NCCP and PMBIA certified coaches will facilitate rider focused, skill based programs with individual feedback so you know exactly what you need to work on to improve your riding game. During our Cycling BC affiliated club rides we will explore many of the amazing trails in the Cumberland network, and progress your skills through group and individual feedback. Improve your fitness and hill climbing skills, and feel more confident smoothly descending technical trails. Rides will always involve 3 key elements: safety, fun and learning.

**Must currently hold an annual Cycling BC membership to ride, as this covers the rider under the club insurance. https://cyclingbc.net/membership/registration/

Our groups operate with a 6:1 rider to coach ratio.

Coaches

Justin Wolfe

Justin received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport & Fitness Leadership from Camosun College where he focused on outdoor leadership, health promotion, and strength & conditioning. He is a certified Exercise Physiologist and Strength Coach, and holds coaching certifications from PMBIA and NCCP. Blending his secondary education with a love of mountain biking has enabled Justin to pursue the opportunity to work with youth cyclists from age 5-18, from the beginner to elite level.

Over the past 10 years Justin has been coaching mountain biking all over Vancouver Island and is passionate about helping riders become more confident on the bike, whether this be for the first time or preparing for a race. His patience, communication skills, and undeniable enthusiasm for the sport make him an incredibly versatile coach to work with. Justin believes that mountain biking is not only good for the body but helps a person grow and develop confidence in all aspects of life, blending together mental and physical fitness.

When Justin isn’t mountain biking looking for techy chutes to send, you can find him trail running, hiking or camping all over the Comox Valley. You may also find him in the kitchen cooking up deliciously healthy riding fuel.

PMBIA Mountain Bike Instructor
NCCP Cycling
CSEP – Certified Exercise Physiologist
NSCA – Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Brett Whitehead

Brett grew up in Nanaimo and started mountain biking as a teenager in the 90s. He moved to the lower mainland in 1998 for university and cut his teeth riding woefully inadequate hard tails on the fabled North Shore. As bike technology progressed, so did his love for riding. Brett relocated back to the island and loves calling the Comox Valley home.

An NCCP & PMBIA certified cycling coach, Brett has a passion for helping others succeed. He has coached kids across multiple sports including swimming, waterpolo, soccer, cyclocross, and now mountain biking. Whether mountain biking, gravel, road, or cyclocross, Brett is happiest when out on the bike. Sharing the stoke of riding bikes, Brett hopes to help others refine their skills and improve their enjoyment of the ride.

PMBIA Mountain Bike Instructor
NCCP Cycling

Victoria Leeson

Victoria is NCCP trained, PMBIA certified and has her Wilderness FA. She is driven by her connection to nature, and her passion for helping others discover their own abilities both on and off the bike.

Victoria grew up on a farm in New Zealand and moved to the mountains of Canada in her twenties to ski. When the ski season ended in the mountains, naturally it was time to master another sport–MTB. It wasn’t long until she was shredding all over the BC interior and Alberta. The Island is home these days, and Victoria’s adventures continue. Usually, she’s out riding with friends, or mentoring some new riders.

PMBIA Mountain Bike Instructor
NCCP Cycling