Summer Camps 2024

Welcome to Summer 2024 with CLTMTB Camp! This will be our 7th year of camps AND our first year operating under our new name: WHITETAIL MTB! We could not be more excited. We promise that if they are excited about camp and ready to try their hardest, we will totally transform their abilities on a mountain bike. Quite often, parents can no longer keep up with their young rider on the trail after a week or two at our camp. So the big question is… are YOU ready for that? : )

Please review the extensive information below with your rider. THANKS AGAIN! We look forward to meeting you all.

DROPOFF/PICKUP

Each session of camp runs Monday through Friday. Our camp day runs from 9:30am until 3:30pm every day. DropOff is from 9-9:30am and PickUp is from 3:30-4pm. To give us time to get things set up and ready for you in the morning, PLEASE do not drop off your rider before 9am and PLEASE pick them up by/before 4pm.

Every day, Coach Shawn will meet you in the parking lot starting at 9am to check your rider in. Please make sure you see/talk to Coach Shawn every day of camp to check your rider in with him. At the end of the day, your rider should let Coach Shawn know when you arrive and tell him they are leaving, so he can check them out.

SAFETY

At CLT MTB CAMPS, our top priority is the safety of our young riders. We focus a good bit of time each session making sure that our riders stay safe. This includes encouraging them to not take big risks on the trail, staying on the trail at all times while riding, and staying on the lookout for hazards that could cause injury. Additionally, CLT MTB riders will be asked to choose a partner they stick with on the trail, never be alone anywhere at the park, always be close to a CLT MTB staff member, and we will always be in constant contact with each other on the trail using GMRS Walkie-Talkies with a Leader and Sweep (the last in line) for every group.

SUN SCREEN

Please apply sunscreen before leaving the house. We will spray Equate Kids Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF50 (that we provide) after lunch every day. Riders will be in charge of “rubbing it in" and applying it to their own lower face using their hands. We do not spray the face.

POISON IVY

Tall socks can do wonders to protect ankles and lower legs from poison ivy! We also highly recommend washing all exposed skin every night thoroughly with TECHNU! One of our first lessons is how to spot poison ivy and how to best avoid it. Your young rider will become a poison Ivy Expert! However, mistakes happen and poison ivy is everywhere…

BUGS

Bug Spray is highly recommended and should be applied before your rider arrives. Permethrin on clothes is best. You can find it at REI. I have never followed the directions on the bottle which says you should saturate clothing with it (I never put it on my dog either) but I find that several “sprays” per clothing item on my adult sized shirts, shorts, and socks every three or 4 washings does wonders. Applying bug spray to the skin is left up to families - We will not be applying bug spray or supplying it to anyone. There are bugs, mosquitos, ticks and chiggers in the woods. Please do something for your rider to make sure they do not become a snack.

DIRECTIONS

All riders must know LEFT from RIGHT. Please work on this with your child - this is a safety issue. It is important that instructors can use “Left” and “Right” in instruction and guiding trail rides and the rider immediately understands. Please test them - say “Raise your left hand” and if they stop to think about it - work on it with them. If a ride leader or instructor says “stay on the left side of the trail” and they go right, it may be unsafe and cause injury.

GEAR

*Each rider should bring a duffle bag or backpack with everything listed other than what is specified to go into their hydration pack. Hydration packs should include: enough water for 1 hour, appropriately-sized tube (buy more than one, but only send one with them to camp), tire levers, patch kit, and snack/bars. Please send lunches in lunch bags with ice packs, NOT coolers — we have giant IGLOO coolers that keep everything cool. A simple lunch bag/lunchbox they take to school is totally sufficient. Snacks / Bars should be very easy to transport in their hydration pack.

BICYCLE

Bicycles must have 24” wheels or larger and each rider’s bicycle must fit properly. If a rider cannot stand and straddle the top tube comfortably (without being in direct contact with/sitting on the top tube) then, the bike is far too big and therefore unsafe to ride. Riding a bike that is too big for the rider is NOT an advantage - it is a serious disadvantage and will hold them back and keep them from being able to learn and execute proper technique to learn the skills we teach at CLTMTB. Riding a bike that is a little small for them is MUCH better than riding a bike that is too big.

All bicycles MUST BE clean and in proper working order. Please! This includes: functional brakes front AND rear, smooth shifting, does not regularly drop the chain, does not squeak and clunk (loose hubs), does not have bald tires, has been tuned up recently by a qualified mechanic, and is clean. If you show up to drop off your rider and their bike is in poor repair, your rider may not be allowed to participate until their bike is properly repaired.

This video from Park Tool shows a thorough proceedure for cleaning your bike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2sKhSDrugE&ab_channel=ParkTool

Proper working order also includes a clean drive train. It is very unpleasant for instructors to have to help a rider fix their bike (put their chain back on or similar) and the chain is a filthy black greasy mess. Please learn how to and clean and lube your rider’s drive train on their bike so that is nice and clean for the first day of camp. Cheap citrus degreaser, old toothbrushes, and shop rags work great. Chain cleaners work great and I highly recommend getting one for every family BUT they aren’t necessary. There are lots of youtube videos on how to do this and your young rider can probably do it all themselves with supervision.

Ideally, if everyone can take a few minutes to adjust the “reach” of their rider’s brake levers, that will save us a lot of time on Monday. Please give this a try yourself. This video will show you where / how MOST brake levers on youth mountain bikes can be adjusted. https://youtu.be/xwoRZL1Mcos

NO kickstands, please. Remove the kickstand from your rider’s bike if they have one and do not send them to camp on the first day with a kickstand on the bicycle. Kickstands and mountain bikes on trails do not go well together and may end in accident or injury.

HELMET

Please make sure your young rider is wearing a cycling/mountain biking-specific helmet that fits them properly. Helmets should NOT perch high on top of their head, but should fit low across the top of their brow and cover the back of their head. If your rider has been wearing the same helmet for 2 years, it is definitely time to buy a new one. Helmets should not be cracked, gouged or have any damage from a crash or fall. I have found that BELL makes excellent youth helmets. Ideally, the chin strap should have adjustable buckles on either side at the jawbone, as well as the buckle beneath the chin.

NO FULL-FACE HELMETS, please… Yes, full-face helmets look WAY cool and make you feel safe, but they just are not necessary for the kind of riding we do. They are HOT, they make it hard to hear instruction, they obscure view of the chin-strap so instructors can not make sure they are buckled and secure AND they may even give a “false sense of security” and encourage the rider to take unnecessary risks. Similarly, GOGGLES are not needed and are hot and will fog up.

SKATE helmets may look cool, too but they are very hot on your head. Cycling helmets are made with LOTS of large vents to keep the head cool without constantly removing it. We require riders to wear their helmet the whole time we are on our bikes. Think of it as a hat, not a helmet : ) Before you get on your bike, your helmet goes on your head.

PEDALS

Flat/Platform pedals are required. ALL riders, including Staff members are required to ride on flat/platform pedals and regular sneakers or flat pedal-specific shoes. In terms of sneakers to wear, VANS are preferred (the traditional skate shoe VANS with a flat waffle-print sole, not the new running shoe style), 5.10s or other platform pedal-specific shoes work great, but only when paired with pedals that have aggressive steel pins for grip. When paired with stock plastic pedals, they are slippery and offer no traction. Good old VANS work just as well for a third of the price. Ideally, the sole of the shoe should be FLAT to provide maximum contact with the pedal. Running Shoes, Trainers, Hiking Shoes, even some shoes that are marketed as mountain biking shoes are NOT ideal. If in doubt, go with VANS or other Skate shoes.

Quality “Flat” or Platform pedals are preferred over the stock plastic pedals that come with most bikes. Stock plastic pedals are good for greenway rides and test-riding the bike when you purchase it, but should be replaced for mountain biking. These pedals are available in a huge variety of designs and price points. The important thing to consider when shopping for pedals is that they should be at least as big/wide as the shoe that your rider wears, and they should have “pins” or teeth sticking up that effectively engage with the sole of the shoe and help the two “stick” together... while your rider may not be ready for pedals with sharp steel pins, even composite pedals with composite pins/teeth are far better for trail riding than stock plastic pedals. RACEFACE Chesters are by far the most popular. If the steel pins are a bit much for your rider, RaceFace also makes the RIDE pedals which are a great mid-way between stock pedals and CHESTERS.

EYE PROTECTION

Anything between your rider’s precious eyes and: sticks, bugs, debris, is better than nothing. Sunglasses, cycling glasses, safety glasses all work great. Please do NOT send your rider with goggles. These are not good for cross-country riding for hours in the Summer heat. Cheap youth-sized safety glasses can easily be found. Please make sure they fit properly, are comfortable with their helmet, and don’t fall off. The most important thing is fit. If they fall off and require constant adjustment, they are a hazard and doing more harm than good. Eye protection is 100% mandatory on all trail rides. No exceptions.

SHORTS

Kids should be wearing padded bicycle shorts even if they want to wear “baggy” shorts on top of them. This is for safety. They should fit snug so they don’t bunch and rub. These are worn in place of, not on top of underwear. Super-loose, long, hanging basketball shorts or something similar are NOT APPROPRIATE for mountain biking and can constantly get caught on the seat and are actually dangerous. They also can chafe, hold sweat or water and get heavy, etc. Please, do not send your rider to camp in big, baggy shorts or other bulky/baggy clothing. It’s not safe and they may not be permitted to ride until they are dressed appropriately. Aerosport is a decent brand, comes in youth sizes, and available on Amazon for fast delivery. I’ve also seen a pretty extensive selection on Dick’s Sporting Goods website. Also, Troy Lee Designs makes great Youth gear in smaller sizes. Padded shorts are not mandatory but they are highly encouraged.

GLOVES

If a rider falls, 9 times out of 10, the first thing to hit the ground will be their hands. We require that all riders use some kind of gloves that fit them properly. There are many mountain biking specific gloves on the market, but fitting a young rider for gloves can be tricky. Dick’s Sporting Goods has youth batting gloves in many sizes, so you may find some there. Also some Home Depots have synthetic work gloves for youth that work well. Ideally, full-finger gloves are best for mountain biking. Gloves do not need to be thick, or even cushioned. They should simply provide a layer between the hand and grip or ground for extra protection.

PADS

If your child is accident prone or really new to mountain biking and you are worried about them falling on the trail and getting hurt, soft pads would be a great idea. G-Form is a great brand of pad that is soft, thin, and breathable but with squishy padding in the important spots on elbows, forearms, shins, and knees. Pads are not required. At CLTMTB Camp, we focus on teaching riders skills and focus on riding smoothly and under control at all times. Riders who are riding to exceed their skill level will be asked to slow down. Our #1 focus is SAFETY. If you rider has aggressive “teeth” or pins on their pedals, consider shin guards as well.

RAIN

CLT MTB CAMPS will be held rain-or-shine and registration fees will not be refunded due to rain. The park has large parking lot areas where we can work on drills and skills if trails are too wet to ride. Each park venue features covered picnic shelters which will allow us a place to get out of the rain. During rainouts, we will expand the time we cover on: bike maintenance, trailside repairs, off-bike instruction, first aid, calisthenics, and other things related to mountain biking and what mountain bikers do when it rains and you can't ride on the trails. CLT MTB teaches young riders to RESPECT THE TRAIL, so we never, ever ride on wet and muddy trails during trail closures. We always follow/obey the Tarheel Trailblazers trail status.

Bring a rain jacket shell. A thin shell layer is great for rain, wind, and basic protection from the elements. It should be easily packed and stowed in their backpack so they can keep it with them just in case. My adult large shell can fit inside a sandwich bag. Riders should be able to fold and roll their own jacket so it fits inside their pack they wear when riding.

Wear closed-toe water shoes like KEENS or similar on rain days only. CROCS are a slippery mess inside the shoe when they get wet and are not appropriate. NO FLIP-FLOPS. Also bring a change of clothing and a small towel. There may be some days when it rains and we do not cancel our camps on these days. We may hike the trail and explore to see what rain and water does to the trial system so they understand why we do not ride closed trails, and how trail builders plan / find ways around water damage. All riders should dress appropriately and come to camp on rainy days knowing we will not simply sit under the shelter all day.

HYDRATION

ALL riders should have a hydration pack with them containing plenty of WATER at all times. We will have 15 Gallons of cold ice water for refills on hand every day. One water bottle is simply not sufficient for mountain biking in the Summer heat. We may spend over an hour away from our water source, so each rider is required to have a backpack with hydration bladder able to carry their own water that they can access/drink without removing the pack and digging for bottles. These packs should also contain 2 snacks, a rain jacket shell, an appropriately-sized tube to fit their wheel (yes, even if your rider’s wheels are set up tubeless!), tire levers, and a patch kit.

Staff members will not hold anything for riders other than medical supplies if necessary like a back up inhaler or EpiPen. ALSO, each rider should have a reusable cycling/water bottle labeled with their name on it for use during snacks, lunch, break times at home base. Please do NOT send sports drinks, energy drinks, or sodas to camp. We will only drink water at CLTMTB Camp. Hydration packs from OSPREY are superior to CamelBak which are almost impossible for most young riders to open/fill/close by themselves. Ozark Trail hydration packs from Walmart are almost as good as Osprey at a fraction of the price ($25).

NUTRITION

All snacks and lunches sent with your young rider should be healthy and provide them with the nutrition to fuel their body so they can be very active for hours every day. Each rider should arrive every morning having already eaten a well-rounded breakfast, and bring a nutritious lunch in a lunchbox or lunch bag (NO coolers, please) AND two snacks packed inside their hydration pack. Please do not send candy bars or chips for snacks. Empty calories will not serve any purpose for a young rider who is on their bike for 3 - 4/+ hours per day. Please do not send soda, energy drinks, or similar for lunch. There is absolutely nothing better for your young rider to drink at a mountain biking Summer camp than WATER. To make things even better - if the ONLY thing you ever put in your hydration pack is ice and tap water - it will never get gross in there : ) *Promise.

ELECTRONICS/DEVICES

We prefer that no electronic devices including phones, tablets, or games come to camp. If parents insist upon devices coming to camp with a rider, phones will stay inside their pack or wearable GPS device watch is acceptable. Riders will not be allowed to remove their device from their pack except for during lunch. If a wearable device obviously becomes a distraction, it will be removed and placed in the rider’s pack.

THANK YOU!

Thank you for signing up your young rider for CLTMTB Camp. After reading this, if you have questions, please feel free to call, text, or email Coach Shawn with any questions to help you get prepared.

Shawn Gentry, Founder/Director, CLT MTB Camp
704-266-2581 shawn@CLTMTB.com

Questions?

If you have questions or want to discuss anything, please do not hesitate to reach out to Shawn Gentry, Founder and Head Coach of CLTMTB.com He can be reached at 704-266-2581 or by email at shawn@CLTMTB.com