Skills success at the SCOTT Contessa Mission WOW Weekend

SCOTT UK and Mission WOW came together in 2011 with a meeting of minds; we wanted to offer more choice for women who are keen to get out and ride the trails, meet other likeminded female riders and who want to use high quality kit and be taught by the best to help them get better, no matter where they are in the sport.

 

Held over the weekend of the 28th and 29th of April, with the sunshine out and the trails dry, a group of 33 women met to ride together for the weekend and learn everything from manuals to bunny hops and table tops!

 

Based at the Glentress Hotel for the duration, the camp began with a lovely meal and a bike maintenance session by SCOTT UK’s trusted team of workshop mechanics. Primed about the vitals to save you from a puncture or a chain break, the night was a social one, with everyone getting to know each other.

Yoga was the first action of the day, as Four Cross rider Neven Steinmetz led the session to get the girls flexed and ready for the full day on the trails. Then it was breakfast and ready for riding…

Once at the top carpark, bikes were assigned, set up and goodie bags given out, then it was off to meet the Dirt School team for a brief of the day’s coaching.

 

Split into 2 groups, the guys started with teaching manuals, getting the girls to shift their weight efficiently on the bike and push themselves to lift the front and rear wheels. Easier to watch than do! Everyone got stuck in and the smiles reflected the feeling of reward from getting air.

Later sessions were split by abilities, but everyone was given the chance to practice drop-offs and put those manuals into context. A trip to the skills park saw plenty air action and the inner trickster coming out…

 

Lunch gave everyone the chance to reflect on the morning session, then use the afternoon to hit the plethora of trails on offer, some choosing to head to the hills of Spooky Wood, others looking for a more mellow blue trail option to hone their new founds skillset.

 

Riding with the Dirt School guys in an encouraging group allowed many riders to face trails they might never had tackled on their own – the swooping burms of aptly named “Burm Baby Burm” was a perfect finish back to the car park. Those that wanted to then rode to the bottom and back to the hotel for the next installment; the charity raffle and a chance to have a well-earned drink to celebrate.

 

Sunday was an open SCOTT bike demo for those that wanted to test out the SCOTT bikes and ride the trail with fresh legs. SCOTT UK Contessa Team riders Nick Hughes and Gabby Day were there to ride with and we set off for a team pedal round the woods with those testing bikes. The team at Dirt Magazine joined us and gave the girls a great chance to test some other bikes too; carbon v alloy and hard tail v full suss.

 

The day ended with a lunch at the Glentress Peel Café, with some time to reflect and make plans for the next GT trip! Some had travelled as far as Bristol to join us too and were looking forward to another trip north to ride the trails again!

 

Thanks to Dirt School for their tuition, good humour and fun teaching style, Jo Guest and Neven Steinmetz as our organizer and yoga expert and the Glentress Hotel for a good feed and comfortable, friendly stay.