“Developing pathways into & through the sport of mountain biking”
Mountain Bike Skills Development
We have over 20 different skills development programs to support riders of all ages, interests and levels of ability.
Race Support
Private Sessions
More Programs and Resources
Head for the Hills supports riders in many ways. Check out our guide on where to ride in Adelaide, upcoming special events and information for schools interested in mountain biking for students.
Head for the Hills!
Head for the Hills exists to develop pathways into and through the sport of mountain biking.
We run a diverse range mountain bike coaching programs, skills training, lessons and activities in Adelaide, South Australia. From programs to help people experience their first ride off the beaten track through to delivering coaching for athletes in competition at the national level. We have programs specifically designed to support women as well as programs for schools who offer more than just the main stream sports.
Adelaide has arguably the most accessible mountain biking trail network in the world and we are here to help you make the most of it!
Meet our Head Coach
“I grew up riding bikes and started racing mountain bikes in 2007. There was a distinct lack of development opportunities in the sport, so we made it our mission to support mountain bikers of all levels and enhance development pathways in South Australia.”
Tyson Schmidt
All of our coaches are qualified and accredited through AusCycling. They are experienced, friendly and passionate mountain bikers who are dedicated to helping others discover the sport.
Meet Our CoachesReviews
Jess Tamblyn
2023-07-19T12:05:12+0000
My son has now had multiple positive experiences in a range of different Mountain Biking activities at various locations. We will continue to come back for more!! Staff are fantastic and all actives are well organised.
Patrik Seibert
2023-04-22T06:35:20+0000
My son and daughter recently completed intermediate holiday program and really enjoy Tyson's teaching. They had been back to Shephard Hill twice since to practice newly learned skills.
Julia Ellis
2023-04-10T02:59:59+0000
It’s good to know your basics! I’ve recently completed the Base MTB Skills Program and learned so much about balancing, body position, braking and cornering. It’s not rocket science but unless somebody teaches you the... basics, you don’t really know what you are doing. This has helped me tremendously and I can’t wait to practice everything I have learned.read more
Selina Wallace
2023-03-16T04:53:33+0000
I recently completed the womens basic course over 3 Sundays and I can highly recommend it. Taliah broke down the techniques into clearly understandable language and was very supportive throughout. I was often outside my... comfort zone and felt like I had big wins in terms of my learning. I'm pleased to now have more confidence to tackle the trails at Craigburn and beyond.
Thanks Taliah and Tyson!read more
Amanda Bailey
2022-05-01T09:17:48+0000
Great club for kids to learn mountain bike riding and just have other kids to ride with.
Hannah Geelan
2022-02-01T06:56:53+0000
I've been looking forward to doing a course of Tyson's for a few months now, following many recommendations of other mtb riders!
I finally had my opportunity over the weekend, completing the Basic Skills course and it... certainly lived up to the hype!
Tyson was so friendly, engaging, non-judgemental and a wonderful teacher.
I've already practiced what I learned at the course and have already made big in-roads and made it around corners I've recently found difficult.
I'll be back for more courses, thank you Tyson!read more
Kate Smith
2021-09-23T12:48:39+0000
My daughter has started mountain biking with Talia and is absolutely loving it! Has learnt so many skills and techniques and has gained confidence with riding trails, jumps and different weather conditions. She looks... forward to every lesson and can’t wait to go again next term. Highly recommend the After School Skills for Girls course!!read more
Frank Nicholson
2021-05-01T09:43:39+0000
Spent a fun day with Tyson providing insight into how to approach & execute drops and jumps at Craigburn Farm.
Tyson clearly discussed the theory of how to approach features, what you are aiming to execute and why it... works. He also took us back to basics as the foundation “steps” for good drops & jumps. It reminded me I need to practice more!
This was followed by practical sessions on trail features giving immediate feedback and using slow-no video of riders on features to discuss individuals technique and ways to improve.
Tyson is very approachable, with a good sense of humour and a knowledge of the subject he is teaching.
I recommend his approach to people wanting to improve their mtb skills.read more
Vicki Fielder
2021-04-25T09:41:56+0000
My son had a amazing time at the school holiday session. I found the instructor to be very professional, easy to talk to & knowledgable.
I would highly recommend the programs to anyone who is getting into mountain... biking.read more
Heather Spinelli
2021-04-14T01:54:11+0000
Quotes from 12-13yo boys
5 star!!
Exciting, fun, exhilarating
Looking forward to next time
Great for your fitness too
Emma Drew
2021-04-12T11:32:27+0000
Thank you Tyson and Taliah, really enjoyed the Base skills course. Had so much fun and gained some great skills. Plenty for me to work on. Love to see more videos as well.
Susanna Parkinson
2021-04-09T21:25:35+0000
Our 10 year son Banjo old joined the after school sessions this term and absolutely loved it. Tyson is super friendly, approachable, passionate about what he does and clearly an excellent instructor. Thanks guys, we’ll... be back for more! Susannaread more
Tania Marshall-Bates
2021-01-23T04:43:42+0000
My 12 year old son has done the beginner and intermediate programs with Tyson and has absolutely loved it. Great way to learn and improve mountain biking skills. Highly recommend 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Kate Mitchell
2020-12-21T12:23:16+0000
Great intermediate session for my 12 year old. He had a great time and leaned a lot.
Missy Smiley
2020-08-11T01:53:33+0000
I can count on one hand the number of times I've ridden a bike in the last 5 years and it's safe to say I was nervous ahead of a beginners ride. Well, I had a bloody ball!! Tyson was great and incredibly helpful. He... encouraged us to get outside of our comfort zone and it was so rewarding :)read more
Emily Semple
2020-08-11T01:41:06+0000
I recently went out on a beginners ride with Tyson and I was completely outside of my comfort zone. Tyson was nothing but encouraging and incredibly positive making for an awesome day!!
Simone Pfitzner
2020-07-21T04:17:22+0000
Tyson was amazing and so enthusiastic. My son loved the school holiday Geocache Adventure. Highly recommend. He has just signed up to do the After School Skills and can’t wait.
Michael Eastaff
2020-07-21T03:55:34+0000
Took my son out for a Geocache which we both enjoyed. Tyson is awesome. I suspect we'll be back for some skills training in the future. Highly recommended.
Mark van Gorp
2020-06-26T22:38:10+0000
After School MTB Skills for Term 2 just completed and my son thoroughly enjoyed the program and the coaching. Thanks Tyson and Griff you run a great event.
Jordana Mullan
2020-05-27T23:40:57+0000
“I got in touch with Tyson because I’m an ok rider but felt like everyone was improving but I wasn’t. What I learned in just two lessons helped take more than 30 seconds off my Grom Flow time! His teaching style is so... relaxed - you can’t help but feel you’re just out for a ride with a mate. Thanks Tyson! Next - a Top 10 Strava trophy!” ~ Jordana Blackman, Chief Chick, Chicks Who Ride Bikesread more
Susie Green
2020-05-17T23:21:10+0000
I've just finished some intermediate skills sessions and got so much out of them - great to get the fundamental skills in place and am now tackling trails with confidence that I would have struggled over before. Tyson's... got a great style of theory mixed with practical with plenty of encouragement thrown in and we had a great group of women as well. My young lad is now doing after school sessions and loving them as well. Highly recommend!read more
Linda Gray
2020-01-23T04:58:24+0000
Tyson is terrific! My son has been out on a couple of all day rides and has absolutely loved it. Thoroughly recommend Head for the Hills Cycling.
Zoe Norris
2019-12-01T10:19:12+0000
Highly recommend! I did the intermediate women’s group and learnt so much. Now tackling techy stuff with heaps more knowledge and confidence instead of just winging it! Tyson is a great coach. Also met an awesome bunch... of women and we have continued to ride together which is super sweet.read more
Laura Prosser
2019-11-18T00:09:25+0000
Tyson is a top down to earth bloke for teaching mtb skills and dialling things in 😁 The courses are great for getting out on the trails and also meeting other chicks - I had heaps of fun while also facing my personal... fears and gaining confidence along the way. Lots of laughs and fun to be had, def worth giving one of the courses a goread more
Clare Knox
2019-11-13T11:31:56+0000
This was a great course. Excellent introduction to mountain bike riding. Small all women group.
Tyson is super enthusiastic and a very good teacher.
Thoroughly recommend for giving you confidence and some basic... techniques.read more
Yve Cole
2019-11-13T07:18:29+0000
Thanks Tyson for sharing your skills and knowledge. I faced a fear (drop offs), a ghost (jumps), tackled sections I would normally avoid and I can now turn right!!🤪 I am riding smoother, faster and with more confidence.... Got so much out of the sessions and met an awesome group of women too!read more
Josh Axford
2019-07-18T08:07:57+0000
Thanks Tyson, Bradley has had the best time!!!
Julie Quigley
2019-03-19T02:20:02+0000
Thanks Tyson for the fun and informative sessions! The boys have loved them.
Tom Baker
2018-11-26T09:09:33+0000
Did the intermediate session with Tyson. Highly recommend. Good mix of theory and practical with all the main skills covered. Well worth the $$.
Matt Brown
2018-11-26T06:53:00+0000
I've been riding MTB for a number of years, and last weekend did the intermediate course with Tyson. From the course I've been able focus on improving on my riding techniques and pick up new skills and confidence, now... knowing what to focus on the trails, particularly when approaching berms, drop offs and jumps. It was great to have things explained properly, the theory behind the physics, and run through practise sessions and fine tune areas which needed improvement and how to apply those for future rides. Especially for those who want to actively improve on their rides, rather than doing the same things on the trails.read more
Libby Matson
2018-10-10T20:03:16+0000
My son had a great camp with Tyson and the boys at fox during the school break.
Dylan Draper
2018-10-08T11:28:29+0000
This was an awesome camp, coach was amazing and the food is great, we did have a ride being Tom matson but other than that this was great.
Corey Ackerman
2018-10-08T11:27:58+0000
Alexandra Holland
2018-07-22T02:51:48+0000
The experience was great fun and I would definitely do it again. Louis K
Carrie Parton
2018-06-14T01:01:01+0000
I have just completed the women's intermediate coaching. Tyson provided really good opportunities for practice, discussion and feedback. I always left a session with something new to think about. I can now ride trails I... never dreamed I would be able to. Simply: more trails are more rideable and more enjoyable. Thanks Tysonread more
Catie Cullen
2018-05-03T07:11:38+0000
My son and his friends had a fabulous time learning MTB skills and geocaching with Tyson during the school holidays up at Craigburn Farm. My son begged to take me up there two days later so he could show me the tracks... and get back on them himself. He taught me all the things he'd learnt two days before from Tyson and he can't wait to get back out on the tracks again. My son would love to have more lessons from Tyson, for sure!read more
Huxley Lawler
2018-04-23T05:58:08+0000
Tyson is a great coach and top bloke to boot! Perfect balance of theory, science and practical riding. I saw immediate benefits and the following day I was dropping off 1m high walls with confidence. The best bike... upgrade ever - no bike can make up for shortfalls in skill!
Willread more
Will Chapman
2018-04-09T07:38:04+0000
My daughter absolutely loved the school program with Tyson and is so much more confident on her MTB hitting trails. Great experience!
Neale Sutton
2018-04-09T05:19:17+0000
My son is part of the downhill riding coaching course at Scotch College Adelaide run by Tyson Schmidt of Head for the Hills Off Road Cycling. I have been extremely impressed with his professionalism, knowledge and... course delivery, he has managed a group of young people with friendliness and firmness. I highly recommend Tyson for any future course instruction and I know my lad is looking forward to the term three 2018 downhill course.read more
Cara Miller
2018-04-09T05:07:01+0000
Thank you Tyson for your brilliance in building my boys confidence and skills on their bikes. They are now constantly wanting to get into the park and ride around all weekend. This level of independence seemed so far... off just a couple of weeks ago, now they are enjoying the outdoors so much more and having fun at the same time! Now for the next tier of training ;)read more
Corey Kemp
2018-02-28T11:18:08+0000
I had a great 1st intro to Fox Creek with Tyson and 4 other 'trainees' last weekend at the intermediate training day. Got to say I'm a fan and can't wait to get back and sample more of what Fox has to offer. Especially... now I've gained the extra confidence hitting the trails with a more technical mindset and a few more tools to utilise.
Tyson comes across as a very passionate and knowledgeable guy when it comes to MTB and his honest approach to coaching made it a pleasure to listen to his anecdotal training style - he was always on task and on topic. I felt like each participant got all the attention they needed/wanted and it seemed we all got out of the day more than what was expected. We sessioned hard, and it was rewarding.
I'll probably be back for the advanced course in due time and would highly recommend the intermediate course to anyone wanting to improve upon their current abilities - there's always something more we can learn.read more
Cos Fragnito
2018-02-13T12:18:51+0000
Thanks Tyson for an informative, professional & action packed Intermediate MTB coaching session. Since taking the session I have actually enjoyed my riding a lot more simply by implementing the skills you taught me. For... example I would normally hit berms at full speed, take a bad line into the 2nd berm (or nearly off trail completely) and end up with a slow exit, but now my approach is more conservative, smooth & faster overall. Feeling the need to get airtime on every jump (although fun) but now realising the pump technique is actually just as rewarding. I have more confidence on flat sketchy corners & mid-sized drop-offs. Its amazing how a bit of fine tuning can make such a big difference. Thanks and hope to see you on the trail soon.read more
Pascale Johnstone
2018-01-20T23:25:34+0000
Thank you Tyson. My son Zac had a ball, riding the Craigburn Farm tracks with you this summer holiday. He might well be back! The boys even learned to change a tyre tube and lots of handy tips. :-)
Ben Stote
2017-11-18T05:44:44+0000
Bernadette Lawson
2017-10-13T09:30:56+0000
Highly recommended. If you love MTB riding and lack confidence tackling the trails this is for you. Learning skills with like minded ladies. No better way to spend 2hrs on a weekend
Rachelle Cartwright
2017-04-21T13:55:36+0000
Thank you Tyson for putting on the clinic 20th April. My kids and their friend thoroughly enjoyed and are keen for more! Not even all that rain have put them off - so glad you went ahead with it. Your video is super... impressive as well. Great value for money. Many thanks and look forward to seeing you again :)read more
Ben Kennedy
2016-10-02T04:53:45+0000
I can highly recommend Head for the Hills Cycling and its head coach Tyson. If you're looking for a way to improve technique and get faster on the decents and more efficient on the climbs all I can suggest is to get in... touch!
Tyson spent a morning with me working on cornering and weight transfer. The coaching was completely tailored and highly effective. I now feel more confident through the turns and know that my runs are now much faster.read more
Ann McColl
2016-09-12T08:31:03+0000
Thanks Tyson & Kenny, Angus really enjoyed yesterday's session, and is pumped for this coming weekend!
Cath Pfeiffer-Smith
2016-09-10T06:16:45+0000
Highly recommend Tyson! Being a very inexperienced rider I was very nervous but he took things step by step with patience & encouragement to have me riding through terrain I thought was impossible. Thank you & look... forward to another session soon! Cathread more
Melanie Spurling
2016-08-22T02:37:51+0000
Tyson put on a great tailored training session for a bunch of us lady mountain bikers, it was great morning and good chance to learn and practice some really handy trail skills.
SueAnn Woodwiss
2016-08-21T10:38:01+0000
Tyson was friendly, approachable, encouraging and knows his stuff. Everything you need in a great coach
Hollie Carroll
2016-08-16T08:24:28+0000
Melissa Kennedy
2016-07-10T03:24:47+0000
Had a great time! Thanks to Tyson for his encouragement and patience! I conquered some stuff i probably wouldn't have tried on my own! Such great teaching! Im looking forward to the next one! Thanks again!
Graeme Naismith
2016-05-07T12:19:39+0000
Today I was fortunate be under the guidance of Tyson, instructor for Head for the Hills. He came to my 'home turf' at Cobblers Creek and with his expert tuition I was able to nail a couple of obstacles that were that... were stopping me from riding two of the trails. I can't tell you how happy I am now that I can enjoy so much more of Cobblers, and that I can take these newly acquired skills to places like Fox Creek and Melrose and feel confident that I can pretty much anything I choose to.read more
Michelle Rice-Murphy
2016-05-01T23:47:44+0000
Awesome day by the boys - 19km wow! Thanks Tyson you totally tuckered them out!
Archie Barker
2016-03-24T11:07:55+0000
The session was awesome. And one of the best coaches I have ever met
(And some good push ups haha)
Rob Barker
2016-03-23T12:21:26+0000
What a great session.
Thanks guys, Archie had a great time.
As a parent watching from the sidelines you guys clearly have the coaching skills and certainly know your DH.
Thanks again fellas✌️
Penny Day
2016-03-21T22:58:58+0000
Thanks Tyson and Kenny - had a great morning developing some new good riding habbits that after a bit of pracitce hopefully will improve my riding. Hope to join you for another all girls skills clinic some time soon -... was well paced, confidence building and most of all fun!read more
Justin de Jong
2016-03-21T22:50:22+0000
The downhill coaching was great learnt a lot cheers Tyson and Kenny top ladz!
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like further information, use this form to contact us.
We will do our best to respond to your message as soon as we can.
Head for the Hills Off Road Cycling
72 Corconda Street
Clearview, South Australia
5085
| P: | 0402 697 398 |
|---|---|
| E: | info@headforthehills.net.au |
| W: | headforthehills.net.au |
Help
Head for the Hills offers many programs to riders with a wide range of interests and abilities. We categorise our programs using particular terms that are outlined below.
Interest - Why do you ride your bike?
| Recreation (Rec): | I ride for fun and/or fitness. |
|---|---|
| Competition (Comp): | I race, want to race or simply like to push myself on the bike. |
| High Performance (HP): | I want be the best racer I can be and will sacrifice nearly anything to achieve my goals. |
Ability - What do you know how to do?
| Basic: | I know nothing. I can ride confidently on two wheels but that is about it. |
|---|---|
| Beginner (Beg): | I have a little bit of experience riding off road, but not much. I can use my gears & brakes and ride on trails about 1 meter wide so long as they are relatively smooth. |
| Intermediate (Int): | I ride trails fairly regularly and feel confident at least some of the time. I can go a little bit fast, but usually only when the trail is fairly straight and smooth. I don't do jumps or drop-offs. |
| Advanced (Adv): | I am quite confident in my abilities and ride rough trails regularly. I can do (or nearly do) small jumps and drop-offs. |
| Expert (Exp): | I am very confident in my abilities and ride extremely rough & technical trails regularly. I can do large jumps and drop-offs safely. |
Discipline - What style of mountain biking does the program focus on?
| General: | General mountain biking skills that can be used in all disciplines. |
|---|---|
| Gravity: | Skills to help you descend hills with more control. |
| Trail: | Skills for riding up & down hills over longer distances. |
| Cyclocross (CX): | Skills for Cyclocross Competitions. |
| Cross Country (XC): | Skills for Cross Country Competitions. |
| Gravity Enduro (GE): | Skills for Gravity Enduro Competitions. |
| Dowhnill (DH): | Skills for Downhill Competitions. |
If you are still unsure if a program is right for you, feel free to contact us.
Head for the Hills Off Road Cycling
72 Corconda Street
Clearview, South Australia
5085
| P: | 0402 697 398 |
|---|---|
| E: | info@headforthehills.net.au |
| W: | headforthehills.net.au |
