CUSTOMIZED COACHING
LEARN FROM LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Customized Privates, Small Group Packages, Specialty Camps
Investing in your riding will elevate your experience on the trails! These sessions are catered to what you want to learn, your goals and your objectives. Single sessions, multiple lessons to specialty camps, we can create the optimal programming to suit you or your group.
Want to learn how to corner? Build confidence? Ride steep rock rolls? Face challenges? Elevate your riding for competitive purposes? New to mountain biking and looking for a solid foundation?! Our world renowned coaches have you covered.
Working with our professional, experienced coaches is the most efficient way to progress your riding skills. From the foundational basics to fine tuning skills, Strand Training's team offers tailored sessions to meet your individual or group needs. Choose your coach, choose your location, choose your goals!
MEET THE TEAM!
Katrina Strand
Katrina comes from a highly educated and experienced background coaching riders of all levels and abilities since 2002. She spent over a decade racing and riding as a professional mountain bike athlete competing on the international stage at World Cup DH, World Championships DH, EWS and many multi stage events such as the BC Bike Race and Trans-Provence. During this time, she always set aside time to build up other riders and athletes. Katrina is all about collaboration, connection and building strong resilient minds and bodies on and off the bike.
Mike Sousa
Mike has been immersed in the mountain bike industry for over 10 years. More recently, he has leaned into the coaching world and developed a fascination and passion in welcoming others to mountain biking as well as assisting riders to reach their ultimate potential. In working with clients of all abilities, he has successfully coached through hurdles such as potent fears, injury history or phobias all while building essential skills. He often uses breathwork, mindfulness and therapeutic techniques that build trust and commitment. Mike offers a truly competitive coaching experience that is unique and powerful in taking clients to discover extraordinary new abilities!
Laurie Citynski
Laurie was born and raised in East Vancouver and grew up playing multiple team sports. In 2011 after damaging her knees playing soccer, she turned to cycling for rehab. The new friends she met enjoyed racing, which led her to compete in over 30 downhill races including racing at the World Cup in Mont Sainte-Anne as an elite and winning a BC Provincial and a Canadian National title.
With a BSc in Kinesiology/Psychology from UBC and years of experience training athletes in the gym, Laurie has a keen eye and appreciation for body position and movement efficiency on the bike.
Laurie has travelled all across North America coaching all levels and all ages. There is always something to learn or refine and she is so excited to help you have more fun riding with your new-found skills!
Claire Buchar
Claire Buchar is known for her dedication to the sport of mountain biking, having spent most of her competitive career as a privateer. She is a talented rider with a lot of heart. As a 12 time Canadian National Team Member, World Championships Bronze Medalist, Multiple Canadian National Champion, Media Regular and Certified Coach, Claire is a globally respected athlete in the industry and a true ambassador of mountain biking.
Trish Bromley
As an athlete, coach, and community builder, Trish is one part competitor, one part cheerleader, two parts safety police, and probably your biggest fan. Too many parts? Math isn’t her strong suit, but she knows that you plus two wheels is bound to add up to a good time. From competing in the Pro Men’s division, to teaching three-year-olds to balance and roll, she is determined to eliminate barriers and invite participation in all levels of cycling.
Irie Smith
Irie had a bit of an alarming start to mountain biking when a friend took her to the top of a black trail for her first every off road bike experience! After walking 2/3 of the way down, she promised herself that she would come back and ride the whole thing.
Fast forward and she has ridden the whole trail, alongside diving into the joys of coaching - focusing on boosting confidence, enjoying the time in nature, and sometimes dancing on trail!
Irie is also 3 years deep into packing ALL OF HER WASTE for each calendar year in a jar, yes, you read that right!
If you like endless laughs, encouragement, and realistic expectations on what mountain biking looks and feels like for you, Irie is your gal.
Pol Molina
Pol grew up in Barcelona, Spain where he raced Motocross professionally for several years. After obtaining his Sports Marketing degree, he made a move to British Columbia where he discovered mountain biking and became instantly addicted to the community and trails surrounding Whistler.
With the recognition of all the improvement and success he made because of the motocross coaching he received through motocross, he dove into mountain bike coaching eager to share his knowledge after being on two wheels for over 20 years.
Lara Bohr
Born in Germany, Lara finished her engineering degree and decided to go and explore Canada for a few months. It didn't take long before she fell in love with mountain life, and particularly mountain biking. Now, Whistler is her home. Having a mountain bike coach by her side during her own progression made her realize how much of a difference it can make and so she took the necessary steps to become a bike instructor herself. Lara is driven by being a part of others progression and seeing them getting stoked on her passion.
Pascale Vaiani
Born and raised in Switzerland, Pascale moved to Whistler in 1999 to ski. In 2002, she went for her first ride in the bike park and was hooked!
Over the years, she travelled throughout North America and Europe to ride, and the various destinations and terrains challenged her both mentally and physically. This, along with the camaraderie, is what makes mountain biking such an amazing sport for Pascale. She has found great pleasure assisting others through this journey through mountain bike coaching.
Her passion for mountain biking and the outdoors eventually pulled her away from a long career as a pastry chef. However, as Pascale will say "There are many parallels between making a memorable dessert and coaching. You need to create the right environment with just the right amount of ingredients to produce a wonderful experience that will keep you back for more!"
Julia Long
Born and raised in Whistler, Julia first started mountain biking when most were learning to walk. She fell in love with the sport from being apart of Whistler Secondary MTB team, where she was coached and mentored by Katrina Strand. She started racing cross country in her junior years but found the technical aspect of riding her forte, so she made the switch to competing in Enduro. Currently, Julia is competing on the world stage in Enduro as well as completing her BSc in Kinesiology/Psychology to have a greater understanding in human performance and health with a long term goal of helping athletes in the future. Through coaching, Julia has a strong drive to inspire and motivate others to conquer their barriers and find a love for riding.
Jaxon
Meet Jaxon, the DEO (Dog Executive Officer) of Strand Training. He came to live in Whistler after being saved from a less than ideal situation where he now thrives in his elements. Jaxon loves to adventure on the trails, swim, tear apart the biggest sticks in the forest, wrestle with this little human sister Anna and lean in for a good cuddle. Jaxon loves mountain biking, and although he is known to take some pretty extreme lines, he has no ego and actually loves to go last to make sure all is in check!
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Want to join our team? This could be you! Reach out if you're interested!
Pricing
Full-day (6 hours including 45-1 hour lunch break):
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1 rider $600
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2 riders $700
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3 riders $780
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4 riders $840
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5 riders $880
1/2-day (3 hours):
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1 rider $360
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2 riders $460
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3 riders $540
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4 riders $600
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5 riders $640
All prices in CDN and do not include GST
Multiple bookings and programs (3 or more bookings): 15% off
Youth bookings (18 and under): 10 % off
5 or more youth bookings, check out our Youth Custom Camps
Destination camp programming and pricing, contact us!