Cycling Canada Long Term Athlete Development Model Mountain Bike Canadian sport for life – Spex 240 Brent cameron, Malcolm Ross-Delisle, Tarryn Cote, Rob Fraser

Outline LTAD Introduction Cycling MTB LTAD Stages Personal experience Active start Fundamentals Learn to train Train to train Train to compete What does it take to become a champion? Train to win Active for Life Questions References

LTAD Introduction What is LTAD? LTAD is a guideline To advocate every child’s healthy and logical development in a sport or physical activity LTAD model and framework has proved to be the most progressive optimization pathway

Cycling MTB LTAD Stages: READY: Learn to Ride! ACTIVE START: Basic movement skills, 0-6 START: Love to Ride! Fundamentals SKILL: Be a Skill Champion! Learn to Train SPEED: Build the Engine! Train to Train STRATEGY: Be the Smartest Train to Compete SUCCESS: Be a World Champion! Train to Win

Personal experience Periodization Typical race season is May to September (5-months) Off-season is comprised of October-April (7-months) Training is periodized by month-to-month plans Peaking multiple times per season In-season training consists of maintenance and recovery Tarryn personal experience

Active Start READY, Learn to Ride! Age 0-6 30-60 minutes of physical activity Games that incorporate physical literacy Basic cycling skills: steering, breaking and balance Introduce different terrains Being a role model for an active lifestyle

Fundamentals START, Love to Ride! Age 6-8 F, 6-9 M Basic cycling skills: Straight line riding, breaking, climbing and descending, cornering, lifts and drops Physical literacy: object control, balance, agility on land, water and air. Basics of how a bike works Taking part in fun & inclusive local races

Learn to Train SKILL, Be a Skill Champion! Ages 9 for females, 10 for males until growth spurt Develop new skills Incorporate skills Seasonal cycling program Basic race skills and knowledge

Train to Train SPEED, Build the Engine! After growth spurt and/or 3-6 years in cycling Yearly training program (YTP) Training 5-6 times per week, with sessions from 1-2 hours Develop and refine skills Skill becomes highly developed Improved race tactics Compete at a provincial level and gradually to national

Train to Compete STRATEGY, Be the smartest! Athletes train: sport specific and position-specific skills Athlete goals Athletes are introduced to proper nutrition, sports psychology, recovery, injury prevention and injury management. “Be the Smartest!” Slogan “During stage 5, athletes will identify themselves as serious and deliberate competitors. Throughout the calendar year, athletes will be on a training plan where high-volume and high-intensity training are of the main focus as well as periodization training.” (Joan Rickman. 2005)

What does it take to become a champion? Mental Ability to use your brain to enhance performance Social Ability to interact with yourself and others Physical Your bodies’ qualities to enhance performance Technical Your learned and practiced skills Life Skills Ability to navigate daily tasks Tactical Ability to execute

Train to Win SUCCESS, Be a World Champion! Elites with 8-10 years + of experience Pinnacle of athletic development “Perform on Demand” Technical and tactical skills are perfected and highly adaptable Fitness is maintained and carefully monitored

Train to Win SUCCESS, Be a World Champion! (cont.) The three main objectives for the train to win stage are: Gap Analysis Earning Success Life Skills and Balance “If you want to give your athletes a lasting gift, show them the joy in their sport and the pursuit of improvement. This is what will allow them to put in the long hours required to make it to the top and the drive to cross the finish line first”. -Catherine Pendrel, Canadian National Team/ World Champion

Active for Life Enter at any age after growth spurt Enter any age after growth spurt Keep riding, ride for fun, an adventure Life skills and balance in cycling is great Competitive for life

Questions?

Reference: Cycling Canada. (2012) Long Term Athlete Development: Mountain Bike