Whether this year’s National Secondary School MTB Championships are being held in Nelson, Rotorua, Christchurch, or elsewhere, Nelson itself is one of New Zealand’s best training grounds for young competitive riders. With an incredible quantity and variety of trails, expert local coaches, and a dedicated progression facility, a training camp in Nelson gives your child a real edge – no matter which region hosts the final event.

At Gravity Nelson, we offer tailored training services for secondary school riders: private and group coaching, mountain bike shuttles to maximise time on the trails, and exclusive access to our Field of Dreams progression park. Plus, with plenty of off‑the‑bike activities for non‑riding family members, a training trip to Nelson works for the whole household.

Ride and Train on Race‑Ready Trails – All Year Round

Nelson’s trail network is famous for its technical features, natural variety, and sheer volume – over 400km of singletrack within 45 minutes drive of the city centre. For secondary school riders preparing for national champs, that means you can train on terrain that mimics any race venue in the country.

Key training grounds include:

• Codgers MTB Park – Flow trails like Firball and Turners, plus enduro‑style tech trails (Top Dog, Hot Box, IV Line). Perfect for building speed and technical flow.

• Sharlands MTB Park – Steep, loamy descents with dropping corners – trails like Mr Chomper and Loam Ranger will sharpen your child’s cornering and bike handling.

• Fringed Hill – A 600m+ vertical descent that builds endurance, confidence, and braking control on steep, demanding terrain.

With such a wide range of trail styles – from flowing blue to chunky black diamond – your young rider can work on every skill the national champs might throw at them, regardless of where the final race is held.

Train on Nelson’s Challenging Enduro and DH Mountain Bike Tracks

Why Choose Gravity Nelson to Prepare for the National Championships?

Expert Coaches Who Specialise in Young Riders
Our coaches don’t just know mountain biking – they know how to teach teenagers. Sessions focus on race‑specific techniques: efficient pumping, late braking, line choice, and managing race‑day nerves on technical features.

Field of Dreams Progression Facility
Our private skills park is a safe, controlled environment to push limits. Jumps, airbags, drops, and cornering zones let riders practice advanced moves without the pressure of a race trail. Perfect for building the muscle memory and confidence that transfers directly to championship courses.

Custom Shuttles – Maximise Training Time
Nelson’s climbs can exceed 600m per lap. Our private and casual shuttle services get your rider to the top faster, saving energy for repeated race‑pace runs. Lap Codgers, Sharlands, or Fringed Hill as many times as a race day demands.

Personalised Training Programmes
From a single afternoon session to a week‑long camp, we build an itinerary around your child’s goals and schedule. Want full coaching every run? Or just shuttles and independent laps? You choose the balance.

Come fly with Nelson’s mountain biking kids at the Field of Dreams.

• How Our Coaching Supports Your Child’s Success

  We design every session to:

  • Improve technical handling – braking, line choice, cornering, and jumping

  • Build confidence on steep, rooty, or loose terrain

  • Develop race‑day strategies for energy management and efficient descending

  • Reduce risk through progressive skill‑building (starting at Field of Dreams, then moving to trails)

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  Learn More About Our Training Services

  • Field of Dreams Progression Facility

  • Mountain Bike Coaching for Youth

  • Shuttle Services

Fun kids mountain bike coaching.

Get Started – Train in Nelson, Race Anywhere

Help your child reach their full potential at the National Secondary School MTB Championships – wherever they’re held. Contact Gravity Nelson to plan a training camp:

Email: info@gravitynelson.co.nz

Website: gravitynelson.co.nz

Give your child the edge to ride stronger, smarter, and confidently in the upcoming Champs!