Logo for Trail Craft MTB Coaching featuring a lion riding a mountain bike among mountains with the text "Trail Craft MTB Coaching."

Build Skills to Attack Trails with Confidence

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Mountain biking, coaching, Trail Craft

Coaching For All Levels

Beginner

We all have to start somewhere. Our beginner classes focus on the fundamentals of mountain biking to ensure that you have the right foundations to ride trails, have fun and be safe.

Intermediate

With a foundational confidence in riding, our intermediate coaching focuses on how to attack the trails, maintain momentum and build the skills to take on obstacles with confidence.

Advanced

With the skills needed to take on trails with confidence, our advanced coaching looks at ramping up the fun. Jumps, drops and speed are the name of the game!

Group Coaching

Our small group coaching sessions are cost effective and provide the team atmosphere of learning where the group support and motivate each other through the challenges ahead.

R450 per session

Private Coaching

1:1 sessions are available on request to ensure that dedicated coaching to address specific skills and needs. The time is yours to learn at your speed.

R1200 per session

Monthly Coaching Pack

Our coaching packs enable you to buy 4x sessions at a time at a discounted rate. Consistent coaching and development ensures that learned skills becomes muscle memory.

R1600 group coaching | R4000 private coaching

What to Expect?

Pricing

Coaching sessions are limited to groups of 6 riders max. to ensure all riders get the attention they need. Sessions cost R450 per session and last for 1.5 hours and can be ordered in a 4 session monthly coaching subscription at R1600. The 4 session subscription is to support longer term coaching and progression to advanced skills. All sessions are to paid in advance and are inclusive of any associated trail fees. No additional payments will be requested.

Location

The default location for training is at The Red Barn near Midstream Estate. For Advanced riders, there will be occasional sessions hosted at Wolverspruit MTB Park and will be coordinated well in advance.

Rider Assessment & Goal Setting

We start with a quick debrief to understand your background, fitness, equipment setup, and specific riding goals. Before coaching begins, we run through a quick bike check (cockpit layout, suspension sag, tire pressure, and body positioning setup) to ensure your machine is optimized for performance.

Fundamentals & On-Trail Breakdown

Progressive riding starts with mastered fundamentals against the program (Beginner, Intermediate, advance). We isolate core techniques on controlled terrain using high-frequency repetition and real-time visual feedback. You’ll learn the why behind body positioning, braking points, cornering traction, and line selection, removing guesswork from your technique.

Live Trail Application

We take what we’ve dialed in and apply it directly to the features on the trail. We session key trail sections, berms, rock gardens, jumps and drops in real time, allowing you to build muscle memory, adjust your lines, and feel immediate improvement in flow and momentum.

Analysis & Real-Time Feedback

To fast-track your learning, we utilize slow-motion video breakdown right on the trail. Seeing your position, weight distribution, and bike interaction from an outside perspective makes technical adjustments instantly clear.

Debrief & Personalized Practice for home

We finish every session with a clear recap of your breakthroughs and key takeaways. You’ll leave with actionable drills and focus points to practice during your personal rides, ensuring your progression continues long after the session ends.

STEVEN SANTINI

I’ve been mountain biking for over two years, and calling it a passion is an understatement, at this point in my life, it’s a full-blown obsession. Nothing beats the feeling of being out on the trails, except helping that same spark come alive in other riders.

My journey has taken me to some of the finest trail networks in the world, from California’s NorthStar and Big Bear to the UK’s Bike Park Wales, Dyfi, Llandegla, and Coed y Brenin. But there is no place quite like riding back home in South Africa.

Now back on local soil, I’m relaunching Trail Craft, based out of The Red Barn in Olifantsfontein. With its incredible variety of terrain and top-notch facilities, it’s the ideal hub to refine your skills, build confidence, and take your riding to the next level.

About The Coach

Steven Santini, mountain biking, MTB, coaching

Frequency Asked Questions

  • Yes, you need a mountain bike. Specifically, a hardtail or full suspension bike with off road specific tires. Rental bikes are available on site with Rider.co.za

  • All that matters is that your bike is in good working order. Don’t worry about how your bike is setup, we will help setup your bike when you arrive.

  • All riders must wear appropriate protection..NO HELMET, NO RIDE., No EXCEPTIONS…..We recommend, riding specific clothing as well as: Gloves, Knee pads, flat hard soul shoes / cleats

  • Sessions are hosted at The Big Red Barn near Midstream Estate. We will host sessions at Wolverspruit MTB Park on occasion and planned in advanced.

  • Groups consist of mixed ages. We group riders by skill but we do limit riders to a min. of 11 years old.

    Age is not a factor, we have 11 year riders riding at advanced levels and older riders riding as beginners. All are here to learn and progress.

  • Sessions are 1.5 hours but you can expect to plan for 2 hours to include pre session bike checks and end of session briefing.

  • We advice that you are properly fed before coaching to ensure that you have energy for the ride ahead. Ensure that you bring water.

    The Big Red Barn has an excellent cafe which sells bottled water and serves lunch + breakfast for that post ride snack.