Fernie by Danyal Taylor

Creating Lifelong Passion for Riding Bikes

BY JACOB JOHNSON

Getting kids to fall in love with riding bikes is easy. Let them be kids. Let them have fun!

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Throughout my childhood I attended swimming lessons at Fernie’s old outdoor pool in Rotary Park. I recall bitterly cold mornings with mist hanging in the air over the pool, teeth chattering, goosebumps as tall as the mountains, I’d cringe as I forced myself into the water which felt as if it were only a few degrees above freezing. Our instructors would have us do laps or tread water until our lips turned blue. Having fun wasn’t in the cards. Over the years, being led through drills, gasping for air, while frozen to the core, I developed a cat like aversion to swimming that has lasted a lifetime.

Whether it’s learning to swim or learning to mountain bike, providing a comfortable environment from the weather to our gear and the people around us, can go a long way toward having an enjoyable time. Nobody has fun getting eaten alive by mosquitoes or being caught in bad weather without the right clothing, nor if their chain is always falling off or if they can’t reach their brakes. When things aren’t lining up, consider a shorter adventure or save the adventures on bikes for another day when you can create a better environment for enjoyment.

When everything falls into place there are a few things to keep in mind while letting the magic unfold. As a professional mountain bike instructor my priorities are safety, fun, and learning, in that order. This can be a great guide for parents riding with kids as well, even when the kid’s abilities exceed our own.

Safety

Getting injured isn’t fun! But the thrill of riding fast and hitting more challenging obstacles is exhilarating. Regardless of age we can get carried away in the moment, taking on challenges beyond our abilities. While we can’t eliminate risk, we can manage it. We rely on the rule of three Rs: Relaxed, Right, and Repeatable, to help keep our enthusiasm in check. When performing a skill, are we Relaxed, are we doing it Right, and are we able to Repeat the feat, Relaxed and Right, several times consecutively? If the answer isn’t yes to all of these, consider dialing back the difficulty. Parents may want to take some lessons themselves, or watch a lesson, to get an idea of what to look for.

Fun

This is the easy one. Let kids be kids. Let them have fun! We’ll often let the kids lead a game of silly challenges without keeping score or turning it into a competition. The challenges don’t even need to always be related to riding a bike properly. Because being silly on our bike helps us develop physical dexterity and being silly is fun! Letting the kids set the challenges for themselves is a great way to see what interests them, what their abilities are, and how much appetite for challenge they have.

Learning

From learning to crawl to jumping mountain bikes, we’re naturally curious and love to test our limits. Having fun, being playful, and trying silly things on our bikes, are wonderful ways to learn. But like arithmetic or a language, sometimes it’s easier to learn from a teacher. We learn best when we’re interested, and we’re usually interested when something is fun. Instructors use a combination of skill and game-based teaching mixed with adventure making it easy and enjoyable to learn and practice techniques. When practicing we look for the three Rs to ensure we’re building good muscle memory that will serve us well in even the most stressful circumstances. But remember, we don’t need to learn, practice, or progress on every ride. Sometimes we’re just riding bikes for fun!

Next time you take the family for a ride, pretend you’re a business and the kids are your customers. Keep them safe, focus on having fun, and maybe you’ll all learn something along the way. Create a little adventure that has them wanting to come back for more and falling in love with riding bikes.

Jacob Johnson is passionate mountain biker and an instructor with Mystic Mountain Adventures, which offers mountain bike camps and skill trailing for all age groups and levels. mysticmountainadventures.com

Cool Off This Summer: Swimming Holes Near Fernie

BY DANYAL TAYLOR

MORRISSEY FALLS | DANYAL TAYLOR PHOTO

Swimming holes take me back to memories as a child. They were a place to relax, eat snacks and cool off over the hot summer days with your family and friends. Collating a list of swimming locations is a necessary part of surviving the hot days that are to come. So lucky for you, I’ve saved you the trouble of bush whacks by curating a list.

Each location was tested against an advanced set of peer-reviewed parameters to ensure it met and exceeded the definition of a swimming hole. These parameters are listed below:

Accessibility: We aren’t climbing mountains, hiking for long, or bush whacking. When it’s a hot day we want instant relief from the heat and some space to relax in the sun.

Dunk-ability: This is selfexplanatory – full body submersion. Not some small creek that’s shin deep!

Proximity: Close to town. Who wants to drive over an hour and a half in the heat to a swim location? Not me!

Last summer we saw record temperatures throughout BC and knowing where to go for a swim was key to taking the edge off those muggy days. If this coming summer is as hot as the last, these locations should do the trick to quench your swimming needs.

Boat Launch A:5 | D:5 | P:5

This is one of the go-to places for a quick swim. There are numerous spots along the Elk River where you can go however the boat launch is one for an all round 5/5 for each category. Take a picnic blanket, some snacks and enjoy a few hours here. If you are looking for an adventurous day, grab a float and depart from the bridge by the Visitors Centre. You’ll float all the way to the boat launch which is an easy exit point.

Silver Springs A:3 | D:5 | P:3

Silver Springs is a series of three lakes naturally fed from a spring at the furthest lake. It boasts epic cliff jumping and some wicked views. The lake does require a 20 minute drive and 20 minute walk to get to. This is one of the closer lakes to Fernie and is an amazing spot to spend a full day. If you’re feeling up for it, you can hike in your float or paddleboard.

Deborah Johnson

DEBORAH JOHNSON

250-278-6867 (MTNS)

deborah@c21fernie.ca deborah-johnson.c21.ca | mountainlifefernie.com

Quarter 4, 2021 I LOVE MOUNTAIN LIFE IN FERNIE. This is my home, my town, and my playground. I know all about the mountain lifestyle that draws so many here. Following a highly successful career with Virgin Atlantic Airways negotiating multi million-dollar contracts, my husband and I followed our dreams and left the UK for Canada making Fernie our home. In summer, you’ll find me biking, hiking, dirt biking, golfing, or relaxing on one of the beaches at Lake Koocanusa. In winter, I love to explore the ski hill, cross country trail network and the extensive back country terrain. I’ve owned personal and investment properties in Fernie for over 20 years. Buying or selling, you need an expert on your side. Let me share my passion and in-depth knowledge of the real estate market and local area to seamlessly guide you in finding your dream home or perfect piece of property in Fernie, Elk Valley and South Country.