Air Force

Advanced Mountain Biking

Ages 7-12

PROGRAM Group:

Air Force

WHAT TO EXPECT

FALL & SPRING SQUADRONS
2 DAYS PER WEEK

Calling all young riders aged 6-12 with intermediate to advanced mountain biking skills, a fearless spirit, and a sense of camaraderie! Get ready to join the elite ranks of Pedal Kids Air Force as we launch your biking to thrilling new heights.

Pedal Kids Air Force is an 8-week youth biking program custom built for NWA kids who want to shred. Twice a week our certified Pedal Kids coaches will immerse young riders in the exhilarating world of jumps, drops, and technical trails in the stunning landscapes of NW Arkansas.

The Air Force mission is to safely develop your child’s skills, build confidence, and ensure safe exploration of the most challenging local biking terrain (within limits of course).

All Air Force kids will be trained to:

  1. Bring the Stoke – Celebrate every pedal stroke and conquer new challenges with infectious enthusiasm and thriving camaraderie.
  2. Know Your Limits – fully embrace the learning process, progress at your own pace, and build up to advanced skills without skipping key milestones along the way.
  3. Make Your Own Decisions – confidently make choices that align with your abilities, comfort level, and personal values. advanced mountain biking

During the program, Coaches will focus one day each week on honing core technical skills in our backyard, utilizing ramps and airbags, allowing kids to master the art of defying gravity and soaring through the air. The second day each week, we’ll gather to push our limits, visiting different trails that will put newfound skills to the ultimate test.

To ensure a safe and tailored experience, all participants must be evaluated by one of our expert Coaches to ensure they possess the necessary skills required for the program. This ensures that everyone can make the most of this incredible biking adventure

Kids – Come join the Pedal Kids Air Force and let your biking dreams take flight! Soar through the air, conquer challenging trails, and unlock your full potential as a rider. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to work on advanced mountain biking—sign up today and prepare to experience the thrill of the Air Force!

From the Dirt to the Air

Air Force- Advanced Mountain Biking

Whether your intermediate to advanced rider is already taking flight, or jump curious we make sure safely taking flight is a core part of every Air Force cadet’s DNA. First riders practice on our soft, backyard air bags before taking their fundamental skills to the trail!
Air Force Level 1
Ready to start hitting small table top jumps
Air Force Level 2
Confidently clearing small to mid sized table top jumps
Air Force Level 3
Confidently clearing large sized table top jumps
child jumping onto an airbag in Pedal Kids bike school Air Force program

Mastering Drops

Air Force- Advanced Mountain Biking

Whether your intermediate to advanced rider is already dropping it like it’s hot, or still keeping both wheels planted on the trail, we have the drop progression to take them to the next level!

Riders first practice on our backyard bridges and local skills zone before taking their fundamental drop skills to the trail!

Air Force Level 1
Ready to start riding off small drops

Air Force Level 2

Confidently riding off small to mid sized drops

Air Force Level 3

Confidently riding off large size drops

Child riding off a mountain bike drop in Pedal Kids bike school air force class

Teaching The Tech

Air Force- Advanced Mountain Biking

Techincal trail riding as part of Air Force? That’s right! Our Air Force cadets are trained to safely and confidently roll through the most advanced trails to earn their stripes!

Whether your rider is already comfortable on “tech trails” or always asking to stick on the “flow trails”, our technical trail riding progression will help them level up their tech.

Air Force Level 1

Riding advanced level MTB trails with emerging confidence

Air Force Level 2

Riding advanced level MTB trails with moderate confidence

Air Force Level 3

Riding advanced level MTB trails with confidence

young girl riding a technimcal mountain bike trail in Bentonville Arkansas as part of Pedal Kids bike school Air Force class

Pedal Kids Air Force is all about getting your kiddo more comfortable, confident, and resilient about shredding out on the trails! From drops, jumps, and technical trails, our Pedal Kids coaches will get your kid ready to ride those rough Bentonville trails!

Air Force is perfect for kiddos that are ready to take mountain biking to the next level and become some of the best young riders in NWA!

GET THE BIKING GEAR YOU NEED

Buddy Pegs Family Bike Shop sells Bikes, Helmets, Gloves, Pads, Tools, and everything you need to begin your kiddo’s biking career! We carry the top kid’s oriented biking brands across the United States to help your kiddo get from never ever to shredder in no time! Begin shopping more than 100’s of products below!

FAQ

First begin by reading over this page and giving close consideration to your child’s current MTB abilities. Frequently, proud parents feel their child is an advanced rider compared to other peers but perhaps not actually able to ride intermediate to advanced level trails just yet.

Then, reach out so we can do a short riding assessment of your child and make sure they are signed up for the right group!

If your child isn’t yet ready for Air Force, we have an MTB Kids group that will be perfect for them and help them get the Air Force call up!

Minimum equipment:

  • 20″ wheel 
  • Multispeed
  • Front Suspension
  • Disc Brakes
  • Proper fitting helmet with MIPS
  • Knee pads

Recommended equipment:

  • 24″ wheel or larger
  • Single front chainring
  • Full suspension
  • Disc brakes
  • Full face helmet with MIPS
  • Knee Pads
  • Chest protector

Our Air Force Coaches will be frequently communicated bike skills progressions throughout the program.

However, it’s important to stress that bike skills progression is only part of the program. 

Air Force is all about developing Bike Skills + Life Skills.

Bike Skills:

All the skills needed to safely and enjoyably ride jumps, drops and technical trails.

Life Skills:

Performance Character Development

Through the challenges and triumphs of mountain biking, children gain resilience and perseverance as they navigate varied terrains and tackle new obstacles. Kids learn the importance of patience and focus during sustained climbs and technical descents, enhancing their ability to handle real-life situations with calm and determination

Moral Character Development

Through our S.T.O.K.E. values (Stewardship, Teamwork, Ownership, Kindness, Empathy), and group rides, we create learning environments that foster teamwork, healthy communication, trail etiquette, environmental stewardship, responsibility, a sense of community and respect for others.

These life lessons go beyond the trail, helping to mold confident, compassionate individuals equipped to meet life’s challenges head-on.