THE STUDENT: BEN SMITH

I’ve been riding mountain bikes for nearly

30 years but until recently

I’d never had any form of coaching. However, after a sixmonth lay-off caused by a crash and the resultant knee injury, my confidence was shot and my riding was really suffering. A torn ACL and damaged meniscus was the result of coming up very short on a jump I should have steered well clear of, and once I’d been given the all clear to ride again by my knee surgeon, my brain just wouldn’t let me ride over obstacles and through technical sections that I wouldn’t even have noticed beforehand – the thought of damaging the knee again was always at the forefront of my mind.

THE COACH: KATY CURD

Katy knows a thing or two about technique, she’s a former 4X national champ, a pro downhill rider and now she runs Katy Curd Coaching in the Forest of Dean.