HOw I got my son involved w /trials was to take him to a local trials competition. While we were there, we talked to many riders, saw several used trials bikes in youth, and adult sizes, and got to demo, test ride, and kick the tires on 5-6 bikes for sale before I settled on two trials bikes buy out there to take home. I bought an '01 Sherco 290 and a 2004 Beta Rev 50 (Youth size) that day.My son, Daniel, who is about to be 9 wants to ride trials. How do I get him started? I have ZERO trials skills. I can build a course in the big back yard. What bike? Where to find it? How to teach him?
As far as teaching my son went, I just put down several cones in the back yard, and we did alot of snake turns & figure 8s before and after supper or whenever we felt like it. This went on for 3-4 months until I got proficient enough such that I signed up for a competition, riding in the novice section. It was a pretty easy event to do, but in doing so, I got to learn how to score an event, how to setup my controls and setup my lines, and got to know all the trials club members. Then they encouraged me to start going out to Emma Long on Wed evenings and Saturdays riding with the group. The club then put on a couple of trials training classes. I took a two day riding class, and a yr later my son did a one day class. These pics taken in 2007-2008, son 11 yrs old, getting some pointers by Ray Peters, ex pro trials rider (left) on balancing.
And Don, (wearing his helmet in pic above), then our pres of AustinTrials assn hosted these very popular events.
By the end of the class, he even learned to do the bunny hop on a flat ground...pretty advanced move.
I guess if I were to offer any advice, I'd say, find a trials club and sign up for a competition. Practicing for a competition is the fastest path to achieving your riding potential.
My son and I will be at Emma Wed afternoon w/ the new bike. I'm anxious to see if he still knows how to do the bunny hop and zap-zaps