How was your bike coaching experience?

Client Testimonials

-Krysten De Florenca of Whistler BC - Local intermediate mountain biker looking to tackle advanced black terrain

“Within just 2 lessons with Mike, I felt the most comfortable on my bike I ever have”

I am not totally sure what I would class my biking ability as, perhaps novice/intermediate. Either way, it wouldn't matter if I was a complete beginner or expert as Mike's coaching is so on point and I think no matter your level of biking he will be able to bring confidence, better technique, and style to your riding ability in no time!

Within just 2 lessons with Mike, I felt the most comfortable on my bike I ever have (seriously wish I had crossed paths with his coaching when I first started biking). He had me riding my end of season goals in just one session and I couldn't be more pumped about it.

Mike's ability to make you feel comfortable about what you are about to ride, your position on the bike, when to brake / when not to brake is impeccable. It takes a true coach to have the patience, professionalism (but yet still that 'known each other for years' vibe) and stoke Mike has when fine-tuning your riding skills. His style of coaching is encouraging yet never pressuring, and you truly feel like you can achieve anything on your bike because with the right technique... you can!

- August 2020

-Laura Sargent of Whistler BC - Whistler local novice mountain biker turned strong intermediate shredder

“My biking is 100x better and it is all thanks to him!! "

 I started doing lessons with Mike as i felt my biking was not getting any better over roughly a year. After lesson 1 with Mike my confidence was doubled! Mike takes the time to go through different lines with you starting from easiest to hardest making sure you know exactly how you should be riding each option on each feature. He is always making sure that you are feeling comfortable and safe with whatever it is you are trying. He has so much knowledge and tips on how to ride all sorts of trails and features. I did multiple lessons with him and learnt something new and refined my skills each time. My biking is 100x better and it is all thanks to him!! Not only is he an amazing coach but he is just as an amazing guy! Always happy, friendly and enthusiastic each and every time you see him! I will continue to have mike as a coach as long as he will have me! Highly recommend!!

- July 2020

-Erin Hogue of Whistler BC - Whistler local snowboarder turned biker

“Mike has such a fun, outgoing personality that I left loving it”

As a snow-primary longterm local, I had always been incredibly intimidated by mountain biking yet Mike somehow convinced me to try it. He set me up with everything I needed to get started. More, Mike’s calm presence and positive attitude put me right at ease. Mike’s knowledge and feedback gave me the push I needed to progress so much faster than I ever have with anyone else! Mike has such a fun, outgoing personality that I left loving it and with the motivation and confidence to actually get my own bike, sign up for weekly lessons and to this day I am actually now loving mountain biking!

- May 2020

-Heather O’Donnell of Whistler BC - Ladies night participant moving from strong intermediate to advanced skills in a single season

“Mike’s voice is always calm & gentle but loud enough to be assertive & comforting when we are trying new things”

I definitely loved that our group was never too big. The first few lessons that I attended were very informative & the way Mike broke down each movement ie: jumping, rock rolls, roots, berms & cornering etc really helped me understand how my bike works & how it can work if you ride it & use it correctly. Mike always listened to my questions and gave answers using a language that I understood, terms & words that made sense to my caliber of riding.

Tech trails were definitely a very hard part for me but each time we attempted a new tech trail with features we needed to overcome, it was reassuring knowing that Mike would always stop & make us look at things, point out the breaking points, commitment points & any other aspects of the trail/feature that we needed to be aware of before letting us go down it. Doing that really helped me learn how to read trails and what to look for when I was riding trails on my own or outside of ladies night. Using the same vocabulary that gelled with where I was at with my riding definitely made me comfortable within myself when trailing behind in our single file format & going over everything in my head each time I was on the bike.

Mike’s whole approach to coaching/teaching makes me feel comfortable but always safe to push myself when I am trying new things. His voice is always calm & gentle but loud enough to be assertive & comforting when we are trying new things. I was super stoked with the trail progression for our entire group, we started on easy blues & ended on tech blacks & some flow blacks. So their was always variety in each lesson.

Overall: I really had the most amazing season, I am very stoked with where my riding is for my first season & very grateful to Mike and all the girls in our group for getting me there. I moved to Whistler to see the snow & have always been a winter girl, counting down the days until the snow was falling and wow how that has changed, I am not ready for snow this year, I just want to keep riding my bike and pushing myself further & further but in due course I know that will happen. Pumped already for summer 2020. It’s going to be a killer year!

- September 2019

-Rachel Chambers of Whistler, BC - avid road cyclist, first season mountain biking

“Mike has a way of making you genuinely comfortable with doing something such as a steep rock roll which 10 minutes previously you were absolutely sure you couldn’t do”

As seasoned road biker, there were a lot of habits I needed to change to become a mountain biker. Mike has so many tricks and tips up his sleeve to successfully take a nervous and somewhat out of place “roadie” into a confident, looking more in place mountain biker. Mike has so much energy and enthusiasm for biking it can’t help but rub off! He has a way of making you genuinely comfortable with doing something such as a steep rock roll which 10 minutes previously you were absolutely sure you couldn’t and wouldn’t do. You’ll also find the advice which he gives you really sticks and even when he’s not there I find myself repeating it to myself. The skills which Mike has taught me in the park have increased my confidence and skillset both in the park and on the trail. This has ultimately made me a better and safer rider. Most importantly Mike has made biking fun and because of what he taught me the fun continues whenever I’m on the bike. Elbow’s up all the way!

-Summer 2018

— Tomaz S. of Portland, Oregon - seasoned advanced level enduro rider

"Mike Sousa was such a friendly character which made having a lesson with him a breeze."

I just want to express how amazed I was at the Whistler bike park. This was my first visit to the bike park and I feel so fortunate to live just a few hours’ drive from there (about 7 hours from Portland).

My entire experience was really fantastic from the very well organized bike park, lessons, instructors, lodging and food. However, the one thing that made the experience even more special was having paid for a private lesson with your super star instructor Mike Sousa.

I came to Whistler to simply get a better feel for jumps and get some of the fears of jumping put to rest. Mike Sousa was such a friendly character which made having a lesson with him a breeze. But besides Mike’s friendly attitude, Mike taught his class going from basic concepts like cornering to the principles of jumping. Next Mike was so great in choosing good trails to practice and progress as the day went on. I ended up extending my morning group lesson to an entire day lesson because of the benefits I was seeing in just that short period. Anyhow, I plan on making a yearly migration to Whistler in the summers and I can’t wait to bring my whole family and have another lesson with Mike.  

Thanks again for developing the 8th wonder of the world….what a magical place to live.

- June 28 2017 

-Mother of 6 year old Whistler local Matthew Knight

“Because Matthew doesn't complain, he often just gets lost in the crowd, but you still managed to connect with him and we are so grateful for that.”

Thank you for working with Matthew at Combo Camps. He is a super quiet kid and really is a big observer but you had a big impact on him over the last couple of weeks. I now know more about slugs  and when he crashes his bike I can find him on the other side of a jump in lotus "breathing through it". A lot of coaches are overwhelmed with the number of kids they have with varying abilities, so because he doesn't complain, he often just gets lost in the crowd but you still managed to connect with him and we are so grateful for that.

Thanks again

-July 2020

-Thomas Sikora Manager In-Resort Call Centre, Pass Administration

Michael’s ability to listen and provide safe and trusted feedback that encouraged me to push my boundaries safely, were of very high caliber.

I would highlight that Michael’s attention to detail, ability to listen and provide safe and trusted feedback that encouraged me to push my boundaries safely, were of very high caliber. A definite highlight from a personal perspective was being able to push my boundaries to safely assess and ride my first double blacks in the park. This reminded me of the value of having a bike guide in a private lesson. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime.

Another key highlight that I gleaned from this session is that Michael, is able to work with guests of the bike park to help assess current day conditions to help discover runs, features and parts of the mountain that might not be familiar or accessible. I’ve been exposed to new terrain, with improved technique, and will be sure to highlight and recommend this benefit in my role at Whistler Blackcomb Reservations!

-August 2020

-Tessa Overbury of Whistler BC - Ladies night participant moving from strong novice to early advanced skills in a single season

“Having had a previous injury, I approached biking with more caution than other ladies in my in my group, but Mike helped me to overcome that fear”

 Having had a previous injury, I approached mountain biking with a more cautious attitude than other ladies in my  in my group, but Mike has helped me to overcome that fearThis season was my first for downhill mountain biking, and I am so grateful to have had such a fantastic coach!  When Ladies' Night started I had done some of the green trails in the bike park and the easiest blue trails   once or twice and now, just two months later, I am beginning to attempt some of the black trails! 

      Having had a previous injury, I approached mountain biking with a more cautious attitude than other ladies in my  in my group, but Mike has helped me to overcome that fear and progress at the same level. 

      Mike does not only teach the best lines to choose, he takes the time to discuss body positioning on the bike,

braking, where you should be looking, and the point of commitment. Mike would never encourage you to do anything 

that you weren't ready for, and is completely aware of your capabilities and the style of learning. I now have a solid understanding of cornering, jumping, wooden features and rock rolls, and can assess new trail 

features by myself with the knowledge that Mike has passed on. It has been such an achievement to see my progress and recognize that my technique will help me for my future in biking. You're the best, Mike!

- September 2019

— Paul Hamrick of Dallas, Texas  - former intermediate level seeking review in skills

"The combination of a great teacher, excellent equipment and an unbelievable mountain bike park made this a terrific experience."

We were in Whistler all week and could not help but be fascinated by the cool looking men, women and children who fly down the slopes looking so cool. My 11 yr old and 14 yr old sons were dying to try this out, but I was admittedly a little intimidated.

We got a private lesson for a half day with Mike Sousa and it was definitely the way to go. He was so great with my sons (and me) working on proper techniques to handle different aspects of the down hill courses. From the most basic aspects of the bike, proper handling of turns and switchbacks to taking on big air (at least it felt like it) he progressed us through to a point where we all REALLY enjoyed our time on the mountain. As well the equipment we rented was excellent! The combination of a great teacher, excellent equipment and an unbelievable mountain bike park made this a terrific experience. If I were to go back I would definitely do this the first day,

I would book with Mike and I would do 2-3 half days with him. Can't say enough about how cool this was for us. Definitely try it out.  Book ahead to save time, definitely worth it.

- June 24 2017

- Danielle H.  - Whistler local attending weekly ladies night bike park clinics

"I started off as an absolute beginner and progressed to doing black techs by the end"

I have had the best time in the bike park in summer 2015. The ladies nights have been an absolute highlight, and got so much out of the elevation camp I went to. I started off as an absolute beginner and progressed to doing black techs by the end. Still not the best, but the bike park offers runs for all abilities. Top instructors have to include Jeremy, Mike and Nick - all totally brilliant. Look forward to returning sometime in the future

September 29 2015

- Lori C. while on her honeymoon in BC, Canada

"Mike delivered an unforgettable experience. We have told all our friends and family about it and want to make mountain biking a hobby"

My husband and I found out about the Bike Park 101 program for downhill mountain biking newbies through the staff at our hotel. We are SO happy that we followed their advice. The Bike Park 101 class offers a guide and a 2 hour session including training on how to ride (FYI, it is entirely different than riding a regular mountain bike or city bike) and 1-3 loops down the mountain's bike park.

After taking the chair lift up the mountain, our awesome guide, Mike, taught us the basics of downhill mountain biking. He walked us through the course throughout the ride with semi-frequent stops, explaining the features we would find ahead. 

At the end of the allotted time, Mike could tell my husband and I were thoroughly enjoying the ride and that we were catching on more quickly than the other few members of our group. He told us that he didn't have any other rides scheduled and that his manager told him that he could take us for another loop. On the second loop, Mike introduced us to new, more challenging trails and even took our pictures cornering through a banked turn.

Mike and Whistler Mountain Bike Park delivered an unforgettable experience. We have told all our friends and family about the experience and want to make mountain biking a hobby (too bad we don't live near mountains).

August 1 2016