LESSONS & INSTRUCTION AT
THE YARD
HANDS (& FEET)-ON LEARNING IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT
The Yard offers lessons for a variety of ages, skill levels and disciplines. Taking lessons is the fastest and safest way to improve at your chosen discipline. We have passionate and experienced instructors who will help you get to the next level in the following disciplines (more information on each below):
- BMX
- Scootering
- Skateboarding
We offer group lessons, private lessons and semiprivate lessons. These are a great way to step up your game in a safe & supportive environment.
BMX LESSONS, SCOOTER LESSONS & SKATEBOARDING LESSONS IN OTTAWA
BMX lessons cover a variety of skills including:
- Fundamentals like bike positioning, balance, vision and cornering
- Intermediate skills like pumping and jumping
- Advanced skills like in-air bike control, boosting jumps, riding the bowl, rails and tricks.
Rider skill level and how quickly they learn a new skill will dictate how long is spent on each skillset
- Beginner classes may never touch on the advanced skills
- Advanced classes may only spend a short time on basics but we like to check them – the biggest limiter for a good rider’s potential is flawed fundamentals
While lessons will give the student the knowledge they need to improve, it’s the practice they do outside of lessons that will determine how quickly they progress
Scooter lessons cover a variety of skills including:
- Fundamentals like scooter positioning, balance, vision and cornering
- Intermediate skills like pumping and jumping
- Advanced skills like boosting jumps, riding the bowl, rails and tricks.
The level of the rider and how quickly they learn will dictate how long is spent on each skillset
- Beginner classes will likely never touch on the advanced skills
- Advanced classes may only spend a short time on the basics but we like to check them – the biggest limiter for a good rider’s potential is flawed fundamentals
While lessons will give the student the knowledge they need to improve, it’s the practice they do outside of lessons that will determine how quickly they progress
Skateboard lessons cover a variety of skills including:
- Fundamentals like positioning, balance and pumping transitions
- Intermediate skills like ollies, dropping in, manuals and riding the pump-track
- Advanced skills like grinding, kick-flips and launching the jumps
The level of the rider (and how quickly they learn) will dictate how long is spent on each skillset
- Beginner classes will likely never touch on the advanced skills
- Advanced classes may only spend a short time on fundamentals but we like to check them – the biggest limiter for a good skater’s potential is flawed fundamentals
While lessons will give the student the knowledge they need, it’s the practice they do outside of lessons that will determine how quickly they progress.
CLASSES FOR GROUPS & PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZED LESSONS
1. Group lessons are our most economical option for formal instruction
2. In groups of up to 6 students, our instructors will guide the class through a progression of lessons to help get them to the next level
3. Lessons are 1 hour long
4. Lessons are grouped by discipline (bike/skate/scooter) and by skill levels, as follows:
- Fundamentals like bike positioning, balance, vision and cornering
- Intermediate skills like pumping and jumping
- Advanced skills like in-air bike control, boosting jumps, riding the bowl, rails and tricks.
5. While we will have standard blocks of times in the calendar for lessons, we are happy to add more if there is demand. Just email us at [email protected].
Note – lessons do NOT include a park pass. If you are interested in using the park before and/or after, a park pass can be purchased at the special rate of $15 for students in lessons that day.
1. Semi-Private lessons are a good option for 2 or 3 friends or family to take lessons together
2. They provide a better teacher to student ratio than a full group class, more flexibility for scheduling and are more economical than a private lesson
3. The instructor will guide the students through a progression of skills to help get them to the next level
4. Lessons can be booked for BMX, Mountain Bike, Scooter and Skateboard for all skill levels
- Ideally students have similar skill levels to get the most out of a semi-private lesson but instructors can work with different ages/skillsets (e.g. for siblings of different ages)
- Students in a semi-private lesson must be of same discipline (e.g. both skateboarding – can’t have one on a skateboard and another on a bike or scooter)
5. Semi-private lessons can be arranged at almost any time during regular operating hours. We request 1 week’s notice to help ensure we can schedule an instructor but we will always do our best to accommodate last minute requests too, so feel free to ask. If we can, we will make it happen..
Note – lessons do NOT include a park pass. If you are interested in using the park before and/or after the lesson, a park pass can be purchased at the special rate of $15 for students in lessons (only good for day of the lesson)
1. A one-on-one lesson with an instructor is the fastest path to improvement
2. A series of private lessons can save months, or even years, of trial and error by ingraining proper technique (or fixing flawed technique)
3. A quick discussion and assessment will allow the instructor to identify what to focus on with the student, then they will spend the rest of the lesson addressing the student’s needs.
4. Students will leave the lesson with some “homework” – while big strides can be made during the lessons themselves, students who practice diligently outside of the lessons will see the biggest benefit
5. Lessons can be booked for BMX, Scooter and Skateboard for all skill levels
6. Private lessons can be arranged at almost any time during regular operating hours. We request 1 week’s notice to help ensure we can schedule an instructor but we will always do our best to accommodate last minute requests too, so feel free to ask. If we can, we will make it happen.
Note – lessons do NOT include a park pass. If you are interested in using the park before and/or after the lesson, a park pass can be purchased at the special rate of $15 for students in lessons (only good for day of the lesson)
Register for Group Lessons (6 weeks)
We have both beginner and intermediate lessons. If the session you are interested in is full, please email us at [email protected]. If there is enough interest, we can add another group.
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@theyardottawa
JOIN US AT
THE YARD OTTAWA
Ottawa’s newest and best indoor bike and skate park, The Yard welcomes you! Below you’ll find our hours and days of operation, as well as our physical location. We look forward to seeing you soon at The Yard!
265 City Centre Avenue, Ottawa, ON
Monday – Friday: 3pm to 10pm
Saturday: 9am – 11am (family time), 11am – 9pm (everyone)
Sunday: 9am – 11am (family time), 11am – 9pm (everyone)
GIVE THE YARD A SHOUT!
If you have any questions about our facilities or our programs, drop us a line and we’ll be in touch ASAP.