How to Do Basic Cornering with Junior Mountain Bikers?

Building Confidence, Control, and Fun on Every Turn
Cornering is one of the most exciting skills for young riders to learn — it’s where speed meets control. For junior mountain bikers, mastering the basics of cornering early helps build confidence, develop coordination, and unlock smoother, faster rides.

At Ecocana Sports, we teach young riders that great cornering isn’t about how fast you can turn — it’s about how well you can balance your body and bike together.

Look Ahead and Plan the Turn:
Before you even start leaning, teach young riders to look where they want to go — not at the front tyre!
Focus eyes ahead through the corner, not down. Spot the exit early to maintain control and confidence. A good line choice keeps the bike stable and predictable.

Lean the Bike, Not the Body:
This is where bike-body separation starts. Encourage young riders to lean the bike into the corner while keeping their body more upright.
Keep your upper body steady and centered. Push the bike underneath you as you turn. The more the bike leans, the more grip the tyres have.
[This technique — often called “dropping the bike” — helps riders corner faster while staying balanced and safe.]

Stay Relaxed and Balanced:
Tight muscles make cornering harder. Remind riders to stay loose and flexible, allowing their bikes to move freely under them.
-Keep elbows slightly bent.
-Relax the shoulders.
-Let the bike flow naturally through the corner.

Confidence grows as riders learn to trust their tyres and body movement.

Practice, Repeat, and Have Fun:
Like any skill, cornering improves with repetition.
Start slow — in a grassy park or smooth dirt area — then progress to tighter corners and faster speeds as control improves.

Demonstration
Teaching kids to corner well is about more than turning — it’s about building confidence, coordination, and control. Once they master the basics, they’ll ride smoother, faster, and with a bigger smile every time.

So next time you’re on the trail, remind your junior rider:
Look ahead, drop the bike, stay loose, and trust the turn.