Bike School Bentonville logo with orange and black.

School is in session – Bike School, that is! OZ Trails recently welcomed Bike School Bentonville to join Visit Bentonville’s “A New American Town Podcast” sponsored by OZ Trails to get the scoop on their 2023 programming. Whether you’re looking for an extracurricular activity for your younger student, your older student dreams of racing on the world stage, or you’re an adult who needs a few lessons or a trail guide, there’s something for everyone at Bike School Bentonville.

Kyla Templeton and Nat Ross started Bike School Bentonville in 2021 as a community that creates progressive year-round bike skills programming and coach education centered on long-term wellness and development of riders and coaches into athletes and confident individuals.

For kids ages 7-13, Bike School Bentonville offers group classes (Trail Kids), private lessons, spring break and summer camps.

Child riding a mountain bike on a skinny wooden feature

Photo courtesy of Bike School Bentonville

Students in the Trail Kids program will focus on having fun, meeting new friends, and building confidence on single track trails. There is mixed-gender coaching for these groups that meet twice per week. Students will experience significant progression throughout the course of Trail Kids and be itching to get back on the trails!

Spring Break and Summer Camps presented by OZ Trails

Bike School caters to many states’ varying spring breaks, ensuring there’s always a good time to come visit and have fun on your bike. Spring Break Camps are two days on the following dates and meet from from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

  • March 13-14
  • March 20-21
  • March 22-23
  • March 27-28
  • April 3-4
  • April 10-11

Summer camps are the perfect way 5-day summer camps meet from from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

  • June 5-9 
  • June 12-16
  • June 19-23
  • July 10-14
  • July 17-21
  • July 24-28

3 Day Summer Camps meet from from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

  • May 31 – June 2
  • July 5 – 7

 

Group of teenagers stand in front of the "National Championship" banner at a bike race.

Photo courtesy of Bike School Bentonville

 

Group of student mountain bikers.

Bike School Bentonville Community Race Team. You don’t have to be a racer to enjoy this group! Photo courtesy of Bike School Bentonville.

For teens, Bike School Bentonville offers private lessons and coaching, a community race team, and The Academy race team.

  • The community race team is for kids aged 11-17 years old. This focuses on building a culture around riding and racing mountain bikes. Contrary to the name “race team,” participants are not required to race. Two sessions are offered: winter (December-February Saturdays) and spring (March-May Mondays and Thursdays). The spring session is more centered around cross-training, nutrition, goal-driven training, and racing.
  • The Academy is Bike School Bentonville’s coached performance development racing team. Its whole-person philosophy and focus is on long-term athlete development, education, developing good character, and avoiding burnout. Athletes in this program are expected to travel to races of varying disciplines throughout the region.

For adults, Bike School Bentonville offers a four-week beginner/intermediate class (beginning in March 2023), private lessons, coaching, and guide services. Don’t miss a weekly tour of Slaughter Pen trails on Saturdays at 10 a.m. presented by Visit Bentonville!

Collage of photos of bike racers

OZ Trails Town Series presented by Bike School Bentonville. If you don’t want to race, consider coming to spectate!

The OZ Trails Town Series presented by Bike School Bentonville returns to Bentonville this spring for their fourth season! This family-friendly event is a 5-week short track mountain bike race series starting on Thursday, March 30. Riders of all race experience are welcome and encouraged to participate – young kids with a strider or pedal bike, junior riders, NICA Student Athletes, Women’s A, B, C and Men’s A, B & C riders/racers. There will also be an E-bike category again this year! This event is open to all – not just for Bike School students. If you’re not feeling ready to race, you’ll want to still come and spectate alongside the Bentonville community on the sidelines! Learn more about this event here.

If you want to get involved with Bike School Bentonville as a student, coach, or volunteer, contact them on this page.

 

Stevie Emmons

After living in Frisco, Texas, for nearly 15 years, Stevie and her husband, Joe, moved to Bentonville in 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Texas and has five years of marketing experience in tourism and economic development. Her personal interests include photography, cooking, and all things dog-related. She and her husband spend their free time riding mountain bike trails, watching movies, and enjoying time on the patio at their favorite restaurants.