Mountain Biking

Introduction

Auckland Grammar School Mountain Biking has a proud history. The club was started in 1997 and is now the largest school club in Auckland, regularly fielding over 25 competitors in the Auckland Schools competition. Weekly rides are well attended with upwards of 30 riders on a regular weekend. Our focus is cross country but we endeavour to support Enduro and Downhill members, recognizing this is an area of competition.

Club rides are on Sunday mornings with members meeting at 7.45am at Gate 4 every Sunday. These rides travel to Woodhill, Riverhead, Totara Park, Waitawa, Hunua, and occasionally Fourforty Mountain Biking Park. We employ a professional coach who will spend time with each rider every term.

We also arrange trips away from Auckland to ride other fabulous tracks in the wider area. Boys are encouraged to represent Auckland Grammar in the North Island Secondary Schools competition in March and the National Secondary Schools competition in October.

We can only be so successful with the support of parents and Old Boys who regularly commit to helping with transport and coaching/supervising groups on Sundays. We ask that all parents commit at some level, even if only occasionally, such as transport, race assistance or even the BBQ. Parents who are able to regularly ride with the group and/or join the committee please contact the Master in Charge. We really value and appreciate all the assistance parents are able to give.

Our members generally ride in 3 groups depending on numbers attending:

Development

This group is for those beginning their mountain biking journey or wanting to build up fitness. In Term 1 they are expected to attend at least three basic skills sessions (either after school or Saturday afternoon) at Arch Hill Park in addition to the Sunday ride.

Development riders are expected to ride every Sunday as that is the only way they will develop fitness and skills and move up to the next group.  Riders are encouraged to enter the Auckland Schools competition if they feel confident.

The School’s Mountain Biking club is unable to accommodate riders who only attend on rare occasions as they pose a health and safety risk and we do not have the resources to provide the one-on-one supervision these riders usually require.

Intermediate

This group is for those building on their technical skills and fitness or those with advanced skills needed to improve their fitness.  Intermediate riders are expected to ride every Sunday and are encouraged to arrange their own midweek ride(s). Riders are expected to enter the Auckland Schools competition and encouraged to enter the North Island and National school competitions.

Advanced

This group is for those of advanced technical skills and a high degree of fitness.  All riders in this group are expected to compete in all Auckland and NZ Secondary Schools competitions.  From experience we find if boys commit to Mountain Biking as a sport they will progress to the Advanced group during their time at Grammar.

For further information and details about taking Mountain Biking as a sport, please click here to read the article from the 2023 School Chronicle.

2022 Captain of Mountain Biking Flynn Rhodes Macrae remembers his first memory of biking the trails at Woodhill, ending up with a face full of dirt – but he has loved it ever since. Flynn spoke with Headmaster’s Heritage Committee member David Wilson about his plans for the future, and how the squad has really grown in their skills over the past two years – watch the full interview below.