Here is the first of a series of blogs from double World Champion Scott 'Boom Boom' Beaumont as the pro-rider takes on a new challenge in his biking career; coaching.
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"After years of helping friends, and offering advice and tips to fellow riders on a pretty frequent basis at race events and whilst out training, I decided that this winter was the time to knuckle down and get my full set of British Cycling coaching qualifications.
The course will begin with the Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Cycling. I will then look to move on and attain my Level 2 BMX and Level 2 MTB specific awards before finally getting my teeth into the Level 3 MTB Certificate. I will be looking to complete these within the next year as I fit them in around my day job – being a professional 4X Mountain Bike rider.
My cycling career started in BMX, where I raced at regional level from the age of four, until I was racing at international and World Championship events when I was 18. After winning the World Championships for a second time in front of a home crowd in Brighton in 1996, I was made an offer I simply could not refuse, to become a pro mountain bike rider racing in downhill and dual slalom.
So in 1997 I switched sports to race Mountain Bikes as a full time profession. At that point I had never ridden a Mountain Bike before in my life, but my new sponsor had faith and I began a new career. From that day I have not looked back and I have enjoyed a successful career on Mountain Bikes. As time has passed though, my focus has shifted from the original two disciplines of Downhill and Slalom, to the new sport of 4X – a sport that was developed as Slalom was replaced with the new four rider action packed sport that took Mountain Biking to the masses. My 4X career has been pretty eventful, with plenty of success and a little bit of disappointment as well, but I would not have changed a thing.
It is my experience as a BMX rider, DH rider, Dual Slalom rider, 4X rider and during my training times XC rider and Road rider that has really made me consider my future, where I can begin to offer something back to fellow cyclists and provide coaching to riders of all abilities. I have raced and trained on bicycles for 29 years, and at 33 now, I am really excited to start offering coaching with British Cycling’s help.
So my course begins, as I mentioned, with the Level 2 for Coaching Cycling Award. I am really excited to get started and go back to the classroom for the next two days. ‘It’s time to teach this old dog some new tricks!’
The preparation for my new journey into coaching could not have been any easier. After looking at www.britishcycling.org.uk/coaching, I found the date that worked for me, applied online and that was it, the ball was rolling.
The resources that BC have sent to me in the run up to starting my course are fantastic. It really does seem that there are no stones left unturned by British Cycling. The books are interesting, simple to understand and are obviously going to become a coach’s bible. I have had a steady flow of emails and contact with the same person from BC every step of the way. It really has been one of the simplest processes this far.
So that is enough from me for now. I am off to pack the items on my checklist (provided by BC) into my car and get ready to start my course.
My advice to anyone who is thinking of applying to British Cycling to become a coach in the future; Go for it. This far, the process could not have been any simpler and I can’t wait to get started in the classroom.
Be sure to check back here in the next couple of weeks to see how the first two days of my Level 2 course went and what homework I have before day three!
Cheers,
Scott Beaumont.
