Professional Approach
In 1998
HMB initiated an apprenticeship-training program, the first & only such
program seen in Nepal and the Asian region, to develop the broad skills required
by a mountain biking guide.
Everything from bike skill development, fitness, dress codes, mechanical skills,
workshop procedures, communication skills, first aid and guiding skills have
been embraced and built into a curriculum which is taught, tested & examined.
International professional mechanics, racers and guides have been invited
to Nepal by HMB to lead parts of our curriculum and offer a broader perspective
to our skills base rather than it becoming introverted given Nepal's somewhat
geographic isolated location.
HMB's tiered system of tours allows guides to start from the bottom rung of workshop maintenance and progressively move into the guiding of day tours, multi day tours then international tours as their skills mature. The incentives of more prestige tours, international travel and better pay keeps the boys motivated. In the past 12 years HMB has trained and employed over 95% of all-Nepalese guides that currently operate in the industry.
Associations
In 1996 the
Nepal Mountain Biking Association (NMBA) was formed and our senior guides
lead the thrust to get an association started and registered. This has lead
to the sports further development both locally and internationally. It was
HMB's staff that made up much of the committee and has held the chair in the
past 4 years.
Since that time Nepal's mountain bikers have competed successfully internationally
with some
athletes now ride for a Pro-team in the USA UCI affiliation guidelines, rules
and policies have been adopted by the NMBA.
