The syllabus for the course covers areas such as:
Group Management
Responsibilities of the Group Leader
Navigation
Access and Conservation
General Skills
Technical Skills
Coaching
Personal Equipment
Group Equipment
Additional Interests
Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking is often associated with freedom, adventure, discovery, and exercise and promotes an opportunity to explore local and national wilderness environments.
Group leaders should always foster a high regard for the environment and other users and inhabitants and encourage in others an understanding of the problems of conservation, access and erosion. The scheme includes consideration for all of these aspects, which are vital if the ethics and traditions of the outdoors are to continue.
History of MIAS:
In 1989, Birmingham had this new kind of bicycle called a “Mountain Bike” thrust upon it and within a very short space of time, this type of cycle, became extremely popular.
It became apparent at this time, that not only young people but also all manner of people were purchasing these cycles and they wanted to take them in the off road environment.
Schools, Youth Workers, Police, just to name a few, became concerned that some form of training, as a course should be developed.
Particularly after the canoeing tragedy at Lyme Bay and the onset of The Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority (now the AALS) it would be of utmost importance to offer to all concerned the highest standard of training and qualification. The MIAS course would be able to address such issues as to safely ride as an individual but paramount, how to manage a group safely and instruct as a leader.
For this reason the MIAS course was born and has been constantly updated, re-assessed and progressed on, over the years.
The course has been running throughout Birmingham and many other parts of the United Kingdom including here in the Afan Forest Park for many years and has proved to be extremely popular within the outdoor world.
The MIAS Welsh Mountain-bike Leader Award differs from other assessments that are available throughout the UK in that:
· It is the only course to be endorsed with an Academic, Nationally Recognised Certificated Qualification, from the Awarding Body Consortium at Reading University.
· It is Externally Moderated throughout the year, to ensure the same dynamic standard is maintained.
· Every course and assessment is Internally Moderated and a written report made to the ABC.
· It is evaluated each and every time by the students.
· It has a “Steering Group” that meets at least twice a year.
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