Photo Story: Not Your Typical High School

May 29, 2022
by riley gardner  

photo
A SEMESTER IN EUROPE
WITH
WORLD CLASS ACADEMY
Senior Madison Swanson drops into a new adventure.

Words by World Class Academy MTB

On May 5th, 2022, World Class Academy MTB celebrated its first graduating class. This marked the end of a successful first year for the traveling, mountain biking high school. During the first semester, the school traveled throughout the PNW and the US Southwest. The school then packed their bags and readied their passports as they traveled to Europe for the second semester. In search of the best winter riding destinations, the third quarter took place in Portugal and the fourth quarter was spent in Italy and France.

photo
Program Director Riley Gardner speaks at graduation in Italy in May.

World Class Academy is a far cry from the typical high school. World Class Academy is a fully accredited, private high school that combines academics with athletics, travel, and cultural immersion. WCA is a college-preparatory high school for grades 9-12 that mixes students’ passion for biking with an academic model that mixes international travel with hands-on learning from teachers who are also coaches and mentors. As students travel to the world’s top mountain biking destinations in the world, they do so while gaining an unmatched academic experience. Students travel with their teachers and classmates to these high-caliber MTB destinations. During the week, the team holds classes during the day and rides after class. Education and experience are intertwined at WCA, as traditional course content is oriented toward daily experiences and surrounding environments. Small classes led by motivated teachers provide an individualized approach focused on active student participation in the educational process. On weekends, the school rides all day. The school is first and foremost an academic institution, but the entire school shares a passion for mountain biking and traveling.

photo
Elias Hassfeld leads his classmates Max Jackson and Kai Manspeaker through a French classic.

World Class Academy was founded in 2001 and has four different programs: the Kayak Academy, the Climbing Academy, the Kiteboard Academy, and the MTB Academy. The MTB Academy is the newest program to utilize WCA's unique education model.

photo
The entire school at graduation.

10 students enrolled for the second semester. These students came from all over the globe- Massachusetts, British Columbia, California, Oregon, Washington, Kansas, Wisconsin, Peru, and even Germany. Along with a staff full of unique backgrounds in education and cycling, the table was set for a fantastic school year. The second-semester destinations in Portugal, Italy, and France proved to be ideal for both riding and learning.

bigquotesWe could not have asked for a better first year for the mountain bike academy. The students, the faculty, the destinations... all made for an incredible school year. We are excited to see what the future holds for our newest program. Principal Capo Rettig


photo
Q3: PORTUGAL
Sam Beatty on one scenic section of Burros trail.

Portugal
World Class Academy MTB landed in Lisboa, Portugal in late January to kick off the third quarter of the second semester.

For the first three weeks, the WCA team was based in the quaint civil parish of Colares in the municipality of Sintra. The team stayed in a large, rented house in Colares that had plenty of room for classes and was close to the trails. Sintra is a downright remarkable area. This is a common summer getaway in Portugal due to the proximity to Lisbon, the mountainous landscape, the nearby beaches, and the historical sites. The Sintra mountains separate this area from the nearby population centers of Lisboa and Cascais. These mountains slope down westwardly towards the Atlantic Ocean and jut out into the sea forming the Cabo da Roca- the westernmost point of the European continent.

photo
Elias Hassfeld from Germany drops into some of Sintra's steepest.

photo
Environmental Science teacher Gianna Ossello races through a beautiful berm.

photo
History and Language Arts teacher Svenga Forstrom cruises through Sintra forests.

Sintra is also full of cultural and historical sites. One day after classes, the school took a rest day from riding and went and exploited the Palacio Da Pena and the Moorish Castle - classic sites of Sintra.

photo
photo
Students enjoy being tourists at the Pena Palace. Kai Manspeaker enjoys a coffee at the palace.

Stationed in Colares, the team quickly discovered that Sintra is a rider’s paradise. The Sintra Mountains are home to an incredible mix of trails that have something to suit everybody. The team would pedal up the grueling climbs every day after school, and save some shuttle days for the weekend. Trips to the beach were also common, as some of Portugal’s famous beaches were a quick pedal away from the house.

photo
Junior Aidan Weld one-foots for the Atlantic Ocean.

photo
Svenga navigates the loose steeps of Level 11.

photo
Gianna jumps her way down the trail.

photo
Elias Hassfeld leaps through the Portuguese forest.

The team pedaled up the Sintra mountains from the house almost every day. The climb is steep and grueling and whipped the group into shape. Luckily, the trails that go down the mountain are well worth the climb up. Most are quite steep and have sections of technical rock gardens, roots, and tight corners. Some our favorite trails were Kamikaze, Rochoso, Level 11, Morango, 16 Psyche, Home, 17 Paus, and Burros. Burros is a special trail. Starting at the westernmost peak of the Sintra mountains at the site of an old convent, the trail winds its way down an arid hillside and ends at a beach. The long trail transformed throughout the ride down from a bumpy rock garden, to flowy jump lines, to sandy, loose turns, and ended at a picturesque beach that was appreciated by all. On some of the weekend shuttle rides, the team made the most of this one-of-a-kind trail.

photo
Senior from BC, Sam Beatty drops through some tech Sintra beauty.

photo
Madison Swanson finds some airtime.

photo
photo
Students Max, Finn, and Kai do a local clean up during Environmental Science class. Aidan, Madison, and Jonah get into some after-ride reading.

photo
Kai Manspeaker, from Wisconsin, styles a drop in Sintra.

photo
Elias Hassfeld gaps some rocks on Level 11.

After three weeks in Sintra, the team packed up the entire school and moved to Lousã. Famous for the World Cup Downhill races there, Lousã is a true gem. The WCA team spent two weeks there, riding all of the trails Lousã had to offer. The town of Lousã is small and quaint, without too much going on besides mountain biking. Unusually dry winter conditions did not slow the team’s stoke down for the steep and fun terrain found at Louzanpark. While in Sintra, the team mostly pedaled to the top and shuttled occasionally; in Lousã–the team shuttled almost every day and pedaled up occasionally. LouzanMTB hooked the team up with a great shuttle service and ensured that laps were repeated and downhill skills improved.

photo
Sophmore Finn Smith from Kansas, boosts a jump in Lousã.

The trails in Lousã at Louzanpark were steep, demanding, and dry. Every trail we rode had a steep, technical section, a fast loamy section, and some jumps. The team did their best to explore every trail. The top of the mountain - Terros de Bruxios- had slightly less steep and fast sections that made for quick laps. From Terros to the bottom, the most commonly taken track was the World Cup Downhill track. There was also an “enduro” trail that is used for the Fox Enduro race every year. Both of these tracks were very steep and full of difficult corners, technical sections, gaps, drops, and jumps. The WC race track was a favorite of a lot of the team. Being able to get lap after lap of these demanding and fun trails resulted in some serious progression over the two weeks there.

Senior Jonah Pitchel made this edit of Finn Smith for media productions class.


photo
Kai Manspeaker drops into some loose, steep, terrain in Lousã.

photo
Teacher Ally Faller flies down the Lousã trails.

photo
Economics class works in the Lousã library for the day. Teacher Svenga Forstrom finds a nice spot to do some work.
photo

photo
Madison Swanson leads Jonah Pitchel and Svenga Forstromdown the Terros sections in Lousã.

photo
Sam Beatty flies down a steep section.

photo
Aidan Weld nac-nacs one of the bottom jumps of the World Cup track.


photo
Finn Smith styles over one of the biggest jumps at Louzanpark.

photo
Gianna Ossello whips the bottom jumps at Louzanpark.

World Class Academy was not the only team visiting Lousã! While the school was there whole teams from Trek, Scott, Commencal, and Raaw, along with Finn Illes, Lewis Buchanan, and other racers were there ripping up the Lousã track and enjoying the nice weather. This was a memorable experience for the students- seeing the pros ride right in front of their eyes!

photo
Madison surfs her way down a dusty Lousã track.
photo
Finn Illes signs some autographs for students.

photo
Ally Faller races over the roots.

photo
Max Jackson no hands over the town of Lousã.

After Lousã, The WCA team headed back to Sintra for the final 2 weeks of the quarter. Back in familiar terrain, the team took advantage of the opportunity to finish the quarter’s big projects for school, and ride optimal conditions.


photo
Q4: Italy and France
Max Jackson holds speed through a scenic berm.

Q4: Italy and France
In early March, the team departed for Spring break. In late March the team reconvened at Milano Airport in Italy. From there, the team spent three weeks in the Mediterranean enduro paradise of Finale Ligure.

Italy treated World Class Academy exceptionally well. The region of Liguria is a special place. This area is where huge, sprawling mountains meet the Mediterranean sea. Arriving in Finale, the sign welcomes you to The Outdoor Capital of Italy. Finale has certainly earned this reputation– in addition to a seemingly infinite number of bike trails, the area is also home to numerous climbing crags, some of Italy’s best surf breaks, paragliding sites, and more. Finale is also home to mouthwatering gelato, savory focaccia, pesto, and a litany of other Italian culinary delicacies. The food and cultural experiences of Finale rivaled the bike trails in making it a perfect World Class destination.

photo
Senior Max Jackson loved the trails of Finale Ligure.

photo
Madison Swanson joined the school from White Salmon, Washington and will be attending Western Washington University next year.

photo
Senior Sam Beatty and Max Jackson in the Italian tech.

Finale Ligure has been an iconic mountain biking destination for a long time now. Originally home to some of Italy’s early downhill races in the 90s, it has since been a recurring stop on the Enduro World Series for the last several seasons. Over the initial three weeks there, WCA rode many of the EWS stages from the past 5 years. When the team shuttled, they started at Base Nato- an old, decommissioned Nato Base- a relic from the Cold War. The views from the Nato Base were incredible. Looking north one could see the snowcapped Alps. Looking south, many kilometers below one could see the town of Finale and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It always felt surreal, “Are we really going to ride all the way down there?” 

photo
Elias Hassfeld finds his air time in Finale.

photo
Ally Faller hops her way through the Finale forests.

photo
Max Jackson drops through one of the classics of the area.

photo
Finn Smith leads Kai and Elias through a berm.

The sheer amount of trails, and the variety of riding within, truly make Finale one of the best places for Enduro-style mountain biking. There are hoards of mountain bikers in Finale at this time of the year. At the trailheads, cafes, and gelaterias– bikes, helmets, and riders are sprawled out all over the place. This is the only place the team has been so far where a group of 12 bikers simply blends in with the hundreds of other traveling bikers. For a cyclist, Finale is one of the places to be.

photo
Gianna Ossello leads her mentee Madison through Finale's steep tech.

However, World Class Academy tries to never become comfortable in one place, and in Mid-April, the team packed up and headed 4-5 hours north to Dignes-les-Baines, France. The cuisine and riding terrain here varied greatly from Finale. The focaccia was traded for baguettes and the steep tech was traded for machine-built flow. Dignes-les-Baines is home to EVO Bike Park– one of the best bike parks in all of Europe. EVO proved to be well worth the travel to get to.

photo
Aidan Welds boosts a nac-nac with a scenic backdrop at EVO.


What the park may lack in terms of the number of trails is more than made up for in the quality. These are well-designed, well-cared-for, high-quality trails with options for every type of rider. From fun, flow trails– to steep, technical gnar, the park had it all. The trail WCA rode the most- “Whip It” was one of the favorites of the entire school year. The jumps were sizable but perfectly built, flowing from one jump to the next, as the trails weaved their way down the mountain. “Slate Line” was another popular trail for the group- with a more technical descent that eventually popped out onto a steep, treeless ridge with black earth– or Terre Noir– that this area is known for. Lap after lap at the park almost always resulted in lots of hoots and hollers and exclamations that it was “the best lap yet!” The trails and community being created at the EVO bike park are certainly a positive force in mountain bike culture. WCA is proud to be able to be a part of such an incredible community for two weeks this school year. 

photo
Finn Smith leads the group with a table over one of EVO's many jumps.

photo
Elias, Finn, Aidan, and madison get stoked for another lap on the ride up

photo
Elias Hassfeld fine-tuned his whips at EVO.

photo
Aidan Weld grabs his seat behind the back.

But Dignes might want to consider adopting the slogan “come for the bike park, stay for the other trails” for marketing campaigns. On the days that the bike park was closed, WCA explored Dignes’ enduro trails– which also proved to be incredible. It was a fairly long climb to the top from the campsite (about 10 miles/16 km) but the trails down were well worth it. The first trail the team would usually descend– Cretes de Saint-Jean– is likely one of the most unique trails in the world. The trail starts in a pine forest, but then suddenly breaks out onto a narrow ridge that is made of soft, black dirt. It feels akin to riding a ridge on the moon! The trail weaves in and out of the forest and onto grey, slate rock, oftentimes marked only by cairns (reminiscent of trails in the US southwest). The trail alternates from fast and flowy to steep and technical. It was a proper backcountry experience as well– far from roads or civilizations, until the end of the trail popped back out into the outskirts of Dignes.  


photo
Elias leads Max and Kai through the Terre Noire.

photo
The trails beyond the bike park will be some of the strongest memories from the team's time in France.

The combination of an outstanding bike park, alpine adventure riding, and baguettes made for an incredible lifestyle. Dignes-les-Baines is certainly a place that World Class Academy MTB will return to for years to come. 

photo
Gianna takes a break from teaching Environmental Science and Spanish to rip some Terre Noire.

photo
Finn Smith toboggans at EVO Bike Park

Then the team headed back to Finale for the last week of school and Graduation. Final projects and exams were taken and the last bits of pizza and gelato were eaten. It had become time to wrap up the school year. Graduation is a special time at every World Class Academy. However, the first graduation of the MTB academy was especially so. Families traveled from far and wide to celebrate the graduation and end of the school year. Teachers gave heartwarming speeches about the students, and graduating seniors spoke about their life-changing experiences from the school year. For World Class Academy, this graduation marked the end of the first year of the MTB program. After such a successful first year, this will be the first of many years to come.

photo
The team atop Finale's Nato Base with some parents and the school principal on the last ride of the schoolyear the day before graduation.

photo
The student body at graduation.

photo
photo
The faculty of WCA MTB. Ally Faller gives a heartfelt speech.

photo
Principal Rettig passes out diplomas to the graduating seniors. Most of this graduating class is off to university next year, with a couple of students exploring other options.

World Class Academy MTB is on the hunt for students for the 2022-23 schoolyear! We have many students enrolled already, but we are looking for a few more! The team will be traveling to British Columbia, Spain, New Zealand, and France.

For more information, check out worldclassacademy.com

Or email info@worldclassacademy.com or riley@worldclassacademy.com for more information!

If you or anyone you know might be interested in joining our team, please reach out to us!

Also, follow us on Instagram for more updates!

photo
Max Jackson rides off into his future after an epic senior year!


Posted In:
Stories


Author Info:
rileygardner avatar

Member since Aug 11, 2015
11 articles

53 Comments
  • 101 3
 How to be succesful in life:

Step 1: Have a wealthy background

That's all folks, have a nice sunday.
  • 11 0
 Accurate.
  • 22 1
 Right. No reality here, just the Trust kids.
  • 18 0
 i am waiting for the Dubai summer session, you know, for the next level of affluence
  • 9 1
 We all know exactly what this is: whoever runs the venture likes to mountain bike and travel. Passion for education is a simple beard for wanting every day to be Saturday.
  • 13 2
 For serious. Privilege begets privilege it seems. At least these kids don't need a real education to be "financially successful" in life.
  • 16 15
 I respectfully disagree. It is about your mindset, what you believe is possible and your priorities. We could not “afford” this, we are not wealthy. However, the quality of our kids educational experience has always been a top priority for us and we were committed to making it work. Our son qualified for a partial scholarship, we made it work by sacrificing other things and being open to manage the debt it would bring. Instead of saying we couldn’t afford it, we asked ourselves, how can we?
  • 6 0
 @Cgsunshines: good for you. Lol
  • 12 1
 $40k USD p/yr not including airfare, equipment, insurance, shipping gear, “spending money”. One year of this high school costs more than my 5 years of in-state university that included both undergraduate and graduate studies.
  • 27 4
 It’s funny how many people on this site are desperate to claim their poverty cred like it’s a badge of honor. News flash: we all ride around on bikes that cost thousands of dollars which is an insane amount of money to spend on a recreational activity. Whether your bike is $3,000 or $10,000 we are all rich douchebags to 99% of the world.
  • 7 2
 @sspiff:
What’s a “real” education? Public school where they’re closed half the time due to covid restrictions and seniors do crossword puzzles once they’ve passed multiple choice standardized tests?
Regular school is a total joke that removes curiosity and questioning. This sounds way better
  • 2 0
 @GBeard: preach.
  • 26 1
 If you’ve ever wondered why there’s so many people with, “BMX background’s”out there

Its probably because, MTB background’s cost FORTY FREAKIN GRAND Eek
  • 2 0
 Different perspectives to read this article:
-as a student
-as a parent
-….
I just can say that I feel stupidly jealous about this guys!!
  • 2 0
 Different perspectives to read this article:
-as a student
-as a parent
-….
I just can say that I feel stupidly jealous about this guys!!
  • 17 1
 Yes, I am jealous, but if those kids are not the most humble and appreciative people in the world, you have to question how /why this school exists.
The entrance criteria must be hyper specific:
- Unbridled passion for mtb
- Better than 'good' at riding
- Obscenely rich parents
- Progressive thinking parents to support a new and unique education environment
- Traditional toff mentality of dumping kids into boarding school arrangement
  • 10 0
 Yes to all of that, except the last one; I don't think it's 'dumping' if you're putting them into something that you genuinely believe is good for them, and not just the done thing. I'd be angling to join my kid(s) at various locations during their year
  • 15 1
 $40k USD a year for high school, that is way past dentist prices.

Not really a "school" as much as a year long vacation.
I hope they have some good classes on how to manage your trust fund.
  • 16 2
 That’s not expensive in the realm of private schools.
  • 6 0
 @somebody-else: yeah I know a guy that goes to a school with a 38,000 dollar tuition, and his school doesn’t take him around the world on mtbing trips
  • 7 0
 @somebody-else: True, but it's insane for an "MTB riding school".
I don't think it's an Ivy League college prep school....
  • 5 0
 Yeah, $40k pretty norm, if not cheap, for East Coast prep schools that don’t even keep the kids at night.

Vail Mountain School is about $50k a year and then a lot of those parents spend $30k a year for coaching fees for a full time alpine racing program. And that’s without providing food or overnight accommodations.
  • 1 0
 Yeah formsure
  • 11 0
 Having now sent a child for a semester, it has been the best education my child has received. There is far more to the school than just mountain biking. The course work is very demanding. The day is packed with classes, training, and homework. The teacher/coaches are with the students 24/7 for 12 weeks. They are great mentors for budding teenage athletes. Socially, the kids are surrounded by peers who have a common interest and are constantly motivating each other. My child thrived at WCA.

Every time WCA publishes these stories they always get the same response about price. There is so much more to this school than the price. However since everyone wants to comment on the price. Here are some comparisons for a 12 week semester:

1) Highland Ayr Academy Summer Camp (5 days with lodging = $2040) would cost $34272 for an equivalent amount of instruction in a semester or $68544 for a year without any high school education.

2) Whistler Summer Gravity Camp (6 days with lodging =$2584) would cost $36176 for an equivalent semester.

3) Outdoor Semester Schools for high school generally cost about $35000/semester.

Honestly given that the students are getting an excellent education with 10:4 student teacher ratio, they are getting great coaching, they are supervised 24/7, they are fed and lodged (young athletes eat a lot), the school pays for bike park fees and shuttles, it is actually a pretty good deal. A lot of money for sure, but a great value for what you spend. I challenge anyone to plan a 12 week mountain biking vacation in a foreign country, and pay for a tutor/coach to join you and share what that cost you.

WCA is a great value. The school and teachers are doing this out of love for the adventure, not for some massive profit. Lots of kids are on scholarships, sponsorships, or are asking help from friends and family. Parents like myself choose to prioritize and make personal sacrifices to give this opportunity to our children. I know that even with all of that it is outside the reach of many - but so is the cost of the mountain bikes PinkBiker's ride, the vans we pimp out and the bike parks we like to ride.

And yes like everyone else I am very jealous of the experience students get. Maybe I will redo high school at WCA after I finish putting my kids through high school and college.
  • 12 1
 I'm not going to tear anyone down. I'm just jealous. Some people have more money than others....at least these parents are doing something cool for their kids. Experiencing different cultures is one of the most enlightening things for anyone. I honestly believe this would probably create more motivated and humble kids than anything else. It's just a bummer the cost of entry is so high. But I bet these kids turn out as better humans than those who get the same amount spent on them in other ways.
  • 10 0
 If you've ever wondered what dentists' kids look like, you now have your answer.
  • 4 0
 IMO in Canada private school is a waste of money because the universities are all public. They also discount marks from private schools as they are known to inflate grades. Sooooo...if you don't agree and insist on sending your kid to a private school this one looks way more fun and your kid will have a story to tell at a job/uni interview which will beat any kid who went to a traditional boarding school. Not for me though as I actually like my kids and want them around.
  • 16 2
 Interesting perspective. My son is a passionate mountain biker. He got his first bike for his first birthday and his passion grew year over year. I choose to homeschool my kids so I have them around me 24/7 - I like my kids. We were not looking to send our son to boarding school or private school. He is academic and was doing well (4.0 GPA) in the public (online) system. We chose to send our son to this program because of his love of bikes and the opportunity to explore the world and do school, not because we don’t like having him around. Sending my son on this adventure was one of the most difficult things I had done and I did it because it wasn’t about me, it was about the opportunity he had for a life-changing experience in a sport he loved more than anything. I was kicking him from the nest hoping the tools and skills I gave him to this point would help him learn to fly on the way down. And he soared.
  • 7 0
 @Cgsunshines: Good on you! They only grow up once, and often it is the overall life experience that shapes the kids more than slogging through AP classes with hundreds of others. I spent and sacrificed plenty on my kids' education and it was absolutely the right life priority call.
  • 5 0
 I grew up playing Ice Hockey at a High School Level in Michigan and schools like this for hockey were everywhere. Doesn't surprise me. Likely a more rounded education that most spoiled brats in private schools will ever get.
  • 7 0
 "Money can't buy you happiness."
  • 27 1
 No but it makes being miserable more enjoyable
  • 4 1
 In my area, there are many private HS topping the $40K/year mark plus extras for trips abroad, etc. Kudos to parents who can offer their kids this experience, either by having the means or by making sacrifices, finding help, etc. This is cool!

Make me want to go back to school, Rodney Dangerfield style...
  • 4 1
 A lot of folks miss the point here. I have a kid in private school. It costs a ton. I have to make a lot of personal sacrifice for that to occur. He goes because it gives him the best support for his educational needs. Lots of people sell their homes etc to put their kids in private school. So quite with the entitled BS. Secondly, sadly most of these kids will quit riding as they get older because thats life
  • 2 0
 Thoughts and prayers
  • 5 0
 Wow - Mullet and Man-Bun game STRONG in this school!
  • 2 1
 The student body president’s platform was “if elected I will get a mullet” and he followed through.
  • 2 1
 Tell me you’re a trust fund kid without saying it ….


This reminds me of the scene from 30 Rock where Devin Banks tells Jack about the private schools he attended as a kid.
  • 3 1
 Thats nice for you. My school was completely shit
  • 5 7
 The only high school where,you get to wear your, Vans hightop sk8’s or your 5/10 Freeriders to the graduation ceremony!!
And, if for some reason you don’t graduate, you’ll have to attend summer school and ride your bike aaaaalll summer !!
  • 1 0
 What a great experience to travel and MTB.

Are these all future dentists ?
  • 1 0
 Wonder how much that costs
  • 6 0
 $40k a year plus gear, shipping, airfare.
  • 10 8
 @wburnes: It's worth noting that financial aid and scholarships are both available.
  • 2 2
 @aaronjb: still hella expensive
  • 1 0
 How much could a banana cost.... $10? $20?
  • 1 1
 Lol the mask theater is HILARIOUS!







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.048965
Mobile Version of Website