Mt Hutt Bike Camp 2026
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
Gritt hosted the second edition of the Mt Hutt Gritt Camp on February 15th–16th, bringing together an epic crew of coaches and groms for a weekend packed with progression, laughs, and all-time vibes.
After some solid laps, it was time for a quick refuel before heading back up for the second session. As the morning rolled on, the tracks began to dry out, and the Mt Hutt College crew really found their rhythm, putting in quality laps and keeping the coaches on their toes on the jump line. By lunchtime, everyone was ready to recharge, with the classic Kiwi sausage in bread doing the job perfectly.
The third session of the day saw the crew split into more focused groups, each with something to work on. One dialled in jumps with Sammy G and Dan, while the rest kept stacking laps across the park. The kids were throwing down some seriously stylish shapes, and confidence levels were climbing fast as conditions turned to hero dirt. By the end of the day: all groms accounted for, plenty of progression made, and only one shoe sacrificed to the cause.
Day two saw the forecast slightly less optimal, with weather rolling in overnight. In true Gritt fashion, the crew adapted and made the most of it, shifting gears into a series of engaging classroom sessions. These covered everything from nutrition and race-day preparation to insights into competing at the highest level and pathways within the freeride industry. The sessions wrapped up with problem-solving challenges, reaction-based tasks, and a few well-earned prizes. A huge thanks to Smith Optics NZ and Specialized NZ for contributing.
To close out the camp, the crew headed to the skills park. While conditions were less than ideal, the stoke levels were anything but. Everyone got stuck in, worked on fundamentals, and finished the weekend on a high note.
Despite the conditions, the Mt Hutt Gritt Camp was another massive success. The Gritt crew had an unreal time riding, coaching, and connecting with such a motivated group of young riders and we can’t wait to see where it all leads.
Of course, a huge thanks to our coaches for coming out and sharing their knowledge:
Charlie Murray
Matt Walker
Sam Gale
Craig Oliver
Dan Cleland
Xanthe Robb
Maria Lauire
And to our media crew:
Photo - Mikhail Huggins
Video - James Saunders
