OUR ROOTS: FROM PMBIA TO GSMBC

One Sport. One Global COACHING Standard.

GSMBC (Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches) was founded by the same industry leaders who created and established the PMBIA (Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association).

HOW IT STARTED

In 2006, ZEPtechniques (based in Whistler) launched the original PMBI Courses, pioneering a skill-based approach to mountain bike instructor training. The goal was to raise the bar across the industry by offering a single, unified certification that trained instructors to teach both cross-country and downhill riding through one system.

From 2006 to 2014, PMBI was developed, delivered, and refined exclusively by ZEP, becoming the global leader in mountain bike coach education—responsible for 80% of mountain bike instructor certifications across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. During this time, PMBI included the Junior Instructor, Level 1, Level 2 AIR, Level 2 TECH and the ground-breaking PMBI Level 3 Skills Coaching Courses.

During the same period, Endless Biking (based in North Vancouver) was running its own instructor program—MBIT—with many shared values and high-quality outcomes. Recognizing the opportunity to build something stronger together, Paul and Shannon from ZEP and Darren and Kelli from Endless Biking partnered up in 2015 to create the PMBI Association: a not-for-profit, globally recognized and unified certification body that:

• Maintained the integrity and success of both original programs

• Elevated and inspired a new level of professionalism in the mountain bike coaching industry

• Formed the most widely adopted instructor certification in North America, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries including UK, Spain, Japan, UK, Chile, South Africa and more

The formation of the PMBI Association marked a decade of leadership, collaboration, and evolution in the sport. PMBIA’s goal of one sport-one system, was born out of the idea to bring a much needed sense of community, consistency and professionalism to mountain bike coaching standards. This was and still is, our goal today.

WHY GSMBC?

GSMBC was founded in 2025 to bring a fresh approach to mountain bike instructor training and refocus on what we do as mountain bike coaches. From ‘instructor training’ grew the next evolution—‘coach education’—designed specifically to meet the evolving needs of today’s riders and coaches. The goal is to connect with communities by bringing maximum value to every coach, bike park, coaching business, school team or volunteer program—and elevate what a coach education organization can be.

Born from the same pioneering leadership that launched and evolved the PMBIA, GSMBC (Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches) is the next step in the evolution of coach education. We've drawn on over two decades of experience and global impact to reimagine what coaching certification can and should be in today's fast-moving world.

• GLOBAL
  GSMBC was founded to bring a fresh approach to mountain bike instructor training and refocus on what we do as mountain bike coaches. From ‘instructor training’ grew the next evolution—‘coach education’—designed specifically to meet the evolving needs of today’s riders and coaches.

  As a syndicate—a true collaboration of industry experts from around the world—GSMBC is committed to a no-compromise approach in developing the best coach education resources globally. We support everyone from individual instructors and coaches to businesses, coaching providers, and the world’s largest bike parks across continents. Through pioneering, industry-leading education and certification solutions, GSMBC elevates the standards and global recognition of mountain bike coaching..

• UNRIVALED
  We are unaffiliated with any single brand, organization, or agenda. This independence gives us the freedom to lead boldly, move decisively, and create programs that set the standard—empowering coaches at every level, from first-time instructors to World Cup team managers pursuing elite performance.

• INNOVATIVE
  Our education model includes:

• An industry-leading Global Education Team led by Paul Howard, principal author of all PMBI/PMBIA and GSMBC materials.

• The world’s most advanced 4-Tier Coach Education & Certification System.

• Flexible learning formats — in-person, online, and hybrid — ensuring maximum accessibility to professional coach education.

• Adaptive scheduling to meet regional and seasonal demands anywhere in the world.

• Extensive support resources, including live webinars, coaching analytics tools, and multilingual materials.

• Customized training solutions designed to meet the specific needs of organizations, bike parks, and coaching businesses.

We're combining proven fundamentals with modern tools to create coach education that meets coaches where they are—and takes them where they want to go.

• AFFORDABLE
  We’re committed to reducing financial barriers:

• Lower course fees

• No costly mandatory memberships

• Retest options through SportSense that minimize costs and stress

This ensures more coaches get access to the training they need, without breaking the bank.

Our mission isn't just to certify instructors—it's to empower coaches. That means providing a flexible, forward-thinking system that grows with the sport and supports every stage of a coach’s journey. Whether you’re developing new riders, leading national teams, or simply pushing your own growth as a coach, GSMBC is here to help you level up. This is the next generation of mountain bike coach education—and it’s built for today.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF COACH EDUCATION

We are focused a future for coaching that is inclusive, dynamic, and scalable. GSMBC programs reflect this vision by blending our deep roots in industry-leading methodology with modern tools, technologies, and accessibility.

We’ve helped thousands of instructors, coaching companies and bike parks all over the world, grow through PMBIA. Now, with GSMBC, we’re scaling that success even further—with new partnerships, top tier technology and support systems, and a commitment to the never ending pursuit towards raising the global standards of mountain bike coaching.

GSMBC: BUILT BY THE FOUNDERS. DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE.

Join the movement that’s building the next evolution of mountain bike coach education and certifications.

➡️ Get started and check out the GSMBC Programs Overview page
➡️ Or explore our membership options to access online courses, webinars and more!

➡️ Check out the GSMBC Partner Podcast Donuts & Bikes Episode S04E01 to learn more about the transition to GSMBC and the evolution from ‘instructor training’ to ‘coach education’…