A Few Thoughts on Riding Exam Prep
This one is for the CASI Nerds!… Could also be helpful for competition though 🤷
I’m running a Level 4 ride prep day in a couple of days, and it got me thinking about what actually matters when preparing for a riding exam.
So I wrote a few things down to help me facilitate — thought it might be useful here… and maybe it can help someone else :)
1. Ride the Terrain You’re Likely to Be Assessed On
Sounds obvious… but I’m not sure people do it properly…
Don’t just ride through it —figure it out
Where do you need speed?
Where do you need control?
What lines actually make sense?
Exams tend to use pretty predictable zones. Spend time there and understand how it rides.
2. Don’t Avoid the Park
Even if park isn’t your strength — it still matters.
Do a few proper laps!
Work out timing
See how features link
Find something simple you can do well
Let the terrain guide you rather than forcing tricks.
3. Use TTPPEE as a framework
Most people know TTPPEE:
Technical
Tactical
Physical
Psychological
Environmental
Equipment
But it often stays theoretical.
Use it to organise your prep:
Tactical → What’s the smartest way to ride this terrain?
Technical → What movements support that and help you perform the task the best?
Physical → Come ready to ride well. Eat properly, warm up, stretch. This is high performance — treat it like that. Be an athlete.
Psychological → What puts you in your best performance window? That looks different for everyone — I remember yelling Marty McFly before my bumps run 😂… figure out what works for you.
Environmental → Snow conditions, visibility, speed — what’s changing and how do you adapt?
Equipment → Keep your gear dialled. Edges, wax, bindings — but also what you wear. Being comfortable matters more than people think.
It’s not six separate boxes — it’s one system influencing how you ride.
4. Looking at the big picture
Some good questions to ask:
“What does this terrain/features actually want?”
In the park:
Which of my tricks match each feature?
Does this line flow?
In freeride:
Where am I taking my line?
Where do I attack?
Where do I manage speed?
Info can help you make decisions… Good riders can adapt on the fly, but set yourself up for success.
5. Lean Into Your Strengths
Big mistake before exams:
Trying to fix everything.
Instead:
Double down on what you already do well
Strong edging? Use it
Good flow? Build around it
Air awareness? Bring it in
Then pick one technical focus to sharpen.
6. Keep It Simple
Under pressure, simple wins.
Clean >over> complicated
Confident >over> forced
Intentional >over> random
If it feels off, strip it back and adapt.
Things I’ve Seen People Get Wrong
a few I’ve seen:
1. Overcomplicating it
People try to show everything they can do instead of just riding well.
It ends up looking forced and inconsistent.
Clean, simple, well-executed riding beats trying to do too much.
2. Ignoring the terrain
Riders come in with a plan… and stick to it even when it doesn’t fit.
Wrong speed
Poor line choice
Tricks that don’t match features
The best riders adapt. They let the terrain shape their decisions.
3. Trying to fix everything last minute
A few days out and suddenly everything needs changing.
It’s too late for that.
Lean into your strengths and tidy up one key thing — not five.
4. Not showing up ready to perform
Low energy, no warm-up, gear not quite dialled.
This is a performance environment.
Treat it like one.
5. Letting pressure change how they ride
You see it all the time — solid riders suddenly ride tight or hesitant.
You don’t need a different version of your riding.
You need your normal riding, done well.
Wrap Up
Good prep isn’t about doing more.
It’s about:
Understanding terrain
Making solid tactical decisions
Showing up physically and mentally ready
Trusting your strengths
Executing cleanly
That’s my take — hopefully there’s something in there that helps you show up and ride at your best.
-Cam
