Ghost BIKE Cross Country Youth Camp: Three days of youth development at its best

This is only possible at the Ghost BIKE Cross Country Youth Camp: training, learning and having fun together with friends and some of the best XC racers in the world. From 17 to 20 October, BIKE will be bringing together talented young racers and the experts from Ghost. In Sankt Englmar in the Bavarian Forest, the BWAZ Lunaris group accommodation will once again be fully focussed on youth development. Children and young people can get to know their idols up close, go biking with them and ask any question they have always wanted to ask a professional athlete. From riding and bike technique to training theory and a career in racing, a total of 55 participants aged between ten and 18 have the unique opportunity to learn everything about the cross-country business. Of course, there is never a shortage of fun!

Kids and pros together: These stars are coming to the BIKE Youth Camp

The Ghost Factory Racing Team is the only all-female Cross Country World Cup team in the world. Once again this year, all five women will be giving workshops, accompanying rides and signing autographs at the youth camp. A team of this calibre rarely comes alone. In 2024, the original Ghost World Cup truck from BWAZ Lunaris will once again be travelling to Sankt Englmar. In addition to the pros, experienced team coaches will also be on board. Team manager Thomas Wickles holds all the riders' ropes together and is the ideal contact person for the youngsters for all questions relating to the race team. Uwe Kampe is the team's mechanic. He and his colleagues once again have the full mechanics programme at the start and clarify any technical issues, no matter how tricky, in front of the children's shining eyes. As a riding technique expert, Oliver Sonntag accompanies the team at the Ghost BIKE Cross Country Youth Camp. This means that the youngsters can enjoy the same skills training as the World Cup pros.

Anne Terpstra

Together with team partner Nicole Koller, the Dutchwoman with the curly head of hair was able to the prestigious Cape Epic multi-day race in South Africa win. Several top placings in the Cross Country World Cup followed. The world championship runner-up was also successful at German level this year, winning the MTB Bundesliga.

Nicole Koller

The Swiss rider will no doubt be able to tell the children and young people lots of anecdotes about her Cape Epic victory. After all, she and Terpstra were travelling there in a camper van. The road world champion in the team can also look back on one of her most successful Mountain Bike World Cup seasons in 2024.

>> We have already had the pleasure of getting to know Anne Terpstra and Nicole Koller up close and personal.

Isla Short

Young cross-country riders can learn much more from the Brit than just charming English. The redhead from the island is steadily fighting her way up the XC World Cup rankings and holds British championship titles in the Olympic cross country discipline and in the marathon. Last year already showed that the language barrier is not really a barrier at all.

Finja Lipp

At just 21 years of age, the German is very close to the youth, or rather still a part of it. So the inhibition threshold should be low and the participants of the Ghost BIKE Cross Country Youth Camp should be motivated to ask lots of questions. As German champion, she knows exactly how to really step on the gas in the U23 class.

Caroline Bohé

There's no doubt that young cross-country talent is fast. But probably not as fast as the Dane, who was already the fastest in her country in the short track discipline. At the youth camp, she mingles with the children and young people and gives them important tips. You can feel her love of mountain biking in every conversation and on every ride.

>> BIKE has already tested the Ghost Lector Hardtail, the Factory Team's latest workhorse.

All-round carefree and well looked after

The Ghost BIKE Cross Country Youth Camp has been held at the BayerWaldAktivZentrum (BWAZ) in Sankt Englmar for many years. The surrounding forests and mountains offer trails, descents and climbs for young bikers of all ages. A technical course and pump track offer additional opportunities for riding technique training. On the sports field directly behind the group accommodation, each day begins with an early morning sports session. Thanks to full board, the growing bikers' hunger is reliably satisfied.

This year, ex-professional cyclist and Bavarian state mountain bike coach Erik Becker will once again be looking after the kids on site. He will be supported by his experienced colleague Christian Fichtel. BIKE editor Jan Timmermann will be on site to give an insight into how a BIKE magazine is created and what is important in tests. The highlight on Sunday will once again be a final race around the accommodation, where the young talents can show what they have learnt from the pros.

>> Refresher: This was the Ghost BIKE Cross Country Youth Camp 2023