Downhill bikers get an education

By Susie Rathie
Step Up, BBC Scotland

Borders College student Lewis Buchanan in training Success for downhill bikers

A Scottish college is running the UK's only academic course in downhill biking.

Six students at Borders College in Galashiels are training as athletes while working towards a BTEC module.

All the mountain bikers on the course are racing at a national level and two have professional contracts.

College principal Liz McIntyre said: "This course allows young people to combine sporting excellence without neglecting their education."

Downhill mountain biking is an extreme sport where riders compete to ride down a specially-built trail as fast as possible.

Bike students go downhill fast

The Scottish Borders is widely acknowledged to have some of the best trails in the world and cycle tourism is a vital part of the Borders economy.

The course, which is part of the Borders Academy of Sporting Excellence, offers a level 3 BTEC module.

Students combine their training with academic work in subjects such as psychology, sports nutrition and coaching.

Although not a conventional education, both students and staff at Borders College see this type of course as positive for downhill biking development.

Ms McIntyre said: "In order to get to the top of their field in any sport you do have to dedicate yourself and a large amount of your time to your sport.

"We don't want people to neglect their education because of this."

Valuable skills

All the young men on the course compete at a national level and two, Lewis Buchanan and Sam Flockhart, have been signed by professional teams.

Buchanan, 16, competes in 20 races a year. He said: "This course has helped me in so many ways, especially the psychological, mental aspect of racing. I've definitely seen the benefits."

Staff at Borders College are confident the course will equip students with valuable skills.

Ms McIntyre said: "This course allows students to move into a wide range of sports-related careers."