Cornering is one of the most overlooked skills on a mountain bike. That's probably because we can all get around a corner pretty easily, and since it's something that 'just happens' at a basic level, we leave it there.
There's a reason we put cornering after all of the straight-line skills - it's the hardest, fastest and most fun. The line between flat corners and berms are often blurred, but to start with, treat every corner as either a berm or flat corner - with experience and the basic techniques, you'll be able to adapt your stance quickly to turn and burn on any corner.
The basics
1. Line - A late apex is generally the best way to get through a corner fast when there is no berm.
2. Low - Enter the corner in your low 'stand strong' position.
3. Lean - Learn your bike, and keep your weight over the pedals.
4. Look - Look through the exit of the corner and have an eye on the trail ahead.
Flat corners
1. Approach - Approach the corner in your low stand strong position. Look up, keep your weight through your feet and hands light. Do all of your braking now.
2. Body position - Drop your outside foot and enter the corner wide to give yourself time to turn smoothly. Get as low as you can at this point.
3. Enter - Keep your weight over your outside foot and lean your bike by pushing your inside hand down and straightening your arm. Stay over the top of your bike a keep low.
4. Turn - Look through the corner and turn your hips so they face the exit. Keep your weights driving through outside pedal and bike leaned over so your tires carve on their edges.
5. Hold it - Holding your position is as important as staying loose and relaxed, so stay off your brakes and keep your bike leaned over.
6. Exit - Bring your feet back level, and get back into your stand strong position ready for the next trail feature.
Berms
1. Approach - Approach the berm in your low stand strong position. Look up, keep your weight through your feet and keep your hands light. Do all of your braking before entering the berm. Keeping your pedals level, hit the start of the berm high and lean into it so the angle of your body and bike matches the camber of the berm.
2. Get Low - At the same time as entering the berm, drop your body-weight from low to lower. Not only is low stable, but dropping your weight will momentarily unweight your wheels and help to make the transition from straight to turning smooth.
3. Turn - Turn your head and hips towards the exit. Keep as much weight as you can through your feet and don't touch your brakes. Keeping low and leaning will see you round the corner.
4. Extend and Exit - Just before you exit the corner, apply pressure through your feet against the name of the berm to help you straighten up and get you back into your stand strong position. Keep your arms loose and allow your bike to make the transition from camber to flat as it straightens up again.