Math tutoring that clicks

About

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Hi, I'm Will — the tutor and coach behind Mathlete MTB. I help young riders become stronger thinkers, students, and athletes by building confidence through mathematics, problem-solving, and learning outside of traditional academic environments.

I believe many students begin to identify themselves as "bad at math" far too early. Over time, that belief can become a barrier not only to academic achievement, but to a student's willingness to take on challenges and make mistakes. With the right approach, however, that mindset can change.

My goal is to help students develop both mathematical ability and confidence in themselves as learners. I use problem-solving, real-world applications, and connections to the things students are already passionate about — particularly mountain biking — to make math more engaging and meaningful. When students are genuinely interested in what they are learning, they are more willing to experiment, make mistakes, and persist through difficult problems. Those experiences are where lasting confidence is built.

My experience as a teacher, mentor, and mountain bike coach has given me the opportunity to work with students who don't always thrive in traditional classroom environments. I've seen students go from believing they simply "aren't good at math" to approaching challenging problems with confidence and a willingness to figure things out.

If your student is struggling to find interest in math, isn't achieving the results they're capable of, or would simply benefit from additional support outside of school, Mathlete MTB offers a different approach — combining individualized math instruction with the motivation, community, and mindset that come from being part of the mountain biking world.

The goal isn't just to get better at math. It's to become more confident taking on difficult things.

Experience

My Approach

Every student learns differently. I focus on building strong fundamentals, explaining the "why" behind the math, and helping students feel genuinely capable. While succeeding on tests is important, understanding the problem solving process and figuring out how one learns best is what I focus on.

Sessions are relaxed but focused. We move at the pace that actually works for you or your student, revisiting the basics when needed and pushing ahead when things click.

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Why Mountain Biking + Math

Mountain biking and math have more in common than people expect. Both reward patience, both involve reading the terrain ahead of you, and both get easier — and more fun — the more comfortable you get with falling down and trying again.

Learning math is a lot like learning to ride. You don't become confident by only doing things you already know how to do. You become confident by trying something difficult, making mistakes, figuring out what went wrong, and trying again.

My job isn't to make sure a student never gets a problem wrong. It's to help them become comfortable enough with being wrong that they're willing to keep trying.

MTB Coaching Coming Soon

I'm putting together weekly mountain bike coaching sessions for riders who want to build skills and confidence on the trail — same philosophy as the tutoring, just on two wheels.

Details on schedule, location, and skill levels are still being worked out. If you'd like to be notified when spots open up, reach out below and I'll add you to the list.

Mentoring Coming Soon

Beyond math and biking, I also work with students on the stuff that doesn't show up on a test — the mental side of competing, pushing through setbacks, and figuring out who you want to be.

Bouncing back after injury. I've been through the injury-recovery cycle more times than I'd like to admit — the frustration, the fear of losing progress, the slow climb back. I know what that actually feels like, and I help students navigate it with patience instead of panic.

Mental game for athletes. Confidence, focus, and dealing with pressure are skills, not personality traits. I help young athletes build the mental habits that let them perform when it counts, instead of getting in their own way.

General life guidance. After years working closely with high school students, I've learned that a lot of what they need isn't more instruction — it's someone steady in their corner. I'm glad to be that person, whether the conversation is about school, sports, or just figuring things out.

Who I Work With

Subjects

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Students working on math outdoors
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Testimonials / Student Stories

"I will talk a little about the student experience here. Will was my teacher for both physics and algebra. It was nice having him as a teacher, as he was able to teach us everything we had scheduled while keeping the class interactive and entertaining. We often did activities involving more than the boring math calculations and had a lot more open activities, which, other than being more fun, helped develop more critical outside-the-box thinking, which I would say helps a lot even outside of class. A great example of these qualities is when we had rockets as our subject and instead of doing boring paper calculations, we actually built them and modified them to fill out the paperwork, which for me made a simple worksheet fun by doing something I was interested in and having fun doing. In this school, he was also my 'Mentor,' which was basically someone that checked in on me regularly, which shows he has interest in you doing well and learning even outside of his classes. I'd recommend him to other people as he would be a friendly teacher who would look for ways for you to improve and keep learning. He also makes you interested in the subject, making you actually want to learn, which I'd say is really important academically."

— Cesareo, High School Sophomore

Let's Talk

Not sure where to start? Reach out and tell me a bit about what you or your student are working on — we can figure out the right plan together.

Email: wcmalfeld@gmail.com
Phone: (719) 205-5531

Get In Touch