2000 National Mountain Bike Patrol Instructor Training Conference a Big Success

IMBA's Colorado Co-State Representative and member of Colorado Plateau Mtn Bike Assoc., Bill Harris shares insight with the group.
New England Mountain Bike Patrol's David Watson covers liability with the group. Dave is an attorney in "real life."
Conference attendees brainstorm about attracting and keeping volunteers during a breakout session.

Thirty-five representatives from across the US and Canada gathered in Monterey, CA, Oct. 6-8 for the fourth annual National Mountain Bike Patrol Instructor Training Conference. The weekend course covered all the basics of developing and running a volunteer mountain bike patrol program.

Mountain bike patrols have proven to be effective in working with park and forest management agencies to keep trails open in many places throughout the U.S., Canada and beyond.

NMBP Coordinator Jon Alegranti said, "The conference was a big success. The conference itself mirrors the grassroots nature of the program. IMBA just provides the resources and coordination to funnel the energy. The success of the conference is the result of diverse, individual mountain bikers from across the country listening to and learning from each other's experiences, ultimately putting their shared knowledge and skills to work to keep trails open for mountain biking."

The newly certified instructors have returned to their home regions where they will improve existing patrols, train new volunteers, and expand the network of this growing program. More than 75 active volunteer mountain bike patrols operate worldwide.

The NMBP is an IMBA-run program with support from founding sponsor, NORBA. The NMBP model draws on the concept of the National Ski Patrol and park host programs that emphasize assistance, information and education, NOT enforcement. The intensive weekend agenda included such diverse topics as "Forming partnerships with land managers," "Volunteer patroller liability primer" and "The seven core skills of mountain bike patrol training."

NMBP wishes to recognize the support of its sponsors: NORBA, Camelbak, Voler Team Apparel, Atwater Carey Medical Kits, and Moonstone.