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 Whistler patroller Shawn Beaudoin, stoked after assisting with a successful helicopter rescue. |
Air Controllers: About the Whistler Bike Patrol
Originally published in the IMBA Freeride Guide, September, 2006
Imagine heading off to work on a downhill bike, wearing body armor and a full-face helmet. For the 11 professional bike patrollers at the Whistler Bike Park it's a daily reality during the summer season.
Whistler has become the epicenter of freeriding, and its bike patrol has adapted to serve over 1,000 riders per day. With so many people out on the trails, inexperienced riders inevitably get in over their heads. Patrollers watch for inappropriate gear - department-store bikes or inadequate helmets - and help novices find a safe route to the bottom.
When an accident occurs, the patrol is prepared with a fleet of emergency vehicles that can quickly cover the mountain, thanks to a well-developed system of access roads. The patrol relies on consistent signage, effective communication and a friendly, non-enforcement approach to make aggressive terrain as safe as possible.
Signs are placed at every trail junction and include trail names, difficulty ratings and emergency contact information. Each major drop-off, jump or structure is marked and described. Alternate lines are indicated, and takeoffs and landings are flagged. The patrol is equipped to close sections of trail quickly to route traffic around damaged trails or an incident.
If a rider is injured, anyone with a cell phone can call the bike center's frequently posted emergency number, or ride down the hill to alert park staff. Trail junctions are numbered, allowing emergency crews to quickly locate the scene of an accident. A dispatcher will then contact the rest of the patrollers via radio to coordinate assistance. The Whistler patrol can perform rescues with ATVs, trucks and even helicopters. Most of the trails are close enough to the access roads to facilitate quick and relatively easy evacuation.
The patrollers have credibility, since all are capable of riding the
area's most difficult terrain. That, combined with their well-informed,
customer-oriented approach, helps earn the respect of visitors and the
Whistler freeride community alike. Patrolling in a freeride area is a
unique challenge, but the Whistler Bike Patrol demonstrates that basic
protocols and an attention to detail are cornerstones of patrolling no
matter where you ride. For more information on the National Mountain
Bike Patrol contact program
coordinator Spencer Powlison
.
Five Tips For Patrolling Freeride Areas
Advice for bike patrols that serve freeride areas, courtesy of Claudia Bulgrin of the Ocala Mountain Bike Association Patrol in Florida, and Jamie Wolter, of Colorado's Winter Park Bike Patrol.
- You don't have to become an ace freerider to be an effective patroller, but you should be friendly and open-minded. You can increase your patrol's credibility by recruiting a couple riders from the freeride community to join your efforts.
- At the scene of an accident, have a bystander or fellow patroller stop traffic well before the incident site to prevent collisions. Communication is critical. Many common injuries, like dislocations, can compromise circulation. When this happens, swift care is imperative, as nerve and tissue damage can occur if not treated promptly and properly.
- Have a clear-cut plan for contacting your local emergency professionals, and work with them to plan for extractions that involve serious injuries.
- Immediately report any jumps or structures that need repair. Take the initiative to close trails or features that need major work. Accident prevention is sometimes a patrol's most important task.
- Many patrollers have concerns about their personal liability in a high-risk environment. Look into your state's Good Samaritan Laws, and decide what level of personal liability and risk is appropriate for you.
More Resources:
Risk Management and Liability for Mountain Biking
The suggestions offered in this and other IMBA trailbuilding articles do not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Trailbuilders and landowners are responsible for the safety of their own trails and facilities. Freeriding and dirt jumping are high-risk activities that can result in serious injuries. IMBA's goal is to help land managers and volunteers manage these risks by sharing information.
