A Day in the Life of Whistler Bike Park Patrol

May 12, 2010
by Lee Lau  
While anxious riders eagerly anticipate the opening on the Whistler Bike Park (this year it's May 15th), the bike patrol is tirelessly riding the trails making sure they are safe - FOR YOU!

These three videos (all POV with the Vholdr ContourHD 720) show the WBP patrollers at various stages in the day. Videos inside,
photo
Sharon B making sure no-one's speared themselves in Goats Gully


Here's some fun facts about Whistler, the Bike Park and the job of the bike patrol:

1. There are trails outside the park and there's even a guidebook for those trails. Those trails aren't patrolled.

2. Patrol is tasked with ensuring the safety of bikepark and hiking trail users. There's an average of 500 riders a day on weekdays, 1000/day on weekends and the busiest day (usually Crankworx weekend) is 2000+ per day. There's many more hikers - usually 1.5x to 2x the number of hikers vs bikers.

3. Four patrollers work the Fitzsimmons Chair; three work the Garbonzo Chair and three work the Roundhouse/alpine trails.

4. Ages of patrollers (including volunteers) run all the way from mid - 25s to mid - 50s.

5. All patrollers have this in common; all are really good riders and all of them have extensive medical training (OEC, OFA3 and CPR C at minimum). Many have more medical training. There's a good reason why injured riders are usually pretty happy to see a patroller.

6. A patroller's day starts at 8:30 and ends at 5pm. During Extended Play hours, patrollers will split a morning and afternoon 10 shift. That might sound early, but it's a darn sight better than a 5am winter start to bomb avalanche-prone slopes (many bike park patrollers also ski patrol).

7. The most unusual injury recorded in the WBP is the dreaded testes in the rear tire (sorry!). More common injuries include; concussions, road-rash, contusions, broken collarbones, sticks in eye, spearing (by rotors, brake levers and sticks).



Ian and his dog, Hector, open the lower trails. Hector is faster than you.

Views: 9,206    Faves: 25    Comments: 18




Beth and Justin sweep Dirt Merchant and Lower A-line. Beth is faster and prettier than you.

Views: 8,945    Faves: 16    Comments: 13




Dom closes Garbonzo and D-Line. Dom is not only faster than you, but he can put your shoulder back in just by looking at it!


Views: 6,133    Faves: 21    Comments: 4


www.whistlerbike.com


Author Info:
leelau avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2009
125 articles

64 Comments
  • 41 4
 Wonder what was the head angle on that dog? does he have brake jack in rear paws? what's the leverage ratio? I want something new school more linear! any pedal bob? I like it that they haven't put any stupid acronym on it, we all hate it don't we? is it under 34lbs?

I want o buy a new DH dog and Im just asking which one is the best? What kind of dog Sam Hill owns? Perhaps I should get something smaller for Sea Otter kind of track you know. Why not?! a sea otter instead of a dog for technical, pedaly stuff! I take German Shepherd for Mont Saint Anne then!

mah... a Pig playing a Banjo it shall be!
  • 2 2
 i like your thinking!
  • 1 0
 WAKI, you and Hector, together have made my day. Great teamwork, proves dog really is man's best fried
  • 3 1
 yes indeed! It is really important to choose the right one though! Even more important than the leverage ratio at between 3.56" and 6.752" of travel on the new V10 carbon!

If he runs together with you during your race run, he has to be fast to help you by biting through tape and spectators in case you go sideways. More importantly he has to be smart enough to stay out of your line. This fastest one shaving 0.05sec giving you 95th place instead of 96th. For precise instructions how to find that line read Ride Monkey forums.

I bet this is how they race in this paralell world shown in this lamest-fantasy fairy-tale ever: The Golden Compass. I watched a little... a littleee!
  • 10 0
 That was one beastly dog...
  • 9 0
 dream job? yes.
  • 40 7
 Whats with the "faster than you" attitude?
  • 5 0
 SUCH AN AWESOME JOB!
  • 3 1
 Cause hector is a dog and he rips trails
  • 2 0
 "More common injuries include; concussions, road-rash, contusions, broken collarbones, sticks in eye, spearing (by rotors, brake levers and sticks)." Ouch D:
  • 3 1
 Definitly my dream job. And everytime I've ridden Goats Gully, there's people walking it. Maybe you should put up one of those pro line signs? To keep people off it? Because D1 never gets walked due to that sign...
  • 1 0
 so jealous of there job
  • 7 2
 Matt-W (1 days ago)
Whats with the "faster than you" attitude?

Apparently if your not trying to race UCI Worlds these days, you've got nothing!

What ever happened to ripping, because it's fun. Fast or slow?
The person the wrote this article needs to get a grip
  • 3 0
 Holy,you guys need to chill.The guys just ribbing you all.Take a joke and relax.
  • 4 0
 f*ck, if rode whistler every damn day id be "faster than you" too
  • 7 1
 Matt-W and Waldon - sorry for trying to make a joke. Next time I will write stories with my panties in a wedgie just to keep you both happy
  • 2 2
 I'm all down for the egg yolk over the whites, and if you got a kick out of writing the article, good. I'm not saying it's a bad read at all, I actually think it's a great topic. HOWEVER I'm providing constructive criticism and you can either take it on board, or look at me like I'm a pair of testes. Either way, feel free to write with your panties all tied up, that wont change the way people read the article. Best of luck for future writings
  • 5 0
 Waldon,

You're right - it is constructive criticism. I thought a bit of tongue - in - cheek humour would go down well. Evidently some people (at least two - and quite possibly more) don't appreciate that kind of humour. Or alternatively, that humour is looked on an as demeaning the reader or most likely, perhaps that humour doesn't translate well in written form. In the future, I'll refrain from any humour in writing articles and keep the video captions sterile, dry and factual.

Thanks for your input
  • 2 3
 Leelau, there's no need to be all grumpy like that! I read the article and got "we're all faster than you" and then watched the videos and was like "what?". I assumed living in whistler had inflated your egos. I guess it just didn't come across as you intended.

Articles written with some humour are much than the dull PR advertisements for stuff that is usually on here. Maybe use a Wink or something next time, lol.
  • 5 0
 Ah its no problem Matt - I've long since come to the conclusion that its not possible to make everyone happy and sometimes (often) humour in written word can be misconstrued. Thanks for the response! Lee
  • 8 0
 "More common injuries include....sticks in eye" - please wear goggles so these fine people don't have to save your sorry ass
  • 5 2
 I was about to say...how does that even happen? One thing's for sure, If I was bike patrol and I rode a trail to see some guy clutching his balls asking for my help....I'd probably ride away. Razz
  • 7 0
 and thats why you will never work at whistler, lol Razz
  • 7 1
 nooo I don't want to be reminded that I can't afford to go to whistler again this summer! It's so depressing!
  • 7 0
 OH NO YOU DIDN'T! Riding in the Village!
  • 2 0
 hahaha that brings back a memory of one of the whistler mountain staff going ape on some guy haha
  • 1 0
 Bring back memories of Blue Mtn lol...
  • 2 0
 what a sweet job beat driving a van lol hector is well ace. I have 2 free ride dogs as i have no mates which bike so its just me and the 2 dogs. There fitter than me and the one is faster to lol she just wont lead the way Smile
  • 4 0
 This is a cool story, but could Dom put Hector's canine shoulder back in just by looking at it?
  • 4 0
 Major props for the guys who dedicate their days to making trails safer for all of us.. and one day me too. Smile
  • 2 0
 Should make something about Winter Park getting really to open for it's season.
  • 1 0
 Its obviously more complicated than just riding down the trails, but can you actually make decent money from being a bike/ski patrol?
  • 3 0
 no, it's a life style same as the rest of resort jobs
  • 2 0
 did bike patrol for a season, d-man about summed it up.
  • 1 0
 i meant more along the lines of making a living doing it. Or is it just a spare job because they love to ride?
  • 3 0
 not sure about the whistler wages, but dont expect much wherever you go. Those who do it full time usually ski patrol in the winter too, many have to go on unemployment in the seasons inbetween. A few "core" staff are on year round with a bit better pay, but they usually dont get to ride much. Thats the way blue mtn works anyways.
So I would recommend doing it as a spare job because you love to ride. Stay in school, get good job, go on bike trips and you wont need it as a spare job, just take time off!
  • 1 0
 personally i don't think 7 patrollers is enough for that mountain, it is huge... i was there for 4 days and i never saw 1 patroller
  • 2 0
 Did you check the GLC patio?

Just kidding. That dog must be incredibly fit. I like how he saves his juice by getting a tow in the morning. Smart!
  • 1 0
 well if you want to pay for my flight and bike to get whistler and im accommodation id happily be a patrol for a season, and i have first aid qualifications Big Grin
  • 2 0
 So i want to go there now, but i don't have money who will pay for my turn? Big Grin
  • 2 0
 soooooo sick! and thats one fast dog!
  • 2 0
 Great Story !!!
Amazing place to work !!! Smile
  • 2 0
 Anyone notice that hecter does the jumps as well. Really cool story.
  • 1 0
 Not only does Hector do the jumps, did you see how he's looking at Ian to make sure Ian doesn't land on him? Hector also makes all the trannies
  • 1 0
 Yea i noticed. Smile those two are quite the Duo.
  • 2 0
 Hector is a cheating son of a bee betch!
  • 1 0
 OH MAN!!! Do they ever have it rough; they are payed to ride whistler for the season!
  • 1 0
 Is anyone else reminded of Zudnik the Wonder Dog from the old Warren Miller ski movies?
  • 1 0
 hector is amazing and so are allof those trails!!!!
  • 5 6
 what a tough job, they HAVE to ride whistler all day. i know cpr already so i could have my dream job right now if only i lived in whistler!
  • 3 0
 "...all of them have extensive medical training (OEC, OFA3 and CPR C at minimum). Many have more medical training."

Don't think you're as qualified as them lol...
  • 1 0
 i lifeguard at a public pool, i had to take a 6 day course for 8 hours a day to learn all the stuff... its probably pretty similiar to what these guys have to know
  • 1 0
 except their courses are 3-4 weeks. and they are far more extensive than your lifeguarding courses.
  • 2 1
 theyre obviously super medics, of course im such a noob, what can i say
  • 1 0
 yeah, that's pretty much how it is.
  • 1 0
 at least we can agree on something
  • 2 0
 OEC stands for Outdoor Emergency Care. It is training similar to EMT-B, but is sanctioned by the National Ski Patrol here in the states so all patrolers at ski areas have the same emergency care training. When I took the training it took us close to 100 hours of classroom time to complete...and then you need to pass a written test and a practical test. These patrolers know more than just CPR. Knowing what they know....I would be more than happy to get hurt there! (Hopefully that doesn't happen!!) Smile ~
  • 1 0
 Awsome videos and description!!!
  • 1 0
 ahh poor bike patrol riding the trail over and over
  • 1 0
 i can haz bandaid? thanks bike patrol!
  • 1 0
 i think hector should enter the champs
  • 1 1
 That would be the luckiest job ever
  • 1 2
 Ski resorts get away with not paying a huge salary by going "You get to ride all day" as your payment.
  • 3 0
 Well, it's more a case of a supply and demand, for every job in Whistler there another 100 people willing to do it, as so many people want to spend the season there, but there are finite number of jobs.







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