A Day in the Life of Whistler Bike Park Patrol
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]()
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.
Beth and Justin sweep Dirt Merchant and Lower A-line. Beth is faster and prettier than you.
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!
www.whistlerbike.com
These three videos (all POV with the Vholdr ContourHD 720) show the WBP patrollers at various stages in the day. Videos inside,
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).
Beth and Justin sweep Dirt Merchant and Lower A-line. Beth is faster and prettier than you.
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!
www.whistlerbike.com
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Member since Oct 18, 2009
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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!
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!
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
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
Articles written with some humour are much than the dull PR advertisements for stuff that is usually on here. Maybe use a
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!
Just kidding. That dog must be incredibly fit. I like how he saves his juice by getting a tow in the morning. Smart!
Amazing place to work !!!
Don't think you're as qualified as them lol...