We are all volunteers! However, if you are new to helping at an event then this page is to help you know what is required of you. Please get in touch if you have further questions.

Sections below are Marshals, Registration and Timekeeping

Marshals

If you are assigned to a marshaling spot your key role is rider safety.

Depending on the event, you will be issued with one or more of the following:

• a 2 way radio. Please watch this video for some useful information on how to use one.
• a high-vis vest
• a map
• some snacks

Please bring:

• a water bottle
• a cellphone
• warm clothes
• sunhat and/or sunscreen (if appropriate)

Please ensure the event manager has your cellphone number and you have theirs. This is a backup in case there is a problem with the radios, or if you need to have a private conversation.

There can be a cold wind at some marshal locations so bring warm clothes even on a nice day.

You may also like to bring a bike if you are likely to want to reach your marshalling point by riding.

Prior to each race the course controller will confirm you are in your allocated position. This also checks that your radio is working!

What to do:

• Attend to injured riders (see below)
• Please repair tape if it is broken
• Clear debris off the track if it is likely to be a hazard
• Keep spectators out of harms way
• Ensure any recreational riders won’t interfere with those who are racing
• Take photos for sharing if that is something you enjoy doing
• Cheer on the competitors
• If asked, change course marking between races
• Pack up course marking materials at the end if you have been advised to do so

If a rider crashes:

• Danger: Assess the scene for any immediate dangers to yourself, the casualty, or anyone else involved. Keep yourself safe
• Pause, call out to ask if they are okay and see if they get up themselves
• If the rider is fine they can continue
• If the rider has a minor injury (eg a graze) get them to move off the track until they feel ready to continue
• If a rider has a moderate injury (eg a sprain) call for first aid and help them move off the track while they wait for help to arrive
• If a rider has a serious injury (eg a head injury, a spinal injury, a broken bone, a medical event) call for first aid on the radio, and/or call 111, enlist the help of bystanders or other riders to protect them from oncoming riders. Do not move them.
• Go through the following steps
•  Response: Check if the casualty is conscious and responsive. You can do this by gently shaking their shoulders and asking if they are okay, or if they can hear you. 
• Airway: If the casualty is unresponsive, open their airway by tilting their head back and lifting their chin. Check for any obstructions that might be blocking the airway. 
• Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for signs of breathing. Look for chest movement, listen for breath sounds, and feel for air on your cheek. If they are not breathing or are not breathing normally, begin rescue breaths. 
• Circulation: Check for signs of circulation, such as movement, coughing, or normal breathing. If there are no signs of life, start chest compressions. 

Most of this video applies:

Here is the downhill one which doesn’t apply to our situation (we won’t have flags or whistles), but it still gives a good overview and mentions injury.

Registration

Your key roles are to be friendly, check people in and answer questions.

If people have registered online and their name is on the sheet, confirm they are/aren’t club members, check that their details are correct, edit if not, give them their race number and some twist ties and put a tick next to their name. If their number is missing, allocate them one from the ones reserved for on-the-day entries.

If people have not registered previously, get them to fill in their details on the on-the-day form, give them their race number and some twist ties.

At the end of the event, remove the twist ties from the race numbers and put them back in the box in numerical order.

Timekeeping

You need good eyesight. If you are doing the manual timing your role is to type in the number of an approaching rider and press enter as they cross the line. If there are multiple riders approaching in quick succession, just enter the numbers and press enter as you read them. It’s better to get the numbers right than the timing right. You need to concentrate throughout the race and get every rider. If you are looking the other way you may not hear them approaching and they can be missed.

If you are doing the automatic timing, the system should be all set up. Your role during the race is to check registration for changes to the entry list and update the database that the timing system refers to. if the generator turns off, check if it has run out of fuel (or the fuel switch is turned off) and top up if necessary. You have 6 minutes before the UPS stops working and the timing system stops.

Other roles not covered here are starts/briefing, marshal/course controller.