Needed: Ride Marshals for the Emmitt Smith Gran Fondo

Shawnee Trail Cycling Club is assisting the Emmitt Smith Gran Fondo this year through recruitment, training and coordination of all Ride Marshals required for the event.  Ride Marshals will be given a substantial discount on registration for the event.  With this discounted registration, you receive all the benefits of regular participants.  If, after reviewing the criteria below, you feel you may be interested and qualified please follow the "Register" link and complete the questionnaire.  

After review, you will be sent further instructions.  If selected, you will be given a discount code entitling you to 50% off registration.

Don't worry too much if you don't feel you meet all the qualifications.  We will be offering two training classes in September prior to the event to ensure your readiness.

The Emmitt Smith Gran Fondo is calling for volunteers to serve as Ride Marshals for the event.  As a Ride Marshall, you will represent yourself as a cyclist, your community and the Emmitt Smith Gran Fondo.  Preparation, a cool head and a lot compassion are the tools of a good Ride Marshal.

Ride Marshals act as Safety Ambassadors by sharing cycling advice and encouraging safe cycling behaviors.

An overview of the general duties and expectations of a Ride Marshal for the Emmitt Smith Gran Fondo is provided below. 

• Compassion.  First and foremost, be willing to give up your ride, if need be, to assist others
• Be calm in a crisis situation, others will be depending on you
• First Responder.  Although, there will be trained medical staff for the event, you may very well be the first responder at an accident.  Know how to secure the scene until trained personnel arrive.  You are not to provide medical assistance unless you are trained to do so.
• Take Charge.  You should be assertive, able to take charge of a situation.
• Handling Disruptive participants.  You should have an even temperament and the ability to avoid direct conflict and physical confrontation.  Your responsibility is to report the rider to the appropriate event personnel.
• Recognition.  Know how to recognize common physical ailments.  Depending on the weather, know the signs of heat exhaustion/heat stroke.  Be able to recognize when someone is just “not right”, as with diabetics.  You should report that to the proper event personnel.
• Change a flat.  Must know how to change a flat.  Although it is not your absolute responsibility, you should know enough to direct cyclists.
• Event Information. All Ride Marshals should be familiar with routes, rest stop locations and event guidelines and should be prepared to answer general questions.

Ride Marshals are encouraged to talk to the general public, store owners, and bystanders along the route and thank cyclists for participating in the event.

There will be hands on training sessions provided to all qualified Ride Marshals prior to the event.

As you can see, being a Ride Marshal requires some experience with riding in and managing a group.  Ride Marshals play an important part in making the event a success.  If you’ve made it this far and still feel that you are qualified, please contact us for further instructions. 

We need fifty(50) Ride Marshals, divided amongst the different paces.

Ride Marshal Interest