Mountain biking can be a dangerous sport. Crashes happen and we all fall off of our bikes. It’s not a question of if we get hurt, it’s a question of when and how bad. We hope to never witness a bad crash or become injured ourselves, but would we know what to do in an emergency situation? Too many of us would probably say, no.

Backcountry Lifeline (BCLL) aims to change that. BCLL was founded in August 2015, following a crash on Stage 3 of the Big Mountain Enduro Series and Enduro World Series in Crested Butte, CO, in which 40-year old Will Olson died. Will was an expert rider favored to win the series, and to BCLL founders, he was a respected fellow rider, amiable friend, and beloved fiance. His death rocked the bike community, and support poured in from around the globe.

Today, BCLL does Front Country First Aid/CPR and Backcountry Wilderness First Aid training all over the country lead by fellow racer, Flynn George and Will’s fiance, Bonnie McDonald. On Saturday March 17th the Colorowdies Mountain Bike Crew hosted a Basic First Aid for Mountain Bikers class to educate our team and fellow riders. This was a Front Country course with First Aid plus CPR, an 8 hour class that provided the training we need if we become a first responder.

This special class was provided by Colorowdies’ Ambassador, Robert Klima, who entered the BCLL fundraising raffle last fall, and won a Specialized bike. Robert had recently lost a friend while riding, and he left compelled to do something to help prepare other riders for trailside emergencies. So he sold the bike and used the funds to provide training for 25 riders in Golden, CO, and plans to host another 25 in Summit County this summer.

The tools you learn in BCLL class can save a life and help a fellow rider in need. While CPR and first aid training aren’t guaranteed to save lives, they CAN. When your friend or fellow rider is laying in front of you needing help, you want to know how to do it. Backcountry skiers know snow safety awareness and carry the gear necessary to help a fellow skier. BCLL wants mountain bikers to have the same level of preparedness as backcountry skiers.

Colorowdies’ would like to say a huge thank you to Robert for his generosity in providing this training. Thank you to Bonnie and Flynn for being great teachers and bringing this important training to the masses, and thank you Quanta Aesthetic Lasers for once again allowing us to use your space.

BCLL has upcoming classes for First Aid/Front Country Training on April 15th in Divide, Colorado and Wilderness First Aid/Backcountry Training in Moab on May 10th-13th.

For more info visit http://www.backcountrylifeline.com/