Volunteers Needed

SEA OTTER CLASSIC

To Past SOC Volunteers, SBC ARA Members, and neighboring Ham Radio groups

The 29th Sea Otter Classic will be held on April 11-14, 2019. Help from amateur radio operators has been a vital resource for communication in the Fort Ord National Monument back country and the Gran Fondo (“Great Endurance”) Carmel Valley Route. Thank you to those of you who have volunteered in the past.

The Sea Otter Classic attracts thousands of athletes and spectators and is now regarded as the world’s premiere cycling festival. The areas where we assist have little or no cellular or repeater coverage. It is an excellent opportunity for demonstration and practice of emergency communications and help build readiness for a real disaster.

This year help will be needed for the following times:

Thursday 4/11 – Radio/Communication Support – Morning through early afternoon (only a few volunteers needed for this)

Saturday 4/13 – Gran Fondo Carmel Valley Route Support – Very Early Morning to Early Evening

Saturday 4/13 – Back Country Support – Early Morning to Mid Afternoon

Sunday 4/14 – Back Country Support – Very Early Morning to Mid Afternoon

Camping is available directly from the event or we have the option of camping for no charge in the Laguna Seca paddock.

Ham radio operators will be primarily working radios including ham radios and/or commercial/public safety radios (i.e. you may be asked to coordinate on a public safety frequency to guide in an ambulance while the medic provides care). We’ll always try to pair experienced hams with new hams as needed. First aid and course marshal support will be provided by Fort Friends and National Ski Patrol as in the past.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you’re interested in volunteering. We’ll need a volunteer wavier signed and we will have more details available closer to the event.

Volunteers should receive a volunteer T-Shirt, a pass to the Sea Otter Classic Festival (a $50 value), and a lunch. There will be some other surprise items for the volunteers. (as supplies last)

Please note that the times and details are subject to change, but we will keep you updated if you volunteer. Please keep in mind that end times are estimates. In most cases the event will end earlier, but if we have a significant incident, demobilization may go much later and especially in the back country, exit routes are closed to vehicle traffic during the event. Updates will be available at http://sbcares.org/otter (It is still early and this page is still being updated for this year – Last year’s information will be available here for now for reference as to what was done last year).

To sign up please go to this link https://goo.gl/forms/CeLEEpC1woLUy0Z32 or if this doesn’t work for you. Feel free to just reply to takeuchi@sbcares.org via e-mail.