Corner Marshalling

[Eden]

I spent the day corner marshalling at the Masters and Junior RR today. Wow, all you gals who have raced or done a charity ride with corner marhsalls - next time you ride by one, if you have the time, give them a big smile and a thank you. Everyone of us should have to do it at least once to appreciate that it is not an easy job. Sure it sounds simple to stand at a corner and hold a stop sign when the bikes are coming through. Well - I'm as tired as if I had raced even though I never got on my bike. So if your ever frustrated at a corner remember:
1. Corner marshalls are all volunteers, they aren't being paid and probably haven't been given more than rudimentary directions, so be kind. Sure you may be miserable about having to race in the pouring rain, but the corner marshall is out in it too and for longer than you since there is more than one race (and intentionally stepping out in front of cars that don't always understand or want to stop). Don't spread the misery around.
2. If you are behind the follow car we'll try to stop traffic for you, but you may not be visible in time, so please be careful at the corners and don't abuse the corner marshall if there is a car. The pack has a lead car with a radio to alert the corner that they coming so the traffic can be stopped in a reasonable amount of time. The folks off the back only get traffic stopped from the time the 1st corner marshall sees them (if he sees them) and then relays the information to the 2nd corner. It is easy for a car to slip through.

[SadieKate]

Can I add another suggestion?

Don't try to engage a course marshall in lengthy conversations. I course-marshalled nearly all day at a local crit and had a couple of people think that I was a captive audience for their blabber. Made it very hard to concentrate on a course with something like 6 turns in 0.7 mile course.

[RoadRaven]

Yup... I always call out a thank you to the marshalls (as long as they're not on/at-the-top-of a hill cause I can't spare the breath)

Very important

Our club has a roster so everyone does marshalling duty over the course of the year for club races

We try and help out when the club hosts fun rides etc too - they're a good club and support young riders (like our boys) well.