Wilderness First Aid for Mountain Bikers
*2-Day Hybrid In-Person/Online Wilderness First Aid course
*Internationally recognized WFA Certification and CPR Certification
*Learn valuable backcountry medical skills geared towards Mountain Biking
Prepare for your next bike adventure. Our Wilderness Medicine For Mountain Bikers course covers the essentials of wilderness and emergency medicine, tailored to injuries and scenarios most common in mountain biking. You’ll spend a combined 14 hours on-trail for skills and scenario training, with 4-6 hours of self-paced precourse work issued 4 weeks prior to the course. Practice treating life threats, stabilizing injuries, and evaluating and managing medical and environmental hardships. Ages 14+ with intermediate to advanced skill levels on a bike.
The 2-Day, (20 hour) Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is for outdoor professionals and enthusiasts ages 14+. Our progressive curriculum offers an alternative to the traditional 3-day WFA course by doing 4-6 hours of pre-class online self study, and then a 2-day (14 hour) in person class. 2-year certifications for both WFA and CPR will be provided at the end of the course.
*2-Day Certification: $395
Medical Certifications are sponsored and price-controlled by certification organizations and are not valid for any discounts and may not be paid for by gift certificates or vouchers of any kind.
Dates Offered:
March 8-9, 2025
May 17-18, 2025
July 26-27, 2025
October 25-26, 2025
*Private class dates available upon request
Certification Description & Objectives: Two Day, (20 hour) Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is for outdoor professionals and enthusiasts ages 14+. You will also receive a 2-year CPR Certification. This class is active and practical – participants will learn fundamental wilderness medicine and prevention, while developing important judgment skills for outdoor emergencies.
Topics Include:
-Manage risk through pre trip planning and preventative techniques: communications, 1st Aid Kits, sports nutrition and hydration, rider and equipment checklists, trip itineraries.
-Assess and treat life threatening emergencies: Airway management, hemorrhage control, CPR, shock, and stabilization.
-Practice common trauma techniques: Wound and fracture management, head injuries, neck and spine injury, blunt trauma, burns, dental and eye trauma.
-Develop important judgment skills for the assessment and evacuation of medical and environmental emergencies in the backcountry: heat and cold emergencies, animal bites and stings, lightning and adverse weather, search and rescue basics, cardiac and respiratory emergencies, diabetes, seizures, anaphylaxis.
Dates Offered:
March 8-9, 2025
May 17-18, 2025
July 26-27, 2025
October 25-26, 2025
*Private class dates available upon request
Directions? Details? Certifications are held at Wilder Ranch State Park in Santa Cruz. Perhaps most widely known for its place in the surfing world, Santa Cruz is also home to some of the best mountain biking around. Just north of town, Wilder Ranch State Park is home to miles of trail winding along epic cliffs dropping off into the Pacific, making it the perfect backdrop for this course. Exact directions, maps, recommended packing lists, and other details will all be provided during the registration process.
Prerequisites:This program is designed to be highly experiential. Thus, students will be expected to be comfortable riding 10+ miles through intermediate terrain, and both ascend and descend 1000 feet. For skills practice you will need to be able to get on and off the ground, squat, and lift the weight of your bike. Equipment must be in good working order, and it is advised to bring a kit to maintain your bike. Consideration should be taken to ensure you are fit enough to embark on these trails. Please contact BMG if there are questions about student fitness requirements.
Course Instructors: Adventure Out has teamed up with the nonprofit organization Backcountry Medical Guides! BMG is a locally operated outdoor medical training program with years of experience. All instructors have years of experience both in teaching the WFA Cert, as well as working as actual medics and rescuers in our national forests, parks, and wild spaces.
Your registration includes:
2-Day certification course, materials & tools. Food & lodging NOT included.
Your packing list:
Mountain Bike (Hardtails are acceptable, no E-bikes)
Helmet
Backpack
Riding shoes
Hat (sun hat or warm hat)
Sunscreen
Rain Jacket
Warm layers
Water bottle
Food for lunch and snacks (lunch is not provided or available during the course)
***A manual with lecture notes is provided at the beginning of the course and can be used to take notes.