Johan Charron

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It’s a singular job. The Bike patrol is to mountain biking what the ski patroller is to skiing.

Johan Charron was a member for six years before taking charge of the renowned Puy Saint Vincent bike park and supervising the two patrollers.

Their job?

To inform and raise awareness of safety among practitioners but also to prepare, maintain and secure the 8 courses of the estate. “In the spring, we reshape the different routes. It’s a big job,” he admits. From the green “Family trail ” dedicated to novices to the black “Tamarack ” slope where commitment is required, meticulous preparation is necessary.

“To map out the different enduro, downhill and cross-country routes, you first have to find the right slope and match the level of the track, this is the most difficult part of our job. Once the line has been found, we submit a file for land clearing and an impact study on the ecology. This study is very important to preserve biodiversity. Once we have the agreement, we shape the track.”

With its variety of slopes and routes, the bike park, which has nearly 900 metres of elevation gain, is recognised as a high-performance facility, accessible to all, children and electrically assisted cyclists alike.

As a bonus: the view of the Écrins massif!