Pinkbike Podcast: The Emergency Response Side

Mar 21, 2024
by Alicia Leggett  
photo
Art by Taj Mihelich.

Amy Ertel and Steve Vanderhoek are two people who bring a lot to our sport: both in terms of their excellent riding and when it comes to their jobs and risk preparedness. Amy is a nurse, Steve is a firefighter, and both are extraordinary riders.

I first connected with Amy at Hangtime in 2022, when I crashed and sustained a bad head injury. She recognized that I wasn't getting the quick care I needed, stepped in to help, ended up more or less accidentally spearheading my evacuation, and very likely saved my life. Having Amy come into my world felt like very lucky chance.

Steve is a firefighter in North Vancouver who, for more than a decade, has balanced riding real gnar against responding to some of the worst that anyone ever experiences. He seems to balance those competing interests very gracefully and I think we all can learn a lot from his perspective.

I have a couple of notes about some of what I said: First, in the intro, I called Lachie Stevens-McNab a teenager, and after checking myself on that, I learned that he's 20. Still unbelievably fast on a bike, but no longer a fast teen. Second, I also want to add a caveat to my calling paragliding a slow-paced sport. After listening to that back, I realize that was a careless way to describe it, so I just want to add that it can very quickly turn fast-paced with high consequences, and I'd like to talk about the sport with the healthy respect it deserves.

Please enjoy the episode and let us know what you think in the comments.


Featuring a rotating cast of the editorial team and other guests, the Pinkbike podcast is a weekly update on all the latest stories from around the world of mountain biking, as well as some frank discussion about tech, racing, and everything in between.

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Music Corner

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Author Info:
alicialeggett avatar

Member since Jun 19, 2015
743 articles

23 Comments
  • 32 0
 Massive shoutout to Steve for his openness and vulnerability around seeking help/therapy after tough calls. The last podcast was the catalyst for me to seek help being a Firefighter/EMT and dealing with PTSD. Thanks Steve!
  • 28 0
 Man ! I’m super happy to hear that you went for it. It gets to be a lot and I have really found peace in seeking help. Much respect !
  • 12 0
 Here solely for @sarahmoore's music corner pick.
  • 9 0
 Mike Kazimer [not] approved!
  • 8 0
 One of the best podcasts to date so much loving wisdom, thanks all. Special thanks to Amy for being on the scene and helping "our" Alicia. I hope the 1% of entitled information demanders didn't overshadow too much the 99% of healing vibes and or prayers from the PB community This podcast deserves a transcript to read, underline and reread. "Be kind to others and kind to yourself". Words to live by. I would be curious what books Steve keeps in the firehouse.
  • 6 0
 @sarahmoore - One parent to another, Twenty Trucks blows Blippi out of the water.
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1wIkcbUsQkD58cCc8XjcqZmPLUzgSwA&si=M8oU4qmCVBKbhCWs
  • 6 0
 Oh this is good.
  • 2 0
 @sarahmoore: when the kiddos get a bit older, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is good in his own right. youtu.be/28JFuuJXxh4?si=a4ItLJAS0Hc-sy31
  • 6 1
 Such a great podcast. Thank you all for sharing!! As a 58 year old physician that loves to mountain bike, I think about this topic so much. A little risk makes us all feel alive. I choose to get my rush from a MTB while some of my friends feel like they need to get a fast car and drive aggressively. My version of risk taking can only hurt me while aggressive driving can hurt the general public as well. I think I will continue to hit Crab Apple for as many years as I can, but drive slowly. Just an old man's opinion.
  • 4 0
 As someone who has worked (and still do) in Search & Rescue both as my day job and volunteering, I'm very much looking forward to listening to this one! Top tip - everyone should do a first aid course! You can find some great ones that are targeted to the 'outdoors crowd'.
  • 4 0
 Such a meaningful podcast. As someone in his late 60’s I appreciate and understand rhe perspective change that comes with age. I still work on skills and progression, but what I consider progression at this age would considered quite low level. But having a great time on bikes stays the same even as skills diminish.
  • 4 0
 Excellent topic to cover! MTB doesn't always need to involve hitting gaps, jumps or major features. It also can be simply riding your bike on some graded dirt roads to get some fresh air and exercise.
  • 3 0
 Great podcast I really like hearing other people discuss the risks vs rewards of riding. I used to take more risk, but after a couple of bad crashes, then taking a job that requires me to stand and have decent fine motor skills, I started pulling back on the risk. Even more so after having a kid. Now I find more reward in doing big days, or just riding a line better than I have before, and I get just the same, if not more, enjoyment.
  • 3 0
 Very thoughtful podcast. I'm also in the medical field and have seen the bad side of trauma... Coming back from mtb crash and surgery last year, the risks vs rewards of riding ride heavily on my mind... In particular, Steve's comments on weighing the risks of progression / vs the risk of injury and whether you actually love something vs doing it to prove a point... Lots to think on.
  • 2 0
 Great podcast. I think Henry hit on something that may be overlooked some. Bikes have evolved so much in the last 20 years, allowing us to ride more challenging terrain at greater speeds. However, our bodies still break the same. Definitely something to think about.
  • 3 0
 I've wondered if the tech is evolving to keep up with the terrain that's getting ridden, or vice a versa?
  • 2 0
 Taking a first aid course, like Steve mentioned, seems so overlooked! I have basic first aid and I learned a lot. I feel confident that if I was with an injured riding friend or came across someone else that was hurt, I could help in a way that could potentially save a life. I hope there are others on the mountain that could do the same for me. Pinkbike could even look at doing some videos with some very basic information on what to do in an emergency situation.
  • 2 0
 Great podcast. It's so refreshing to hear that my little jump is the same level of gnarly as a Hardline jump is to Bernard kerr. I get the butterflies just like he probably does. I've seen my PRs become more out of reach as I get older. I'm cool with that. Smile more. Hoot and holler as you ride with your buds. What helps me too is having other sports to fill my time. I've surfed a lot more than I've biked lately and I'm so excited for my next ride. Just to spin and wind my way through the trees.
  • 4 0
 This was a very deep and important listen.
  • 2 0
 You‘ve pretty much nailed every topic that was talken about.
Thank you so much for this Podcast!
Enjoyed it lots!
Peace and Love
  • 2 0
 I am so happy my kids and grandkids are grown so I don’t have to listen to kids videos anymore
  • 3 0
 The podcast, not the music pics
  • 2 0
 Alicia, OMG, thank you for this! 3 3 3 Love it!







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