Aug 1, 2016 - Send a pre-programmed text message with GPS coordinates or an ... also used SPOT to track the riders in a
SOLUTION BRIEF SPOT GEN3 GPS SATELLITE MESSENGER TM
ADAM CRUIKSHANK
SPOT to the rescue: Stranded adventure riders use SPOT to initiate rescue following mechanical breakdown THE CHALLENGE
The Fundy Adventure Rally is a four day event designed for the adventure motorcyclist to explore the remote Fundy Region of Southern New Brunswick, Canada. The 2016 event runs from September 8-11th. The Rally features rider training, demo rides, workshops, seminars, self-guided tours, the Fundy Trail Parkway tour, a 250 km scavenger hunt ride, and culminates in a stellar 500 km multi-route GPS team ride for adventure riders of all levels. This year’s title sponsors are BMW and Honda. For more information visit www.fundyadventurerally.com.
THE RESCUE
Team “Nova Scotia” captain Adam Cruikshank and his riding partner had just completed the first 5 routes of the Fundy Adventure Rally, a 400+ km motorcycle adventure riding event, when late in the day, along a remote section of the course, the team experienced a flat tire. With only 45 minutes remaining in the rally, the team did everything they could to make the needed repairs so that they could get back on the course and finish. “We tried changing the tube and patching it,” says Adam “but the patch wouldn’t hold”. After 5 failed attempts to fix the flat, Adam and his teammate realized that they would not be able to complete the rally. It was then that they decided to use their SPOT GPS Satellite Messenger to send a pre-programmed ‘mechanical breakdown’ message, along with their GPS location coordinates, to event organizers. Organizers received the message and assistance was immediately dispatched. A service truck arrived on the scene within the hour. According to Courtney Hay, Rally Director, safety is at the foundation of operations and Canada Moto Rallies sets the gold bar for rally safety standards. “We take rider safety very seriously and do everything to prepare our team for every possible scenario that could occur, such as mechanical breakdown or injuries on the routes. We try to do the most that can be done. And SPOT is a critical component to maximizing our safety plan.”
ROADS AREN’T ALWAYS PAVED, BUT ADVENTURE RIDERS STAY SAFE AND CONNECTED WITH SPOT
The Fundy Adventure Rally is an endurance motorcycle event, consisting of a mix of on and off road routes. The challenging course takes riders through remote terrain, most of which is beyond the reach of cellular networks and difficult to access. To ensure rider safety and reliable communications, all teams were required to carry a SPOT Satellite Messenger so that if any mishaps occurred along the course, from flat tires to running out of fuel to accidents or injuries, riders would have emergency notification capabilities as well as the ability to contact organizers with pre-programmed messages and their GPS location coordinates. Organizers also used SPOT to track the riders in a real time and online.
SPOT GEN3 SPOT GEN3 Messenger is a leading edge satellite tracking technology that offers: • S.O.S.: With the push of a button, GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center provides your GPS coordinates and information to local response teams • Check In: Let family and friends know you’re ok when you’re out of cell phone range. Send a pre-programmed text message with GPS coordinates or an email with a link to Google Maps™ to your contacts with your location • Help/SPOT Assist: Alert your personal contacts that you need help in non-life- threatening situations. • Unlimited Tracking: Users can pre-set SPOT GEN3 to send tracks at the speed of their adventures with options to send every 5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes. Motion Activated to maximize battery life. • Longer battery life: Approximately twice as long as previous SPOT devices with new power options including 4 AAA Energizer® Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries (L92), 4 AAA Energizer NiMH rechargeable batteries (NH12) or Line Power with a 5v USB connection.
IT’S ALL ABOUT “PEACE OF MIND” FOR THIS ADVENTURE RIDER
An avid adventure rider from the eastern part of Nova Scotia, Adam loves to ride whenever he has spare time. As part of his essential riding gear, he carries SPOT “to give me and my wife peace of mind when I’m outside of cellular coverage.” Adam uses SPOT’s check-in and tracking features to stay in touch with home. “Every hour or so she’ll get a check-in message from me so she knows that I am OK and where I am, if needed.” Participating in an event like the Fundy Adventure Rally or simply exploring remote areas of eastern Nova Scotia with his motorcycling buddies, SPOT makes adventure riding “worry-free” for Adam. “It’s all about giving me peace of mind, knowing I am not completely cut off and that my wife’s not home worrying about me all day.” Although he wasn’t able to complete the 2015 Fundy Adventure due to a mechanical breakdown, Adam says he “had a blast and even though we didn’t finish I would do it again, for sure!” Globalstar Canada Satellite Co. is the Canadian distributor of SPOT satellite devices and an official sponsor of the Fundy Adventure Rally for 2014, 2015 and 2016.
For more information on SPOT devices, visit: FindMeSPOT.com SPOT products are distributed in Canada by Globalstar Canada Satellite Co., a company that offers satellite voice and data services to commercial and recreational users in more than 120 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.globalstar.ca.
SPOT Adam Cruikshank Solution Brief.indd 1
8/1/16 12:27 PM
