Trail-riding fanatics keep medics busy

About 30 riders were injured during a two-day motorcycle trail ride at Waiouru at the weekend, seven of whom had to be flown to hospital.

The event was held on Army training land just north of the town and organised by Taupo firm Epic Events.

About 1200 individual riders were involved, with some 1050 riding on Saturday and 850 on the Sunday.

On Saturday afternoon, the Square Trust Rescue Helicopter flew four men hurt in separate crashes to Palmerston North Hospital with a range of injuries, including leg fractures.

Also on Saturday, the Taupo-based Lion Foundation Rescue Helicopter flew two injured riders to the hospital. A 47-year-old Auckland man and a 17-year-old Wellington youth suffered similar shoulder injuries after they fell from their bikes.

The teenager was also suspected of having concussion and spinal injuries.

On Sunday afternoon, a helicopter flew a rider with leg injuries to Wanganui Hospital.

Epic Events director Nick Reader said that, including the riders airlifted, St John Ambulance paramedics treated about 30 riders over the two days.

Some were taken to hospital by ambulance, including a rider on Sunday with wrist and chin lacerations.

He said the number of injured riders was more than expected.

"It was not a nice thing, with quite a few people."

While most trail-bike tracks allowed for speeds of 30-40km/h, the wide open country at Waiouru encouraged riders to reach up to 60km/h, he said.

This meant when riders came off they often ended up with broken bones instead of just spinning out.

Mr Reader said motorcycle riding was an extreme sport, and almost all of the injured riders were riding outside their ability.

About 115km was marked out over three tracks.

He believed a trail event was last held on the land in 1993 and thought some riders were so excited to be back in the area that they got carried away.

Three paramedics were on site during the event and another was pulled in to help, Mr Reader said.

He was happy with the event's medical systems and response times.

Mr Reader said he would conduct a full review of the weekend, including talking to the Army, and would like to hold the event again next year.

Epic Events' website says the company specialises in motorcycle sport and aims to provide the highest-quality events and experiences for riders and spectators.

- NZPA