Canadian Cops Show Off at Annual Riding Seminar
For the last twenty years, officers have thrilled crowds while learning new skills.
Riding Competition
Motorcycle police are some of the best riders on the road, and keeping their skills sharp is critical. Every summer for the past twenty years, the Greater Lakes Motorcycle Police Training Seminar (GLMPTS) has fulfilled this vital need. More than just a training session, GLMPTS is also a community event and fundraiser that concludes with a riding competition.
Photos courtesy of GLMPTS
Precinct Host
The four-day seminar attracts officers from all over Canada, the United States, and points beyond. Police precincts from across the province of Ontario take turns hosting the training sessions and competition. If the seminar is not canceled due to extenuating circumstances, the 2020 GLPMTS will be hosted by the Waterloo Regional Police Service from August 19 to August 22.
Photo courtesy of Ross Howey Photography.
Fraternity Test
GLMPTS offers an essential training opportunity in a safe and encouraging environment. One of the seminar's underwritten goals is to promote public awareness of motorcycle police while encouraging responsible riding. Another is to promote fraternity and encourage kinship in the law enforcement motorcycle community, but new friendships get put to the test on the last day.
Team Challenge
Open to spectators, GLMPTS concludes with a day of competitive riding. The event is broken down into four sections meant to test officers' riding skills to the very limit. Participants compete in the individual Challenge Course, the popular Last Rider Standing, the tricky Partner Ride, and the SMART Ride which groups random riders in an impromptu team.
Extreme Focus
The Challenge Course involves navigating a bewildering collection of orange cones in the shortest time possible. The sound of scraping floor boards and overheated clutches is the norm for this classic style of motorcycle riding competition. With extreme focus, skilled officers make the course look easy. Not always apparent to spectators, the cones are arranged to represent Canadian icons, like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's signature Stetson hat.
Photo courtesy of Ross Howey Photography.
Involuntary Dismounts
Things heat up with the Last Rider Standing section. A crowd favorite, the competition is a sort of duel on motorcycles. The objective is to block the opponent's riding path, slowing them down to a crawl or causing them to veer outside the course, touch an obstacle or place a foot down. Involuntary dismounts are a regular occurrence in this section of the competition.
Teammate Skill
The Partner Ride and the SMART Ride are a test of real-world riding situations. Tethered by magnetic cables, two officers must ride no more than 18" apart in the Partner Ride. Trust is a key component for the SMART Ride section. Randomly paired with four or five other riders, officers must rely on their own ability while trusting the judgment of their impromptu teammates.
Win Win
For the second year in a row, GLMPTS is offering a civilian rider training session. Participants can take advanced rider training and get the opportunity to ride alongside regular motorcycle police. The seminar also raises tens of thousands of dollars for charity. The KidsAbility Foundation and the Ontario Police Memorial are the primary charitable recipients for 2020. GLMPTS is definitely a win-win for everyone involved.
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