Another woman on the National Ski Patrol

[teachski]

It's official! I am now a member of the National Ski Patrol (again). I just finished the course tonight.

For those who do not know, I was a member a few years ago, but did not renew for a couple seasons and had to retake the class to resume membership.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Welcome back!

 

[teachski]

Thanks sled!

 

[SkiDog]

Good going...

I respect and admire ski partol..your job is tough and I thank you for all the help on the mountains that you provide....I wish I could do it myself..

M

 

[Sky]

Congrats!

I will glom onto the "thanks for all you do" as well.

Congrats on re-passing.

Thanks for the dedicated effort and for the assistance provided (or will provide I should say).

Where will you be patrolling next season?

 

[teachski]

I will be patrolling at Pine Ridge and heading up efforts to bring National back into the area...interested?

 

[Sky]

Interested?

Interested?....heh...in my dreams. Although I'm sure I'd be wondering what the heck I was thinking on those freezing rain days, soaked to the skin, hauling some idiot off the slope.

Like I said...thanks for all you do. I may be that idiot getting hauled off the slope. *smirk*

I've been asked to work my local mountain (not as a patrol, but as Courtesy/bouncer patrol), but I just can't dedicate that kind of time. Too much work and family activity to allow that much outside-work/family requirement.

I imagine at some point, no matter what the job...it becomes just that..."a job". The idealized "I get to ski every day" becomes....that wish that came true in ways you never expected.

I think I'm becoming Marvin (robot from Hitch Hiker's Guide). *smirk*

 

[dmc]

I'd join for a couple years to get some skillz...

But at Hunter - your not allowed to have a beard if your an employee..

So it's out of the question for me...

 

[thetrailboss]

Congrats! You would not happen to be one of those folks in the Wa-Wa lodge on Saturday AM as we came in from the clean-up, would you? Had to use the little boy's room...

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

But at Hunter - your not allowed to have a beard if your an employee..

???????????

 

[teachski]

Congrats! You would not happen to be one of those folks in the Wa-Wa lodge on Saturday AM as we came in from the clean-up, would you? Had to use the little boy's room...

No, that was the Wa-Wa course though, they are a few weeks behind the one I was in. I took my course at Ski Ward.

I've been asked to work my local mountain (not as a patrol, but as Courtesy/bouncer patrol), but I just can't dedicate that kind of time. Too much work and family activity to allow that much outside-work/family requirement...

That may be true of Wachusett and some of the larger areas. Pine Ridge requires 2 four hour shifts a week and is only open Friday 6-10, Saturday 9:30-4:30 and 6-10 and Sunday 9:30-4:30. Starting with the first year, patrollers can bring their families with them when they are on duty and the family skis free.

We have gone with this policy because a few years back we offered an unlimited pass for patrol families and some took advantage of it...one in particular. He would drop his children off each day we were open, but would rarely, if ever, show for his shifts. This prompted the change to the when you are patrolling policy.

The place has a friendly, family atmosphere.

After the initial committment of the OEC course, patrollers have a 1 day CPR refresher and a 1 day OEC refresher annually (manditory). There are other programs they may choose to participate in, but they do not have to.

There are other benefits too. If you are interested please contact me, I can tell you more and tell you what you would need to do to get started with the Pine Ridge Patrol for the 2005-2006 season. I am the Patrol Director and recruiting officer. (I have 10 prior years of service to the NSP)

 

[GloryHole]

Congrats TeachSki - wondering if you could maybe share what the typical shift for a patroller at Pine Ridge is like. Is there a lot of injuries, or skiers lost in the backcountry/woods?

 

[teachski]

Shhhh! No one knows about the back bowls (hehehe).

Pine Ridge is a small area with a 220ft vert. There is a T-bar and a rope tow. There are relatively few injuries. Most of the injuries we do have are able to leave with a parent or guardian. We have had to call the ambulance on a few rare occassions. Pine Ridge is primarily a learning area and feeder hill for Wachusett and other larger areas in MA and So. NH and VT.

 

[GloryHole]

Ah I see. So what would the daily duties consist of at such a small area?

 

[teachski]

Checking the hill for manmade and natural hazzards, opening the area, closing the area, keeping an eye on the t-bar run up to make sure there are no large bumps or ruts, safety patrol, assisting those with illness and injury, having a positive presence at the area...much the same as at any other area, except on a smaller scale. We train with patrollers from other areas and at other areas. We have to have the same skills because even at a small area, we could be faced with some of the problems they see at large areas.

 

[nightingale]

I wonder what the ratio of male to female patrollers? I am guessing 80%m<>20%f

 

[Ski Diva]

Congratulations, Teachski! I'm another great appreciater of the ski patrol! Thank you -- and all the other patrolers in this forum.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I wonder what the ratio of male to female patrollers? I am guessing 80%m<>20%f

That would be about right. Big on testosterone. Predominately a sausage fest.