Frequently Asked Questions

Topics on this page include:

West Mountain Ski Patrol - General

Q:    How long has the West Mountain Ski Patrol been around?
A:    The area that was to become West Mountain Ski Center has roots dating back to 1961 when Mike Brandt and his brother, Claude, moved to the area from Wisconsin.  They installed the first few lifts themselves including a rope tow and a used chair lift.  [I need help with this one for the patrol's history...]

Q:    What sort of facilities does the WMSP have at West Mountain:
A:    We have two base patrol rooms - one each near the bases of Lift Chair 2 ("Little Double") and Lift Chair 3 ("Triple") - and two summit patrol rooms near the tops of Chair 2 and Chair 3.

Q:    How does WMSP obtain funds for equipment and materials?
A:    The WMSP is a not-for-profit volunteer organization that has an annual fundraiser and is supported by the kind corporate and private donations of others, including the West Mountain Ski Resort.  If you are interested in making a donation to support the WMSP, please contact the Patrol Director or use the Feedback Form (on the left).  We appreciate your interest in what we do.  Funds go towards purchasing medical supplies (bandages, compresses, medical tape, filling oxygen bottles, etc.), as well as for repairing and purchasing equipment (toboggans, trail signs, marker tape, bamboo, etc.), and other activities for the patrol.  

Being a Patroller

Q:    What clothing identifies a ski patroller?
A:    Patrollers generally wear a red jacket with white crosses or a rust colored jacket with yellow crosses.  

Q:    What equipment does a patroller carry?
A:    Each patroller signs out a radio at the beginning of his or her shift to use for communication with other patrollers and the patrol rooms.  Each patroller also carries a patrol pack (belt) with first aid supplies such as latex or nitrile gloves, a resuscitation mask with one-way valve, gauze pads and rolls, bandages, medical tape, 3-4 cravats, trauma scissors, and oral airways.  Some patrollers carry basic tools, one or more flashlights, a knife, wrist splint, rope or cord, matches, and emergency (Mylar) blankets, among other items.

Q:    What is required to be a ski patroller?
A:    Each patroller completes an American Red Cross "CPR for the Professional Rescuer" course where text book and hands on practical skills are taught on providing CPR, rescue breathing, airway management (including clearing an airway), use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Body Substance Isolation (BSI).  In addition, each patroller takes a course in Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) and becomes an OEC Technician, which is similar to a "Basic" Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), although the first aid skills are tailored for assisting patients in a non-urban setting where immediate access to an ambulance is not readily available.  Patrollers are tested on skiing and toboggan (sled) handling skills needed to transport patients safely down the mountain.  These skills are demonstrated annually at a 2-day "refresher" weekend, including a practice chair lift evacuation, and a "ski and toboggan" skill demonstration at the beginning of each season.

Q:    How does one become a member of the ski patrol?
A:    After completing classroom instruction, including written exams and hands-on practical exams in CPR and Outdoor Emergency Care, a ski patrol candidate spends a season doing on-the-hill training in ski and toboggan (S&T) handling and first aid (OEC); scenarios are an important part of this training.  Candidates having passed the OEC and CPR portions are generally allowed to provide first aid but cannot transport patients.  Towards the end of the season, a "Candidates Day" is held at a nearby mountain -- usually Gore -- where each candidate is teamed with 2-3 other candidate patrollers from other mountains and are presented with 8-9 skill demonstration stations.  Candidates are graded individually and as a group, and the patrol director at the candidate's mountain decides if the candidate can become a patroller.  At a candidate's respective mountain, the candidate will also be required to pass an "S&T" test by transporting a loaded sled.

Q:    Are patrollers paid or volunteers?
A:    At West Mountain, like most mountains, there is a mixture of paid and volunteer patrollers.  Generally, the volunteers patrol on weeknights and weekends while the paid patrollers ski during weekdays.  All patrollers receive the same training regardless of being paid or volunteer.

Q:    Does it cost anything to be a ski patroller?
A:    Ski patrollers are required to pay for the CPR and OEC courses, annual dues, and must provide their own clothing, equipment and transportation.  Also, patrollers may decide to get additional training through clinics and skill enhancements that may be held at other mountains; these are also self-paid.  The National Ski Patrol is a not-for-profit organization, so many of the expenses incurred by active members in the course of their patrol activities are deductible.

Q:    Are there any age restrictions to being a member of the ski patrol?
A:    Junior patrollers can participate starting at age 14.  The extent of a junior patroller's involvement is subject to a respective mountain's protocol and the Patrol Director.  Most patrollers are 18 years or older.  Several patrollers are active through their 60s and 70s.

Q:    Do I have to know how to ski to be on the ski patrol?
A:    Surprisingly, the answer is "no" though for obvious reasons, good skiing skills are desirable.  The ski patrol does have "auxiliary" patrollers that are stationed in the first aid room.  Auxiliary patrollers do not transport patients on sleds.  If a candidate's or auxiliary patroller's skiing skills need to be developed, S&T instruction and clinics are available for additional training.

Q:    Are there any snow boarders on the National Ski Patrol?
A:    Yes, definitely.  In addition to the first aid skills, snow boarders must demonstrate their "S&T" skills just as patrollers on skis.

Q:    What happens at a "typical" accident with an injured skier or snow boarder?
A:    First, no accident is "typical", but there are some common general characteristics.  The general order of events involves:

  1. Being notified of the accident, either by another person at the ski area contacting the ski patrol or by a patroller coming upon an accident.

  2. Once the patrol is notified and a patroller is at the scene, the patroller will gain consent, perform an assessment of the patient(s) to determine if there is a problem and the nature of the problem (trauma, medical emergency or both) and the number of injured people.

  3. The patroller will then radio the base to describe the condition of the patient(s) and request assistance.  Usually this involves requesting at least one additional patroller and a toboggan, which then come to the scene.  In some cases, an ambulance may be requested by the patroller on scene to be ready when the skier/snow boarder is brought down.

  4. The patroller(s) will manage the patient's (patients') conditions and injuries and then transport the patient(s) to one of the base patrol rooms using a toboggan.  

  5. Once in the patrol room, additional interventions may be done, and the patient may then be released on his/her own, to a family member or friend, or possibly handed off to an ambulance for transport, usually to Glens Falls Hospital (the nearest hospital to the West Mountain Ski Resort).

Q:    Can patrollers administer medications and "treat" patients?
A:    No.  Our role in the Emergency Management System is to apply skills to assess a victim's condition, take appropriate actions (including caring for life-threatening conditions) and provide a transition between citizens at the scene and more advanced medical personnel, such as EMTs, paramedics, and physicians.

Q:    What is the commitment to be a member of the West Mountain Ski Patrol?
A:    You must have a willingness and passion for helping others, and have a commitment to our team of patrollers whose first priority is serving the skiing public while having lots of fun at West Mountain!  We garner a family oriented atmosphere. Our patrollers serve for many years out of a compassion to serve the public and for the camaraderie our patrol offers. We welcome you to join us! Specific time commitments include:

Interested in Joining the West Mount Ski Patrol?

Individuals interested in joining the West Mountain Ski Patrol should:

Patroller Candidate Program

Below is a description of the various commitments to becoming a patroller at West Mountain.

Candidate Program - OUTDOOR EMERGENCY CARE

This sequenced, competency-based education program prepares candidate patrollers and other outdoor rescuers without previous first aid or EMT training to handle the emergency care problems encountered in a non-urban setting. The knowledge and skills learned are oriented toward the wilderness environment, with special emphasis on ski and snowboard injuries, high-altitude and cold-weather illness, wilderness extrications, and the special equipment needed for emergency care and transportation in the outdoor environment. Students are required to participate in comprehensive lessons with skill and scenario application; complete various workbook exercises; take a final written exam; and demonstrate their skills and knowledge in final scenarios. Challenge students are required to demonstrate all skill performances and complete the same final written exam and practical scenario evaluation as course students.

Prerequisite: None

Challenge prerequisite: Current license in medicine (MD, DO), nurse, physician assistant, any level of EMT or paramedic in accordance with US DOT curriculum; previous OEC certification provided the expired OEC certification date has not exceeded three years; or other certifications as approved by the national medical director or the national Outdoor Emergency Care Program director, based upon and after submission and review of appropriate curriculum materials.

Course time commitment: To master the objectives, a candidate typically needs to devote 80 to 100 hours of class and study time to the course. The West Mountain Candidate program runs the first week in September to the last week in November, two nights per week (3 hours/night) to be determined in August of each year. It is required that you read the chapters prior to the night they will be discussed in class.  This is equivalent to a college level course and requires studying and commitment.

Challenge time commitment: Will vary with the candidate’s emergency care background, specialty, and experience. Credential: NSP Certificate of Achievement; OEC card (valid for three years) Continuing education/refresher requirement: Annual OEC refresher consisting of 1/3 of the total curriculum (skill competency is verified by instructor of record) Required texts: • Outdoor Emergency Care (#544) • OEC Student Workbook (#545) Helpful Site to Visit - http://www.oeczone.com/ Check out the chapter pretests to study for your test, Interactivities, Vocabulary Explorer, etc… Lots of interactive tools to help you study the material! Email the West Mountain Candidate Program Coordinator to receive further information regarding start date for the course or to challenge the OEC course at
Candidate Program - SKI AND TOBOGGAN SKILLS

Strong intermediate skiing skills are required for this course. If you want to become a patroller and your skiing skills are not the strongest, you can be an auxiliary patroller whereby you do not transport patients but, can administer first aid. In doing so, it gives you time to work on your skiing skills over the course of one or several seasons as needed to obtain your S & T Certification. 

Tune your skiing skills

In the first season as a candidate or challenge patroller with your patrol, you will perfect your ski in skills to ‘tune up’ for toboggan training in:

Training using a toboggan

Equipment carry

Radio communication

Protocols in regards to operating a toboggan and transporting and use of equipment

By the end of your first season, your Patrol Director and S & T instructor will sign you off on an individual basis when you are ready to transport the public with a toboggan. 

Take initiative and ask your S & T Instructor what you can work on, on your own. The core of pulling a toboggan is speed control using snowplow and side slip techniques. Working on transitions is always something any patroller can refresh and improve.

Each year after you complete the S & T Certification, at West Mountain, we have you run a toboggan and get signed off at the beginning of each season just to get the rust off. 

Advanced Training

Patroller Advanced Training

Visit our regional website to find out where clinics are held to improve your skiing skills:
    http://www.enynsp.org/Calendar.htm

Visit here to find out course descriptions for advancing your patroller skills:  
    NSP Members Login 
    NSP Education Programs

Outdoor Safety

NSP Information 

"Self-Help" Skiing Tips and Exercises  

Below are suggested self-help skiing and toboggan handling exercises that patrollers can practice on their own to improve S&T skills. These suggestions were provided by S&T instructors, PSIA instructors or other patrollers that have attended NSP-sponsored S&T clinics.

  1. Drill: When practicing a side-slip or snow plow, grasp your ski poles by the handles but with the tips/baskets into the air (e.g., "inverted").  Cross-the poles in front of you, forming an "X" and use the cross-hairs to pick a target down hill.  Keep the cross-hairs on the target as you side-slip or snow plow.  

    Intended Goal: This drill is intended to keep the patroller looking ahead (down hill) rather than at your feet and also helps keep a straight alignment down the hill, so the sled runs in a straight line. 

  2. Drill: Side-slip with the downhill ski boot further back so that one's pelvis is rotated down hill rather than twisting at the waist.  

    Intended Goal: When doing side-slip, some patrollers tend to rotate their bodies down hill at the waist while keeping their skis almost parallel.  The side-slip is more effective if the patroller is in an "athletic stance", with the pelvis rotated down hill and less rotation at the waist.

  3. Drill: When making long, medium or short radius turns, initiate the turns with the uphill ski so you go from the outside edge to the inside edge, while still weighting the downhill ski.

    Intended Goal: Many skiers place most of their weight on the downhill ski.  When making turns in this position, the skier is not taking full advantage of the additional edge on the uphill ski.  Also, the edge(s) of the ski(s) tend to be loaded later, but more quickly, in a turn, often causing the snow to break away and the tails of the skis to slide out.  If both edges are loaded more gradually, the skier is better able to "complete the turn".  Initiating the turn with the uphill ski tends to better position the skier's body down hill in the direction they want to travel.

  4. Drill: "Little toe, big toe" -- Lean forward, over your little toe on the inside ski and the big toe on your outside ski when making a turn.  

    Intended Goal: When making a turn in this position (in combination with the preceding drill), the skier's body position is in an "athletic stance" and in the intended direction of travel.

  5. Drill:  On a relatively flat slope skiing on one foot, with the other foot as an outrigger, make left and right turns using both edges of the ski (the action is at your ankle).  Then switch, using the other foot to make turns.  Finally, make turns using both.  Continue the cycle, turns with left foot, turns with right foot, turns with both feet, etc.

    Intended Goal:  This helps with learning to use both edges to make turns.  The benefit of using one foot as an "outrigger", aside from making the drill easier, is that it's not necessary to get your body out of position as is sometimes the case when completely raising the "outrigger" foot off the ground. 

  6. Drill:  One PSIA instructor suggested that we "seek out the bad snow".  

    Intended Goal: In other words, we often pick the best areas of the hill or our favorite parts of a slope to ski.  It's important to change it up once in a while by, for example, looking for icy patches on which to practice S&T techniques.  For patrollers, this is especially important because we may not have the opportunity to pick where we will encounter injured skiers on the hill.