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The Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP) is looking for snowboarders, alpine and cross-country skiers interested in volunteering at ski areas in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as Alberta’s Mount Joy Snow Resort.
On March 4, CSP invites anyone interested to Ski With the Patrol Day, where they’ll give a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on during a typical patroller’s day.
“We’ll show some of our equipment, provide a glimpse at some of our procedures, outline the training requirements and explain how to become a member of this national organization,” said CSP Saskatchewan Division VP of patrol development John Humbert.
Ski With the Patrol Day events are being held on March 4 at Mount Joy Snow Resort, Asessippi Ski Area & Resort, Duck Mountain Ski Area, Mission Ridge Winter Park, Table Mountain, Wapiti Valley Ski and Board Resort and White Butte Trails.
“We want to show the public what we do, but we’re also looking for new people to join the ski patrol because we’re all volunteers. We do all the training a patroller needs, we have our own courses and we teach the first-aid courses, and a lot of it is online now, so you can study at home,” said Humbert.
“We teach you the skills you need on the ski hill, and once the snow flies we also teach you how to manage the accident scene, how to transport your patient off of the ski hill into the first-aid room, and then hospital care if necessary. We teach it all.”
The CSP is made up of 4,500 volunteers nationally with 100 throughout Saskatchewan. CSP promotes safety on the slopes as well as provides first-aid and rescue services for skiers and snowboarders in need. Members must be 18 years of age or older and ski or snowboard at an intermediate or better level. All other training will be provided by the patrol.
When asked why people should volunteer with the CSP, Humbert was quick to say “First of all, it’s a lot of fun, secondly, you’re participating in the ski industry, which is a really positive thing to do during our winter months– getting out and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. There’s also the sense of helping people.”
“You also learn a darn-good first-aid course. It’s an advanced first-aid course; you become a first responder and it’s some of the best training you can get,” he said.
“We also recertify every year, and the practical experience people get by volunteering with the ski patrol is amazing.”
Anyone interested in joining the CSP for Ski WIth the Patrol Day at Mount Joy Snow Resort can email them at joints.sask@skipatrol.ca
