... More On Training And Commitment

The Ski Liberty Ski Patrol is affiliated with the National Ski Patrol System (NSPS) which is comprised of over 27,000 members and serves over 600 ski areas within the United States and around the world. The Ski Liberty Ski Patrol is a volunteer, non-profit organization with approximately 100 members serving the skiing public. The patrol is always looking for good qualified skiers or boarders to enhance our organization. You do not need to be a "super" skier or boarder, but you do need to have solid basic skills which include a strong snowplow, side slip, and above average skiing abilities. The patrol provides training in emergency care, patrol related skiing, toboggan handling, lift evacuation and other skills necessary to enhance the safety of the skiing public. Our primary objectives are to promote safe skiing and to give emergency care to injured skiers.

What to expect: When Ski Liberty opens for the season you will be contacted by telephone and invited for a ski-along with a patroller at Ski Liberty. The ski-along begins your evaluation process. This informal part of the process allows us the opportunity to evaluate you and your basic skiing or boarding skills. You will be asked to exhibit your skiing abilities, perform a snowplow, and side slip on one or more of the advanced slopes. All participants that successfully complete the ski-along will be invited to attend a more formal ski-off and interview in the February time frame. Those who score highest on the two part evaluation will be invited to join the candidate class.

 Training The training covers four areas which include; CPR, AED, Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC), Ski Skills and Toboggan handling proficiency (S&T). The OEC training starts in April. Classes meet at Montomery College one Friday night per week. In September the course moves to the ski area meeting on one weekend day every weekend and finishes in January. This is a 120 hour course of lecture and practical exercises. Registration and material costs are approximately $225.00. The CPR and AED course is a nine hour course and is scheduled as part of the candidate training. The Ski and Toboggan training starts when snow conditions permit - usually in December. The remaining portion of the winter season will be spent on S&T training which requires you to be on the hill every weekend from January through February. This training culminates with a Ski and Toboggan exam in the February or March time frame. Following the successful completion of this exam you will become a full member of the National Ski Patrol and the Ski Liberty Ski Patrol. The training is very time consuming and challenging and prepares you to assure the safety of, and when necessary to give medical treatment to the skiing public. You need to have an attitude of cooperation, ability to work as part of a team, a willingness to be trained, and a dedication to helping others..