Requirements of National Ski Patrol members include:

1. Association with a local patrol (BBVNSP) as an alpine skier, snowboarder or auxiliary patroller.
2. Complete credentialed courses and annual training, refreshers, and continuing education in Outdoor Emergency Care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR-BLS for Health Care Providers or CPR-BLS for the Professional Rescuer), skiing and toboggan handling (except for auxiliary), and other local patrol training requirements.

These are basic NSP requirements for all members; however, you will be expected to undergo additional area specific training at Snow Summit. After applying to join BBVNSP, you are asked to identify whether you intend to become a basic or auxiliary patroller. If you determine that you wish to be a basic patroller, you will be required to have your ski/snowboard skills evaluated by Snow Summit PSIA Ski School Staff at a LEVEL 3. If your ski/snowboard skills are acceptable (LEVEL 3 and above) you become a basic patrol candidate or "first year basic patroller".

If your ski/snowboard skills are not up to a LEVEL 3, you may choose to become an auxiliary candidate or "first year auxiliary patroller. Our auxiliary program is very rewarding. Auxiliary patrollers provide first aid to injured guests in the first aid room and assist with first aid training. Auxiliary patrollers generally see more incidents requiring first aid than the basic patroller does. The typical schedule for an auxiliary is to work in the room for half of the day and then ski the other half. Whether you chose to be a basic or auxiliary patroller you are designated a first year patroller until you pass all performance objectives (written and practical) and demonstrating your competency in all aspects of patrolling. This will generally take most of your first season to accomplish.

You are encouraged to contact the BBVNSP director if you have any additional questions.

Work Hard, Play Hard: There's nothing more rewarding than putting in a hard day's work-and having a good time doing it. The main objective of being a member of BBVNSP is to assist area management in caring for injured skiers and in making mountain recreation safer and more fun. But, there are many other benefits. You'll be a respected part of the industry. You'll perfect your skills. You'll make friendships that will last a lifetime.

Estimated Costs for Patrol Candidates

Annual patrol dues: $80.00
First aid belt pack: $30-65.00
First aid belt pack supplies: $50.00-75.00
Outdoor Emergency Care course fees and books: $60.00-100.00
Ski Patrol Manual: $15.00
Ski Patrol jackets (upon completion): $130.00 and up

With the exception of your annual dues of $80.00, all of these costs are one time costs. You must stock your first aid belt with supplies the first time only. Thereafter, Snow Summit will replenish your supplies as you use them. You must purchase a patrol jacket as you near completion of your patroller training program. These are excellent quality jackets at discount prices to patrollers ranging in price from $130.00 to $350.00 for deluxe Gortex models. All of the above costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

You are also responsible for providing all of your own ski equipment and all of your own lodging in Big Bear while patrolling. Many patrollers and candidates carpool and share lodging to defray costs. Many of the costs associated with patrolling may be tax deductible as National Ski Patrol is a non-profit organization. Check with your accountant or tax advisor.

If you have any questions regarding the costs associated with joining our patrol, feel free to call or e-mail me at any time (see contact info below).

Estimated Candidate Training Schedule and Time Commitments

MID- OR LATE OCTOBER:
Snow Summit Ski Patrol annual on-the-hill refresher at Snow Summit, including candidate registration, chairlift evacuation training, first aid clinics, awards banquet (Saturday night), general patrol meeting, candidate orientation meeting and pre-season work party. Plan to arrive Friday night as we start very early Saturday morning and plan to leave late Sunday afternoon. Candidate training team assignments will be decided this weekend also.

EVERY OTHER WEEKEND
Team assignments begin on-the-hill training in mid-November. Basic patroller candidates will take their ski test on their first weekend. Your team will be assigned to train every other weekend thru late January when your training is completed. No training is done on the Christmas or New Years weekends (Training is done on Thanksgiving weekend). Auxiliary patrol candidates usually complete their training in late December.

THREE ADDITIONAL WEEKENDS
You will be required to patrol a minimum of three additional weekends or any six weekend days after your training is completed. This will enable you to use the patrolling skills you have been developing during your patroller training program.

Please note that these dates are mandatory training dates. Once you become a patroller, your time commitment for patrolling is 14 weekend days per season. Therefore, if you pass your training program this season, next October, you will be asked to commit to patrol 7 weekends or 14 weekend days. You choose your own schedule from the 23 weekends that Snow Summit is usually open. Your candidate training program, however, follows a fairly rigid schedule and allows for very little flexibility.

JOIN US!

If you have any questions concerning joining our patrol, please contact:

Dave Nelson

First Year Patroller Advisor

iwant2patrol@gmail.com