Blue Knob Ski Patrol

Blue Knob

 

How to Become a Ski Patroller

Candidate Information

So you want to become a ski patroller.  What does it take to become one?  What will it cost?  How much time will I need to dedicate?  How much training is there?  These are questions that are typically asked.  Becoming a Blue Knob Ski Patroller is a great way to combine your love of skiing or snowsports with helping out the skiing public.  Blue Knob Ski Patrol is associated with the National Ski Patrol Systems, Inc. (NSP)  The initial time commitment has been designed to provide the necessary training for an individual while not trying to become too much of a burden.

To become a Ski Patroller (Volunteer) for Blue Knob All Seasons Resort, a candidate need to complete all three (3) phases of training.  There are three (3) phases of the Blue Knob Ski Patrol Candidate Training Academy.  The three phases are the Medical Phase, Orientation and Rescue Phase, and Skiing/Toboggan Phase.

The Medical Phases of the Candidate training is the initial phase of all ski patrollers.  There are two (2) different routes a candidate can take to meet the medical requirements.  The first route is to take the National Ski Patrol Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) Technician course.  The OEC course will rarely be offered at Blue Knob (only if there are more than 10 candidates); however, there are OEC classes offered at other resorts and the Blue Knob Candidate will be assisted in getting into one of these classes.  Blue Knob Ski Patrol Administration will assist the candidate with this process.  The average time and cost for the course is 100 hours and $80 (for book and workbook).  At the completion of this course the candidate will take the OEC test (100 question multiple-choice test and practical test).  This route will meet the medical requirements for Blue Knob Ski Patrol and will give you a certification through the National Ski Patrol.

The second route a candidate can take to meet the medical requirements is through the PA Department of Health Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course.  This is offered multiple times throughout the year at different locations.  The average time commitment and cost for an EMT course 120 hours and approximately $100 (for books and class).  Upon successful completion of the EMT course and certification as an EMT, the candidate will take the OEC (Outdoor Emergency Care) challenge test (100 question multiple choice test) given at Blue Knob.  This route will meet the requirements for Blue Knob Ski Patrol and give you a certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and through the National Ski Patrol.

At this point in the Patroller Academy the Candidate will enter the Orientation and Rescue Phase.  There are two ways that a candidate can meet this requirement.  The first option is to attend the full Orientation and Rescue Phase located at Blue Knob.  This process is as follows:

During this phase of the training the Candidate will receive Patrol Orientation (2 hours), Wilderness EMT (40 hours), Missing Person Search training and certification (8 hours), Low Angle Rescue (12 hours), Lift Rescue Operations (16 hours), Landing Zone Officer Course ( 2 hours), Mass Casualty Training (4 hours), and Patrol Activities (4 hours).  The time and average cost for this phase is 88 hours and $110 (Manuals and SAR Tech III Test registration).

The second option is that a Candidate gets the following training on their own from approved training organizations:

After submitting documentation of the above training the candidate will attend a six hour course in Patrol orientation and activity and the candidate will meet the requirements of the Orientation and Rescue phase.  The cost for this route would be $30 for Patrol manual and Employee manual.

Upon successful completion of the Medical phase and Orientation/Rescue Phase the Patroller will meet Blue Knob Ski Patrol and NSP requirements for certification as an Auxiliary Patroller*.

The final phase of the Blue Knob Patrol Academy is Skiing/Toboggan Phase.  A candidate cannot enter this phase of the training until the other two (2) phases have been successfully completed.  This phase of the training takes place once the Resort is open for the season.  The Candidate is required to attend the first weekend of skiing/toboggan training.  After that weekend there will be training offered every 8 hours every weekend throughout the season until the date of the skiing/toboggan test.  There is no required attendance for the rest of the weekends.  The Skiing/Toboggan test consists of five (5) Skiing practical stations (free ski, equipment carry, snowplow course, sideslip course, and crud/bump run) and  three toboggan practical stations (Handle Run, Tail Rope Run, and Skill Run).  Upon successful completion of this phase the Candidate will become a full Patroller.

So what do I get for becoming a ski patroller?  First you get the privilege of helping people out as well as being part of the Blue Knob Ski Patrol family.  In addition a full Patroller receives the following benefits -  All volunteers receive a season pass for themselves as a season pass for all of their immediate family or a single pass for every shift they work.  All Volunteers receive a discount at the cafeteria (while on duty).  All volunteers receive discounts at most local outdoor stores on snow sport equipment (with proof of NSP membership).  Finally all volunteers receive access to purchase items form the National Ski Patrol catalog.

We hope you decide to join!

If you decide to join, please fill out the Blue Knob Ski Patrol Application and send it to the address at the bottom of the form.

Ski Patrol Application PDF File.pdf

 If you have any other questions feel free to contact the Patrol's recruitment officer :

Greg Jones
Recruitment Officer
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort
recruitmentofficer@bkskipatrol.org

All Candidates are required to take the National Incident Command Courses 100, 200, 700, and 800.  These classes are offered on the internet at no cost.

All new Candidates the are PA EMT's and challenged the OEC test will take the Wilderness EMT course and any OEC Technicians that did not have extensive outdoor scenarios during their OEC Course.

Local Emergency Medical Technician class schedules can be found at the following web address - www.saems.com  Southern Alleghenies EMS Council, Inc.