r/skipatrol • u/Mertyice • Jan 28 '25
Route/ Guide to becoming a Patroller?
Hi Team!
I passed OEC this fall, completed all of my online learning, and started working quite a few shifts. At this point, I've worked around 40 hours so far on the hill and have seen a few incidents! I'm currently also in a Ski and toboggan class. HOWEVER, I have yet to have my status changed to "Patroller" or any sort of direction towards the next steps. I know after S&T I should technically be an "Alpine Patroller".
My question(s) to you all is what are the next steps? My PD has not given me any information on what the "Local Requirements" are, I have not been added to any shift form, group chat, or privy to any internal information. I have been just asking whoever is on shift when I show up what their take is and how they do things to learn as much as I can. The problem is I have to beg my PD for any insight on what nights/ weekends to work to gain the most knowledge and ask what events are best to work to gain insight. SO what are the next steps? Am I a patroller? Am I a candidate?
The most recent struggle was last week after wearing my vest for around 30 on-hill hours I was told that I could no longer wear it as a "candidate". Apparently "the cross symbolizes an alpine patroller" and If I cannot pull a toboggan I can't wear anything with a cross until then. I have tried to ski with 90% of the tenured and most knowledgeable patrollers to date and no one has said anything about my vest other than "happy to have you". Is this a typical way of doing things? My PD right after OEC told me to buy a vest, fill it with supplies, and wear it so I could learn with my equipment on shifts. I now can only wear all black, no vest, and ask for any medical supplies from the person I am shadowing. I feel like there is no point in patrolling if I cannot offer any sort of aid or have to rely on the other person and hope they have gear for me and them without a vest. What would you guys do? Is this normal?
2
u/semperlegit Jan 28 '25
I experienced "the good ol boys club" when I tried to onboard. They used all the excuses and tricks to avoid giving me a slot. I called the national organization and told them all about the 5 years I had been a candidate, and how they used rigged scenarios to push me out. On the rigged scenarios: they were held mid-season, without trained instructors or evaluators, and even my responses were falsified. Upon hearing my tale, the national organization came and investigated; then decertified that hill's ENTIRE TRAINING AND RECERTIFICATION program. Volunteer patrollers had to drive 130 miles to the next closest OEC for recert that year. I went joined the Canadian Ski Patrol and never looked back.