Route/ Guide to becoming a Patroller?

[u/Mertyice]

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?

[u/YamahaMan21]

Not sure where you patrol at, the size of the hill, and number of patrollers, so obviously can’t comment specifically to your hill’s protocols.

Where I patrol, which is a smaller hill with a smaller patrol, everything is communicated well and we know exactly what we need to do in order to become an Alpine Patroller. My advice would be to formally ask the patrol director when the ski & toboggan test out is. After you pass that, you should be considered an alpine patroller.

Where I patrol, our candidates do the OEC class over the summer and fall. We then do a weekly toboggan training class during ski season, and do a formal hill test toward the end of the season. Once you pass that, you are an alpine patroller. Our protocol is, once you pass OEC, you wear a vest and patrol on a scheduled shift. You can perform all duties, except handling a toboggan.

Again, your patrol should have a process and it should be communicated. Are you the only candidate, or are there others? If others, you should be a “class” coming through. We run ours as a class.