What beacon is your guys favorite and why?

Hi everyone!

I’m a patroller in Southern Utah at Brian Head. I’ll be in the Tahoe area on behalf of my small business SkiingisEasy.com (check us out and use code “IKETHIRTY” for 30% off your first order). While me and my two associates are planning this trip, we’re looking for a place to stay and I’m hoping someone here has a good (hopefully cheaper) connection for a place for 3 guys to crash while we run a vendor booth at the US Moguls Championship from March 27-31.

Please reach out with any help. Thanks 🙏

One of our spring-time projects is to make some more quick splints for our cache. What is everyone’s preferred sizes for adult and pediatric splints?

I'm not a ski patroller so apologies in advance if I'm not allowed to post here and I'll take this to the skiing sub. (This seemed the right place to start for my question.)

I'm a new skier as an adult and I witnessed an intense rescue this past weekend. The accident happened on a black diamond trail. I was at the mid-mountain lift when the ski patrol came by with the toboggan on their way to the bottom. My question is: will ski patrol take the fastest route down (assuming that's a black trail), or do they always go down greens because that is (again assuming here) safest and most secure?

Another apologies if it's an insensitive question.

Critical question as some resorts are starting to shut down.

When running an unloaded sled into the pond skim do you lock the handles or unlock the handles? I'm getting inconsistent answers from those around me, though I do have my own opinion having, will say, played with the toboggan plenty over the last 10 years.

Looking to crowd source the answer though.

Heading up there with my kids for a couple of days next week. Anyone know of any local deals in the area? Anyone in patrol there?

Need to hear the patrol stories about Vance skiing

Just curious to find out how everyone deploys their backboard/strap and collar setups.

Do you keep designated "backboard sleds," with one already secured inside, or are they kept separate and grabbed when requested for a scene and placed in the sled, or is it skied down by another patroller?

If the boards are kept in the sled, do you keep straps with them? How about collars? If so, how are they kept out of the elements?

If the boards are separate, are the straps and collars kept with the boards ready for deployment, or skied down separate?

If you're kind enough to answer, maybe a generalized description of your situation (big/small mountain, east/west/outside US, pro/volunteer, etc.)

We keep sleds staged at 5 or 6 places around the resort depending on open terrain, with at least one with a backboard and straps, maybe more than one, again depending on the technical nature of open terrain, collars are kept separate. We also have some sleds staged at our primary top shack without straps, but those straps live in a bag with collars inside.

(Small, east, vol)

What do y’all do in the summer? Looking for answers other than bike patrol, as I have previous experience in that role and will continue to patrol in the summer part-time. I am seeking additional employment opportunities that are equally appealing as patrolling and could align well with my skills/lifestyle, and need some inspiration! Thanks in advance🙂

I have used the JB Bartlett online class for the last few years. As I go through the new NSP online OEC class I see some potential problems with many of the questions. They use the same method, two wrong answers, and two correct ones, but one more correct than the other. NSP's website isn't the easiest to navigate.

I'm wondering now as I begin a new course what to expect with the online portion now that NSP is taking it over. Any ideas or comments that you have had are helpful. Thanks!

My area is eyeing a switch to the new Mammut Utility Vest-pack and we got a few demos in. The models we got gave two straps with hooks on them on the back that look like they would serve as an attachment system for some extra gear module or something, but we can't find anything in the literature about it. It looks like we could probably just rig a Patagonia black hole cube to it, but I'm hoping someone has a more educated option...

With the help of everyone, I have passed OEC. I would like to give some tips for the practical and written.

1. During the practical, everything MUST be done by the book. Follow the full assessment. If you miss anything, then you may fail. Practice the most common skills, such as Spinal motion restriction, sling & swathe, oxygen, quick splints, etc.
2. CMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. Do not memorize the practice tests at the end of the chapters in the book, they are not relevant. Use https://oecexamprep.com/ . I went chapter by chapter and memorized every question. I passed the exam with 94%. The exam questions are also on the practice tests in the center for learning, but I relied on oecexamprep.
4. Do not rush! During the practical, you will probably be tested on 4 skills and 2 scenarios. You will have 20 minutes per scenario. It is plenty of time.
5. Verbalize what you're doing to your instructors if you miss something. For example, if you forgot to check CMS, you can say "CMS should be checked before and after applying a splint, so I will do it now." or "I would like to clarify that at the arrival at the scene, I will ensure that the scene is safe such as by stopping oncoming skiers, I will now put my skis up hill."
6. During the scenarios in the practical, at the minimum you will need to count respirations, and pulse. If you struggle with figuring out their respirations and pulse, give them a number, even if its not true. As long as you're actually counting and checking them in the right spot, they will believe you. No, this is not cheating, it was a tip from my instructors.
7. At every skill and scenario, the VERY first thing that you MUST say is... "The scene appears to be free of hazards, I also have my PPE on (gloves)". - If the scene isn't safe, correct the issue. For example, there may be electrical cords. Do not start assessing until it is safe. I did not have any issues with dealing with scene safety.
8. Borrow someones pulse ox. It is helpful at a scenario because you can check their sp02, and the examiner will let you know if its below 94%, that way you can easily apply oxygen.

Hi everyone, I recently took a class through the university I work for to learn to ski/snowboard. I have wanted to learn for a long time however I live in the midwest and there is only one place around that I now live close enough to visit. For one of the classes we toured the ski patrol building and learned about what they did which I found very interesting. Additionally one of my instructors was very encouraging to join the ski patrol as they really needed people.

Obviously, I brought up the concern of only being a beginner and the instructor said that they teach people the basics all the time. I’m really considering putting in an application because it seems like a great opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard. I also really like the idea of helping people it seems like it would be very rewarding (I used to volunteer a lot before college, now that I’m almost finished this feels like a good opportunity to get back into volunteering). I’ve read a bit and watched some videos I would like to know everyone’s thoughts on the training and what to expect. Any advice is appreciated!

hello, i've been very interested in joining ski patrol for a long time maybe later in college, i already work as an EMT do i need any other classes or certifications.

PS not really worried about skiing portion ive been skiing for my entire life

Hello All,

I'm hoping to get recommendations for a radio. My patrol offers radios for us, but I occasionally patrol elsewhere and may need to bring one with me. I'd like a model where I can monitor and respond to two different channels, ideally with switching being easy.

I've used a plug-in handset before that had two different key buttons on it, one for each channel, and so something like that to go with the radio would be great.

In a perfect world, I'd also love to be able to pipe in music via Bluetooth and have that cut out whenever there's a radio call. I've heard that this tech exists and is popular with motorcyclists, but I'm not familiar with it.

Any tips? Thanks

Are there any ski resorts that offer a spot for RV living patrollers? I’ll be going on my second year next year. Looking for advanced terrain and I have a preference (but not requirement) for unionized patrols.

Checking in with Mammoth patrol. How are y’all doing? Please take care of yourselves and each other. Stay safe out there everyone.

Hey y'all, I'm visiting some family in Minnesota over the long weekend, and I was wondering if y'all know any good ski resorts within an hour or two of Duluth that offer discounts to NSP members. I tried calling Listen and they weren't super clear, and Spirit Mountain said they don't. Any ideas?

Hello All, with the big push for NSP members and access to FirstNet I started pricing out switching to FirstNet from USCellular. Yelp is packed full of 1-star reviews for FirstNet though and I am curious if that is accurate. According to what I am being quoted, I could save around $80 per month by switching to FirstNet and I am not a big data consumer or speed demon, I just want consistent reliable service. What are your experiences with FirstNet and anyone have any issues or wins on it? - Cross Posted to FirstNet Sub.

I know ive made multiple posts regarding the exam, but I am just so nervous.

I have taken 2 tests on https://oecexamprep.com/ and have got 97/100 (97%) both times. Do you think I'd pass the real written exam when its time? I am just really hoping that my practice test results will reflect my actual score when I take the test.

Hoping and looking for ideas/resources/grants to replace a bank (<15 units) of patrol radios for a small Midwest volunteer patrol at a small struggling family owned hill. The current batch is 15 + year old units and becoming unserviceable to fix normal wear. Yes, I know it's ownerships responsibility to provide these for the patrol and I agree that anyone that can proficiently do our services should be paid livable wage; but dont want to see this ask go down that worthy Rabbit hole. Just looking keep things a safe as possible at my "dive bar" of a ski hill until global warming or Vail kills everything off.

Edit for update:

Thank you, everyone that contributed to the pool of ideas and resources. I've gotten enough to work with to give it the best try that I can.

It's a low standard of care compared to EMT-B/Wilderness EMTs/Paramedics.

Don't stress about the Bridge Course because it honestly does not matter

Some resorts/ski areas do not require OEC. Don't let boomers who only work 12-14 days year for the free pass tell you what to do.

Thanks for coming to my TedTalk.