Brush up your resumes: How to land a job in ski patrol

Turning a hobby into a career or volunteer gig is a recipe for a life of happiness. If you love to ski, consider a job or volunteer opportunity in ski patrol.

Turning a hobby into a career or volunteer gig is a recipe for a life of happiness. If you love to ski, consider a job or volunteer opportunity in ski patrol. Its primary role is to provide first-response care to skiers and snowboarders injured or otherwise in trouble out on the slopes.

7 to 8:30 a.m.: Morning sweep. Before the resort opens, patrollers check the trails for any hazardous conditions.

8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.: On patrol. Once trails open, patrollers are free to ski, interact with ski area guests, promote the area, respond to accident calls and provide safety tips.

12 – 1 p.m.: Lunch

1 – closing: Continue patrolling. In the event of an injury, the patrol is ready to respond, working in teams to immobilize any injury and safely transport any patient by rescue toboggan to the first aid room. If not attending to an injury, assist with finding lost children, guiding people to runs, and providing safety information.

Closing: End-of-day sweep. Take a final run down each trail to ensure that no guest is left behind and any safety hazards are reported. After a long day, patrollers often come together to chat about the high points of the day.

There’s a fair bit more to becoming a qualified ski patroller than a love for the sport and being an excellent skier. First, you must be at least 18 years old and be a strong skier. You should also be comfortable with emergency medical situations like dealing with blood and broken bones.

Next, you’ll need to become a member of your local chapter of the Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP) by paying the annual membership dues ($200 on average) and taking the Advanced First Aid (AFA) course. You must achieve a minimum 75 per cent score on the multiple choice exam.

Skills and diagnostics testing comes next, which gives instructors a chance to assess your practical skills such as bandaging, splinting and patient assessments. Next comes the Basic Life Support (BLS) training, which includes CPR and AED training. Finally, there is on-snow training to master the skills involved in handling a rescue toboggan with a loaded patient.

Most ski patrol opportunities are volunteer positions. Paid positions exist but are limited and competition is high. Your best bet for uncovering paid opportunities is to inquire directly with resort operators. You may also contact the CSP patrol services director of your local chapter. If having trouble finding a paid gig, don’t get discouraged — there are plenty of perks to landing a volunteer position too, including:

• Free season passes at your home resort and free day passes at other resorts
• Discounts on gear at pro shops
• Free liability insurance
• World-class advanced first-aid training
• Healthy lifestyle
• Membership camaraderie

If you’re still on the fence, you can always try it first through CSP’s “Ski With a Patroller” day program.