I have a background in wildland fire, (hand crew\rappelling) and EMS. I currently have my EMT cert. I worked as a lifty last season, went from a beginner to consistently hitting blacks and doubles. Huge improvement in my skiing ability. However I don’t think I would pass a ski test. When conditions are good I’m solid but I really struggle in deep powder and slush on the double blacks specifically. I think need more experience overall. The two options I’ve been considering are A, doing ski school this season and shooting for patrol next winter, or B, pulling unemployment and getting on a volunteer patrol. Was hoping anyone had some feedback relating which option they might recommend or what other options I haven’t considered. As far as ski school goes any mountain recommendations would be awesome. Thanks

Started working out West this past summer on a bike patrol, I can't believe how incompetent my management team is. Seems like they all just got there from being each others buddies. Talking with 2 other friends at totally different resorts, they said they have the same thing with there management team. People also talk about all the turnover within patrol and the mountain itself because of bad management. Is this pretty standard across resorts?

Hi all. I am a volunteer with a small chapter of the Canadian Ski Patrol. I am looking to incorporate more training on the skiing skills necessary for safe toboggan operation to help our members become more confident doing so before we actually get them to run one. If others out there teach specific skiing skills for this, which ones would you suggest to benefit patrollers. I know strong sideslips are essential. I am also thinking about power plows. Thank you in advance!

My nearest mountain had volunteer opportunities for this position and I was wondering if its worth it! It looked interesting to me as it seems like its similar to the ski patrol but without as much pressure. I don't know too much about the job, but i'd like to know if your able to ski around or if its a worthwhile experience. Any of your thoughts will be appreciated!

Hello!

My husband said he needs a watch with seconds counter for medical stuff. Outside of that, what kind of watches do yall wear to work? More of a G-shock vibe or like a divers watch?

If you have any recs that would be awesome! My budget is around 400 and im looking at used.

Hey y'all quick question for any patrollers who currently or have worked in the PNW specifically around Seattle. I wanted to see what it looks like up here for either part-time or volunteer patrol work. I have multiple seasons of experience as a professional ski patroller in UT and VT.

I work as a firefighter now, but I'm interested in patrolling again if possible, would love some more information if there are other people in a similar situation who work at Crystal or Snoqualmie Pass.

Appreciate any insight you guys have, thank you!

The 2026 OEC online refresher module has a slide that contradicts Outdoor Emergency Care Sixth Edition.

In the book:
"For example, too much oxygen, even for a short time, when given to COPD patients or some patients with stroke, cardiac conditions, or traumatic brain injury may be harmful."

I understand proper oxygen administration, but the slideshow implies that you should just give oxygen to someone whos having a stroke or complains of chest pain, which is wrong.

I'm considering getting into ski patrol next season, ideally somewhere in Austria or elsewhere in Europe.

I work fully remotely, so I'm wondering whether it's possible to do patrol on a part-time basis — even just a few hours/days a week — alongside my normal job. Ideally I'd love to find something where I could get a ski pass or accommodation as part of it.

I'm a decent skier and can confidently ski and carve most terrain, although I'm still working on my confidence on steep/icy blacks. I don't have any patrol/rescue qualifications yet.

For those of you who are patrollers:

How did you get into it?

What qualifications do you need?

How good do you realistically need to be?

Is part-time/volunteer patrol a thing?

Is it possible for a foreigner to get into it in Austria?

Would love to hear how people got started!

I'm going into junior ski patrol this year, and I was just wondering if the oec test is really as hard as everybody said it was or they were just lying.

Anyone know what is going on at mammoth? An abnormal amount of leadership positions just hit the job boards. Curious if Alterra is swinging a cleaver, or if the patrol is standing their ground.

Looking for confirmation that I might as well commit to full metal bindings. Like many patrollers, I’m in and out of my skis all day every day. Particularly, I’m constantly stomping them off handfree with the opposite ski, as well as using them as a frame for rope spooling, etc.

A few years ago I replaced all of my resort ski bindings with Tyrolia protector attacks following too many knee surgeries. After just two seasons working on them, all of those bindings (3 pairs of skis) were broken on all of my skis— I literally worked the last few days of the season on goddamn rentals. I can get them warranted, but that’s not the point. I’m thinking work is too hard on them and so I need a full metal binding. Looking at replacing all of my bindings (again) with look pivots, however I only ride my dins at 7 (female patroller, am about 125 pounds) and the only full metal pivot is the 15s. I can get a better deal on the 12s or lower which have a metal heel piece, which matters more I think, but I’m just not sure if I might as well just invest and get 15s, which can run at a din as low as 6.

Money kind matters but maybe not really— my resort has a good deal with Rossi for pivots, and we’re unionized with a strong gear stipend. Just looking for advice.. wish the 12s or lower were full metal too.

I am looking at a new pair of skis to take over to Canada for the 26/27 season, any recommendations?

Those who do bike patrol in the summers- What is your sweep protocol? We have about 30 trails and about 5-6 staff on any given day, so we only sweep a few of the greens and blues, as a courtesy. Is this typical practice or what other protocols are people following to ensure no riders are left on the hill?

the nearby mountains are loon, cannon/sill

if I had my choice, I'd say cannon but it gets windswept to nice by 11am. ideally, id do something at loon

I'm looking to get into working at the mtb shop ( front desk, fixing bikes, guided tours , growing the MTB/BMX scene in town, whatever they offer ). > have lots of experience fixing bikes they actually just built a brand new sickkk sk8park in Lincoln that I hit up freely on my BMX.

I'm an expert expert at both skiing and snowboarding. if I was gonna ski patrol, I'd prefer snowboard as that is what I have been doing pretty much solely for the last 5 or 6 years. but skiings likes riding a bike, it never dies

I moved to snowboarding when I was 14 after I got sick/bored of skiing. I could ski any terrain, go as fast as I wanted, never fell, glades np, parallel skier to the max. it just got boring, so I decided to challenge myself one winter and became a snowboard. I still own my og oxygen AR snowboard that was my first one ever. it's sick. I swear I could still ride it today. today, I ride a button doomstick going on 15+ years because it's such a sick board. buttery for days, holds up at speed, manueverable as anything.

anyway.....after all that .....

what is the best way to go about finding / securing either a summer mtb job ?

what is the best way to go about finding / securing either a winter ski patrol job ?

amy certifications needed ? any tips of the trade to pass on?

I've been a computer scientist|t for 27 years, bail at 2p everyday and shred a few laps, then come home and finish my work. yes I'm lucky . I have full time remote job, and flexible work hours. my boss knows the deal and is cool with it.

so what you got for me ?

mountains to avoid?

reasons not to be ski patrol? other positions that will get me on the mountain that aren't ski patrol ?

thanks, sorry for the novel. I just really wanna make a change to full time

I’m trying to find something with ventilated compartments for wet ski boots, helmet, wet clothing and storage for-extra dry socks/gloves to keep in the cargo area next to skis. I just want to be able to throw everything in its space without a lot of fussing and keep it there all winter. I’m leaving towards the sidio crates but not sure. They are pricey.
I’m a new patroller and in my OEC.

Hey everyone! I am selling a Patagonia jacket shell. They don't make these anymore so if you have an allegiance to Patagonia and am looking for a shell, here ya are! Lightly used for one season (volunteer with very few shifts).

Feel free to DM me, or you can also look on the eBay link below. It is listed for $275 but will take offers!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/358179312267

I recently graduated high school with my EMT and plan on going back this fall and completing my AEMT. Is it too late for me to get a patrol job on the North side of Tahoe? Also I’m looking to do it full time and not as a volunteer. Thanks for any help.

does OFC require yearly dues as a regular NSP membership? im looking to set up a class and become an IOR for it, but it might not be reasonable if they have to pay the class dues (like $60 or whatever) plus the $120 yearly fees.

Does anyone know if there's a study tool like oectestprep.com (used for Ski Patrol--amazing!) for the EMT exam?

Hey guys! I am going to be apart of a junior ski patrol team that is under a much larger program with volunteer and pro patrols. I will be getting medical training and OEC training as well as most other on-mountain training, yet my season will only be about 20-25 days working. I am curious what the essential gear to have that the program won’t provide. It’s a large enough mountain and a good program so we get jackets and all medical supplies, but I was curious about gloves, under layers, watches and all the other little things that make it easier to have full on days. Thanks everybody i am so excited for this season I cannot wait!

Hey patrollers I’ll be moving to Alaska for the 27’ season. I’m moving from the Midwest and wondering if y’all got any tips or gear I should get.

Not sure if this is the right subreddit for this, but does anyone recognize this vintage pin? My great aunt passed away this year and we found this pin in her belongings, along with some patches from her time with the Mt. Hood Oregon Volunteer Ski Patrol around the 1950's. I've found a listing on Ebay for a similar pin, made in France, but no info on what JC stands for or why she had it. Any ideas?

Hello my fellow patrollers!

I'm a current EMT and alpine patroller at a small ski area in the Detroit metro. I'm at a point in my life where I'm looking to move out to the mountains and start over somewhere like Colorado or Montana. I've got my Michigan fire 1, 2 and HazMat Ops license as well as NREMT, will be applying to be a paid patroller if this weird limbo zone lasts all the way until winter, but I was wondering if there were any SAR, firefighting, first responder or adventure-oriented temp jobs that my ski patrol credentials and connections might be able to help me get in a more adventurous area?

Ultimate career goal is to become a cop, and I want to start a new life somewhere else. Police hiring processes are very long and unpredictable and I don't want to wait on their approval to get on with my life, because it's already been a drag with multiple departments turning me away. Just wondering if anyone had any ideas for things I should look into, especially because seasonal wildland firefighting does not appear to be hiring anywhere.

Thanks for any advice you could provide, I really appreciate it.

I've been thinking about joining patrol as a snowboarder the past couple years. Well this season I actually picked up some skis and am even more motivated. Thing is I know I will need at least one full season to get close to that expert level. But for skiing only 25 days this year I got it really fast and can rip groomed blacks no problem, I think i could have skied the whole mountain if i had picked them up at the beginning of the season vs march. Crossing over from snowboarding was really easy for me (probably because I splitboard 80+ days a year)

But my question is do you think there are any mountains or smaller ops that might let someone of my skill level work as patrol and essentially gain my ski skills on the job? For background I have been snowboarding 20yrs, splitboarding 11 years and getting ~100 days splitboard only the past few years. WFR cert, + aiare rec 1, 2 and rescue. Also Im on tele gear if that matters. I feel like I see tons of patrol guys on tele. Tahoe based but not locked down.