Here are some FAQs about our organization and what you can do to get involved!
- You must be 19 years of age
- Complete the Canadian Ski Patrol Volunteer Form
- Be an intermediate/advanced to expert skier (alpine, telemark, or Nordic) or snowboarder
- Be willing to learn and practice new skills
- Provide your own skiing/snowboarding equipment
No, our training is very specific and applies to providing services to ski areas, and our training is ranked at a higher level than regular first-aid courses. We include CPR, Oxygen therapy, AED procedures, airway management and blood pressure technology.
A regular member must successfully complete the Advanced First Aid (AFA) requirements annually. If you have an accredited CPR course valid for the current ski year you need not recertify. Individuals with medical qualifications, or holding a first aid certification from another organization, recognized by the system, must successfully complete the Advanced First Aid - Modified (AFA – Modified) course to become a regular member.
Duty rosters depend on each local mountain. Our mountains typically require one full weekend every second weekend with the exception of one mountain only requiring one shift every second weekend. You will be assigned to a mountain and a shift and you will be expected to show up. When you click our Apply Now (link) button and sign up, your information goes to our recruiting officer who will then contact you to help answer any and all of your questions about becoming a patroller.
We require that all of our on-hill members are strong or intermediate skiers/ snowboarders. This is because you will ski or ride in all kinds of conditions and under any circumstance, you should be able to competently handle all of the runs on the mountain where you will patrol. You don’t need to be an expert, but you will need to be able to handle a toboggan, and meet the minimum rating set out by the local patrol at the particular area you wish to patrol. Ski and snowboard instruction is often available at little or no cost at the local patrol level.
Yes! A regular member can provide services off the slopes or trails. We provide first aid services for many sporting events and community events year-round and are always looking for first aiders and regular members.
Yes, the CSP carries a general liability insurance policy.
Yes, there is a cost to joining the ski patrol that is $200 annually. The fees paid by our members offset the cost of running a national organization and cover our liability insurance.
You are allowed to take a re-test of the exams; however, the passing mark is increased. The training can be overwhelming and if you put in the effort to learn the material and study, the instructors will assist you. All new patrollers must successfully pass their first aid exams (CPR/AED, Skills, Written, and Diagnostic) prior to the on-snow training. We do not offer refunds for unsuccessful participants.
If you have additional questions about joining, please email recruiting@skipatrolvancouver.com