Training keeps patrol in top form
by Pete Kimball, Outpost contributor
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Skiing Tahoe |
Phil Caterino, who has been training ski patrols in first aid and avalanche control for more than 20 years, said ski patrols are trained using refresher courses that bring a patrol member's skills back up to speed and keep them up with training that runs throughout the ski season.
Travis Lark, a former Mt. Rose Ski Area patrol member, found that the refresher courses were helpful when it came to first aid.
"I'm a strong skier, but my first aid skills could always get better, and the courses helped me stay on top of things," Lark said.
When looking for ski patrol members, the various ski areas generally look for strong skiers with some sort of general background in first aid.
Avalanche control training and medical training occur mainly in the classroom. Caterino said he likes to bring doctors into the classroom to talk to the patrol members about the various injuries and the treatments for these injuries that can occur on the hill.
Lark said he was trained in avalanche control with a one-weekend course but learned most of what he now knows through on-the-job training with ski patrol members experienced in avalanche control.
Caterino, although not required to, still attends training for avalanche control to stay on top of his profession.
Caterino is contracted out by various ski resorts to train the members of their ski patrols, but that is not he only way for an aspiring ski patrol member to gain training. The National Ski patrol, a volunteer group whose members can be found at larger ski areas such as Heavenly Valley and Squaw Valley USA, will give free training to those interested in becoming a member.
Posted Dec. 4, 1997
Copyright 1997 Nevada Outpost
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