Dear New Patroller Candidates:
Welcome to the Canadian Ski Patrol System. We believe you have made a wise choice in considering this organization. We wish you the best of luck in successfully completing the required skills to be an active member in our organization.

This page should answer all the questions you may have. If you still have questions after reading this page please contact the Zone Office. Thanks!

A Brief History of The Canadian Ski Patrol

The concept of a volunteer first aid and rescue service for skiers grew from an increase in ski activity in North America, during the years prior to 1940. While early ski tows were opening up new vistas for skiers, the incidence of injury was troublesome to dedicated skiers, especially since the application of first aid at the accident site, and transport of the victim to medical help was so difficult.
Dr. Douglas Firth, founder of the Canadian Ski Patrol System, was asked by the Canadian Amateur Ski Association, in 1940, to organize the Canadian Ski Patrol, as a standing committee of the C.A.S.A.
Through the war years, 1941 to 1945, and until 1948, the Canadian Ski Patrol System grew slowly, with patrols serving the Montreal and Toronto areas forming the nucleus of the organization.
The system began to gain momentum during the years 1948 to 1952, when the first C.S.P.S. winter first aid manual was produced. The C.S.P.S. approach to first aid on the ski hill expanded on the techniques used by the Red Cross and the St. John Ambulance in their first aid manuals, especially since the situations encountered in ski accidents often involved difficult terrain and extreme temperatures.
As the sport of downhill skiing grew, so did the Canadian Ski Patrol System. Many new areas were opened in the decade of the 1950's and by 1959 the C.S.P.S. had a membership of 408 active patrollers.
The real development of the C.S.P.S. came in the 1960s, with the Secretary of State granting the Canadian Ski Patrol System a charter as a National Charitable Corporation in 1962. The C.S.P.S. became detached from the Canadian Amateur Ski Association, published a revised first aid manual, and signed up patroller number 1,000 in the same year.
Structural changes in the Canadian Ski Patrol System helped the organization expand coverage and services during the 1960's, with membership increasing to over 2,000 by 1966 and 2,500 by the close of the decade.
In the 1970's, the C.S.P.S. continued to expand, with coverage in all regions of Canada. Over a decade of careful statistical reporting brought the C.S.P.S. international reputation to a new high, and by 1975 the ski trails from coast to coast were patrolled by more than 4,200 C.S.P.S. members. The Canadian Ski Patrol System continues to grow in the 1990's with patrollers now registered across the country. Through the tireless support of the individual patrollers and the financial support of the general snowriding public, the C.S.P.S. maintains the highest calibre of first aid and rescue services ever offered to the Canadian snowriding public.
What Exactly Does The Canadian Ski Patrol Do?
The simplest answer to this question comes from the Letters Patent of the Canadian Ski Patrol System, which outlines four basic aims and objectives:

1) To assist in the reduction of the incidence of ski accidents in Canada.
2) To provide remedial and first aid services in the event of ski accidents in Canada.
3) To promote and encourage the standardization of training, equipment and qualifications of Ski Patrollers in Canada.
4) To succeed to and to take over all the rights and property of the previously unincorporated Canadian Ski Patrol System.

The Role of a Canadian Ski Patrol Member

To express the role of a patroller in simple terms, one must imagine the activities required to meet the aims and objectives listed above. Patrollers ensure that the ski trails and surrounding areas are free from danger, monitor the skiing behaviour of the general public, operate various safety programs and promote safe skiing both by skiing safely and through interactions with the skiing public.
All patrollers are instructed in the C.S.P.S first aid course and in subsequent On-Hill/On-Snow toboggan training, to be prepared to offer first aid on the ski trail or wherever their help is required. Every year, patrollers are cited for their first aid activities both on and off the ski hills/trails, during the course of all four seasons.
Ski Patrol instructors train members in every facet of first aid and accident site management. All patrollers are also qualified in cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), through the C.S.P.S. course.
All ski patrollers taking care of injured persons fill out a simple form, which helps to provide statistics on ski accidents in Canada.
Individual patrollers are responsible for the promotion of safe snowriding and for the rescue and transport of the injured. Patrollers accept these obligations to the patrol and to the general public, which generally affects the patroller's ski experience very little, except for the strict rules that patrollers neither drink while wearing their patrol jackets, nor snowride in a style likely to endanger the general public. While the patrol obligations come first, patrollers generally snowride in a "stand by" situation and enjoy snowriding from the first run of the day, until the lifts close, within a structured program that leaves plenty of room for enjoyment of the sport.

Why Patrol?

Most patrollers are first attracted to the ski patrol as a way to participate in a group snowriding experience. The offer of free snowriding, in exchange for first aid services, is important, and the extensive first aid training equips patrollers for almost any situation they will ever encounter which requires fast and effective first aid.
The spirit of good fun exists within each area's patrol, with great pride taken in a job well done. Snowriders have learned to respect the Canadian Ski Patroller, whose presence at snowriding areas across Canada is at the invitation of the area operators.

What can you expect at registration?

Registration is more than just dropping by to pay your fees. Registration gives you the opportunity to meet and talk with a representative of the resort serviced by the CSPS in Central Zone. The information you gather during this time will help you select your list of the 3 resorts you would prefer to snowrider at. Be ready to select times and locations for your First Aid and CPR training, as well, you will be able to pick up the material required for the First Aid Course.
You should note that you can register for any resort in Central Zone at any of the 3 registration locations. You will find however, that Barrie and Collingwood registration are focused for resorts that service their respective districts while the Toronto registration is for all resorts in Central Zone (see back page for full list).
Since the Toronto registration is busier than the other two, we will have an information desk set up at the door. Please stop by to talk with one of our friendly volunteers. They will be more than happy to orient you to the activity on the floor and provide you with the registration package you must complete.

Where will you ski, how often and what are the ski requirements of a Patroller?

Since the duty requirement varies widely by resort, it is difficult to say what your exact requirement will be. Most resorts ask for 15 to 20 duty days per season. Which, once again depending on the resort, can be on weekends, weekdays, evenings or a mix.
It is important at registration to discuss the individual skiing requirements of each resort with their representatives. This will ensure that duty requirements of your preferred resort(s) will fit your schedule. Most new patrollers are assigned to one of their top three resorts.
Unfortunately, sometimes a new patroller may not get a chance to patrol at their first choice resort in their first year. They are however, given preference in subsequent years should they wish to change resorts.
You may be interested to know that once all your training is complete, your off days can be spent as a visiting patroller at other resorts within our system. There are steps necessary for visiting other resorts. Provided you have made the proper arrangements it should be an eventful day meeting new people.

What's a Ski Patrol Day Like?

Great. On the hill before the tow starts or first tracks on the nordic trails, patrollers sweep the slopes for dangers before the general public disturbs fresh powder. Patrol until lunch, then back on the slopes and trails for the afternoon sunshine. Close the runs at the end of the day, sweep the area for stragglers and it's off to the chalet for the off-duty après ski.
During the day all accidents, incidents and events are taken care of by the patrol squad as assigned by the patrol leader.

Are The Accidents Gory?

Hardly ever. In fact, of the accidents treated by patrollers in 1981, 33% were ultimately diagnosed as sprains, 16% as minor wounds and 8% as dislocations. All ski patrollers are trained to handle serious accidents, but only 1.9% of the accidents involved were serious enough to require stitches and only 1% of the fractures treated are compound. Most of the accidents, however, could be complicated by hypothermia if the patrol wasn't there to provide swift transportation to shelter, and from there to medical attention. Cases involving fractures and that includes some 24% of the accidents reported, would be complicated by improper movement of the injured skier... but the patrollers are trained to transport the injured skiers with a minimum of movement, reducing the possibility of further injury.
As a ski patroller, you will often be asked to suggest solutions to common skiing problems. While you are by no means a ski instructor, there are times when you have to help a beginner ski down a difficult hill. Keeping in mind that over 45% of all accidents happen to beginners and almost 40% involved intermediates, you can imagine the contribution the patrol makes in prevention of accidents.

How is the CSPS funded?

As a non-profit organization, the Canadian Ski Patrol System relies heavily on the dues collected from patrollers and the donations of the general public, to purchase the first aid supplies, equipment, and miscellaneous items required by a large volunteer organization.
Patrollers pay annual membership fees and in their first year are required to purchase their first aid manual and first aid kit. Ski Patrol buttons are available at a small fee ($12.00/bag of 50) which may be sold (traditionally for $1.00/ea) to help defray part of the cost of the annual dues. Volunteer Patrollers lease their jackets at a very low cost (details available at registration night).
Since the Canadian Ski Patrol System does not supply any other equipment, each patroller is responsible for providing the basic skis, boots, poles and miscellaneous equipment necessary to partake of the sport. While a limited number of discounts are available for patrollers, generally through the ski equipment manufacturers, you should pretty well consider yourself on your own for the purpose of obtaining equipment.
While the daily tow ticket is provided to you free of charge, your transportation to and from the ski area to which you are assigned, and your food and lodging are all your own responsibility. Many patrollers find that once they are assigned to an area, their patrol leader will assist them in finding suitable accommodation and many patrollers find that car pooling on the weekends helps save money and the aggravation of winter traffic.

How Much are the Membership Fees?

The current registration fees are as follows:

Membership Fee (includes First Aid Manual on CD ROM) $140.00
First Aid Kit $47.00 (plus applicable taxes)
First Aid Manual - Printed from CD (Optional) $19.00 (plus applicable taxes)
Buttons (Optional) $12.00 (bag of 50, 1 bag limit)
Be prepared to pay for any or all of the above fees at the registration nights.
Payments made to the Canadian Ski Patrol System can be made by cash, Visa, MasterCard (If by chance you are using a Parents card; a letter must indicate approval) or cheque, with proper I.D. (drivers license or an accepted photo I.D. and one additional piece of I.D.).
Please note: Any N.S.F. cheques received by Central Zone will require repayment of the original fee plus handling charges ($25.00)!
Repayment must be in the form of a Certified Cheque, C.O.D. or a Money Order. Failure to take prompt action to reconcile a returned cheque, will result in a freeze of your C.S.P.S. membership and eventually your membership will be revoked!

On-Hill/On-Snow Training

On-Hill/On-Snow training is a portion of patroller's training which addresses the activities, skills and procedures necessary to develop a first aider into a ski patroller. As a condition of membership in the Canadian Ski Patrol System, each member will be trained for the following:

1) Each patroller will be certified as able to complete all runs/trails of his/her ski area. You will be evaluated on your ski/snowboard ability at the beginning of the season and you should be at an intermediate level or better.
2) Each patroller after training must competently handle an empty and loaded toboggan used to evacuate an injured person safely from the hill/trail. You will also learn to transport a toboggan up hill on lifts and carry a backboard properly down the hill. As part of toboggan training you will learn how to place people in and out of the toboggan. In the case of Nordic resorts, several transportation and evacuation techniques are examined, as well as emergency shelters and other survival skills.
3) Accident Site Management is also a part of this training. This is the procedure on how to manage an accident at the ski area.
4) Area Procedures. Each patroller will be instructed in and prove a competent understanding of all patrol systems and procedures at the area where he/she patrols. All this is part of your On-Hill/On-Snow training course that will start on the first day of your assigned area's opening.