Joining the Patrol

Volunteering for the Holiday Valley Ski Patrol - Is It for You?

"How do you become a ski patroller?" As patrollers, we've all answered that question dozens of times, usually while riding chairlifts. Most of us will gladly talk your ear off about our training, our duties, and our pride in being a part of the Holiday Valley Ski Patrol.

Regardless of the weather, our volunteers patrol two scheduled shifts each week. While much of our time is spent enjoying the slopes, our first priority is to respond to persons who may be injured. Requests for assistance are communicated by radio, and patrollers respond on skis, snowboards, and snowmobiles.

We consider it part of our job to give information or a friendly hand to anyone at Holiday Valley. We also staff our first aid room, search for missing persons, complete reports, and assist with the opening and closing of trails.

Training is something we do continuously. Members of the Holiday Valley Ski Patrol participate in continuing education each year in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automatic external defibrillation (AED), first aid, patrol room procedures, skiing and/or snowboarding, toboggan handling, snowmobile operations, and chairlift evacuation techniques.

The greatest amount of training occurs during the "candidate" year with the patrol. From September through November, new candidates participate in a combination of online and in-person classes for the National Ski Patrol first aid course in Ellicottville, NY. The Outdoor Emergency Care course includes written and practical exams. From December through February, candidates fine-tune skiing or snowboarding skills, develop toboggan handling capabilities, and practice first aid in the snow. Upon passing final on-snow exams, a candidate becomes a ski patroller and can proudly wear our red-and-black uniform with the white cross of the National Ski Patrol and the circular insignia of the Holiday Valley Ski Patrol.

How to Apply for Membership in the Holiday Valley Ski Patrol

Ski patrolling is demanding volunteer work, and at Holiday Valley, standards are especially high. Applicants must be comfortable skiing or snowboarding all Holiday Valley terrain, including moguls. They must be able to ski or snowboard under control in varied conditions. Applicants must be physically able to participate in toboggan-handling training, which includes extensive practice in the moguls.

We are currently accepting membership applications for the 2024-2025 training season 

Applications are accepted until March 1 for the following season. The membership committee of the Holiday Valley Ski Patrol will invite qualified applicants to meet with the patrol's training team for a skiing or snowboarding evaluation and an information session to be held in March. The membership committee will review the qualifications of all participants and will contact applicants later in the spring regarding available training slots for the following season.     

COMPLETE YOUR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION TODAY! 

or

Email recruiting@holidayvalleyskipatrol.org for more information!