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Bogus Basin Ski Patrol
Join the Patrol -- Frequently Asked Questions
1) Why is the Bogus Basin Ski
Patrol recruiting new volunteer members?
2) Why do people get involved and
participate on the Ski Patrol?
3) Who are the members of the Bogus
Basin Ski Patrol?
4) Some have said the Patrol is
like a tribe, how so?
5) Does the Bogus Basin Ski Patrol
also have snowboard patrollers?
6) Must I have expert ski, rider or
Nordic skills to qualify?
7) What if I don’t ski or
snowboard, can I still participate?
8) Do I need prior medical or
emergency medical care experience?
9) Once I become a patroller, I am
concerned that I will encounter scenarios that
will make me nervous or make it difficult to
apply what I have learned. Am I alone?
10) Do ski patrollers get paid?
11) What are the perks or benefits
of being on the Ski Patrol?
12) Is there a cost to join the
Ski Patrol?
13) Is there a cost to remain on
the Ski Patrol?
14) What equipment do I need?
15) Am I guaranteed to be selected
after successfully completing the full training?
16) How much of my time should I
be prepared to commit to candidate training?
17) How much time is required of
me as a patroller?
18) Is the Ski Patrol the ski
area’s mountain “Police”?
19) OK, I am still in and want to
sign up. What do I do next?
20) I've heard about something called S.W.A.P..
1) Why is the Bogus Basin Ski Patrol
recruiting new volunteer members?
Over the last few years the patrol has successfully trained and added 8 to 15 new members each year. At the same time, a percentage of our members leave the patrol -- generally due to outside commitments including out of area relocation. Some of our patrollers transfer to Bogus Basin with an existing membership and training from another area patrol. Similarly, some of our patrollers, originally trained at Bogus Basin, have moved and joined other ski areas across the nation. Over the past decades the Bogus Basin Ski Patrol has continuously trained new recruits to become Auxiliary, Alpine and Nordic Patrollers. Every year we welcome new individuals to pursue their interest in patrolling. Many find it highly rewarding.
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2) Why do people get involved and
participate on the Ski Patrol?
They love the sport, have a strong desire to
help others, possess good people skills and want
to be a part of an exceptional team. They often
have many years of alpine snow sports experience
and want to give back to the sport that has
given them so much recreation enjoyment. Many
have medical skills and backgrounds that they
wish to share in both helping patients as well
as in training others. All of them feel that Ski
Patrolling will take them to a new level in the
sport. And they are correct. They also enjoy the
opportunity to open and close the mountain and
know that cutting fresh tracks in the powder is
one of the greatest perks. And again, they are
correct.
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3) Who are the members of the Bogus
Basin Ski Patrol?
The BBSP is approaching two hundred members.
Over 80% of these are the volunteers that Patrol
on weekends. There is no typical patroller
background. What we invariably share in common
is a love of the sport, a genuine sense of
community commitment and the finely tuned skills
to be the best prepared to render emergency care
in and outdoor alpine and Nordic ski
environment. Our patrollers come from a broad
array of backgrounds: Doctors, teachers, mail
carriers, technical professionals, construction
& landscape, sales, nursing, paramedics, EMTs,
CEOs & executives, engineers, and retired
individuals – just to name a few. These are
often busy individuals who find the spare time
to devote a significant part of their lives to
the Ski Patrol’s success. Our typical patroller
has over five years patrol experience. Our most
senior has sixty and three of them alone have
over 140 years combined experience.
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4) Some have said that the Patrol is
like a tribe. How so?
Ah, and so true that is. The ski patrol is a
very tight organization. We are a family. Our
roots are deep in history and tradition. We hold
in high honor the extraordinary and exemplary
individuals before us that built the foundation
of what we have become. We learn to think alike,
communicate succinctly, and act appropriately on
the needs of our fellow patrollers and patrons
without apprehension. This is one of the most
amazing benefits of patrolling. We have fun and
enjoy almost unlimited skiing opportunity. And
we have a sense of belonging that is, in our
belief, unparalleled in our lives activities
elsewhere. Yes, we are a proud tribe that looks
after and teaches its own, always endeavors to
do it better, and expects and receives a “Team”
oriented commitment from every patroller.
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5) Does the Bogus Basin Ski Patrol
also have snowboard patrollers?
Yes. Recently, Mountain Area Management approved
that a limited number of Patrollers could be
snowboarders – on a trial basis. The Bogus Basin
Ski Area has a great deal of flat terrain that
Patrollers must efficiently traverse in the
conduct of their service. This includes toboggan
handling considerations as well. Snowboards do
not have the ability to “skate” like skis so
this has been a justified concern. However,
newer, application-specific binding equipment
has improved a snowboarder’s ability to handle
the flats in a patrol environment. Many other
ski resorts have successful snowboarding
patrollers. The Bogus Basin Ski Patrol is now
able to incorporate snowboarder-only riders into
the patrol. To do so and successfully
demonstrate to mountain management that this can
work we will be seeking only a limited number of
the very best and capable snowboard candidates.
You could be one.
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6) Must I have expert ski, rider or
Nordic skills to qualify?
In a word: no. But if you desire to be on the
mountain as a patroller you will need to bring
strong skills in this regard. You must be able
to ski or board on any part of the mountain
without difficulty. During training, you would
need to participate in toboggan handling and
equipment carries. Lesser skilled skiers and
riders will slow down the instruction progress
of other more skilled trainees. Therefore,
selection to participate in on-the-hill training
will require that you adequately demonstrate
advanced to expert ski or rider skills in a ski
or snowboard skills evaluation. To pass this
test you will have to demonstrate very solid and
technically competent ski and/or snowboard
abilities.
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7) What if I don’t ski or snowboard,
can I still participate?
Absolutely! We have what we call Auxiliary
Patrollers in the Ski Patrol Program. These are
individuals who chose to provide service
off-the-hill (or the actual slopes) and among
many duties, primarily help staff the aid room
for incoming patients. This is a critical
function and we have many patrollers that serve
in this capacity. Accordingly, these patrollers
do not require the on-the-hill ski & toboggan
training. Some of our most skilled auxiliary
patrollers are nurses, EMTs, and other
professionals that are also our most qualified
instructors. Serving as an auxiliary provides an
exceptional learning opportunity as well.
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8) Do I need prior medical or
emergency medical care experience?
No. The patrol training program begins with the
Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) training course.
This is a comprehensive class and practical
training program that has been developed and
refined over the years by the National Ski
Patrol. It is intense and
requires good personal study habits. You must,
ultimately, successfully demonstrate that you
have learned the knowledge and are able to
perform the treatment skills that this course
covers in a series of written and practical
tests. So while prior experience is a benefit
the curriculum requires only that you make a
strong commitment to learn – and succeed in
doing so.
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9) Once I become a patroller, I am
concerned that I will encounter scenarios that
will make me nervous or make it difficult to
apply what I have learned. Am I alone?
No, you are definitely not alone on this. We
would be concerned if you felt otherwise. Every
patroller experiences the rush of adrenaline
every time they respond to a call. The
uncertainty of what they will encounter, the
severity and the time available to treat
effectively, the resources available . . . It’s
a big deal. We know that. We assign new
patrollers to patrol with seasoned and
experienced patrollers as they learn their craft
and improve their skills. Patient contact
experience is a critical factor in becoming
confident in the successful application of your
skills. Proper supervision is even more
important. We want you to become proficient and
proud of what you will do regardless of the
ever-present butterflies in your stomach. Take a
deep breath – we’ve got your back!
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10) Do ski patrollers get paid?
No, and yes -- maybe. We are primarily
volunteers. So the vast majority of the patrol
is comprised of volunteers and serves the
mountain on Saturdays and Sundays. The Mountain
does have a portion of the patrol that is
staffed with paid professional patrollers. These
are selected and hired by the BBMRA through its
seasonal employment and serve the mountain
generally on weekdays, nights and some weekends.
However, many of the paid patrollers began their
patrolling careers as volunteers and pursued the
opportunity to become paid patrollers later.
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11) What are the perks or benefits
of being on the Ski Patrol?
Unparalleled camaraderie; free LifeFlight
membership, free season pass, exclusive access
to patrol mountain facilities (Aid-room,
Hideout, Lookout); secret powder stashes;
discounts on equipment; exceptional training
from skilled instructors; untracked snow; good
food at a discount; exceptional esprit de corps;
the opportunity to do something you really want
and know you need to do.
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12) Is there a cost to join the Ski
Patrol?
There are nominal fees. The OEC course
registration, texts and CPR certification fees
currently total $190 per candidate. These are
one time fees. While the patrol makes no profit
from these fees these are hard costs that are
passed on to the applicant. The patrol is
fortunate to have the Boise Fire Department
offer their facilities for training free of
charge.
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13) Is there a cost to remain on
the Ski Patrol?
Each volunteer patroller contributes annual dues
to the organization. Currently the annual dues
are $76.00. CPR recertification may add an
additional $15 in alternating years.
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14) What equipment do I need?
At the ski patrol candidate level it is assumed
that you are already a master of your equipment
and outdoor clothing. To train on the mountain
you will need solid, good quality snowboard or
ski equipment that you typically use. Patrollers
provide their own equipment. As a new ski
patroller, you will need to acquire your own
first-aid gear. The Ski Patrol replaces
first-aid consumables for patrollers at no cost.
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15) Am I guaranteed to be selected
after successfully completing the full training?
Every candidate patroller, after completion of
the full training curricula, has the opportunity
to be “voted on to the patrol” by the full
general membership of the Bogus Basin Ski
Patrol. Generally, a candidate will have met
most of the members of the patrol over the
course of the training season. With few
exceptions, those that have successfully
completed the training and demonstrated the
commitment, passion, and desire to be part of
the patrol are accepted and become Ski
Patrollers. The only guarantee is that we will
give you every opportunity to become a
patroller. The real guarantee is inside of you!
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16) How much of my time should I be
prepared to commit to candidate training?
OEC (Outdoor Emergency Care) training: 80 to 120
hours
On-the-Hill OEC Field training and Ski & Toboggan training: 160 to 200
hours
Annual OEC & Mountain refreshers: 30 hours
One full season (one year) elapsed time.
Class Training: During your candidate season you
will invest a minimum of 100 hours of class and
study time in the Outdoor Emergency Care course.
The study portion will require self-discipline
and a good deal of time reading and
understanding the material to master the
objectives. These classes are generally
held on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7 to
10 PM. They run from Early April through
June.
On-the Hill Training: OEC Field training and Ski and toboggan
training is on-the-hill and lasts an entire
season. Generally, you will need to be on the
Mountain every Saturday or Sunday at 7:30 AM.
You will be involved in training and patrol
activities through closing. We generally
leave the mountain at around 5:00 to 5:30 PM
after cleaning up the facilities. Classes
are typically arranged to allow you a choice of
Saturday or Sunday.
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17) How much time is required of me
as a patroller?
We are responsible to provide coverage of the
mountain when it is open. This has worked out to
be about 20 days per patroller for the last
several years. In addition to the days on the
mountain the patrol does first aid at a number
of community events (bike races and other
events) during the year. These events
normally add 1 or 2 days per year for
patrollers. The
schedule is structured and requires your
presence on the hill during assigned days. For
flexibility, schedules permit patrollers to
choose one of the following:
A) Alternating full weekends B) every Saturday
C) every Sunday -- over the course of the
Season.
While a structured “assignment” duty schedule is
critical to properly staff the patrol there is
flexibility. Conflicting obligations come up in
life and a patroller merely need find a
replacement patroller to stand in during his/her
absence. Patrollers often swap scheduled days to
accommodate personal matters.
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18) Is the Ski Patrol the ski
area’s mountain “Police”?
No. That’s a real misperception of our role. The
patrol’s primary mission is to foster mountain
safety, provide aid and assistance to injured or
lost patrons, and generally help people have a
safe and enjoyable visit to the Bogus Basin
Mountain Resort
Area. However, the inappropriate and unsafe
skier and rider behavior of the few can be a
problem for the rest of the patrons. As a result
of the Ski Patrol’s broad presence on the
mountain, often, the Ski Patrol is called upon
to monitor and mitigate the adverse impact of
the few. Depending on the circumstances,
experienced patrollers may be asked to intercept
and escort such persons to Mountain Area
Management for further action. As a rule, the
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreational Area cannot
allow improper behavior or conduct on the hill
to present a threat to the safety and welfare of
others.
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19) I've heard about something called S.W.A.P..
S.W.A.P. is our acronym for Ski With A Patroller. This is where you'll start. You will be scheduled to spend at
least one full day with one of our Senior Patrollers or a designee. On generally a Saturday or Sunday you will start the day in the patrol room at 7:30AM with the rest of the patrol. You will need to sign a waiver (parents or guardians must sign for minors) before we set out on the mountain. You will be provided a Patrol Observer vest to wear and will not require a pass for the day. The daily briefing starts at precisely 8AM and immediately after we file out to inspect and open the mountain. During the day your ski or rider skills are evaluated and we make an effort to expose you to as much patrol activities as possible. There is ample opportunity for discussion throughout the day. After we sweep and close appropriate sections of the mountain, we call it a day, review and set you free at around 5:30PM.
Beginning with the 2009/10 season we hope to
have prospective patrollers return for a 2nd and
3rd day to S.W.A.P. and continued evaluation. If
you are invited to return for subsequent days
this is good indicator that you have
demonstrated an adequate level of genuine
interest as well as some of the skills and
abilities required for you to be successful with
the training ahead.
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20) OK, I am still in and want to
sign up. What do I do next?
We appreciate your time in having read through
these FAQs. Joining any of the Ski Patrols
nationwide involves a strong work ethic and
demands a significant personal effort. This is a
big commitment and we want you to understand
that up-front. The Patrol is not an elitist
group; quite the contrary. We do, however, have
a very responsible role and mission as we deal
with scenarios
that can be life threatening to patients. We
train accordingly.
Thank you for your continued interest.
Please return to the Join Us page and complete and submit the on-line Ski
Patrol Candidate Application form, available on this
website. A patrol representative will contact
you to schedule your S.W.A.P. day and answer
further questions that you may have. Get ready
to earn the privilege to wear the Red Coat &
White Cross!
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Who to contact to get more information
Bogus Basin Ski Patrol
PO Box 7433
Boise ID 83707 |
We have made an effort to provide ample
information here on our website. Ideally, submitting the application
will help us reach you. However, you can speak with any on duty
patroller on a chairlift, on a slope, or just stop by one of the Ski
Patrol Facilities on the Mountain. You can send an Email to Joe
LaGue as well. |
E-Mail:
Joe LaGue |
Revision: 3/23/10jl
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