by Peter Frykman, NH OET Advisor | Jan 18, 2025 | Division News, Program News, Spotlight Articles
Join us at the Patroller School dedicated to only Telemark and Snowboard on Saturday and Sunday, February 8-9 at Waterville Valley, NH.
What makes this patroller school different from all the others? There are only snowboarders training snowboarders and telemark skiers training telemark skiers. This small event is limited to 20 snowboarders and 20 telemark skiers, assuring a great teacher-to-student ratio.
We’ve brought together a collection of top snowboard and telemark NSP toboggan instructors. They will help you up your sled game. If you just got your jacket last year or are training for your Senior OET credential these trainers have the skill and experience to bring you to the next level. Our cadre of snow sports instructors from the AASI and PSIA are among the best in New England.
Waterville Valley is known as the “Home of Freestyle Skiing” and was the host of the 1971 and 1972 National Championships of Exhibition Skiing. These were the first national-level freestyle competitions. Waterville Valley has grown into a hub for world-class competitions, hosting 11 Alpine World Cup races, 5 US Freestyle Championships, 1 US Alpine Championship, and numerous freeski and snowboard US Revolution Tours. Waterville has become the go-to early-season training venue for multiple boardercross, big air, and alpine race teams.
The upper slopes of the resort are known as “High Country” and are the location of a full-sized boardercross course, a cluster of big air/slopestyle jumps, a mogul training course, and a set of slalom/giant slalom training lanes. High Country was the pre-season training venue for the US Boardercross and Paralympic Snowboard teams. Before the women’s World Cup races at Killington, many FIS Alpine race teams came to train up on High Country including the US, Slovenian, Croatian, Canadian, Albanian, and New Zealand teams.
This year Waterville Valley is hosting the 2025 Toyota Waterville Freestyle Cup which is part of the World Cup Mogul Series. This event will be on Lower Bobbies one of the steepest World Cup Mogul courses. Waterville has a wide range of terrain on its 67 slopes and is blessed wi
th a great snowmaking and grooming team.
Join us at Waterville and learn from top-flight instructors on world-class terrain. This event was a huge success last year and what the attendees liked the most was that they were instructed by folks from their chosen snowsport. To find out more information and to register for this event follow this link to the Patroller School website.
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Jan 18, 2025 | Division News, Program News
See you on the snow!Well, the new year kind of wreaked havoc with our snowpack leaving us firm to icy conditions, or no snow at all. But here in the east Mother Nature has a way of correcting herself. Our western regions received a good amount of lake-effect snow. This set us up nicely for Nordic Fest.
Our second event at Pike Glades in NH is still in the planning stages and registration should open soon. Patrollerschool.org is the place to find out more information and to register.
Our OET staff is putting more emphasis on skate skiing this season. This is the fastest-growing aspect of our sport, and who doesn’t want to look like Jessie Diggins? With trail running becoming so popular in the other seasons, runners have taken to skate skiing to enjoy the winter season and maintain their aerobic fitness.
Others of us just do it for fun. To help us all learn the skating techniques, we have recruited PSIA L3 Track and Skate instructors to help provide this training. Even alpine patrollers should take a break from constantly going downhill and try this style of Nordic skiing. It’s a great way to balance your fitness and prevent overuse injuries.
While I was getting ready to drive into that lake-effect snow my yard was green. That does not work for us. We finally got some serious cold weather and snow. I hope to see many of you at our Nordic/Backcountry events, and if you notice a Subaru buried in a snowbank with a set of ski tracks heading into the woods, come and join us.
by Jessie Miller, Assstant Division OET Supervisor | Jan 18, 2025 | Division News, Program News
This year the Senior OET Evaluation includes two major updates to the format of the evaluation. The changes aim to make the assessment more relevant and practical, mirroring how these critical patroller skills are used in practice.
Patroller Skills-Blended Skills Run
Moving forward, all Senior Evaluations in the Eastern Division will evaluate patroller skills as a blended skills run, including snowplow, sideslip, moving change in direction (i.e. transition or pivot slip), and a static change in direction in a designated location (i.e., kick turn, wedge and match, jump turn or static 180 for snowboards).
In years past, a Senior Candidate would complete patroller skills separately, performing a snowplow run and a sideslip run. In practice, when a patroller is handling a toboggan they use a BLEND of these skills to achieve a smooth ride for the patient.
Loaded Toboggan & Tail Rope – Traverse
A traverse is now included in the loaded toboggan run. The driver and tail rope candidates demonstrate the ability to work together as a team to traverse around an obstacle. In a practical sense, the traverse will simulate getting around a rock, tower, bare patch, or other obstacle while safely transporting an injured patient. Consider how each of these changes ties into the Toboggan Fundamentals!
Toboggan Fundamentals
• Employ sound judgment to ensure the safety of the toboggan handlers, passenger, and public.
• Use a blend of Technical Fundamentals, along with chain/rope management, to control the speed and direction of the toboggan.
• Use Route Selection and other Tactical skills to optimize the path of the toboggan to safely arrive at a scene or transport a patient.
• Employ appropriate Communication between toboggan handlers, passenger, and public.
Really Cool Resources
You have questions? We have answers! The FAQs in the Standard Operating Procedure aim to address questions regarding the updated Senior Evaluation format. These, and more, can be found on the:
Patroller School OET homepage.
Senior Evaluation Standard Operating Procedure
OET Trainer Evaluator Handbook (i.e. the Flip Book)
Reach out to your local TEs and Regional Leadership to learn more and get involved in the Senior Program!
by Laura Harner, Otis Ridge Patrol Director | Jan 18, 2025 | Program News, Region News, Spotlight Articles
It can be difficult to find enough volunteers to cover all open ski patrol shifts, even for a small ski area that only requires a few patrollers at a time. When a couple of alumni patrollers approached me last winter to find out whether they could get involved at Otis Ridge Ski Patrol, WMA Region, I explored the possibility with area management and then invited the alumni patrollers to join us.
They quickly became part of the team, jumping in with enthusiasm, and often choose to ski at times when large midweek lesson programs are scheduled, so they’re available to lend a hand.
Our alumni promote safety by riding the lift with children who are in group lessons. They’ve become strong ambassadors for our patrol by getting to know some of the pass holders and have started bringing up the idea of ski patrolling with some of them.
The first time an alumni patroller assisted with an injury on the hill, I saw the value in having someone there with their level of experience. We arrived at the scene at the same time and when I turned to ask if they could secure the scene, they were already positioned to direct skiers around the area.
When the toboggan arrived, they were able to retrieve the needed equipment as well as prepare the toboggan for transport, which helped us transport the patient more quickly than two patrollers on the scene would have been able to.
Our alumni have been finding ways to help out such as encouraging our newer patrollers and practicing OEC skills with them. It’s a pleasure having the enthusiasm and experience of alumni patrollers on our team. I’m thrilled that we’ve started partnering with them, and that they are able to continue to be involved.
These patrollers are truly an asset to the Otis Ridge Ski Patrol, and I look forward to continuing to work with them and see how else their skills and experience can be utilized.
by Rob West, Avalanche Supervisor | Jan 18, 2025 | Division News, Program News
Hello everyone. Winter is upon us, and the snow has been falling. Thanks to some early-season storms the backcountry is skiing nicely. With that, it is time to think about avalanche safety when venturing into the backcountry.
The Eastern Division is running three Level 1 Avalanche classes this season. If you are venturing out into Tuckerman Ravine or getting ready for the Certified program these classes are for you. Our first class is coming up soon, from January 24-26 at Whiteface Mountain in NY. Registration is now open at Patroller School or contact the IOR Chuck Boyd.
Our other two classes are at Smugglers’ Notch and Tuckerman Ravine. Dates and information can be found on the Patroller School website. See you all soon.
by Craig Larson, YAP Supervisor | Jan 18, 2025 | Division News, Program News
The Eastern Division Young Adult Program Staff has been planning, prepping, and preparing for this year’s Eastern Division Young Adult Summit at Smugglers’ Notch. Young Adult Patrollers from Maine to West Virginia will gather at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, VT. from March 7 to 10 for three days of hands-on training, competition, friendship, and fun.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort has tons of terrain: long turn cruisers, steeps, trees, terrain parks, and Black Hole, the only TRIPLE BLACK DIAMOND in the east. With 2610 feet of vertical rise this is the YAP event to attend.
Those who have been to a Young Adult Patroller Summit speak highly of the training and fun they had.
“What a great event. There aren’t other Young Adult Patrollers where I ski. I never knew there were so many. I’ll be back next year.” – First-year attendee
“I look forward to showing off my patroller skills at this event each year. This event gets bigger and better each time I attend. I love walking away with free stuff.” – Third-year attendee
If you have never attended an Eastern Division Young Adult Summit, this is the year to participate. If you have attended this event before, come again! Here’s what you get by attending this event:
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- Three nights of lodging (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
- Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
- Dinner on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Lift Tickets for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
- Hands-on Skills training
- Patroller Skills competition
- Mystery events
- FREE swag
ALL for $475.00!
More information regarding the YAP Seminar can be found on the Eastern Division webpage, patrollerschool.org, Facebook, and Instagram. Check our social media pages often as information is updated, swag is promoted, or goodies are given away.
by Dave Hawkes, HoliMont Bike Patrol PD/WNY Bike RA | Jan 18, 2025 | Program News, Region News
Bike patrols come in many different forms. Some, for example, serve cross-country mountain bike trails. Others provide medical support for races and festivals; some support lift-served bike parks. The HoliMont Bike Patrol in Ellicottville, NY, which just concluded its second season as a registered NSP bike patrol, works in all three ways.
Our bike patrol supports the HoliMont Bike Park and all other summer events. Although we’ve only had two seasons as a registered patrol, we’ve been actively supporting HoliMont for much longer. We started by providing medical/safety support for members who were riding the property’s cross-country mountain bike trails. Next, we found ourselves supporting off-road bike races. Then, HoliMont started offering lift access for mountain biking four years ago.
With the support of HoliMont, we registered as an NSP bike patrol and named two of our winter patrollers as primary members. I serve as Patrol Director and Mike Bailey, also from HoliMont, is our second primary member. In addition, we now have many darn good patrollers from all over WNY registered as secondary. Some are from HoliMont, but others are from nearby WNY winter patrols such as Holiday Valley, Kissing Bridge, Buffalo Ski Center, Cockaigne, and Allegheny Nordic.
We now have a dedicated group of over 20 bike patrollers who respond to incidents, provide medical support, and transport as necessary. We developed many new protocols, including guidelines for how to use our “Medlite” quad runner, fully equipped for incident response and transport.
Our average season is about 60 days, starting on Memorial Day weekend and ending after the Ellicottville, NY Fall Fest. Lifts are open and patrol is on-site every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In addition to recreational riding, the bike park features competitive events including mountain biking and cyclocross races. We also serve many other athletic events such as trail running, uphill challenges, and disc golf. All are staffed by our fully credentialed bike park patrollers.
This past summer, we partnered with our safety committee and hosted a two-day safety event. Ellen Conrad and Doug Levy, our Safety Advisor, organized the weekend and we staffed it with bike patrollers. There was great swag for participants! We ran the event on a weekend that included a mountain bike and a kids-on-bikes day. The timing was perfect. The NSP safety event was quite successful.
Like many bike patrols, our biggest challenge is recruiting, even though our requirements are minimal. In fact, riding a bike is not even required! This is because many of our responses are walk-ins or transported to the patrol medical center by our Medlite quad. And the benefit is that we get bike park access and can even earn winter lift tickets!
If you’re interested in learning more about our patrol, contact me at dhawkes184@gmail.com. If you want to learn more about forming a bike patrol contact Tim Franz, the Eastern Division Bike Program Supervisor.
by Trail Sweep Staff | Dec 18, 2024 | Division News, Program News
The Eastern Division has so much to offer patrollers. Take advantage
of events that are currently listed on the Eastern Division Calendar.
For information, go to the calendar and click on the event, go to the
Patroller School website, or contact the Program Advisor.
1/8 Patroller Stress Awareness Forum, ZOOM
1/11-12 Nordic Fest, Highland Forest, Fabius, NY
1/17/25 Certified Pre-Test, Sugarloaf, ME
1/18-19 Sugarloaf Patroller School, ME
1/24-26 Level 1 Avalanche, Whiteface, NY
1/25-26 Elk Mountain Patroller School, PA
1/25-26 WISP Patroller School, MD
1/31 Certified Pre-Test, Killington, VT
2/1-2 Killington Patroller School, Killington, VT
2/3-5 Level 1 Avalanche, Smugglers’ Notch, VT
2/8-9 Waterville Valley Tele/Snowboard School, NH
2/8-9 Gore Mountain Patroller School, NY
2/8-9 Plattekill Patroller School, NY
2/12 Patroller Stress Awareness Forum, ZOOM
3/7-9 Level 1 Avalanche, Mt. Washington, NH
3/7-9 Winter Division Officers’ Meeting
3/7-10 Young Adult Patroller Summit, Smugglers’ Notch, VT10
3/12 Patroller Stress Awareness Forum, ZOOM
3/13-16 Certified Annual Exam & Meeting, Jay Peak, VT (invitation only)
3/31 Memorial Fund Scholarship Applications Due
by Chuck Boyd, Nordic/Backcountry Supervisor | Dec 18, 2024 | Division News, Program News
Get ready for Nordic Fest! On the weekend of January 11-12, 2025, at Highland Forest in Fabius, NY, the Eastern Division’s Nordic/Backcountry program will be hosting a Nordic Fest. What is a Nordic Fest? It is the celebration of everything Nordic, ski clinics with a PSIA track and skate instructor, skills stations, Nordic senior training, and a nice meal on Saturday night.
You will learn new skills, make new friends, and maybe start your way toward becoming a senior patroller. There will be cabins available for lodging, but you should bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Camping is also available. Registration and more information can be found on www.patrollerschool.org.
Hopefully, many of you have gone skiing in this early-season snow. I know that patrollers from both Connecticut and Western Mass Regions have had several good skiing days. I’m sure the New Hampshire and New York Regions’ patrollers have also been skiing, as we have been having a good time up in the Adirondacks.
There is no database that lists Nordic patrollers in the Eastern Division. It would be great if we had a list of all the ED Nordic patrollers. I would like some help creating this database so we could all benefit from it. Here’s an example of where this would be useful. I’ve recently been contacted to provide coverage for several Nordic races in upstate NY. This becomes a difficult task without a current list of Nordic patrollers. If you’re willing to help, please contact me.
