Eastern Division NSP's News Magazine
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NSP and the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
When the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill (Union Cycliste Internationale) rolled into Whiteface Mountain, New York this season, it brought with it not just some of the world’s fastest riders, but also an incredible learning opportunity for the Eastern Division Bike Program. A contingent of bike program members made the journey to the Adirondacks to shadow the Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol and witness firsthand how risk management and emergency response operate at the highest level of mountain bike racing.
The scale of a UCI World Cup event is something that must be seen to be fully appreciated. With riders hitting speeds exceeding 40 mph on technical terrain, massive rock gardens, and gap jumps that would make even seasoned patrollers hold their breath, the stakes for emergency response couldn’t be higher. But if there was any doubt about Whiteface’s readiness, the local patrol team put those concerns to rest with a rock-solid performance that showcased the professionalism and expertise our organization is known for.
Mark Your Calendar for 2026 Nordic Fest
Nordic Fest is back, but with a new date…January 30-February 1, 2026! We will again be at Highland Forest in Fabius, NY, with most of us arriving on Friday January 30. You can enhance your ski skills with L3 PSIA XC instructors who will provide personal instruction on your specific skill set needs.
Group meals, good lessons, and great people will make this an awesome learning experience. If you’re looking to test out as Nordic Senior, contact both your patrol director and me.
By the time you read this I will already have skied the toll road on Whiteface. The only way to catch this early season snow is to earn your turns. This is what Nordic skiing is all about.
In Memoriam – John Cleary
John Cleary, a 30-year volunteer patroller at Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, Western Appalachian Region, passed away on October 25, 2025 at the age of 74.
“John was kind, soft-spoken, funny, genuine, warm, and so much more,” said Hidden Valley Ski Patrol Director, Lisa Buss. “John was one of the kindest people I have ever known. Not only was he an excellent ski patroller, but he also went out of his way to have a chat and ask fellow patrollers about their life outside of patrolling…how is the family, how is work, any trips coming up?
Following his retirement from Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, John and his wife, Kathy, continued to be homeowners at Hidden Valley, and were often seen in the chairlift lines or on the slopes, and made frequent visits to the patrol room to say hello.
John was a graduate of Kent State University in the field of architecture. He was a survivor of the Kent State Shootings on May 4, 1970…
In Memoriam – Gordon Leon Benoit
Gordon L. Benoit, a member of the Hunt Hollow Ski Patrol in Naples, NY, died on August 26, 2025 at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada while on vacation.
Gordy joined the National Ski Patrol in 1979 at Ski Valley in South Bristol, NY and advanced to become a senior patroller in 1985. When Ski Valley closed in 2000, he transferred to Hunt Hollow to continue his volunteer patrolling career. He was a dedicated member of NSP for 46 years, serving Ski Valley, Hunt Hollow, the Genesee Valley Region, and the Eastern Division with distinction. His exemplary service to the skiing public and leadership as an Assistant Patrol Director, Ski & Toboggan Instructor, Region Senior Outdoor Emergency Transportation Program Administrator, and Division Instructor Trainer earned him National Appointment Number 8814 in 1998 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2016.
Gordy will always be remembered for using his expert skiing and teaching abilities…
In Memoriam – Danny Shipe
Beloved Pennsylvania Denton Hill Ski Patroller Daniel “Danny” Shipe died peacefully on August 22, 2025, at the Gatehouse Family Hospice in Williamsport, PA, surrounded by loving family and friends, following an 18-month courageous struggle with cancer.
Daniel Brosius Shipe was born in Philadelphia on October 13, 1955, the son of Robert Amos and Virginia (Burns) Shipe. His love of the great outdoors first developed during outings with his family in Central Pennsylvania, New England, and Canada.
Danny was a UPS career employee for thirty-five years. An added benefit was that all of the walking and steps in and out of the UPS truck kept his skiing quads in shape. In addition to skiing, Danny’s passions included gardening, music, and other outdoor sports including fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking.
Danny’s journey to becoming an avid cross-country and excellent downhill skier began during his college years…
We Can Only Hope!
Bike Patroller School at HoliMont
The Eastern Division Bike Program ran their second annual Bike Patroller School at HoliMont Bike Park in Ellicottville, NY.
Our weekend started late Saturday morning allowing the participants to meet up and ride the bike park at reduced rates. During our Saturday ride, Adam, a HoliMont patroller, led a great skills clinic focusing on improving our cornering. I’ve been riding for many years, and his tips made me an even better rider! We finished our day with pizza and beverages in their ski school building, and then a few of us camped out at the mountain.
The main program started bright and early on Sunday morning. The HoliMont instructors taught the Bike 1 course first thing. The GVR instructors followed that with the wheeled-litter course. For those who are unfamiliar with the wheeled litter, it is the summer patroller’s version of a toboggan.
Nordic/Backcountry Update
As the leaves begin to turn color and the temperatures begin to drop, the refresher season has started. This year is Refresher Cycle C. We have divided the Nordic skills list into three recommended refresher cycles running parallel to our OEC refresher cycles. The skills list and refresher cycles can be found on the division website’s Nordic/Backcountry page.
The main topic of most refreshers is to be updated on your local mountain’s requirements. For the skills requirements, try to make that fun. Think of games and challenges. Even if you are a seasoned veteran at basic and senior skills, how fast can you perform these skills? Are you able to teach others?
New Instructor Development Courses
As we approach the ski season several patrollers have told me they delayed their dream of becoming an NSP instructor because they haven’t taken an Instructor Development (ID) course. “Why not?” I asked. There was a litany of reasons (excuses), but the primary reason was the lack of a convenient ID course. “There wasn’t a course offered in my region when I needed it” or “I work on the weekends when the courses were offered.”
Problem solved.
Avalanche Events Schedule
The dates for all the avalanche courses are now up on the Eastern Division calendar. Registration for the classes will be open by the middle of November at Patroller School. We will be running three Level 1 and one Level 2 courses. The IOR for the classes are listed with each one individually. If have any questions on any individual courses, please reach out to the IOR or me. The program goal is to provide premier avalanche safety and rescue education, specifically designed for the needs of patrollers, mountain search and rescue teams, and snow recreation stakeholders.
Women’s Program Update
There is a “new face in town.” At the September Eastern Division Board meeting Chrissy Ludka was appointed the new Women’s Program Supervisor replacing Heather Newman. Special thanks to the hard work from Heather over the past two seasons.
Chrissy brings a world of experience and enthusiasm to the Women’s Program. Chrissy is a patroller at Elk Mountain in EPA. Her experiences include YAP Advisor, OET TE, Women’s Program Instructor, EPA OET RA, OEC Instructor, and a world of related activities.
