by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Apr 15, 2025 | Division News
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…” I didn’t want to start my report with a quote from Charles Dickens, but there’s much truth there.
I believe the ski season, now winding down, embodied “the best of times” in many ways. Good snow and snowmaking weather in many regions, and abundant natural snow in a few, including to the south. Our outstanding Eastern Division teams delivered programs as planned. These included six Patroller Schools with 335 participants and 77 instructors, 14 Women’s Clinics, over 75 Safety events, the Young Adult Patroller Summit at Smugglers’ Notch with 83 YAPs and 78 adult chaperones, and the annual Certified Weekend at Jay Peak. Hearty congrats to our four new Certified members.
In addition, our Safety team and Historian coordinated many special events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the 10th Mountain Division’s assault on Riva Ridge. The division has over 20 new Instructor Development Instructors in process who will be key to future course delivery in all disciplines. And there was much more—too extensive for me to list here. Hopefully, you will see more program-specific articles in Trail Sweep in the months ahead.
I attended a face-to-face National Board and DD meeting in Denver in late January. Rich Pietrafesa was re-elected as National Chair for another year. I consider it great news for all of us. Rich has been a great voice of reason and stability, exactly what we need in these turbulent times. The National Board recently approved a policy to have an annual increase of National dues of 2.5% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is greater. National dues will increase by 2.9% next year based on the CPI. Although no one wants a dues increase, this approach should help avoid big increases like in the past two years, while addressing the realities of an inflationary economy and the financial challenges faced by the NSP.
If you haven’t heard, March was a tough month for me. My wife and I had COVID in early March, and the timing kept me from attending the YAP Summit. A couple of weeks later, I had an on-duty/off-skis slip and fall while walking out of our mid-mountain patrol building. I wound up with a fractured ankle and fibula and had surgery on April 1 (no April fool here!). I am confined to our home in North Creek and can’t bear weight on my right leg. And no one can drive in our household, since it’s my right foot and my wife has low vision and can’t drive. So, I will be doing many things “virtually” until I regain some mobility! Here’s my private duty nurse, Miss Kitty, checking me out and making sure I’m comfortable.
Let’s celebrate our collective achievements this ski season – and there were many! And please be careful out there; bad things can happen in a heartbeat. Thanks for all you do!.
by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Dec 18, 2024 | Division News
Winter should be upon us by now, but you couldn’t prove it by what’s falling from the sky today in North Creek. I’m not a fan of “liquid snow” – at least not when we’re trying to open more terrain. Keep the faith; colder weather is coming soon! This has been a very busy fall season for many of us. OEC courses and refreshers, MTR courses, “Snowbound” (aka the Boston Ski Show), appearances at Warren Miller screenings, and, most recently, the Division OET Conference at Killington December 6-8. Many thanks to every member and their friends and family who helped staff these events; your dedication and exceptional efforts made them possible!
NSP National Board elections closed in December. Eastern Division leadership recommended four candidates and all four won seats on the National Board. A proposal to allow Mountain Hosts to vote in future elections was also passed. I’m waiting for National to provide voter turnout statistics, but I expect the numbers will again be lower than desired. If you didn’t vote, please try harder next year since every vote matters.
Are you ready to patrol? There’s no time like now to get ready. Last time I said a few words about physical conditioning. This time let’s think about our equipment: Are your skis tuned? Your safety and your patients’ will depend on your sharp edges – and in the East, that means frequent tuning. Have your bindings been tested? Many ski areas require annual binding tests as a condition of employment. If yours doesn’t, just remember whose body is being protected by those bindings. Binding tests sometimes lead to needing new boots, or at least new sole inserts, since we put a lot of wear and tear on our boot soles.
How about the first aid supplies in your pack, belt, or vest? How old are those nitrile gloves? Are all your clothing layers ready to protect you from the cold? Does your uniform look professional? There is probably an “ideal” amount of duct tape – and striking a balance between a seasoned, professional appearance and starting to look worn out can be a challenge! Is your helmet in good condition (ask a shop professional)?
The list goes on and on, but the time to act is short. Mountain management, our patrol teammates, and the skiing and riding public are all counting on us, so let’s be ready. And did I forget to say that our sport is almost always more fun when we are well-prepared? Let’s have fun!
Introducing Miss Kitty. She could be the prototype patroller of the future. She has:
• Perfect balance,
• Outstanding night vision,
• Black pants that fit well, with no holes or duct tape,
• Retractable microspikes for good traction on snow and ice, and
• (Very important) Ability to go from nap mode to full throttle very quickly!
Have a happy, joyous, and safe holiday season! Hope to see you on the snow soon!
Grant (and Miss Kitty)
by Grant Fullman, Division Director | Sep 15, 2024 | Division News
Division Director Grant Fullman getting first tracksShorter days, and longer and cooler nights. The unmistakable signs of Fall are all around us – and that means three things: OEC Refreshers, vote in the National Board election, and get ready for snow! This has been a long, hot, and busy summer but I actually had skis on August 27 after a freak hailstorm deposited piles of white stuff around our house in North Creek, NY; just couldn’t resist the photo opportunity! Seriously, business is picking up all across the Division – and the pace will only increase for the next several months.
OEC Refresher Season
Feedback on the OEC Cycle B online and skills refreshers has been very positive. Most who have completed their refreshers agree that this year’s online modules are more user-friendly and effective than last year’s and the skills refresher is straightforward. Many thanks to all of the OEC Instructors and Instructor Trainers who deliver the refreshers. We couldn’t do this without you!
NSP National Board Elections
Fourteen candidates are running for four National Board of Directors seats this year. The candidates’ names were announced in a special edition of Sweep on September 13, along with dates for three candidate forums that will be conducted via Zoom on September 30, October 8, and October 16. Please mark your calendars and try to attend as many of these forums as possible. The Eastern Division leadership team will be well represented, and we will develop some recommendations based on what we hear at the forums. Most of all, I highly encourage everyone to vote. Turnout has historically been low, so every vote matters more than you might think! Voting will run from October 15 through December 1, 2024 so don’t miss the opportunity to influence the future of NSP.
Preparing to get back on snow is serious business. Biking, hiking, working outdoors, or hitting the gym are all great ways to get in shape. Most agree that trying to ‘ski yourself into shape’ is ineffective, so don’t wait! And if you need some additional inspiration, consider attending https://snowboundexpo.com/ (aka the Boston Ski Show). Eastern Division will have a booth; please contact Simon Thomas if you would like to help.
