 Skiers, cross-country skiers and snowboarders with an interest in ski patrolling are invited to join one of the 11 patrols in the California Mother Lode Region of the National Ski Patrol (NSP).
Prospective ski patrollers are generally invited to ski a day with the patrol of their choice, and participate in a "ski check-out" day, usually offered in the latter part of the ski season. Most of our patrols seek "Level 7" skiing ability as defined by the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) for candidate training. Specific requirements vary between our patrols and their ski areas.
Once accepted, candidate patrollers participate in an 80 hour Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) first aid course (offered in the Summer/Fall at locations throughout Northern California) and commit to extensive first aid, ski and toboggan training during the following ski season. Also required is a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification for professional providers.
You must be 18 years old to be a member of the NSP and participate in its programs (some of our patrols also host a Junior Patroller program with minimum age of 15). In addition, the NSP has programs for other skill and membership classifications, such as Auxiliary patrollers who provide first aid services.
Upon completion of candidate training and demonstration of competency, members become "Basic" patrollers by the NSP. In second and successive years, patrollers then participate in several ski refresher or training days in the Fall, and devote patrol "duty days" providing service to the public during the ski season.
The NSP traces its roots back to the early days of skiing, 1938. During WWII the NSP was an integeral part of the famous 10th Mountain Division. Today, there are NSP patrols at about 600 ski areas in the U.S. and many other countries, numbering some 24,000 members both on skis and snowboards. Many of the best ski patrols in the nation are represented in the Motherlode Region!
Members of Mother Lode National Ski Patrols number about 600 members from throughout Northern California. All of our patrols are looking for a few good skiers who want to improve their ski skills, learn winter first-aid techniques and serve the skiing public.
Interested skiers are invited to contact us, or check the "patrols" link on this web site.
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