3 Responses for "What are the duties of the ski patrol at ski resorts?"

1. Emma November 21st, 2008 at 1:18 am 1

   They are basically like the medical people. If someone is hurt on the slopes then they go out and help them. Most of them are trained paramedics or have some background in first aid.
   References :
   9 years of working at a ski resort.

2. Live to Ski November 21st, 2008 at 1:57 am 2

   Yes, almost exactly like the police and paramedics. Though they can’t “arrest” you, they can clip your ticket if they feel you’re putting yourself or others in danger. There is/was a show on TruTV (formerly Court TV) called Ski Patrol. If you get that channel, tune in to see what they do and how.
   References :

3. Common November 21st, 2008 at 2:39 am 3

   Yes, they are very much a combination of police/paramedics. Their primary duties are to (1) ensure the slopes themselves are safe through a combination of avalanche control and marking obstacles, etc., (2) “policing” the skiing public through warnings and pulling passes, and (3) providing emergency medical assistance to persons who get injured on the slopes.

   Its a tough job and they don’t get the respect they deserve. If you are interested, most mountain ski patrols offer some form of a “ski along” program where you can tag along with them and see what they do on a daily basis. It can be a real eye opener if you haven’t grown up at a ski resort.
   References :