Welch Village Ski Patrol

About Welch Village Ski Patrol

Welch Village Ski Patrol (WVSP) is a volunteer organization tasked with providing care to injured skiiers and snowboarders at Welch Village Ski and Snowboard Area, and is a chapter of the National Ski Patrol (NSP).

As the leading authority of on-mountain safety, the NSP is dedicated to serving the public and outdoor recreation industry by providing education and accreditation to emergency care and safety service providers. The organization is made up of more than 28,000 members serving over 650 patrols, including alpine, Nordic, and auxiliary patrollers. Its members work on behalf of local ski and snowboard areas to improve the overall experience for outdoor recreationalists.

WVSP's mission is to promote safe skiing and snowboarding among the public and provide emergency rescue and medical services to injured skiers and snowboarders. If you like skiing or snowboarding and enjoy helping people, we invite you to consider becoming a National Ski Patroller at Welch Village. We are always looking for new members willing to join our team.

Joining the patrol

Candidates interested in joining WVSP must complete NSP training requirements, which generally take about one year. The two-part training includes:

Outdoor Emergency Transportation is the on-the-hill skills portion of NSP training. This course consists of weekly training sessions from December through early-March, which will take skiers/boarders who already possess an intermediate level of skiing or snowboarding and enhance their skills to ensure that they are capable of riding on any terrain in a wide variety of conditions. Additionally, the course will teach candidates to safely handle a rescue toboggan. This training is typically held on Tuesday evenings. Additionally, during the candidate’s training season, they are expected to sign on to a 4-hour weekly duty shift to continue practicing and gain practical patrol experience. There is no course fee for this training, however candidates must provide their own transportation and equipment.
Outdoor Emergency Care is the emergency medicine portion of NSP training. This course consists of weekly hands-on sessions held at Welch Village typically on Thursday evenings from late July through early November, plus additional independent course work to prepare for those class sessions. At the culmination of this training, the candidate's practical skills and knowledge will be assessed to ensure they are capable of providing care to injured guests. The training course and textbook cost approximately $250.

Candidates interested in patrolling at Welch who cannot attend the Welch Village training sessions may be able to make arrangements to complete the standardized NSP trainings at another local area.

Upon meeting the training requirements above and becoming an Alpine patroller, you will be expected to:

Pay NSP and local dues (approximately $180/year)
Furnish a uniform, including jacket or vest with universal cross, a vest or pack to carry supplies in, black pants, and a helmet
Furnish an initial medical supplies kit
Commit to a weekly 4-hour duty shift
Complete annual refresher training for both on-the-hill and medical skills

So why should you join the WVSP?

We asked our patrollers why they love volunteering with WVSP:

“I love being able to help people while doing a sport I love! The Welch Village ski patrol has so many great people in it that are willing to help you learn and succeed.”
“I love the camaraderie of our team, and the sense of community the patrol provides me.”
“Patrolling gives me a purpose while skiing. I can get my turns in while also helping others, and the skills I’ve learned have paid off time and again both on and off the hill.”

Patrollers also have access to certain perks and benefits, such as pro deals on gear and guest passes for friends and family to join you at Welch Village, and more.

Interested in being part of the WVSP? Please fill out the application!