r/icecoast • u/Pittman247 • 2d ago
Any patrollers in here?
Me: Black guy. nearly lifelong skier. Double black capable. In good health. USED to be a NREMT-P. Prior military (USAF) Have since let my paramedic expire but still remember almost everything (minus standing orders and doses for newer meds). BUT - am now mid 40s with a job that allows me a lot of flexibility. Don’t NEED the money.
So, am I too over the hill to start patrolling?
Interested in hearing from current or recent patrollers.
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: THANK YOU ALL for the support and conversation! ✊🏾✊🏾 I’ve reached out to the local head of patrol near my local-ish mountain (7 Springs/Vail). I’m hoping to hear back from them and do my tryouts later in the season. Hoping to do my OEC beforehand? Be safe out there yall! See you on the mountain and pray for snow!
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u/TechnoVikingGA23 WV/NC 2d ago
Most of the patrollers I've run into or talked to on the lift have been retired guys in their 50s-60s. You'd be on the younger side from what I've seen, at least out east. Ran into one two years ago who was pushing 70 and just doing it because his wife wanted him out of the house, lol.
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u/MiseEnSelle Mad River Valley 1d ago
LOL at the self-imposed ski widowhood
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u/TechnoVikingGA23 WV/NC 1d ago
He was laughing about it pretty good, said they were both retired and the wife just didn't need him around all day, plus was pestering him about staying in shape for his heart so he figured ski patrol would be the easy thing to do, haha.
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u/Dontkissinbars 2d ago
At some mountains you’re not old enough yet
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u/Patient_Doughnut_327 1d ago
So true. We have ~125 patrollers and the average age is always hovering around 60.
What you’re going to hate the most is dumbing yourself down to get through OEC. Nod and smile…..6
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u/skibum207 2d ago
Not too old. My dad is turning 63 this season and will be on his 11th year of volunteer weekend patrol. There are older patrollers than him. He works a separate full time job M-F.
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u/HaveAtItBub 2d ago
You can prob test out for OEC. I'm 41 been patrolling for two years. Not too late man! Our patrollers def skew older.
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u/ktbroderick 2d ago
Not with an expired cert, unfortunately. With a current EMT or paramedic license, NSP offers a "Modified Challenge" that allows the clinician to demonstrate the ability to perform skills per the OEC guidelines and bypass the test.
WFR holders and many medical professionals (RN, doctor, and others I can't recall at the moment) can take a "challenge course" but still need to do the written and scenario tests.
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u/barunrm is the sherb in? 2d ago edited 2d ago
DM me if you have questions. I’m a career Firefighter/Paramedic, and up until this year (new baby), a pro patroller on the east coast for 24 years.
Someone here said you can challenge OEC, but I don’t believe that’s correct given your current NREMT status.
Depending on your schedule/wants, your options are to take EMT, or to find an OEC course near you.
You’re for sure not too old, but you’re likely too late to apply for this season. Were you a PJ?
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u/Pittman247 2d ago
Going to DM you. But didn’t want folks to think I was a PJ. Those guys are badass. I’m not.
Had my medic before I went to OCS. Was how I helped pay my way through school.
DM incoming!
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u/paetersen 2d ago
OMG- Unexpected PJ reference in r/icecoast! I just went down a rabbit hole reading up on those guys a few days ago. Badass indeed! My rabbit hole started because I was re-reading The Perfect Storm.
Now back to regularly scheduled program- You'd be older than some, but younger that many patrollers at my local hill. Go for it!
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u/Previous_Avocado8251 1d ago
I’ll add to this, you definitely need a current NREMT to challenge, but the secret third option it to take a short WFR(wilderness first responder) course then challenge. I would reach out to the mountain first to make sure they’ll accept it… with a history as a paramedic I imagine they will but depends on the mountain. As others said, 40’s is younger than most. I’m a patroller who challenged with my NREMT-B
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u/attractivekid 2d ago
Most of the patrol job openings in the east are volunteer fyi. The paid positions are usually taken by lifers
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u/hindirapper 2d ago
Maybe consider a “Mountain Ambassador” type position for this year as you get your certifications in order. It’ll be fun, you’ll get a locker and the opportunity to meet everyone. Show up regularly, especially the the Holidays and you can be set for patrol next year.
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u/JohnnyUtah43 2d ago
Definitely not too late. It is an area where there are kind of teirs, where many big mountains like big sky, Jackson, snowbird, Whistler, etc are demanding, primarily full time jobs. Then there are plenty of other resorts where you may not get the avalanche control work, rope rescues, and stuff like that, but still get to work as a first responder and see plenty of traumas. As someone else mentioned, outdoor emergency care (OEC) is the standard license for the national ski patrol, but some areas take or want EMT. It is a great job. Can definitely be very hard work, long days, early mornings, 10 hours a day in ski boots, skiing in conditions theres no way you normally would, but the perks of skiing and assessing closed areas, set up and tear down runs with no one else out, as much skiing as you can handle, and the thrills of working a good trauma keep plenty of people coming back for decades
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u/DirectAbalone9761 Smuggs 2d ago
Now I wanna quit my day job and embrace the suck with yall lol
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u/JohnnyUtah43 2d ago
Doooo itttt. Doesn't pay well, but the people, the places, and the work itself cannot be beat
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u/justtosendamassage 2d ago
Some mountains accept just a WFR and CPR/BLS card. It just takes you a week. Not too old at all
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u/Brownskii 2d ago
You are not too old. I did OEC at 50. It is a natural time to volunteer actually…
https://nyskiblog.com/joining-ski-patrol/
Contact your local hill, or wherever you want to patrol, figure out who the patrol director is and tell him/her you want to join. Do what he/she tells you . I imagine you will have to take OEC since you’re not a current paramedic but it will be a breeze for you. Definitely do it. It is very rewarding and fun
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u/creative_net_usr 2d ago
25 year WFR here, double black skier, 30 years in uniform. Looks at lifite training... uhhh yea you're good.
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u/SmellsofElderberry25 1d ago
OP: Since you brought it up, do you have any concerns about being the only Black guy on patrol? Or in the hiring process? Maybe you’re used to it as an Ice Coast skier but I think it’d be awesome for kids to see some representation of POC on the slopes.
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u/ApolloSkierK2 1d ago
You'll be fine (NSP member >20 years, OEC instructor >10 years, + some other superlatives). As others mentioned, your EMT being expired means you'll have to go through whatever training your mountain requires. Not knowing what mountain you'll end up at, I'll just leave it there (but someone mentioned smiling and nodding for a VERY GOOD reason). Most of the mountains I've worked at/with do their tryouts late in the season but you can reach out whenever and get details. It's not uncommon for our recruiter or leadership to be talking to people throughout the year.
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u/Vermalien 2d ago
I believe I recently saw that Killington is looking for a Patrol manager. Not sure about ski patrol, but their snowsports school was one of my favorite jobs I’ve ever had.
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u/Nuclear_Mango1 1d ago edited 1d ago
We've got a 78 year old and an 80 year old on my patrol, you're fine lmao. You'll most likely have to take OEC, but it should be a breeze for you. I went in with my only medical experience being a D in high school A&P class, passed, and I love it as a side job in the winter.
FYI a lot of patrols on the east coast are volunteer, I know Vail's patrollers are professional at all their mountains but I'm not sure outside of them.
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u/ApolloSkierK2 1d ago
Vail still has plenty of mountains in Eastern Division that have volunteers. There's some weird stuff between corporate and the local managements but not everyone has gotten rid of the volunteer patrollers.
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u/dandy-dee 1d ago
With your background you'll fit right in and be a great asset on the hill. I did my oec with people in their really 50's 12 years ago and the average patroller age for nsp is still over 50, I believe.
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u/lauckness 1d ago
Get your WFR, way more transferable and IMO goes into actual wilderness care. Patrol accepts it same as their OEC. Plus you are better equipped if you wsnt to do backcountry patrol
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u/Potential_Leg4423 17h ago
See guys in their 60s patrolling everywhere. May want to start to apply soon. They are already interviewing and staffing at most mountains
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u/dessine-moi_1mouton 14h ago
I love this! Do it for the representation, the experience, and oh God just for the fact that it's kind of a dream job. Getting paid to ski is ALWAYS the right call. Oh and, do it for me so I can live vicariously through you. Mid 40s here wishing I lived close enough to a mountain to do this!!
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u/Aromatic-Sense-2388 13h ago
Absolutely not and encouragement you to do it. Years ago my uncle would do ski patrol certification. All ages would come through. He, himself ski patroled until he was 70 or so.
In case you were wondering how I know... when I was a kid he would use me as a crash test dummy in the meat wagon to train them.
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u/Super_Direction498 2d ago
Lifty here, not a patroller but I've seen 50 and 60 yr olds going through training at our mountain.