CANADIAN SKI PATROL SYSTEM NORDIC PATROL

CANADIAN SKI PATROL SYSTEM
NORDIC PATROL
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Are you a good cross country skier?
Do you enjoy helping people?
Would you like to learn first aid?
Join the Nordic Patrol, part of the Canadian Ski Patrol – Calgary Zone.
To learn more, read the information below and come to one of our “Open Houses”
at Canada Olympic Park September 13 and 14 in the Olympic Hall of Fame
building starting at 7PM. We also plan to offer our first aid course at the Canmore
Nordic Centre Provincial Park Daylodge from October 15 to November 12. An
Open House is proposed for the Canmore area- our website will contain information
as it becomes available.
WHO WE ARE
Nordic ski patrollers are members of the Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS), a
nationally registered charity that promotes snow safety and provides volunteer first aid
services. Members of the CSPS come from a wide spectrum of social and professional
backgrounds and enjoy the company of other dynamic individuals who like to stay active
year round.
Two Nordic patrollers at
Canmore Nordic Centre
Provincial Park
WHAT WE DO
Provide first aid services and promote safe skiing on cross-country trails, Nordic ski
events and other off-season events where our first aid services are required. During the
winter months, we patrol Nordic ski trails most weekends and holidays and provide first
aid services at numerous Nordic race events including the Cookie Race and Sharkfest.
For members who are interested, we also provide first aid services at non-winter events
such as marathons, bike rallies, air shows and music festivals.
CSPS provides first aid services at
Nordic race events such as “Sharkfest”
WHERE WE PATROL
Peter Lougheed Park Provincial Park, located 130 km west of Calgary. There are
approximately 80km of groomed and tracked trails. For many years the Nordic patrol has
provided first aid services at the “Cookie Race” held in the park during February.
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, located about 100km west of Calgary. This
facility was the site of the 1988 Olympic Nordic events. It has 65 km of groomed and
tracked trails. During the 2010/2011 season, the Nordic patrol provided first aid services
at three Nordic races.
West Bragg Creek Provincial Park, located 40 minutes west of Calgary. In 2010, there
were about 50 km of trails. The trails are being expanded for 2011 through the efforts of
the Greater Brag Creek Trails Association. During the 2010/2011 season, we provided
first aid services at one race event.
Park staff and CSPS Nordic patroller helping
an injured Nordic racer. When you’re hurt
it’s nice to know help is on the way!
WHEN WE PATROL
We patrol weekends and holidays between 10AM to 4PM. The season is dependant on
snow conditions. We generally patrol at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and the
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park from early December to the end of March. The
ski season at West Bragg Creek Provincial Park is dependant on snow conditions and
varies from year to year.
BENEFITS OF PATROLLING
The benefits of becoming a patroller can be divided into three categories.
First, you gain strong first aid skills. This is a valuable lifetime skill you can use while in
the CSPS or in everyday life. With this skill, you will know how to help injured people
whether they are skiing or you come across them any time in your daily activities.
Second, there are social benefits of being with a group of people who enjoy outdoor
activities. You have the opportunity to ski with fellow patrollers and attend social events
throughout the year such as BBQ’s, ski wax clinics and complementary CSPS ski
improvement sessions (Nordic as well as Alpine). Frequently, members of the patrol
organize off-season activities as hiking and bike trips. As well, during the winter ski
season, we have complementary access to a cabin at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.
Cabin that Kananaskis Park Officials
give CSPS to use during the winter
Third, the Nordic patrol lends you the ski patrol jacket and first aid kit/supplies at no cost
to you for the winter. During the winter, we frequently hold draws for gift certificates of
$25 to patrollers who help out at special events as races and safety days.
REQUIRMENTS TO BECOME A NORDIC PATROLLER
Nordic patrollers are over 17 years of age, avid outdoor people who like cross-country
skiing, are interested in helping people and like to learn and practice first aid skills. This
fall, CSPS will be offering our 60 hour first aid course at two locations: the Canmore
Nordic Centre complex from October to November (Saturday and Sunday) and in
Calgary between mid September to early November (two weeknights/week). The course
consists of a theoretical component of anatomy and physiology and the practical
component consisting of identifying, assessing and stabilizing injuries. After students
pass this course, they begin their on-hill training to become familiar with park
regulations, procedures and the trails in each of the three Kananskis Park locations where
we patrol. As well, a member of the Nordic patrol evaluates your skiing ability. For
patrollers who need some ski improvement, the patrol provides complementary ski
lessons to get their skiing abilities to a standard required by the Canadian Ski Patrol.
All Nordic patrollers are asked to patrol 3 weekend days per month and a minimum of 12
weekend days during the winter season (December to March).
Park staff refreshing CSPS patrollers on
how to use the “Vacuum Mattress”
COST TO JOIN THE PATROL
The Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS) is a non-profit charity. The fees for a new
patroller are approximately $220, which includes the annual registration fee, the first aid
course and the first aid manual with a CD-ROM. The fee also includes all the training to
get you ready to patrol at the area you choose. After your first year, you only have to pay
the annual registration fee, which is about $120, and recertify your first aid skills at one
of the 3 returning patroller weekends.
KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP
If you have any questions about joining the patrol, you can get further information from
the following sources:
Email: Nordic@cspscalgary.ca
Website: cspscalgary.ca
Facebook -> www.facebook.com/cspscalgary