Ski Patrol volunteers hit the slopes on to conduct sweeps. (Canadian Ski Patrol - Battle Zone /Facebook)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Ski Patrol

Who wants to join the Ski Patrol?

Feb 29, 2024 | 1:00 PM

John Humbert remembers the first time he got a pair of skis. It was Christmas in the late ‘60s and his family lived near a ski club.

“I was 12 years old at the time,” he said. “I really quite took to it, I really enjoyed it, there was a whole bunch of buddies.”

That initial introduction led him to become a lifelong skier and he’s now a manager of Ski with Patrol Day for the Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP) – Saskatchewan Division.

At Table Mountain, on Mar. 2, visitors interested in learning more about Ski Patrol or those who are interested in joining are welcome to come out and hit the slopes with the volunteers who make up the CSP first responders’ team. The patrol is for people 18 and older and current members are made up of snowboarders, alpine and cross-country skiers.

“It’s [to] show people what we do and as my friend puts it, ‘You pull back the curtain to see what all the mystery’s about,” he said.

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Jordan Gifford has been a lifelong enthusiast.

“I skied a lot when I was younger,” he said, noting he grew up near Mission Ridge Winter Park in Fort Qu’Appelle.

After some time away from the wintery discipline, he returned to his sport when he moved to North Battleford before the pandemic.

“I knew somebody who was on the ski patrol so I went out for a day with them, and I enjoyed it and I have a background as a – went to school to become an (Emergency Medical Technician) so, I figured best of both worlds,” said the president of Battle Zone Division (Table Mountain and Mount Joy Snow Resort) of CSP.

“Anyone who signs up will get a lift ticket for the day and then they come out and can see the I guess the inner workings of what goes on day to day,” Gifford added.

The inner workings include visitors being shown morning checkout procedures, ski the runs to look for rough areas and then circulating to look for anyone who may need help. The CSP is also more than just a wintertime first aid group. Humbert said they’ll also provide summer support. He explained that in his location in the Moose Jaw and Regina region, they host cycling events.

“We’re turning into a 12-month operation,” he said.

The day will end with a total sweep of the area to make sure there isn’t anyone left behind.

“If you could imagine, you’ve sprained your ankle and it’s getting dark and the lift has shut down, that would be a pretty sobering position to be in,” Humbert said.

Anyone interested in registering is asked to email: joinus.sask@skipatrol.ca.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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