Our members provide the skiing public with rescue and first aid services; promote safety and courtesy in the sports of skiing and snowboarding. The patrol serves the ski area as a trained and skilled evacuation and rescue organization.

Naturally, the patrol would like to have candidates with advanced ability. Candidates must demonstrate the necessary ski skills required to become a ski patroller. A list of those skills can be obtained from the patrol director.

You must successfully pass a ski/ride skills demonstration and then the Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course, which is a 60-hour course providing the candidate with the medical knowledge necessary to treat injured patrons of the area. Patrollers must also hold a current certification in CPR for the Professional Rescuer; complete on-the-hill training; be 18 years of age; and pay the required annual dues.

The National Ski Patrol Outdoor Emergency Care class follows the same standards set forth by the US Department of Transportation for EMT-Bs. This class is intended for prospective ski patrollers as well as outdoor enthusiasts. 

Subjects covered include an overview of human anatomy and physiology, patient assessment, soft and hard tissue injuries, environmental illness and injuries, sudden illnesses, triage, accident management and evacuation, and long-term care. 

This class costs roughly $250 and is offered by the Crescent Hill Ski Patrol. It is a 60-hour-class and is taught on Thursdays (6:30 – 9:45 PM) from late August to early December. 

A valid OEC certification requires a CPR for the Professional Rescuer certification from a recognized agency (i.e. American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or National Safety Association). 

If you are certified as an EMT-A or B, paramedic, PA, RN or other medical professional, we need your expertise. You must still qualify as an Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) Technician, regardless of your training and experience. You may challenge the OEC curriculum by successfully passing both a written exam and practical OEC scenarios. 

Emergency care as a patroller is significantly different from what you may be accustomed to in a modern medical facility. The Ski Patrol provides comprehensive, pre-hospital care in a remote, delayed response environment. Candidates of all levels must become accustomed to working with specialized ski patrol equipment, under NSP protocols and guidelines, in difficult environmental conditions. 

Medically trained individuals are still required to first pass a ski/ride skills evaluation.

Besides the one-time cost of the OEC course (~$250), patrollers are required to pay annual dues. Annual dues cover National Ski Patrol, Rocky Mountain Division, and local patrol dues, and are currently $130 (Fall 2025). 

Other costs as a patroller vary depending on the patroller’s desire for quality equipment and clothing, and can be spread out over a couple of seasons. Professional Deals are available for ski patrollers.  

Patrollers are expected to provide their own ski or snowboarding equipment and clothing. Other average expenses include a Patroller’s Jacket ($200+) and a first aid pack ($50+). 

No. Crescent Hill Ski Patrol is a volunteer organization. Our passionate and highly skilled members are dedicated to keeping the ski area they love safe for visitors.

Crescent Hill Ski Patrol members are entitled to a Crescent Hill season pass once all of their training is completed. 

Complimentary lift tickets at other ski areas are not guaranteed, but are often available when requested through the proper channels. There are some ski areas that give significant discounts to ski patrollers; others do not. 

As members of the Rocky Mountain Division of the National Ski Patrol, ski patrollers at Crescent Hill are also eligible to receive additional training at other division ski hills across the nation. Training includes but is not limited to – avalanche, mountain travel and rescue, skiing/snowboard clinics, and toboggan handling. 

Ski Patrol members are also eligible for equipment discounts through sponsors of the National Ski Patrol. 

Skiing (not a complete list):

Wedge, Wedge Turn, Stem Turn, Sideslip, Skating, Parallel Turns (short, medium, long), Traverse, Herringbone, Sidestep, Kick Turn, and Power Stop (Hockey Stop), Falling Leaf

Snowboarding (not a complete list):

Sideslip, Traverse, Climbing, Skating (one foot out of binding), Switch (Fakie), Power Stop, 180-degree jump turn, Sideslip (toeside and heelside), Skidded Turn, Carved Turn, Short-, medium- and long-radius turns, Falling Leaf (toeside and heelside), Pivot transition, Moving direction change (transition) 

Patrollers schedule themselves based upon their availability. Shifts requirements vary per season but is roughly 10-15 shifts per ski season (40-50 hours). 

The season’s patrol schedule is made up from information provided by area management.