I am looking for info on taking ski patrol courses in the Northern VA / DC area and also the process for linking up with local (Liberty, Whitetail, ...) ski resorts as a ski patroller.

Thanks.

Cuse - you missed this coming season for Liberty. Patrol candidate try outs were this morning at 8am. Check the Liberty Patrol website (www.libertyskipatrol.org) for details. Whitetail had their try outs last weekend (2/21) - www.whitetailskipatrol.org. Both organizations do try outs in the late winter for the coming season's class since the entire off season is spent on EMT-level courses.

To add to Jim's comment - you did miss the organized "ski off" events (I'm a member of Whitetail's). But it's possible (but not a given), that you could do an individual one by the end of this season. Good candidates are hard to find, and we're always looking. Link up thru the contacts on the websites.

The class is Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC), a curriculum developed by the National Ski Patrol. It's an EMT-Basic equivalent, with focus on trauma in an outdoor setting.

Typically, you take it thru the ski patrol chapter you're seeking to join. This allows both OEC and local mountain protocols to be learned simultaneously. Also provides an incoming candidate class which transitions to the first season on the hill. Much of the training is as a group too - just like being 'on-scene' in a real, on-hill accident. Solo learning at a local community college isn't a real option.

It's a definite investment of time, both at training and ongoing. Our class location was in Frederick, MD on Monday and Wednesday nights at 6:30 for about four months before the season. The commute from No Va was no pleasure.

But it's a great achievement to attain and a great way to further enjoy the sport. Great people too. It's a continual learning experience...I leave almost every weekend saying to myself "well, I never saw that one before...."