Official Publication of the National Ski Patrol nsp.org + Fall 2016 + Volume 34 Issue 1 GEAR GUIDE 2016 PURPLE MERIT STAR POWDERFALL 2017 The Winter Opportunist Nano-Air® Hoody: The warm, stretchy, breathable, cold-weather opportunist When the mercury dips, then drops, the only cold that should force you inside should involve a box of tissues and some heavy-duty decongestants. For everything else, there’s the Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody, a soft, stretchy, revolutionary layer that’ll keep you comfortable (not roasting) during stop-and-go winter missions. Whether you’re skinning like a dog, postholing up a couloir or charging powder, it’s as ready as you are for any winter opportunity. The Nano-Air Hoody is a part of Patagonia’s Opportunist Collection: essential, enduring pieces for any kit, any activity. Patagonia is an official supplier to the National Ski Patrol (NSP) and offers NSP members pro pricing on Patagonia gear. To shop, just visit nsp.org and click on the Patagonia logo within the Pro Deals section of Member Services. PATAGONIA.COM/OPPORTUNIST Benny the powder hound drafts Jasmin Caton as she breaks trail at Valhalla Mountain Touring. British Columbia. KEN ETZEL © 2016 Patagonia, Inc . Adam Clark Adam p: Sage Cattabriga-Alosa Make your line pop. Charge harder when you see more detail with ChromaPop™ The experience is everything.™ NSP.ORG 3 PURPLE 40 POWER BY KIM KIRCHER The Purple Merit Star is perhaps the NSP’s highest honor, given to a patroller who has helped save a life. Here is a look at some S of the people who have been so honored, and what it means to them. RE POWDER U 66 TIME BY MELANIE HOOD Powderfall 2017 will be held April 6-8, 2017, at Aspen Snowmass in Colorado, and promises to be a memorable FEAT experience for all who attend. A look at some of the events and fun planned for the weekend. SPECIAL SECTION GEAR GUIDE 48 ADVERTORIAL A guide to new hardgoods for the coming season offered by NSP partners. DEPARTMENTS 08 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 10 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 12 CONTRIBUTORS 16 COMMENTARY 18 COMMENTARY 19 BULLETINS 22 DIVISION NEWS 82 AVALANCHE 88 FUNDRAISING 89 INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT 91 MTR 94 NORDIC 96 OEC 101 OET 103 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 104 WOMEN’S 105 YOUNG ADULT 107 IN MEMORIAM 114 OUT OF BOUNDS 4 NSP.ORG ARTI CLE 27 THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR S BY DAVE CLEVELAND In his new column, Dave Cleveland will interview a patrol director to discuss some of the challenges facing that director’s patrol and how the patrol meets those challenges. First up: Drew Kneeland of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. 30 PATROLLER PRACTICES BY PETER MATHEIS Last winter, Alaska patroller Peter Matheis spent time traveling around the Western U.S. visiting different ski patrols and patrollers and learning their methods of doing things in an effort to spread best practices. 34 ENJOY THE VIEW! BY CANDACE HORGAN The 2016 edition of NSP’s annual photo contest, titled Enjoy the View!, resulted in DEPARTMENTS the submission of hundreds of amazing photographs. We spotlight the winners. 78 SUBARU AMBASSADORS BY CANDACE HORGAN Meet this year’s NSP Subaru Ambassadors, who will be driving an NSP-wrapped Subaru to their mountains and ski and outdoor events. 80 EDUCATION REPORT BY SHEILA SUMMERS Correction: The article, “The Fifth Vital NSP launched a new IT system Sign,” (Ski Patrol Magazine, vol. 33, issue 2), this summer that changed the credited to Jay Thompson was developed with way instructors open and close contributions from Arlene Hudson of the Ski Cover photo: Scott Brockmeier. Liberty Ski Patrol. Photo (left): Mark Meakins. courses, and the way students Photo (above): Tomas Zuccareno. register for them. NSP.ORG 5 Editor IT Committee Candace Horgan Chris Pringle, Chair [email protected] Nominations Committee Advertising/Sponsorships Rick Knight, Chair Melanie Hood [email protected] NSAA/Ski Area Relations Committee Design and Production Keith Cassidy, Chair Agnieszka Hansen OEC Refresher Committee [email protected] Bill Devarney, Chair Contributors Myron Allen, Matt Armington, Dale Atkins, Linda Planning Committee Barthel, Scott Brockmeier, Paul Brooks, Dave Tom Sherry, Chair Cleveland, Ed Carlson, Bill Gibson, Doug Ginley, Andre Gonsalves, Selina Guendel, Cynthia National Program Directors Henderson, Doug Hill, Melanie Hood, David Myron Allen: Mountain Travel and Rescue Johe, M.D., Kim Kircher, Michael Levy, M.D., Jerry Chris Brodersen: Certified Massengale, Peter Matheis, Brendan McCue,Brian Ed Carlson: Avalanche Parrish, Rick Shandler, Rob Silbaugh, Sheila Deb Endly: OEC Summers, Paul Tourangeau, Jeffrey Weitz, Dave Doug Ginley: Instructor Development Willett, Daryl Whitcher, Dick Woolf, Rick Shandler: Nordic NSP National Chair Jay Zedak: Transportation Ed McNamara National Alumni Adviser NSP Board of Directors Marty Huebner Morgan Armstrong, Keith Cassidy, John (Ty) Damon, Rick Knight, Ken Kramer, Ed McNamara, Chris Prin- National Awards Adviser gle, Brian Rull, Tom Sherry, Bill Sinykin, David Walker, Bill Boulter Jim Woodrum, Norris Woody National Historian NSP Division Directors Rick Hamlin Richard Davis, Liz Dodge, Bill Gibson, Kevin John- son, John Larson, Chris Ross, Julie Rust, Micaela National Legal Adviser Saeftel, John Shipman, Robert Scarlett John Thomas, Byrd White National Medical Adviser Audit Committee David Johe, M.D. Keith Cassidy, Chair Bylaws/Oversight Committee National Telecommunications Les Megyeri, Chair Adviser Dick Woolf Education Committee David Walker, Chair National Visitor Exchange Finance Committee Program Adviser Rick Knight, Chair Bob Black Fundraising Committee National Women’s Adviser Rob Silbaugh, Chair Linda Barthel Governance Committee National Young Adult Adviser Morgan Armstrong, Chair Paul Tourangeau National Office Staff John McMahon Jamie Bruhl Executive Director Controller Sheila Summers Jill Bjerke Education Director Customer Care Bill Finley Tricia Burns Finance Director Executive Assistant Melanie Hood Rachel Crane Marketing and Development Director Marketing and Events Manager Candace Horgan Andre Gonsalves Communications Director Brand and Marketing Specialist Josh Jacobson Catalog Sales and Operations Director Michele Ericsson Accounting Cheri Overton Director of Member Registration/Awards Carol Hudson Administrator Customer Care Mackenzie Barnett Rob Wilcox Customer Care Warehouse Supervisor The National Ski Patrol is the premier provider of training and education programs for emergency rescuers who serve the outdoor recreation community. Ski Patrol Magazine is an official publication of the National Ski Patrol and is published three times per year. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the National Ski Patrol. Address changes and subscription inquiries should be sent to Ski Patrol Magazine, 133 S. Van Gordon St., Suite 100, Lakewood, CO 80228-1700. Association members can also indicate a change of address online through the member services area at www.nsp.org. For NSP member services, dial 303-988-1111. Please send editorial queries, comments, and letters to [email protected]. 6 NSP.ORG WWW.YAKIMA.COM SKIS AND SNOWBOARDS EXTRA GEAR FatCat SkyBox Top of car solution capable of safely carrying 4 pairs of skis & 2 A handy year round solution. Fill it with skis & boards or wet snowboards, or 6 pairs of skis and 4 snowboards. clothes and boots, you choose. FAT BIKES Use your NSP pro discount at NSP.org TwoTimer Ideal for carrying fat bikes when paired with FatStraps (sold separately) Yakima is a registered trademark of Yakima Products, Inc. LETTERS to the Editor Glass ceiling cracked Women have been around NSP for years; however, we are still magazine. It was an extremely cold, windy day, with snowflakes learning to thrive in our male-dominated industry. I’m not spitting throughout the early morning, but the lighting was complaining; I enjoy the challenge. Recent articles, like “You’re perfect for the photographs, and the doctor was adamant that Nothing Until They See You Ski,” on www.TetonGravity.com the picture perfectly replicate a situation a patroller might find announcing “Kim Kircher will be the first woman patrol director on any slope if a skier would be so injured. in Crystal’s history, and one of only a few nationally,” remind us of how far we are from all breaking through the glass ceiling in our Dr. Johe’s competence, his attention to detail, and his industry. thoroughness was so typical of this outstanding orthopedic surgeon, who has spent countless hours writing and refining Your recent NSP magazine article, “Stellar Summit,” (see Ski what most refer to as the bible of outdoor emergency care, the Patrol Magazine, vol. 33, issue 3) celebrating the Women’s Outdoor Emergency Care Fifth Edition. Dr. Johe, along with Summit and the NSP Women’s Program, shows we are shift- NSP Board Chair Edward McNamara and OEC Program Director ing the culture of our organization and fully embracing women Deborah Endly, devoted five years to producing the manual, across the country. Female toboggan coaches best understand so little wonder that in the book’s personal acknowledgement how our lowered center of gravity is an asset to running a sled section, Johe thanks his devoted Roslyn for her support. in control. Female coaches know which skills to adjust from the traditional approach to help new female alpine patrol- When not actively patrolling at Holiday Valley ski slope in lers embrace their strength and not become frustrated with Ellicottville, New York, since 1990, he spends countless hours less upper body strength. Mt. Hood Ski Patrol (est. 1937) just each day advising, counseling, and answering a myriad of appointed me this year to hill captain, and I just learned that I questions from those seeking his expertise. In addition, he is am the first female snowboarder to earn the hill captain on our an OEC instructor and is the chairman of the NSP National volunteer patrol. So, your article truly connected with me, and I Medical Advisory Committee and holds National Appointment hope to attend the Summit next year.