At Tremblant, safety is a priority that is at the heart of our values.
The Tremblant ski patrol team roams the slopes to ensure the safety of guests, do prevention, and provide first aid. As part of their mission, patrollers have several roles and responsibilities to perform. They are primarily guardians of your safety as first responders, but also do prevention and enforce the mountain code of conduct.
Safety First
The Tremblant ski patrol team is made up of more than 100 dedicated patrollers and about 30 preventionists who work to ensure the safety of guests at all times. All patrollers must obtain annual certification according to the standards and requirements issued by the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports. They play a key role on the mountain that goes well beyond ensuring that the code of conduct is respected.
Early in the morning, way before skiers arrive at the mountain, the team follows the mountain’s daily opening plan to the letter, which consists, among other things, of setting up signage, marking, defining the learning areas as well as low-speed zones, ensuring the safe placement of cushions on obstacles, and checking snow coverage and grooming. In short, they ensure that everyone can practise their sport in a safe environment in which skiers can feel confident.
Patrollers follow supervised training every year but must also independently complete workshops specific to Tremblant’s particularities, according to clearly defined protocols and objectives.
First Responders on the Mountain
As part of its mission, the ski patrol team must ensure that skiers respect the mountain code of conduct. They ensure a constant presence on the slopes and are the first responders in the event of an accident. Patrollers must therefore undergo continuous training in first aid. They have a compulsory course of 60 hours over 4 weekends to complete at the start of their career, then a compulsory requalification of 16 hours set up by the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports at the start of each new season.
During the season, training courses are set up to keep mountain rescue techniques up to date as well as any changes made to them. Training in handling and evacuating injured people on a sled (stretcher), extracting stretchers from steep terrain are part of the apprenticeship. Simulations of extraction situations, training in the use of defibrillators and 10-99 (cardiac arrest code), which are mandatory by the government, complete the learning program and maintenance of skills. They also have on their agenda basic training in immobilization on a spinal board and immobilization mattress, as well as in ski lift evacuation in the event of major breakdown.
Prevention and Sanctions
In its quest to provide a safe environment for all trail users, the Tremblant ski patrol must sometimes intervene when it witnesses a violation of the mountain code of conduct. All new patrollers and preventionists must therefore know the mountain’s code and regulations, as well as knowledge of Tremblant (names of trails and glades, landmarks, internal nomenclature).
The Prevention Team
About 30 preventionists are part of the Tremblant ski patrol team and carry out various tasks and responsibilities throughout the season in support of the patrollers. This team is responsible for on-call prevention, reassembling sleds in chairs, transporting tired guests, as well as prevention at the entrance to learning areas and snow parks or during special events on the mountain. Preventionists must also follow a list of training given internally by the ski patrol team. This training is not regulated by the government.
Airmedic Simulation – Winter 2021-2022
Last March, the Ski Patrol and Airmedic jointly took part in a remote rescue exercise. See the result in the video below.
Want to be part of the great Tremblant ski patrol team next winter? Become a volunteer patroller, we are always looking for new dedicated people to join us!
