August 2007August 2007 11

OOver the ver the SSnow now VVehiclesehicles

Chuck MartschinkeChuck Martschinke

National Ski PatrolNational Ski Patrol

Central DivisionCentral Division

August 2007August 2007 22

Patrol SurveyPatrol Survey

• Do you use OSV

• Sent via email to all patrols

• Approximately 125

• 32 responses

• Two areas, reported twice

• One reported on requirements of NY state

August 2007August 2007 33

Do you use?Do you use?

• 14 use snowmobiles

• 5 use some form of 4x

• 7 use a combination of both

• 6 use none (2 Nordic parks)– Area management does not allow them– Park rangers bring them if needed

August 2007August 2007 44

What for?What for?

• Patient movementpulling loaded toboggans

– Up hill 13• Due to patrol room location

– Down hill 12• Usually due to limited personnel (weekdays)

– Horizontal 24– 2 said NO guests/patients on OSV– 4 said minor injuries on OSV

August 2007August 2007 55

What for?What for?• Movement of personnel and equipment

– Added resources at an incident– Specialized equipment to an incident– Toboggans

• To their ready locations• Up hill during training and evaluating

– Escort of other grooming and snow making equipment

– Opening and closing functions

August 2007August 2007 66

Alternate methodsAlternate methods

• 7 use carriers to up load toboggans on chairs

August 2007August 2007 77

Toboggan CarriersToboggan Carriers

August 2007August 2007 88

Not so good alternate methodsNot so good alternate methods

• Laps

• Chairs

August 2007August 2007 99

TrainingTraining

• 19 have training– Mostly home grown and done internally

• One stated that the maintenance dept did the training

– Only 3 mentioned any record keeping– Concerns with NSAA material on rider

position (kneeling and standing)

August 2007August 2007 1010

OperationOperation

• Operators– 8 indicated they have dedicated operators– 5 said area employees only– Who decided they could be:

• 5 personal choice• 7 area management• 1 patrol director• 2 hill leader or crew chief

August 2007August 2007 1111

OperationsOperations

• Dedicated Routes– 15 indicated they had routes to travel or avoid

• 7 decided by area management• 8 decide by area management and patrol• 1 decide by habit• One hill to go up and one to go down• One reported operation zones vs. routes

August 2007August 2007 1212

OperationsOperations

• Warning equipment– a mix of: lights, flashers, strobes,

beepers/horns, and flags were reported– Flags are the most prevalent– 3 whistles - operator– 9 reported no devices

August 2007August 2007 1313

CommentsComments

• Routes should consider– Visibility– Slope (difficulty)– General terrain

• Question the general risk vs. reward

• NY state requires full employees only

• Could use better training and refreshing

• Use greatly limited when area open

August 2007August 2007 1414

CommentsComments

• Not very reliable

• When moving un-loaded toboggans – Toboggan handles folded back– Trains of toboggans no more than two

toboggans long by two toboggans wide

August 2007August 2007 1515

Best Practices – a startBest Practices – a start

• A collaborative policy– Include all departments operating OSV– Understanding of department needs

• Establish a training and refreshing program– With a record keeping component

• Who can operate

August 2007August 2007 1616

Best Practices – a startBest Practices – a start

• What they should and should not be used for

• When they should and should be operated

• Where they should and should not be operated

• What speed they should be operated at

• Warning devices

• Explore other methods to limit their need

August 2007August 2007 1717

Thank YouThank You

Have a safe and profitable seasonHave a safe and profitable season