Living My Dream – Joining the Ski Patrol After Decades of Skiing
By Robert Kossak
Robert Kossak
I’ve wanted to be a Ski Patroller since I was a kid, and finally got to do it as an adult. It’s a dream come true.
Growing up in New Jersey, my first time skiing was an elementary school class day trip to Holly Mountain, more hill than mountain, which no longer exists. I remember speeding downhill while my buddies cheered me on as they passed overhead on the ski lift. It was great.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to stop. Luckily, a chain link fence at the bottom of the run stopped me. Later that day I learned something called the “hockey stop”, which I still use when necessary.
The years passed and I continued to ski. Whenever, wherever and with whoever wanted to tag along with me. These days, my favorite tagalongs are my wife and kids.
In 2023, I decided to join the Ski Patrol at Blue Mountain, close to home. After surviving the ski off, I was given a huge book, “Outdoor Emergency Care: A Patroller’s Guide to Medical Care, Sixth Edition” and told, simply, to learn it, report every Tuesday night at 6pm starting from April to August. That’s when I would be tested on the material and must pass to continue on as a Ski Patrol candidate.
I have no medical background. I thought I just had to ski around looking cool in that Ski Patrol jacket. It was a surprise that I would have to learn medical stuff.
Okay, I’ll study, I’ll train and do whatever is needed to be listed among the ranks of the National Ski Patrol! Let’s rock! I passed with a 90% grade, only to learn that was just a start. Next would be OET (Outdoor Emergency Transport) as soon as there was snow.
On the first night of OET I was told by the Patrol Director that it’s a shame I paid full price for my skis because I’m only using the back third. But I press on. Two nights per week plus Saturday mornings meant a two hour drive each way with about $23 dollars in tolls each trip. Never mind the cost. I’ve been wanting to do this since I was a kid.
I failed that first OET test but encouraged to try again next season. The instructors also advised me to get new boots and learn to get out of the back seat. My parting words were, “I’ll be back.” One instructor said, “I like your attitude.” That meant the world to me.
Spring, summer and fall came and went and I couldn’t wait to get back to the mountain. I was literally the first one in line on opening day, remembering the parting advice from my OET instructors: “Never let good snow go to waste.”
I would train solo. I would attend every OET training session. I would ask anyone better than me (which was pretty much everyone on Ski Patrol) for tips and advice, and before I knew it, it was OET test night, when 26 OET candidates gathered at Patrol Base. There was a stack of numbered beanies and we were told to grab a number. I chose 13. Nobody ever grabs number 13. I don’t believe in luck and always felt that number 13 has gotten a bad rap.
OET Test Night
We headed to the hill. Test night was on the double black diamond “Challenge.” Appropriate. Then, back to Patrol Base to wait while the OET Instructors rated us. When my name is called, our lead instructor says they all wanted to recognize my hard work and perseverance and that … I passed!
I will never be able to fully articulate my thanks, appreciation, admiration and love for my Blue Mountain Ski Patrol family, and the joy and purpose it has given me to help and protect skiers and snowboarders.
Recently, I visited another local mountain. I called their Ski Patrol for a courtesy pass for the day. When I got there, I met some of the Patrollers, who asked where my home mountain was. When I said Blue Mountain, one replied with, “Blue Mountain Ski Patrol is intense. It is known for making Patrollers.”
I can testify first hand that the Blue Mountain Ski Patrol is known for making Patrollers, because they made one out of me. Within two seasons, I went from Tag Along to Sled Hauler. And for that, I’ll forever be grateful and proud to wear the red jacket.
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Cool story; have a wonderful time! I had a distant cousin whom I met when I was about 55 and he was about 95. He’d become a ski patroller at Buck Hill in Pennsylvania when he was about 50, continuing until he was about 75, I think. I told him I’d recently gone to the Patroller introductory session at Arapahoe Basin and I didn’t think I could do it physically. So I became a ski instructor at Breckenridge instead.
I started at my local hill, now closed, in 1972 at 36 years old. I had only been skiing about 6 years. “You Passed” were some of the sweetest words I’ve heard in a ski area. I still slepp sleds and will keep doing it as long as my health and the patrol directors let me — maybe that’s why I’m a patrol director. Welcome to the family.
Great story. Thanks for sharing it.
It’s a great group of people and I enjoyed being involved with them for 52 years at Squaw Valley (Palisades) and still enjoy skiing at 83