WILMINGTON, N.Y. --- The 2015 Most Outstanding Large Patrol in the Eastern Division of the National Ski Patrol (NSP) award has been awarded to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol. The Eastern Division is the largest division in the NSP, comprised of 230 patrols covering nine states.
The resort’s 75 patrollers have an average of 17.6 years dedicated experience with NSP. Their combined experience and strong work ethic has resulted in reduced accidents and even increased skier visits.
The patrol partners with the Wilmington Volunteer Ambulance Service and a group of volunteer physicians. The Ambulance Service and physicians dedicate a crew at the ski area during weekends, holidays and major events. Having an ambulance on site has decreased response time by 15 minutes, greatly improving patient care and transport time.
The terrain and character of Whiteface Mountain, with 3,430 feet of vertical, demand a combination of superior skiing skills, superb first aid skills and strong physical endurance.
Whiteface Mountain has two in-bounds extreme skiing areas. The Slides are a double-black diamond area that provides additional challenges to even the most experienced ski patroller. Due to their frequent avalanche potential, ski patrollers, who are trained avalanche experts, are responsible for condition checks of these five back country style trails.
The other extreme skiing trails are the Glades. These too require extra skill in any extraction of a skier or rider.
Over the last 25 years, Whiteface, also known world-wide as the Olympic mountain, has played host to FIS World Cup freestyle mogul competitions. These events are nationally televised and bring considerable media attention to the resort, Wilmington, Lake Placid and the entire region. These World Cups are considerable undertakings, as they bring hundreds of international competitors and officials and thousands of spectators.
Just last winter, in addition to the World Cup moguls’ event, Whiteface also hosted the NCAA Division I Ski Championships, in which the nation’s best student-athletes from more than 20 colleges and universities competed in slalom and Giant Slalom at Whiteface.
The patrol’s success is largely due to their professionalism, team spirit and commitment. Whether it’s running a toboggan down a World Cup mogul field or responding to a twisted knee by a beginning skier or rider, the Whiteface Mountain patrol does it and does it with class. The Whiteface Ski Patrol’s selection will now move it into consideration as the Most Outstanding Large Ski Patrol in the United States. The patrol is continuously looking for new talent to further its mission. For further information on ski patrolling please visit WWW.ENYNSP.ORG or WWW.NSPEAST.ORG.
-- ORDA --
Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.
