The National Ski Patrol (NSP) is made up of men and women, both volunteer and professional, who are devoted to the rescue and first aid treatment of injured skiers throughout the United States and Europe. These members are divided into four classifications: Junior Ski Patroller, Ski Patroller, Senior Ski Patroller, National Ski Patroller and Certified Patroller.

The National Ski Patrol is a legally incorporated group which is administered by its own officers and is affiliated with the United States Ski Association.

The mission statement of the NSP is:

We are member-driven association. Our members support and participate in the ski and outdoor recreation community by providing emergency care, rescue, and education services. Our association supports us by surpassing member expectations through an esprit de corps that inspires members to belong; exceptional education programs; dynamic communications; outstanding membership support services; energetic interagency relations; and a strong financial position.

Basically we:

1. Serve the skiing public without charge in the rescue and first aid treatment of injured skiers, offering this service in a courteous manner and affording the best public relations possible for the ski area and the Ski Patrol

2. Serve ski area management, at their discretion, as a trained and skillful rescue organization operation as economically as possible.

3. Promote safety and accident prevention in the sport of skiing in cooperation with ski area management, ski instructors, the United States Ski Association, the U.S. Forest Service, the American Red Cross and with other private, state and federal agencies devoted to such promotion of safety.

The NSP offers several basic elements to the ski area management which most independent local winter rescue groups are unable to offer:

1. UNIFORMITY: Uniformly trained Ski Patrollers who must meet rigid qualification standards.

2. CONTINUITY: Continuous responsible Ski Patrol leadership which is supervised by other officers.

3. INFORMATION: The exchange of information and ideas among Patrols across the nation and with other nations pertaining to all phases of Ski Patrol operation, ski safety, and the use and development of practical rescue and first aid equipment.

By maintaining uniformity and continuity to a high degree the NSP is able to do a better job of serving the skiing public and ski area management. it is the duty of all Ski Patrol officers to promote and maintain high uniform standards in a continuous fashion and to circulate useful practical operational, safety and equipment information.

National Ski Patrol Mission Statement
History of the National Ski Patrol
About Alpine Meadows National Ski Patrol
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort
Alpine Meadows Snow Statistics