They have the authority to a) pull your card/ pass b) call the cops and charge you with tresspassing and whatever else you were caught doing and c) be nice, or be douches.
if a ski patrol guy physically touches you, it is assault brotha! But be aware that if you are understanding and calm, there is no reason one of these guys will bother you beyond a warning. If youre an ass, they go all ego on you and pull the IM THE KING DINGALING OF THIS HILL!! YOU WILL LISTEN TO MY AUTHORITATIVE VOICE!
Here is what I know about ski patrollers and mountain staff. They just want to shred, in their own way. But are forced to deal with a lot of crap, and by the end of december are fed up. If you get busted doing something you're probably not supposed to be doing, just fes up, apologize and everything will be fine. DO NOT under any circumstances, make a scene, be a cocksucker, or call the guy out on his job/ bullshit.
In the end, you cant outrun a motorola, so either be sneaky as! or just do the best you can to get along with the patrollers.