Should snow boarders be allowed to be ski patrollers?

Of course

as long as they can pass the tests/rules the skiers do. we have a few at my hill, they are some of the chillest in the crew.
 
i know that, but a lot of the people suck so bad they wedge when theyre skiing normally. my dads on the patrol so i get see them skiing all the time.
 
Every mountain I've ever skied at had skiers and boarders on patrol.

The dumbest arguments I've seen on here so far:

Boarders have to strap in so they are slower

Considering that most ski resorts are 15 min+ from decent medical care, I seriously doubt the deciding factor in a life or death situation is whether or not your patroller had to strap in.

Boarders cannot brake as well as skiers

At my home hill, when there is a problem in the steeps, they intentionally send a boarder patroller. They can face downhill, hold the sled, and be in a perfectly natural body position while moving the sled.

This is a dumb and irrelevant topic. Patrol everywhere uses boarders, and most f them can ski or board at will. Most of them are accomplished enough at their technique that they could put 90% of the posters in this topic to shame on either 1 or 2 sticks...while pulling a sled with a 300 lb fat guy in it who is suffering from arterial bleeding.
 
in tobaggan hndling snowboarders hve a way better sense of balance when there in the handles

its easier for them on akia tobaggans because of that so yeah they can drive the sled

but they still cant shred worth a shit
 
what if they are chasing a skier and get to a cat track and have to unstrap and walk the cat track and strap back in. this is why i say no
 
i still need to see the first boarder bringing down a loaded sled on a slope in the alps...
altough we have boarders wearing skipatrol jackets...
 
I have border patrols at my mountain. Yes it is a small hill in CT. An like whoever said on the first page that had boarder patrolers, our ski patrol cannot ski to save their life. It's sad when two of them fall off the chair right after getting on to take the first run bullshit sweep. Shit's scary especially when you get hurt and they are bringing you down and know they cannot ski.
 
i think they should but should have to have those bindings where you just click in. actually, do people even use those anymore?
 
if you were leading the sled with a board it would be harder but i think having the rope at the back with a boarder would be easier since they can side slip faster

im going through my OEC course (ski patrol training) with a boarder this year but he seems like he'll be able to fly through it
 
nah. i have no problem with snowboarders at all but when it comes to ski patrol i think skiers are better for the job. you cant hike up as fast with a snowboard. and i might just not know anything but pulling the sled down on a snowboard seems kinda sketch
 
no, its SKI patrol. I don't hold anything against snowboarders, but i wouldnt want one saving me. Skiers can easily get out of their skis and help more and faster.
 
I don't care what the person rides as long as they are good at giving medical care, and I sure hope they are more then a WFR b/c those fuckers will kill you.
 
Had a boarder bringing up the rear of the sled when I was brought down after a shoulder dislocation on a steep, icy part of the mountain. In that location, a boarder made perfect sense.
 
im sure they be able to get to accident areas in time although the only issue would be the managing the ski sleds and the fact that they have to buckle up
 
At first I was going to say there's a lot of ignorant people posting in this thread, but I realized most of the people with snowboard hate are the same people with low post counts. A lot of people who are hating, are the same people who argue with "skiing is better because snowboarding is gay". In all reality, snowboarders will do just as good as job as any skier.

Boarders can't strap in as fast. Anyone who actually rides with good snowboarders, knows that it's a matter of seconds getting strapped in. And a lot of good boarders can strap in while moving away from the lift. They don't need to sit down to do it.

Boarders can't go in the bumps. As a boarder, I have no problems with the bumps. We're talking about trained patrolers here, not your average joey.

Boarders can't handle steeps. In all reality, boarders are better suited for the steeps. They can kneel down and dig their entire toe edge of their board into the snow, and still be able to work just fine. Skiers can either dig their boot toes in, and move around, or try and work with their skis still on.

In flat areas boarders would have to push. What's the difference between that and a skier skating? If you've ever seen the two, they'll move at close to the same speed.

Doing avy control. As far as moving around sideways or uphill, it's no different. It's not like skiers are gliding uphill. either way you're walking up hill, one caries their snowboard, one carries their skis. Moving sideways in deep snow isn't actually difficult on a board just skating. I'm sure it's not that more difficult than skis. You do have a valid point about stomping cornices, but if a boarder is assigned to that job, they'll have a shovel, collapsible pole, or something similar. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they don't get sent out as single persons to do this job. Odds are, a skier will be with to stomp a cornice if really need be.

Handling the toboggan. I don't see how this is an issue. There's no difference between boarders and skiers. Both are going down the hill, shoulders forward, toboggan behind them. Just because they're a snowboarder, doesn't mean they can't turn their torso. Both can turn just as well.

I think what a lot of people are forgetting, is that either way, boarder or skier, they're trained and skilled . We're not talking about you're average Texas joey here. They have to pass the same tests to be allowed to patrol.
 
out west, or in the backcountry i can see how it might be a problem. but for nh and the rest of the east i see boarder patrolers everywear. Hell the only full time patroler at the hill i work at is a baorder 100vert
 
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