Rick catches up with one of his favorite characters this week… Wild Bill from the National Ski Patrol.

The National Ski Patrol not keeps skiers safe on the slopes of North America, but also are first responders when something goes wrong.

Mission

To ensure the safety and well-being of individuals engaged in skiing, snowboarding or biking activities, through education, rescue services, and community support.

Vision

To be the preeminent provider of outdoor safety and rescue education, empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills to ensure their safety and the safety of others in all outdoor environments.

Core Values

Excellence

Service

Camaraderie

Leadership

Integrity

Responsiveness

Rick talks about all of that and more with Wild Bill, who volunteers for the National Ski Patrol in Nevada and Utah.

National Ski Patrol’s Role

The National Ski Patrol (NSP), founded in 1938, has followed its creed of “Service and Safety” since the establishment of skiing as a popular sport in the United States. As snow sports and guest services at resort areas have evolved, so has NSP — from a service organization to a professional education and membership association. Other snow sports, such as snowboarding, tubing, and snow-skating, introduced new equipment and new terrain, which in turn required developing and teaching new safety and emergency care training methods. Increased access to the backcountry beyond ski area boundaries has also meant new training regimens for NSP members. NSP’s most recent endeavor has welcomed bike patrollers as members, in response to the increasing development of summer and year-round outdoor recreation operations.

Today, the organization is composed of more than 30,000 members serving over 650 patrols. These individuals include patrollers who are paid, and patrollers who volunteer their time. While most of NSP members are in the U. S., the organization also has members in Canada, Europe and Asia.