| National
Ski Patrol History
 The
National Ski Patrol (NSP), founded in 1938 by Charles M. (Minnie)
Dole, had followed its creed of "Service and Safety"
since the establishment of skiing as a popular sport in the
United States. The NSP has become the largest winter rescue
organization in the world. It is composed of more than 28,500
members serving over 600 ski patrols including volunteer,
paid, alpine, snowboard and nordic patrollers throughout the
United States and certain military areas in Europe.
The National Ski Patrol has worked closely with other countries
in outdoor emergency care education, and has assisted in establishing
ski patrol organizations in Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Israel,
Turkey, Argentina and Chile, as well as the Victorian Rescue
Service in Australia. The NSP was organized and directed by
Dole as a committee of the National Ski Association (now the
United States Ski Association). Through his efforts as the
first national director of the NSP, the organization spread
its effects and esprit de corps across the nation.
Upon his retirement in 1950, Dole had built the NSP into an
organization of 300 ski patrols and 4,000 members. During
World War II, Dole was responsible for the establishment of
the famed 10th Mountain Division of the US Army.
Applicants for this remarkable military unit, which saw much
of its fighting activity in Italy, were screened by the NSP.
Many individuals who were responsible for the establishment
of many ski areas in the US served in the 10th
Mountain Division, and have contributed significantly to the
sport.
The NSP is composed of 10 geographic and one professional
division for paid patrollers. The organizations' members are
engaged in patrol activity on the slopes and in the promotion
of safety programs across the mountain recreation community.
Safe skiing and snowboarding attitudes are offered to the
public continuously in a sincere effort to reduce accidents
and make mountain sports more enjoyable.
The NSP, in addition to its own ski safety programs, works
closely with the United States Ski Team, National Ski Area
Association, Ski Industries America, Professional Ski Instructors
of America, US Ski Writers Association, US Forest Service,
National Park Service, and other organizations and agencies
in the promotion of skiing and ski safety. Movies, television,
radio, brochures, lectures and ski area signage all devoted
to ski safety have either been initiated by the NSP or cooperatively
produced.
In 1980, the National Ski Patrol was recognized as a Federal
Charter by the United States Congress. This is a coveted endorsement
that only a few other American institutions, like the Red
Cross, the YMCA, and the Boy Scouts, have earned. The Charter
stipulates the promotion of safety and health in skiing and
other outdoor winter recreational activities. The NSP annually
reports directly to Congress.
The usefulness, stature and position of the National Ski
Patrol had been attained through the devoted efforts of thousands
of ski patrollers, some of whom have become involved in other
phases of the sport. The NSP is continually growing and improving,
offering many invaluable services to area management as well
as to the public to include summertime activities such as
mountain biking.
The National Ski Patrol is a nonprofit organization, deriving
its primary financial support from membership dues, donations,
user fees and corporate sponsorship. The national office is
located in Lakewood, Colorado, and is staffed with full-time
employees to handle administrative duties.
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