Spotlight - So Cal NSP Women’s Program
2022 Women’s Ski & Toboggan Enhancement Clinic
On January 22, 2022 we held a Women’s Ski & Toboggan Enhancement Clinic at Snow Valley Ski Resort, hosted by Fonda Church (So Cal Women’s Regional Advisor) and Assistant Advisor Robin Mayne (Women’s Assistant Regional Advisor) from BBMR patrol, featuring Linda Roth, OET / PSIA certified instructor and Far West Division Women’s Advisor, Trudy Nye, visiting from Tahoe. This women’s clinic was the largest turnout in patrollers and patrols represented ever. Seventeen women from various patrols within our region (Alta Sierra, Lee Canyon, BBMR, Heavenly, and Snow Valley) participated and contributed to this event..
This clinic was an OET and ski enhancement refresher for women patrollers in the Far West Division, with women helping and teaching other women. Fonda, Linda and Trudy are OET certified instructors. They trained on techniques that are specific to women patrollers; handling several different types of toboggans, in-the-handles and tail rope positions. Ski observation and analysis was conducted by Linda Roth, PSIA Alumni.
An exception to the all-women rule was made for Wayne Wong, So. Cal. Nordic OET instructor and FWD Nordic Supervisor (see picture of his required “uniform” for the day!). Wayne wanted to enhance his OET training skills in order to learn how women patrollers adapt our training to meet the OET requirements, since men tend to use more upper body and just “muscle” handling the toboggan vs. females use lower body technique to finesse the sled. Techniques included better body positioning in the handles, and maximized use of the chain brake, skegs, and situational sled management.
This event drew from female volunteers, paid staff, and room patrollers, creating an "inclusive" women's group with participants from multiple resorts throughout the Far-West Division.
Special thanks to Dennis Bentson, Ski Patrol Director for Snow Valley, who was an exceptionally gracious and generous host, plus the Snow Valley patrollers who generously shared their facility, patrol room, and helped us maneuver toboggans back up the hill. Unfortunately, it was a very windy day, so some of the lifts were put on "wind hold", so Snow Valley patrollers used snowmobiles to bring the toboggans to the top.
Participants in the clinic unanimously shared how happy they were to see women from other resorts, as they were not aware how many were in our region. It was a LARGE group.
At the end of the day, we were all patrollers with the same vision; regarding how to safely transport, and care for our injured guests. Bringing together women from different resorts, having differing snow and terrain conditions and terrain, was a great way to share knowledge, bring a sense of community and create a culture of support.
Robin Mayne, So Cal Women’s Assistant Regional Advisor