Something about the thrill of skiing and riding inspires an undeniable passion. For those who feel that constant pull to the mountain, it’s easy to understand the allure of joining a ski patrol team, and making your sport safe and accessible for everyone.
Follow along with Cranmore's Director of Mountain Operations Brantly Ludington and Ski Patrol Lead Shawn Waters, for a peek behind the curtain to discover what ski patrol is really all about.
Journey to ski patrol
Ludington is a prime example of a lifelong Cranmore skier. He learned how to ski when he was about 2, and grew up skiing with current Snowsports Director Karen Dolan as his instructor.
“I could ski better than I could walk at one point,” he said.
Ludington officially joined Cranmore’s staff in 2010 as a freestyle coach, and has pursued a career on the mountain ever since.
Similarly, Waters also learned to ski around 2 years old, later switching to snowboarding when he was 12. After taking a wilderness first-responder course in college, followed by work in the backcountry search and rescue field, Waters found himself equipped with standout skills for a ski patroller.
Like Waters with his search and rescue background, each member of ski patrol offers a unique skill set and fills a specific niche on the team.
“There’s such a hodge podge of professionals on ski patrol—kids right out of high school up to doctors on staff, law enforcement and Secret Service,” said Ludington. “All these different walks of life come together to do this one thing. It’s pretty incredible.”
Cranmore’s ski patrol team
One of the most special things about joining Cranmore’s team specifically, is that you’re joining a legacy. According to Waters, Cranmore's breadth of institutional knowledge goes all the way back to the 60s, as many current staff members joined decades ago.
Cranmore’s team is made up of 48 patrollers, who range from full-time to part-time and volunteer workers. During the week, there are usually about seven on the mountain at a time, whereas on the weekends that number increases to around a dozen.
There’s an undeniable and vital sense of trust between this team of 48. So much so that “We often say, if we ever get hurt, bring us to the mountain,” said Ludington.
Day in the life on ski patrol
Patrol arrives at the mountain about an hour to an hour and a half before lifts open to the public. At this time of the year, ski patrol focuses on snowmaking and opening new trails. Mornings also consist of grooming, marking hazards and replacing banners.
“I always joke that you get first tracks whether you like it or not,” said Waters.
The team operates like a well-oiled machine, but they also never know quite what the day will bring. Waters refers to this as “organized and rehearsed chaos.”
Safety tips
When it comes to safety tips, one of the best places to start is with knowing Your Responsibility Code, which was created by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA).
Ludington describes this code as “a social contract” for people who are part of this sport. This list is crucial in making sure everyone does their part.
Waters also recommends looking up the ski patrol phone number of where you’re going skiing beforehand, just in case. At Cranmore, that number is (603)356-1119. Other key advice to keep in mind includes understanding when to ask for help, skiing appropriately for the conditions and taking your time on your first run of the day.
What’s new?
When it comes to the future of ski patrol at Cranmore, the entire team is looking forward to the opening of the new, state-of-the-art ski patrol facility.
This is a project that has been about five years in the making and includes a facility more than twice the size of its predecessor, electronic sliding doors with an airlock and an electric garage door with rollers for smooth trauma sled delivery.
“A lot of thought was put into the patient-care side of things, specifically the transportation of patients,” said Ludington.
This new facility is projected to open in February 2025.
