Nordic/Backcountry Patrolling

In the midwest, Nordic patrollers provide medical support for races and other events involving cross-country skiing, either classic (diagonal stride) or skate skiing. Mostly, we support races. Some events require nothing more than skiing out to a specified location on the trail, and watching participants ski past, looking for frostbite, fatigue, or other problems. Other events require skiing the course alongside racers, assisting with any issues that arise. Usually, we can radio for an ATV or snowmobile to evacuate injured participants, but we are also prepared to manually evacuate injuries using portable toboggans.
Backcountry patrollers work primarily in mountains, using telemark or Alpine Touring gear, or even split boards. They are often members of mountain search and rescue teams. Some western patrols cover both groomed trails and ungroomed backcountry areas.
There are four Nordic patrols in the Western Region: Viking Nordic, in the Twin Cities (contact Dan Wilder, wilderclimberdude@gmail.com); Hiawatha Nordic, in Rochester (contact Peter Wollan, peter.wollan@gmail.com); the Nordic unit in Spirit Mountain Ski Patrol (contact Todd Heggestad, theggestad57@gmail.com); and the Nordic unit in Giants Ridge Ski Patrol (contact Debby Bocnuk, debbyliz@hotmail.com). All of them welcome new members. It is common for Nordic patrollers to be members of an Alpine patrol as well, primary in one and secondary in the other.
There are races in the twin cities area almost every winter weekend, patrolled by Viking Nordic. Hiawatha Nordic participates in a variety of regional events. Spirit Mountain hosts races ranging from regional high school races, Junior National races to pre-Olympic and SuperTour Nordic race events. Giants Ridge hosts regional races as well as the Minnesota High School championship races on an annual basis.
Three particular events should be of interest to all midwestern Nordics: the American Birkebeiner (the Birkie); the Mora Vasaloppet; and the Central Division Nordic Workshop at Minocqua, Wisconsin.
  • The Birkie is patrolled by a special event patrol coordinated by Viking Nordic, with patrollers gathered from all over the country. For race information, see www.birkie.com. It takes place late in February. Contact: Mark or Karen Loesch, mkloesch@aol.com.
  • The Vasaloppet is somewhat smaller than the Birkie, with less hoopla, but is again a major race patrolled by a group of visiting patrollers. It takes place two weeks before the Birkie. Contact: Robert Kowalski, r.e.kowalski@ieee.org.
  • The Minocqua Workshop is a Division SES/TES, including instruction in both classic and skate technique, and also conducts exams for both Basic Nordic and Senior Nordic. It takes place early in January. We usually get a cabin for the weekend to share expenses. Contact: the Central Division Nordic Supervisor, Jeff Schmidt, nordjas@aol.com.

How to Become a Nordic Patroller

  1. Take OEC
  2. Learn to ski
  3. Take an MTR course
  4. Be examined by Nordic Instructors

Details

  1. OEC is the National Ski Patrol's Outdoor Emergency Care. The OEC course is the same for all Ski Patrollers. There are some procedures specific to backcountry or wilderness travel which may not be covered in the usual course, and they will be introduced in refreshers and enhancement seminars by your patrol, over time.
  2. The ski proficiency requirement differs across the US by region; essentially, it is that you must be able to ski at a level appropriate for the region and area you will patrol. In the midwest, we require classic diagonal stride technique for the Basic Patroller. Specifically, you must be able to diagonal stride with full weight transfer from one ski to the other; double-pole using core muscles; be able to kick-double-pole, herringbone uphill, do controlled wedge turns, and do step turns.
  3. MTR is NSP's Mountain Travel and Rescue program, with courses covering Nordic Skills -- backcountry navigation and travel, survival, construction of an improvised emergency toboggan, and an introduction to Search and Rescue. There are three courses, MTR Fundamentals, Level 1, and Level 2. For the Basic Nordic Patroller, either MTR-F or MTR-1 is acceptable. MTR-2 adds winter camping. For Senior Nordic, MTR-2 is required, which requires MTR-1 as a prerequisite, so if you are considering Senior in the future you probably should take MTR-1. For more information, contact the WR MTR Advisor, Wrick Dunning. Additionally, the Avalanche-1 course is highly recommended, and is of course needed if you intend to travel backcountry in the mountains. Nordic Skills are reviewed annually at the Trail Refresher.
  4. Examination is carried out by at least two Nordic Instructors. Presence of an IT is not required.

Senior Nordic

The Senior Nordic program is similar to the Senior Alpine program. It requires Senior OEC; three electives; demonstration of proficiency in emergency toboggans and Nordic transportation; and demonstration of proficiency in both classic and skate technique. One of the three electives must be MTR 2, including overnight camping in snow. The exam for ski proficiency is usually done at the Minocqua Workshop. For more information, contact Peter Wollan, peter.wollan@gmail.com.

Nordic Master

The Nordic Master program is intended to be comparable to the Alpine Certified program. See NSP.org for information.

Nordic Instructors

Each Nordic Patroller needs to complete an annual Trail Refresher, reviewing ski proficiency and Nordic Skills which are selected by the national program, on a three-year rotation similar to the way OEC skills are refreshed. Nordic Instructors run the refreshers, and examine new Basic Patrollers. The process of becoming an instructor begins with the Instructor Development course. Then the instructor candidate selects a mentor, and is observed and signed off by the mentor and an Instructor Trainer. Forms are available on the NSP.org website.

Nordic ITs

Nordic Instructor Trainers are appointed by the Central Division Nordic Supervisor.

For more information on the Nordic Program

Please contact:
Peter Wollan, Western Region Nordic Advisor