Get Ready for the 2025-2026 Season!
The smell of pine and the promise of fresh snow are in the air! It’s time to gear up and get ready for another fantastic season on the hill. Please read through this entire newsletter for crucial dates, schedule details, and important operational updates.
Required Annual Refresher: Don’t Miss Out!
Our annual Refresher is a mandatory event to get all patrollers certified and prepared for opening day.
Date: Saturday, October 18th
| Time | Event | Details |
| 8:00 a.m. | Sign-In Begins | Bring your fully stocked vest, current CPR card, and DUES! |
| 8:40 a.m. | Morning Meeting | Quick review before stations begin. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | OEC Refresher Stations | We will be integrating Carry Alls into our Code 1 bag training. Be sure to check your bag; these are great for non-ambulatory guests! |
| 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch | |
| 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | On-the-Hill Stations | Four – 30-minute rotations to practice skills on the mountain. |
| 5:00 p.m. | Social Hour | At Mia’s (no-host). |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner | Pizza, pasta, and salad. |
| 7:00 p.m. | Awards | Recognizing great work from last season! |
Sunday On-the-Hill Training
We will finish training on Sunday, October 19th, led by Jake, Rig, and the Chair Evacuation.
- Arrive: 8:30 a.m.
- Stations Start: Promptly at 9:00 a.m.
- Done: Approximately noon (followed by our group picture!)
Dues are Due
Please bring your DUES in cash or check to the refresher sign-in on Saturday, October 18th.
| Dues Type | Amount |
| Far West Division | $19 |
| Mother Lode Region | $15 |
| Dodge Ridge Patrol | $10 |
| Total | $44 |
Kudos to a Great Last Season!
Last season was a success in several key areas, and we aim to maintain that momentum!
- Proactive Sign-Ups: Signing up at least 36 hours in advance was very successful, enabling paid staff to allocate resources effectively. Thank you!
- Reminder: If you need to cancel or sign up at the last minute, please email Bruce, Chris and me.
- Effective Hill Coverage: We successfully operated without a dedicated bump crew again. We will not have one this year, so please remember to move up and cover the slopes effectively; the hill ran smoothly without it last year!
- Radio Communications: We received many compliments on the clear and professional radio traffic. Please continue to state “Patroller” and your last name when calling, and report when you are at the scene, and then again with a “code” or “no code.”
- Honest Questions Welcome: Chris appreciates honest questions from our NSP members. If you have questions about operations, please ask your section leads!
- Benefits Handled Well: Both the process for lunch vouchers and tickets for the first two weeks of the season went very smoothly.
- Closing Weekend Vouchers: We appreciate the dedication of those who worked the final closing weekend and received vouchers for next season’s lift tickets.
Operational Reminders & Joint Statement of Understanding (JSU) Updates
Professionalism in the Base Area
The base area is a professional area. Please adhere to these critical guidelines:
- Morning Meeting: The morning meeting starts promptly at 7:30 a.m. You must be dressed and ready to go at that time.
- Arrive Ready: Please arrive dressed and ready to go—no changing or getting ready in the base area.
- Be on the Mountain: Please refrain from hanging out in the base area throughout the day. Take care of necessary business and then immediately return to the hill to cover the mountain and serve the public.
Patrol Changes
- Host Sweeps: If a host wants to sweep the mountain at closing, they will now be partnered with a patroller.
- Self-Lift Evacuation: There will be no more self-lift evac for NSP volunteers. This change is happening industry-wide, and although we are not there yet, we are likely headed toward a policy where paid staff will also cease this practice.
- Carry-Alls: Remember that Carry-Alls are in all Code 1 bags and are a great tool for carrying non-ambulatory guests.
- Patrol vs. Training: When signing up on the calendar, make sure you sign up in the correct column: Training (if you are training and signed up with Bruce) or Patrol (if you are providing daily patrol coverage).
JSU and Recruitment Updates
- Tickets & Vouchers: The JSU has been updated. We will continue to receive two tickets the first time we patrol within the first two weeks of opening, $22 for our lunch vouchers, and closing weekend lift ticket vouchers for the next season. Remember that you only get tickets for your first day patrolling in the first two weeks, not each during that time. And like last year, Dodge will decide what resources it needs during the first two weeks.
- Young Adult Recruitment: We will be having a stay on recruiting young adult patrollers this season. We will not be recruiting patrollers under the age of 18 at this time.
See you all on October 18th!
Safe trails,
Your Dodge Ridge NSP Leadership
