Volunteer Ski Patroller 26/27

About the Role

Sugarbush Resort is searching for Volunteer Ski Patrollers for the 2026-2027 Winter Season. This position is part of a highly trained community of professionals dedicated to ensuring the safety of mountain guests by educating skiers and riders, providing pre-hospital emergency medical care, and maintaining a safe alpine environment. We can help candidates identify training opportunities prior to the start of the season. This role requires a minimum 5-year commitment and is extremely physical and strenuous. Expert-level skiing or riding in a variety of terrain and conditions is required.

Responsibilities

• Follow and ensure others follow resort safety rules.
• Administer first aid and transportation when necessary.
• Handle toboggans smoothly and execute lift evacuations properly.
• Check and report on trail conditions.
• Perform trail checks, openings, and closings efficiently and safely.
• Conduct trail maintenance tasks and maintain hazard mitigation infrastructure.
• Complete Incident Reports in a timely manner and review for thoroughness.
• Monitor equipment inventory and report needs to hill captains.
• Dispatch patrollers to necessary tasks and direct trail check rotation.
• Coordinate first aid responses and monitor rescue calls.
• Implement sweep procedures and report on weather and snow conditions.
• Complete daily paperwork and identify injured, lost, or reckless skiers/snowboarders.
• Perform skier education and assist guests with resort information.
• Identify and mitigate hazards in a timely manner.
• Patrol assigned areas and transport toboggans/equipment up chairlifts.
• Participate in daily training and accident investigation documentation.
• Assist in risk management procedures and communicate problems to supervisors.
• Search for missing persons and participate in lift evacuations.
• Perform duties at races and special events.
• Operate resort equipment according to policies and procedures.
• Perform tasks in an environmentally sound manner, especially waste disposal.
• Support the Sugarbush Vision and Values.
• Attend weekly Safety and Service Meetings.
• Assist other departments as needed.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Excellent skiing technical skills (most jobs are performed on skis and ski boots).
• Certification or ability to obtain certification prior to the season in Emergency First Aid at the OEC (Outdoor Emergency Care) or Vermont EMR, WFR, EMT, Paramedic (under Vermont reciprocity or higher). OEC certification must be attained by the end of the second year of patrolling.
• Current CPR certification at the rescuer level or ability to obtain it prior to the season.
• Good basic reading and writing skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and present a point of view logically.
• Capable of skiing all terrain in all conditions.
• Ability to handle customer complaints and interact respectfully with guests and staff.
• Comfortable working in potentially stressful outdoor conditions in any weather.
• Comfortable transporting injured persons in toboggans (on-the-job training available) and potential exposure to hazardous human body fluids and chemicals.
• Minimum 5-year commitment to Sugarbush Resort.

Benefits

Employees receive a comprehensive wellness initiative, a commitment to safety, growth opportunities, and a wide variety of resort benefits, including:

• Access to 4,000+ acre playground for skiing, golf, mountain activities, and health club membership.
• Resort discounts and more.