Ski patrollers from Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory will flock to Jasper this weekend to show off their skills.

Marmot Basin will host the mountain division of the Canadian Ski Patrol System’s (CSPS) 40th annual first aid and toboggan competition this Saturday.

Louise Charron, vice president of public relations and recruitment, said the patrollers, in three-person teams, first take part in a mocked-up accident situation, and are evaluated based on how well they assess the situation and determine a patient’s needs and transport them safely down the hill.

“They have a time restraint of 25 minutes to get this done and they’re evaluated based on training protocols,” Charron said.

In the afternoon, the teams switch to the toboggan race – rescue toboggan, that is. “They take the rescue toboggans and load them up with 150 lbs. of sand-bag weight to simulate a loaded patient,” she said, adding the event is a relay race.

The events begin at 9 a.m. at Marmot Basin with at least 14 teams taking place, and Charron encourages spectators to attend.

“We like to demonstrate to the public what skills, safety procedures, safety precautions and skill levels are required to become a volunteer or a paid patrol,” she said. 

“We like to demonstrate what’s involved in that sort of thing, especially for kids, that they don’t need to be afraid, that we’re not out there policing the hill, we’re out there for safety reasons.”