Hey I’m Dave; I’m the patrol director here at Porters. After a very successful trial season of a organised/structured volunteer patrol programme in 2010 we are once again looking for keen individuals to become involved in our patrol program as volunteers. Some basic experience is essential to become a part of our volunteer team. Ideally, you will have a strong interest in snow safety, be a confident skier in all conditions, and already have qualifications in outdoor first aid and excellent people and communication skills. Day to day duties of a volunteer patroller include and are not limited to assisting with – opening and closing procedures, tending to accidents, lift operations, weather and snow data collection and other duties assigned by the Porters patrol.
I am currently working on the structure for this program and plan to have an orientation session for those accepted over opening weekend. If you are interested in assisting our patrol team this winter, please email patrol@skiporters.co.nz with the following information:
• CV with current references
• Copy of any relevant (current) qualifications obtained e.g. outdoor first aid, backcountry awareness etc
• Your skiing background – how long you have been skiing and in what sort of terrain
• Briefly explain what you hope to achieve from being part of this program
• Indicate how many days over winter you will be available for work
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Porters this winter.
Porters Patrol Profile’s 2011.
Name: Dave
Position: Patrol Manager
I started out as a volunteer patroller at Mt Hutt while studying outdoor recreation at Polytech back in 2000. Winter 2010 will be my twelfth season ski patrolling, four of those seasons being at Porters. After working in both hemispheres over the years, the challenging terrain the Craigieburn Range has to offer has brought me back to Porters for a fifth season.
Name: Irene
Posistion: Patroller
Irene is from Big Sky, Montana in the US. Over the past 6 years she’s been a pro ski patroller at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky. Apparently, she can’t get enough of skiing and has roamed around the Craigieburn Range for the last three winters, patrolling at Broken River and Craigieburn Valley along the way. While not skiing on the job, Irene enjoys backcountry skiing, rock climbing, sewing and escaping to the West Coast. She’s looking forward to spending time at Porters this year, and making turns with folks out on the hill.
Name: Brad
Position: Assistant Avalanche forecaster
My name is Brad Carpenter and I was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, USA. I am the Snow Safety Director at Moonlight Basin Ski Area located in southwest Montana, and the Assistant Snow Safety (ASS) Director here at Porters Ski Area. This is my fifth winter season working in New Zealand and I am honored and excited to be back at Porters, and looking forward to another great year. If you see me on the mountain come grab me for a run or two. Be safe, and have a great winter!
Name: Simon
Position: Avalanche forecaster
Hi I’m Simon, i’ve lived in Mid-Canterbury for 36 years, with 21 years snow safety exp. Worked at Porters since 1990 and I ski on Kingwoods Archetype. I live locally at Castle Hill Village, and during the summer months I study Entomology. Interests include Cartography, Fly fishing & German U-boats.
Name: Matt
Position: Patroller
Hope you all have your fingers eyes and toes crossed for an epic winter!! I’ve grown up skiing in the Cragieburn range, after skiing around the world for work I still consider it the best place in the world to ski!! This is my third winter at Porters, I’m itching to get back up the mountain as this has been the first summer I’ve had in seven years!! (Being a Cantabrian what a summer to have! Poor Christchurch). I look forward to see you all soon. Bring on the snow!!
Where to find us
Base Area: The patrol office is located above the main car park in the base area, here we can look after your first aid needs and help with anything that may come up during your ski day.
Patrol Dispatch (T-3): On top of the mountain at the top of T-3 (the highest lift) we also have a base. There is always a patroller based here. If you are going back country skiing then please check in the patrol here to sign out and leave your intentions for the day. If you are planning on a late return please park down at the lower chain fitting bay so the staff don’t have to wait for you at the end of the day.
We can offer weather and back country avalanche forecast information. The patrol likes to see people enjoying themselves safely in the backcountry and will happily answer any questions.
Beacon Park
The Mountain safety council has donated a 8 transceiver beacon park to porters which free for anyone to use, it is located at the top of T-3 behind the patrol shack. We encourage anyone to come and practice. If you need and pointers or tips please ask one of the patrollers and we will be happy to help.
Signage
Please respect all signage on the mountain. We work very hard maintaing correct signage across the entire mountain for your safety. From time to time certain terrain will be closed for a number of different reasons. This could include avalanche hazard, dangerous conditions, white out (limited visibility) or low snow cover. If you have any questions pleases ask a staff member.
Check the white boards at the base of every lift for up to date information on lifts, weather, snow conditions and messages for the ski public.
Avalanche control / Snow safety
The porters patrol all love to ski and want the hill to be 100% open and on time every day of the winter, but this is a big ask and we do our best and work very hard to make porters a safe place to ski. Avalanche control and making the ski hill safe is a big part of our job. The New Zealand mountain weather makes working in the mountains particularly difficult.
Thanks for your help and understanding throughout this winter, we look forward to skiing with you during 2011.
