Off Duty Ski Patrollers Give Back, Huge Snow Gear Swap Planned
Ski Patroller Eric Granning
GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. – Volunteer ski patrollers Eric and Kim Granning had no idea they’d be using their ski patrol medical skills to help save lives as they drove back from Central Oregon on Highway 26 near Warm Springs. But in a flash of twisted metal and broken glass their day changed. A car had rolled over on the highway and the two ski patrollers were the first people on scene. The Grannings reacted quickly and in moments they were 5 people who had been hurt in the crash.
And the Grannings weren’t the only patrollers using their skills to help citizens this off season.
During one week in June, volunteer ski patrollers from the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol used their medical training to help treat injuries in 4 separate incidents across the Northwest.
Mt. Hood Ski Patrol volunteers take part in extensive emergency medical care training for their work on the snow. Often, though, they find themselves assisting others when they’re off duty as well.
“I’m just glad I’ve been fortunate enough to have been at the right place and time to help those in need,” said Granning, who works as a production supervisor during the week and volunteers as a ski patroller on the weekends, “It is amazing to know those I’ve helped will live another day to spend time with their family.”
The Mt. Hood Ski Patrol is a non-profit organization composed of nearly 300 volunteers, all dedicated to providing quality rescue and emergency care to participants in seasonal activities on Mt. Hood. Our patrol serves alpine and nordic skiers, and snowboarders at Mt. Hood Skibowl, Mt. Hood Meadows, Timberline, and Summit Ski Area.
“Ski patrollers supply and pay for all of their own first aid gear,” says Granning, “this year, we’re having a great fundraiser that helps us provide outstanding emergency medical care to skier and riders on the mountain. It’s called the Mount Hood SnoSports Swap.”
The patrol’s biggest fundraiser, the Mount Hood SnoSports Swap, is October 14th and 15th at West Linn High School. The swap is an opportunity for skiers and riders to find great deals on new and used ski and snowboard gear. The Mount Hood Ski Patrol has teamed up with the West Linn Ski and Snowboard Team to present the annual event, which has been the talk of the snow-sports community since its inception.
There will be great bargains on ski and snowboard gear. Season passes to ski areas on Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor will be for sale and people will be able to buy and sell used ski and snowboard gear. There will also be hourly giveaways of lift tickets and gear.
“16 Years as a member of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol has been the most rewarding passion I could ever hope for,” Eric Granning said.
The car accident to which the Grannings responded was one of four incidents in just 7 days where Mt. Hood Ski Patrollers helped injured citizens. On Saturday the week before, another ski patroller helped stabilize an injured person at a car accident in Welches. Hours before that wreck, 6 off duty ski patrollers helped rescue 2 people who’d been thrown from their car in Government Camp. The next day, Mt. Hood Ski Patroller Cliff Leighton spent hours helping to care for and stabilize two injured hikers in Clark County, Washington.
“It was abundantly clear how well the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol training program had prepared me for this incident, and similar incidents I have responded to outside of ski areas,” Granning said, “events like the SnoSport swap will help equip and train our patrollers for future emergencies both on and off the mountain.
The Mount Hood Snosport Swap, presented by the Mount Hood Ski Patrol and the West Linn High School Snowboard Team, is the one of the region’s largest ski and snowboard gear events. Visitors will find thousands of new and used winter sports items being sold by both individuals and area sports stores. Equipment, clothing and accessories for all winter sports will be available, including nordic and alpine skiing, and snowboarding for beginners and experts.
What: The Mount Hood Snosport Swap
Where: West Linn High School, 5464 West A Street, West Linn, Oregon
When: Friday, October 14th , 5pm – 9pm
Saturday, October 15th, 9am – 8pm
Drop off gear: Friday Noon – 9pm, Saturday 9am – Noon
Pick up unsold gear: Sunday 10:00am -2:00pm
Online: http://mhsss.com
More Details:
Bring your equipment to sell to West Linn High School between 8 AM and 9 PM on Friday, October 9th, or 8 AM and 10 AM Saturday, October 10th. Volunteers from the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol and the West Linn Snowboard Team will be on hand as you register your equipment and can provide you with valuation guidance.
All winter sports items are welcome: skis, snowboards, boots, clothing, etc. Please put clothing on plastic hangers. While all SnoSport Swap items are sold “as is” all items received for consignment are expected to be clean and in fully operational condition.
The Rules:
Skis & Snowboards: No equipment that is bent, delaminated, broken or has missing edge segments will be accepted.
No straight skis: This generally means nothing produced before 1998 or over 200 cm in length, with the exception of Nordic touring skis.
Bindings: Must be fully functional, conforming to current DIN/ISO standards for releasable & non-releasable (tele, nordic & snowboard) bindings, with no missing or damaged parts.
Boots: Must conform to current DIN/ISO standards for sole dimensions (must not be excessively worn). Buckle/lace systems should be entirely operational.
Clothing and Accessories: Should be in serviceable condition, with no broken zippers, tears, blown seams, missing closures, cracked lenses, etc.
Mt Hood Snosport Swap Management will have sole authority to determine whether items are acceptable for consignment.
Fees: $1.00 per item, plus 20% of the sale price when it sells. Outright donations are also accepted at no charge!
http://mhsss.com or like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mthoodsnosportsswap
