National Ski Patrol-Led Initiative Shows that Mental-Resilience Training Helps Retain Ski Patrollers

National Ski Patrol (NSP), in a powerful collaboration with The Cody St. John Foundation (TCSJF) and Responder Alliance (RA), demonstrate that mental resilience training is a critical for the ski industry, after completing a landmark resiliency scholarship program. The initiative provided 10 professional ski patrols across the United States with specialized Team Memberships to Responder Alliance, equipping them with the tools to manage stress injuries and build long-term psychological resilience within their teams.

The Cody St. John Foundation is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Professional Ski Patrollers nationwide in advancing their medical education through scholarships and patrol training. Its mission is to ensure Ski Patrollers everywhere are equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver exceptional emergency medical care on their mountains. www.codyschallenge.org

Responder Alliance provides industry-leading stress resilience training and guidance for outdoor professionals, combining operational best practices with innovations in science. Now a voting member of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue, Responder Alliance is trusted by organizations around the world to innovate and manage the risk of burnout and traumatic stress in high-risk occupations. For more information, please visit www.responderalliance.com.

The impact of the program has been immediate and profound for participating patrollers, whose work brings them in contact with difficult injuries in challenging terrain, and often life-and-death situations. According to a post-training survey, 100% of the participating patrollers reported they are more likely to remain in their professional roles because of the professional stress injury risk management training they received.

As the outdoor industry faces increasing challenges with staff retention and high-stress environments, these results highlight a scalable solution for workforce sustainability and career longevity for patrollers, in a line of work where experience matters – and where responsibilities routinely include responding to traumatic injuries, medical emergencies, and situations in challenging mountain environments. More important than ever, psychological readiness is recognized as an essential component of operational effectiveness.

“This partnership represents a critical step forward in how we support those who keep our mountains safe. Mental resilience is as vital as technical skills,” said Stephanie Cox, CEO of National Ski Patrol. “Responder Alliance’s trainings equip patrol teams with tools to recognize stress and build resiliency. And as awareness grows across the ski and outdoor recreation industry, training that supports psychological readiness is becoming essential to healthy, high-performing patrol teams.”

The Responder Alliance team trainings include education and implementation. One ski area developed a comprehensive Peer Support Handbook for all patrollers that included a Mission Statement, while two other patrols successfully identified and integrated a clinical professional to work directly with their teams on a regular basis. Throughout the season, scholarship winners received access to online modules, patrol-wide pre-season briefings, and direct consultative support to ensure their resiliency initiatives remain active and effective.

”NSP and TCSJ Foundation were instrumental in supporting the initiative to utilize our training to support professional ski patrols through a difficult season. It was our pleasure to help provide tangible tools to these resorts to build stress resilience and peer support into their everyday work lives, as well as around big incidents on mountain,” added Katy Stockton, Operations Manager for Responder Alliance.

The 10 resorts selected for the 2025-2026 scholarship include: Buttermilk Ski Resort, Crystal Mountain, Keystone Mountain, Loon Mountain, Powder Mountain, Purgatory Resort, Red River Ski Area, Ski Cooper, Sunday River Resort, and Sun Valley Resort.

By implementing field-based systems, these patrols are now better equipped to provide psychological support not only to their own teammates but also to guests experiencing distress or trauma on the mountain. All 10 teams are currently on track to maintain their resilience programs into future seasons, establishing a new standard for mental health care in the mountain resort industry.

National Ski Patrol (NSP) is a federally-chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and membership association. As the leading authority of on-mountain safety, NSP is dedicated to serving the outdoor recreation industry by providing education and training to emergency care and safety service providers. With more than 30,000 members across 650 patrols, and affiliated organizations in Canada, Europe, and Asia, NSP is one of the largest organizations committed to safety and rescue education for the outdoor industry. Members include ski and bike patrollers, as well as mountain and bike hosts, alumni, associates, and physician partners, working on behalf of local ski/snowboard areas and bike parks to enhance the overall experience for outdoor enthusiasts. Founded in 1938, NSP continues to advance its commitment to safety and its vision by leveraging the latest technology, innovation, and education. Visit NSP.org, and follow on Facebook and Instagram.