Definition of National ski patrol

The NSP has become the largest winter rescue organization in the world. It is composed of more than 28,500 members serving over 600 ski patrols including volunteer, paid, alpine, snowboard and nordic patrollers throughout the United States and certain military areas in Europe.

The National Ski Patrol has worked closely with other countries in outdoor emergency care education, and has assisted in establishing ski patrol organizations in Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Turkey, Argentina and Chile, as well as the Victorian Rescue Service in Australia. The NSP was organized and directed by Dole as a committee of the National Ski Association (now the United States Ski Association). Through his efforts as the first national director of the NSP, the organization spread its effects and esprit de corps across the nation. Upon his retirement in 1950, Dole had built the NSP into an organization of 300 ski patrols and 4,000 members. During World War II, Dole was responsible for the establishment of the famed 10th Mountain Division of the US Army. Applicants for this remarkable military unit, which saw much of its fighting activity in Italy, were screened by the NSP. Many individuals who were responsible for the establishment of many ski areas in the US served in the 10th Mountain Division, and have contributed significantly to the sport.