Plans underway for March ’26 FAST patrol skills seminar and competition at Castle Mountain

Initial planning is underway for the CSP Mountain Division’s biennial (every two years) first aid and on snow skills competition, which is set for Castle Mountain Resort, near Pincher Creek, Alberta on March 6 to 8, 2026. FAST stands for First Aid and On Snow Training.

The roots of the event go back to the mid-‘60s, when the CSP Mountain Division Life Member No. 1 Dave Marchant set up an event to test the calibre of patrollers’ first aid, accident scene, and toboggan handling skills.  Organizing for 2026 is led by the division’s FAST coordinator, Louise Charron, and supported by a team of local and division individuals.

Event components include a full-day training seminar to teach leading-edge rescue and patrol techniques, a first aid skills competition and a toboggan skills competition. For the skills competitions, three-member teams must perform in first aid scenarios and on a toboggan course.

Everything is overseen and adjudicated by trained and accredited CSP first aid and on snow instructors and examiners. On the Saturday evening there is a banquet, where the best training performances are celebrated.

Teams are expected to attend from across the division and can compete in one of three team categories, including a rookie category. Many division leaders first rose to prominence through stand-out performances at the FAST. It is a fabulous training event, allowing patrollers to further sharpen their skills.

Further details will be released in coming months.