By Devin Hanes, Central Zone patroller (devin.somers@gmail.com)
This month, the tool we are featuring has many uses.
It’s no secret that ski patrollers are tasked with a variety of duties that are an adjunct to providing safety care to guests on the hills and trails. We may be asked to move fencing, whether it be up the lift or into position at key spots around the resort. This month’s tool is very helpful assisting with this task, and offers more uses.
Tension straps
Tension straps are super tough and flexible straps, that are most commonly used to hold skis together for carrying. Yet they are also great to use lashing together bamboo poles or netting piles, and making riding the chairlift with a bulky armful a bit easier.
Did one of your boot straps fail while on the hill? Use a tension strap as a temporary fix.
A patient is getting transported in the toboggan and you need bringing their skis and poles down? Use these straps to tie everything together making skiing with additional gear easier no matter how fat those powder skis are.
Tension straps function quite like bungie cords. A pair is compact and can easily be stuffed in one of your pockets. They often come in a variety of colours and lengths for even more versatility.
MEC currently sells the G3 tension straps but many of our pro deal partners sell their own version as well.
If you have a neat piece of equipment or useful piece of kit, please send a description of the item, its use and a photo to 5×5@skipatrol.ca. We will feature it in an upcoming issue of 5/5.