By Erin Lindberg, Patrol Leader, Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, B.C. (erin.lindberg@skipatrol.ca)
Let me introduce you to the Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP) team at Caledonia Nordic Ski Club (CNSC) in Prince George, British Columbia.
CNSC is a world-class biathlon and Nordic skiing venue that offers youth and adult programming, social sporting experiences for the community, and provincial-, national- and world-calibre events. CNSC aspires to be a year-round Nordic centre in central B.C. and is recognized as one of the national high-performance Nordic centres in Canada. Our small, but dedicated CSP team provides first aid coverage for CNSC throughout the winter season and when the big events come to town requiring more volunteer hours, we lean on our broader zone alpine membership in the CSP Prince George Zone for support.
On the heels of the Biathlon BC Cup (January 20 to 21), we covered the Teck BC Cup #1, on January 26 to 28, 2024, with almost 400 athletes and coaches in attendance. Our CSP team was excited to provide first aid coverage at the back-to-back weekend events, after waiting for months for our ski season to commence. It was time to put our first aid skills to use – and what a great weekend it was! This event was touted locally as the ‘test’ event for the World Para Biathlon and Nordic events coming to the venue in March 2024. The site was buzzing with energy for the sprint race format on the first day, despite the rain that fell throughout the day. The second day of mass start races saw sunshine and slightly cooler temperatures for an amazing day of racing.
When on duty, our CSP team must have a good plan for accessing athletes on the field of play in the event of a first aid incident. This becomes a more complex undertaking as the level of competition rises. We accomplish this planning through communication with organizing committees and site management personnel prior to race day, to ensure mutual understanding of expectations. On race day our team members ensure their familiarity with the racecourse and our access protocol. We most often assist athletes that are presenting with breathing issues (e.g. asthma), muscle cramps, acute injuries due to falls such as to shoulders, ankles, wrists, and cuts and abrasions. Remaining calm and managing through accident incidents in the face of the excitement and concern of those around us is always a challenge. One of the things I am most appreciative of, as a CSP member and patrol lead, is the sense of clarity and cohesion that we acquire from our CSP training and continued practice together.
Volunteering for the Canadian Ski Patrol gives a sense of purpose in our community that is known for its strong volunteerism, and it feels great to be a part of that energy. Bring on the World Para Nordics and World Para Biathlon, we will be ready!