Ski patrollers are on the front line of those crowds, handling ugly traumas, terrible accidents, near-misses and worse. Winter Park’s ski patrollers assist their service dog onto the chairlift, Feb. 29, 2024, at the ski area in Winter Park. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)But a new three-year program at Winter Park ski area is better preparing patrollers for the stresses of front-line resort work. “Ski patrollers are exposed to acute long-term stress and short-term stress and historically, response to that stress has been reactive,” said Griffin Lawrence, the director of Responder Alliance. Charlie, a service dog for the Winter Park Ski Patrol, rests prior to the daily meeting, Feb. 29, 2024, at the ski area in Winter Park.

Source: Daily Sun January 15, 2026 17:02 UTC