A Brief History of the APP

In 1967, the Patrol Leader from Heavenly Valley and his assistant discussed the idea of forming an organization which would both train and educate the full time professional patrollers of the western US. In the season of 1969-70, a group of patrollers representing ski areas from all over California and Nevada met and decided on a name for their new organization, "The Far West Professional Ski Patrol Association"; now known as the "Association of Professional Patrollers" (APP). But it wasn't until the spring of 1971 that the FWPSPA had its first successful clinic. The fifty-seven attending patroller's skiing and toboggan handling skills were tested, and a written test was given to evaluate additional patrol knowledge. There were also clinics given on first aid, weather, snow surveying, explosives, and Monty Atwater provided an Avalauncher demonstration.

Since then, the APP has grown substantially, with an expanded and ever changing set of testing criteria and standards that reflect the significant changes that have evolved in the Ski Industry over the last several decades. In 2001 we celebrated our 30th anniversary with well over 200 hundred patrollers and FWPSPA/APP alumni in attendance. In the past year we certified our 500th patroller! Our goal is to continue a pursuit of excellence and offer to patrollers the best in education and training that we possibly can.

  APP Group Photo- Spring Clinc 2001, Mammoth Mt. California

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