New Zealand Certificate in Snowsport Patrol (Level 4) and New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management (Level 5)
If you’re someone who is at home in the mountains – and can imagine making them your office – Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s Ski Patrol programme is for you.
Domestic
Online
About the programme
You will undertake eight weeks online training, 14 weeks on campus and six weeks work placement during this programme (your work placement may not be in Wānaka).
Over the last 20 years, TPP’s Ski Patrol programme has produced some of the country’s finest ski patrollers.
You’ll do your practical ski patrol training in Wānaka, one of New Zealand’s best ski destinations. Wānaka offers some of the most advanced skiing and riding terrain, including natural pipes, large open faces, terrain parks and great back county ski touring.
Avalanche and first aid training is provided in a realistic environment on the ski field. The practical nature of the training equips you with the skills to become a certified ski patroller in line with industry needs.
Our graduates are sought after by the global ski patrol industry and many have gone on to work overseas in Canada and Japan. The growing bike patrol in New Zealand are also seeking out graduates during the summer.
We aim to produce graduates who are work ready. We aim for consistently high levels of situational and self-awareness, a strong work ethic, and a mature attitude to teamwork and leadership ability. Combined with skiing ability, these are the minimum skills required to gain a ski patrol job.
Venue
Picturesque Wānaka, in the South Island of New Zealand, is home to much of the programme.
Wānaka is a popular holiday destination with domestic and international tourists year-round, due to its skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing and adventure tourism opportunities.
Four amazing ski resorts are within a 90-minute drive of Wanaka. Students will be placed at one of a variety of New Zealand ski areas for a six-week work placement section of the programme. This will also include the North Island ski areas.
International
What You Study
Core elements
Level 4 Snowsport Patrol
- Physiology and health
- Outdoor Pre-hospital Emergency Care (PHE)
- Mountain Skills
- Hazard Management
Level 5 Avalanche Risk Management
- Snow science and hazard evaluation
- Avalanche geography
- Meteorology and snowpack influences
- Avalanche search and rescue
Equipment list
A complete equipment list can be viewed here and will be included in your enrolment pack. Equipment costs will vary depending on what you already own and you will need all equipment on the list by the due date to take part in the programme.
Tai Poutini Polytechnic supplies the use of following equipment for training:
- A range of first aid equipment
- Ice axes
- Ropes
- Belay devices and karabiners
- Climbing helmets
- Rescue toboggans
- Crampons
- Climbing and industrial harnesses
- Snow and weather analysis equipment
Further study options
- New Zealand Certificate in Snowsport Patrol Leader (Level 5)
- Diploma in Outdoor Instruction and Guiding
- New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management (Level 6)
- For additional qualifications and outdoor guide training options please visit the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association website
Career opportunities
Highly respected, the programme provides specialised training in the specific skills required for a first year ski patroller.
The programme allows for various careers, sets strong foundations for related careers in the outdoors, including the ski guiding and avalanche safety industries, a variety of adventure tourism, safety management, summer guiding and/or instruction operations, The Department of Conservation, alpine search and rescue, education roles, nursing, ambulance officer and/or paramedic and Mountain Bike patrol in summer (dependent on bike skills).
Many patrollers in fact balance their winter work with these types of careers, academic pursuits and/or trades such as building, accounting etc.
Workload
Programme structure and workload
The integrated approach of the programme allows for a combination of teaching, work experience and self-directed study to be delivered over a compressed timeframe.
The programme is guided by the needs of the industry, which looks for mature students who can work independently and have the ability to maintain work ethic for typically long workdays. This will include independent tutor guided learning for students and self directed learning.
Online learning, class lectures, small-group tutorials and/or practicals, on field training, scenarios, reflective practice, role play, presentations, demonstrations and independent learning all feature in the programme.
As the programme moves into the latter winter period, a six week work placement will enable students to put their newfound skills into action with a working New Zealand ski patrol. This is full time for six weeks.
The programme includes the delivery and assessment of two national qualifications, which are taught concurrently - the New Zealand Certificate in Snowsport Patrol (80 credits at Level 4) and the New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management (40 credits at Level 5). The level 5 qualification was previously known as Stage 1 Avalanche. Details of these qualifications can be found on the NZQA website.
The NZ Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management (level 5) will be awarded to students who achieve a passing grade in all four courses of the qualification.
The NZ Certificate in Snowsport Area Patrol (Level 4) will be awarded to students who achieve a passing grade in all courses of the level 4 Snowsport Patrol qualification.
Entry
Entry requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants for whom English is a second language must meet IELTS or equivalent Level 5.5 or above.
- Evidence, acceptable to the programme staff, that the applicant meets or exceeds the ability to confidently ski or snowboard in most terrain and snow conditions. i.e. The majority of black runs on a large commercial ski area in New Zealand or overseas.
- The above evidence is by letter of attestation from a minimum level 2 ski/snowboard instructor.
- Have successfully completed NCEA level 2 or equivalent and attained 42 NCEA credits at level 3.
- Special entry may be granted where evidence exists that the applicant can successfully complete the programme. Please contact the Polytechnic for details.
Selection Criteria apply:
-
Prior work experience in the Snow Sports Industry (paid or voluntary) especially volunteer ski patrolling or trail crew
- Prior general experience in outdoor activities e.g. downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, tramping, mountaineering or rock climbing
- A strong and confident skier who is able to continuously ski black runs at a snow sport area all day
- Skier rather than snowboarder
When the number of applicants who meet the entry criteria exceeds the number of positions available, applicants who meet more of the selection criteria than other applicants will be given priority in selection.
Special notes
- Special Entry may be granted where evidence exists that the applicant can successfully complete the programme. Please contact the Polytechnic for details.
- If applicants are unclear about their ability to meet any entry criteria they can contact the programme leader for clarification.
Fees
Additional costs
- During the six week work placement section of the programme, both travel and additional or alternative accommodation will need to be covered by students posted outside of Wānaka.
- A season pass is compulsory and paid for by students. TPP will facilitate the pass purchase at an industry rate in May.
Application
Programme questionnaire
This programme requires a questionnaire to be submitted with your enrolment. Please view the questionnaire here. Complete the questions and return it with your enrolment form and any other supporting documents that are required.
Letter of attestation
This programme requires evidence, acceptable to the programme staff, that the applicant meets or exceeds the ability to confidently ski or snowboard in most terrain and snow conditions. i.e. The majority of black runs on a large commercial ski area in New Zealand or overseas. The evidence is provided by letter of attestation from a minimum level 2 ski/snowboard instructor.
Enrolments
When you apply to study with Tai Poutini Polytechnic, you will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga, the national network of vocational and applied education in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn in the same way, in the same place, and with the same people. The great news is that this enables us to share skills and knowledge across a network of passionate education providers, to better help you succeed. Enrolling in programmes with Tai Poutini Polytechnic, means that you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.
You will be offered a place subject to meeting the entry and selection requirements and the availability of places on the programme. The Polytechnic reserves the right to not accept late applications, i.e., after the programme has started. The Polytechnic reserves the right to cancel, prior to commencement, any programme which does not attract a minimum number of students. The fees shown are indicative only. Both domestic and international fees are subject to change. For further information visit here.
