F ALL 2010 - Western New York Region

FALL 2010
Holiday Valley: Truly an Award Winning Ski Patrol
By Bob Kaus
The Holiday Valley Ski Patrol is comprised of 94 volunteer
and 10 paid members. The 104 member ski patrol currently
has 5 certified, 64 senior, 2 auxiliary and 8 candidates
patrollers with 30 patrollers holding National Appointments.
This patrol is responsible for providing first
aid and rescue for the 135 ski day average the resort boasts.
The Holiday Valley Ski Resort maintains four terrain
parks, two high speed quads, eight fixed grip quads, one
double and two surface lifts
that provide service for its 56
day and 37 night trails and
slopes.
The Holiday Valley Ski Patrol
prides itself on the level of
training it provides not only
for its own members, but also
for the WNY Region and the
Eastern Division. Senior
S&T training is conducted at
Holiday Valley on Thursday
nights during the ski season
for all Senior S&T candidates
in the WNY Region. The past three years this patrol has
hosted a Patroller School for patrollers throughout the
Eastern Division. The patrol has also hosted Women’s
seminars, Senior OEC training, Toboggan Handling &
Skiing seminars, re-certification clinics for both S&T &
OEC T/E’s, Avalanche and Mountain Rescue, and Instructor
Development courses as well as various OEC,
S&T, Lift Evacuation, CPR & AED refresher courses for
its own members. This patrol has also trained the 100+
member resort Safety Patrol under the new NSP Mountain
Hosts program, the largest Mountain Hosts program in the
NSP. This patrol has members on virtually every training
The 2009-2010 Holiday Valley Ski Patrol.
team and committee in the WNY Region, with members
also serving at the Division and National Level.
The Holiday Valley Ski Patrol enjoys a “state of the art”
Ski Patrol & Race Training complex that was built in
2006 by the area management. Patrollers under the leadership
of Larry Schottke, quickly installed six examining
tables all equipped with an oxygen feed from a central
station using two J cylinders.
We have a communications
room, ski & snow board storage
room, boot and parka
lockers, and a family room
equipped with boot and ski
storage for family members as
well. This patrol buys all its
own first aid supplies, toboggans,
toboggan equipment
bags, splints, blankets, trauma
packs, AED’s, radios, batteries,
the battery charging system,
all training equipment
and also provides a subsidy
for patrollers when buying a new parka.
This patrol enjoys a remarkable 95.1% return rate and
currently has 13 second generation patrollers, 6 husband
and wife patrollers, and one husband, wife and son patroller
team. The average length of NSP service on this patrol
is 17 years with 12 of our members having over 25 years
or more of service. The Holiday Valley Ski Patrol and its
members have won many awards including Two Eastern
Division “Outstanding Large Patrol” awards in 2002 and
2010 and a National “Outstanding Large Patrol” awarded
in 2002.
Page 1

From the Fall 1981 issue of the Fall Line.
Good luck to all those who have taken or
will take the Senior evaluations this year.
The Fall Line is a free, quarterly publication
of the Western New York Region,
part of the National Ski Patrol
System, Inc.
Reporters and Editorial Staff:
• Jeff Randall, Kissing Bridge
• Stan Alex, Buffalo Ski Club
• Doug Colangelo, Denton Hill
• Tammy Peterson, Cockaigne
• Ellen Conrad, Allegany Nordic
• Judy Baker, Peek’nPeak
• Bert Probst, Holiday Valley
• Martha Mangan, Holimont
• Molly Pearson, Proofreader
Kristen Russo, Editor
Ideas, Comments, Suggestions?
Do you have a good idea
for an article?
Suggestions on how to make
The Fall Line better?
Send an email to Kristen Russo
at WNYFallLine@hotmail.com
or kmarx06@hotmail.com
Page 2

Visiting Patroller Info
If you’re looking to visit other ski resorts in the area
this year to free ski, please see the policies below regarding
complimentary and/or 1/2 price tickets for
patrollers. Please note, passes are available only for
active patrollers and not family members and/or
friends.
If you will be visiting a ski resort for NSP training purposes
(S&T, OEC/EMM, Mountain Travel and Rescue,
Avalanche, Instructor Development, or other
courses) you will be provided with passes as deemed
necessary by the training staff and resort.
Allegany State Park Nordic: Entrance to and use of
the state park is free of charge for all patrollers. A
patrol parka or pack should not be worn.
Buffalo Ski Club: Visiting patrollers may receive a
complimentary ticket and will be asked to wear their
patrol parka and pack. Please check in with a patroller
on duty. Visiting patrollers will be expected to
help if there is an accident.
Cockaigne: Visiting patrollers may receive a complimentary
ticket after checking in with the patrol director.
Denton Hill: Visiting patrollers may receive a complimentary
ticket and will be asked to wear their patrol
parka, pack and take a radio. The visiting patroller
must check in with the Hill Captain of the day
and show a current NSP registration card. Visiting
patrollers will be expected to help if there is an accident.
Holiday Valley: Visiting patrollers may receive a 1/2
price ticket. The visiting patroller must show a current
NSP registration card. Please check in with the
Hill Chief of the day and sign the Visitors Log. Tickets
will not be issued on weekends, during Christmas
week, Martin Luther King Day, or Presidents Day. A
patrol parka or pack should not be worn.
Holimont: Visiting patrollers may receive a 1/2 price
ticket. The visiting patroller must show a current
NSP registration card and be a Senior level patroller.
Please check in with the Head Patroller of the
day. Tickets will not be issued during Christmas
week, Martin Luther King Day, or Presidents Day. A
patrol parka or pack should not be worn.
Kissing Bridge: Visiting patrollers, with advance notification,
may receive a complimentary ticket. Visiting
patrollers without advance notification may receive
a 1/2 price ticket.
Peek’n Peak: Visiting patrollers may receive a complimentary
ticket. The visiting patroller must show a
current NSP registration card. Please check in with
the Hill Captain of the
day.
Page 3

National Happenings
Cookbooks for Sale
National is holding their own cookbook sale to help
raise money. Cookbooks will be available starting in
October through the website,
online auction, winter catalog,
and on Facebook. Books will
cost $18. Holiday Valley Ski
Patrol cookbooks are still available
as well for $15.
Online Auction
The second annual online auction
will occur November 25
through December 9, 2010. The National office is
currently looking for unique donations to raffle off
during the auction. All donations are tax deductible.
Contact Josh Jacobson at jjacobson@nsp.org.
Course Announcement:
Mountain Travel & Rescue
Level 1
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 23 & 24, 2010
including an outdoor overnight
Time: 8:00am
Place: Peek’n Peak Resort
Contact: Kristen Russo at 716-861-6510 or
kmarx06@hotmail.com
Registration form on page 12.
This is a prerequisite for the
MTR Level 2 course. An overnight
campout is required for
level 1, no campout required for
MTR Fundamentals.
Page 4

Our annual awards banquet for the Western New
York region was held this year at Salvatore’s Italian
Gardens in Depew, NY. A great turnout with all patrols
being represented. Thank you to all who put in
their extraordinary effort to make this a successful
event.
A special congratulations to our award winners for
the 2009-2010 season. We know how much time and
dedication you give to your local patrol, the region,
and the National Ski Patrol System.
Angel Pin
A tribute for extensive support by a spouse or partner of a
patroller.
� David Banach—Cockaigne
� Lisa Flick—Denton Hill
� Linda Fowler—Denton Hill
� Celeste Schoonover—Denton Hill
And the Envelope Please…
A Recap of the 2009—2010 Awards Banquet
New Patrollers
Recognition of new patrollers who successfully completed
local S&T and/or OEC requirements.
Buffalo Ski Club Cockaigne
� Jeanne Skotnicki � Jim Brown
� Bill Miller
Holiday Valley Holimont
� RJ Bouchard � Nicholas Dolpp
� Jason Dorn � Daniel Simich
� Miranda King � Michael Simich
� Grove Mather � Matthew Root
� Liam McCabe � Doug Anderson
� Mike McDonald, Jr. � Carolyn Kick
� Rosalie McDonald
� James Moonan Kissing Bridge
� Nick Parker � Beth Ackerman
� Rick Poplewski � Sandra Pietrowski
� Scott Tempeny
Senior Certificate
For successful completion of Senior S&T, EMM and three
Senior electives.
� Ellen Conrad—Allegany Nordic
� Mike Kirsch—Kissing Bridge
� Ken Kramer—Holiday Valley
� Rick McAvoy—Holimont
� Adam McInerney—Holiday Valley
� Sadie Prescott—Holiday Valley
� Scott Printup—Holimont
� Jeff Randall—Kissing Bridge
� Sean Reilly—Holimont
� Larry Schoos—Allegany Nordic
� Bill Westner-Allegany Nordic
Senior class of 2009-2010 from L to R: Bill Westner,
Ken Kramer, Larry Schoos, Ellen Conrad,
Sadie Prescott, Jeff Randall, Mike Kirsch, and
Senior EMM Coordinator, Dave McLallen.
National Certificate of Appreciation
For support or service to the NSP at the National level.
� Jim Brown—Holimont
� Michael “ Mac” McDonald—Holiday Valley
� Alan Rosenfeld—Holimont
� Pete Stasiuk—Holimont
� Dan Suriani—Holimont
� Joe Waple—Holimont
Yellow Merit Star
Page 5

The Yellow Merit Star is given for outstanding service beyond
the patrol level.
� Eric Bowen—Holiday Valley
� Frank Fronhapple—Holimont
� Larry Schottke—Holiday Valley
Jack McKenna Senior Candidate Award
To recognize an individual who completed the final requirements
for the Senior program during the current season and
demonstrated favorable effort, attitude, performance on Senior
evaluations, and improvement in skills.
� To be announced at a later date
Mike Reid Instructor Award
The Mike Reid Instructor Award recognizes a certified instructor
in the WNY Region. It is open to instructors in all
disciplines (including S&T, OEC, CPR, AED, Instructor
Development, Avalanche, and Mountain Travel and Rescue)
whose service extends beyond working with candidates.
� Mary Lyn Boberg—Holimont
Mary Lyn Boberg receives the Mike Reid Instructor
Award presented by last year’s recipient,
Butch MacQueen.
Kissing Bridge Central Special Recognition
For a patroller who constantly works behind the scenes without
holding patrol office or a significant NSP position.
� Bob Cross—Denton Hill
Ambassador of the Slopes
The Ambassador of the Slopes award recognizes a patroller
who promotes a favorable image of the ski patrol to the skiing
and snowboarding public.
� Andrea Carr—Holiday Valley
Bob Cross looking surprised as he receives the
Kissing Bridge Central Award from Region Director,
Don Weaver.
Will Wendell Training Award
The Will Wendell Training Award recognizes a patroller
who dedicates time and talent to the training of candidates
and/or the mentoring of inexperienced patrollers.
� Ellen Conrad—Allegany Nordic
Blue Merit Star
The Blue Merit Star is awarded for heroic use of ski patrol
skills in an attempt to save a human life but whose efforts
have not met the purple or green merit star criteria.
� Molly Sue Bovard—Denton Hill
� Cliff Cole—Denton Hill
� Damon Flick—Denton Hill
� Lewis Fowler—Denton Hill
� Ann Manzella—Kissing Bridge
� Vincent Ross—Denton Hill
� Shawn Schoonover—Denton Hill
� Danny Shipe—Denton Hill
Page 6

Patriot Star Award
An Eastern Division award given to active patrollers who
are or have been a member of the armed forces on active
duty in a combat zone.
� Dan Kunz—Kissing Bridge
� Bill Marx—Holiday Valley
� Alex Murchison—Holimont
� John Stanistreet—Holimont
� Del VonVolkenburg—Peek’n Peak
Division Outstanding Awards
Given to the outstanding patroller or patrol in the Eastern
Division.
� Butch MacQueen—Holimont/Allegany Nordic
Outstanding Nordic Patroller
� Allegany State Park Nordic Patrol
Outstanding Nordic Patrol
� Holiday Valley Ski Patrol
Outstanding Large Patrol
Patroller’s Cross
To recognize an NSP member who suffered a serious on-duty
injury involving physician care over a long period, surgery,
extended rehab, and/or lost work time. Person must have
been unable to return to normal patrol duties for remainder
of the season.
� Rich Hughes—Cockaigne
� Ron Laski—Holimont
National Appointment
A National Appointment is an honor bestowed upon a Senior
patroller who demonstrates leadership and exemplary
service to the National Ski Patrol beyond activities within
the home patrol.
� Larry Schottke—Holiday Valley
National Appointment #11022
� Dave Harig—Holimont
National Appointment #11024
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award is a high National honor
reserved for patrollers who have performed extraordinary
service to the National Ski Patrol over a long period of time.
� Jim Decker—Holiday Valley
� Bill Lawrence—Holimont
� John Taton—Holiday Valley
Meritorious Service Award
For exceptional service and leadership in a Region or division
staff position for a minimum of 3 years. Not available
to section chiefs and Region directors.
� Al Hohl—Kissing Bridge
Alan Rosenfeld receives the WNY Patroller
of the Year award from Don
Weaver.
Western New York Patroller of the Year
The WNY Patroller of the Year recognizes the outstanding
contributions of a patroller who sets an example for others
in the region.
� Alan Rosenfeld—Holimont
Additional pictures of the
banquet may be found on
the WNY Region Facebook
page and on page 9.
Page 7

News from Holiday Valley
By Bert Probst
Our ski season ended on Easter Sunday, April 4. We enjoyed
a 116 day season and 161 inches of natural snow.
We welcome our ten newly minted patrollers. They are R.
J. Bouchard, Jason Dorn, Miranda King, Grove Mather,
Liam McCabe, Mike McDonald jr, Rosalie McDonald,
James Moonan, Nick Parker and Rick Poplewski. Congratulations
to all for surviving the rigors of a tough training
season. We look forward to working with each of you.
On Mardi Gras weekend Bob Barbu and his band of
Merry Men (and women) roamed the streets of Ellicottville
gathering collections of money and food for the Ellicottville
Food Bank. Their efforts resulted in over $1000 and
17 cases of food for the needy in the area. Good work
Bob and all; a real act of charity.
Our beloved Liz Parsons died on May 8, a victim of ovarian
cancer. Liz was the widow of our long time patrol director,
Ned Parsons. Liz was truly a fixture around the
family room. She was there
every weekend helping out in
any way she could. We will always
remember Liz for her kind
manner and those annual patrol
parties she hosted every Fourth
of July at her cottage on Chautauqua
Lake. They were truly a
patrol tradition; the one in
2009 was number 46. Liz made
a great effort over the past few
years of sifting through old signin
books, newspapers and anything
she could get her hands
on to trace our patrol’s history.
This resulted in a giant wall chart giving the status of each
patroller for each season through the years. She also filed
all of the historical information by decades and these files
are now kept in our patrol archives. Within twelve hours
of her death Dan Meess visited Liz at Chautauqua and
presented her with a patrol pin and a document proclaiming
Liz as an Honorary Member of the Holiday Valley Ski
Patrol. She was alert and received this honor graciously
and proudly. Bestowing honorary membership on Liz was
not a last minute idea. This had been in the planning
stage for several months and the intent was to honor Liz at
out fall refresher meeting coming up in September. In
view of Liz’s rapidly deteriorating condition Dan correctly
Remembering a Great Patroller
This is an excerpt from an article written by Dick Grainger
about Holiday Valley patroller, Karl Kohler who passed
away in late December 2009. The full article can be seen
in the Summer 2010 issue of the Ski Patrol magazine and
in the latest Eastern Division Trial Sweep.
Karl was an institution at Holiday Valley for over 35 years
working winters as a professional ski patrolman and summers
on the golf course as the assistant superintendent.
He was the kind of guy you looked forward to seeing and
talking to when you signed in every morning, working
with during the day and meeting for a pop after the final
sweep.
Karl was a very popular guy in late March and April.
That’s when the Kohler maple sugar shack went into full
operation. If you helped with the grunt work for 8 hours,
you earned a gallon of Kohler’s pure New York State maple
syrup.
One winter early on, Karl had incurred the displeasure of
the groomers by parking his
Volkswagen original bug in
front of their garage and in
their way. One night they
hooked it on to a groomer and
towed it to the top of the hill.
With an assist from the snowmakers
they covered it with
snow and it stated there until
the snow melted in late April
and he could drive it down.
Karl was an integral part of
Holiday Valley and he will be
missed on the hills and on the
golf course, but not soon forgotten
by a couple of generations of skiers, golfers, and townspeople.
Karl, we wish you lots of light powder in the winter, green
fairways and greens in the summer and lots of great sugaring
nights in the spring.
chose not to wait but to make the presentation at her bed
side. Our sincerest sympathies go out to Ned and Paul,
Liz’s two sons who are both former members of our patrol.
We miss you Liz.
Page 8

Western New York Regional Awards Banquet
Saturday April 16th at 6:00 pm
Holiday inn Buffalo
airport
4600 Genesee street
Cheektowaga, NY 14225
716-634-6969 room reservations
716-634-6969 questions
I-90 to route 33 east airport take to end turn right
On genesee st. on left just past the airport.
Many hotels in area with other rates
Clockwise starting at right top, Dave
Harig welcomed into the group of National
patrollers; Ellen Conrad receives
the Will Wendell Training Award from
Mac McDonald; Larry Schottke receiving
his National numbers from Joan
Reynolds; Andrea Carr receiving the
Ambassador of the Slopes award.
It’s not to early to sign up for next year!!
Patroller’s Name ________________________
Guests Name __________________________
Patrol ________________________________
_______Current Patroller _________Alumni
Cocktails 6:00 pm
Dinner 7:00 pm
Awards 8:00 pm
Dancing & Celebration
9:00—12:00
Early Bird Discount
$28 per person
Before January 31, 2011
Regular Price:
$33 per person
February 1, 2011—March 28,2011
Late Cost:
$38.00 per person
March 29,2011—April 8, 2011
Mail with check to : Don Dischner
63 Davis Rd
West Seneca, NY 14224
Make Check payable to WNY Regional Ski Patrol
Questions Call Ken B @ 716-341-5218
Or Email sirbink31@hotmail.com
Page 9

Program Event Date Time Location Contact Comments
OEC
OEC
OEC
Regional OEC
Candidate course
Sept 9-Nov 22,
2010
6:30-
10:00pm
Hamburg United
Methodist Church
Ellen Conrad
716-743-6761
OEC Instructor
refresher Sept 11, 2010 8:30am Holiday Valley Family room
OEC Instructor
refresher Sept 14, 2010 6:00pm Kissing Bridge
Region Meeting Sept 16, 2010 7:00pm HoliMont
OEC OEC Patrol refresher Sept 18, 2010 8:00am Buffalo Ski Club
Ski Areas of NY Fall
Conference Sept 22, 2010 Bolton Landing, NY
OEC OEC Patrol refresher Sept 25, 2010 7:00am Holiday Valley
OEC
Lift Evac Patrol
refresher Sept 26, 2010 8:30am Holiday Valley
OEC OEC Patrol refresher Oct 2, 2010 8:00am
Allegheny State
Park (Summit
warming hut)
OEC OEC Patrol refresher Oct 2, 2010 7:00am Kissing Bridge
Al Hohl
716-675-9486
Lowell Sylwester
716-655-1090
Dan Meess
716-649-8518
Ellen Conrad
716-743-6761
Fran Calkins
716-668-9643
Monday, Thursday nights each
week
HV/Cockaigne patrols combined
ASP Nordic; limited to 15
KB Central Cafeteria
Fall Festival Oct 9-10, 2010 Ellicottville HVSP fundraiser
OEC OEC Patrol refresher Oct 17, 2010 8:00am Denton Hill
MTR MTR1 course Oct 23-24, 2010 Peek 'n Peak
OEC OEC Patrol refresher Oct 31, 2010 HoliMont
OEC OEC Patrol refresher Oct 31, 2010 Peek 'n Peak
OEC
MTR
Region Meeting Nov 4, 2010 7:00pm Holiday Valley
BJ Butler
570-724-2222
Kristen Russo
716-861-6510
Gary Emmerson
716-863-1187
Bob Frazier
814-663-0602
KB Ski Swap & Open
House Nov 12-14, 2010 Kissing Bridge KB patrol fundraiser
On-hill refresher/HV
Employee Orientation
Nov 13, 2010 8:30am Holiday Valley Yodeler lodge
Senior EMM Intro
Meeting Dec 5, 2010 TBD Peek 'n Peak
MTR2 course (indoor
Allegany State
Dec 11-12, 2010
session) Park
OEC Senior EMM Clinic Dec 18, 2010 TBD TBD
OEC Senior EMM Clinic Jan 9, 2011 TBD
MTR
Calendar Of Events 2010—2011 Season
MTR2 course (outdoor
session) Jan 15-17, 2011 TBD TBD
OEC Senior EMM Clinic Jan 22, 2011 TBD
Cynthia Taylor
814-474-2934
Dave McLallen
814-476-1285
Bill McCasey
716-699-6995
Cynthia Taylor
814-474-2934
Dave McLallen
814-476-1285
Cynthia Taylor
814-474-2934
Dave McLallen
814-476-1285
Bill McCasey
716-699-6995
Cynthia Taylor
814-474-2934
Dave McLallen
814-476-1285
MTR2 requires both indoor and
outdoor sessions
MTR2 requires both indoor
and outdoor sessions
Check www.nspwny.org for all the latest dates and schedule changes.
Page 10

Calendar Of Events 2010—2011 Season
Program Event Date Time Location Contact Comments
AVALANCHE
Avalanche Safety and
Rescue Feb 6, 2011 TBD Denton Hill
OEC Senior EMM Clinic Feb 6, 2011 TBD
OEC Senior EMM Clinic Feb 19, 2011 TBD
OEC
STUDENT
Senior EMM
Evaluation Feb 26, 2011 TBD Peek 'n Peak
Bill McCasey
716-699-6995
Cynthia Taylor
814-474-2934
Dave McLallen
814-476-1285
Cynthia Taylor
814-474-2934
Dave McLallen
814-476-1285
Cynthia Taylor
814-474-2934
Dave McLallen
814-476-1285
Young Adult Patroller
Seminar Mar 18-21, 2011 Sugarloaf, ME Stan Martin
Region Meeting Mar 24, 2011 7:00pm HoliMont
Region Awards
Banquet April 16, 2011 6:00pm
Holiday Inn Buffalo
Airport
Region Meeting June 9, 2011 7:00pm Holiday Valley
Ken Black
716-341-5218
Details on Division
website
Other region/division calendars:
Genesee Valley:
www.nspgvr.org/html/
calendar.htm
Western Appalachian:
www.patrol.org/war/warevent.htm
Eastern Division:
www.nspeast.org/html/
calendar.htm
Page 11

Name:
The Fall Line
WNY Region, Eastern Division
National Ski Patrol
c/o Kristen Russo
31 S. Huxley Dr.
Cheektowaga, NY 14225
Email: kmarx06@hotmail.com
WNYFallLine@hotmail.com
Support Our Regional Sponsors
Address:
Buffalo Spine Sports Institute
Damon & Morey LLP
Northtown Subaru
Northtowns Orthopedics
West Herr Automotive Group
Place Postage
Here
Return Service Requested
Mountain Travel and Rescue Level 1—Registration Form
October 23&24, 2010—Peek’n Peak Ski Resort
Overnight campout is required for Level 1 credit
Registration closes October 9, 2010
Email: Phone:
Name of Patrol: Patrol #:
Describe your previous camping experience, if applicable:
Cost:
NSP Members: $30
Non-NSP Members: $40
Make checks payable to: Kristen Russo
Return with payment by October 9, 2010
Mail to: Kristen Russo, 31 S. Huxley Dr., Cheektowaga, NY 14225
Page 12