Published on 9th February 2024

Pillars of safety – ski patrol's perspective on safety in the ski resort

Safety, both physical and psychological, is a crucial part of the ski resort's operations. One of the most visible and essential contributors is the ski patrol team stationed on the slopes of Ruka. We asked the team's supervisor, Teemu Torvinen, about the measures and challenges associated with slope safety in today's context.

Safety is one of the fundamental pillars of Ruka's ski resort. This responsibility falls not only on Ruka's own ski patrol team but also on 25 volunteer patrollers who reinforce the team, especially during peak seasons and weekends. The central goal of the patrol team is to make every visitor feel welcome and safe on the ski slopes. The core of their duties revolves around proactive safety measures, but the patrol is always ready to provide immediate first aid if needed. Teemu Torvinen, who began his patrol career at Ruka in 2012, has accumulated expertise and knowledge from over ten years of work, and answers to questions do not require much pondering.

How does the ski patrol communicate safety to customers on the slopes?

One significant measure this year was the revamping of slope signs. Almost all signs have been updated, making it easier for skiers to find suitable places based on their skill levels. Additionally, we use various barriers and slope-edge poles to guide people.
The visibility of patrol on the slope area is also considered crucial. The emphasis on presence has been a focus for years, earning the Ruka patrol team much praise.

What about outside the slopes?

We have highly informative website about the safety on the slopes, where we can regionally communicate and share comprehensive material related to slope safety. Also, both on and off the slope areas, we can instruct customers in advance using slope maps. This year, Ruka introduced three different map angles, making grasping the entire slope area easy and choosing performance locations according to one's skill level.

What challenges do you face in maintaining safety?

People's disregard for common rules and others is an unfortunate phenomenon. This manifests in various ways, such as littering, neglect of slope rules, or inappropriate behavior on lifts. To address these challenges, Ski Patrol introduced "enhanced surveillance weeks" in collaboration with SHKY for the first time.

The goals of the enhanced surveillance weeks are not only to intensify surveillance but also to raise awareness among customers about shared responsibility and safety factors through various focal points. The long-term goal of Ski Patrol Power Weeks is to create a lasting impact, eliminating the need for such weeks in the future.

One of the themes during the enhanced surveillance weeks is bullying. Occasionally, there are bullying cases on Ruka's slopes, especially among young people. Ruka Ski Resort has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. How does ski patrol intervene in bullying and promote a psychologically safe environment?

Bullying has no place in school or, certainly, on the slopes. If someone experiences bullying, they can always contact ski patrol and pull our sleeve.
In reported bullying cases, we contact the bully's parents at a very low threshold and discuss the measures to stop the bullying together. A simple option is to put the lift pass on a timeout.

As a preventive measure, Ski Patrol has also visited schools in the area this year, explaining that bullying, littering, or other violations of slope rules have no place on the slopes. 

This week's theme is lift behavior. How do you ensure lift areas remain in control, especially during peak times?

Various queue management methods aim to fill each seat and bench smoothly, keeping the waiting time minimal.

When everyone queues nicely and patiently, everyone gets on the lift in their turn. Overtaking and other bad behavior only slow down the smoothness of queuing.

It is essential to listen to the staff's instructions, exit smoothly at designated exit points, not pull the lift to the side, and not behave foolishly on the uphill trail. When behaving according to the instructions, unnecessary delays in queues are avoided, and the queues move smoothly.

What recommendations and advice would you give to skiers to contribute to safety on the slopes?

In addition to following slope rules, general slope safety can be significantly improved by considering other fellow skiers. This is particularly emphasized by choosing the slope edge as a stopping point where other skiers can see the stationary person. In this way, those coming from behind have the opportunity to avoid the one in front. Sitting behind bumps or taking a break in the middle of the slope area is always a bad idea, even though the skier coming from behind has the obligation to yield.

We all should have fun here, regardless of skill level. One's thoughtless skiing style or speed can significantly impact the comfort and experience of other skiers. For example, sitting on the ski tails – is there a chance to avoid those in front quickly or not to scare beginners? asks Torvinen.

In addition to safety, the overall enjoyment is everyone's benefit. By familiarizing oneself beforehand and adhering to slope rules, every skier can contribute to safety and create a pleasant environment for everyone.

Let's keep Ruka together as a safe and joyful place to ski!