|
|
|
Man opts to go down, not over, hill |
|
|
Written by BERNICE TRICK
Citizen staff
|
|
Sunday, 18 January 2009 |
Bob Stowell is a 86-year-old member of the ski patrol. (Submitted photo)
Prince George has a gentleman who can far surpass that 70-year-old Swede.
At age 86 Bob Stowell is on the ski slopes at Purden ski hill every day it is open, and even after the replacement of both knees last year, he can still ski all day.
Stowell not only serves as ski patrol leader of this zone, but is the Canadian Ski Patrol System president of the Pacific Northwest division of CSPS which includes Prince George, Terrace, Smithers and Dawson Creek, which have a total of 140 snow patrol volunteers.
Stowell had his knees replaced in March and July, which has put him into tip-top shape to continue his love of skiing.
He has no repercussions or no pain from the surgeries performed by local orthopedic surgeon Michael Moran.
"I'm lucky. I'm in good health," said Stowell, who started skiing as a teenager.
"In those days we used to call our skis wooden barrel staves. There were no steel edges and our bindings were homemade from a rubber inner tube that we cut as straps. It was hard to turn so we went straight most of the time," said Stowell who knew nothing of ski boots, but just wore his winter foot wear.
He said the mission of the CSPS is to promote safety and injury prevention and provide high standards of education, certification and delivery in first aid and rescue service.
The Purden Ski Patrol deals with one or two minor incidents a week and have had eight reported accidents this season involving a separated shoulder, broken wrist, sprains and strains, said Greg Hutton, assistant patrol leader at Purden.
"Injuries have decreased in recent years due to dramatically improved equipment," Hutton said.
Broken legs, shoulder and wrist injuries are more common these days among snowboarders, said Hutton.
Whatever the incident, the ski patrol is prepared with transport toboggans at the top of the hill and the first-aid station at the base.
The rescue service comes into play when skiers or snowboarders go out of bounds and become lost.
Hutton, who has been ski patrolling for 21 years, recalled a story about 10 years ago when two six-year-old boys skied out of bounds and became lost.
"We rescued them about 10 hours later. They had fallen into a creek but they knew enough about survival to break off tree boughs to build a mat on which they huddled together for warmth. They were in early stages of hypothermia when we found them."
On another day, Stowell, coming around a switchback on the hill, found himself within 20 feet of a cougar which leapt across the trail in front of him and kept going.
"When we tell the story, we say the cougar didn't want any part of Bob because he wasn't tender enough," said Hutton.
"Every day is different. We are doing a public service and those that take the training find the first aid and rescue knowledge stands them in good stead for everyday living," said Stowell.
Ski patrollers must take the 12-session course that includes CPR, rescue transport and even chair lift evacuation on an annual basis.
There are 96 trained volunteers in the Prince George zone with about eight volunteers per day at eight ski sites from 100 Mile House to Fort St. James.
"But there's always room for more," said Stowell. The next training session begins after Labour Day. For more information call Hutton at 250-964-9247.
Recently, three local Rotary clubs purchased 10 hand-held radios for snow patrol volunteers and supplier, T& S Communications, donated an 11th to provide better communication on the slopes.
"We're thankful to the Rotary Clubs for this new equipment which costs about $4,000, and we also appreciate the cordial relationship we have with the Purden Ski Hill management," said Stowell.
 |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 18 January 2009 )
|
|
|
Who's Online
We have 91 guests and 7 members online
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
