Mastering techniques Sugarloaf lift mechanics Bob Ash (red shirt) and David Love look on last Tuesday as Sean Welton from Saddleback practices a high angle rescue technique on Sugarloaf's Skidway Chairlift. (Ethan Austin photo) CARRABASSETT VALLEY -- Last Tuesday, Aug. 4 representatives from Sugarloaf, Saddleback, Black Mountain and Mt. Abram ski resorts collaborated in a training session of techniques and procedures used in high angle rescue.

"The more ideas and perspectives you can bring into this type of training, the better it is," said Sugarloaf Operations Manager Rich "Crusher" Wilkinson. "Everybody brings different experiences and ideas to the table, and everybody shares and learns from each other. It's very beneficial for us and for other mountains to collaborate on training like this."

Sugarloaf Safety Manager Amie Hewett worked with workers' compensation insurance carrier, Maine Employers' Mutual Insurance Company, to organize this day of training. The lead instructor that day was Peter Koch from MEMIC.

"We do this training at Sugarloaf every year with an open invitation to other Maine ski areas to join in. Through the Ski Maine Association, all Maine ski areas have an open invitation to participate in this type of lift maintenance training, no matter where it is being held," said Sugarloaf Communications Manager Ethan Austin.

From Sugarloaf, the lift mechanics, electricians, tower painters and ski patrollers were in attendance.

The day started with an hour of classroom type training, which involved, among other things, a review of OSHA Fall Protection Standards, practice of knot-tying techniques, and an overview of all the gear that is used in high angle rescue scenarios, Austin explained.

After the classroom training, they broke up into three groups of five and practiced different rescue scenarios, including tower rescues, work car rescues and chair rescues.

Trainers used rescue dummies to represent ski visitors requiring evacuation from the chairs.

"Sugarloaf takes safety very seriously and works very hard throughout the year to keep our employees trained and informed in regards to the proper techniques and protocols," said Sugarloaf Safety Manager, Amie Hewett. "This type of training is something that must be practiced over and over. Every scenario is different and the more familiar everyone is with the gear and methods, the smoother a rescue will go."

Following the scenario training, the whole group wrapped up with critiques of how everything went and ways things could have gone differently or been improved.

"When it comes to safety training like what we did on Tuesday, you just can't do it enough," said Sugarloaf Ski Patroller, Rod Ehrlenbach. "This was my sixth or seventh year doing this program, and the more you go over it, the more comfortable you become with it. The time to learn these techniques is not the day that you need them. If and when it does become necessary to use them, you need to have it down," Ehrlenbach explained.

Employees who participated agreed that it was a very beneficial experience. It was a full day of training, with a break for lunch at noon.

"The safety of our guests and our employees is always our top priority, which is why we always want to be prepared," Crusher explained. "We have 15 lifts here and we want to be sure that every person who rides on them makes it home safely. You can't train enough when it comes to safety procedures."

Crusher explained that the techniques and equipment change and advance every year, which makes it important to go over the proper procedures as regularly as possible.

"Every year that the trainers return they bring more knowledge and more experience, making the program more and more valuable every year," Crusher concluded.

Austin said on behalf of the Sugarloaf staff they'd like to thank the trainers from MEMIC and everybody who participated in the training.