Fab the ski patrol man
Fab is a ski patrol in Val d’Isere.
Fab, Where are you from?
I am from Grenoble (not very far), I came as a skate board/snowboard instructor at the Club des Sports. That was 20 years ago! I am now married, my wife is a physio and we have a little girl.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The environment, the mountains, the team work and the camaraderie.
What would be a typical intervention?
We receive a call that somebody needs help, we arrive on the site of the accident, evaluate the seriousness of the injury (if a helicopter is needed or not) we prepare the person for evacuation to the surgery/hospital. The process generally lasts around an hour.
Do you have to train?
Yes, every week, we exercise with our beepers constantly to be efficient and quick, we spend time training to rescue with ropes, with the Recco system.
What irritates you most?
When I see people skiing too fast on the beginners’ slopes
What would you call a bad day?
It does not exist, every morning I look forward to going to work
What can make you laugh?
When a skier had a fall because he has put his ski boots on the wrong way round!
A memorable day?
The day I received my ski patrol Diploma (Degree) that was an emotional moment.
Do you have another job?
In Summer, I do vertical access work with ropes on building sites and road works.
A hobby?
My daughter
Where do you go on holidays?
Cornwall, Sweden, Australia, USA, Norway. We go visiting our friends around the world.
Do you have a wish?
The well-being of my family and a happy retirement for my parents who have worked hard all their life.
Do you have a message to skiers?
Humility, Respect….and keep our phone number with you 04 79 06 02 10
