FIPS 2024 – Rikgransen

FIPS 2024

“Where” never heard of it!

Back in 2022 when we were in Val Thorens attending the 23^rd FIPS Congress, it is usual for ski patrol organizations from different countries to put forward a bid to host the next congress. This meeting was no different as we had two countries put forward bids, Canada and Sweden.

The Canadian bid was very slick and well presented, offering the ”World Class resort of Silver Star” to be the location, and indeed most people were indeed impressed. The Swedish bid was however a bit different, Rikgransen, an old mining town 200 kms inside the Arctic circle, the most northerly ski resort in the world, where the constant darkness passes in February and world class skiing can be had by on and off piste, touring and heliskiing. This was the choice and so two years later 18 countries ski patrol organisations from round the world came together for a week’s congress to discuss all aspects of patrol.

Rikgransen is not your typical ski resort, less than 500 population, accessible by train and road from Kiruna or Narvik, one supermarket and in hotel shop. In fact, there is only one hotel, which dominates the town, alongside the train tracks where the iron ore freight trains run constantly taking ore to Narvik for export.

So, all eleven delegates from BASP arrived on the 21^st of April, late in the season you would think, but they only open in February and close in June, so beautiful blue sky, lots of snow, a big earth moving truck with a large bucket as our luggage transport and a local snow jumping contest right outside the hotel, things are done a bit differently up here!!

The congress would also be organised differently this time, as in the past we would have presentations and lectures, with days being headlined from particular aspects of patrolling, this usually led to a feeling that you could come and go to the day’s proceedings so pretty informal plus not go to the ones that were not of interest. This congress was to try being a bit more like the ICAR congress and put more structure into special interest groups, allowing patrollers to meet up to discuss and debate particular topics, avalanche, dogs, technology, disability, medical and risk assessment. We still had some very good keynote speakers on medical, hypothermia and disability topping the bill, all of these were really excellent. The special interest groups also worked very well as we got to converse and debate much more directly with members of other ski patrols in a working environment rather that just in free time or during the evenings.

So, the programme still allowed time during the day for skiing and all the resort was open with some new snow on a few of the days and blue sky on the others. The on piste skiing is not steep and accessed by two chairlifts, but a bit of fun could be had going off piste outside the main area, popping into Norway on some circular tours and then a bit steeper on the slope that faces the town, which is also the main way back to the resort. The resort wasn’t busy so there was plenty of fresh stuff even a few days after it snowed.

The Thursday is usually the day put aside for skiing or a trip away so most of us took this trip over to the skiing area in Narvik, which is only 40kms away and a very different terrain, much steeper slopes and more tree lined pistes with the ski area finishing virtually in the town! We were given a tour by some of their patrollers (mostly female) and we saw a promo video for the resort including their successful bid for the 2029 Alpine world ski championships, they were asking for volunteers to help staff it!

The days went quickly, and the organisers had managed to programme a good number of the sessions outside, on snow or up in the ski area, with a big percentage of them being practical workshops with good delegate attendance and participation.

The social evenings hosted by countries was a bit interesting as it is illegal to have a party of the usual kind plus the Hotel were very much against any get together not hosted by them so we had to be very under the radar and so the events were held mostly pre dinner and in the workshop/ pister shed, which actually was just our kind of place, loud music, great fun and a place to meet everyone and make new friends, talk shop and just enjoy being with like-minded people …

All in all the trip was really interesting and informative, BASP always seem to punch above our weight at this kind of event, and we are well respected round the world in ski patrol circles, so when you are out there shovelling some slush onto a run or ski cutting some windblown drifts just remember, you are part of a great group of dedicated people who love the mountains, skiing and helping others!!!

Gerard Cameron (BASP President/Member)