Guard the track, fasten the "safety rope" (towards the Winter Olympics, we are from the front line)

The ski patrol conducts rescue work at the site of the 2019-2020 Freestyle Skiing World Cup. Photo by Liu Qi (file photo)

Running the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games well is a solemn commitment we have made to the international community. After several years of hard work, all the preparatory work is basically ready, and we are fully confident and capable of dedicating a wonderful, extraordinary and outstanding Olympic event to the world. In the front line of the Preparation for the Winter Olympics, ski patrol members, snow flounders, ice makers, waxers, snowmakers... Many staff members silently dedicate and give. This edition today launches a series of reports on "Towards the Winter Olympics, We Come from the Frontline", focusing on the strivers from the frontline of the preparations for the Winter Olympics, so please pay attention to them.

- Editor

At The Genting Park in Chongli Secret Garden, Zhangjiakou, Ren Wanxin served as the manager of the ski patrol. Every morning, he led the team out to patrol more than 30 snow trails to sweep away all safety hazards. The ski patrol of more than 50 people each works outdoors for at least 6 hours a day and has a skiing distance of more than 20 kilometers.

This snow season, for Ren Wanxin and the team members, the burden on their shoulders is even heavier - the Beijing Winter Olympics are coming, and the Genting Ski Park in The Secret Garden Genting Park will become a freestyle ski and snowboarding field - the ski patrol team will play a role in the field of event support as a staff of the Winter Olympics, and tie the "safety rope" of the track.

"Ensuring a safe ski environment and providing professional assistance in the event of injury and distress for skiers"

Ren Wanxin, 32 years old, is a native of Chongli and was not yet 10 years old when he first experienced skiing. "I was wearing 'primitive' pointed skis, and my snowshoes were so big that I could only stuff newspapers into them." The equipment was simple, but the snow was exciting enough, and he fell in love with the sport.

When he was in college, Ren Wanxin "soaked" in the snow field almost every winter vacation. From learning techniques with a professional instructor, to becoming a part-time ski instructor himself and earning a Volkswagen Ski Instructor certificate, to starting as a ski instructor after graduating from college, he turned his hobby into a job.

After the successful bid for the 2015 Winter Olympics, Ren Wanxin applied for a transfer to the ski patrol team, "hoping to contribute to the Winter Olympics held at his doorstep." The new job is to "ensure a safe ski environment for tourists and athletes, and provide professional assistance in the event of injury and distress for skiers".

Check the safety hazards on the slopes and do not make any mistakes. "Every day the situation on the slopes is different, and we must always tighten the string of safety." Ren Wanxin said: "Prevention is greater than treatment, we must pay attention to every detail, check for safety hazards, and minimize or even eliminate problems such as an obstacle on the slope and a damage to the protective net." ”

Snow rescue is also an important part of the work. In 2017, a tourist accidentally fell into a 3-meter-deep ditch while skiing, and Ren Wanxin and his teammates rushed to the scene of the incident as quickly as possible to help the injured person fix the injured position. Since the width of the ditch is only 60-70 cm, in order to avoid secondary injuries, the operation should be very careful. After more than an hour of busyness, the team members successfully rescued the injured. After being delivered to the hospital, "the doctor affirmed our rescue professionalism and avoided the consequences of the injured person's possible paralysis."

"To be a ski patrol member, the entire training cycle takes at least two snow seasons"

The average age of the ski patrol is less than 25 years old, but most of them have been on duty for more than 3 years. Among them, the full-time team members have 5-10 years of work experience, and the part-time team members are ice and snow sports students from major sports colleges.

Before arriving at the post, you must first go through systematic training and obtain a first-aider certificate. "We have a training and assessment system, involving equipment use, skiing ability, mechanical operation, rescue and rescue, safety hazard investigation, safety protection layout and other work skills." To become a ski patrol member, the entire training cycle requires at least two snow seasons. Ren Wanxin is very confident in the business ability of his team.

Once you join the team, the training will not stop. "At work, I feel that the knowledge of first aid is never enough." In 2016, Ren Wanxin went abroad to study for two months, and after returning to China, he improved the team's job responsibilities and risk control program for the snow field. In the off-season, ski patrols also go directly to the hospital for first-aid training. "We will follow the ambulance to the scene to rescue, learn the doctor's handling methods, and strive not to cause secondary injuries to the injured patient during the rescue." Ren Wanxin said.

For ski enthusiasts on a growing scale, Ren Wanxin also wants to remind himself: "Don't enter the slopes that do not meet your own level, and always pay attention to the various signs on the slopes." Everyone should be in awe when skiing, responsible for themselves, responsible for safety. ”

"We will successfully complete the safety and security work of the Winter Olympics and show the quality of the Chinese ski patrol team"

At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Genting Ski Park will hold 6 competitions such as U-shaped field skills, slope obstacle course skills, snow skills, aerial skills, obstacle chases, and parallel giant slaloms, resulting in a total of 20 gold medals. The ski patrol will be responsible for the construction of safety equipment and track rescue work on the race track.

"We have always been strict with ourselves with the standards of the Winter Olympics. I can proudly say that we are ready!" Ren Wanxin said: "Serving the Winter Olympics puts forward higher requirements for us, so that we have more motivation to improve ourselves in our work. ”

In November 2021, the FIS Snowboarding and Freestyle Steeplechase World Cups were held at Genting Ski Park. After the test of the event, the entire patrol team has new gains: "The young team members have enhanced their sense of mission, everyone will think seriously, take the initiative to find problems and actively adjust, and the work attitude and mental outlook will be renewed." ”

At present, this ski patrol is seizing the time to conduct systematic drills. "We want to share the experience of the test match with other team members, determine the team members to cultivate tacit understanding, and master the equipment of the Winter Olympic Games."

Serve the Winter Olympics, details first. The first requirement of the team after the actual combat test is that the team's sliding action should be the standard, because "when dragging the ambulance sled, the two cooperate to maintain the same rate and minimize the vibration of the wounded." Ren Wanxin said: "It should also be noted that all rescue equipment cannot be passed over the head of the wounded, the snowboard should be placed on the outside of the wounded, and the system of words with humanistic care should be mastered." ”

"We want to show the professionalism and temperature of patrolling and rescue during the Winter Olympics." Ren Wanxin and the team members are full of expectations for the Winter Olympics: "We will successfully complete the safety and security work of the Winter Olympics and show the quality of the Chinese ski patrol team!"

People's Daily ( 2022-01-17 15th edition)