Vail photo: Ski Patrol Cup

VAIL, Colorado — Team members begin the first leg of the sixth annual Ski Patrol Cup in Vail. The team member of the left is reading the team's first task. The patrol cup consists of 10 teams of six. Team members negotiate a course on Vail Mountain that consists of elements involving their job, such as search and rescue, beacon search, rappel, closure building, and decision making. It is a very strenuous course that takes about an hour. It's primary focus is leadership, teamwork and fun.