Fostering long-term commitment among certified career volunteers in outdoor adventure recreation: integrating role identity in the volunteer process model for ski patrollers

Purpose/Rationale: The National Ski Patrol (NSP) and ski resorts across the U.S. rely heavily on certified volunteer ski patrollers to provide safety, rescue, and first response services. Due to the high level of training, skill, and commitment required of volunteer ski patrollers, it is essential to understand what factors can promote retention. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the theoretical frameworks of the Volunteer Process Model (VPM), serious leisure, and identity theory, this cross-sectional quantitative study of NSP volunteer ski patrollers (N = 658) examined how volunteer antecedents (e.g. motivations), experiences, and role identity related to continued years of service. Findings: Structural equation model results indicate that age, several motivation functions, social/efficacy satisfaction, and role identity relate to continued service via a combination of direct and mediated relationships. Practical Implications: Findings support management efforts aimed at enhancing motivation, social/efficacy satisfaction, and role identity, while also promoting the intrinsic benefits of ski patrolling. Research Contribution: This research demonstrates how volunteer ski patrolling is a form of serious leisure and advances understanding of how role identity relates to the VPM. Originality/Value: This study extends the VPM by incorporating serious leisure and role identity while focusing on an understudied volunteer population supporting worldwide ski resort operations.