Time to get trained up and refreshed for the winter ski and splitboarding season! This year the Edmonton Section is pleased to share a full spectrum of avalanche skills training (AST) opportunities for beginners through to advanced practitioners. For complete details of the courses we have set up specifically for Edmonton members, please review the PDF OVERVIEW, HERE. Below is a brief summary along with registration instructions for each.
Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 (AST 1)
This beginner, standardized 2-day course is the starting point for venturing into the backcountry on skis or splitboard, and a prerequisite for many Section ski trips. Unlike other providers, this private course guarantees a small class size (8 students) to maximize the learning experience. Full details HERE (Page 2).
Dec 15 – 16, 2018 in Lake Louise, AB; Instructor: Cyril Shokoples, Rescue Dynamics; Course Fees are $226, plus costs of pre-booked hostel accommodations. TO REGISTER: please email dustin.mclachlan@gmail.com
Avalanche Companion Rescue Skills and AST Update
This unique, 2-day intermediate course offers a mix of classroom and field setting to update participants on recent developments in avalanche safety and the critical components of Companion Rescue. It integrates a day of rescue skills with a day of trip planning, the “Forecasters Funnel” for weather, Decision-Making, Avaluator 2, ATES Scale, recent human factors research, modern interpretation of tests and AvCan’s new “Dangerator”. This course should be taken by anyone who wants to get better at planning, evaluating hazard and risk reduction as well as increasing their chances of surviving an avalanche and/or recovering a companion who has been buried. Suitable for anyone with previous AST 1, AST 2, or RAC equivalent. Full details HERE (Page 1).
Dec 8 – 9, 2018 in Lake Louise, AB; Instructor: Cyril Shokoples, Rescue Dynamics; Course Fees are $226, plus costs of pre-booked hostel accommodations. TO REGISTER: please email eahigham@gmail.com
Winter Decision-Making and Leadership Seminar (Edmonton)
This evening or full day seminar is to be held in Edmonton and will build on the success of last year’s “Ski Leader Seminar”. The seminar will be instructed/facilitated by Matt Reynolds, an ACMG guide and instructor at the ACC-TNF winter leadership courses. The seminar will be applicable to anyone interested in developing their soft leadership skills as well as decision-making in avalanche terrain, and is suitable for current leaders and anyone aspiring to lead Section trips or independent groups.
Nov. 3, 2018 in Edmonton, AB (venue to be confirmed). Matt Reynolds. Course Fees are $65.
TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE FOR EVENTBRITE TICKET SALES
OTHER RECOMMENDED COURSES
Don’t see what you are looking for above? The ACC National office is offering additional courses for winter 2018/2019. These are very cost effective and taught by well-known ACMG guide and instructor, Doug Latimer. Courses are offered on multiple dates at alpineclubofcanada.ca and include:
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Backcountry Skiing/Boarding Next Steps: 2-day field course designed to bridge the gap for a beginner backcountry skier between AST 1, and what you need to go out with your peers in the backcountry. The course includes Avalanche Canada’s curriculum for “Managing Avalanche Terrain”.
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AST 2: Essential training for intermediate backcountry skiers and boards that builds on the foundations of AST 1, and provides a more advanced decision-making framework for travelling in avalanche terrain. Student to instructor ratio will be max 8:1 with max class size of 16.
