The Snowbasin Freeride Avalanche Workshop happened over the last few days, and I was lucky enough to be able to attend Tuesday’s session while on assignment for KSL Outdoors. When I wasn’t busy shooting video for a TV story, I soaked in all the good avalanche and safety information I could, which was invaluable. The Freeride Avalanche Workshop is a two-day clinic designed for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders who are looking to explore the backcountry and need professional instruction on avalanche awareness, safety and rescue.
To help out, a whole roster of professional athletes, ski patrol, and avalanche forecasters assembled to provide a blend of instruction from different perspectives both in the classroom and out on the mountain where everything participants learned could be practiced.
While I was only there on Tuesday, it was crystal clear that this clinic is a must-do for anybody who is just starting to learn, or is an expert backcountry skier that needs a refresher. What makes the Freeride Avalanche Workshop different from your typical Level 1 avy course, is that you get to pick the brains of pro skiers, avalanche forecasters and ski patrol, and learn from their past experiences/blunders with avalanches. You also get to learn different techniques to apply to your time in the mountains, such as how to set up and stay safe when shooting photos and videos of your friends as they shred in avalanche terrain.
In just the Tuesday session, I first learned from pro skier Jenn Berg about how to communicate for production shots in avalanche or sketchy terrain. Then Craig Gordon taught the group about snowpack structure, assessment and testing techniques. After that, Ian McCammon gave an amazingly heartfelt and essential talk about simple ways to manage risk in the backcountry. His ideas really gave me pause.
After a quick lunch we headed out into the Snowbasin backcountry to dig some pits, practice stability tests, and perform terrain management techniques.
It was a fun group and I learned a lot. So if you missed out this year, be sure to mark your calendar for the next Freeride Avalanche Workshop. The knowledge you gain from the world’s best avalanche experts is priceless, and it could save you or your buddy’s life one day.
As always, log onto the Utah Avalanche Center website for the most up-to-date info.