First annual Freeride Avalanche Summit to benefit UAC

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

By Jared Hargrave for Utah Outside

UAC - Keeping You On Top

Snowbird and the Utah Avalanche Center are teaming up this year to present the first annual Freeride Avalanche Summit. The event will consist of two-day clinics 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.

The clinics will focus on 20 hours of classroom and on-mountain avalanche instruction with topics to include snowpack evaluation, terrain assessment, first-aid techniques, emergency notification procedures and more.

To help out, a whole roster of professional athletes, ski patrol, and avalanche forecasters have been assembled to provide a blend of instruction from different perspectives.

Teachers on hand will include:

•Members of the UAC and Colorado Avalanche Information Center
•Snowbird Ski Patrol and Snow Safety
•Jim Conway, lead guide for Teton Gravity Research
•Professional skiers Jeremy Nobis, Gordy Pfeiffer, Jenn Berg and Brant Moles
•Wasatch Powderbird Guides
•And more to be announced

The cost of the Freeride Avalanche Summit is $150 and is limited to only 40 participants, so sign up early. In addition, ski passes will be discounted to $36 per day for non-pass holding participants. To register, sign up in-person at the Snowbird Activity Center of call (801) 933-2147.

For more info: visit Snowbird’s Freeride Avalanche Summit page.

Utah's Snowbird Ski Resort Hosts Freeride Avalanche Summit, Dec. 17-18

From: www.UtahSkier.net

Utah's Snowbird Ski Resort Hosts Freeride Avalanche Summit, Dec. 17-18

SNOWBIRD, UT – Snowbird Ski Resort and the Utah Avalanche Center are partnering to offer the first annual Freeride Avalanche Summit, Dec. 17-18. The two-day clinic targets advance and expert skiers and riders who want practical and professional instruction on avalanche awareness, safety and rescue.

The Freeride Avalanche Summit will include a unique blend of instruction that combines the expertise of industry leading avalanche forecasters with the experience and influence of local, professional athletes. Expected participants include:

Members of the UAC and Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Snowbird Ski Patrol and Snow Safety
Jim Conway, lead guide for Teton Gravity Research
Jeremy Nobis, professional skier
Gordy Pfeiffer, professional skier
Jenn Berg, professional skier
Brant Moles, professional skier
Wasatch Powderbird Guides

“With the increase in backcountry and sidecountry traffic, it’s more important than ever to offer tangible and affordable avalanche instruction to hard-charging skiers and riders,” said UAC Forecaster and Freeride Avalanche Summit founder Craig Gordon. “This Summit brings together an awesome group of leading forecasters along with some of the best winter athletes in Utah.”

The Freeride Avalanche Summit offers more than 20 hours of classroom and on-mountain instruction during the two-day session. Topics include snowpack analysis, terrain assessment, first aid techniques, emergency notification procedures and more along with ski patrol briefings and actual line selection sessions with professional athletes.

A full schedule can be found at www.snowbird.com/freerideavalanchesummit.html. The Summit costs $150 and is limited to 40 participants; discounted lift tickets of $36/day will also be offered to non-passholders for the on-mountain portion of the program. Advanced and expert skiers and riders can register by visiting the Snowbird Activity Center or calling (801) 933-2147.