Mountain Safety & Avalanche Training is essential for all skiers and snowboarders who want to go off piste. At Avoriaz Alpine Ski School we are passionate about off piste and backcountry snowsports and recognise the importance of equipping people with the skills and knowledge to navigate these potentially hazardous environments.
Our instructors are highly experienced in off piste navigation and avalanche safety and provide a comprehensive selection of courses for skiers and snowboarders who wish to enjoy off-piste & powder snow and to learn and upskill in mountain safety and avalanche awareness.
An introduction to mountain safety & avalanche awareness (4 hours).
For adults and teenagers who wish to ski or snowboard off-piste.
- Off Piste Snow sport hazards
- Emergency phone numbers
- Forecasting, mapping & the Avalanche Bulletin
- Off piste equipment
- An intro to companion rescue in avalanche response.
Meet at Avoriaz Alpine Ski School hut. Session delivered on skiing or snowboarding equipment. Lift pass needed. You must be capable on red run terrain. Bring backpack and warm clothing. Bring your own Transceiver/shovel/probe or request to borrow (no extra fee)
Understanding Avalanche Terrain - 4 hours
Learn the features of avalanche terrain to understand the dangers - so you can avoid the wrong places at the wrong times. For skiers and snowboarders who wish to go off-piste, avoid danger and score good snow conditions - this is your most valuable skill set.
- How to identify terrain features which influence avalanche danger & snow conditions
- Learn how to avoid avalanches by understanding where and when they occur
Meet at Avoriaz Alpine Ski School hut. Session delivered on skiing or snowboarding equipment. Lift pass needed. You must be confident on red run terrain. Bring backpack and warm clothing. Bring your own Transceiver/shovel/probe or request to borrow (no extra fee)
Field Observation Skills & Companion Rescue follow up (4 hours)
In the Level 3 session you will learn skills and tools for monitoring snow and avalanche conditions, as well as group management tactics and some further companion rescue training.
Learn how to identify red flags of avalanche danger and how to manage your group in off-piste environments.
Meet at Avoriaz Alpine Ski School hut.
Session delivered on skiing or snowboarding equipment. Lift pass needed.
Bring backpack and warm clothing. You must be confident on red run terrain. Bring your own Transceiver/shovel/probe or request to borrow (no extra fee)
Search & Rescue Skills for avalanche response - 4 Hours
For those with no or limited experience in avalanche rescue who wish to go over or recap the basics from the beginning.
Training for fast and effective search and rescue:
- Group management
- Transceiver protocols & search patterns
- Systematic probing
- Efficient shovelling
For those who wish to learn or refresh their skills in avalanche response
Meet at Avoriaz Alpine Ski School hut.
Session delivered on skiing or snowboarding equipment. Lift pass needed.
Bring backpack and warm clothing
Bring your own Transceiver/shovel/probe or request to borrow (no extra fee)
Advanced Search & Rescue Skills for avalanche response - 4 Hours
For those who have done companion rescue training before, this advanced session is designed to sharpen your skills and challenge you with various scenarios such as:
- Large search areas
- Challenging terrain
- Multiple burials
- Search team group management
You must be confident skiing or snowboarding in black and steep off-piste terrain.
Meet at Avoriaz Alpine Ski School hut.
Session delivered on skiing or snowboarding equipment. Lift pass needed.
Bring backpack and warm clothing
Bring your own Transceiver/shovel/probe or request to borrow (no extra fee)
For skiers confident on black run terrain who are looking to improve their skiing in off piste and variable snow conditions as well as taking formal avalanche training.​ Join Basi ISTD L4 ski instructors George Treble or Mark Mckellar for these 4 full day courses of instruction, guiding and avalanche training in Morzine Avoriaz. You can find more information on these courses on this dedicated webpage.
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INCLUDING:​
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4 mornings advanced ski technique tuition & guiding for steeper terrain & off piste conditions.
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4 afternoons of formal avalanche safety training
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Online pre-study preparation course (3 hours)
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Daily Review of the weather forecasts & avalanche bulletins
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Ski technique video analysis
Check out the full syllabus & schedule here.
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Off Piste safety and avalanche awareness is a fascinating and imperative topic for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Whilst there is no substitute for real world experience and formal training in the mountains, there is also a lot of theory and understanding that can be studied ahead of your time in the snow. This 4 hour online course covers the 10 essential themes in off piste safety. You can find out more info & start the course for free on Alpine tutorials.com
