Avalanche Skills Refresher

Update your avalanche skills with a one-day refresher that can be tailored to the aspirations of the group. Under the direction of an experienced avalanche professional, the day can revise concepts and exercises from a previously attended Avalanche Awareness or Avalanche Skills Course 1 or 2. The day can include coaching on trip planning, terrain analysis, avalanche assessment and decision-making, through to practicing and fine-tuning skills on companion rescue scenarios.

Location

Our Avalanche Skills Refreshers are practical field days run in either the Cardrona backcountry or the Motutapu Conservation Area adjacent to the Treble Cone ski field. For access through Treble Cone, a lift pass is required.

Itinerary

This day with an experienced mountain or ski guide will revise and help consolidate the knowledge and concepts introduced in previous courses. The result will enable you to more confidently make decisions to safely travel in more challenging terrain and on multi-day trips away from a public avalanche forecast.

The day will begin with a morning meeting to discuss the anticipated conditions and the implications for the avalanche hazard and travel choices. At the end of the day, a debrief will assist in reflection on the learnings from the day.

Avalanche Skills Refresher Syllabus

We recommend revising the MSC Online Avalanche Course prior to attending this course. Especially if it is a while since you attended an Avalanche Skills Course 1 or 2.

Many topics can be covered during the day and can include:

Terrain analysis including identifying avalanche terrain
Identifying and predicting avalanche conditions
Decision making
Safe travel techniques
Trip planning and route selection including applying the avalanche forecast
Avalanche companion rescue for small or larger groups including multiple casualty scenarios, leadership and avoiding communication, transceiver, probing, and digging pitfalls
Techniques for managing larger rescue groups or sites

What to Expect

All participants must be equipped for backcountry travel with suitable clothing, eyewear, and ski or snowboard touring equipment and have some experience using it. This includes a shovel transceiver and probe that can be hired from us if required.

Why a Wānaka Mountain Guides Avalanche Course?

All our avalanche courses are delivered by Avalanche Risk Management Level 6 qualified mountain or ski guides. This is the highest level of avalanche qualification available in New Zealand and demonstrates significant avalanche industry practical knowledge and experience in fields including guiding, ski patrol, and forecasting. This ensures that participants receive industry-leading instruction covering the latest techniques.

Pricing and Dates

Duration: 1-day

Get in touch to make arrangements for private groups.

2024 Price:

$290 / $370 /$490 per person for 4+ / 3 / 2 participants.

Includes: GST, guide fees, compliance costs, avalanche equipment, and transport from Wānaka.
Excludes: food, lift passes (if required), ski touring equipment hire

Participants require a Treble Cone lift pass. For those without a season pass, a day touring lift ticket can be brought on the day for $75.

Maximum ratio: 1:6