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Avalanche Education

2017-18 NATIONAL AVALANCHE SCHOOL:
ESSENTIAL TRAINING FOR SKI AREA WORKERS,
SNOW RANGERS, & FORECASTERS

BY ANDY LAPKASS, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, NATIONAL AVALANCHE SCHOOL

THE NATIONAL AVALANCHE SCHOOL is the only school of its “If ski area managers could send patrollers to one
kind that offers students a unique opportunity to learn from education opportunity, it should be the National
and engage with leading US avalanche experts in a variety Avalanche School. With a faculty of the top avalanche
of realistic settings, and the only school focused on ski area professionals in the country, the NAS provides the most
operations. Held every other year, the upcoming 2017-18 NAS comprehensive curriculum available that is specifically
will offer a full slate of in-depth and hands-on educational ses- designed for ski area avalanche applications.”
sions designed for avalanche mitigation and response personnel.
Completion of the National Avalanche School Alan Henceroth, COO/Vice President,
Classroom and Field Sessions earns a PRO1-NAS designa- Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, CO
tion of US Professional Training, a higher level and more
complete training than a basic Pro1. (For more informa-
tion on the new designation, see “American Avalanche National Avalanche School Classroom Session
Association Pro Training: Progress Report,” winter 2017.) 4 days, 1 evening
This designation indicates a student has completed eight full October 22-26, 2017, Breckenridge, CO
days of snow and avalanche training oriented toward ski area National Avalanche School Field Sessions
operations. The basic Pro1 designation involves five days of 4 days, January–February 2018, at the following resorts:
training and does not have the operational focus. The NAS • Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY
covers additional mitigation and avalanche program funda- • Alta, UT
mentals, operational communication and decision-making, • Arapahoe Basin, CO
and pertinent forecasting topics. These are all important ele- • Crystal Mountain, WA
ments for any ski area worker, snow ranger, or forecaster.
NAS instructors are leaders of US avalanche programs—
they have written the books, developed the science, and apply environment for workers early in their career as well as for sea-
the most current best practices in their own daily operations. soned patrollers seeking current updates and best practices as
They are excellent instructors and their goal is to have the stu- taught by the best professionals in the country.
dents return back to their home ski area with valuable skills, NAS instructors include leading US forecasters and
knowledge, and information to share. Another important ski area and highway operations personnel, such as Karl
takeaway from the NAS is that students develop lifetime pro- Birkeland, Ethan Greene, Bruce Tremper, Evelyn Lees,
fessional relationships with the instructors and other students. Wendy Wagner, Doug Chabot, Scott Savage, Simon
New for 2017-18, the NAS will partner with the Trautman, Craig Sterbenz, Paul Baugher, Mike Rheam,
American Avalanche Institute to produce the four-day field Ryan Evanczyk, among other subject experts.
sessions. This partnership brings together the two long- To gain an understanding of the amazing benefits of the
time US leaders in Professional Operational Training. Both National Avalanche School, all you have to do is ask one of
groups have a legacy of quality, professional training, and the 43 different ski patrol directors, mountain managers, or
instruction that reaches back to the 1970s. professional program leaders that sent some of their people to
NAS students enter the program having a minimum of two the 2015-16 National Avalanche School.
seasons of hands-on operational experience. Because of this, the Registration for the 2017-18 NAS is now open, with
NAS program can ensure much more than entry-level training. early sign-up discounts. For more information and to
The NAS provides dynamic interaction and a positive learning register, visit www.avalancheschool.org.

50 | NSAA JOURNAL | SPRING 2017