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future Pro Course instructors. The goals of these three-day meetings, workshops, and working groups and have been key
workshops are to familiarize future Pro Course instructors collaborators as we’ve developed the details of the program
with the program and course structure; review the specific and courses. We’ve solicited ongoing feedback and input
skills, proficiencies, and marking rubrics for each course; on program details from ski areas through our Industry
and demonstrate and practice consistent student evalua- Advisory Group with Julie Rust of Vail Resorts as our ski
tion processes. One of the keys to the success of the AAA area representative within that group.
Pro Training Program is a robust system for supporting and The National Avalanche School will continue to be a
monitoring the consistency and quality of pro courses. The source of outside training for ski patrollers that approaches
Pro Trainer Workshops are a proactive piece of this model to avalanches from more of a mitigation perspective. NAS will
encourage consistent course content and student assessment. be going through the AAA approval process to officially offer
While the upcoming workshops are already full, there a “Pro 1-NAS” course starting next season. This course will
will be other chances to be involved in teaching Pro Training meet all requirements of the new AAA Professional Avalanche
Courses in the future. Individuals who work for an AAA- Training 1 (Pro 1) course and go beyond these requirements to
approved Pro Course Provider will have opportunities for address specific perspectives and topics important to ski patrol-
in-house training prior to next season, and the AAA will lers and ski areas, including decision making, forecasting,
continue to offer Pro Trainer Workshops on an annual basis running routes, and shot placement. (Visit avalancheschool.
to meet the needs of the program and course providers. org for more information on the course).
Ski areas and ski patrollers who handle avalanche haz- Even as the new AAA Pro Training Program holds huge
ard mitigation at their resorts are, obviously, vitally import- potential to benefit the industry with improved quality, con-
ant members of the community of avalanche professionals in sistency, and access to professional level avalanche training,
the US. The AAA has strived to include ski area/patrol per- we are also committed to recognizing the value of the expe-
spective as we’ve led the process of designing and implement- rience and training that we all have gained through various
ing the new Pro Training Program. Representatives of the avenues prior to this new system. The AAA has designed a
National Avalanche School have participated in numerous Prior Learning Assessment matrix and process that provides