NZMGA » Ski Guide Training Course

01 - 04 Aug 2023 4 days open

This guides training course is to take solid amateur backcountry ski touring skills and knowledge and teach the candidate how to change/modify techniques, skills and knowledge into professional ski guiding techniques, skills and knowledge.

General - As for NZMGA Ski Guide pathway or IFMGA Mountain Guide pathway
Specific - A Pass obtained in the Technical Ski Course

Backcountry terrain of Queenstown/Wanaka - eg back of Treble Cone, back of Cardrona, back of Remarkables.
Back of Ohau ski field, Awakino ski field, Mueller Hut area, Mt Wakefield

Heliski Helicopter Load/Unload Techniques
- Discussion
Laying a Skinning Track
- Client friendly skinning track
- Terrain analysis for such a skinning track
Skinning Technique
- Turns - shuffle, kick into hill, kick facing out of hill
- Glide
- Use of heel lifts
Equipment Issues
- Helmets
- Skis
- Bindings
- Skins
- Ski wax
- Skin wax
- Problem solving
Downhill Ski Techniques For Clients
- Powder
- Breakable crust
- Firm/icy
- Heavy pack
Management Of The Skinning Phase

Management Of The Downhill Run

Communication With Clients
- Briefings
- Boundaries
Client Safety
- Slide for life
- Crevasse hazards
Crevasse Rescue
- Spectra type ropes
- Improvised harness
- Ski anchor
White-out Skiing Technique

Poor Snow Stability Guiding
- Terrain selection
Snow Safety
- Quick guiding tests
- Test profiles
- Morning after storm evaluation
Avalanche Rescue
- Transceiver briefings
- Guide transceiver search standards