Avalanche clinic run by S.A.F.E. AS includes beacon, shovel and probe practice. copyright/credit: @jenschmidtphoto
CLINIC OVERVIEW
Each clinic is one day long, begins with yoga, a classroom session by pro skier, guide, and avalanche forecaster Lel Tone, assisted by the likes of the rest of us skiers and snowboarders to provide our experience and additional information. We all then have lunch and go out on the hill, learn some more, and do rescue scenarios and beacon, shovel, and probe practice.
Then we celebrate with an apres party and the swaggiest raffle ever, all which benefits charities such as the Sierra Avalanche Center, HighFives, and the Northwest Avalanche Center. Over the past five years, we’ve taught over 600 students and raised nearly $20,000 for charity!
In past years the clinics have all been women-specific, but this year we are bringing on skier Cody Townsend to do our inaugural co-ed clinic in Squaw Valley.
***This year we will be offering for the first time ever a Co-Ed clinic at Squaw Valley on Sunday, December 11th. This is the ONLY Co-Ed event offered. Men, ages 14 and older are able to join with us women to start or refresh their snow and avalanche safety knowledge. ***
ABOUT SAFE AS
S.A.F.E. A.S. Clinics is a women’s tailored, beginner to experienced friendly, avalanche awareness and safety clinic. Founded by Elyse Saugstad, Jackie Paaso, Michelle Parker, Ingrid Backstrom, Lel Tone and Sherry McConkey with the intention to foster an open, welcoming and enthusiastic environment by which to encourage participation and communication to play in the mountains during the winter safely. Partial proceeds from the events are donated to snow community non-profits.
Each S.A.F.E. Avalanche clinic offers a morning info session by pro skier, guide and avalanche forecaster, Lel Tone copyright/credit: @jenschmidtphoto
One day avalanche clinic offered by S.A.F.E. AS takes participants outside to practice rescue scenarios. copyright/credit: @jenschmidtphoto
Avalanche
