Backcountry Access and Ski-Doo have teamed up again this season to offer free avalanche awareness and avoidance seminars for snowmobilers. Forty in-person events at sled dealers are scheduled across the U.S. and Canada in October and November 2021 for all riders of all brands at all levels of experience.
Whether you’re a newbie or a pro, starting the season by attending a free avalanche awareness and avoidance class for snowmobilers will keep your skills fresh and your mind sharp.
As the global snowmobile market leader, Ski-Doo recognizes the importance of continuing its role to advance rider safety in backcountry use. BCA joined the effort to educate snowmobilers in 2015 to provide complementary information on the avalanche equipment needed for backcountry safety.
2021 AVALANCHE AWARENESS SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Over 40 free avalanche awareness and avoidance seminars for snowmobilers will be held at snowmobile dealer locations across the US and Canada in the fall of 2021.
BCA sled ambassador Mike Duffy of Avalanche1.com is one of the most recognized snowmobile trainers in North America. He’s a certified instructor, course provider, and professional member of the American Avalanche Association. He leads the seminars in the United States, instructing at the American Avalanche Institute, Alaska Avalanche School, and Silverton Avalanche School. Duffy has been giving snowmobile-specific avalanche classes since 1996. As a rescue team leader in the Vail Mountain Rescue Group, he has more than 29 years of mountain riding and mountain rescue experience. He is also a Backcountry Guide and riding instructor.
Seminars in Canada are led by BCA sled ambassador Marshall Dempster, a recognized avalanche forecaster, Lead Instructor (AST1 and 2), and Backcountry Guide. Dempster is a Professional Member of the Canadian Avalanche Association, professional avalanche forecaster, and retired Canadian Avalanche Association Rescue dog handler. He has 20 years of mountain experience focused on safe travel and mountain rescue.
More than 20,000 snowmobilers have attended the BCA and Ski-Doo-sponsored avalanche awareness seminars, with highly positive feedback from the sled community over the past six seasons. This year, there are ongoing challenges with COVID social distancing and large group gathering regulations that vary by location. Still, Ski-Doo dealers and avalanche seminar instructors are working together to meet local rules and expectations.
Riders are encouraged to bring friends along, especially those with whom they ride most often. The core benefit is clear – help raise group awareness of those you ride with and care about, ensure you can all track the groups’ well-being, and help each other if a situation ever occurs.
Along with sponsoring in-person seminars, Ski-Doo has created educational videos that can be found on the Ski-Doo website. BCA also has a series of avalanche safety and equipment videos located under our 'Learn' menu. In addition, riders are also encouraged to use Backcountry Ascender, an online backcountry education platform. This free, self-directed Backcountry Ascender program provides basic avalanche education and encourages traditional course attendance to advance to higher levels. Much of the course content can be completed online, and where needed, the program directs users to relevant in-person courses like the Ski-Doo/BCA-sponsored seminars.
Note: Because there may be COVID restrictions in place, participants are encouraged to register with the host dealer so they can plan meeting space accordingly and ensure a spot.