CAA Avalanche Safety & Rescue Skills

The Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) supports avalanche practitioners in Canada by organizing professional training courses, providing a system for information exchange and ensures that members meet the highest practise standards to secure confidence in their avalanche safety programs.

CAA members serve the public by competently evaluating avalanche hazards and managing risks to protect people and property from avalanches.

Instructor Academy has invited the CAA to prepare a course that will fulfil the requirements of our additional disciplines, as well as the requirements of EFPEM in Andorra.

By combining the AST1 and CRS courses plus adding a lot more field time to practice with decision making support tools and avalanche safety equipment, we can provide and excellent 5 day course which is presented by Avalanche Quebec. 

We require NO qualifications or pre-requisites to take this Course.  You will need to be a fairly good skier! 

Here is a resume of the two courses:

Avalanche Skills Training 1

An AST 1 course is where you’ll learn the fundamentals of travelling in avalanche terrain. It is suitable for people with basic training and little experience.

AST 1 Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, students should be able to:
• Understand the basics of avalanche formation and release.
• Identify avalanche terrain.
• Know the steps required to plan and carry out a trip.
• Use the Avaluator2.0 as a decision-making tool in areas where trips are      rated using the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) and where  avalanche bulletins are available.
• Find resources for obtaining ATES terrain ratings if their trip is not rated.
• Find resources for obtaining avalanche danger ratings and avalanche  bulletins if these are not available.
• Use appropriate travel techniques in avalanche terrain.
• Carry out a companion rescue.
• Understand the limits of their training.

Companion Rescue Skills

A Companion Rescue Skills course is a must-have for all backcountry recreationists in any sport, because it teaches life-saving search and rescue techniques. The CRS course may be the first step of your avalanche training, or an important refresher for those with previous training.

CRS Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, students should be able to:
• Consider and incorporate preventative measures.
• Prioritize actions if caught in an avalanche.
• Understand the function of airbags.
• Understand transceiver functions and practice transceiver skills.
• Apply search and rescue techniques.
• Practice searching without a transceiver.
• Consider multiple burial situations.
• Organize a group rescue.
• Identify post-incident considerations.

The Andorran Government requires you to have this 5 day Off Piste Training.

NB:
For both these courses your Winter Sports Insurance Policy will have to specifically provide cover for Off Piste Skiing, Ski Touring and Back Mountain Country Activities. We will require a signed affirmation from you that this Insurance cover is in place.