Ski-Doo Announces Free Virtual Avalanche Awareness Seminars for All Riders
Valcourt, QC (August 28, 2020) – Ski-Doo snowmobiles, in collaboration with Backcountry Access (BCA) and Avalanche 1, will once again help provide free avalanche education and awareness this fall for riders of all brands of snowmobiles.
There is a new approach this year, however, as the seminars will be held online in a series of 16 short episodes. This format allows riders to learn at a pace that fits their schedule, and makes it easy to re-watch sections or entire episodes to ensure they understand the material completely and thoroughly.
The seminars are usually held in person at dealerships across North America, but current realities have made it impossible to support large gatherings, as many stops had between one and two hundred attendees—a testament to the value they provide.
Twelve Years of Free Avalanche Training Offered
This marks 12 consecutive years that Ski-Doo has offered free training, having taken a lead role for snowmobile education since 2009. And it’s the fifth year that BCA, a widely respected avalanche safety equipment manufacturer, has partnered with their expertise and reach within the backcountry and mountain recreation community. Along with sponsoring seminars, Ski-Doo and BCA also encourage riders to use Backcountry Ascender, an online backcountry safety education platform. This free, self-directed program provides basic avalanche education and encourages traditional course attendance to advance to higher levels.
Mike Duffy of Avalanche 1 has been the instructor for all United States courses and will be the host instructor for the series with special guests joining him throughout. Mike is one of the most recognized snowmobile-specific avalanche educators in North America with more than 30 years of mountain riding and mountain rescue experience and has provided training for the four snowmobile OEMs, FBI Hostage Rescue Team, and Navy Seals.
The online seminars will start in late September with two per week released on the Ski-Doo website.
Visit the Ski-Doo USA avalanche educational content and a BCA gear giveaway here.
The Ski-Doo avalanche educational content and BCA gear giveaway for Canadians can be found here.
The content will be available as a resource all year on both sites.
– MS