AMGA Contract Ski Guide Course 12 Day
The AMGA Ski Guide Course is the first of three courses and exams toward becoming AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guide Certified. See the AMGA website for the complete flow chart for courses and exams toward becoming an AMGA Ceritifed as well as an IFMGA Internationally Licensed Mountain Guide.
Bela Vadasz has teamed up with Howie Schwartz, the two AMGA Ski Guide Discipline Coordinators and the two most experienced, senior instructors who will teach this special course here in the Sierra. Both have extensive guide training experience in the Sierra, Alaska and the European Alps. They are primary contributors to the development of the AMGA Ski Program.
They have chosen the best venues to produce the highest quality Ski Guide Course being offered by the AMGA. The first 4 days will be held at Donner Pass, then the remaining 8 in the Eastern Sierra.
Cost: $2,200
Dates:
Mar 4-15, 2009 (Wed-Sun) 2 spots
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How to apply:
- Review AMGA Course Catalog at www.amga.com
- Submit AMGA Membership Application to AMGA if necessary.
- Review the prerequisites (below).
- If you meet the prerequisites for the Ski Guide Course, complete the ASI Registration, Medical and Release Forms, along with the AMGA Ski Guide Course Application and send by email, mail or fax.
See "Deposits and Payments" section on our Terms & Conditions page.
Prerequisites:
- Current Associate Member or higher of the AMGA.
- Four years of personal ski touring experience, including leading multi-day tours and peak ascents.
- Meet the Skiing Standard (see below).
- Basic rope management and rappelling skills.
- Excellent physical condition.
- Completed AIARE Level 2 or AMGA approved equivalent avalanche course. Equivalent course must have the Discipline Coordinator’s or Technical Director’s written approval.
AMGA Skiing Standard: (Technical Description)
To meet the AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guide Standard, a candidate must demonstrate the following level of skiing skills:
- Ski with a centered, efficient stance with appropriate ankle and knee flexion along with the ability to move center of mass fore/aft and laterally to maintain dynamic balance in all situations and snow conditions.
- Begin each turn by noticeably moving the center of mass in the direction of the new turn.
- Generate turning power from the feet and lower legs rather than from the upper body.
- Upper/lower body separation with a countered relationship to create anticipation of a new turn along with precise pole plant timing and usage in all situations.
- A continuum of skills blending from wedge and stem turns to dynamic, high speed, carved parallel turns with high edge angles and center of mass well inside the turn.
- Controlled skiing in any situation including very steep (up to 50°) narrow chutes with the ability to bring any turn to a stop if necessary.
- Rhythm and flow in turn-to-turn skiing with a guide's pack or multi-day pack.
To enter the AMGA Ski Guide Program, the applicant should be skiing at or very near the certification standard. If the candidate doesn't meet these pre-requisites, the Course Director will decide if they can continue with all or parts of the course and the candidate will receive an incomplete for this part of the course. They will have to be re-evaluated before being able to participate in the Ski Mountaineering Guide Course/aspirant exam.
The following videos are examples of candidates and certified guides skiing at the AMGA Ski Standard.
Video 1 (516 kb)
Short radius parallel turns
Video 2 (407 kb)
Short radius parallel turns
Video 3 (712 kb)
Short/Medium radius parallel turns
Video 4 (360 kb)
Medium radius parallel turns
Video 5 (288 kb)
Controlled Steep Skiing
Video 6 (345 kb)
Dynamic parallel turns
Questions about this course?
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