Following on from the AGM and Annual Dinner, the FIRST time ever for this event to be held outside of the UK, 12 slightly worse for wear guides gathered at the Grands Montets for 2 days of Continuous Professional Development training. The CPD is a requirement to retain the qualification, but since many of us opt to take a ski course , it's hardly a chore.
Splitting into 2 groups, we covered 3 subjects over the 2 days of training. The newly elected Training Officer, Terry Ralphs, hosted a workshop on Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue. In early season, this is a subject never far from the back of our minds, and the resulting discussions and technical sessions provided many different approaches to this important issue. Ski guiding in particular is a very solitary profession, so an opportunity to share techniques is always welcome. Here we see Steve setting up a crossed ski belay while Dave and Terry look on.
On the second day, we were given an excellent presentation and training session on avalanche transceivers by Louis Piguet, an IFMGA Guide from Leysin in nearby Switzerland, who is also the after sales service rep for Mammut. Louis gave us an excellent overview on transceivers in general and then concentrated on the benefits of the Mammut Pulse, which many of us use. Having an expert there enabled us to get the most out of this powerful device.
But the highlight of the training was of course the skiing. Alison Culshaw of the British Alpine Ski School in Chamonix gave 2 half day sessions for the 2 groups of guides. In spite of shocking visibility, especially on day 2, we all felt we got a massive amount out of this training, delivered in a lively style by Alison, a former member of the Scottish ski team. Loads of subtle tricks and techniques both for our own skiing and the coaching of clients off piste, looking at edging and pressure especially. We think we have a reasonable handle on these basic elements, and then we get shown a whole new dimension. Great stuff...
So this season we'll all be skiing gods - thanks Alison!