We caught up with ExpertVoice’s personal Alex Willie, our resident ski professional and AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Analysis and Schooling) member. Within the winter, when he’s not at work, he’s exploring Utah’s mountains on skis. We requested him for recommendation on snowboarding each inbounds and backcountry areas, inquired about his private experiences and mentioned the gear he considers essential for an ideal ski day.
How did you get into snowboarding as a interest?
I grew up in Longmont, Colorado, so that you sort of should! My mother and father had me on skis earlier than I used to be two years previous, and I’ve cherished it ever since.
What sort of coaching is required to get your AIARE 1, AIARE 2 and Companion Rescue certifications?
Every of these certs is its personal course. As a way to take an AIARE 2, you need to full an AIARE 1 and a Companion Rescue course as a prerequisite. The AIARE 1 is a three-day course with one classroom and two area days. The Companion Rescue is one area day and the AIARE 2 is three full area days. I strongly suggest spacing these programs out to deliver as a lot real-world expertise into every course as attainable. Consider them as constructing blocks to your avalanche coaching and schooling.
How does your backcountry ski gear differ out of your resort gear?
My inbounds skis are way more stout, a bit longer and have beefier bindings. Once I ski resort, I actually am a minimalist — throw a buff and Clif bar in my jacket pocket, and I’m good to go. For touring, my skis are a lot lighter, the size and width are based mostly on goal and situations and I tour in tech bindings. My backcountry pack is sort of in depth; I’ve all the things I want in there to outlive an evening within the mountains: gear to start out a hearth, additional meals and water purifying tablets, bivy (for each rescue and shelter), spare components, rescue instruments, and many others.
Which merchandise on ExpertVoice have been essential to your ski expertise?
Mammut makes some unbelievable merchandise. I take advantage of the Barryvox S transceiver, Alugator Professional Mild shovel and 320 velocity lock probe. Your beacon, shovel and probe are your (and your companion’s) lifeline within the mountains, so being comfy with these items of apparatus ought to be your highest precedence.
What’s the most influential piece of recommendation you’ve acquired all through your snowboarding profession that you just’d prefer to share with different skiers/snowboarders?
Keep humble within the mountains. The snowpack and mountains don’t care what number of avalanche security lessons you’ve taken, days you’ve skied, or years of expertise you have got. You could at all times take note of your environment, consider the snowpack and don’t be ashamed to bail on an goal if the situations don’t align along with your plans that day. The mountains aren’t going anyplace. An previous mountaineer is a profitable mountaineer.
