Checking in From IPRW 2020 – TGR’s Annual Pro Safety Workshop

Refreshing our snow science knowledge on a frigid bluebird day at Grand Targhee Resort. Katie Lozancich photo.

Every year, to kick off the start of the season, we like to take a step back at TGR. Skiing and snowboarding in some of the biggest and wildest mountains on earth takes a whole lot more than just athletic skill – it requires years of experience in mountain and avalanche safety to pull off. That’s why every December, we gather our team of athletes and crew together to build on and practice safety skills during our annual International Pro Rider Workshop (IPRW). It’s a gathering of some of the best in the biz, and it’s all about sharing knowledge and skills between the team to make sure we can mitigate risk as well as know what to do when the worst does occur.

With the ongoing pandemic, this year’s IPRW hosted at Grand Targhee Resort looked a little different than usual, but still served as valuable practice time for the team. Instead of focusing on medical response and evacuation (which would have been impossible to do in a physically distant manner), we focused on snow science and large-scale multiple-burial avalanche scenarios with our local team and athletes in small-group clinics taught by some of the best guides and instructors out there, including Jim Conway, Adam Fabrikant, Jamie Weeks, and Christian Santelices. Thanks to our friends at Mammut and Somewear Labs, we trained with and used some new avalanche rescue and satellite communication products that will be indispensable in the field this year.

Our friends at Mammut provided some tools for digging in the snow and staying safe in the backcountry this year. Max Ritter photo.

With unprecedented numbers of people backcountry skiing and riding this winter, we strongly encourage everyone to start or continue their safety education this year. That means not only always carrying the proper safety equipment (beacon, shovel, probe and other applicable rescue gear), but also reading your daily avalanche bulletin and understanding how weather and conditions will dictate your plan for a day in the mountains. Stay safe this season, and check back soon for TGR’s full Safety Week program dropping in mid-January!

Jeremy Jones performing a Propagation Saw Test during our snow science refresher. Max Ritter photo.

Amie Engerbretson studying snow crystal structure for signs of a weak layer. Katie Lozancich photo.

Communication in a backcountry emergency is crucial, and our friends at Somewear Labs have created a powerful and ultra-compact satellite communication device that pairs with your smartphone. Katie Lozancich photo.

Avalanche rescue comes down to knowing how to use your tools in a quick and effective manner as guide Christian Santelices shows during a beacon workshop. Max Ritter photo.

In the worst-case scenario of someone being buried without a functioning beacon, using a slalom probe line method can effectively cover ground to find a victim. Katie Lozancich photo.