Safety Meeting 2009: TGR athletes and production team gather for an avalanche safety workshop

December 19th, 2009

Grand Targhee, Wyoming

The 2cnd annual TGR International Pro Rider Workshop has been underway at Grand Targhee. Unfortunately, we have not been able to shred too much of the sweet new snow that has been falling here, but a few good runs have helped soothe the soul. The idea behind the course is to bring together the TGR Riders and Production Team to go through safety, medical, and avalanche drills for three days. Day one consisted of a course overview, recap of past safety classes, and on hill training.  We upped the ante on on hill training doing group drills on 800-1200 vertical ft. slide paths. We went through multiple burials, deep burials, and treating the victim after recovery. The lesson for the day was train, train, train. The more prepared you are the better you will do.
       Day 2 consisted of new avalanche equipment review, new snow pit analysis techniques, and more advanced real life simulation drills on the hill. We looked at the new BCA airbag. Airbag survival rates currently sit at 97.5%, which was basically the extent of the review. We checked out the new BCA 3 antenna beacon, which enhances the fine tune search. We continued to practice large scale group avalanche drills as well.
       Day 3 is one of the most important days of the workshop. We all got a CPR certification and basic first aid. Having practiced a ton with my beacon over the years, I have really wanted step up everyone’s game and get our CPR skills dialed in. It is likely that anyone in our group can perform a timely avalanche recovery, yet CPR may be the key factor in saving someone’s life. We also got our basic first aid certifications as well.
Athletes in Attendance were: Jeremy Jones, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Dash Longe, Ryland Bell, Cody Townsend, Rachel Burkes, Forest Sheerer, Shroder Baker, and Todd Ligare. Production Crew in attendance: Josh Nielsen, Todd Jones, Steve Jones, Corey Gavitt, Pete O’brien, Greg Epstein, Chris Figenshaw

**We worked on a ton of simulated avalanche and medical scenarios this year. Here Mark Fisher has been puled out of an avalanche and we must treat him for a broken arm.**

**Steve Jones and Todd Ligare work on group beacon drills.**
**The Deeper Crew and Jones Snowboards team. Left to right, Forest Shearer, Ryland Bell, and Jeremy Jones.**

**Jim Sage Conway leads a discussion on new equipment and technology. Here he demonstrates the new BCA Airbag system. This system will go to market at 25-40 percent less than current Airbags.**

**Sarge with the BCA Airbag system**

**Sarge runs the team through the changes in flux line behavior with the newer three antenna beacons.**

**The new BCA three antenna beacon.**

**Sage and Ryland look on as Jim Conway demonstrates some newer snowpit concepts. The one we were working on here is the extended column test. The test is designed to identify propegation behavior.**

 **Jeremy Jones practices CPR. We all got our CPR up to speed as well as basic first aid. Preperation is key.**