The Canadian Rockies Academy is an 11-week course designed to provide participants with a well-rounded education in winter sports instruction and resort operations. The academy attracts people from all over the world to Jasper and Marmot Basin, where the training happens. At the end of the program participants usually leave with their level one and two ski or snowboard instructor certification.
Many of the 29 Canadian Rockies Academy participants are from England and have been in Jasper for three weeks so far.
This group, which ranges in ages from 17 to 41, is an exception to the Palisades’ usual education audience because the organization typically works with area high school students through the winter travel course and other nature-immersion experiences that vary with the seasons.
“Since they’re in the park for 11 weeks, Parks Canada wanted to make sure that they found out about more than just the ski hill,” said Jeannie D’Antonio, education co-ordinator for the Palisades. “What we’re offering is backcountry winter travel with a focus on avalanche awareness.”
Skills are taught through a combination of classroom learning and field experience. Participants learned how to gauge safe backcountry travel conditions and what to do during and after an avalanche.
This training isn’t the same as taking a certified avalanche skills training course (AST) approved by the Canadian Avalanche Centre, it’s meant to provide general knowledge, said D’Antonio.
The group practised tracking buried “victims” with beacons and utilized the snow conveyer method, recognized as the best way to remove avalanche debris during a rescue. In the conveyer method, diggers form an upside-down “v” beginning at the probe strike, then dig and push the snow down-slope, exactly like a conveyer belt.
“[Shovelling] is what takes the most amount of time,” said D’Antonio. The first time a group practised the snow conveyer, it took 2:56 before they hit ground in 130-centimetre deep snow.
They discovered first-hand that, like D’Antonio said, digging is hard work, which is why the conveyer method with multiple diggers is most useful in recovering buried individuals.
In relation to the backcountry safety and avalanche awareness education, “it’s good to actually know what’s going on with the slope,” said 18-year-old Adam Bodnar from Winchester. He hopes the training and knowledge he receives over these three months will help him open a chalet one day.
Bradford’s Jacob Halsworth, 18, said that being armed with “solid knowledge” about backcountry safety and proper trip preparation removes much guess work and uncertainty when assessing conditions and reading snow reports.
“Riding Marmot is perfect on weekdays, not so much is happening on the hill,” he adds.
When not on the slopes, the group enjoys life in town.
“Jasper is a nice little town,” said 17-year-old Billy Olley from High Wycombe.
In addition to experiencing the best Jasper has to offer, like walking in the Maligne Canyon, the group has planned trips to Edmonton and another ski hill in Alberta or B.C.
