#avalanche-safety

#avalanche-safety

Tree well and deep snow suffocation is a serious problem in the Western USA and Canada. Incidents occur with deep snow accumulations and tree well immersions, where a skier or snowboarder falls into an area of deep, unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized. Since 2001, California has had more snow immersion deaths than any other state. A tree well is a void or depression that forms around the base of a tree and most likely under the branches that hang from those trees, disguising the void.

One of the most important foundations of backcountry travel is having the right gear. Heading out unprepared is not an option. Essential equipment includes an avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, and basic repair tools. Gear failures happen more often than people expect. I've personally had days where something broke deep in the backcountry, and I had to improvise to make it back down safely.

At its core, the Freeride Academy is about learning - just not in a classroom sense. Instead, it brings world-class athletes, certified mountain guides and a bunch of properly motivated snowboarders together for four days of hands-on clinics, shared laps and off-mountain sessions, all built around real terrain, real conditions and real decisions. The Academy's programme covers snowboarding, splitboarding, avalanche safety and photography, with options for all experience levels.

Turnagain is a special place for me. One of my first backcountry experiences happened thereback when I had snowshoes, cotton sweaters, and too much excitement. Fast forward fourteen years, and I still can't get enough of how magical this area is. Countless memories and long adventures with incredible people will forever be in my heart. When I decided to make a film that could even begin to capture that magic, I didn't expect it to take two years.