21 - 24 Jul 2026
4 days
open
Ski Guide Training Course
This guides training course is to take solid amateur backcountry ski touring skills and knowledge and teach the candidate how to change/modify techniques, skills and knowledge into professional ski guiding techniques, skills and knowledge.
- General - As for NZMGA Ski Guide pathway or IFMGA Mountain Guide pathway
- Specific - A Pass obtained in the Technical Ski Course
- Backcountry terrain of Queenstown/Wanaka - eg back of Treble Cone, back of Cardrona, back of Remarkables.
- Back of Ohau ski field, Awakino ski field, Mueller Hut area, Mt Wakefield
-
Heliski Helicopter Load/Unload Techniques
- Discussion
Laying a Skinning Track
- Client friendly skinning track
- Terrain analysis for such a skinning track
Skinning Technique
- Turns - shuffle, kick into hill, kick facing out of hill
- Glide
- Use of heel lifts
Equipment Issues
- Helmets
- Skis
- Bindings
- Skins
- Ski wax
- Skin wax
- Problem solving
Downhill Ski Techniques For Clients
- Powder
- Breakable crust
- Firm/icy
- Heavy pack
Management Of The Skinning Phase
Management Of The Downhill Run
Communication With Clients
- Briefings
- Boundaries
Client Safety
- Slide for life
- Crevasse hazards
Crevasse Rescue
- Spectra type ropes
- Improvised harness
- Ski anchor
White-out Skiing Technique
Poor Snow Stability Guiding
- Terrain selection
Snow Safety
- Quick guiding tests
- Test profiles
- Morning after storm evaluation
Avalanche Rescue
- Transceiver briefings
- Guide transceiver search standards
