A unique partnership between US and Canadian avalanche safety organizations is issuing a challenge to skiers and snowboarders: Make a 4-minute video that shows the proper preparation for riding beyond resort boundaries, and you and your film could become a role model for sidecountry riders.
“Show us what happens before you hit your favorite powder stash,” said Bruce Edgerly, VP of avalanche safety equipment manufacturer, Backcountry Access (BCA). “Use your camera to tell the story about how you and your crew get ready to safely explore beyond the resort boundary–and you’ve got a great chance to win some amazing prizes.” BCA is a member of Project Zero, a consortium of snowsports companies and avalanche centers recently assembled with the goal of eliminating avalanche fatalities.
The videos will be posted on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/groups/knowthesnow) and promoted by GoPro and other partners. The contest will run during the last three weeks of winter: March 1 21. The final winner will be determined by a combination of most views and an expert panel. Prizes include:
A two-day trip for two at Monashee Powder Snowcats in the snowbelt of BC’s interior
Two four-day Gold Passes to any resort in the United States
Backcountry Access Float 22 airbag
GoPro Hero3 camera
The winning videos will be announced in late March. “Our goal is to simplify what’s involved in avalanche terrain preparation,” Edgerly said. To keep the momentum going, the project will continue through next season with expert editing help from Sherpas Cinema. A final highlight reel will be created with the best video submissions and broadcast at ski events and major retailers starting in November, 2014.
These are the organizations involved in this project:
American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education // www.avtraining.org
Canadian Avalanche Centre // www.avalanche.ca
Colorado Avalanche Information Center //www.avalanche.state.co.us
National Ski Areas Association // www.nsaa.org
National Ski Patrol // www.nsp.org
Northwest Avalanche Center //www.nwac.us
SnowSports Industries America //www.snowsports.org
Utah Avalanche Center //www.utahavalanchecenter.org
– See more at: http://www.outdoorindustry.org/news/industry.php?newsId=19658&newsSubType=&action=display#sthash.SF6vPxoS.dpuf
