Avalanche Skills Training
– AST1, AST2, CRS
Get avalanche survival skills to travel safer in the Japan backcountry, perform transceiver search & recovery with your touring gear & avi-kits.
Avalanche Skills Training Courses:
We are running (AST) Avalanche Skills Training courses around many locations in Japan – please check our calendar for a course that suits you best. Or make an enquiry if you are interested in organising a group course at your location.
AST 1+ / 2 days
Join our AST1+ trainings taking place across Hakuba, Myoko, Yuzawa, Iwate and more.
Who is this course for?
Anyone who is spending time in back or side country, out of bounds, off resort and touring – but doesn’t yet have avalanche skills training – it is a MUST! Of course anyone interested in learning more skills and venturing into potential avalanche terrain, whether for ski, snowboard, snowshoe, alpine hikers.
This is a certified course run by trained experts under the Avalanche Canada organisation
Rental Equipment is available – for details, See end of page
Dates
Price
By the end of this course you will:
- Know your touring gear and make efficient use of it
- Know your avalanche safety kit and have a first practice with it
- Know how to efficiently transfer between downhill and uphill travel
- Identify avalanche risk areas
- Understand the basic structures of the snowpack
- Know the steps required to plan and conduct a tour
- Use the ‘Avaluator™’ as a risk mitigation aid
- Understand the Avalanche Bulletin and define a hazard rating in regions where there is none
Note: If you have a group of 4 or more interested for training we are able to schedule date and time of convenience – please contact us directly in regards
Must be able to ski or snowboard competently with prior experience riding ‘un-groomed’ terrain or powder runs off-piste.
Should be in reasonable condition of fitness for touring on backcountry day and though snowshoes are permitted, ideally for the swiftness of group to have your own or rent touring gear.
If you do not have transceiver, probe and shovel – it is required, for rental information please see below.
- Day 01: AST1 theory and skills day – use of equipment, search and locate burial field day 8am-3pm
- Day 02: AST1+ Touring – Backcountry tour day 8am-3pm
- Avalanche equipment – beacon, shovel, probe (mandatory)
- At least a 25L pack with straps which can carry ski/board (unless you are a skier or split-boarder using skins)
- Skins or snowshoes (mandatory)
- Lunch, drinks and at least 1L water (mandatory)
- Energy bars/chocolate/nuts etc (mandatory)
- Layering for warmth, wicking & ventilation (mandatory)
- Sunglasses (even if it is not sunny!) When you are hiking sunglasses are more comfortable to protect your eyes because they will not fog up. You can keep your goggles in your pack for the ski down.
- Helmet (recommended)
- A pair of lightweight gloves or glove liners for hiking (recommended)
AST 2 / 4 days
An AST 2 course is suitable for people with a moderate degree of training and experience and who have taken an AST 1 course. An AST 2 course builds on the foundations of your AST 1, and provides an intermediate decision-making framework for travelling in avalanche terrain. An AST 2 course comprises a minimum of 9.5 hours of classroom instruction with a minimum of three days in the field. The course is suitable for people with a moderate degree of training and experience.
This is a certified course run by trained experts under the Avalanche Canada organisation
Rental Equipment is available – for details, See end of page
Dates
Price
By the end of this course you will:
- Use the Avaluator to determine the additional planning and travel techniques needed to travel safely in avalanche terrain
- Be able to do a personal review of the avalanche danger rating at a local level
- Efficiently identify avalanche terrain using the ATES (Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale) and use it to develop personal ratings on a small scale
- Develop a selection of itineraries and use the terrain to your advantage to adapt your risks
- Use mountain travel techniques appropriate to avalanche conditions
- Lead an autonomous companion rescue effectively
- Understand the limits of your training.
Who is it for : riders who go out regularly and wish to lead their own trips
AST 1
- TBC
- Avalanche equipment – beacon, shovel, probe (mandatory)
- At least a 25L pack with straps which can carry ski/board (unless you are a skier or split-boarder using skins)
- Skins or snowshoes (mandatory)
- Lunch, drinks and at least 1L water (mandatory)
- Energy bars/chocolate/nuts etc (mandatory)
- Layering for warmth, wicking & ventilation (mandatory)
- Sunglasses (even if it is not sunny!) When you are hiking sunglasses are more comfortable to protect your eyes because they will not fog up. You can keep your goggles in your pack for the ski down.
- Helmet (recommended)
- A pair of lightweight gloves or glove liners for hiking (recommended)
Upcoming Courses
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EQUIPMENT RENTAL
Our rental equipment partner is Central SnowSports, Hakuba.
Visit website (will open a new page):
hakuba.centralsnowsports.com.au
It is possible to rent your gear for courses in: Hakuba, Myoko, Madarao & Nozawa Onsen trainings.
Please notify us in case you need for courses running in other locations.
On checkout of your course you will be provided a 10% rental discount code to use at Hakuba Central SnowSports
Please ensure you rent equipment for the required number of days
- AST 1 = 2 days
- AST 2 = 4 days
- BC Tour = designated days of tour
Important: If you have arranged rental gear for courses outside of HAKUBA and require pick up – please notify us (JOI).
- Customers taking a course or tour outside of Hakuba, a member of JOI will pick up the equipment for you and bring to the meeting location where they will help set up equipment if required.
- If you are staying in Hakuba, Central Snowsports offer a pick up service to collect your equipment and will drop you back at your hotel afterwards.
Please provide the following information for your rental:
TOURING SKIS
• If you have touring boots, provide sole length in mm (find on side of heel)
• Weight/Height and preferred ski length
SPLIT-BOARD
• Stance (goofy/regular)
• Preferred board length
• Your US boot size
• Preferred stance width (if known)
• Preferred stance angles (if known)
