Seeking to constantly improve and evolve programing for our athletes, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation is offering Mountain Adventure Curriculum, newly designed to complement and offer an alternative experience beyond alpine, freestyle and snowboarding competition. MAC will help athlete’s expand their skill set in relation to technical skiing and riding fundamentals, with emphasis on snow safety, backcountry experience and big mountain terrain. Any SVSEF athlete age 15-over is eligible for MAC providing they are currently a member of our alpine, freestyle, freeskiing or snowboarding teams.
MAC athletes will follow the same practices in regard to conditioning, training, and skill acquisition work and the program will have a contact coach within in each discipline. The contact coach is responsible for organizing, communicating, and delivery high-quality and professional experiences in line with standards and core values of the SVSEF.
The fee for MAC is included in regular tuition, but associated curriculum comes with a separate project fee based on participation.

Goals & Objectives of MAC

• Our primary goal as a team is to provide a comprehensive athletic platform for athletes to train, learn, and experience a broad scope of mountain culture.
• We strive to foster a culture of sport and wellness for our athletes. Long beyond the days of an active competitive career, we hope to create lifestyle skills that support healthy living, fitness, and positive physical engagement. The MAC program is designed to provide an avenue for continued participation, experiences and education for athletes who are interested in a wide-ranging experience on skis, beyond competition.
• We aspire to cultivate and celebrate the core values that drive SVSEF’s mission: Passion & Perseverance, Sportsmanship, Citizenship, Teamwork, Creativity and Character.
• We strive to expose our athletes to the rigors and rewards of traveling and competing to locations both far and near. Skiing and riding is defined by community and a sense of adventure. Our goal as a team is to provide age-appropriate travel and skiing opportunities that reinforce the athletic, cultural, and experiential development of our athletes.

Activities and Curriculum

The Mountain Adventure Curriculum will be rooted in skill development with opportunities for athletes to explore the following projects:

• Wilderness First Aid
  • Delivered by Wilderness Medicine Institute
  • October/November
  • http://www.nols.edu/wmi/
• Step One Avalanche Awareness to be coordinated through the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, and the Sun Valley Ski Patrol.
  • One-day clinic targeting high-school aged athletes.
  • December 5 on Baldy.
  • http://www.sawtoothavalanche.com/
• Avalanche 1 Certification or Mountaineering Skills offered through Sawtooth Mountain Guides (SMG)
  • December 19-21.
  • This three-day avalanche certification program will base from the Williams Peak yurt in the Sawtooth Range.
  • The course is limited to 11 students, with three professional guides
  • http://sawtoothguides.com/
• Backcountry Experiences in mid-March
  • Day trips to the Idaho backcountry with SMG guides and SVSEF coaches.
  • Implement and practice associated Mountain Adventure Skills.
  • These day trips will be guided professionally by SMG and will present an opportunity to create, experience and execute “real world” application of backcountry skills.
• Blanket Glacier Chalet helicopter drop and touring trip outside of Revelstoke, BC Canada
  • March 31-April 4 (not including travel days)
  • Group size limited to 12 students
  • http://www.blanketglacierchalet.com/#blankethome
  • Preference will be given to athletes who participate in the full project lineup.
• Periodic MAC sessions throughout the season designed to support the vision and objectives of the team (skin up Baldy, transceiver part practice and guided big mountain style freeskiing).

 
For additional details, please contact program directors Scott McGrew or Andy Ware, or call the SVSEF office at (208) 726-4129 ext. 101.
 

Photo courtesy of Sawtooth Mountain Guides