Award Description
This international award trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to guide climbing (including the coaching of lead climbing) skiing and mountaineering on rock, snow & ice, and in alpine terrain. It is administered by the BMG to the standards set by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). The Guide’s carnet is an extensively used professional award.
The Ski Entrance Exam will be held in the Chamonix valley or its environs (Evasion, Courmayeur etc) depending on current conditions. Candidates should have touring skis and bindings, ski crampons as well as normal avalanche safety kit (transceiver, shovel and probe). In addition we may need harnesses, axe and boot crampons if we ski on a glacier.
Applicants should demonstrate the following:
PISTE PERFORMANCE:
Applicants should be able to ski all groomed runs in control of speed and line.
Ski round grippy turns, using angulation and body separation to achieve edge grip.
Show good “body management”; separation between legs & upper body, using quiet arm carriage.
OFF PISTE PERFORMANCE:
Ski in control of speed and line in all conditions up to black piste angles (30-35°)
Ski appropriately to the situation
Applicants should demonstrate elements of all above “piste” criteria; use legs to steer and avoid excessive upper body movements to initiate turn
Demonstrate neat and appropriate technique for the situation.