PASSION TO LEADERSHIP

The Passion to Leadership program is focused on enhancing your skiing abilities, learning advanced technical skills and building a strong leadership foundation. This program is suitable for those who already have basic avalanche knowledge and backcountry experience, and are looking to increase their understanding, travel more complex terrain, and become self-sufficient leaders.

The Passion to Leadership program is comprised of:

• Advanced Courses and Workshops: Learn advanced skills for students serious about their craft.
• Trips: Join one of MSAA's professional guides in the backcountry. To fully develop students’ range of experience, we recommend each Academy student to join at least one backcountry tour or trip.
• Structured Practice: These sessions aim to continue developing students’ skills and performance to the highest level. This will be something the guide will recommend students completing in their personal time.
• Performance Clinics: Refine personal skills. Guides will give personalized tips and constructive feedback to enhance students’ technique and performance.
• Expedition: To fully develop the skills you have learnt throughout this program we recommend each student joins an additional expedition. During this the guide will give you a leadership role within the group and this will then be evaluated at the end of the tour. *This is not included within the price of the program but Academy members will be given an exculsive discounted rate.

Recommendations: We highly recommend taking a Mountain Navigation course prior to this program, and at least 1 year of backcountry experience.

• Exclusive Discounts: All Academy Members will receive a 15% discount on any MSAA Course/Tour. **cannot be applied to First Aid Courses or Luxury Tours.
• Tour/Course Filler: All Academy Members will be added to a list which allows them to access last minute trip filler discounts up to 50% OFF!
**discount is only valid for the winter season (November - April)

Day 1: Crevasse Rescue Skills

Day 2: Glacier Travel skills

Day 3: Progression Backcountry Clinic*this can be taken before or after the AST Level 2 Course

Day 4 - 7: Avalanche Skills Training Level 2

Rentals/Purchase:

If you require rentals we have teamed up with local rental companies to provide discounted rentals. Visit our rental page HERE for more information!

Clothing (Dress appropriately for the conditions):

• Weatherproof shell jacket and pants
• Down or synthetic insulated jacket
• Mid layer fleece top
• Insulating top and bottom under layers and socks
• Warm hat/toque and balaclava
• 2 pairs of gloves
• Sunglasses and sunscreen

• Touring skis or splitboard and skins
• Poles (telescopic poles required for splitboarders)
• Ski / snowboard boots
• 32L pack
• Water bottle(s) (Minimum 1L capacity)
• Multi-tool
• Sunglasses, sunscreen
• Goggles & Helmet
• Blister kit/First Aid
• Avalanche safety kit (Probe Shovel, Tranceiver)

• Harness
• Mountaineering/Ice Axe
• Crevasse rescue kit:
• Locking Carabiners x 4
• Non-locking Carabiners x 4
• Sewn Sling 1 x 120cm
• Cordalette’s: 2 x 5m (7mm) for ropes 9mm and up (5mm for ropes 8mm and less, i.e. Petzl Rad Line) if using skinny ropes or Rad line, add 2 locking carabiners, stamped as opposed to round aluminum stock best.
• Cordalette 1 x 1.5m (7mm)
• Ratchet: 1 x Auto-Block Device or Ratcheting pulley (Petzl Reverso, BD ATC Guide, Petzl Micro-traxion (best)). If using micro-traxion, add 1 munter/pearshaped locking carabiner, stamped as opposed to round aluminum stock best.

• Light Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Pad
• 45L pack
• Headlamp with fresh batteries
• Personal Care Kit (toilet paper, toothbrush/toothpaste, personal medical drugs)

Below is the full curriculum for this program. If students would like to add additional products to their curriculum this can be indicated to the MSAA team after booking.

If for some reason you have already taken one of the products below we can swap it out for another product of the same value.

Program Schedule:

• Winter Crevasse Rescue & Glacier Travel
• Progression Backcountry Clinic
• Avalanche Skills Training Level 2
• Expedition: To fully develop the skills you have learnt throughout this program we recommend each student joins an addtional trip. During this trip the guide will give you a leadership role within the group and this will then be evaluated at the end of the trip. *This is not included within the price of the program but Academy members will be given an exculsive discounted rate.