“Opening the door” for snowmobiler representative leadership in professional avalanche education

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Issue Date
2023-04-26
Authors
Ibbotson, Alexis
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Abstract
This research engaged snowmobile-based avalanche practitioners trained in the professional, motorized avalanche education pathways of either the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) or the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA). During interviews and a virtual World Café, participants shared sentiments of an ingrained bias towards snowmobile-based practitioners inhibiting their advancement in the avalanche industry. Snowmobile-based practitioners revealed an avalanche industry dominated by a ski-centric culture opposed to snowmobiler inclusion, describing how an exclusive, tight culture within avalanche education has been exacerbated by a ski-centric affinity bias among the gatekeepers of avalanche educational and employment opportunities. Participants believe the organizations controlling the industry seem unable to integrate outsiders into decision making roles and repeatedly called for avalanche education providers to open the door to snowmobile-based practitioners wishing to obtain professional training. This action-oriented study complimented novel projects AIARE was already engaging contributing to a dramatic increase in AIARE’s motorized engagement.
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