Avalanche Safety Enters the Digital Age

uvex and Skiing Magazine launch first-ever online avalanche safety course

Haverhill and Boulder – December 12, 2016 – Founded 90 years ago in Germany as the pioneer of safety and innovation in the snow sports industry, uvex has partnered with Skiing Magazine to bring snow safety into the digital age withBackcountry Protocols, the first-of-its-kind online avalanche safety course. This seven-part avalanche safety course is aimed at anyone who wants to explore avalanche terrain, and will teach users how to more safely enjoy untracked lines without having to step a foot on the snow.

Backcountry Protocols, produced by uvex and Skiing Magazine, offers proper introductory training in equipment, terrain, forecasting, and route selection in the backcountry, all from the convenience of the internet. The platform provides snow-bound adventurers the learning materials by virtually teaching the skills needed to make informed decisions in the backcountry and resort-accessed backcountry, making this program the perfect first-step towards avalanche safety. Users will be able to complete each lesson at their own pace, allowing them to fully hone their skills to assess and avoid possible avalanche situations before heading into the backcountry. Once adventurers complete the course, they are strongly encouraged to further their avalanche safety by enrolling in a local, hands-on Avy 1 safety course. 

“The number of people heading into avalanche territory in search of fresh turns has been significantly increasing over the last several years,” said Jeff Burkley, VP of Sales and Marketing for uvex North America. “uvex has been providing adventurers with the safest, most high-tech helmets, goggles and glasses for nearly a century, but protective accessories can only keep adventurers safe in so many situations. This platform is a great introduction to backcountry protocols, and we hope it will lead people to further their avalanche safety and awareness training.”

Each lesson will pinpoint real-life backcountry safety issues taught by big-mountain skier and Alaska heli-ski operatorDean Cummings. Cummings is a World Extreme Skiing Champion and ski-film star who pioneered Alaska heli-skiing in the early ‘90s. He was named Avalanche Educator of the Year in 2011 and 2012, and has likely achieved more big-mountain first descents than anyone in the world.

“When Skiing Magazine asked me to instruct Backcountry Protocols I didn’t hesitate. It’s so valuable to have one of the world’s premier skiing publications provide this educational tool,” Cummings said. “With more people accessing avalanche terrain to get untouched powder, it’s practical protocols, terrain management, and team-group emphasis that can help you increase your safety in the mountains and take your skiing to the next level.”

Backcountry Protocols will launch on December 13. For more information and to sign up for the course, please visitwww.AIMAdventureU.com/BackcountryProtocols. For more information on uvex, please visit uvex-sports.com. For more information on Skiing Magazine, Active Interest Media and Adventure U, please visit aimadventureu.com.

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uvex group

UVEX WINTER HOLDING GmbH & Co. KG joins three internationally active UVEX corporations under one roof: the uvex safety group, the uvex sports group (uvex sports and Alpina) and Filtral. The uvex group is represented in 20 countries with 47 subsidiaries and has its main production in Germany out of conviction. Two thirds of the approx. 2.120 employees work in Germany. uvex is worldwide partner of international top sports, equipping numerous top athletes. The guiding principle “protecting people” is mission and obligation. For this purpose, uvex develops, produces and distributes products and services for the safety and protection of people in professions, sports and leisure.

Media contact:

Jackie Stoesser

Hayter Communications

jackie@hayterpr.com

360-313-7070 x.9