ISTA The Avalanche Training For You
Intro
Do you enjoy nature, mountains and skiing? Do you want more freedom, pleasure and safety? Do you care for yourself and for your friends?
A New Approach
Despite the increasing number of backcountry recreationists, training opportunities, both in Switzerland and abroad, vary from country to country and mainly cater to advanced amateurs and professionals. ISTA’s training program is intended for the general public and is delivered by affiliated instructors and guides. The goal is not to provide extra equipment, but rather the knowledge and skills required to assess and prevent risk.
Inspired by the model of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), ISTA offers a progressive international certification. Over 40 experts spanning 9 countries and 3 continents in the areas of education, sport psychology, transfer of knowledge, nutrition, meteorology, snow science, risk management and rescue methods, as well as mountain guides and ski instructors, were involved in the development of this unprecedented project in this fast-growing and increasingly exposed sector. Two modules are currently being covered - Discovery and ST1. The courses are supported by illustrated books featuring simple, clear, precise and playful descriptions, available in 4 languages (EN, FR, DE, IT).
Why?
Avalanches are not a fatality. Practitioners change, habits change – risks don’t. ISTA is the new essential approach to managing them.
ISTA is an international program that uses a standard universal language.
ISTA allows you to progress through various levels with a standardized method that is adapted to every skill level.
ISTA aims to foster knowledge sharing, exchange and the development of an international community.
All ISTA-certified participants benefit from the ISTA rewards program and its exclusive offers on travel, equipment and tourism services.
Discovery
The DISCOVERY course is a one-day introduction to the ISTA program. It is intended to introduce participants to the fundamentals of backcountry risk prevention and provide them with an overview of the range of skills to be developed. The main goal of the course is to inspire participants to continue learning.
After the course, participants will be able to:
- follow the risk assessment process with the help of the course book
- follow the crisis management process with the help of the avalanche rescue procedure
ST1
The ST1 course teaches basic avalanche risk prevention skills over two days. The goal of the course is for participants to acquire the basic skills and knowledge required to carry out the risk management process, implement rescue procedures and use rescue equipment.
After the course, with the help of the course book, participants will be able to:
- Implement the risk assessment process
- Identify favourable and unfavourable terrain
- Understand rescue techniques
- Use rescue gear
- Implement the avalanche rescue procedure
- Use the HFSA© system to assess mental, medical and energy-related risk factors
Where?
ISTA courses can be found in 28 Swiss resorts. Search for an instructor in your area here:
www.ista-education.com/en/where-find-us
| Bureau des guides Leysin | 1854 Leysin | E-mail Website |
| Ecole de ski Les Crosets/ Champoussin | 1873 Val-d'Illiez | |
| Ecole de ski Neige Aventure | 1997 Haute-Nendaz | E-mail Website |
| Ecole Suisse de Ski & Snowboard Les Diablerets | 1865 Les Diablerets | E-mail Website |
| Ecole Suisse de Ski Chandolin | 3961 Chandolin | E-mail Website |
| Ecole Suisse de Ski de Verbier | 1936 Verbier | E-mail Website |
| Ecole suisse de ski Grimentz Zinal | 3961 Grimentz | E-mail Website |
| Ecole Suisse de Ski la Fouly | 1937 Orsieres | E-mail Website |
| Ecole Suisse de Ski La Tzoumaz | 1918 La Tzoumaz | E-mail Website |
| Ecole Suisse de Ski Montana | 3963 Crans-Montana | E-mail Website |
| Ecole Suisse de ski Nendaz | 1997 Haute-Nendaz | E-mail Website |
| Ecole Suisse de Ski Villars | 1884 Villars | E-mail Website |
| Kobler & Partner | 3012 Bern | E-mail Website |
| Les Guides de Verbier | 1936 Verbier | E-mail Website |
| Mountain Adventures | 1936 Verbier | |
| Prato Borni | 3920 Zermatt | E-mail Website |
| Schneesportschule Bettmeralp | 3992 Bettmeralp | E-mail Website |
| Schweizer Schneesportschule Bivio GmbH | 7457 Bivio | E-mail Website |
| Schweizer Ski- & Snowboardschule Zermatt | 3920 Zermatt | E-mail Website |
| Schweizer Skischule St. Moritz | 7500 St. Moritz | E-mail Website |
| scuola svizzera sci carì | 6760 Faido | E-mail Website |
| Skischule Mürren/ Bergsteigen für Jedermmann | 3812 wilderswil | E-mail Website |
| Stoked Management GmbH | 3920 Zermatt | E-mail Website |
| Suvretta - Schweizer Ski und Snowboardschule St. Moritz | 7500 St. Moritz | E-mail Website |
| Swiss Ski & Snowboard School Kleine Scheidegg | 3818 Grindelwald | E-mail Website |
| Zeiter Mountain Sports GmbH | 3920 Zermatt | E-mail Website |
