Avalanche & Weather Program
CVA Avalanche Education Program
School-wide Program
Each fall, all CVA athletes complete the BRASS 101 avalanche awareness course. While avalanches are rare at Sugarloaf, our athletes often travel to bigger mountain ranges for training and competition. This course teaches the basics of avalanche formation, terrain awareness, avoidance strategies, and how to read professional avalanche forecasts. Coaches and athletes also have year-round access to the expertise of our Backcountry Skiing program for any avalanche safety questions while traveling abroad.
Each fall, all CVA athletes complete the BRASS 101 avalanche awareness course. While avalanches are rare at Sugarloaf, our athletes often travel to bigger mountain ranges for training and competition. This course teaches the basics of avalanche formation, terrain awareness, avoidance strategies, and how to read professional avalanche forecasts. Coaches and athletes also have year-round access to the expertise of our Backcountry Skiing program for any avalanche safety questions while traveling abroad.
Backcountry Academy Program
Avalanche education is central to our Backcountry program. Athletes gain hands-on experience in avalanche mechanics, weather interpretation, terrain navigation, snowpack assessment, and rescue techniques. All athletes complete a minimum American Avalanche Association Level 1 course, with senior athletes eligible for Level 2.
Learning continues throughout the season, beyond formal courses, during roughly 50–60 backcountry days. Athletes practice route planning, decision-making, navigation, and snowpack evaluation under the guidance of our professional coaching team, certified in:
- Professional Avalanche Level 2 & Level 1
- American Avalanche Association Pro Membership
- AMGA Apprentice Ski Guide & Alpine Guide
- Wilderness First Responder & Outdoor Emergency Care
Weather Station
CVA hosts a Rainwise MK-III weather station on campus giving our community access to real-time weather data at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain.
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Carrabassett Valley Academy
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