'SAFE AS' Avalanche Safety Clinic Coming To Sunday River This Weekend

This weekend, December 19, and 20, Sunday River will host two avalanche safety clinics in partnership with SAFE AS Clinics. SAFE AS, which stands for Skiers and Snowboarders Advocating and Fostering Avalanche & Snow Safety, is a women's tailored and women-designed avalanche clinic for both beginners and experienced backcountry skiers. The clinic was founded by a group of pro skiers and avalanche instructors, including Bethel, Maine native and Gould Academy graduate, Jackie Paaso.

SAFE AS comes to mountains across the country each year, but the Sunday River clinics are the only ones offered on the east coast for the 2020-21 season. The program is divided into two parts, with one section offered as a live (or recorded, if you can't make the session) digital instruction with an optional yoga class, and the other as a day on-snow, with participants using avalanche safety gear and running through actual snow safety scenarios.

There are two options for the SAFE AS Clinics at Sunday River -- Saturday, December 19 is the women's-only class, and Sunday, December 20 is the co-ed session. While both clinics are currently sold out, those interested should sign up for the waitlist on SafeAsClinics.com, in case a spot opens up.