The International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA, UIAGM, IVBV), held it’s annual Spring Technical Meeting from May 11-15 in Kaunertal, Austria.  In attendance were technical delegates and guests from 26 or our 28 member associations, totaling over fifty participants for a week of workshops and presentations.

Topics included tools, techniques and theory to address emerging and current challenges of the mountain guiding profession and included; standardizing ski technique training and nomenclature across our international training programs, an in-depth analysis of the international ski industry by special guest Laurent Vanet, reviewing and aligning winter entry test requirements, advancing gender equity and inclusion in the mountain guiding profession with a women’s specific initiative, and an on-snow tour with snowshoes covering special techniques for guiding and steep terrain.

Our Austrian hosts, VOBS, demonstrated their comprehensive ski training system through on-snow demos and engaging presentations. Other interesting topics on guided snow activities beyond ski touring included; Nordic skiing, splitboarding, ski guiding in ski resorts, the use of snowmobiles for access and snowshoes as tools for winter mountaineering and trekking.

The IFMGA is the international umbrella for mountain guide associations with 28 members from around the world. Once a year in Spring the technical directors from all our associations, responsible for the training programs in the member associations, gather to exchange information and collaborate on the development of the technical aspects of the mountain guides profession. Along with the IFMGA’s Technical Commission, these days are an opportunity to reunite and work together towards building higher standards and consistency for training.