The Squamish-based Black Tusk Snowmobile Club (BTSC) hosted a women-only riders clinic on March 9 on Brohm Ridge, above Cat Lake. This was a fee clinic for the members of the BTSC to encourage women who love to sled to come out and challenge themselves, learn something new and build more confidence in all aspects of the sport.
Julie-Ann Chapman of Pemberton-based She Shreds Mountain Adventures instructed the group on various skills from the basics including body positioning, cornering, throttle control and powder carving. The group then moved onto more advanced skills such as side hilling, 180-degree turns, drop-offs and jumps.
No experience was necessary and the course was designed to help advance the rider to her own next level.
In addition, avalanche search-and-rescue skills were practiced utilizing a transceiver, probe and shovel. Avalanche rescue packs were mandatory for participation in the course, and participants were required to have information on the most recent avalanche update and do beacon checks.
The sledders were provided with a lunch and dinner on the day of instruction, an overnight stay in the chalet and a breakfast on the morning of departure.
The BTSC was founded in 1971 and is run by volunteers. The main chalet is an alpine learning institution that offers avalanche courses every year. It is located in a beautiful backcountry setting with super views of Mount Atwell and Mount Garibaldi. At the end of the day the ladies were rewarded with their successes — it is definitely is not as easy as it looks.
