#avalanche-safety

#avalanche-safety

When winter takes hold in the Eastern Sierra, the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area (BWRA) becomes a popular destination for backcountry enthusiasts. Powderhounds flock to this area during the cold winter months, usually with snowmobiles. Shortly after you turn onto Highway 108 (Sonora Pass), the snow starts, and the journey begins. Located seven miles up the snow-covered highway, the BWRA is the gateway to remote and technical terrain in the heart of the Sierra.

One of the most important foundations of backcountry travel is having the right gear. Heading out unprepared is not an option. Essential equipment includes an avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, and basic repair tools. Gear failures happen more often than people expect. I've personally had days where something broke deep in the backcountry, and I had to improvise to make it back down safely.

At its core, the Freeride Academy is about learning - just not in a classroom sense. Instead, it brings world-class athletes, certified mountain guides and a bunch of properly motivated snowboarders together for four days of hands-on clinics, shared laps and off-mountain sessions, all built around real terrain, real conditions and real decisions. The Academy's programme covers snowboarding, splitboarding, avalanche safety and photography, with options for all experience levels.

Turnagain is a special place for me. One of my first backcountry experiences happened thereback when I had snowshoes, cotton sweaters, and too much excitement. Fast forward fourteen years, and I still can't get enough of how magical this area is. Countless memories and long adventures with incredible people will forever be in my heart. When I decided to make a film that could even begin to capture that magic, I didn't expect it to take two years.