Application
This unit applies to those working as off-piste snowboarding instructors in a variety of un-patrolled conditions at a snowsport area. This unit may also apply to those working at lodges and or resorts, or those working for outdoor education or adventure providers; volunteer groups; not-for-profit organisations or government agencies.
Prerequisites
Nil
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide. |
1. Plan for an off-piste snowboarding activity. | 1.1. Identify and plan food and water requirements according to principles of nutrition and the conditions of the activity. 1.2. Identify an appropriate activity site or location according to contextual issues, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 1.3. Determine possible hazards associated with off-piste snowboarding in a variety of snow, terrain and weather conditions. 1.4. Access relevantsources to interpret weather and environmental information and determine activity plans. |
2. Select appropriate equipment. | 2.1. Select suitable equipment after consideration of design and or construction features and contextual issues, and check that it is in good working order. 2.2. Adjust and fit equipment, according to manufacturer's specification, to ensure comfort and safety. 2.3. Select personal clothing for activity according to the design and or construction features appropriate for the conditions. |
3. Apply off-piste snowboarding skills. | 3.1. Participate in pre-snowboarding warm ups and stretching exercises. 3.2. Execute snowboard techniques demonstrating an upright centred stance and efficient blending of movements. 3.3. Adapt turn typesand shapes for the terrain and snow conditions and link together through the fall line. 3.4. Control speed with the shape of the turn and or by using side slipping. 3.5. Execute airs in off-piste terrain showing extension on take-off, flexion on landing, and stability throughout. 3.6. Approach hazards in a safe manner and minimise risks to self and group where possible. 3.7. Take measures to guard personal safety and safety of others while off-piste snowboarding. |
4. Evaluate snowboarding activity. | 4.1. Evaluate relevant aspects of the activity. 4.2. Identify improvements for future off-piste snowboarding experiences. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
literacy skills to analyse, interpret and apply weather and environmental information, legislation and organisational policies and procedures planning and organising skills to allocate and select relevant food, water, clothing and equipment for the off-piste snowboarding activity communication skills to interact with other participants to maintain a positive and safe environment problem-solving skills to: respond appropriately to changing conditions, navigate through off-piste conditions determine techniques to use when off-piste snowboarding self management skills to: review and reflect on own performance set goals to improve technique first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response to emergencies such as an avalanche, and personal health care. |
Required knowledge |
relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct and legal access Alpine Responsibility Code and snowboarding practices, snowsport area signs and regulations, and minimal impact codes to ensure safety and protection of environment equipment types, characteristics and technology used for off-piste snowboarding, the advantages and disadvantages of the range of equipment, and factors affecting appropriate selection of equipment clothing requirements for outdoor activities and factors affecting appropriate clothing selection, such as layering and protective clothing off-piste snowboarding techniques, such as the execution of turns, airs and sideslipping to demonstrate efficient riding principles of nutrition to maintain health and energy during activity sources of weather and environmental information to ascertain possible conditions and their affect on the activity emergency procedures and potential hazards, such as avalanches, relevant to the location to ensure risk minimisation to self and group. |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: applies relevant process to plan equipment and supply requirements appropriate to the off-piste conditions and duration of the snowboarding activity demonstrate off-piste snowboarding techniques, such as turns and side slipping, and safe off-piste snowboarding manoeuvres away from patrolled snowsport areas, such as controlling speed with the shape of the turn or by using side slipping evaluates and reflects on own off-piste snowboarding performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure participation in multiple off-piste snowboarding activities to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance. Assessment must also ensure access to: a snowsport location with terrain suitable for off-piste snowboarding skills to be demonstrated resources and information, such as principles of nutrition and weather sources to accurately plan and prepare for the off-piste snowboarding activity equipment such as off-piste snowboards, bindings, boots, suitable clothing, goggles, helmet, backpack or bumbag, navigation equipment, rescue and first aid equipment and food and water. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of off-piste snowboarding strategies and techniques observation of safe participation and demonstration of off-piste snowboarding skills, such as the execution of airs and turns third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: SISOSKB404A Snowboard on advanced terrain. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Food and water requirements may include: | range of foods: perishability packaging storage. |
Principles of nutrition may include: | food groups dietary guidelines. |
Conditions may include: | snow: surface snow conditions weather: visibility terrain. |
Contextual issues may include: | weather conditions, including times season transport location trip distance and duration group objectives group size. |
Relevant legislation may include: | occupational health and safety permits or permission for access environmental regulations. |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | occupational health and safety use and maintenance of equipment communication protocols safety and emergency procedures code of ethics snowsport area signs and regulations Alpine Responsibility Code and snowboarding practices within the code. |
Hazards may include: | temperature extremes slippery or unstable terrain dangerous animals and insects stinging trees and nettles dense vegetation group management hazards. |
Off-piste snowboarding may include: | backcountry snowboarding no lifts or patrols extreme terrain and snow conditions dangerous terrain such as cliffs, deep snow, chutes, and trees navigation through off-piste conditions. |
Relevant sources may include: | Bureau of Meteorology media land managers or agencies local knowledge. |
Weather and environmental information may include: | satellite images daily and weekly forecasts maximum and minimum temperatures weather warnings event warnings river heights synoptic charts high and low tides. |
Equipment may include: | beanie larger, off-piste snowboard off-piste boots bindings wrist guards gloves sun glasses or goggles. |
Design and or construction features may include: | side-cut overall length effective edge torsional flex camber soft or hard boots soft or hard bindings. |
Comfort and safety may include: | height and weight boot type side-cut overall length effective edge forward lean stance width stance angle surfaces waxed. |
Movements may include: | steering edging pressure control sideslipping. |
Turn types and shapes may include: | turn types: skidded edged carved shapes: small radius medium radius large radius. |
Shape of the turn may include: | open unfinished incomplete and or closed finished complete. |
Risks may include: | hypothermia heat exhaustion injuries exhaustion lost party or party member equipment failure. |
Measures may include: | effective communication with other snowboarders first aid and emergency response rescue procedures navigation safe falling observation of winter weather conditions and terrain fluid and food intake complying with all snowsport area signs and regulations complying with Alpine Responsibility Code and snowboarding practices within the code. |
Safety of others may include: | speed distance from other snow users. |
Relevant aspects may include: | objectives planning process activity site weather equipment selection clothing selection food selection instructional content instructional technique assessment technique group feedback directing techniques rescue techniques employed. |
Sectors
Outdoor Recreation
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
No licensing, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.