Ski & Avalanche Academy – Two-Week Advanced Course in Lofoten

This is the course for ambitious skiers!

Price: From 19.000 NOK

Take Your Winter Mountain Skills to the Next Level

The Ski & Avalanche Academy is an intensive two-week course. Fits for ski tourers who already have experience in the mountains and a basic understanding of avalanche safety. And who want to take their skills to the next level.

Throughout the course, we combine avalanche assessment, tour planning, terrain choices, ski technique, steep snow skills, rope work and travel in alpine winter terrain. The goal is to give you a deeper understanding of how good decisions are made. Both before the tour and in the mountains.

We use the mountains of Lofoten as our classroom. Most of our time is spent outside, working with real conditions, assessing snow and terrain, and practising how to make good decisions along the way.

The course is also ideal for those with professional ambitions who are considering further education in avalanche safety, ski guiding or mountain guiding.

The course runs over two weeks: 5 course days + 2 rest days + 5 course days.

What Will You Learn?

Throughout the two weeks, we work systematically with the skills you need to become more confident and independent in challenging winter mountain terrain. The course combines theory with extensive practical training in the mountains.

You will work with:

Avalanche assessment, snowpack and avalanche problems
Tour planning and terrain selection
Decision-making and risk management
Ski technique in varied and steep terrain
Steep snow skills, including the use of crampons and ice axe
Rope work and protection in alpine winter terrain
Avalanche rescue and emergency situations
Navigation and route finding
Planning and leading your own ski tours

As the course progresses, you will gradually take more responsibility for planning, terrain choices and decision-making. Your guides provide feedback and challenge you to explain and reflect on the decisions you make.

The goal is not simply to learn more techniques, but to develop the judgement and experience needed to make better, more independent decisions in the winter mountains.

Who Is the Course For?

The Ski & Avalanche Academy is designed for ski tourers who already have experience with ski touring and a basic understanding of snow and avalanche safety, and who want to take their skills further.

You should be comfortable with full days of ski touring and have previous experience travelling in winter mountain terrain. This is not an introductory course. We build on the knowledge and experience you already have.

The course is particularly suitable for those who want to become more independent. In complex terrain, improve their decision-making and develop a broader set of skills for travelling safely in alpine winter mountains.

It is also well suited for participants with professional ambitions who are considering further education in avalanche safety, ski guiding or mountain guiding.

Two Weeks with the Mountains of Lofoten as Your Classroom

The course takes place in the mountains around Henningsvær and across Lofoten. Where we go each day depends on the weather, snow conditions and where we can find the best learning opportunities.

We aim to spend as much time as possible in the mountains. Rather than following a fixed programme regardless of conditions, we use the situations we encounter to work with avalanche assessment, terrain choices, ski technique and alpine skills in real mountain terrain.

The course includes 10 training days over two weeks, divided into five course days, two rest days and another five course days. This gives us time to build skills progressively and work with your development throughout the course.

Certified Mountain and Ski Guides

The Ski & Avalanche Academy is led by experienced mountain guides and ski guides with a high level of professional competence in avalanche safety, skiing and travel in alpine winter terrain.

Throughout the course, your guides do more than teach techniques. You will be actively involved in assessing snow conditions, identifying avalanche problems, choosing terrain and making decisions in the mountains.

We encourage you to explain your own observations and choices, and use the situations we encounter as opportunities for discussion and learning.

The goal is to help you develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between snow, terrain and human factors, giving you a stronger foundation for making independent decisions in the winter mountains.

From Knowledge to Independent Decision-Making

At the Ski & Avalanche Academy, we want you to be an active participant in the learning process. As the course progresses, you will take more responsibility for tour planning, terrain choices and decisions in the mountains.

We discuss decisions throughout the day and use both straightforward and challenging situations as opportunities to learn. You receive direct feedback from the mountain and ski guides, giving you the opportunity to test your judgement, reflect on your choices and develop your skills.

After two weeks, the goal is for you to leave with a deeper understanding of avalanche safety, stronger alpine skills and greater confidence in making independent decisions in winter mountain terrain.

Course Content

5-day Advanced Avalanche Course
Use of crampons and ice axe
Snow climbing techniques
Introduction to ice climbing
Skiing technique
Rope techniques in winter terrain / snow anchors
Safety and first aid in the winter mountains
Course instructors are Mountain Guides or currently training to become Mountain Guides.

Winter Courses 2027

4 January – 16 January – Places available
15 February – 26 February – Places available

Practical Information

Included

10 course days with experienced mountain and ski guides
Guiding and instruction in the mountains
Necessary shared safety and technical equipment
Tour planning, feedback and professional instruction throughout the course

You Should Bring

Ski touring skis, boots, poles and skins
Ski crampons
Ice axe and crampons
Avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel
Helmet
Daypack
Clothing and equipment for full days in winter mountain conditions
Food and drinks for each course day

Duration
Two weeks – 10 course days, divided into 5 course days + 2 rest days + 5 course days.

Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in the course price. Dorm accommodation can be booked for NOK 750 per person per night.

Suited fore

Suitable for experienced ski tourers with basic avalanche knowledge who want to develop stronger avalanche assessment, alpine skills and greater independence in winter mountain terrain.

Equipment

Ski touring equipment. Ice axe and crampons (available to borrow). I Fri Natur provides ropes and protection.

Meeting point

Trevarefabrikken 09:00

Want to know more?

Fill out the form and we’ll get in touch!

Customer reviews

What our customers say

      
   I Fri Natur - Mountain guides Lofoten
   80 Google reviews 
  Write a review 
  
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Betzy Hansen 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kan virkelig anbefale klatrekurs hos I fri natur!

Vi var to personer som tok et kurs over tre dager med Vegard som instruktør. Kursdagene ble tilpasset vårt nivå og våre ambisjoner, og vi gikk fra aldri å ha satt naturlige sikringer før til å lede en fem taulengders trad-rute på egenhånd i løpet av tre dager. Vegard var meget god på å både vise og forklare, men også på å la oss prøve oss frem og finne løsninger selv uten å bryte inn mer enn nødvendig.

Dette var ekstremt lærerikt, gøy, utfordrende og ga masse mestring. Kommer helt klart til å velge kurs hos i fri natur igjen!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Robin Mansfield 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Vi var en vennegjeng som besøkte Henningsvær i forbindelse med et bryllup, og ønsket samtidig å få med oss en tur til Svolværgeita. Vi hadde sett mange bilder derfra på forhånd, og klatringen så både spektakulær og spennende ut.

I Fri Natur stilte med guider, og vi fikk en veldig god opplevelse fra start til slutt. Guidene var hyggelige, profesjonelle og flinke til å skape trygghet underveis. Ei i gruppen hadde gruet seg litt til klatringen, men guidene tok seg god tid, var tålmodige og fulgte henne opp på en veldig fin måte, samtidig som resten av gruppen ble godt ivaretatt.

Vi leide også sykler gjennom I Fri Natur mens vi bodde i Henningsvær. Vi bodde litt utenfor sentrumskjernen, så syklene gjorde det veldig enkelt å komme seg fram og tilbake og rundt ellers i Henningsvær. Det er ikke store avstander, men i løpet av en helg sparte vi både mye tid og en del gåing. Dette var absolutt et stort pluss for oss.

Turen opp Svolværgeita ble et av høydepunktene under oppholdet i Lofoten. Å stå på toppen var en fantastisk opplevelse, og noe vi kommer til å huske lenge.

Vi kan på det sterkeste anbefale både turen og I Fri Natur.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   ingrid Lønseth 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Takk for super tur🤩
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sharon Pisani 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Climbed Svolværgeita with Vegard and he was helpful, knowledgeable and I felt super safe in his hands!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Trymnt 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Guidet klatretur opp 1910 ruten på Svolværgeita⭐️
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Aurora Amundrud 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jeg opplevde turen min opp Geita som, trygg, gøy og skummelt. Alt på samma tid. Guidene som tok oss opp og ned var svært profesjonelle og jeg følte meg ivaretatt hele veien. Jeg var ikke redd for å spørre eller be dem dobbeltsjekke meg x antall ganger. Dette er en tur som anbefales på det steeerkeste og jeg gleder meg allerede til neste gang jeg skal opp!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Line Heimstad 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastisk opplevelse - trygge flinke guider! Anbefales!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jennifer L 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. These guys are amazing! I didn’t get to use their service, but my interaction with them was awesome and I would not hesitate to book with them if I’m back in town again. So grateful for their help!