Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW)
Join us for the 18th Annual USAW, where Utah’s avalanche community will team up with snow professionals around the west to share avalanche knowledge. Regional avalanche workshops are the most time and cost-effective way to build and refresh advanced avalanche skills. This is your chance to learn from avalanche experts and brush up on your skills before the start of the season.
- When: December 6th, 4 PM-8 PM
- Where: Wasatch Jr High School Auditorium (3750 S 3100 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84109)
- Ticket Price: $35 General Admission and $30 Student (with proof of student ID)
You’ll learn from forecasters, patrollers, snow scientists, highway avalanche crews, search & rescue personnel, mountain guides, ski industry manufacturers, backcountry skiers & snowboarders, snowmobilers, avalanche researchers, and more. The format will be 15-minute presentations followed by Q&A.
Livestream is available this year and the link will be sent out the day before.
The schedule is below, it is subject to change. Underlined titles are liked to associated research.
USAW Dec 6, 2025 Agenda
16:00 - 16:05: Welcome - Craig Gordon, UAC
16:05 - 16:20: Winter Review - A video look back at weather and avalanche events that shaped the 2024-25 winter season
16:20 - 16:40: Weather factors contributing to the 2024-25 winter season and how LaNina played into the score - Mike Wessler, NWS
16:45 - 17:05: Recreating like a Pro - Jeremy Collett, UAC
17:10 - 17:30: A crawl, walk, run evolution of pushing the boundaries in backcountry motorized travel. - Randy Sugihara, Alpine Assassins
17:30-17:55 BREAK
17:55 - 18:15: Margin of Error; Did We Make Good Decisions or Get Away With It? - Winslow Passey, Utah Mountain Adventures and Wasatch Mountain Guide
18:20 - 18:50: Beyond the Beacon; What Recreational Riders Really Need to Know - Dr. Sara Boilen, Sweetgrass Psychological
18:55 - 19:20: Monte Cristo Accident Review - Toby Weed, UAC
19:25 - 19:45: A road full of speed bumps, forks, and detours - Cody Hughes