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inside the industry » BLACK DIAMOND, ALBERTA
Success in safety
Zac’s Tracs’ avalanche safety training is recognized at a national level
by AMBER CRAIG
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TRACKING ZAC’S: Lori and Randy Zacaruk (holding award) received a CCSO Excellence Award at the 2007 International Snowmobile Congress. Also pictured are: (L to R) Pat Whiteway, CCSO president, and Louise Sherren and Patrick McGrath with the ASA.
—photo by Keith Powell |
The 2007 International Snowmobile Congress was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in June; snowmobilers and administrators from Canada, the U.S.A., Sweden and Russia were in attendance.
Lori and Randy Zacaruk of Zac’s Tracs in Black Diamond, Alberta, travelled there to receive a Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO) Excellence Award for 2007. The award recognized Zac’s Tracs’ avalanche safety training.
Lori said they received provincial recognition last year when they were
selected as the Outstanding Organized Snowmobile-Related Company of the Year for Alberta.
“To follow it up with this award at the national level was really rewarding,” said Lori. “We feel very proud that our services are regarded so highly.”
For the past seven years, Zac’s Tracs has provided avalanche safety training to more than 10,000 students, 1,500 adults and nearly 750 snowmobilers.
“We would like to thank the Alberta Snowmobile Association,” said Lori. “They are very supportive of all forms of snowmobile safety and they have encouraged our efforts from the beginning.”
Lori has been busy offering her expertise in the development of research and training programs on the latest advances in avalanche safety training.
“I was invited to co-author (along with Bruce Jamieson) the latest revision of Sledding in Avalanche Terrain,” said Lori.
Jamieson is an associate professor at the University of Calgary and conducts avalanche research annually. The book is used in Canadian avalanche training programs and is sold worldwide. It has been revised to include the most up-to-date research and contains 90 photos.
This summer Lori also offered her services to the committee for the Avalanche Skills Training (AST) review project. The AST refers to recreational courses developed by the Canadian Avalanche Centre.
“The new program includes the latest research in fracture quality (pops and drops) and the use of the Avaluator,” said Lori. “If you are in the backcountry and don’t know what these terms mean, it’s time for a refresher avalanche course.”
To learn more about Zac’s Tracs, call (403) 850-3042 or visit www.zacstracs.com.
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