The heli ski game just got a little bit safer. Heli-Ski US—a nonprofit heli ski corporation—has just hired on one of the best in terms of heli guides and avalanche safety. Lel Tone will take the role of education director and with her background as a heli-ski guide and snow safety expert she is set to design training programs for the guide school. Her 20 plus years of experience as a ski patroller, heli-ski guide and avalanche course educator is going to be a tremendous resource not only to the nonprofit, but to the heli-guides.
“As the governing body for heli-skiing in the U.S., I’m excited to join the HSUS team,” says Tone. “With my experience in heli-ski guiding and snow safety, I look forward to designing HSUS’ future mechanized guide school programs and providing the highest quality guide training based on our standardized operating procedures.”
For more information, see the press release below.
Press Release:
Heli-Ski US (HSUS), a Utah nonprofit corporation whose members represent the best helicopter skiing operators in the United States, names prolific heli-ski guide and snow safety expert Lel Tone as its new educational director.
“HSUS’s primary responsibility is to establish the highest safety and operating standards in the helicopter skiing industry,” explains Tait Wardlaw, HSUS board member. “As such, education for guides is a central ingredient in this process. Lel’s combined experience in the field and expertise in avalanche education will add significant value to our educational programs.”
Tone brings over 20 years of experience in the snow safety arena where she has worked as a ski patroller, heli-ski guide and avalanche course educator. Tone is a Level 3 avalanche technician and possesses Level 1 and 2 teaching certifications from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). For the last five years Tone has also aided in designing technical outdoor clothing for Eddie Bauer’s First Ascent line.
“As the governing body for heli-skiing in the U.S., I’m excited to join the HSUS team,” says Tone. “With my experience in heli-ski guiding and snow safety, I look forward to designing HSUS’ future mechanized guide school programs and providing the highest quality guide training based on our standardized operating procedures.”
In Tone’s new role as educational director, she will work directly with HSUS board members to oversee content, criteria and educational resources for its mechanized guide school. Tone will also consolidate relevant, robust course content for all HSUS programs, work with guest lecturers and provide additional topical recommendations for course enhancement.
Related: Backcountry safety: A comprehensive avalanche education center directory
