Ski guiding and risk management - A qualitative study on Nortind educated ski guides

Abstract

Avalanche fatalities claim lives in Norway each year. Yet, there is limited research on how ski guides ensure safety and manage risks on behalf of their clients. By studying how ski guides, educated through The Norwegian Mountain Guide Association (Nortind), manage this, I seek to fill this gap. The study is based on seven semi-structured interviews, supplemented by my autoethnographic reflections on being a ski-guide. Combined, these two methods have allowed me to tap into ski guides practices, thoughts, and strategies for ensuring safety. The thesis draws on literature on risk and safety in adventure tourism and guiding, and performance theory. I identified four partly overlapping themes. Theme one addresses the importance of planning and pre-tour meetings in managing clients' expectations as crucial components of a successful ski tour. Theme two shows the significance of gaining clients’ trust. Theme three explores how the ski guides perform safety and manage risk. Theme four unpacks how the ski guides create good experiences as a tool to avoid exposing clients to unnecessary risk. A tread in all themes is how the guides constantly work on impression management to adapt to clients' preferences, skills, and perceptions of risk, ultimately facilitating safe and enjoyable adventures. An understanding of how professional ski guides navigate avalanche risk is beneficial for prevent future avalanche accidents for recreational skiers as well as professionals.