Meet our Sknow Experts: Jørgen Moland — focused on avalanche prevention
Meet Jørgen Moland, one of our Expert Team members testing Sknow this season.
Jørgen lives in Oslo with his wife and three kids. He has a degree in Media Studies from the University of Oslo (UiO) and holds a Master of Science in Leadership from Boston University. Jørgen worked as the Head of information for the Institute of Social Research at UiO before choosing to leave research and academia, to work with outdoor life fulltime. Today he is managing director of “Trygg av Natur” (Confident by Nature), a company that offers outdoor-based educational programs for children, adolescents and adults who want change in everyday life.
Growing up Jørgen was an active scout and very influenced by Norway´s strong outdoor culture, including a culture of safety. Today Jørgen is very active in DNT (The Norwegian Trekking Association), the scouts, and member of the board in Norsk Friluftsliv (Norwegian Outdoors Life Association). Jørgen also served as Chairman of the Board for “Norsk Fjellsportforum” (The Norwegian Mountain Sport Forum) for many years, and still leads the avalanche group today.
“I´ve been a part of the group that revised the Norwegian Mountain Code (Fjellvettreglene) in 2016” says Jørgen. The Mountain Code provides a mindset and some guidelines about what to think about managing the risk of outdoor activities, but states clearly that you have to make the decision yourself.’
Skiing and being active in backcountry terrain have been part of Jørgen´s life since he was small, but his interest in avalanches peaked even more after buying a cabin in avalanche terrain in the late 80-ties. ‘A total of sixteen cabins have been taken by avalanche there, the last during the the school´s winter break in 2002” recounts Jørgen, “so basically my interest for estimating avalanche danger is also necessary for knowing when it’s safe to visit the cabin….
For over twenty years Jørgen has taught courses on avalanche safety and since 2008 he has focused mostly on avalanche prevention, by teaching people which days are safe for skiing and how to move in backcountry terrain to minimise risk.
Joining the Sknow Expert Team
We at Sknow are grateful to have an skilled practitioner as Jørgen as part of early stage development. Getting input from experienced instructors is key to conveying the correct information and teaching skiers how to use the information Sknow generates safely and to its full potential.
As an entrepreneur himself Jørgen understands the importance of getting people on board in an early stage. Jørgen has been aware of using radar for avalanche detection via the research community, but what excited him most about Sknow is the ability to get more information into the hands of skiers. “The main reason I think this is exciting is that I have seen, through many years of trying to convey snow information, just how complex it is. I hope this technology is a way to offer more help.” Jørgen stresses that skiers must be aware of their responsibility. Technology is not something to trust blindly, just because a device says conditions are safe, does not mean they are. Skiers must make their own decision about safety, but Sknow can be a helpful tool in that decision process. Part of the reason Jørgen wants to be engaged is to help make sure the technology is anchored in a knowledge-based approach, where the skier still has the responsibility. Jørgen hopes that the information Sknow generates will contribute to groups stopping and reflecting more over the conditions. Sknow can act as a reminder for people to discuss the conditions and how things change along the way. “I look at Sknow as an opportunity to strengthen the group dynamic connected to human factors. What I want is for skiers to have more good experiences. That skiers are not just happy as a trip went well, but that they understand why it went well, and are capable to answer the question: Why is it safe”
Jørgen´s advice for safe travels:
· Adapt your trip to your skillset and the conditions
· Plan the trip
· Respect the weather and avalanche warning
· Prepare for bad and cold weather, even on short trips
· Bring necessary equipment to help yourself and others. This is Important!
‘I think I just said the first five guidelines of the Mountain Code”. It´s important to make safe choices and have the ability to recognize danger.’ Jørgen says. ‘I just want everyone to get out and get in touch with nature and themselves. Then we´ll have a better life and a better community.”
