Austin Shannon – 2016 Dynafit Scholarship Recipient
Dynafit Scholarship from Austin on Vimeo.
What is your dream job? What do you love to do? What makes you truly come alive? For me, the answer to all of these questions lies within the mountain guiding profession. At 29 years old I am very luck to have found my dream job at such a young age. People spend the majority of their lives at work. I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I would do what I loved for as long as possible. Getting paid to be outside and facilitate the most incredible experience of peoples lives is the greatest job I can imagine.
Making a career out of mountain guiding is no easy task. I realized many years ago that in order to do what I loved and have a sustainable career I must go through the training and become a fully certified mountain guide. The Dynafit Scholarship has made that dream possible. This last summer I was honored to receive the Dynafit Scholarship for the Advanced Ski Guide Course and Aspirant Exam located in Valdez, AK (ASGC/AE). I couldn’t believe it.
I started the AMGA training process in October 2009 with the Rock Instructor Course. It became very apparent to me that I had a long and expensive road ahead. Now seven years later and nearing the end of my AMGA training, the Dynafit Scholarship has given me the added financial and inspirational boost to finish strong.
Taking the ASGC/AE in Valdez, AK was a dream come true. To have the opportunity to study under fully certified guides and ski some classic objectives was mind blowing. And then to meet other aspiring guides along the way was icing on the cake. It takes a certain kind of drive and humility to put one’s self through the AMGA program. To stand up in front of your mentors and peers for ten days straight and be constructively criticized and critiqued to the highest level is…intense, to say the least.
The list of things I learned during the ASGC/AE was countless. One of the most significant lessons I learned during the course was, “Skiing for my clients and not for myself offers the greatest experience.” As a guide we are required to perform at an incredibly high level while keeping our clients safety and enjoyment in the forefront of our mind. It can be easy to go too fast or choose an objective outside the realm of possibilities. Learning to ski for my clients and not for myself has taken my ski guide practice to the next level.
I don’t possess the words to describe how thankful I am for the Dynafit Scholarship. This opportunity has allowed me to follow my dreams and get one step closer to becoming an American Mountain Guide. Going forward I hope to give my clients the best and safest mountain experience possible. I hope to give back to the AMGA and become a mentor. I hope to continue investing in the future of mountain guiding.
