Freeriding, or deep snow skiing, is an incomparable experience for many skiers in the middle of the beauty of the mountains. The untouched slopes and the feeling of freedom are simply priceless. However, this kind of skiing also involves risks and requires a responsible approach and planning.
Here we give you 7 valuable safety tips on how to enjoy the freeride adventure in a safe way.
1. Know your skills and your limits
You should always be honest with yourself when deep snow skiing and realistically assess your own skills. Off-piste conditions are different than on groomed slopes and it requires significantly more experience and to see and recognize different alpine dangers.
If you don’t feel quite confident in deep snow skiing yet, you should definitely continue practicing it in the near of ski slopes until you feel safe enough to be able to do and plan a real off-piste or freeride descent far away from the slopes.
Now you can start with planning your first freeride descent in backcountry. For the first tour you should choose a easy and not too difficult tour.
Our recommendation is to ask for help of experts, like mountain or ski guides. Maybe it is possible to plan the first tour together with a ski guide/ski instructor. He or she can draw attention and give detailled information about the actual avalanche situation in the region. You also need the actual avalanche situation report and the wheather forecast to plan the freeride descent. You also will discuss, which equipment you will need for the tour.
2. Plan the tour/descent in advance
t is recommended to plan the route thoroughly in advance and to choose the slopes carefully. This will allow you to become somewhat familiar with the terrain and avoid risky slopes or avalanche danger zones. However, the route should be realistic and the plans should be adapted to the current conditions.
A detailled planning of the freeride tour is unavoidable and really necessary for a safe trip!
With the help of an orthographic map, the off-piste or freeride descent must be planned in advance. Thorough planning allows you to familiarize yourself with the terrain, you can see the steepness of the individual slopes and the resting points can be set. Risky or avalanche-prone sections can be avoided in advance and “bypassed”.
Thorough planning also includes realistically estimating the duration of the descents so that you don’t get into mountain distress in the dark or due to the daytime warming of the air in spring, which increases the risk of avalanches.
You should never be alone in backcountry and it is also very advisable that other people are informed about your planned tour and the planned return. If you are not back in time, a search operation could be set in motion.
3. Obtain information about the avalanche situation, the wheater forecast and other alpine dangers.
If in doubt, local experts or mountain guides can also be helpful. You should pay attention to warnings and reports before going off-piste. If conditions are too dangerous, one should adjust one’s plans or even forgo deep snow skiing.
It is really necessary that you inform yourself about the actual avalanche situaiont, by reading the avalanche situation report and speaking with local experts (like mountain or ski guides) for a correct and conscientious planning and also for the descent in real.
Mountain or ski guides can inform you about the actual avanlanche situation and other alpine dangers in the region, where you have to watch out.
Warnings and closings of slopes or regions have to be accepted.
If the general conditions are not suitable, the off-piste or freeride tour should definitely be postponed or cancelled. You only have one life and you should protect it!
4. Use appropriate safety equipment
What safety equipment do you need for off-piste skiing and freeriding?
The avalanche equipment includes an avalanche transceiver, a shovel and a probe. If available, modern avalanche airbag backpacks should also be carried in order to have the best possible chances of survival in case of emergency.
Your own mobile phone, first-aid material and a bivvy sack are also part of the standard equipment that you should take with you when freeriding and off-piste skiing.
However, the best safety equipment is of no use to anyone if the handling and use of this equipment is not practiced and trained before. In case of emergency, an appropriate use can save your and other lives!
5. Take at least one freeride partner with you
You should never be alone in backcountry! If you have the opportunity to join a group with a mountain or ski guide, you should always take this chance.
Within a group, a clear communication is important. It is advisable to agree on signs and signals in order to be able to communicate in case of emergency. In backcountry the mobile phones often don’t have reception, so you cannot rely on your mobile phone as a tool of communication.
6. Respect nature
The untouched nature is crossed during off-piste skiing and freeriding and we must respect wildlife and the surrounding nature. Do not enter protected areas and obey local rules and regulations.
As a freerider, you have to be aware that you startle animals, which then use up unnecessary energy by fleeing and, in the worst case, cannot survive the winter as a result. The protected areas serve as a retreat for animals and must be respected.
Also, no rubbish may be thrown away or left behind. We winter sports enthusiasts enjoy freeriding in the untouched, clean nature and it should be kept that way!
7. Emergency plan
If there is any doubt or uneasy feeling, do not hesitate and refrain from off-piste skiing. Safety always comes first!
Moreover we recommend always to have an empergeny plan and know how to proceed in case of an accident, injury or avalanche. If necessary, you should call the mountain rescue notify the emergency services and give first aid.
It is also very important that you always have an emergency plan in order to act in a structured and correct manner in case of an accident or other emergencies. If necessary notify the mountain rescue service in order to get rescued or to receive help with first aid and to transport the injured person to the hospital.
Conclusion – 7 safety tips for skiing off-piste
Deep snow skiing can be an unforgettable experience, but safety is the top priority! By acting responsibly and following these safety tips, the off-piste adventure can be enjoyed to the fullest while minimizing the risk of injury and other dangers.
You should always remember that the mountains should be enjoyed consciously but also with caution and it should be treated with respect. We would be happy to accompany you on your first freeride adventure. You can find more information here. See you soon at Hochzeiger in Pitztal!
