Safety Guides

If you live for seeking freshly fallen snow, no doubt the start of the season is the highlight of your year. But in your anticipation to get to the mountains, it can be easy to forget the basics you need to stay safe.

If you’re boldly exploring the backcountry this winter, avalanche awareness and the correct safety equipment are lifesavers in the event of an emergency in unmarked and unpatrolled territory. Stay safer off-piste this snow season, with these five backcountry skiing and snowboarding essentials:

Adventure skiing is skiing un-pisted ‘natural’ snow, generally outside designated ski areas. Whether you’re skiing just off-piste, close to all the amenities, lifts, restaurants or hiking up distant peaks far away from the madding crowd, safety has to be the number one priority. From transceivers, shovels, probes and ABS Airbag Packs, to the correct clothing and ski wear, it is important to ensure that you have right type of equipment for the type of adventure skiing you are undertaking.

With a slow start to the winter season and following recent weeks of heavy snowfall, snowpacks across Europe can be unstable and prone to lethal avalanches. Whilst you should never head into the backcountry without full backcountry equipment and a qualified local professional, we’re of the belief that avalanche safety starts with understanding snowpacks and preventing avalanches before they occur.