What to consider when Freeskiing

What equipment you need for freeriding?
The basic equipment for a Freeride-day in addition to a helmet for sure, the avalanche search device (avalanche transceiver), a shovel and a probe. Highly recommended, an avalanche Airbag backpack.

in order for the day in the snow, and especially the descents in powder snow are unforgettable, it is worth to invest in a Freeride Ski. This is in contrast to a ski under the binding is wider and therefore has more buoyancy in powder snow. Who is also a touring binding and fur-on-the-go (free touring), so with a couple of climbs in unberührteres terrain.

That sounds complicated. How can you practice using the safety equipment?
Marco Zemp Swiss Freeride-Hotspot Engelberg-Titlis recommends any Freeride-beginners training book course with a mountain guide. Engelberg-Titlis tourism offers, for example, the free Snow & Safety Days: a mountain guide, a Freerider in the secrets of driving off-Piste and on show in various ways, the most important rules. Is taught to the participants of the course also dealing with the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.

How to estimate the danger potential in the first place, and avalanche goes out of the way?
in Front of every Freeride day, one should consult home the avalanche Bulletin and the weather report as well as reports from colleagues and seek expert advice. For the assessment of the avalanche situation, it takes a lot of experience – in case of doubt, a mountain guide should be consulted.

To is a reputable planning, it is also essential that the planned route of departure on a card draw, to study, and the danger to mark. On-site, it is important to check whether the previous planning home complies with the conditions on the mountain.

How is the avalanche situation? The weather is right as advertised? The visibility is good? There are spontaneous Avalanches?

The single-slope is then decided whether the planned departure can be used, too dangerous, or whether the Plan B (another departure).

What is it else?
Many experts are of the opinion that you should be as a Freerider never alone on the road. Basically, each Freerider is but itself for its safety. It is therefore discouraged, just a trace behind, because not every trail leads to happiness. Off the runway, the markings and the last piste control is missing, therefore, a serious preparation is worth it, so you can always see where you are located.

Who is driving illegally in a wildlife protection zone, will be asked to pay.

The route planning can be prepared, for example, in the free "White Risk" App (Download from the iTunes Appstore and in the Google Playstore) or the tried and true and always reliable, with a map and compass. Not to forget, in the outdoors, the wildlife quiet zones are, so that the wild animals survive the cold Season. Who is driving illegally in a wildlife protection zone, is also requested to the cashier.

All clear. But where freeskiers come in Switzerland, especially at your expense?
In Switzerland, in particular, Engelberg is regarded as a Paradise for freeskiers. Several hanging–, such as, for example, Laub, Steinberg or Galtiberg, are known worldwide. With Andermatt a second intra-Swiss Destination is one of the hottest Freeride destinations. Good conditions are found, but also in Verbier – 4 Vallées, Zermatt, Arosa-Lenzerheide, Diavolezza/Lagalb, Val d'anniviers, Säntis, Disentis, in the Jungfrau region, Laax-Flims-Falera and Davos-Klosters.

(Jonathan Spirig/travel content)

Created: 18.01.2019, 17:23 PM