What do you need to know about off-piste skiing in the mountains? From a professional snowboarder

Why should you not go free skiing in the mountains without preparation? How can it be dangerous?

Answered by the vice-champion of the Freeride World Tour.

Let us guess. Have you been snowboarding or skiing for a long time? Do you feel confident in the mountains, but the slopes annoy you with countless people? Are you clearly lacking freedom and new sensations? And so you are looking towards the snow fields and forests.

We hasten to warn you. The mountains are a high-risk area, and it can be unsafe to be out there in the wild. Before you turn behind the fence and go where there are no identifying marks, it is better to learn more about what may be waiting for you. And believe me, there is a lot to be wary of.

There are several types of freeride:

Resort. One of the most common. First you need to get to the top of the mountain with the help of an elevator, and then descend outside the prepared track, on untouched snow, but within the territory of the resort.

Backcountry. Before the skiing itself it is necessary to get to the place of your start on foot and with all the equipment over your shoulders. Then the only thing left to do is to hike down the snowfield. Despite the difficulty before the start of the run, it is also quite a popular type of downhill. Before backcountry skiing it is necessary to fully familiarize yourself with the place for skiing and assess the complexity of the terrain.

Heli-skiing. Riders go up to the top of the mountain by helicopter and then descend to a point from where the helicopter picks them up.

Vice-champion of the Freeride World Tour, athlete of the Roxy team, Jones Snowboard, BCA and the Kant store

Talks about the intricacies of freeride.

Why do people want to ride off-piste?

Because every descent is unique and different, because the mountains are incredibly beautiful and interesting, and riding in the wild alone with them gives incredible impressions and emotions. You can endlessly explore them, progress and find new places.

What dangers lurk in the wilderness?

There are many dangers, and the further you are from civilization, the more difficult it will be to provide assistance. That’s why it’s important to have a reliable trained team on the ride.

To elaborate:

• you can get lost in the mountains;
• you can get injured on trees, on rocks that are hidden under the snow. Many rocky precipices are often not visible, as well as canyons and streams;
• you can get trapped in the terrain;
• you can encounter wild animals;
• you can get caught in an avalanche.

What do you need to think about before leaving the prepared trails?

Most likely, if you are reading this article, you are a beginner and so you need to consider riding with a guide. He will, thanks to his experience and knowledge, select the safest possible route that suits your level of skiing, as well as familiarize you with avalanche equipment.

You also need to understand all the risks, adequately assess your level and clearly understand where you are going.

5 mistakes people make out of ignorance

1. “Riding the trails is safe.” No.
2. “If there are tracks, then it is not avalanche-prone”. No.
3. Not to think with your own head, and to ride the tail of the “leader” – I mean a more experienced friend who “has ridden here a hundred times and knows everything”. You need to develop yourself, get training and analyze the situation. This is your life and health.
4. “There is no avalanche danger in the forest.” No.
5. Riding in a group on an avalanche-prone slope.

In fact, there are many more mistakes, and they are mainly formed by the lack of skating technique: constant falls, uncontrolled descents, strong braking, traverses (i.e. moving from one edge of the mountain to the other, gradually descending) and, of course, ignorance of the basic rules of avalanche safety.

Where is the best place to try freeride in Russia?

Off-piste skiing cannot be safe. Every mountain is unique, and everywhere has its own nuances. For example, there are rarely avalanches in Sheregesh, but people often get lost there and fall into streams.

You need to approach the process of freeriding in principle differently. First of all, make sure that your level of skiing is high enough to move to freeride. To do this, I advise you to practice with a good instructor on the slopes. Thanks to exercises he will bring your technique to the necessary level. Next, you should start with simple gentle routes and avalanche training. There are freeride schools, including one I do in Siberia.

Then ride with guides to familiarize yourself with a new place, and then try something on your own, but only in a well-prepared group of friends.