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How do you get training in off-piste safety?

In ski touring and freeriding, there are more safety rules than when the terrain is marked out. It’s very important to know them in order to avoid accidents, even though there is no such thing as zero risk off-piste.

The topic of off-piste ski safety comes back around each year with the first snowfall. We often talk to you about safety because it’s so important. To make the most of your off-piste runs and to venture into the mountains safely, you need to be prepared by being properly equipped and safety trained.
In this article, we’ll revisit freeride skiing, the importance of off-piste safety training, what this training covers, where to get trained, etc. In short, we’ll give you all the information and tools you need to train yourself and ski off-piste in the best conditions.

What is freeride skiing?

Freeride skiing is skiing outside the marked, secure slopes of the ski area. As soon as you cross the signs and markers of this ski area, you enter an area that is unsecured, ungroomed and unmaintained. Offering an amazing playground, yet one that requires mountain experience, equipment and suitable safety equipment as well as preparation. It's not enough just to follow the tracks, to go under the rope marking out the slopes, and to ski on powder. It's true that there can be a great descent full of fresh snow, there can also be rocky bars and avalanche risks. Therefore, these requires skills and equipment as we are no longer in a secure, maintained, monitored, marked-out area.

Off-piste safety: how to be trained in off-piste safety

Why is it important to be trained?

Despite being a magnificent place for lovers of ski touring and off-piste skiing to explore, the mountain involves many risks. To practice in optimal safety conditions, you need to be trained to anticipate and minimise risk as well as having the approach and reflexes in case of an accident. The keys to mountain safety are being well prepared for the terrain you are venturing into and staying alert. For a freeride or ski touring outing, you need to know these safety basics. Being able to read the weather report and especially the avalanche risk assessment bulletin, which requires some learning.
Just as you have to learn to ski, you also have to learn to freeride. Knowing that there is no such thing as zero risk, you still have to be responsible.

HOW DO YOU GET TRAINING IN OFF-PISTE SAFETY?

How is the training organised?

Océane Vibert, Director of La Chamoniarde, tells us how to be trained in off-piste safety.
We offer mountain safety training days supervised by mountain guides from the Chamonix valley, who are themselves trained in mountain rescue. They are divided into three categories according to their discipline: ski touring, off-piste skiing and glacier skiing. You learn how to use an avalanche transceiver and safety equipment in an avalanche zone (shovel, probe), as well as how to read and understand a map, a weather report and an avalanche bulletin, how to equip yourself for a mountain outing, how to manage safety when travelling, understand different types of snow, how to ski in a group, etc. We also set up five avalanche transceiver parks in Chamonix resorts winter to train for avalanche victim searches. Access is free and open to all, every day. For the less expert, a mountain guide is present on site on certain Sundays to explain the basic techniques of avalanche rescue.

"YOU SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO ASK FOR HELP, TO GET INFORMATION, TO TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS UNIQUE PLACE TO EXPLORE."

Equipment required

It’s essential to equip yourself and to have safety equipment with you during the training and your off-piste outings. It’s called the inseparable trio of off-piste skiing.
The avalance transceiver, shovel and probe are inseparable as one doesn’t work without the other. Having these three items puts all the odds in your favour to find someone buried under an avalanche as quickly as possible before the emergency services arrive at the scene of the accident.
You can complete this safety set with an airbag backpack. An inflation system of a balloon fitted in a backpack that remains at the surface when someone is swept up in an avalanche.

Be aware that all these products don’t make you invincible! It's important to learn to analyse situations in the mountains in order to know when to back down when these items aren’t needed.

Having safety equipment is good, but knowing when to use it is better! After the theory comes practice. During the off-piste safety training, exercises are analysed and presented in practical cases. It’s important to repeat these exercises and movements daily, before and after the winter season, in order to remember them and act effectively in the event of problems off-piste.

Avalanche pack: shovel + probe + avalanche transceiver arva evo4
Airbag backpack

Who is involved?

All occasional or regular skiers and snowboarders, practising off-piste freeriding or ski touring. In short, everyone skiing off-piste. Don’t forget that it’s important to train regularly during the ski season to anticipate mountain outings. Our training sessions are set up in several levels in order to reach as many skiers as possible and to improve their safety during their outings outside of the marked out and secured sections.

Where to get trained?

There are many bodies in France like La Chamoniarde that offer theory and practical training in off-piste ski safety. These organisations will help you to gain more knowledge about mountain safety giving you more autonomy when you ski.
Find all the information on these training options directly from the organisations who offer training all year round.
You’ll develop the required experience to anticipate to the maximum and minimise risks during your off-piste outings.
This means you will enjoy your future outings to the full throughout the winter.

Anena

Anena's current missions are mainly oriented towards prevention through the processing and sharing information, training the general public and professional training

Training
With a guide

The safety trainings for the guides’ office are intended for skiers who wish to become more independent in the mountains or high mountains.

Directory service
Ecole de ski français

TRAINING IN ALL TYPES OF SNOWS ON ALL TYPES OF TERRAIN
With this new concept, ESF aims to contribute to the autonomy of skiers, to make people aware of this specific environment and to make it accessible to mountain lovers.

Training

Coraline

Wedze communication team

Passionate about winter sports

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