© Christoph Johann,
Anyone who has ventured into the deep snow on skis or snowboard wants more of it. There is hardly a freerider who doesn’t look out of the window full of anticipation and dream of the next adventure in the powder as soon as it starts to snow lightly. Everywhere in SalzburgerLand you will find perfect conditions to live out this passion, to follow the call of the powder snow. Whether you fancy a high alpine ‘Hike&Ride’ tour, don’t stray too far from the lift, or you want to make your tracks on your own local mountain: In this paradise for freeriders, everyone will find their own personal ‘off-piste playground’. But as unique and wonderful as riding in unsecured space may be, there is one thing you must never forget: The issue of safety!
Safety first in open terrain
Anyone who moves off secured pistes bears responsibility for themselves and is always exposed to certain risks that need to be carefully assessed. And that requires prudent preparation, knowledge of Alpine safety and common sense. At the same time, you should always keep in mind that your actions can put not only yourself but also other winter sports enthusiasts in danger. With the right preparation, the necessary caution and the willingness to skip a ride once in a while, the risk off the secured slopes can at least be minimised to an acceptable level. Those who realise that they lack the necessary knowledge are in good hands on secured off-piste runs or in the company of a ski guide.
©SalzburgerLand Tourismus – Freeriders on their way to the top
Know about the risks
The most important thing is to know exactly what you are doing. Dangers that you can encounter at any time in the alpine space must always be considered. Assessing the risks requires certain prior knowledge and precise tour planning. What have the temperatures been like in the last few days and weeks? Do the individual layers of snow have different structures, or could they bond well? What is the weather like on the day of the tour? Can we expect a change in the weather, or is the weather situation stable? What is the terrain like underneath the snow cover?
These are questions you absolutely have to have answers to before you set off on your next freeride adventure. The current avalanche situation report is available on the website of the Avalanche Warning Centre of the SalzburgerLand.
Correct equipment
Caution and knowledge of the dangers are certainly the best companions in deep snow. But the right safety equipment is indispensable in case of an emergency: a rucksack with shovel and probe, the obligatory avalanche transceiver system (and you also have to be trained in using it!), protectors and helmet are part of the basic equipment. Avalanche airbags increase the chance of not getting caught under the masses of snow, should the worst happen. But no matter how good the equipment is, the most important thing is to use your own head. Dangers must be weighed up sensibly. So that you still have many deep-snow days ahead of you.
©SalzburgerLand Tourismus – deep powder snow traces
Earn your turns
Freeriding is the trend. But wasn’t it the beginnings of alpine skiing, which for our ancestors still took place without exception in deep snow (after an arduous ascent)? Now the silence and solitude of the mountains are being rediscovered. Under the motto “Earn your Turns”, the effort of the ascent – as a ski tourer in open terrain or by a short walk from the top station of a lift to the nearest summit – is gladly accepted for a rewarding descent. For snowboarders, split boards have become popular in recent years. The board can be split into two halves so that the board becomes two broad skis – with climbing aid and skins – for an easy ascent.
Freestyle snowboarding and freeskiing
The modern, up-to-date, well-maintained and superbly groomed snowparks in SalzburgerLand belong to the best the freestyle world has to offer, and are a true paradise for snowboarders and freeskiers. Every winter countless people return to the Salzburg mountains to have the heart-thumping, adrenaline-pumping experience of turning tricks on large kickers, halfpikes, boxes, banked curves and rails in peaceful high-alpine scenery, the only sound around the jubilation of their mates celebrating their achievements. As a lot of the freestylers are youths and young adults, there is a range of special accommodation packages to ensure they can live cheaply whilst having a fantastic time.
