About off-piste skiing safety

Off-piste skiing, also known as backcountry skiing or ski-mo / ski mountaineering, is an exciting experience that allows skiers to explore pristine, untouched snow and stunning scenery. However, it also carries inherent risks that should not be taken lightly. Here are some tips to ensure your safety when skiing off-piste:

1. Never go alone. Off-piste skiing is always safer in a group, so make sure you have at least one partner with you. It's also a good idea to let someone at your accommodation know the planned route and expected return time.

2. Check the weather and avalanche risk. Before setting off, be sure to check the weather forecast and the avalanche risk in the area where you plan to ski. Avoid skiing in high-risk areas and always take your safety equipment in case of avalanche (ABS® type airbag backpack, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe) and know how to use it. With our off-piste ski school, you learn avalanche safety in Val d'Isère on the snow, starting with how to read the risk.

3. Know your limits. Off-piste skiing requires a higher level of fitness and technical skill than skiing on groomed slopes. Make sure you are prepared for the terrain, snow conditions and weather, and always choose a route that matches your abilities.

4. Stay alert and aware. Keep an eye out for changing snow conditions, like wind slabs, and always ski with caution. Be aware of your surroundings and potential hazards, such as cliffs, crevices and trees.

5. Wear appropriate equipment. Avalanche airbag packs, avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes make up the minimum safety kit for everyone. Dress in layers and wear a helmet, as well as backcountry-specific gear like bindings and hiking skins. Always carry a first aid kit and a cell phone in case of emergency.

By following these tips, you can enjoy the sensations of off-piste skiing while minimizing the risks. Remember that safety should always be your top priority when skiing in the backcountry.

Off-piste skiing is an activity that inherently involves an element of risk. At PowderWeGo, we make every effort to make you ski in optimal safety conditions. To take full advantage of the best snow of the moment, the most beautiful routes and the most exciting descents.

Safety is at the center of our concerns. Our know-how in this area, the nature and rigor of our protocol and the safety equipment put in place by us make a huge difference between PowderWeGo, specialized in off-piste and its generalist competitors.

Off-piste is our identity, it is the heart of our activity and this practice mobilizes all our attention and all our professional knowledge.

Each day begins for us with a meeting on safety between professionals at 8.15 am during which, between instructors and guides, we analyze the weather report, the avalanche risk report, we share our observations of the evolution of conditions climatic, avalanche activity, we review all the routes practiced the day before, all this to arrive at the most precise possible summary of the conditions of the day.

To be able to find the best snow with minimal risks.

We meet our customers at 8.45 am at our office where we equip them with the classic safety kit: transceiver, shovel and probe. We also provide each of our customers, free of charge, with an ABS airbag backpack.

Who of our competitors can say the same?

We then leave for the terrain, equipped with professional radios which allow us to exchange information in real time with the rest of the team. They also serve in the event of a bad fall to trigger mountain rescue as soon as possible.

We remind our customers every day about off-piste safety.

Several times in the winter, our instructors and guides do safety exercises: first aid, triggering rescue, search for victims in an avalanche, team search ...

Your safety is our main concern. If you still have any doubt, you can consult this article.

PowderWeGo Val d'Isère, our ski school, takes you off-piste, ski touring or heli-skiing, by the day or by the week.

PowderWeGo also organises ski trips to Hokkaido, Lofoten, the Bodø Alps by sailing boat and further afield, as well as Val d'Isère ski holidays and tailor-made stays.

Best regards,

Boris Malesset

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