| Quote: | |  | |
|
I take it that you can always get a guide at the schools to take you round the local terrain off piste though? I've never done that, but it would seem to make a lot of sense too to work out the best paths/routes. | |
| | |
To use a great German word "Jein". Some schools will give lessons on riding off piste. This is aimed at the skills required and will use slopes that are within the ski area and have minimal avalanche risk. This is a lesson on how to ride powder on your ski's or board and not a lesson on avalanche safety.
The guides can teach you avalanche safety, but not necessarily the technique required for you to ride off piste.
| Quote: | | | |
| | |
| | |
I did the course and some powder days with them in Engelberg. Best bet is to contact them and see what they say. If you get enough people together you might be able to organise a private course.
| Quote: | | | |
| Also, do you always spend time using the formulas above etc calculating where you are going? Is that part of the training? | |
| | |
There is a simplified reduction method which I don't have time to look for now that I use pretty much every time. That is if the avalanche risk is 2, I stick to slopes less then 35 degrees, if its 3 I stick to slopes less then 30 degrees. If I go into the grey areas (over 35 degrees in risk level 2, or over 30 degrees in risk level 3) then I use the reduction method along with any other information I have to decide whether to go or not. I am not someone that likes to ride stupidly steep coulours etc so I am normally happy riding areas of about 30 to 35 degrees and just cruising.