Mountain Safety

Just a quick note guys, but none-the-less a very important one! When I started snowboarding, I had a slight lack of respect for the mountains that at the time concerned others, and in hindsight makes me realise how lucky I have been. What I mean is, I was not so much un-aware of the risks I was taking, but a mixture of bravado and ignorance allowed me to ignore them! As this is not an un-common problem amongst beginners, I thought it necessary to include this section. Safety is paramount to staying alive!! Here are a few tips to bear in mind: If you are not sure about the terrain or avalanche dangers in any area of off-piste, it is advisable to hire a guide before attempting it. All qualified guides are advanced skiers, with Alpine experience, and a superb knowledge of the local area. If your guide deems your group worthy, and you express an interest, your guide will take you to the finest off-piste in his domain.

When you decide to hit some kickers or even start building your own, it is important that you make sure of a safe landing. I am still recovering from a bad landing after a rather foolish attempt to clear the length of a 'fun-box' at the Castleford Xscape snow dome. I snapped both the bones in my left forearm. Now I have metal plates and pins, and two 6" scars to remember it by, so be warned! The reason this happened is that the gradient of the landing was too small (it was nearly flat). The landing for your kickers should be as steep as possible, (taking into account the speed you will hit it, and the height from which you will descend), so that should you land badly, the impact will be reduced as you tumble down the hill! Basically, the steeper the landing, the safer the kicker. Badly maintained parks are dangerous. Look out for parks that aren't pisted regularly as an uneven take-off can throw you off your balance mid-air, and an unpisted landing can force a crash. Either way, it will hurt! More often than not, the landings for kickers are out of site from the approach to them. This presents the problem of not knowing whether the landing is clear and therefore whether it is safe to jump.

It is wise to have someone stand at the top of the kicker observing the landing who can then signal when it is safe to go. This is good park etiquette. If this is not possible for whatever reason, always wait as long as possible before you go. Bad injuries can occur if you land on someone from a few meters up! Another thing to remember is the importance of the right kit. There is no need to have all this gear if you are just starting out, but when you find yourself exploring more dangerous off piste terrain, it is imperative that you and your companions are correctly equipped. Here is a list of some the best equipment to stay safe on the mountains:

Equipment

Transceiver (£100-£250) - The first thing you should invest in, strapped around your chest and always on, a transceiver emits a beacon-like signal should you become engulfed by snow in an avalanche, or lost due to unconsciousness in a fall. Should this happen it's a race against the clock for survival, so make sure everyone has their own to pick up your signal. Make sure you read the instructions on how to operate your transceiver, (not difficult but important to know all the 'ins and outs'.

Shovel (£20-£40) - Not much explanation needed here! A shovel is very useful for digging a person out of the snow once located with the transceiver (much quicker than your hands!) Also a great tool when building your own backcountry kickers!

Probe (£20-£40) - A probe is basically an extendable rod used to 'probe' into the snow to locate a missing person. Once your transceivers have isolated the area to look in, searchers should sweep up the mountainside in a line pushing the probe into the snow every couple of feet.

Packs (£30 - £200) - A pack is obviously necessary to transport your shovel, probe, food, extra clothing etc. Many packs come with room for a water bladder, allowing you to drink through an insulated tube while on the move.

Helmets (£60 - £200) - Thankfully, helmets are becoming increasingly common on the mountains, they quite obviously provide protection for the most vital part of your body.... the head!!!!! I hope this has helped. I want everyone to enjoy the mountains as much as I do, but I also want to make sure that you guys are safe, and learn from my mistakes!!! Just get out there, be free and have a great time.