Skiing in the mountains not only requires good experience and technique, but also an excellent level of skiing and versatility. As the terrain is very variable (steep slope, wide slope, etc.) and the layers of snow encountered in freeriding are different (heavy snow, rough snow, powdery snow, etc.), the safety aspect should not be overlooked .
Indeed, off-piste skiing is a high-risk activity and the mountain has tragic aspects in store . Equipment, such as a back protector and a helmet, are therefore strongly recommended, even essential, but are not sufficient in the event of an avalanche!
Here, according to our partner Ekosport , the inseparable triptych in terms of avalanche safety equipment :Transceiver, shovel, probe! Added to this triptych is a new piece of equipment which is also becoming essential:the airbag bag!
Thanks to its speed of execution in the event of an avalanche, the DVA, detector of avalanche victims, has proven to be a very effective safety device. Rescuers very often arrive after several minutes on the scene of an avalanche, skiers are obliged to help each other.
The principle of operation of the DVA is simple:it is a transceiver which broadcasts signals on a frequency of 457 kHz and which communicates with the transceivers of the skiers located in the vicinity. A DVA in "search" mode easily spots the signal from a DVA in "transmit" mode.
During an off-piste or freeride outing, it is therefore recommended to position your transceiver in "transmitter" mode; if an avalanche occurs, the device should quickly be put into "receiver" mode.
Training regularly in the use of transceivers is really important , because you quickly lose efficiency in finding a buried victim. Every extra minute spent under the snow reduces the chances of finding someone alive.
It allows you to precisely locate the area where the victim is . Although the probe essential, there is no need to invest in expensive equipment.
The parameters to consider are sufficient length (about 250 cm), the weight for the experienced freerider who wants to hit the slopes light (carbon is the lightest material) and a performance tensioning system (cables are preferable to cords).
The shovel allows you to dig and quickly free the victim. There are recycled aluminum, plastic and carbon where the weight of the shovel can be decisive. Note that those ensuring a good optimal grip and having a long handle are relatively effective.
The elements to consider when choosing the right shovel are:
Increasingly used and marketed, the airbag bag is both additional and complementary safety equipment to the avalanche safety pack :DVA, shovel and probe. These are two large cushions (or even just one depending on the model, for example with the Ortovox bag below:Free Rider 2.0) folded in a backpack .
By limiting the risk of the skier being buried in the event of an avalanche, it considerably increases the latter's chances of survival. The results of a study carried out in the Davos research center are formal:if it has been shown that a buried skier has a 50% chance of surviving, this probability increases to 97% when the skier is partially or not partially buried. .
In the event of an avalanche, the skier will therefore simply pull on the handle; this will fill the bags with air, allowing the skier to "float" on the surface .
Although they are essential and provide a better chance of survival in the event of an accident, safety equipment for off-piste skiing is nonetheless an infallible guarantee . Their use requires not only several preliminary training sessions, but also tests before the exit.
For the mountain to remain a fantastic playground, it is therefore recommended to scrupulously respect all safety measures .
