Live the Dream: Things To Remember

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• On fresh powder days, post-heavy snowfalls, you are likely to ride the nicest terrain there is. These days make the blood boil with excitement because conditions are perfect for freeriding, but extra caution is needed as risk of avalanche is higher.
• Go out in small groups. The weight of multiple freeriders at any one time can cause instability on the snow, which is dangerous not only to your group, but to others around you. If in doubt, ride a slope one at a time to a safer place, such as behind a big rock.
• Never enter or traverse the slope above others. You could trigger a slide which would bury your friends, others and possibly yourself.
• Check the ability of all those you are freeriding with. There's nothing worse then doing all the prep and then being compromised by somebody who is not of the same standard as the rest of the group. It puts everyone else in danger as well as him/herself.
• Assess the terrain. Most avalanches happen on slopes between 28 and 45 degrees, but they can also happen on lesser or steeper slopes.
• If it's warm, leave first thing in the morning. Temperature change is the cause of many natural avalanches (especially after fresh snow has fallen).
• In the Alps, winds from the South and West deposit the most snow. This results in North and East facing slopes becoming prone to slide due to unstable layers formed on the lee side.
• Always find out which areas are prone to avalanche and don't ride them.
• Look out for trees. In deep snow a deeper bowl or 'tree well' will often form around the trunk. Freeriders can get into trouble when falling into a tree well. So be sure to allow a couple of feet distance between you and the tree when skiing or boarding.
• You'll be safer freeriding with a qualified mountain guide (IFMGA) or an appropriately qualified professional instructor. These guys know whats going on in the backcountry so all you have to worry about is an audience to enthral in the bar with tales of your day.

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