How To Scope A Line

When riding the chairlift or relaxing on a sun drenched balcony, do you find yourself scanning the mountain for an untracked line? Whenever you spot fresh tracks, is your first thought: ‘How did they get into that?’

You can’t fight your genetic code so we suggest you run with it

If the answer is yes then, no matter whether you’re a seasoned pro’ or a day-one newbie, it’s a fairly safe bet you have FreeRide in your DNA. As every biologist knows, you can’t fight your genetic code, so we suggest you run with it. Here are some Republic tips on how to scope for a line.

01   Don’t neglect your exit and entrance.

As a FreeRider, your focus is going to be on the descent but don’t neglect your routes in and out. In terms of keeping you safe they’re just as important as the line itself.

02   Scope from as many angles as possible.

Scoping your line from multiple vantage points will give you a much better understanding of the terrain. Leaving it to the drop in is leaving it too late. Especially if it’s a convex slope or if elements of the route are out of sight from the start point.

03   Always be diligent and methodical.

When a line starts revving your stoke meter, resist the temptation to have at it before someone else beats you in. This is the moment when you need to be diligent and methodical in assessing the line. At the Republic we like to break things down into three components: Exposure, Hazards and Features.

• Exposure. Exposure refers to the degree of risk or consequences should you fall or get caught in a slide. It will vary on different sections of the route and you will need to ride these sections differently.
• Hazards. Hazards and Exposure are related but it’s good to identify specific hazards such as cornices, rock bands or steeps. You should also scope for any traps where taking a wrong turn could have consequences.
• Features. Features refer to anything that can help you memorize the route, a distinctive rock, a pylon, a lonely tree, etc. Identifying these key features will help you navigate the route safely and ensure you don’t take a wrong turn. It’s important not to pick features that you  might confuse from a different angle or vantage point. For example, if you’re using a pylon as a marker, make sure you note the pylon number to be sure you navigate to the right one.

When it’s safe to do so, whip out your smartphone and take lots of photos of the line and the routes in and out from as many angles as possible. Mark up the hazards and features zooming in and out to study them and build up a mental map of the line. (This process can take a couple of days for a big line.) On your approach to the drop use the photos saved to your phone to check your navigation and help orientate yourself by clocking the features and hazards you memorized before hitting the line.

04   Visualise.

The last and quite possibly the most important part of your scope is to visualise yourself on the line. This will help to imprint it in your memory – it’s a mind trick that many pro athletes use to become more familiar with the terrain and improve their physical performance. Riding the line in your head will give you the intuition to know whether or not it’s the right line for you. If you’re not feeling it for whatever reason, it’s always okay to save it for another day. But if your visualisation revs your stoke meter still further, then it’s probably game on for an epic descent.

Leaving it to the drop-in is leaving it too late

Use these four simple steps to assess the safety of a line and improve your performance. Always keep an eye out; you never know what line could be just around the corner.

See you up there.