Just Beyond The Markers

Once you move from groomed pistes / trails into FreeRide terrain, you open yourself to a totally different kind of experience. On the best days you find yourself riding through untracked powder, a feeling like no other on Earth — see  Lore #17: FreeRide For A Free Mind. However you chose to describe it, it’s one of the few activities we know that gives the double buzz shot of dopamine and adrenaline, something that you want to feel again and again and again, and if possible share with friends. Chasing after this feeling means going just beyond that marker. In Europe this is where the magic happens, in the rest of the world it’s a different story.

Venturing into the world of FreeRide by definition means taking on more risk. Certain conditions on the day can increase this risk — the snowpack, terrain and weather — and where you are in the world can have just as much impact. 

Everything inside this line is fair game

There are differences in both terminology and mountain safety methodologies between North America, parts of Asia and Europe, so it’s important to have the correct information based on where you plan to FreeRide. Most significantly the definition of off-piste differs between North America and Europe. 

If you want to go where the magic happens then you’re going to be taking on some risk.

This difference in definition tragically contributed to the deaths of two promising young stars from the U.S. Ski Team in 2015. Ronnie Berlack and Bryce Astle had ventured ‘off piste’ whilst on a trip to Europe and were swept away in an avalanche. On reflection it’s easy to understand how this tragedy unfolded, these guys ended up taking more risk than they planned. In North America, leaving a piste or groomed trail is standard practice, as resorts tend to operate a ski area marked by an outer boundary line. Everything inside this boundary is fair game, avalanche patrolled and under protection of the local ski patrol. Boundary lines have gates that you can use to exit the resort into unpatrolled terrain, where you ski at your own risk. To North American skiers and boarders this is ‘off piste’. In Europe ‘off-piste’ means anywhere beyond the coloured poles at the side of the piste or trail.

This may sound scary and it’s true that if you want to go to where the magic happens then you’re going to be taking on some risk. Fortunately, a lot of risks associated with FreeRiding can be mitigated and that starts with understanding; in this case understanding language and terminology. Having the right tools, knowledge and understanding can also help keep you safe and give you access to that unmistakable ‘FreeRide feeling’. 

If you want to know more about how to stay safe and have the time of your life then check out our library of articles that are there to help you safely navigate the world of FreeRide. A good place to start might be our series: Safety Tools You Need For FreeRide. Why not also learn more FreeRide lingo from ever expanding Lexicon. 

What experiences have you had taking on more risk than expected? How do you feel on a powder day? Let us know in the comments below.