Backcountry Specialist

Backcountry skiing or boarding has to be one of the most exhilarating experiences on the mountain, away from the crowds, deep powder snow, blue sky……Aahh

We stock a range of skis designed specifically to take advantage of the deep snow and freeride terrain that the back country has to offer. This type of ski has a larger surface area to increase float, making skiing in deep snow easier and less tiring.

Many routes are accessible with a small hike from the top of a lift, so you can carry your skis or board on a rucksack. Other routes can be a long way from the nearest lift so specially designed bindings which release at the heel and skins which attach to the bottom of your skis allow you to walk up the mountain. You can discover some breathtaking scenery and then lock down the bindings and experience amazing terrain on the descent.

Safety Equipment and Guiding

We also rent safety equipment to help increase chances in the event of being caught in an avalanche.

Off-piste packs - include a freeride style rucksack with ski and board carrying straps. Inside the pack we include a quality shovel, probe and a DTS Tracker Avalanche transceiver. Transceivers emit a signal which helps searchers find anyone buried. They also allow you to search for others when you switch to search mode.

There is no substitute for skiing responsibly but avalanches happen unexpectedly and carrying the right equipment can significantly improve chances of being found quickly and therefore survival.

We post daily weather forecasts in the shop and our links page has links to both weather forecasts and avalanche forecast sites. We supply an instructional DVD produced by the manufacturer with each transceiver and strongly advise you to watch this before use to familiarize yourself with search procedures.

We can recommend qualified instructors and guides to show you some of the best off-piste routes in the area.