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Xavier shares a harrowing experience from back in 2008 so we can all learn from his mistakes and become safer skiers and snowboarders in the backcountry. Lots of actionable tips and tricks from the Frenchman in this 3 minute video. Cliffnotes below.
Xavier De Le Rue’s top tips for avalanche risk management:
• Always check your own avalanche gear in the morning, and that of your mates before you drop into the first line.
• Never ride alone, and always leave a distance between each other on the mountain. Ride one at a time, and wait until your friend is secure before you drop in.
• The top of a line is always more prone to slipping than the middle section so always pay extra attention at the top of a line.
• Assessing snow stability is the trickiest thing in freeriding, and there will never be a zero percent risk factor.
• Expect that the snow will slide and act accordingly. For example, make sure you have a pre-determined escape point.
• The mountain is always there. If conditions aren’t good on one day, just wait.
…..if there was a Mt. Rushmore of big mountain snowboarding these two would be on it:
images from redbull.com
