As you start to progress at skiing or snowboarding, your confidence grows and so does your desire to head off-piste to see what skiing fresh powder is really like. Don’t get us wrong the feeling is incredible, it is the closest you will come to floating on air. A day in the backcountry will leave you grinning like a Cheshire cat. But before you do take the plunge, you should be aware that heading off-piste can be dangerous to the point of fatal.

Avalanches are a common occurrence in every resort and every year lives are lost when people head off-piste without the relevant knowledge or equipment. MPORA would highly recommend that your first couple of flirtations with powder are done in the company of a qualified guide, better safe than sorry and all that.

In the meantime, the following information should also help to ensure that your time riding is as safe as possible. Please be aware that this is the basic need-to-know information. To find out more, head to avalanche safety guru – Henry’s Avalanche Talk and catch one of his online tutorials.