Skiing Off PisteOff Piste skiing is for many the ultimate goal on a skiing holiday. Skiers are ‘skilled consumers’ meaning that they return to ski time after time and look to improve their skills and take on more challenges each time. This means that as skiers progress through the levels, a certain percentage will want more challenge than that offered by the groomed blue, red and black runs.
Thick, fresh powder snow provides this challenge – it is a whole new technique to be able to ski in these conditions and it is difficult – only a small percentage of skiers want to and are able to ski this well, but many others want to have fun trying. This can be gained on piste after a large snowfall when the grooming machines have not yet reached all the pistes - the rest of the time this can only be found off the groomed piste. It is arguable though that off-piste skiing is self governing; only advanced skiers are capable of skiing off-piste and there must be sufficient snow to protect against injury and damage to equipment. Since it is natural snow and non-compacted, over a metre is required to give a covering of 20cms when compacted by the ski. In addition, perfect powder conditions are rare throughout the season; as soon as there is melt and re-freeze a crust is formed which is not pleasant to ski on, rain or wet snow causes crud which is very heavy to ski on and when the snow is tracked by other skiers it quickly loses its appeal, thus the level of usage of off-piste areas is arguably low. It is for this reason and its elusiveness that it becomes the ultimate goal to cruise through fresh light powder leaving a perfect set of tracks behind. Off piste skiing has its risks though since - as the slope and the areas above it are not managed – there is a risk of causing or being caught in an avalanche. A relatively new concept is the itinerary run which is where the route is cleared of major obstacles such as large rocks but otherwise untouched and unmaintained therefore leaving it like off-piste. It is however included in overall ski area and is therefore patrolled and avalanche secured. Heli or cat skiing – using either a helicopter or snow cat (grooming machine) to go to remote areas to ski in powder well away from resorts - is increasing, however it is still prohibitively expensive for the majority of skiers and has of course a large carbon footprint. But controversies surround off piste skiing... |  What do you think? Contribute to our discussion forum
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The case against...It is dangerous
It disturbs wildlife and hibernating animals It damages vegetation and young saplings Heli and cat skiing takes skiers to the areas which are a refuge for animals away from the resorts Heli and cat skiing produce vast amounts of CO2 emissions | The case for...It is the more natural way to ski and does not require all the energy and impact involved in on piste skiing
It is self regulating – since skiers will only go off piste if the snow is deep enough to enjoy it and deep enough to not damage their skis or themselves It is a small minority of people who seek this out People who seek out heli and cat skiing want deep powder in high places where wildlife would not be found |
The way forward...
So what is the way forward? Powder skiing will remain a goal for a small percentage of skiers and it is impossible to patrol every piece of mountain off piste.
Ski resorts can take a number of steps to manage this better for the skiers, safety and the wildlife...
1. Resorts should rope / fence off areas that are wildlife refuges or delicate habitats and communicate clearly to skiers both on piste and on the piste map and penalise those who flout this.
2. Resorts should have an outer boundary clearly signposted beyond which the skier goes at their own risk.
3. Resorts should investigate the movement patterns of local wildlife and ensure these are undisturbed.
4. Resorts should consider the introduction of itinerary runs which provide the challenge but in a managed way (though definitions must be clarified and harmonised across different countries and communicated more clearly).
5. Heli or cat skiing should only visit areas that have undergone an environmental impact assessment reviewing the wildlife impacts and no landing sites should be permitted in protected areas.
6. Heli or cat skiing should be kept to a minimum to maintain the peace and tranquility of the mountain environment for the majority of users.
Ski resorts can take a number of steps to manage this better for the skiers, safety and the wildlife...
1. Resorts should rope / fence off areas that are wildlife refuges or delicate habitats and communicate clearly to skiers both on piste and on the piste map and penalise those who flout this.
2. Resorts should have an outer boundary clearly signposted beyond which the skier goes at their own risk.
3. Resorts should investigate the movement patterns of local wildlife and ensure these are undisturbed.
4. Resorts should consider the introduction of itinerary runs which provide the challenge but in a managed way (though definitions must be clarified and harmonised across different countries and communicated more clearly).
5. Heli or cat skiing should only visit areas that have undergone an environmental impact assessment reviewing the wildlife impacts and no landing sites should be permitted in protected areas.
6. Heli or cat skiing should be kept to a minimum to maintain the peace and tranquility of the mountain environment for the majority of users.
Resorts need to look to address all of the above points in order to contribute to Responsible Skiing
