STAYING SAFE IN THE SNOW

Avalanches can happen anywhere in the mountains, but are far more common away from the groomed piste areas. Here are Xavier’s top tips for off-piste safety.

Always take avalanche gear (probe, shovel, transceiver and airbag) and know how to use it. Make sure the others you ride with know how to use their kit, too, and constantly refresh your training.

Even if it’s unnecessary and boring, develop a safe pattern — ride one by one, plan your escape, make stops in protected spots. One day it will pay off.

Ride from safe spot to safe spot, and constantly assess whether the snow has moved. That takes years of experience and local knowledge, so it’s always good to travel with a guide.

Snow has so much more power than you think — if it starts to slide, your best chance is to move to a safe spot as quickly as you can. If you’re taken, release your airbag, try to swim a little and make some space around your mouth and body while the avalanche comes to a stop. Most avalanche deaths are from crush injuries, not suffocation. xavierdelerue.com

FROM LEFT: Xavier De Le Rue ski touring up a mountain; essential avalanche gear, which includes a probe, shovel, transceiver and airbag