Safe

on

the

Go:

Freeriding

like

the

Pros

Together with Jacqueline Miler, Mammut's Product Manager for Avalanche Safety, Nadine Wallner developed a comprehensive safety workshop for the Freeride World Tour (FWT). The goal: to equip athletes with essential knowledge and strategies for minimizing the risks of skiing and snowboarding in open terrain. RECCO, the tour's organized rescue partner, also contributed to the workshop's design.  

Freeriding comes with greater risks than skiing on groomed runs. Unfamiliar terrain, sudden weather changes, and avalanche danger demand constant awareness and thorough preparation. "When it comes to avalanche safety, there is always something new to learn," Nadine emphasizes. The workshop places a strong focus on avalanche rescue, particularly locating and recovering buried victims efficiently in an emergency. Participants train with essential avalanche safety equipment, learning how to properly use avalanche transceivers and minimize signal interference from other electronic devices. "The more experience and knowledge riders bring to the workshop," Nadine notes, "the better they can prepare for the unexpected and respond effectively in critical situations." 

The organizers of the Freeride World Tour prioritize athlete safety without compromising the spirit of competition. Partnering with industry leaders in avalanche safety and rescue, the FWT implements a comprehensive approach to risk management. The mandatory safety workshop is just one of many measures designed to prepare athletes for the challenges of competing in open terrain.  

Venue selection 
The choice of venue is made by a team of FWT experts, in collaboration with mountain guides and often also local riders and guides. The questions that need to be answered are: Is there enough snow? Is the snowpack structure stable and is the snow quality good enough for a competition? Safety is the main criterion. The fact that the participants ride fast, jump over high rocks and take a certain amount of risk is also factored into the assessment. 

Preparatory work 
Once a venue is confirmed, safety measures are put into place. Hazardous areas are marked and cordoned off, the competition zone is defined, and controlled avalanches are triggered to mitigate risk. 

Weather window 
Proper lighting conditions are crucial for a safe competition. Ideally, this means four to five hours of sunshine with clear visibility for all riders. Since snow and weather conditions are notoriously unpredictable, the FWT operates within a flexible weather window of five to seven days per event. 

Line choice  
How do athletes decide where to ride? Each competitor receives extensive image and video footage, including drone shots, allowing them to analyze the terrain and carefully plan their lines. This detailed visual material helps them assess potential routes, obstacles, and key features of the venue before dropping in. 

Face check & forerunners 
Before the competition begins, riders gather at the jury location for a face check. Using binoculars, they take a final look at their chosen lines and observe the forerunners in action. Forerunners—skiers and snowboarders who are not competing—ride the course to help participants gauge key terrain features, such as the size of cliffs and jumps, as well as snow conditions. On the day of the event, forerunners make another run before the first competitors start, providing one last assessment of the mountain. 

Equipment check 
Before the competition begins, each athlete undergoes a mandatory safety equipment check. Required gear includes an avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, and an airbag backpack. Additionally, competitors must wear a RECCO reflector, a back protector, and a helmet.  

Safety team 
A dedicated safety team is present throughout the competition. Both a doctor and a guide are stationed at the start and finish lines. Additionally, strategically placed "ski ninjas" are positioned across the course. These highly skilled responders, coordinated via radio, step in when a competitor loses a ski or pole in a fall or requires assistance.  

Judging criteria 
Control of skis or snowboard is one of the five judging criteria—the others are line, technique, fluidity, and air & style. Points are deducted if a rider fails to land a jump cleanly—whether touching the snow with their back, using their hands to regain balance, or experiencing a full crash. This scoring system encourages competitors to balance risk and execution when choosing their lines.  

The Freeride World Tour is not just about competition—it also serves as a platform to raise awareness of the risks associated with off-piste terrain. With the support of Mammut, avalanche safety remains an integral part of this exciting sport.