Snowboarders have options, and one of the main ones is whether to go off the main trails, or off-piste.
British snowboarder and freelance writer Daniel Elkan explains on timesonline.co.uk: "There's a common misconception - held by skiers, mostly - that snowboarders are happiest when larking about in the terrain park, launching themselves off huge snow ramps and skidding along hard-edged metal railings. Well, that may be true of snowboarders under the age of 20, but it certainly isn't true of me, and of many like me." Elkan goes on to explain how he can do without the deep bruises and broken bones.
If it sounds like Daniel Elkan isn't too hot in the half pipe, draw your own conclusions. Still, many other snowboarders are following his path toward getting away from the beaten path. This is enough of a phenomenon that the folks at the legendary Chamonix resort in eastern France have felt compelled to issue due warnings.
The most importance sentence from Chamonix is: "There is an extremely high number of deaths in Chamonix each year, don't ski stupidly, your life depends on it."
Equally ominous is the urging at Chamonix to hire a guide if you desire to go off-piste: "If you think the price is a bit steep, just consider the price of a rescue and/or a coffin, and the decision will be obvious."
Ho-key, doe-key, we get the point!
Our advisers at Chamonix further tell us that off-piste snowboarding should not mean that you duck under the ropes and go outside of the resort's official area. Instead, off-piste means that you go off of the regular trails within the bounds of those ropes. At any major resort, there are plenty of places with this so-called virgin snow, and the resort's ski patrol will be looking out. In fact, you should tell the ski patrol what you're doing ahead of time.
Daniel Elkan wrote about his off-piste experience at Ischgl, in Austria, with one of his buddies. Chamonix says you should have at least two pals with you. Each should have a transceiver, which helps people find you if you are buried in an avalanche. The group should also bring shovels.
You also should check regularly on snow conditions, not just in the morning, because they can change by the hour.
Don't follow somebody else to a location just because you think they know what they're doing.
Our Chamonix author concludes with a somewhat political flourish: "Remember that skiing on- and off-piste in Europe is at your own risk. You will not be able to sue anybody for anything; this is Europe, judges have brains. You will be charged a hefty fee for any type of rescue, so ski safely."
Sources:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/specials/ski0809/article4744804.ece
http://www.absolutemotions.com/Newsletter/Cham/off_piste.htm
