Henry's Avalanche Talk have announced dates and venues for this year's Off Piste Awareness tour. If you're tempted to try the off piste, or have tried it and are unaware of the potential dangers, then these talks are an excellent way to get up to speed and learn what to look out for, what not to do, and how to prepare.
There are two different talks. The Essentials is a must-see and includes all the "essential' information for skiers/boarders of all levels. If you've already seen the Essentials talk then there is the in-depth talk, Ride Hard, Ride Safe - where Henry will go into detail on the how and why avalanches are triggered.
With the development of equipment over the last 15-20 years, venturing into off piste areas has become more accessible for the less experienced skier. Nowadays, a strong three week skier, on the right skis, could tackle an off-piste descent whereas 20 years ago, on narrow skis with no rocker, this would have been out of his/her league. However the three week skier has not had the time to learn mountain craft and what to look out for in these situations - nor do they know what might endanger themselves or others.
Henry’s Avalanche Talk (HAT) was founded by Henry Schniewind. HAT has been around for 25 years and grown into a team of off-piste professionals. They have given talks and courses to tens of thousands of people, presented at international snow science conferences and published many papers and articles, often in the British press.
There are two types of skiers they help. The first are experienced skiers who go off-piste, take risks they don’t understand and could easily suffer an avalanche accident. The second are regular skiers who are reluctant to go off-piste because they think it is dangerous and scary due to avalanche danger and the hazards of navigating unfamiliar terrain.
The talks are a great way to learn. The talks take place during late October, throughout November, and in January, at various venues across the UK. You'll find all the information on dates, venues and how to book on their website!
