Week 10 (25.05-31.05) Freeride

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr7_4LrF8As
In the search for adrenaline, for road where no one has skied before, people always dare to explore and discover new, uncharted and dangerous ski routes.

Freeride was born in France in Val d’Isère and Switzerland in Gstaad in 1959. Initially they approached the uphill with ski equipment. Climbing all the way on foot.

http://powder.pl/sites/default/files/artykuly/1969.jpg

But in the 60s an idea to use a helicopter to go the top mountain (Heliskiing) was born. Unfortunately this method is still quite expensive. Firstly, helicopters were used only for filming, then it turned out to be a very convenient and enjoyable way to climb the mountain.

http://powder.pl/sites/default/files/artykuly/Group%20Skiing%20with%20Helicopter,%20Brad%20White.jpg

In 1975 another method, catskiing, emerged. People stared to use specially adopted groomers instead of helicopters. Snowcats are cheaper and easier to use.

After a few years, both in France and in Switzerland the number of freeriders grew so much that it was really hard to find a new intact road. Fortunately, then they found untouched Alaskan peaks with thousands of kilometers of new reads, but which mountains will be next? Where will we ski tomorrow?

How to prepare an freeride expedition?
Firstly, freeriders mark the route with photos. When a suitable place is found they send an expedition upwards. Initially skiers take the top and then plugg their skies and go down the mountains on powder snow.

So, where should we go freeriding?
I would say to the British Columbia and Alaska – those are the most popular places and there is definitely much powder snow there. You can also go to Canada where the season lasts for five months and the former Soviet Republics such as Georgia.

Is freeride available for everyone?

Of course. Currently, there are many companies which offer freeride trips. One of the oldest is the Canadian Mountain Holidays founded by an Austrian guide Hans Gmosera. It has offices in many countries.

So next time when you prepare winter holidays remember about freeride.

Comments

Cezary Góralski said…

I have never heard about Freeride so as a huge fan of adrenaline I am positively surprised. It seems little bit complicated and not for beginners in winter sports. I never went skiing so probably i have to quit this idea for some time yet. I guess it also require a lot of preparing and a team. For those who has some experience in skiing it seems interesting however it is important to choose a ski that suits your level, in order to enjoy yourself and make the most out of skiing without getting tired.

26 May 2015 at 12:34

Unknown said…

I like to ski and when I was younger I used to ski pretty much every year. However nowadays every winter I would much rather go somewhere warm, lay on the beach or simply go sightseeing somewhere where the weather is good. I'll probably return to skiing one day but I love traveling and seeing new places (preferably warm) so that kind of took the first place for me right now ;)

27 May 2015 at 21:28

rf. said…

It's a little tricky to call a prepared beforehand skiing a freeride (as you plan the path before), but still it looks like loads of fun. Winter sports are awesome, and I've been thinking of trying the freeride for a while now :)

28 May 2015 at 21:25

MartaSB said…

I'm not doing basically any winter sports, so this is something I probably don't even understand. Looks like they have fun, but I believe that the most fun is when you have nothing (except your life...) to lose. Otherwise it's like with any extreme sports - quite risky :D I would like to try normal skiing for sure, but this is quite hardcore for me.

28 May 2015 at 21:37

Patrycja Marciniak said…

Same as Paulina, I totally prefer warm places to spend winter in. When I was younger, I used to ski (although nothing as hardcore as freeriding!), but I have some serious troubles with bloodflow now and I'm always cold, even when I'm warmly dressed. I'd gladly move to some place where there's no winter at all :P

When it comes to freeriding, the thing that bothers me are safety issues. I've seen several videos on TV when someone went freeriding and ended up with broken limbs or causing an avalanche.

29 May 2015 at 11:36

Unknown said…

Well maybe one day I will learn how to ski and after that when I good I will freeride :D I’m not a fan of winter sports maybe because I do not attend winter holiday that much. I prefer summer sports because it is warm and I do not freze :D

29 May 2015 at 22:45

Robert Kilar s8359 said…

I’m not a big fan of skiing in general but this freeride sounds great, actually. You’ve mentioned companies that specialize in organizing such trips. Do you know any Polish ones? And what about the equipment?

31 May 2015 at 12:15

Unknown said…

Freeride looks really interesting and it is definitely unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, my skiing skills are a bit rusty and I don't think I will be ever able to attend one of those expeditions

31 May 2015 at 15:43

Unknown said…

Try and learn freeriding does not require special preparation. you only need a little powder snow and good willingness.

31 May 2015 at 15:51

Unknown said…

Personally, I was never on a organized freeride expedition. But I used the freeride guides in the ski resorts. it is a cheaper way to explore the routes that are inaccessible.

31 May 2015 at 15:54

Unknown said…

I always admired professional freeriders. For me it looks very spectacular but dangerous. I cannot snowboard well so I think I should not try it.
My good friend shoots and produces a series of snowboard videos sponsored by Red Bull. If you like to watch it, here is one of theirs clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZGW04Uefx4

31 May 2015 at 20:31

Michal Kulesza said…

I've seen many of these on Extreme Sports TV Channel, It was amazing to watch them jumping from helicopters and riding down!

Later I discovered that people do the same with snow boards and I liked them more - they looked more 'freely' in that snow that skiers.

31 May 2015 at 20:51

Unknown said…

I love skiing and everything connected with winter sports. I have respect for freeride skiers - freeriding encompasses every ski discipline, it also requires huge skills and stamina. Same as Michal, I like watching these rides on Extreme Channel. It's addictive!

31 May 2015 at 22:10

Mateusz Frycie said…

I find freeriding exteremly dangerous. I don't see a point in taking wild routes when skiing. If there's no regular route in a certain place, location, I guess there must be a reason for that. What's the point of risking one's life and health for a few seconds of adrenaline rush??

31 May 2015 at 22:21

Robert Bartoszewski-Kujawa said…

Freeriding seems to be a very exciting experience but it is a little too risky for my taste. I prefer safer activities. Also, about those companies offering freeriding trips - I wouldn't be sure if all of them are really honest with their customers. It is easy to say that the place is an "untouched". I don't say that they do that, I would just not blindly believe everything they say.

31 May 2015 at 22:48

Julia Osiak said…

Freeriding is something that I enjoy watching but I would never dare to try it. I'm having enough fun going down the marked slopes. Professional freeriders must be extremely skilled but also brave and slightly careless to even attempt riding those invisible paths.

31 May 2015 at 22:59

Unknown said…

I can’t ski so obviously not going to take into account freeride while preparing my winter holidays.
I always wondered how it is possible to ski on powder snow. Why don’t skiers burry themselves in such soft ground?

31 May 2015 at 23:07

Unknown said…

I am not a fan of something like that, I mean there are a lot of other ways to break your own neck without paying a lot of money and buying expensive kit. But every one has their own interests, some people like to sleep, some prefer to do nothing (some so good in it, that it becomes their profession), so I think there is nothing bad in putting your life on the edge, until your actions are not endanger other people.

31 May 2015 at 23:24

Unknown said…

I am a big fan of freeriding, but I also always try to remember, that it's also extremely dangerous. When I go freeride I always need to check an information about avalanches, I try to assume how safe the place is. We can do a lot of wrong things when it comes to freeride, and it might cost us our lives. That's why we need to do it wisely ;)

31 May 2015 at 23:46

Magdalena Gawęcka said…

I am not quie sure if I understood the article correctly. Is it all about climbing straight to the top of a mountain and then going down it, skiing? Seems quite nice, but I could imagine that it requires good skiing skills in order not to kill oneself during a fast, curvy, rocky and god knows what more-y slopes! However flying on a top of a mountain might become an interesting thing to do, as it is for beautiful views all around and emotions accompanying. It might be a very spiritual experience.

31 May 2015 at 23:57

Maciej Suliński said…

Freeriding sure sounds fun. I'd love to someday go for such an adventure, although I'm not a very good skier.
Though now I'll have an inspiration to learn how to ski well!

1 June 2015 at 00:59

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