Last season’s increased avalanche fatalities have resulted in Snow+Rock and the Ski Club of Great Britain joining forces to help more skiers and boarders learn about the dangers of skiing off piste and how to use safety equipment.

In November there will be six free Avalanche Awareness Talks given by leading mountain guides in Snow+Rock shops nationwide.

The talks given in conjunction with Switzerland Tourism and Times Online are aimed to educate skiers and snowboarders on the risks of skiing off-piste terrain, how to recognise danger signs and basic avalanche safety. There will be a practical session on how to use avalanche transceivers and examples of what safety equipment is available and how it works.

New technology has resulted in equipment that makes skiing in powder and off piste easier and more accessible to greater numbers of skiers. Today more skiers and snowboarders are venturing off piste than ever before.

“Learning has become easier,” says French mountain guide and avalanche expert Yves Detry, “but that doesn’t mean you can forget the complexity of the snow environment. There is always a risk in the mountains, but responsible behaviour and taking proper safety precautions allows us to appreciate each skiing moment.”

Dates and Venue

Tues. 14th November: Port Solent
Weds. 15th November: M25 Chertsey
Tues. 21st. November: Gateshead
Weds. 22nd November: Bristol
Thurs. 23rd November: Manchester
Weds. 29th November: Covent Garden

The Speakers

Nigel Shepherd an international mountain guide (IFMGA) and Alpine Safety Advisor for the Ski Club of Great Britain. He is one of the UK's foremost and most respected mountain experts. He is the author of several technical manuals including The Complete Manual of Modern Rope Techniques.

Graham McMahon, an international mountain guide (IFMGA) and mountaineering instructor (MIC). He has climbed many severe faces (E6) on rock, grade VII in winter and climbed to 7000m in the Himalayas. He divides his time between the mountains of Chamonix and North Wales.

These are free but ticketed events. All talks start at 7 pm. For tickets phone: 0845 100 1000; www.snowandrock.com

There will be several prizes at the event and 10% off back country equipment. Switzerland Tourism will give away a holiday in a draw and there is a reader offer on the Times Online website with the chance to win a pair of freeride skis and boots.

The Ski Club are following the Avalanche Awareness Talks with two on-snow Avalanche Awareness Weekends organised by Ski Freshtracks in Argentière, France.

Ski Freshtracks offers two Avalanche Awareness Weekends over the 2006/7 season.

Weds 11th- Sun 14th January 2007, Argentière
Weds 15th - Sun 18th March 2007, Argentière

These long weekends include three full days on the mountain with top IFMGA mountain guide Graham McMahon and offer those venturing off-piste training in choosing a safe route, recognising the avalanche hazard and evaluating snow stability. There is also a focus on transceiver use and multiple search techniques.

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