German Wehinger

Climbing skins allow us to hike up the mountains on skis. For a carefree touring experience, the skins should offer glide and grip. Hybrid climbing skins made of mohair and nylon are robust, water-repellent and make it more difficult for studs to form. The skins from K2 combine precisely these properties and cannot be broken.

Freeskiing is still a comparatively young sport. A well-known figure in this sport is certainly the now 50-year-old Chris Davenport.

Spoilt for choice: who hasn't been there? That's how I feel about freeride ski boots, which should actually be able to do everything. They should have inserts for pin bindings. They should offer 100% ascent and 100% descent performance. And in addition to the aforementioned performance, they also need to be comfortable and warm. So I'm looking for an egg-laying, feel-good product. The Freetour from Lange tries to combine the best performance from the racing and touring worlds.

The Nassfeld ski resort on the border with Italy in the south of Austria usually benefits from the südstau. Extreme amounts of snow are not uncommon here and are not a problem as long as they are acceptable for the environment.

It's spring and summer is sure to come. As beautiful as spring ski tours are, it's time to get ready for summer fun. With the Singeltrailer, you're no longer alone, but can show the next generation of powder skiers the best trails and what else you can do in the snow-free period.

"Oh bella Italia" - It's always surprising how chilled it is on the southern side of the Alps. The small village of Madesimo, nestled in a wide basin, offers a special freeride experience with the Pizzo Groppera. On good days, the skins stay in the backpack, which is why today we present a tip without any ascent. Many descents go over 1,000 m towards the valley. Tired legs are guaranteed in the evening!

The First Light Hybrid Hoody from Black Diamond combines highly insulating Primaloft with breathable merino wool in a body-mapping process: merino is used in areas where you are more likely to sweat.

Smartphones are a constant companion in daily life for many people. These new devices allow us to be virtually connected with friends worldwide around the clock.

With White Risk, the SLF has been offering a very comprehensive and intuitive license-based e-learning tool for avalanche prevention for many years. In the 2016/17 season, the tool will be presented in a completely revised version. We tried out the tour planning features on a ski tour in Brandnertal.

Anyone dreaming of a descent over 2,000 m (almost) without an ascent will find what they are looking for on the Toula glacier in Courmayeur. Today, the new and modern gondola lift transports downhill-hungry freeriders to the 3,400 m high Punta Helbronner in no time. Although you will notice the thin air and the quick ascent, this is quickly forgotten at the sight of the imposing, glaciated high mountain landscape. There are a number of options for descending into the valley, either to the south, back to Courmayeur, or to the other side of the Mont Blanc massif to Chamonix. We opted for the "standard option", via the Toula glacier to Courmayeur.

During this spot check, we painfully learned what Mark Twain once said: forecasts are difficult, especially when they concern the future. Various platforms were virtually overflowing with predictions for an imminent dump in the Western Alps. Well then, bag and baggage in the van and off we go.

Penguin is a Swiss brand that produces functional winter clothing in a simple design for all weather conditions. As they are freeriders themselves, their own experience on the mountain flows directly into the products. For me, the hardshell combo proved to be a reliable companion with small deductions. As I have been doing more than 30 off-piste and touring days per season for many years, the wear and tear on the material is correspondingly high. I'm 1.81 m and 84 kg and a firm believer in the onion principle. I tested the 3-layer Trizar Shell jacket & dungarees from Penguin for you.