Marius Schwager

The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF is publishing its completely revamped avalanche bulletin for the first time this week. The clear presentation is based on a zoomable, interactive hazard map. The Internet and smartphone app are the main distribution channels.

Mrs. Holle reports: "Nothing new on the snow front". In terms of videos, this means that apart from some sick snowpark edits, only old stuff appears online. But old doesn't necessarily have to be bad. That's why this week we present a colorful crossover of summer web videos. From successful advertising videos and landscape shots to respectable videos from other, related sporting activities of a freerider. One small exception is a POV edit of an impressive pre-season ride in Chamonix.

Even in the furthest Alpine valleys, word has spread that clothes make the man and that eye-catching sunglasses in particular reflect the spirit of the times. So what could be more obvious than buying the most eye-catching pair of tinted glasses possible from your nearest optician? But to introduce a PG - Gear of the Week?

A snowboarder was thought to be missing for fourteen years. Before his disappearance, he went snowboarding on the Stubai Glacier. His body only turned up on July 18, 2003. The intensive melting of the glacier released the body. The cause of death is still being disputed – or conspicuously kept quiet. A book is intended to shed light on this unexplained death.

In some places, the old tradition of serving a colorful stew made from the week's leftovers on Fridays has been preserved. PowderGuide also has a stew this week, – made from colorful video finds: Take something steep from Norway, garnish it with some powder from France and spice it up with some snow ardor from South America. Et voilá, the video stew is ready.

In the spirit of general international understanding, we would like to present a slightly different perspective in this week's Netzfundstück: How do our western neighbors from overseas view the German-speaking part of the Alps and their growing freeride culture in particular?

As the first snowstorms reach the Alps, freeriders can't help but think about the really good powder days. Meadows are still grass green, glacier slopes are flat and crowded. Any attempt to ski in open terrain is inevitably punished with hard rock contacts or ends just before a crevasse. A short preview and review of the Videos of the Week for the deep days this week should help to keep motivation and anticipation high for winter 12/13.

Three cities have the honor of hosting the Freeride Film Festival. Innsbruck, Vienna and Warsaw are the three remaining stops on the festival tour. Six or seven short films from all over the world will be shown in each city, promising a relaxed evening at the movies with impressive freeride images.

What should you give your loved one for Christmas? One idea is our current online find of the week. The 2013 ski instructor calendar.

It has already saved some people's lives, for others it serves as an evening treat. We like our safety chocolate almost as much as the ever-popular safety halbe.

The first snowflakes are falling outside, chocolate Santas are taking over the supermarket shelves and the time change to winter time has been completed once again. Was there something else? Oh yes, that's right: the snow and freeride videos of the week...

The other day, a piece of good news flashed in my inbox. Michael Neumann, photographer, editor and powder addict, was in touch with a new book. In his photo book "Endless Winter", he presents destinations that make it possible – in theory, of course – to indulge in powder addiction 365 days a year. In an interview, the creator provides insights into his work. We are also giving away three copies of the book.