Tobias Kurzeder

One pair of pants for everything! What more could you want? Designed for climbing but still casual and cool enough, the Fusion Pants from Mammut cut a good figure almost everywhere: from the crag to the city to the bike. Practical, comfortable pants for all situations and (almost) all occasions.

With the Telepro T 6 from Voile, you can do what you should be able to do with any avalanche shovel: move large amounts of snow in a short time. The fact that the shovel does not bend, break or fail in any other way is due to its ultra-hard T 6 material (temperature-hardened aluminum).

In mid-January 2012, "Kassensturz", the Swiss TV magazine for "consumption, money and work", tested all current three-antenna entry-level and mid-range avalanche transceivers. The large-scale test took place under the patronage of the SLF, and leading avalanche transceiver expert Manuel Genswein also contributed to the test.

Great weather, great snow, great atmosphere at the Mountain Mastery 2012, which naturally takes place mainly in powder snow. However, the warm temperatures have now taken their toll on the white gold and the snow cover is often a little patchy, especially at higher altitudes. As you would expect, there are lots of small and large rocks sticking out. And these many rocks have already taken their toll?

From March 16-20, 2012, the 4-star qualifier event for the Freeride World Tour will take place in Haute Nendaz, Switzerland, which is part of the Verbier ski resort. In the racy terrain of the Valais ski resort of Haute Nendaz, a top-class field of participants will be competing for places in this important freeride competition.

Unimaginable winter heat, icy Arctic cold, – the winter of 2012 is perfect for always having a small thermometer with you. It's also great if the thermometer can also measure the slope inclination. And that's exactly what the little yellow thing from Pieps, which goes by the name of "30° plus", can do.

The 30-liter backpack from Evoc goes by the name "Freeride Guide" because it simply fits a little more than conventional daypacks. And that's exactly why I like the backpack: in true Evoc style, the backpack sits perfectly on the back and the additional kidney belt-like hip belt ensures that the backpack literally sticks to the back even when jumping.

The Austrians impressed at the fourth of six events on the Freeride World Tour 2012 in Røldal, Norway. Flo Orley (AUT) won the snowboarding event; Christian Schnabel (AUT) came third behind Emilien Badoux (SUI). Lorraine Huber (AUT) and Eva Walkner (AUT) came second and third in the women's skiing category behind Christine Hargin (SWE). The surprise of the day came from the previously little-known Norwegian freeskier Dennis Risvoll, who started with a wildcard and won the FWT stop thanks to two high backflips. Margot Rozies (FRA) won the women's snowboarding competition.

The first half of the 2012 freeride winter and the Freeride World Tour are history. Will the second half be just as good? And nobody knows yet what the second half will bring: perhaps more June powder to go with the sheep cold? But one thing is certain: of the six scheduled stops on the Freeride World Tour, the three in Chamonix, Revelstoke and Courmayeur are over.

The Alagna jacket from Mammut can do everything a really good jacket has to do! * It keeps you warm when it's cold. * It keeps you dry when it's wet. * You don't sweat too much when it's warm. * It is breathable when you are still sweaty. * It is resistant to stress. * It is pleasantly soft to wear. * It can be stowed away compactly when you don't want to wear it?

The Montafon Freeride Festival with its two stops on the Hochjoch (11.02.2012) in the Silvretta Montafon ski area and in the Brandnertal ski area (04.02.2012) was held in very good, albeit icy cold conditions.

What a winter, what a glove! Cold winter, cold fingers? Nope, not with this thing. I hate mittens, almost more than cold fingers. That's why I bought this glove in the freezing cold winter of 2009/2010. In the warm, sunny winter of 2010/2011, the super-warm Legend from Black Diamond usually stayed in the cupboard. And this winter 2012 it's back again. Just as warm and still without any serious signs of wear. And yet it has a lot of days of use under its belt.