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PowderPeople | Rinaldo Borra - Conditions Reporter of the Week

Get to know our CR students

by PowderGuide 02/15/2018
In the second edition of our Conditions Reporter interviews, Rinaldo Borra (username borrarinaldo) introduces himself: The long-time mountain guide and coffee lover lives in Grindelwald, but travels with his guests throughout the Alps.

Hello, how are you? How has your season been so far?

Grindelwald, a winter start like no other for a long time, freeriding from mid-November until Christmas. Simply brilliant! Lötschental 3 days just before Christmas was also hard to beat...

There's always a short round of introductions to start with. You are a ConditionsReporter at PowderGuide. What else should we know about you?

I've been a professional mountain guide throughout the Alps for 26 years, grew up in Valais and have lived in Grindelwald for 15 years. In winter, I spend around 100 days on the road as a mountain guide and lead freeride tours, ski tours, etc. throughout the Alps.

Where do you often go freeriding and what is special about this place for you?

Grindelwald: quiet, safe freeride terrain. Schilthorn-Mürren: steep descents with a backdrop that deserves to be described as world-class. In Valais, of course, where I grew up. Otherwise in the Lötschental, Val d'Anniviers etc. Preferably always where it's still quiet...

What does your ideal freeride day look like?

Safety first, then everything else...

What does your perfect freeride setup look like and why?

Lightweight skis, around 95mm, such as K2 Wayback with Fritschi Tecton

Which gadget from your freeride equipment would you recommend to the PowderGuide community?

Tape is of course always included, otherwise the skis from K2 and the new Fritschi Tecton are hard to beat.

What does your risk management look like when freeriding?

The human factor is the be-all and end-all, followed by all other aids... Communication with the guests is important, as is the experience gained from 26 years as a mountain guide in winter and summer; always with the motto: less is more.

What has been your best freeriding trip so far and what is your dream destination?

There are plenty of opportunities here in the Alps, so I don't travel much for the sake of the environment and, above all, my family.

A few more quick questions: Chutes or wide powder slopes?

Powder slope with 25 degrees, skiable for all guests and only low risk.

SchniPoSa (schnitzel, chips, salad) or cheese spaetzle?

Walliser Cholera

Willi or beer?

It's all about coffee...

Malle or Ischgl?

Val d'Anniviers, the crown jewel of the Alps and simply unbeatable..

Biking or climbing?

Both are great, in Finale I'm now more into biking

Singing or dancing?

Drinking coffee...

Après ski or sauna?

Drinking coffee...

Finally, tell us a story from your freeriding life?

Coming home is the most important thing in freeriding. It's all too easy to forget the landscapes and the scenery, just the nature of where you are - that's the best thing for me.

Here are Rinaldo's conditions reports.

Photo gallery

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