Snow of tomorrow | Tracks in the forest

The legal framework:

Let's start with the most important key data: according to Austrian forestry law, a forest is an area overgrown with forest trees (forest vegetation) over 1,000 m² and with an average width of at least 10 m - regardless of property boundaries. Areas with temporarily removed vegetation, i.e. areas after damaging events (windthrow, bark beetle) or as a result of utilisation (logging), are also considered forest. Forest roads or timber storage areas are also legally considered forest.

The forest fulfils four important main functions, which are also enshrined in the Forest Act, a federal law: the protective function, the utility function, the recreational function and the welfare function. As these functions are important to us all, there are rules to protect them and therefore to protect the forest as a whole.

One of these regulations explicitly concerns freeriding. In the area of lifts (e.g. cable cars), skiing in the forest is only permitted on marked pistes or ski routes. This applies in any case to an area of 500 metres on either side of the lifts, pistes or marked downhill runs. There are also interpretations that assume an area that can be reached within a 30-minute walk. Anyone who violates this regulation is committing an administrative offence. The penalty range starts at EUR 150 and goes up to EUR 750 or imprisonment for up to one week.

The technical background

So much for the legal framework. But what is the real purpose behind these bans? As already mentioned, the preservation of the four forest functions. A healthy forest has great added value for nature and the population. It is home to many animals and plants, stores water, cleans the air of dust particles, converts CO2 into oxygen (welfare function) and, especially in the steep Alpine valleys where we ski, the forest prevents the slopes from slipping and protects infrastructure from avalanches and mudflows (protective function). The primary product of the forest is wood - an ingenious material with many possible uses (utilisation function). An intact forest is therefore good for us all. The natural regrowth of trees is crucial for a healthy forest. If the regrowth does not occur or too many trees are felled, the forest ecosystem can collapse. One example of this is the karstic coastal landscape of Croatia. There were once extensive forests there, which became the "foundation" of Venice. As a result, the thin layer of humus was removed by erosion and the entire area became karstified.

Ski vs. tree

All the functions of the forest are important and mutually dependent. Freeriders are particularly confronted with the protective function. Most of the protective forests in the Eastern Alps are located between 1,300 and 2,100 metres. These are often light, especially around the tree line, and are therefore ideal for our extensive turns. Freeriding in the forest is a great thing. Due to the low wind influence, the snow is often as soft as butter and because there is less direct sunlight, the snow cover takes a little longer to form. When visibility is poor, the trees are helpful visual reference points. Especially in the sparse high forest, through aisles, on slashes (areas in the forest where all the trees have been felled) and in shallow trenches, we can enjoy swinging through the snow. This is exactly where the challenge lies: open areas in the forest that are so large that we enjoy freeriding there are almost always reforested areas and - as written above - may not be skied on. The law is clear here - and with good reason. A lot is permitted in the forest, and the protection of forest regeneration has priority on these areas. This is important for the forest owner and also for us, because we want to continue to have healthy forests in the Alps in the future. This leaves us with the sparse high forest. However, if the forest is very light, our skiing may have a negative impact on natural tree regeneration. We injure the young trees with the steel edges of our skis and snowboards - under the snow cover. It is usually the terminal shoot - i.e. the tip of the tree - that suffers most. This is particularly important for the healthy growth of the tree. If these tips are injured several winters in a row (or bitten by wild animals in summer), the tree withers and the forest is weakened at this point. Foresighted forest owners do a lot to make the forest more diverse and climate-resilient. They therefore often cut down quite a few spruce trees in young forest areas and leave them in the forest as humus input. Firs, pines, larches and copper beeches, on the other hand, are often left standing. If the very tops of these trees are damaged, this not only harms the forest in general, but also specifically the biodiversity and resilience of the forest. The more different tree species, that are suitable for the location, occur in a forest, the better the forest can protect itself against pathogens such as beetles and fungi. A mixture of different tree species also increases resistance to severe weather events. Trees are divided into shallow-rooted, deep-rooted and heart-rooted species. Deep-rooted and heart-rooted trees are better able to withstand strong winds and can support shallow-rooted trees in their environment.

Opportunities for freeriders

If you care about the forest habitat because a functioning ecosystem with a variety of plants and animals is important to you - then you can actively help to ensure that the forest and its inhabitants are doing well in winter.

• Be aware of the legal regulations.

• In larger open areas in the forest, keep to the edge of the forest. It is better to ride in the sparse high forest than directly across the clear cut (area where all the trees have been felled).

• Inform yourself about guidance measures and adhere to them.

• Stay on known and signposted routes if possible.

• Do not ride at dusk and at night. During this time, many animals are busy with their daily feeding.

• If you come across animals travelling in a group, take a wide detour.

• Also take a wide detour around resting and feeding areas. You can find information about these areas on the websites of the federal states (wherever there are voluntary steering measures) and via various tour platforms - especially those that work with Digitize the Planet. Digitize the planet is a non-profit organisation that collects legal and voluntary information and closures in the outdoor sector and makes them available as open data.

• If you see a lot of animal tracks in the snow, avoid the area

• Avoid noise and keep dogs on a lead.

The forest and its animals won't thank you for it - but with your considerate behaviour you have contributed to protecting the nature in which you so enjoy being out and about (= off-piste) and giving it a chance to preserve its diversity.

Your checkbox for freeriding in the forest:

• Descending in the forest is prohibited 500 m on either side of lifts and pistes.

• Young forest areas (= open areas) under three metres in height may not be skied.

• When skiing in open areas in the forest, it is best to ski along the edges of high forest or in sparse high forest.

• Follow marked or well-travelled routes.

• Only travel during the day and avoid making noise.

• Keep as much distance as possible from animals and do not chase them.

Georg Rothwangl works in the spatial planning and nature conservation department of the Austrian Alpine Association, where he is responsible for natural area management and visitor guidance. He himself enjoys ski touring and freeriding in winter, previously on a snowboard and now on powder skis.