Freeride

In mid-October, I packed my bags and moved to Los Angeles. My company had recently opened an office in Hollywood and, motivated by the thought of exploring the Rocky Mountains this season, I brought all my ski equipment with me to the city of palm trees, movie stars and surfers.

"All Terain. All the Time" is the slogan of the Line Pandora 95, a ski designed for women with a center width of 95 mm and a freeride shape that is supposed to work anywhere and everywhere. We have put this claim by the ski makers from the USA to the test and naturally don't want to withhold the results.

Every year we go to the Montafon - and not without reason... For more than five years now, I've been drawn out of Tyrol, over the Arlberg and into the Montafon every season. The Silvretta Montafon in particular has become very dear to my heart and promises an impressive visit every year and exciting, satisfying images for our filmmakers and photographers.

Scott's popular Scrapper 124 now has a little brother, which is supposed to be more maneuverable and an all-rounder at the same time. The ski not only impresses with spectacular images on the screen in "La Liste", but also shows its best side in the endurance test. The combination of lightweight construction and racy downhill performance make the ski very interesting for freeriders who are prepared to take on the odd climb for a big mountain line.

The descent is definitely the focus of the tour for many, but more and more female freeriders are not just looking for the fluffiest and fattest deep snow slope. Lonely areas and secluded summit destinations, plus a little sweat and fitness training - freetouring is and remains the trend - even for us women.

The new 16/17 season K2 Marksman is designed as an all-mountain freerider with a penchant for freestyle. The ski, with a center width of 106mm, was developed together with K2 Factory team boss and freeride legend Pep Fujas in the K2 development laboratory with the marketing idea "Area 62". The idea of a universal "shred ski" that is fun in powder as well as on runs on and off the piste is appealing and in times when more and more skis with a 102 mm center width are on the move in the parks, it seems that its time has come. In the following gear reviews, we'll let you know whether the Marksman delivers on its promises.

For the fifth time in a row, the Back On Track Freeride Contest 2017 will feature freeride action, hut fun, breathtaking scenery and friendly people in and around the Saarbrücker Hütte. This somewhat different freeride contest is built on the three cornerstones of "sustainability, nature compatibility and community spirit". The focus is therefore not on the sickest line, but on having fun together on the mountain - whether in the hut or on a ski tour on the surrounding slopes.

Lighter - tougher - more agile. This seems to be the credo of the hour for freeride boots. The boundaries between freetouring and downhill-oriented boots with a walking function are beginning to blur. The Italian boot specialists from Tecnica are also consistently following this trend and, with the Cochise 130, are delivering a downhill-oriented four-buckle boot that doesn't need to hide away on the ascent either.

PowderGuide is organizing a freeride camp in La Grave for the first time this year - together with mountain guide Stefan Neuhauser. An interview about the uniqueness of the area, an unforgettable experience and a passion for skiing that knows no bounds.

Steep larch forests, couloirs and descents of up to 2,000 vertical meters make La Grave one of the top destinations for freeriders in the Alps. The future of the ski resort is uncertain - 2017 may be the last winter in which the freeride Mecca still exists in its current form. Long-time PG and mountain guide Stefan Neuhauser is offering a freeride camp in spring, where you can get to know La Grave in its original state.

For some years now, more and more manufacturers have been focusing on additional protective equipment alongside helmets. There is now a very large selection of protectors for all possible body parts. For many freeriders, back protectors in particular are now standard equipment. The choice is huge, from backpacks with integrated protectors to all kinds of protector variants for wearing under a jacket and airbag systems for alpine racing. In today's Gear of the Week, we briefly present the Hybrid 2.15 OTIS Body Vest from Marker.

With the Alvier combo, Mammut has an outfit in its range that cuts a fine figure for both freeriding and ski touring. The material used is the new Gore CK-nit, which, unlike Gore-Tex, is not only more breathable, but also softer and "quieter".