Skitouren

The good thing about this tour is that it can be adapted to the respective conditions, preferences and ability with a little creativity. Even the start presents you with the first decision. Do I start with a gondola ride up the Pischa and then walk up the Pischahorn? Or do I walk over the Jöriflüelafurgga? Due to the complexity of the tour, we opted for the option via Jöriflüelafurgga and an early start.

After we were able to try out the Hoji Pro for you last season, Dynafit provided us with the new Hoji Free for testing this year. The "Free" can also refer to the freedom in the choice of bindings, because unlike the "Pro" model, the boot fits into all standard touring and hybrid bindings thanks to its normal beak at the front.

Most freeriders will be familiar with Corvatsch, as the Engadinsnow Freeride Contest, a stop on the Freeride World Qualifier Tour, has been held here for several years. In addition to numerous steep descents on the north and west sides, there are also much easier tours with descents of more than 1000m. One of these is the descent towards Pontresina, whose north/east slopes offer enjoyable turns.

The Proton LT Hoodie from Arc'teryx has been around since last winter and since then it has been my all-purpose jacket for skiing, ski touring and as a lightweight jacket for the city. Due to its high wind and vapor permeability, it is certainly not designed as a particularly warming layer, but except on very cold days, it can be worn in any weather. The water-repellent layer works surprisingly well during short rain showers or longer snow showers.

La Sportiva is strengthening its range of ski touring boots for the current season with a very lightweight model that bridges the gap between ski touring boots and normal, ascent-orientated boots. We have already tested the new Skorpius extensively.

Fashion over function: that doesn't apply to Mons Royale. They bring stylish and functional sportswear to the market and have become an integral part of outdoor sports, whether ski touring, on the piste or on a bike in summer. The company from New Zealand has been around for 10 years and founder and freeskier Hamish Acland has made his merino underwear and sportswear a must-have.

Two years ago, Lisa Hempfer was given the opportunity to take part in the Training Session (Level 1) and the Next Level (Level 2) through the cooperation between PowderGuide and the risk'n'fun training programme. Last winter, Lisa also completed the Backcountry Pro (Level 3) and Alpine Professionals (Level 4). Lisa has once again taken the time to summarise her experiences. In the first part, Lisa reports on the Backcountry Pro Camp:

The striking and beautifully shaped Rosskogel to the west of Innsbruck catches the eye again and again on the approach through the Inntal valley. In the right conditions, this ski tour not only offers a magnificent view and an appealing, alpine ascent, but also a spectacular descent through the north-east facing Rosskogel gully.

The North American company Black Diamond, which is best known for its wide range of climbing equipment, has also been involved in the ski sector for a number of years and has become an integral part of it. At the end of last year, the company and physiotherapist Esther Smith got together to produce a video series with numerous valuable tips for freeriders and climbers. We're showing you the result today!

Just like the snow conditions, so are the Videos of the Week. You can go ski touring and talk yourself up about the conditions or not. In any case, it's these times that make us realize what really counts and what's missing. And if you're really starting to get frustrated or nervous, you could console and calm yourself with ski video games.

The Nassfeld ski resort on the border with Italy in the south of Austria usually benefits from the südstau. Extreme amounts of snow are not uncommon here and are not a problem as long as they are acceptable for the environment.

Livigno, a duty-free municipality in the Italian province of Sondrio in Lombardy with an altitude of 1,816m. With the surrounding mountains towering more than 1,000m above the charming little town, Livigno is not just a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts on paper. We were there in spring as part of a press trip to check out the winter sports on offer in the Italian valley and quickly fell in love with this unique region.