Exactly three years ago, I ended my ski season in Fieberbrunn: a few last turns including the obligatory sunburn. However, the friendly lady at the tourist office drew my attention to the chill-out weekend organized by Risk'n'Fun. The crowning final event of an association which, as part of the Austrian Alpine Association (OEAV), undoubtedly does exceptional work in terms of avalanche awareness and training young freeriders.
Three years later and after many exciting experiences with the team led by Daniela Tollinger, Risk'n'Fun is now celebrating its 15th anniversary. Reason enough for me to take a closer look at the high-end level of Risk'n'Fun, the so-called "Alpine Professionals". Divided into four progressive levels, the participants of the so-called "Alpine Professionals" level form the top class of the Risk'n'Fun program. The Amberger Hütte in Ötztal served as the starting point. Nestled in spectacular surroundings, the hut also serves as a stopover for many long-distance hiking trails and ski tours. More exciting for us were the four valleys, which extend from the hut in all directions and can be reached, providing us with a high alpine playground like no other.
The Level 4 - Alpine Professionals - March 2015, Amberger Hütte
Alpine Professionals Camp | Amberger Hütte - Austria from Stefan Siegel on Vimeo. With two mountain guides and only 12 participants, the group was optimally composed, whereby the core of the Level 4 training aims to provide the participants with as much freedom as possible: Room to make independent decisions. Leading groups and independent tour planning are the central themes, and during the camp the mountain guides tend to take on the role of protective companions. As the participants are also given the opportunity to take the OEAV ski touring instructor exam at the end of the camp, certain critical situations and well-planned scenarios become even more explosive.
Over seven days, in changing conditions, the participants were asked to do a lot: from rope teams through the imposing glacier landscapes, crevasse ascents, use of crampons and ice axes to steep descents in spring snow, every participant was given the opportunity to push their own limits in the safest possible conditions - and in some cases to exceed them.
A good dose of adrenaline was demanded of even the bravest riders when climbing a 60-metre-high ice waterfall or hiking the ridge to the Bockkogelferner glacier over rock and ice. As with all Risk'n'Fun camps, the focus is on the three-pillar system (1. perceive - 2. assess - 3. decide) for finding a personal strategy, and although level 4 is aimed at relatively experienced freeriders and tourers, this session once again explicitly contrasts the stop-or-go strategy with your own risk-decision strategy developed in the previous camp levels.
So, if you fancy a little more next season, you should register for the coveted places in the fall. Unlike the three Level 1-3 camps, participants can also repeat this session. And apparently the cabin for 2016 has already been confirmed! Happy Birthday Risk'n'Fun!PS: Risk'n'Fun is also available in summer. Because risk management is just as essential in the summer mountains as it is in winter, Risk'n'Fun continues seamlessly: Risk'n'Fun climbing. The first dates will take place in May in Wachau and Ötztal. And because the two training modules complement each other, the alpine and climbing versions of Risk'n'Fun are also recommended for freeriders.
