Ski Safety Equipment

There are many types of ski equipment that you can purchase to make your skiing experience a much safer one. To make your holiday as safe as possible, there are a number of essential pieces of ski safety equipment that you should consider purchasing.

If you are planning to travel off-piste, then you will definitely need avalanche transceivers. If you are in a group, then each person must wear one of these, as they will assist people in trying to locate any skiers that are trapped as a result of an avalanche.

Should an avalanche occur, and you are aware that one or more of your group is missing, you and the remaining members of your group can use the transceiver to locate them. Along with this piece of equipment, you will need to carry a shovel and a probe, so that you will be able to help whoever is trapped once you have found them. You will need to act quickly in order to increase chances of survival.

If you are unfamiliar with transceivers, then be sure to practice using one beforehand. Your time will be short once an avalanche occurs, so it is important that you are familiar with how the equipment works in order to successfully and quickly locate anyone who is missing.

Transceivers can either be purchased or hired from any ski shop. If you are skiing with a guide, then it is their responsibility to provide each of their clients with a transceiver. In this case, clients will usually have to pay a daily charge, but it is worth it to increase safety.

A similar piece of equipment is a Recco transmitter. These are attached to ski boots and clothing, including ski jackets. There are also avalanche cords, which you trail behind you whilst you are skiing. This enables the cord to still be visible should you be buried, allowing other skiers to locate you. You can also purchase an AvaLung, which helps you to breathe if you are unfortunate enough to be buried by an avalanche, or a bag with a balloon, which helps you float on the surface of the snow during an avalanche.

Another piece of equipment that will increase safety is a ski helmet. Some skiers may find a helmet uncomfortable and choose not to wear one, but there are now many types of helmets that offer more comfort, and if you are attending a ski school ski helmets are often compulsory.