IT'S one thing to get your body ready for winter; however, an equal part of that equation is to prepare your equipment and safety systems as well.
It doesn't matter if you consider yourself extreme or a beginner, preparing now can, and does, pay off in dividends throughout the season.
If you ski or snowboard, preparing your equipment should be your first priority. The best way to do this is to take your gear to a reputable store and have everything given the once over by a professional. I take all my gear to Crystal Glide (www.crystalglide.ca) on Pemberton Avenue in North Vancouver. Dave, the owner, is an amazing technician and he'll wax your base, sharpen your edges and make sure everything is working as it should. Many beginners don't think they need this kind of special treatment, but a properly tuned board will help someone new to the sport more than a seasoned athlete. Get it done!
Whichever sports you like to do during the winter, whether at a resort or in the backcountry, having the right safety systems in place can mean the difference between life and death.
Skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing at resorts mean safety professionals have done most of the work for you. It's important that you pay attention to the rules and advice of those professionals. Skiing out of bounds in closed areas is just plain stupid and often done by people who don't even know the danger they're putting themselves in. Always pay attention to the details, have a back-up plan and let people know where you're going to be.
If you do want to head off into the backcountry and explore uncharted terrain, then that's available to you. You'll need to arm yourself with a lot of important information. Once you step into the backcountry you need to assess the avalanche conditions, the terrain and the safety of the group you're with. No one should be in the backcountry without first taking an avalanche skills course where you'll learn how to make smart decisions in the backcountry.
Avalanches can happen at any time and affect those who are snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling. Your best plan to avoid them is to learn as much as possible about them and most importantly how to avoid them.
Visit the Canadian Avalanche Centre's website, www.avalanche.ca, for the latest bulletin and information on guides and avalanche workshops.
In the backcountry it's also important to carry avalanche safety gear. This includes a probe, shovel, avalanche beacon and even an avalanche airbag. Genuine Guide Gear (www. genuineguidegear.com) makes the best probes and avy shovels on the market and they're made right here on the North Shore.
In my opinion, BCA (www.backcountryaccess. com) makes the best avy beacon on the market called the Tracker 2. It's simple to use and well-priced and is the best beacon for enthusiasts like myself. You may have also seen avalanche airbag packs (www.abs-airbag.com), which inflate if you do get caught in an avalanche and help keep you from being buried. They do work, but as with all avalanche equipment, you should not depend on it. The best way to stay safe is to avoid avalanches in the first place and that comes with education!
All this talk is not to scare you, but to help you make good decisions while out this winter so you can have a ton of fun, but make it home for more epic trips in the future. This will also help prevent an extra burden on our awesome local search and rescue teams.
Adventurer Dave Norona encourages you to get out this winter and explore, but be proactive and help curb avy deaths and search and rescue team rescues. His backcountry exploration is supported by Mountain Hardwear, Comor Sports and Genuine Guide Gear.
