{"id":720,"date":"2019-11-15T14:04:33","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T21:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.altitudeskischool.com\/wengen\/2019\/11\/14\/guide-swiss-off-piste-law\/"},"modified":"2024-04-04T10:58:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T08:58:53","slug":"guide-swiss-off-piste-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altitudeskischool.com\/wengen\/guide-swiss-off-piste-law\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to the Swiss Off Piste law"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Verbier is an amazing ski resort with a reputation for its off-piste terrain. In Verbier we are fortunate to have a large team of experienced and highly qualified off-piste instructors and mountain guides and they can help you to enjoy some great skiing in this famous\u00a0resort. In 2014\/15, changes to the law have impacted on how instructors can teach off-piste. If you are looking to book an off-piste lesson or to be guided around in Verbier, it\u2019s important to understand these changes to the Swiss law to enable you to make the best decision on booking off-piste guiding or instruction.<\/p>\n<h2>Off piste law changes in force for 2014-2015<\/h2>\n<p>The new law regarding teaching off-piste is now much more black and white than in previous years. Please read the following steps carefully:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. The angle of the off-piste run<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Previously there were no limitations regarding the slopes that could be skied with clients. Now instructors are limited to hiking a maximum of 34 Degree slopes and skiing maximum of 39 Degree slopes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. What qualifications are required to take clients off-piste?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To take clients off-piste up to 39 Degrees Instructors must now be Federal qualified (top level Swiss) or hold an equivalent qualification.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mountain Guide or Federal Qualified Instructor?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We offer you a helpful guide to choose whether you should book a UIAGM mountain guide or a Federal Qualified instructor. If you answer \u2018Yes\u2019 to any of the following then we would advise you to choose an Off-Piste Lesson or Guiding with a Federal Ski Instructor:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I would like to improve my technique and learn how to enjoy skiing powder. I\u2019m happy to do this on the sides of the pistes and on itinerary runs. I may or may not have avalanche equipment.<\/li>\n<li>I wish to be guided around on some gentle off-piste runs and have some tips on my skiing and learn about how to use avalanche equipment.<\/li>\n<li>I am happy to ski some gentle off-piste runs, such as Creblet and frontside of Savoleyres, I will have m avalanche equipment and I hope to ski some powder.<\/li>\n<li>I am happy to do some short walks and skinning on gentle off piste to find some fresh snow and I don\u2019t want any tips on my skiing.<\/li>\n<li>If there is no fresh snow I am still happy to work on my technique, improve my bumps technique and also explore the itinerary runs.<\/li>\n<li>I don\u2019t wish to ski slopes such as frontside of Mont Gele, Rocky Garden, Attelas couloirs and prefer to stay on slopes less than 39 Degrees.<\/li>\n<li>Safety equipment including Avalanche Transceiver, Shovel and Probe is compulsory when skiing off piste. <strong>I understand that if I don\u2019t have this then I must stay on the pistes and itinerary slopes and work on technique.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>I would like to practice skinning and learn how to use the equipment on gentle slopes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>If answering \u2018Yes\u2019 to any of the following then we would advise you to choose a UIAGM Mountain Guide*:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>*Please note, if you are choosing Yes to any of the below, to avoid disappointment always verify if your guide is a UIAGM High Mountain guide and not an instructor who prefers to use the title of \u2018Off-Piste Guide\u2019!<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I don\u2019t want any tips on my skiing and wish to explore steep off-piste around Verbier, such as Backside Mont Fort, Stairway and Frontside of Mont Gele<\/li>\n<li>I wish to do some ski touring and also ski on glaciated terrain.<\/li>\n<li>I only ski with an UIAGM off-piste guide, I don\u2019t need any tips on my skiing and I always carry an avalanche kit.<\/li>\n<li>I wish to ski tour outside of the ski area and hope to ski some steep slopes and steep narrow couloirs.<\/li>\n<li>I would like you to take me Heli-skiing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The good news is that for the majority of clients who wish to improve their technique in off-piste conditions, or be guided around without any tips, the law will have little impact on their experience of Swiss off-piste terrain. Final thoughts for those venturing off-piste this year:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When going off-piste always use the advised avalanche equipment, know how to use it and check that it is working correctly. <strong>(transceiver, probe, shovel all in a backpack. Airbags are recommended)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>We strongly recommend you to wear a helmet when skiing on- and off-piste.<\/li>\n<li>Never go off-piste without first getting advice from an expert.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We hope the above has been helpful and informative for yourself or your clients, and can be used positively when making a decision on the type of lessons you require when skiing in Verbier.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Verbier is an amazing ski resort with a reputation for its off-piste terrain. In Verbier we are fortunate to have a large team of experienced and<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":19437,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-wengen","category-uncategorised"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A guide to the Swiss Off Piste law - Altitude Ski and Snowboard School in Wengen<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understanding the Swiss Off Piste Law for skiing and snowboarding can be tricky! 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