Andrea Bormida

Avalanches make no distinction between experts and beginners, and when something happens, what matters is clarity of mind, the ability to communicate, and the ability to act quickly as a team

The choice of an ice axe, crampons, and a lightweight harness to always keep in your backpack is not a minor detail. And the market now offers a wide range of options, with some new releases each season

Once you’ve chosen your skis, boots and bindings, your thoughts then turn to harnesses, crampons, ice axe and helmet, though perhaps not everyone, and not straight away. While it’s true that when starting out, especially for those transitioning from resort skiing who just want to start surfing some pow, the important thing is to get self-rescue equipment. It’s equally true, however, that the sport we love is a combination of two words: skiing and mountaineering.