Backcountry Skiing – A Beginner’s Guide Part 3 – Equipment

So - what equipment do you need to go backcountry skiing. Well the short answer is none! There's absolutely nothing stopping you from slinging your skis over your shoulder and going for a walk to an untouched area. Plenty of top-notch skiing is accessed by a short bootpack from the top of a lift, however the further you intend to venture, the more this can be assisted by specialist equipment. Backcountry skiing is a world awash with equipment - obsessed with shaving grams with exotic materials. But in this article we will focus on the bare minimum equipment required for a hitherto Alpine Skier to venture into some slackcountry/backcountry lines.

Ski Goggles – Buyers Guide

Ski goggles are one of the most essential pieces of your ski gear. They provide the ability to differentiate snow forms, keep snow and...

Ultimate Guide to Beginner’s Ski Gear – Part 1 – Soft Goods

The first time going to the snow is daunting if you don't know what you need. There is a very real threat of hypothermia...

2019 Northern Hemisphere Ski Buyers Guide

It's that time of year again, when we swap jackets for singlets, boots for thongs, and snow for beach. Except for the fact that...
AST 1 Avalanche Course - Mt Hotham

Backcountry Skiing – A Beginner’s Guide Part 2 – Safety

I apologise in advance for the preachy tone of this article, but it never ceases to amaze me just how clueless Australians are when it comes to this topic, and just how aggro they become when confronted with it. Don't believe me? Head to the Peak at Niseko. My intention in this segment on Safety is not to educate on the specifics of avalanche safety, as I am vastly unqualified to do this, but to emphasise that no matter how experienced a resort skier may be, they need to swallow their ego, remove their hubris and educate & equip themselves appropriately to ski out of bounds.
Three tracks in the entire valley

Backcountry Skiing – A Beginner’s Guide Part 1 – Motivation

The first question people ask me is why it took so long? Why did I wait until my early 30's to discover this latent passion for skiing beyond the ropes? Especially considering I spent 10 years skiing full time, back-to-back winters, with well over 2000 days on snow in this period. The main answer is that I was busy. As you move up the ranks of instructing your time becomes more scarce - request private lessons, work with the APSI, training for exams etc quickly gobbles up whatever free time you may have to the point where a day out of boots is bliss and if you do ski on a day off the concept of walking up the hill is somewhat abhorrent to your battle-scarred body.

Backcountry Skiing – A Beginner’s Guide Part 4 – Clothing and Layering

Continuing on the same train of thought as Part 3 of the Backcountry beginners guide, Part 4 we will be looking at the different...

Ski Bindings – Basics

Ski Bindings nowadays come in many shapes and colours and may seem overwhelming to begin. Whilst different bindings have different features, deciding which bindings functionally suit each...
Dakine Travel - TRS Claim Tax Back

Travelling to ski? How to claim your GST back with the TRS

The TRS (Tourist Refund Scheme) allows travellers to claim tax back when departing Australia. Purchase goods worth $300 or more from a single retailer...

How to Stop your Ski Gear from Smelling Bad

There are a couple of key culprits when it comes to stinking out the drying room, the biggest of which are your boots and...