Sparkling snow crystals, ascents through uninhabited valleys, panoramic views from mountain summits and soulful powder runs on top of that. Getting to know your personal limits, along with an awesome crew, a thermos full of warm tea and a good feeling inside. Welcome to risk’n’fun.

risk’n’fun, the training program of the Österreichische Alpenvereinsjugend, is ready for the upcoming winter season, the registration for the 12 tour stops is already running at full speed. A dense program is planned for the next months, the starting pistol is fired already this coming weekend. risk’n’fun is going to be present at the OeAV stand at the Alpinmesse in Innsbruck. After that, “Freeride starter workshops” are going to take place in the three Blue Tomato stores in Vienna, Graz and Schladming beginning of December.

Perceiving, evaluating, deciding – these are the three key words which form the golden thread that runs through the “training session“, “next level“ and “backcountry pro” in terms of content. Every participant develops their personal strategy, their approach to risk optimization which they can employ in their runs. In the “training sessions”, this still happens more or less close to the slopes. At the “next level”, however, they also deal with planning tours with longer ascents and the “backcountry pro” is an entire week of tours according to the concept of risk’n’fun. The two “specials” for all former risk’n’fun participants will lead to the Hohe Tatra and to Italy this year.

The quality standards for the trainings could be raised to an even higher level over the last months. At all training dates, from the “training sessions” up to the “specials”, the trainer-participants ratio is now 2:10. In practice this means: even more moments of decision-making, even more powder runs, even more input and experiences off-piste. In addition, one can now also complete the exercise instructor training for ski and snowboard tours after the level three, the “backcountry pro”.

As of now, Flo Orley, another freerider through and through and runner-up in the overall ranking of the freeride world tour, is also in action as a snowboard guide at the trainings. Risk’n’fun – by freeriders for freeriders.

For details and further information go to: www.risk-fun.com

risk´n´fun tourdates 2011/2012

start of the season:
1.12. 2011 risk´n´fun at the Blue Tomato Store Graz
2.12. 2011 risk´n´fun at the Blue Tomato Store Wien
3.12. 2011 risk´n´fun at the Blue Tomato Store Schladming

Level 1 – training sessions:
17.12. – 21.12.2011 SÖLDEN
04.01. – 08.01.2012 KAUNERTAL
28.01. – 01.02.2012 KÜHTAI
04.02. – 08.02.2012 SERFAUS
14.02. – 18.02.2012 TAUPLITZ
19.02. – 23.02.2012 HOCHKAR

Level 2 – next level:
18.01. – 22.01.2012 GARGELLEN
19.03. – 23.03.2012 SONNENKOPF

Level 3 – backcountry pro:
09.02. – 13.02.2012 NIEDERE TAUERN -

chill out
23.03. – 25.03.2012 FIEBERBRUNN -

specials:
04.02. – 08.02.2012 DOLOMITI GOURMET
26.02. – 03.03.2012 HOHE TATRA

If you love freeriding, the backcountry and fresh powder as much as we do, we strongly recommend you to take at least some lessons in avalanche security and backcountry safety regularly.

For example with the Austrian alpine professionals from risk’n'fun, who still got some spots left for their next training session in Heiligenblut from February 28th to March 3rd.

For more info check risk-fun.com

Once again, the Austrian Alpine Club is offering unique training camps for backcountry safety, avalanche awareness and touring this winter.

With 11 tour stops and three training levels, there should be something for everybody, who likes to ride off the beaten slopes and find his or her own little powder heaven.

Depending on the knowledge you already have, you can enter their “Training Sessions”, “Next Level” and “Backcountry Pro” courses, where you learn how to develop your own personal strategy and your own approach to risk optimization to apply during your runs in the backcountry. You’re accompanied by trainers and alpine guides. The “Training Sessions” mainly take place close to the piste, “Next Level” additionally deals with tour planning with longer ascents and the “Backcountry Pro” is an entire week of tours according to the concept of risk’n’fun.

For the first time, this year there will also be test equipment from various companies available so you can see for yourself which avalanche transceiver, backpack or shovel fits you best.

Dates 2010/2011:

LEVEL 1: TRAINING SESSIONS

Sölden: 18.12.2010 – 22.12.2010
Kaunertal: 05.01.2011 – 09.01.2011
Gargellen: 19.01.2011 – 23.01.2011
Hochkar: 09.02.2011 – 13.02.2011
Serfaus: 14.02.2011 – 18.02.2011
Tauplitz: 09.02.2011 – 13.02.2011
Heiligenblut: 27.02.2011 – 03.03.2011

LEVEL 2: NEXT LEVEL
Kühtai: 26.01.2011 – 30.01.2011
Sonnenkopf: 21.03.2011 – 25.03.2011

LEVEL 3: BACKCOUNTRY PRO
Innervillgraten: 21.03.2011 – 25.03.2011

CHILL OUT
Fieberbrunn: 25.03.2011 – 27.03.2011

For all information and registrations, go to risk-fun.com, email risk-fun@alpenverein.at or call +43/(0)664/8556433