www.snowandsafety.com

Snow & Safety Conference5 – 7 December 2014 in Zürs/Arlberg

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Dear Arlberg and Powder Snow Fans

After a highly successful première in 2012 and a similarly successful continuation in 2013, the Snow & Safety Conference in Zürs returns for its third edition. Skiing and snowboarding always require risk-aware and responsible behaviour – especially when venturing off-piste. Lech Zürs am Arlberg offers a total of 200 km of high-alpine, deep-powder runs, making it the ideal venue for the Snow & Safety Conference. Participants can obtain information in a wide variety of lectures, workshops and panel discussions, exchange views with experts or try out the latest products outdoors together with ski guides to increase their awareness of possible dangers.

The 3rd Snow & Safety Conference offers an extensive programme on the subject of “Decision-making and consequences”. It is important to exchange views on safety before the winter season starts. This gives deep-powder snow fans the opportunity not only to gather comprehensive theoretical information on important aspects of avalanche pre-vention but also to put what they have learnt to the test together with the best-trained ski guides from the local ski schools and professional freeriding guides.With this in mind, I hope that you will find much to interest you in our exciting programme. I wish you a fantastic winter season in 2014/15!

Introduction

EVENT ORGANISER

Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH

PRESENTER

Bernd KrainbucherBernd Krainbucher is a state-certified ski instructor and guide who has been presenting events, such as the Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, the Red Bull Playstreets in Bad Gastein, the Freeride World Tour in Fieber-brunn, the White Thrill and the Red Bull Hütten Rally in St. Anton and the Freestyle Ski World Cup in Kreischberg, since 2005.

Hermann FercherManaging Director of Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH and his team

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Michael LarcherIn addition to his training as a state-certified mountain and ski guide, Michael Larcher, who is a court-certified expert on alpine accidents, has a degree in German and Sport Studies. Since 1992, he has been the head of the mountain sport and mountaineering departments of the Austrian Alpine Club in Innsbruck. He has also published a number of articles on the subject of safety in mountain sports.

Stefan HäuslBorn in Salzburg in 1976 and a state-certified ski guide and trainer for state ski instructors, Stefan Häusl is amongst the world’s best freeri-ders. He has won one gold and one bronze medal on the Freeride World Tour. Stefan Häusl also produces and appears in ski films.

Björn HereggerFor a good eight years, the 32-year-old from Carinthia has been a fixture on the freeriding scene. In 2009, he was one of the first skiers from Austria to be invited to the legendary Xtreme Verbier. In his films, he seeks to convey the beauty and the fascination as well as the risks of this sport to viewers. Training as a mountain and ski guide was the logical next step for him.

Andreas ErmacoraAndreas Ermacora is a lawyer in Innsbruck and President of the Austrian Alpine Club (OeAV). In his profession, Dr Ermacora specialises in compen-sation issues with a special focus on sports accidents. He is the author of many publications and specialist articles on the subjects of liability, personal responsibility, residual risk and more. In both civil and crimi-nal cases, he has defended many mountain guides and ski instructors in court after avalanche accidents.

Benjamin ZweifelThrough his daily examination of snow and avalanches in his work at the SLF (Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research), Benjamin Zweifel has gathered considerable expert knowledge over the years. He extended his horizons further with his doctoral thesis on group effects on ski tourers and freeriders, as he was convinced that avalanche accidents cannot be prevented with expert knowledge on snow cover, weather and terrain alone – instead a deeper understanding of winter sports enthusiasts’ decision-making psychology is called for amongst other things.

Martin SchusterMartin Schuster is a founder member of Alpincenter Lech, the first office for mountain guides in the Arlberg region, and has been its director for twelve years. He has been active as a mountain and ski guide and a local on the Arlberg alpine winter scene for 30 years. Since 2006, he has played a key role, together with a number of his fellow mountain guides, in developing the interactive online platform Wikisnow for professionals, which now has over 40 members.

Reinhard HallerReinhard Haller is a senior consultant at a psychiatric-psychotherapeutic clinic specialised in addictions. As one of Europe’s most renowned foren-sic psychiatrists, Prof. Dr med. Haller has been called on to give expert testimony in major criminal cases time and time again. His analyses of psychiatric disorders and sensational crimes are in demand in the inter-national media. He is the author of numerous scientific studies, chiefly on the subject of mental illness, addiction and forensic psychiatry.

Your Lecturers

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08:30 – 19:00 EXPO in the Conference Room

Sponsors and partners present their products

08:30 – 15:30 Equipment Test

Ski: ROSSIGNOL, SCOTT, KÄSTLE, FISCHER

Safety Equipment: PIEPS (DSP Pro & DSP Sport, probe pole, shovel, JET FORCE Airbag), BCA (Float Airbag & Tracker 3), SCOTT (Air Free Alpride 30), ABS Avalanche Airbag

Apparel: HOUDINI

09:00 – 15:30 Safety Day – Check your risk with the Arlberg region’s mountain and ski guides

A look at all aspects of safety, in both theory and practice, under the direction of state-certified mountain and ski guides.

Briefing on off-piste skiing - weather, terrain, avalanche report - assignment to groups - use of the freeride app: iSKI X

After the briefing, it’s time to hit the slopes - group dynamics, risk management, code of conduct - situation analysis - avalanche victim detection

Conditions for participation: minimum age of 14 years

Items to bring: snowboarding or ski equipment, helmet, backpack, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe pole

Cost: €55 per person excluding ski pass

A limited number of avalanche transceivers and airbags are available for hire locally.

AgendaFriday, 5 December 2014

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AgendaFriday, 5 December 2014

17:00 – 19:00 Lectures

Michael Larcher Simple but not stupid – Weighing up risks with STOP OR GO (approx. 20 min)

Stefan Häusl and Björn Heregger Does it have to be like that? Decision strategies from the perspective of two freeriders (approx. 20 min)

Andreas Ermacora Avalanche accidents in court (approx. 20 min)

Free admission

All lectures, workshops and discussions are in German only.

16:00 – 17:00 Discussion Round

The influence of avalanche equipment on the willingness to take risks in winter sports

Experts from the fields of alpine sports and avalanche safety discuss winter sports enthusiasts’ risk behaviour with manu- facturers of safety equipment.

Moderation: Bernd Krainbucher

Free admission

All lectures, workshops and discussions are in German only.

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08:30 – 19:00 EXPO in the Conference Room

Sponsors and partners present their products

08:30 – 15:30 Equipment Test

Ski: ROSSIGNOL, SCOTT, KÄSTLE, FISCHER

Safety Equipment: PIEPS (DSP Pro & DSP Sport, probe pole, shovel, JET FORCE Airbag), BCA (Float Airbag & Tracker 3), SCOTT (Air Free Alpride 30), ABS Avalanche Airbag

Apparel: HOUDINI

09:00 – 15:30 Freeride Day

Professional freeriders, including world champion Nadine Wallner, runner-up world champion Lorraine Huber and world- tour skier Stefan Häusl, demonstrate in theory and practice how to select and plan lines on the mountain: - a playful approach to off-piste terrain - risk management on the mountain - correct freeriding technique - use of the freeride app: iSKI X

09:00 – 15:30 Freeride TouringAn easy ascent and then descending “freeride style”? Björn Heregger reveals his tactics, tricks and what it all comes down to in freeride touring. Participants will have an exclusive opportunity to put the latest gear from Dynafit to the test.

Conditions for participation in the Freeride Day and Freeride Touring:Confident proficiency in off-piste skiing techniques in powder snow and changing snow conditions, suitable level of physical fitness for the ascent (approx. 1 hr)

Items to bring for the Freeride Day and Freeride Touring:Snowboarding or ski equipment, helmet, backpack, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe pole, ski equipment suitable for the ascent

Cost: €55 per person excluding ski pass

A limited number of avalanche transceivers and airbags are available for hire locally.

AgendaSaturday, 6 December 2014

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17:00 – 19:00 LecturesBenjamin Zweifel

Group dynamics: on the herd instinct, peer pressure and the lack of a group leader (approx. 20 min)

Martin Schuster Off-piste ski tourism – a balancing act between pleasure and responsibility. A peak behind the scenes. (approx. 20 min)

Reinhard Haller The thrill of powder – highs, lows or madness? (approx. 20 min)

Tombola

Free admission

All lectures, workshops and discussions are in German only.

09:00 – 11:00 Safety Training – Avalanche Transceiver Workshop

Communication of basic knowledge and skills relating to the search and rescue of avalanche victims using an avalanche transceiver and probe pole:

- checking the avalanche transceiver (receiver and transmitter testing) - operating the avalanche transceiver - handling the probe pole - coarse search, fine search and pinpointing

16:00 – 16:30 Competition

“Safety in seconds” by THULE

Free admission

All lectures, workshops and discussions are in German only.

AgendaSaturday, 6 December 2014

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LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

Bergrettung Gemeinde Lech www.bergrettung-lech.at

Lawinenkommission Gemeinde Lech gemeinde.lech.eu/sicherheitrettung/lawinenkommission.html

Pistenrettung Gemeinde Lech gemeinde.lech.eu/sicherheitrettung/pistenrettung.html

Ski Arlberg Pool West www.skiarlberg.at

Vorarlberger Lawinenwarndienst warndienste.cnv.at/dibos/lawine

Alpincenter Lech – www.alpincenter-lech.atSkischule Zürs – www.skischule-zuers.atSkischule Lech – www.skischule-lech.comIndependent mountain and ski guides from the Arlberg area

VENUE FOR THE SNOW AND SAFETY CONFERENCERobinson Club Alpenrose Zürs, Conference Room, 6763 Zürs/Arlberg

REGISTRATIONwww.snowandsafety.com

REGISTRATION FOR SAFETY/FREERIDE DAY AND WORKSHOPSClosing Date: Sunday, 23rd November 2014

INFORMATION AND HOTEL RESERVATIONSLech Zürs Tourismus GmbH Dorf 2 6764 Lech am Arlberg Telefon: +43 (0)5583 2161-0E-Mail: events@lech-zuers.atWeb: www.lechzuers.com

No registration is required for the lectures and the Expo – visitors are welcome on the day!

Lawinenkommission Lech

Pistenrettung Lech

All prices are inclusive of VAT. Subject to change without notice

NEW: ISPO ACADEMY at the SSC Sunday, 7 December 2014

Snow & Safety Retailer Conference presented by ISPO ACADEMY

As part of the 3rd Snow & Safety Conference, a one-day retailer conference on „Snow & Safety“ will take place on Sunday, 7 December 2014, under the umbrella of the ISPO ACADEMY.

In special seminars and workshops, sports retailers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland can expand their knowledge of safety in the mountains. The focus is on theoretical and practical safety and product training that ensures that retailers give excellent advise and sell safety products because avalanche protection and risk management begin in store.

For further information, please see:www.lechzuers.com/snow-and-safety-conference www.academy.ispo.com

www.snowandsafety.com

Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH, A-6764 Lech am Arlberg, Tel: +43 (0)5583 2161-0, Fax: +43 (0)5583 3155, info@lech-zuers.at

Our sponsors and partners

Photos: Sepp Mallaun, Christoph Schöch