Ski mountaineering safety

More and more skiers are abandoning the alpine ski resorts and embarking on the sides of wild mountains. This new playground raises particular safety issues and the federation responsible for mountain skiing has decided to make a slightly different awareness campaign with a short film.

“We wanted to make a shocking documentary to raise awareness that, even if we are not necessarily very far away, we can be really in trouble,” says Maxime Bolduc, director of skiing at the Fédération québécoise de la montagne et de la climbing (FQME). You have to be well equipped to respond in the most effective way possible to events or accidents that could happen. »

The Federation sought to innovate, to go beyond its network, which was already quite well aware, “even if we are never sufficiently aware”.

“The pandemic meant that there are a lot of people who were downhill skiing and who decided to go off-piste because there were big restrictions in the downhill ski centers, says Ms. Bolduc. It created new problems because these are people who are used to secure places, so patrolled, on a surface that is mechanically worked. You have to develop individual capacities to be able to get out of the trouble. »

The FQME also wanted to target skiers from freestyle more urban riders who might want to go off-piste in the mountains. The film, The last descenthas been registered for the International Freeski Festival 2022 and has been retained in the official selection.

The 25-minute film revolves around three events, two of which actually happened, with supporting images. First, director Dylan Page looks back on the avalanche that killed Mathieu Rouleau in April 2005 on Mount Hogsback, in Gaspésie. His ski partner Guillaume Roy and he did not have the equipment to carry in avalanche terrain with them, namely a beacon, a probe and a shovel.

The second event took place in the off-piste sector of Mont Édouard, in Saguenay, in January 2019. During a day of filming, filmmaker Yannick Limary hit a tree after falling while snowboarding.

The third event is a simulation of a similar event, but the situation continues into the night because the injured skier’s partners are unable to communicate with the outside world to obtain help.

“We ski in places where there are a lot of trees,” notes Maxime Bolduc. So concussions, impacts with obstacles, it can be quite common if you’re not careful. That’s why we took this simulation. Then there is the whole issue of hypothermia, group management, communication. We wanted to picture it. »

Avalanches obviously constitute a significant danger in several sectors of Quebec.

“A first aid course in a remote region can save lives,” adds Maxime Bolduc.

You obviously have to leave with the right equipment, but also with warm clothes, food, a means of keeping warm, a means of communication and a portable evacuation sled like the Nano Traino (a Quebec design). “It’s always about planning a little more when you go off-piste. »

Maxime Bolduc affirms that the first comments since the release of the film are very positive. “Sorry for the anglicism, but it’s a wake-up call, it stirs people up a bit. »

He adds that the production of the film also helped the FQME to look into its ways of doing things to give practitioners as many tools as possible. “It’s a wonderful activity, but it involves risks for which you have to be prepared,” says Mr. Bolduc. If you do not have the ability to go off-piste independently with friends, it is a question of using a guide service and training. »