Freeride Tech & Safety Workshop, Ski Touring and Snowboarding - March 11-13th, Bucegi Mt. - Padina

It is all about safety first, and fun after.

This is an event developed by www.outdoor-events.ro with its partners K2, Ortovox, ABS şi Spot. Of course, MountainPro Guiding - the Romanian Guiding Agency is involved as well, as part of the staff, in charge with the presentation of safety equipment and running the avalanche workshop.

You'll be skiing/snowboarding all day long, along with a professional instructor in powder and hard pack on steep slopes, using skis perfectly tuned for you.

You'll learn how to use all the new safety toys on the market, that means an avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, Avalung, ABS, GPS and SPOT. You'll learn how to plan a tour starting in front of your computer, at home.

This event is created for skiers and nonskiers, snowboarders and nonsnowboarders, for those who love the mountains in the winter and who want to do it safely, 'till they'll grow old.

Can I join? Yes, if you find yourself below:

- you are a skier/snowboarder at least at the intermediate level on piste and you want to learn how to ride safely off-piste
- you're already a rider and you want to learn the latest safety techniques, plus a ski test with K2 skis
- you are an absolute beginner or non skier/snowboarder yet but you'd like to start from somewhere
- you'd like to discover the mountains in the winter time, even if you're not skiing/snowboarding
- you'd like to meet cool people and discover a beautiful place in the mountains

The schedule is pretty tight and looks like that:

- ski/snowboard off-piste workshop, with qualified instructors (10-16 years of riding experience)
- tours on skis/snowshoes: technique, how to choose a route, group leadership and risk management
- ski test K2, using various off-piste models
- tech workshop: skis/bindings, (rocker technology, reverse camber, pros and cons)
- tech workshop: navigation with compass, map, GPS, SPOT, Google Earth, Touratech, MapSource
- tech workshop: snow profiles, the dynamics of snow layers, profiles, Rutschblock test, avalanche triggers
- tech workshop: avalanches - typology, prediction, evaluation, what to (or not to) do, live avalanche scenario, how to use the avalanche kit (transceiver, probe, shovel)
- Photo/Video presentation: when to relay on Mountain Rescue support and when on your own possibilities.

All workshops will start on Friday, the 11th of March 2011, at the ANSMR(national mountain rescue association) headquarters, Padina Strungii, Bucegi Mt.

AGENDA:

Friday:

10.00-10.45 intro, getting ready, route choosing
10.45-16.00 ski/snowshoes touring, beginners and intermediates groups
19.00-22.00 safety equipment(transceiver, probe, shovel, Avalung, ABS) workshop. Lecturer: Ciprian Moruzan
Ready to navigate/orienteering before starting the tour and "I Love Snow" film projection. Lecturer: Mihai Mares

Saturday:

09.00 Leaving to the sheephold in Strunga:
- downhill techniques on skis/snowboards workshop
- "survival skiing" workshop - techniques for beginners
- ski touring workshop for non-skiers and skiers
- avalanche workshop. Lecturer: Ciprian Moruzan
16.00-17.00 Food and refresing
17.00-19.00 Snow study workshop. Lecturer: Mihai Mares

Sunday:

09.00 Tours on skis/snowshoes; Riding offpiste on skis/snowboards; Snow study field workshop (snow profiles, Rutschblock test)

Lecturers:

Ciprian Moruzan, trainer, AGMR-RMGA mountainguide, ORTOVOX Tech advisor
Mihai Mares, trainer, Ski Instructor 1st Category, mountain rescuer, geography bachelor degree.
Mihaela Mares, trainer, Ski Instructor 1st Category, ANEFS licence in alpine ski
Cristi Borda, freerider, adventure photographer, K2 Tech advisor

COSTS:

250 Ron/pers (includes all logistics cost, including workshops and use of group technical equipment)

Extra: The cost for transport/food/accommodation. We are making NO reservation, make shore you book a place to stay at Padina or Coteanu chalets.

Diplomas and Prises:

Every participant will receive a diploma. 3 river rafting vouchers (50 EUR wort each)will be handed over.
The diploma will give you discounts when buying equipment from our partners.

REGISTRATION:

Via e-mail at office@outdoor-events.ro.

Maximum number of riders for this event is 20. At your arrival you'll be signing a responsibility assuming declaration and you'll be able to cover the event expenses.

Mandatory equipment:

Skis/snowboards, boots, helmet, goggles, poles.

Recommended equipment:

- Full ski/snowboard equipment
- Spine protection (guard)
- Avalanche kit (transceiver, probe, shovel)
- Backpack
- Water bottle, or thermo resistant water bottle (ideal)
- First aid kit
- Winter clothing
- Notebook and pen

See you in Padina!

www.outdoor-events.ro
www.TeamAdventure.ro
www.mountainpro.ro
www.k2skis.com
www.ortovox.com
www.112spot.com
www.alpinexpe.ro

Matterhorn - icon of the Alps

There's no doubt that a lot of people will associate the Alps, and mountaineering in general, with this glorious rock pyramid called Matterhorn. Every climber's dream is to summit it at least once in a lifetime, to identify himself with this iconic mountain.
Working as snow and ice guide in Switzerland in Summer 2003 at KISC, in Berner Oberland, gave me the opportunity for an attempt on Hörnli Ridge in August, roping up with guide Steinthor Nielsson (IS).

The best time to climb Matterhorn is from mid June to beginning of September, when the weather is more forgiving, but many times it was snowing even on this interval, making the ascent more difficult, along the frequent rockfalls and the fact that the route is overcrowded.

As the mountain is a true maze, a very smart idea would be a short scouting ascent a day before the climb to inspect the beginning of the route and the way it leads to the Solvay Hut (4003 m), a shelter to be used in emergency, owned by the Swiss Alpine Club.

Steinthor Nielsson (IS) by Solvay Hut





We've reached the summit in 4 and a half hours, but it tooked 7 hours to descent to Hörnli Hutte, due to many teams still on the way up, waiting for them to climb on steep sections.



Guides Ciprian Moruzan (RO) and Steinthor Nielsson (IS) on Matterhorn Summit








Ciprian Moruzan (RO) on Matterhorn Summit




Climbing on Matterhorn is not very difficult, but good visibility would be a huge plus to your ascent. Small cam devices and various slings would be very helpful, along with a serious hydratation kit, cos you'll be spending at least 10 hours on the mountain. On our attempt we had only the basic gear: helmet and lamp, harness, a couple of binners, two fat locking binners so you can clip the thick ropes along the ridge, an icescrew, classic axe and lightweight crampons. Leather gloves can be a smart ideea to have too. We had a single 50 m rope, but twin ropes would make the difference on descent when rapelling.

Timing is essential if you want to descent to Zermatt in time to catch one of the last trains in the evening (cos we've missed the last one so we spent the night in the station); if not, you can relax with a beer on the Hornli Hut terrace enjoying the fantastic view.




There are several routes to ascent on Matterhorn, but I can say that most people will choose Hörnli Ridge, following Edward Whimper's route on his way up to the summit, few days before the italians, on the 14th of July 1865.
There's a lot of info on internet about climbing Matterhorn following various routes, and, on top of that, you can ask for advice on Matterhorn Summit Log.
You'll find below few pages from "The Alpine 4000m Peaks by the Classic Routes", by Richard Goedeke, describing the classic routes to the summit.

Ice Climbing World Cup - Busteni, Romania - RESULTS

As the event is over - and hopefully you've been watching it on mountainpro blog during the past weekend - you can check out the results of IWC Busteni 2010:

Women's Lead
1. Shin Woon Seon, Republic of Korea
2. Gallyamova Anna, Russia
3. Rainer Angelika, Italy

Men's Lead
1. Park Hee Yong, Republic of Korea
2. Bendler Markus, Austria
3. Lyulyukin Ivan, Russia

Women's Speed
1. Shubina Nadezda, Russia
2. Gallyamova Nadezhda, Russia
3. Shabalina Viktoria, Russia

Men's Speed
1. Pavel Gulyaev, Russia
2. Maxim Vlasov, Russia
3. Pavel Batushev, Russia

Full results archive can be downloaded HERE(.zip file)

The Ice Climbing champions of the 2010 season have been crowned:

Men's Lead: Markus Bendler, Austria

Women's Lead: Anna Gallyamova, Russia

Men's Speed: Pavel Gulyaev, Russia

Women's Speed: Nadezda Shubina, Russia

"The last weekend of the 2010 World Cup, held in Busteni, Romania, saw strong performances from Korean climbers Shin Woon Seon and Hee Yong Park, who won the final Lead competitions in the women's and men's events respectively. Shubina and Gulyaev came first in Speed, proving they are well deserving of the 2010 crown in this category." (UIAA website)

Decisions For Heroes

Yeah, you got that right. Decisions For Heroes is the solution for any team involved in search and rescue in any kind of environment. So what this is all about? It is a website that you can log in(a subscription and a monthly fee is required), and you'll get all the support you can get in order to sort out your operations on the field, manage staff and equipment, organize incident reports, planning training and so on, you can even get the location maps of the rescue operations or training sessions.
I have to say it is maybe the best tool on the market right now, and that happened for a simple reason: was made by people involved in this kind of work, professionals and volunteers alike, and the result is a blast. Forget about charts, endless printed reports, organising staff and all that hustle that the field and office work it is all about, now it's all easy to sort out in a matter of minutes. You just need a computer connected to internet and that's pretty much it.
Robin Blandford, the Founder of Decisions For Heroes says: "Nobody likes reading manuals - if we have to write one, we've got too complicated." All the philosophy behind this application is based on 3 strong principles: Team Management, Thrilling Analytics and Fast Communication.

For shore now you'll be wondering how much it will cost a service like that, and here's some price quotes: Volunteer Teams: €40/month, due to the support of Decisions For Heroes; Rescue Teams: €120/month, and Organisations from €280/month.
Further information can be find on Decisions For Heroes website, www.decisionsforheroes.com

iPod, iPhone, iTunes.....iSki

Believe it or not, this is not about a new Apple product, as some blocks may think, but a new cool take-it-with-you application that works for iPod, iPhone or smartphones, so you don't have to worry again about spending money on another ski class trying to remember all the info you've got. This is a new feature that will help you to review, learn and master ski techniques, and everything comes on a package that you won't even know you are carrying it, 'cos is stored on your mobile device.

Pernille Slot, Creative Founder & Owner of iSki® is talking about iSki instructor, an App. for your iPod/iPhone or mobile:

"Have you heard that it is now for the first time ever possible to carry around, in your pocket your own personal ski instructor?
iSki is a ski instruction application, that you download and then upload to your phone/iPhone/iPod and bring it when you go skiing.
When you are on the piste – play the iSki video – and by looking and listening carefully, you will be guided through exercises that makes you good, safe and dynamic while skiing.
Having iSki on your iPhone or iPod Touch you can listen to how you get into the most optimal skiing position and you can also watch live on the screen how your are doing the exercises.
This way you can start preparing your self at home, - on your way to the destination and listen to iSki’s guiding when you are on the slopes.
If you find special interest in certain chapters you can choose to practice them as many times as you like.
Use iSki when going skiing and you have the opportunity to do your ski lessons when you like to and as many times as you like. At the price less than one ski lesson you get your, own personal ski instructor that you may use again, again and again."
More info can be find here, at www.iskitraining.com (english) or www.iski.dk (danish)
Now get your gear and hit the slopes, find the thrill of fast descents and the feeling of thin air, surrounded with your friends, ready for another alpine adventure.