Snow & Safety Conference 2015 – EN

Snow & Safety Conference 4th to 6th December 2015 in Z端rs am Arlberg

www.snowandsafety.com

Introduction

„To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.“ Marilyn vos Savant

The 4th annual Snow & Safety Conference will be taking place in Zürs under the heading “KNOWLEDGE versus AWARENESS”. This forum on avalanche prevention, which is attended by representatives of local service providers, expert committees and the winter sports industry, has become a firm fixture on the ski calendar and takes place in the deep snow paradise of Lech Zürs am Arlberg at the start of the winter season, from 4th to 6th December 2015. Topical issues are the main feature: avalanche experts such as Rudi Mair and Patrick Nairz will report on the “Lessons learned from the treacherous winter of 2014/15“, while mountain and ski guide Jan Mersch will provide an insight into the “Psychological aspects of avalanche risk”, to name just two of the specialist presentations.

State-certified mountain and ski guides will provide training in safety issues, both in theory and in practice. Saturday’s theme is entitled “Check your Risk”, while on Sunday the focus is on freeriding, when professionals from the freeride scene will give theoretical and practical demonstrations on how to select and ride lines on the mountain. In addition, participants can test out the latest ski and safety equipment free of charge and engage in conversation with local experts, who will be on hand to offer advice and information.

The Snow & Safety Conference is an extremely versatile event that provides a valuable platform for the exchange of knowledge in the world of freeriding. This year I am once again looking forward to learning new things and enjoying some interesting conversations.

Hermann Fercher Managing Director Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH and his team

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ORGAnISeR Lech ZĂźrs Tourismus GmbH

MODeRATIOn Bernd Krainbucher Since 2005 the state-certified ski instructor and guide has been moderating events such as the Olympic Youth Games in Innsbruck, the Red Bull Playstreets in Bad Gastein, the Freeride World Tour in Fieberbrunn, the WeiĂ&#x;e Rausch and the Red Bull Hut Rally in St. Anton and the Ski Freestyle World Cup in Kreischberg.

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SSC Speakers

Rudi Mair

Dr. Rudi Mair, born in Innsbruck in 1961, studied meteorology and glaciology in Innsbruck. After graduating he spent two years working for the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar Research – mostly based at a research station in the Antarctic. Since 1999 Rudi Mair has been head of the Tyrolean Avalanche Warning Service. He has been a chartered and certified expert in meteorology, avalanche education, avalanche incidents and avalanche protection since 2000 and a university lecturer in snow and avalanche awareness since 2011. He is also the author of several books.

Patrick nairz Dr Patrick Nairz, born in Innsbruck in 1970, studied flood and avalanche protection barriers in Vienna and Vancouver. For many years he has been a ski tour instructor and, since 1999, deputy head of the Tyrolean Avalanche Warning Service. Patrick Nairz is also an author and a member of the working party of the European Avalanche Warning Service.

Jan Mersch The psychologist and certified mountain and ski guide, born in 1971, is a member of the German National Training Team of the DAV (German Alpine Club).

As a professional mountain guide, Jan Mersch has been working in the mountains of Europe and the world for over 25 years. He is also coauthor of SnowCard and has produced numerous publications on the theme of “Human Factors and Avalanches”.

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Samuel Anthamatten Born in Zermatt in 1986, Samuel Anthamatten is a professional mountain guide, skier, mountaineer and climber and has been competing in the Freeride World Tour since 2011. His skill in combining downhill techniques with freeride & freestyle elements has made him one of the best and most versatile freeriders in the world.

Bernhard Streicher

Bernhard Streicher is Professor of Social and Personality Psychology at the UMIT Health and Life Sciences University in Hall in Tirol. His research is concerned with the perception and evaluation of risk and behaviour in risk situations, including mountaineering. He spent many years as an instructor with the DAV (German Alpine Club) and is a member of its safety committee. He has published numerous papers on the subject of risk.

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Our sponsors and partners

Schneesportschule OMESHORN

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Programme Friday, 4th December 2015

from 5 p.m.

Registration

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Welcome Drink powered by ISPO ACADAMY Get-together for participants and retailers in the Robinson Club Alpenrose

Winter Opening in Zürs from 4 p.m.

Advent market Zürs at edelweißplatz with DJ Paul Lomax, DJ Fab, Live Rufus Martin, Saintro P _Sax UP

from 10 p.m.

After Party at Zürserl with DJ Paul Lomax, DJ Fab, Live Rufus Martin, Saintro P _Sax UP

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Programme Saturday, 5th December 2015

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8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

eXPO in conference hall Sponsors and partners present their products and services

8:30 a.m. – 15:30 p.m.

equipment Test

Ski: ROSSIGNOL, SCOTT, FISCHER, NORDICA, DPS SKIS Safety Equipment: PIEPS (DSP PRO & DSP SPORT, shovel and probe pole, JETFORCE Airbag Backpacks), SCOTT (SCOTT AIR FREE AP 12 PRO), ABS avalanche airbag Clothing: HOUDINI, X-Bionic

9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Safety Day – “Check your Risk” with local mountain and ski guides Instruction in all theoretical and practical aspects of mountain safety led by state-certified mountain and ski guides.

Freeride briefing - weather, terrain, avalanche report After the briefing we head off-piste - group dynamics, risk management, code of conduct - situation analysis - avalanche victim detection

What 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 will be available to hire locally

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Programme Saturday, 5th December 2015

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

FReeRIDe Coaching for young skiers Morning – Coaching on the slopes: - professional training in freeride and safety skills in the backcountry Afternoon – in the conference hall: Find out more about “MUST HAVEs & MUST DOs“ in the field of: - helmets/protectors & avalanche backpacks - digital safety networks (comparing Apps & Blogs) - Dos & Don’ts of risk management in photography and filming with Björn Heregger

GIRLS ONLY: Freeride coaching with World Champion runner-up Lorraine Huber –only for girls! Register now and make the most of this unique opportunity (max. 6 participants).

Terms and conditions: Age 14 to 18; confident proficiency in off-piste skiing technique on powder snow and changing snow conditions What to bring: Snowboard or skis, helmet, rucksack, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe Cost: Ski pass A limited number of avalanche transceivers and airbags will be available to hire locally.

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: me note Program . .m p From 4

market Advent

4 – 4:30 p.m.

Competition „Safety in seconds” by THULE

5 – 7 p.m.

Lectures and discussions Rudi Mair & Patrick nairz “Lessons learned from the treacherous winter of 2014/15” (25 mins)

Jan Mersch “People make mistakes in every field of endeavour – psychological aspects of avalanche risks” (25 mins)

DISCuSSIOn Decision-making strategies and gut feeling – complementary or mutually exclusive? Experts from the fields of mountain sport, avalanche safety and psychology discuss the evaluation of avalanche risk and the different ways of coming to a decision.

Discussion panel includes: Florian Schranz, Patrick Nairz, Jan Mersch Moderation: Bernd Krainbucher Free admission (All lecuteres, workshops and discussions are in German only.)

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Programme Sunday, 5th December 2015

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8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

eXPO in conference hall Sponsors and partners present their products and services

08:30 – 15:30 p.m.

equipment Test Ski: ROSSIGNOL, SCOTT, FISCHER, NORDICA, DPS SKIS Safety Equipment: PIEPS (DSP PRO & DSP SPORT, probe pole, shovel, JETFORCE Airbag Backpacks), SCOTT (SCOTT AIR FREE AP 12 PRO), ABS avalanche airbag Clothing: HOUDINI, X-BIONIC

9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Programme highlights

Register on line now!

snowandsaf ety.com

9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Freeride Day Professionals from the world of freeriding, including World Champion Nadine Wallner, World Champion runner-up Lorraine Huber and Worldtour Freerider Stefan Häusl, give theoretical and practical demonstrations of how to select and ride lines on the mountain: - a playful approach to off-piste terrain - risk management on the mountain - correct freeride techniques

Freeride Touring An easy climb followed by a freeride descent? Björn Heregger reveals his tactics, his tricks and what freeride touring is all about. Participants have an excluxive opportunity to put the latest Dynafit equipment to the test.

Terms and conditions for the Freeride Day and Freeride Touring: Confident proficiency in off-piste skiing techniques on powder snow and changing snow conditions, appropriate physical condition for ascents (approx. 1h) What to bring for the Freeride Day and Freeride Touring: Snowboarding or ski equipment, helmet, backpack, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe pole, appropriate ski equipment for climbing Cost: € 55,– per person excluding ski pass A limited number of avalanche transceivers and airbags will be available to hire locally.

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9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Safety Training – Avalanche Transceiver Workshop Instruction in basic knowledge and skills in avalanche search and rescue situations using avalanche transceivers and probes:

- Avalanche Transceiver check (receiving and transmitting)

- operating the avalanche transceiver

- using the probe pole

- basic search, refined search and pinpoint location

Free admission All lectures, workshops and discussion are in German only.

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Programme Sunday, 6th December 2015

5 – 7 p.m.

Lectures Samuel Anthamatten „ga Fahre!“ The fine line between revered superhero and disreputable daredevil.

(30 mins)

Bernhard Streicher „2 – 1 – Risk!“ How we perceive risks and why we take them?

(30 mins)

Tombola Win great prizes from our partners – including Avalanche Transceiver, avalanche airbag, helmet and much more. Don’t miss out!

Free admission All lectures, workshops and discussion are in German only.

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ISPO ACADEMY at the SSC

As part of the 4th Snow & Safety Conference on Sunday 6th December 2015 the ISPO ACADEMY is hosting a one-day retailer conference on the theme of “Freeriding�. Specialist sports retailers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of mountain and freeriding safety issues in special seminars and workshops.

The focus will be on theoretical and practical training sessions and lectures designed to enable retailers to offer valuable advice and sell freeride and safety products with confidence.

On the evening before the event participants are invited by the ISPO ACADEMY to attend a networking dinner.

Saturday, 5th December 2015, from 8 p.m.

Get-together & networking dinner in the Robinson Club Alpenrose

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Programme Sunday, 6th December 2015 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Freeriding – Play it safe Participants learn from professional mountain and ski guides the theory and practice of how to freeride in safety.

Contents: • a playful approach to off-piste terrain • Using avalanche transceivers / different types of transceiver • Correct freeride technique

12 – 1 p.m. Lunch 1:15 – 2 p.m.

Pin-Tech bindings for freeriding – market overview, test results, consequences Freeriders want lightweight, high performance bindings. What compromises must be made in terms of safety and performance in favour of lighter weight?

Speaker: Wolfgang Pohl / Director of Vivalpin mountain and ski school and statecertified mountain and ski guide

2:05 – 2:50 p.m.

Selling successfully to sporty women The typology of the female target group “Female customers in sports shops” and what role this plays in terms of providing advice in retail outlets. The lecture is based on the first SGI study of Women & Sports: an analysis of the German sports market from a female point of view.

Speaker: Ulrike Luckmann / Managing Director of the communications agency Luckmann PR

2:50 – 3:35 p.m.

Digital marketing tools Social media, hyperlocal, targeting - winning new customers and customer loyalty Speaker: Christian Mießner / Bertslide Media

3:35 – 3:50 p.m. Coffe break (15 mins) 3:50 – 4:35 p.m.

Customer loyalty and attracting new customers through Freeride trips As a sports or ski shop how can I use freeride trips to appeal to a new clientele, to open up new sales areas or to ensure long-term customer loyalty?

Speaker: Holger Dörsam / Hotelier and owner-manager of Sport65 Shop & Reisen GmbH

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ISPO Academy Speakers

Christian Mießner In the 1980s Christian “mee-z” Mießner was co-owner of a skateboard shop, then editor of Snowboarder Magazine. In 2004 he did his MBA at the Vienna University of Business and Economics. Since 1995 he has been working professionally with and for the internet.

As a freelance consultant for online strategy, conception and user experience, his focus is on digital marketing, social media and video.

Holger Dörsam

A qualified hotelier, since 2001 Holger Dörsam has been co-owner and managing director of the Sport65 Shop & Reisen GmbH & Co KG in Weinheim. This licensed travel agency specialises in winter sports and organises freeride ski trips under the label “freerideschule.de” as a professional school of the DSLV (German Ski Instructor Association).

ulrike Luckmann

For more than twenty years the managing director of the communications agency Luckmann PR has been following the way the sports market has changed with regard to women and how brands have differentiated themselves using gender-specific marketing. She organises evening seminars and workshops on the subject of Women & Sport, runs training sessions for women in business and supports sports brands with gender marketing concepts and PR.

Wolfgang Pohl The founder, managing director and head of the VIVALPIN mountain and ski school is a passionate extreme mountaineer and skier.

Alongside numerous extreme routes, ski tours and ski descents in the Alps, the state-certified mountain and ski guide has also completed various expeditions and ski tours in the Himalayas. The author of many specialist publications, he also wrote the „SkibergsteigenFreeriden“ Alpine training course.

Venue OF THE SNOW & SAFETY CONFERENCE Robinson Club Alpenrose Zürs, Conference Hall, 6763 Zürs am Arlberg REGISTRATION www.snowandsafety.com REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR SAFETY AND FREERIDE DAY, FREERIDE TOURING, FREERIDE COACHING FOR YOUNG SKIERS, WORKSHOPS Sunday, 22/11/2015 INFORMATION AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH Dorf 2 6764 Lech am Arlberg Tel: +43 (0)5583 2161-0 E-Mail: events@lech-zuers.at Web: www.lech-zuers.at Registration is not required for the lectures or the Expo – visitors are welcome to turn up on the day!

All prices quoted are subject to changes in VAT.

local service providers Bergrettung Gemeinde Lech www.bergrettung-lech.at Lawinenkommission Gemeinde Lech gemeinde.lech.eu/sicherheitrettung/lawinenkommission.html Lawinenkommission Lech Pistenrettung Gemeinde Lech Pistenrettung 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.at High Zürs Ski Guides – www.hzsg.at Skischule Zürs – www.skischule-zuers.at Skischule Lech – www.skischule-lech.com Selbstständige Berg- & Skiführer der Arlberg-Region 19

www.snowandsafety.com

Photos: Lech Zürs Tourismus/Sepp Mallau, Christoph Schöch, Lisa Fail Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH, A-6764 Lech am Arlberg, Tel: +43 (0)5583 2161-0, Fax: +43 (0)5583 3155, info@lech-zuers.at