More and more resorts are offering freeride areas that have been made, hopefully, avalanche proof and more and more people are trying freeride in preference or in addition to sticking to the pistes.
Ever better equipment for this kind of skiing make heading off piste ever easier, but the safety issues have not changed, and it's important to know what you're doing and be able to recognise danger signs, as well as being able to do it.
St Anton in the Austrian Arlberg, famously one of the world's leading freeride resorts, is one of the resorts offering free Snow and Avalanche Awareness Camps (SAAC), which have been set up to encourage skiers and snowboarders to learn about the mountains. In fact the two day basic camps operate throughout the season in over 20 ski resorts across Austria.
With a mix of theory and practical learning, the focus is on alpine dangers, improving awareness and increasing an individual's own sense of responsibility. To reserve a place on one of the (English speaking) camps email office@saac.at to check availability or visit www.saac.at to view this season's dates and locations.
You can attend these camps while booked on a regular package holiday or travel independently to take part.
For example for the Basic Camp takes place in St Anton am Arlberg on the 14th/15th December you could travel with Ski Safari (www.skisafari.com) which offers three nights at the four star Hotel Post, with prices starting from £619 per person, based on two sharing, including flights and resort transfers and departing Friday 13th December.