Probably we should start with defining the conception of freeride. The answer is very easy and as the same definition indicates it is just a free ride- at virgin area, on impenetrable tracks and riding in powder. Freeride is for sure very exceptional and unique kind of snowboarding; it’s a ride which gives many unforgettable feelings- feelings which causes that if you try to do it once, you will have to do it twice etc..... I can write and write about the freeride and everyone who tried to do it knows about it very well. Everybody knows, that freeride contains also many traps, both for inexperienced snowboarders and for advanced ones. About real freeride in Poland we shouldn’t even dream.... When we talk about freeride we think of glaciers, of mountain peaks on which we could get only by helicopter, of great amounts of snow which hide a danger.... With such kind of freeride many cases are connected: good knowledge of the mountains, the best guide knowledge, carefully planned way etc....

This kind of freeride is accessible only for advanced and experienced snowboarders....and what is more- for those snowboarders who have a lot of money for such escapades. In Poland we don’t have glaciers or 4-thousand metres mountains, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t have areas for freeride (not for the real freeride but for some kind of substitute of it). You can find such places in Korbielów, Szczyrk, Zakopane, at our south neighbours- but there we wouldn’t deal with high mountains and great open area... we will have to get through the forests because only among them we will be able to find quite small open areas. We can ride there very nice but we must be careful! Riding in the powder requires a little bit different skills than riding on normal ski runs; I think inexperienced snowboarders who are just learning how to ride won’t be able to derive benefits from the freeride because they will be falling very often for sure.

Riding in the powder requires a different turnings technique and generally a little bit different riding technique. We must remember not to press to much on the front leg because we can dive in the snow. While riding in the powder we must trasfer the weight of our body on the back leg. And when we ride through the forest we shouldn’t pick up speed because turnings in the powder are more difficult to make. When we stray from the track we should be just a little familiar with the area because we don’t know what should we expect and where can we land up (usually when somebody strays from the track he lands up far away from the chair-lift). We must watch out not to cause an avalanche by accident! When we go somewhere to practise freeride we should have some company, because if something bad happens it will be easier and faster to give first aid. And second basic thing which you should take with you- a mobile phone. You never know when it may be useful, and believe me- it really is very useful!

Summarizing- if you are a snowboarder and you have never ridden at virgin area, impenetrable tracks, you should try it absolutelly! This riding style gives you unforgettable impressions- you don’t feel that you are riding but you feel that you are sailing on the snow....If only you keep some principles, you will derive just a joy from the freeride.