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Radical Sports AG
Albisstrasse 143, 8038 Zürich
Email: mail to Radical Sports
Phone: +41 44 483 00 37

Requirements for our tours

What do beginner and advanced splitboard tours mean? What skills are required?

Our splitboard tours offer you a safe and exciting off-piste experience. We plan the tours, choose the best ascent routes and ensure optimal downhill routes, but assume that you already have the necessary riding techniques and fitness.

The conditional requirements relate to your endurance, while the technical requirements relate to your board control. To make it easier for you to choose, we have summarized both requirements on separate scales below.

Basic principle: On tours, you must be able to ride safely in difficult conditions and also have sufficient reserves to master the descent safely.

Skiing ability: Rating levels 0-3 for splitboard tours and ski touring

Level Technique Course type
Level 0
Beginner
Experience on the slopes, but no freeride experience. Can turn safely on flatter terrain. Able to stand up independently in all types of snow. Tours are not yet possible. Start with our freeride technique course.
Level 1
Beginner
Safe skiing on pistes and in freeride terrain, you also feel comfortable on black pistes. However, you have little or no experience with ski or splitboard tours and no alpine skills. Beginner tours are possible without any problems. For additional support, we recommend our freeride technique training and basic avalanche transceiver courses.
Level 2
Moderate
You have deep snow experience and some touring experience. You can master short, steeper passages at around 30° on the ascent and 35° - 45° on the descent. We recommend taking part in moderately difficult tours.
Level 3
Experienced
You have experience with ski or splitboard tours and are confident in deep snow. You can also manage hairpin bends in steeper terrain over 30°. Advanced tours with steep gullies and exposed terrain are possible.

Condition: rating levels 1-3 for splitboard tours and ski touring

Level Fitness level Course type
Level 1
Low
You do sport and feel healthy. You manage a 3-4 hour ascent, which is up to 800 m in altitude at a leisurely pace. We recommend tours with up to 600 meters of altitude. So you have enough energy left for the descent.
Level 2
Moderate
You are sporty and feel fit. You master daily ascents of 4-5 hours with up to 1200 meters of altitude with ease. We recommend tours with up to 1000 meters of altitude.
Level 3
Top fit
You are athletic, including endurance sports, and feel healthy. You can manage daily ascents of 5-6 hours with up to 1500 meters of altitude without any problems. You will have a lot of fun on multi-day tours and day tours up to 1500 meters in altitude.

Explanatory video: These are the skills you need for level 1-2 off-piste beginner tours

Explanatory video: Requirements for advanced tours of level 2-3

Difficulty levels for ski and snowboard tours: what you need to know

The SAC scale (Swiss Alpine Club) rates the difficulty of ski tours and ranges from L (easy) to EX (extreme). Our tours are always in the range of maximum WS (less difficult up to 35°) for tours of maximum S (very difficult up to 45°) for freeride tours. This means that they are easily feasible for advanced beginners and offer a safe yet exciting challenge.

Important to know: The overall rating (grade) of the snowboard and ski tours corresponds to the highest value of the main criteria. If auxiliary criteria are included, the level of difficulty increases by a third (e.g. from L+ to WS-). A minus (-) means less difficulty, a plus (+) means more difficulty than the degree indicated.

The difficulty ratings refer to the steepness of the terrain and are guidelines under good snow, weather and visibility conditions. The rating relates exclusively to the skiing/snowboarding part of the tours; technical alpine difficulties such as climbing sections are rated separately according to the UIAA scale and with a textual description for the foot ascent.

Deine erste Splitboardtour

Deine erste Splitboardtour

Gratulation! Du hast dich für die spannendste und vielseitigste Wintersportart entschieden: Splitboarden. Damit dein Einstieg ins Backcountry ein voller Erfolg wird, haben wir für dich die fünf wichtigsten Tipps zusammengestellt. Bereit? Los geht’s!

read more...

Our test days - completely free of charge!

Our exclusive test days give you the opportunity to put our entire product range through its paces. Whether skis or snowboards - you can compare all models directly with each other free of charge and without registration and find out which one suits you best.

Just drop by, bring your ID as a deposit and off you go! We make it easy for you to find the perfect equipment.

Important note for those interested in splitboards

Unfortunately, we do not carry splitboards on our regular test days, as the effort involved in setting them up is too great. If you would still like to test a splitboard, you are welcome to hire one from us. Our guided splitboard tours are also an ideal opportunity to get to know the equipment in practice. Click here for the tours.

1
GOPR0138
12
Dezember
Date
Dezember 12, 2026
Time
9:40 am - 3:00 pm
Venue
Oberiberg
Organizer
Niki Huwyler
Category
1-Tagestouren Beginnerfreundlich
Ticket
CHF180 Purchase Now - 7 Places Left
Price
CHF180

2. Dezember 2026 – Tourenstartday: Wir machen uns auf die Suche nach dem Pulverschnee

1
Freeriding beim Tourengehen
13
Dezember
Date
Dezember 13, 2026
Time
9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Venue
Flumserberg Gebiet
Organizer
Niki Huwyler
Category
1-Tagestouren Beginnerfreundlich Technikkurse
Tag
Flumserberg Kanton St. Gallen LVS
Ticket
CHF180 Purchase Now - 7 Places Left
Price
CHF180

13. Dezember 2026 – LVS und Tourenkurs speziell für Einsteiger, geeignet für Ski- oder Splitboarder im Spitzmeilengebiet.

1
Spitzmeilen
27
Dezember
Date
Dezember 27, 2026
Time
8:45 am - 3:00 pm
Venue
Flumserberg Gebiet
Organizer
Niki Huwyler
Category
1-Tagestouren Beginnerfreundlich
Tag
Flumserberg Kanton St. Gallen Schweiz
Ticket
CHF180 Purchase Now - 7 Places Left
Price
CHF180

27. Dezember 2026 – Tagestour im Spitzmeilengebiet mit Liftunterstützung und vielen Abfahrtsmetern.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What happens if the course cannot take place at short notice?

If the course cannot take place for various reasons such as weather, snow conditions or illness on my part, you will not incur any costs. Amounts already paid will be refunded in full.

If the conditions in the tour area are inadequate and no suitable replacement can be found. Amounts already paid will also be refunded in full. If desired, also possible as a credit note.

However, if you do not show up at the course for reasons of convenience, we will take the liberty of issuing an invoice or keeping the tour already paid for as a no-show fee. Cancellations are therefore only possible free of charge, unless otherwise stated 48 hours before the tour, thereafter 100.
In case of no-show or cancellation on the same day, regardless of the reason: 100% of the course fee. The same applies to tour equipment that you have rented from us.

I have a tour in mind that I would like to do myself

No problem.
We can also help you with planning and recognizing the key points.
Proper risk management is essential in mountain sports.
We also offer courses on this, in groups or privately.
You may also find my tips under:
www.snowboardcoach.ch/tourenplanung/

Would like to learn more about the avalanche transceiver - The measures

Then we look forward to your participation in an LVS training course, and have a look at my open very detailed document about avalanche transceiver

Where can I find good tours?

The SAC has various guides in book form. There are countless websites on the internet, but beware. The tour descriptions can be very individual.
For all mountaineers:
Hikr.org . A In general:connect.garmin.com or Strava. For mountain and ski tours also: gipfelbuch.ch Super also: skitourenguru.ch. Tour reports about the Fluebrig The Fluebrig Snow tours around the Ybrig Tours in the Sihltal and Ybrig.

Also ideal on Niki's blog under: Beginner tours

What is suitable for beginners?

For beginners, we offer special guided beginner tours that are ideal for getting started. Here you will be introduced to the subject step by step. All tour dates and further information can be found on our website under Tour offer.

Do I have to take my own food with me on a tour?

Yes, we usually eat out of our rucksacks. Dried fruit, energy bars, dried meat, cheese, wholemeal bread and chocolate are all good options. So that your rucksack doesn't get too heavy, don't take too much food with you. Instead, take enough to drink with you. Thermos flasks with a volume of 0.75 to one liter are great. Additional snacks can be purchased at most huts.

What does a course/tour cost?

This varies from course to course and training. Take a look at our offer on this page or contact us if you have any questions us. Je nach Kurs/Tour ist ein Bergführer nötig, wenn es über Gletscher oder Kletterstellen geht. Der Aufpreis käme dann noch dazu. Bezahlung via TWINT, Kreditkarten oder Banküberweisung direkt in unserem Shop mit Ticketsystem.

What requirements do I need?

You enjoy learning and have a certain ambition to keep at it. For a beginner course, no further requirements. For an advanced course, depending on the course, and certainly especially for touring, you should have the basics of snowboarding Touring are already proficient. Recommended prerequisites: Safe changes of direction on the piste/powder, basic forms such as sufficient fitness and the motivation to learn movements. You also need to be able to stand up independently in the terrain on any slope inclination and type of snow

Do snowshoes also work?

Most tours are also possible with snowshoes and a snowboard on a rucksack. Only snowshoe tours are offered as private tours. As the time factor is then set to + 1.5 factor for the descent.

Many tours are possible with snowshoes and a board on your backpack, but it is a lot more strenuous. As a normally trained tourer with snowshoes, 800hm are easy to do. With the splitboard that would be 1200hm. It is best to test a splitboard. It rides just like a normal snowboard. If you have any questions, please contact us.

What does a "good driving style" mean?

Good board control is a prerequisite for off-piste touring. You should therefore know your board, which includes sliding and traversing, changing direction with basic turns, stopping and stopping, riding the lift. All of this in deep or wet snow, of course! You also need to be able to stand up independently on any slope and in any type of snow.

Touring means being able to ride well even in poor conditions

 

Why are accurate valuations important?

Every tour requires an assessment of the difficulty and terrain. Anyone who decides on a tour relies on the description. We think so: With good planning and precise information about the difficulty, many tricky situations - especially in alpine terrain - can be avoided in advance. Because if you overestimate yourself or are poorly informed due to inaccurate information, you can put yourself and others in danger.

What should I bear in mind when registering?

Are you ready for an off-piste tour? Our tours are suitable for splitboarders, ski tourers and snowboarders with snowshoes. Most of them are for beginners.

  • Type: Beginner to advanced tour. Riding ability according to level 1 - 3 described on this page.
  • Price: 180.- per person. Maximum 7 participants.
  • Price scale:
    → 390.- for one person.
    → 200 per person for two participants
    → 180.- per person for three or more participants
  • Equipment: You must bring an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. Touring equipment can be hired from us.
  • Additional costs: food & drinks during the tour day, possibly parking fees, possibly lift ticket
  • Payment information: Full payment at the start of the tour via cash or TWINT.
  • Detailed information: Follow 4-5 days before the start of the tour by e-mail
Skills for beginners

Your skills

  • Knowledge of the risk level
  • Knowledge of the avalanche situation report
  • Orientation knowledge
  • Card reading - Where am I!

Your standard measures

  • Stay below 30° slope
  • Traveling in small groups
  • Careful route planning

Recommendation for beginners:

Moderately steep terrain under 30° slope inclination with generally safe and mostly favorable conditions. (Mainly level 1+2 in the LLB)

Skills for advanced users

Your skills

  • Knowledge of the risk level
  • Knowledge of the avalanche situation report
  • Orientation knowledge
  • Card reading - Where am I!
  • Recognizing terrain traps
  • Knowledge of typical avalanche situations
  • Safe ski/snowboard technique

Your standard measures

  • Careful route planning
  • Traveling in small groups
  • Adapted response from the LLB
  • Distances and individual access

Recommendation for advanced users:

Moderately steep terrain under 30° slope inclination with partially unfavorable and generally unfavorable conditions. (Mainly level 1+2 in the LLB)

What is what about risks?

Danger = avalanche, fire, terrorist attack, lightning
Exposure = proximity, a risk only exists if a danger and the exposure occur together.
Risk = probability of occurrence, severity of damage
Risk = conscious decision, action, ethnic

Risk is therefore always part of a venture. There is no venture without risks. However, risks are not necessarily associated with a venture. Rather, such a risk also requires a personal decision to act.

Is touring dangerous?

Mountain sports are dangerous and always involve risks. The danger of avalanches is just one of the many dangers. There are also frostbite, getting lost, falls, nausea and many more. Nevertheless, off-piste touring is wonderful and absolutely justifiable with professional risk management.

Safety is our top priority. On our tours, we always pay attention to the participants and their ability, as well as the conditions and choice of route. Tour planning is the key to successful and safe touring. Various considerations, measures and activities are constantly required on ski-snowboard tours. Your help is desired and required.

Risk management and route planning

Tour planning is the key to successful and safe mountaineering and touring. It saves us from many dangerous situations and hardships. It is worth investing enough time in it. Planning should be fun and an integral part of the tour.

One of the aims of the tour preparation is to obtain one of the following judgments:
The idea of risk management is to identify, structure and quantify partial risks and estimate the overall risk - which, of course, can never be reduced to zero. The aim is to consciously deal with the greatest risks. Various considerations, measures and activities are constantly required to achieve this on ski-snowboard tours.

Risk reduction method GKMR
In recent years, the assessment of avalanche danger has often been defined by the steepness of the slope. Statistics show that this is not tenable. New approaches are needed. Algorithm-based methods such as the graphical reduction method have problems. The GKMR is an improved method.
1. recognize dangers = What is the probability of an avalanche being triggered?
2. assess the consequences = how drastic are the consequences?
3. consider measures = What measures can reduce the probability of occurrence or mitigate the consequences?
4. assess risk = how do I finally assess the risk taking into account the risk level of my group
Put simply, risk = danger x consequence.

The avalanche report is still the first step in any planning. But more important than the warning level is the information about the avalanche problem.

Rough, - Detailed planning - Tour evaluation
  • Check avalanche and weather conditions
  • Assess terrain
  • Assess group members
  • Interpretation of the avalanche report
  • The right/necessary equipment
  • Evaluation of the tour

Apart from the board/skis, bindings and boots, everything is protective equipment and therefore not sports equipment in the true sense of the word. Everyone has an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel with them to help in an emergency. Further useful items can be found in the packing list.

Liability and insurance

Participation in a tour is at your own risk. Participants must ensure that they have sufficient insurance cover themselves, in particular for accidents and rescue. Existing illnesses or medication that are relevant to safety should be reported to the responsible tour leader/mountain guide in good time before the tour. In this link you will find all information about touring with us: Continue to the tour regulations

Privacy policy

The new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on May 25, 2018. It is important to us that you consent to the processing of your personal data by Radical Sports. Therefore, inform you with this Privacy policy comprehensively about our data processing methods. You always have the option of unsubscribing at the end of each newsletter.