With news of avalanches and the rising death toll on the slopes hitting headlines, it appears that skiing is becoming an increasingly dangerous pastime.
There have been a total of 86 deaths, including at least four Brits, this season as severe snowfall and unstable mountain conditions wreak havoc across the Alps and beyond.
France has recorded the highest toll so far with 25 deaths, followed by Italy with 21 and Austria with 14, while Switzerland has lost nine and Spain eight.
Slovakia reported four deaths and Slovenia three, with a single death in Andorra.
The most recent avalanche tumbled down a steep slope near the Italian resort of Courmayeur on Tuesday, engulfing dozens of skiers.
Meanwhile, nine backcountry skiers are still unaccounted for after an avalanche struck near Lake Tahoe in California on Tuesday while heavy snow fell in the area.
Recent unpredictable weather conditions show the need for caution.
Currently, parts of Switzerland and France have a 5/5 risk of avalanche warning – the maximum level, very rarely issued.
With avalanches reported around the world, fears are rising over the safety of skiing
The avalanche in Val d’Isere swept away six skiers in an off-piste area of the slopes, killing one French national and the two Britons, as red alerts were issued across the Alps
As such, travellers are increasingly concerned about the unpredictability of winter sports holidays with three in 10 actively reviewing recent snow conditions before booking.
This is a 50 per cent increase compared to the previous year, according to research from winter sports insurance provider SportsCover Direct.
‘This is a winter unlike any we’ve experienced in the past few years,’ says Frederic Jarry, project manager at the National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches in France (ANENA), speaking to the Daily Mail.
‘Indeed, the number of days with high avalanche risk (four) in the French Alps and Pyrenees is high since the start of this season (January/February). This is due to two meteorological and snow-related factors we have experienced.
‘Firstly, at the beginning of the season, snowfall was followed by cold, anticyclonic weather. This weather favored the formation of persistent weak layers, which were subsequently very active in the January avalanches.
‘Following this anticyclonic weather, there were successive weather systems that brought fresh snow, in varying quantities and with varying wind speeds, depending on the event and the mountain range.
‘These events covered the persistent weak layer and allowed the formation of slab structures on many slopes, leading to an increased avalanche risk… and widespread accidents.
‘Finally, in recent days, large amounts of fresh snow have fallen on the French mountains, again leading to a heightened and significant (high, even very high) risk.’
Frederic Jarry, project manager at the National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches in France, weighed in on the matter
An image from Italian Alpine Rescue shows the avalanche that killed two men in the Couloir Vesses, a well-known freeride route in Courmayeur, in the upper Val Veny, Italy
But, with ski holidays becoming more and more popular with novices, Frederic says it’s not just avalanches causing injuries and fatalities.
The increased risk we’re seeing also comes from a rise in dangerous skiing.
He said: ‘This year, the high number of fatal accidents and deaths is specifically due to the season’s unique snow and weather conditions.
‘In terms of avalanches, skiing is just as dangerous as before. The danger itself remains unchanged. As long as there’s snow with a slab structure on a slope steeper than 30 degrees, the risk is present.
‘Ultimately, it’s people’s behavior that determines the danger of the activity, not the mountain itself. The mountain, the snow and weather conditions, are constantly evolving.
‘It’s up to the participants to adapt their approach and know when to change their plans, abandoning certain routes to choose more suitable and interesting ones.’
Former two-time Winter Olympic Snowboarder Aimee Fuller, who is currently presenting the Winter Olympics on TNT Sports, echoes this sentiment.
She tells the Daily Mail: ‘Ski holidays are more accessible than ever thanks to cheap airlines.
Recent unpredictable weather conditions have led to avalanches across resorts
‘Resorts are busier, equipment is faster and more advanced, and social media has inspired people to chase bigger lines and attempt riskier tricks in the park.
‘That’s amazing in many ways, but it also means more people are skiing terrain that might be beyond their skill level.
‘There’s sometimes a disconnect between how easy modern gear makes skiing feel and the reality of the speed and forces involved, a lot of force. A minor mistake at high speed can have serious consequences.’
She continues: ‘More people are pushing their boundaries. We’ve seen this through the level of progression in Olympic competition, which then inspires the layman.
‘The standard of what’s considered “good” is higher, so people start skiing and riding faster, venturing off-piste, and heading into the backcountry without necessarily having the right education, understanding avalanche forecasts, carrying safety equipment, or knowing how to use it.
‘The backcountry isn’t just an extension of the piste, it’s a completely different environment.
‘I would never go out and ride in it without an expert, a guide, or a knowledgeable local.’
Mark Wilkinson, managing director at Norton Insurance Brokers, agrees: ‘The real shift is that more people are skiing off piste and in uncontrolled areas, where the risks are far higher.
A train was derailed following an avalanche on February 16, in Switzerland, police said, injuring five people
Insurance expert Mark Wilkinson argues more people are skiing in uncontrolled areas
‘Climate change is also making snow conditions less predictable, with unstable layers forming after mild weather followed by heavy snowfall.
‘When these factors combine with more skiers in high risk terrain, serious incidents become more likely.’
In reality, the average number of fatalities through skiing is actually on the decline, having fallen from 31 to 21.7 per year over the last decade.
But Joanne Brine, a partner in the Personal Injury Department at JMW, who has extensive experience with ski accidents, says there is a rise in injuries.
She said: ‘I have seen an increase in enquiries from clients who have sustained serious injuries in accidents on the slope over the last two seasons.
‘Whilst the heavy snowfall this year resulting in avalanches seems quite unprecedented, I also see an increasing pattern of enquiries from skiers and snowboarders injured on, rather than off, the pistes.
‘Common incidents involve skier-on-skier collisions, which can cause significant and life-changing injuries.
‘It’s easy to read the headlines and think the only danger is when risks are taken, but often the injured party was not taking any excessive risk, or even travelling at speed, collisions commonly happen on the easier blue runs, often where pistes merge.
Joanne Brine has extensive experience with ski accidents, and has seen a rise in injuries
Off-piste and dangerous skiing has also contributed to the rise in fatalities and injuries
‘I have also been involved in cases where fatal injuries arise as a result of the operation of the ski lifts and serious injuries due to the piste design and layout.’
There are, of course, ways to keep yourself safe.
Joanne advises: ‘Always take the precautions you can for your safety, ensuring good quality equipment and a helmet and a comprehensive insurance policy.’
And heed warnings from ski authorities – particularly if avalanche warnings are at a four or five.