What is cat skiing?

Cat skiing is a guided backcountry exploration sport skiing that is played while mounted on a snowcat, rather than chairlifts or a helicopter. The sport is far less expensive than heli-skiing but is equally exciting and full of adrenaline.

A snowcat will ride you up the mountain on well-maintained, snow roads, and drop you at the top for you to initiate your guided decent through virgin snow and pick you right at the bottom, and start all over again. Top service providers like cat skiing in Vail have access to a wide range of backcountry areas.

What to expect?

Normally you will start your day at 8 am. Your assigned guide will inform you about the sport and tour in your cabin. Do note that instructions regarding avalanche encounters and usage of equipment are extremely important.

After the snowcat drops you at the mountain top, you’ll see miles of untouched powered, a sight of a genuine back-country.

Once your guides has briefed about the boundaries and the trees, you’re now ready for your first decent. You’ll be riding in a pair, with you and your partner picking a line and start floating through freshest powder in sight, making all the way down with seamless jumps and turns.

After you reach the bottom full of never-experienced-before adrenaline rush, you’ll mount in the snowcat for a trip back to the top and start all over again with fresh tracks this time. A typical full, cat skiing day will offer around 8 to 12 runs.

How good you need to be for the sport?

Generally speaking, you need to be amply confident, and be able to make turns with good agility in a terrain and powder snow. Obviously, safety comes first, you people don’t ride anything steep where the probability of avalanches is considerably higher.

Prior to each decent, your guide is supposed to show you various line options up for grabs, ranging from steeper pitches to convenient gradients. While experienced riders may also want to hit difficult surfaces such as drops and cliffs. The idea is to pick the option that meets your experience and interest.

What is the required equipment?

It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned rider, you need to be equipped with all the equipment including a transceiver, probe, shovel, and avalanche gear. You can even acquire an avalanche air bag system and powder skis on rent. If you’re new to any backcountry equipment, you’ll be taught the basics of use.

How to prepare?

Getting your technically prepared for cat skiing in Vail is essential for all the service providers. Regardless of your experience, you’ll be sufficiently trained before your first decent.
The trainings will educate you regarding the sport in all the conditions and sorts of terrain, from fresh powder to chopped-up snow. You’ll also understand how to select the best line, control your pace, and make the most out of your ride.

For more information visit our website http://catskiingtours.com/