Although plenty of people play it lip-service, very few riders actually go off-piste properly, by taking responsibility for themselves and for their friends.

Going off-piste is as serious as going climbing or mountaineering. Only an idiot would do it poorly equipped or with a lack of knowledge. Unfortunately many do both.

These days there is no excuse for not taking the Holy Trinity with you if you are heading off-piste. To be precise, you need:

1. Transceiver
2. Probe
3. Shovel

Backcountry experts, Facewest, specialise in avalanche safety advice and equipment.

Owner, Jake Herbert, explains: 'How many people spend a couple few hundred pounds before their holiday on designer sunglasses and a trendy jacket? We can sell an F1 Transceiver and Telescopic shovel for £195. It might sound like a lot, but it will last a lifetime - more important it may save your - or someone else's life.'

WIN AN AVALANCHE SHOVEL AND A SAFETY BOOK

As part of Natives and Facewest avalanche awareness campaign, we are giving away an avalanche shovel and safety awareness book.

The competition was won by Rick Paine from North Somerset.

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