Avalanche Ball
€ 299
- Red buoyancy ball
- 6 m connecting line
- Waist belt and system bag, fits common touring packs
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Avalanche locating system
No searching. Found at once.
The red ball stays on the surface of the avalanche. Its line leads straight to the buried person.
70cm
average burial depth
Only about 10% of fully buried people were deeper than 1.5 m.
SLF Davos, 729 full burials over 20 years15min
decide on survival
About 90% survive the avalanche and the first 15 minutes. After that, the chances drop quickly.
according to Dr. Brugger6m
line from ball to body
The line stays mostly on the surface and leads rescuers to the person without a search device.
included
How it works
From being caught to being found
If you are caught by an avalanche, pull the release handle. Spring force opens the ball in seconds, with no gas cartridge.
The avalanche is not deep
Skier-triggered avalanches break on average only 40 to 50 cm deep. The moving snow is therefore usually too shallow for a full burial. The hard old snow layer below stops you from sinking deeper while it slides.
On the surface until it stops
From being caught until the avalanche stops, the skier stays on the surface. Snow that comes to rest ahead of him in the deposition zone is already so compacted that he does not sink deeper there either.
The most common case
If most of the avalanche has already reached the deposition zone ahead of the skier, he usually stays on top or is only partly buried. That is why almost 90% of skiers caught stayed on the surface.
The ball stays visible
If large amounts of snow follow, a full burial can happen. Items that happen to be visible, or an airbag fixed to the body, are then often covered too. Thanks to its 6 m line, the Avalanche Ball moves up and stays visible the longest.
Why the Avalanche Ball
Anyone can be the rescuer
- No search device, no trainingRescuers need no expertise. They see the ball and follow the line.
- Spring force instead of gasCan be released as often as you like, at no cost, and is ready again at once.
- LightThe ball weighs 500 g, the whole system about 1 kg.
- In use for almost 20 yearsNo recalls, several patents, made in Austria.
According to the SLF winter reports 1994/95, 1996/97 and 2003/04, every fully buried person found through visible equipment was rescued alive.
Source: SLF Davos, winter reportsVideo
Packing and releasing
Packing and releasingWatch on YouTube
Videos load only after you click. Data is then sent to YouTube. Some videos are in German.
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Two ways to the ball
As a retrofit kit for your own touring pack or built into the freeride backpack.
Powderbag with ball
€ 359
- Freeride backpack with built-in Avalanche Ball
- Shovel and probe pocket, outer pocket for phone and keys
- Slim cut, ideal for chairlifts and ski schools
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Tests and voices
Tested by experts
The Avalanche Ball was tested by SLF Davos, by the German Alpine Club and in an avalanche test by German TV channel ARD.
SLF DavosGerman Alpine ClubAustrian Alpine ClubARDORF: Invention of the YearISPO BrandNew Award