The Big Airbag is an immense inflatable mattress or air pillow where you fall on after jumping with skis or snowboard and even a luge!
Who invented the Big Airbag?
That would be the Dutch snowboarders that figured out a system to avoid falls and accidents for their training of freestyle. This is a fun aspect with maximum security. That is why it is big but also very long: 9m by 15m.
What are the advantages of Big Airbag?
It permits professionals to freestyle and train comfortably, to improve their jumping technique and to try out new moves always impressing! And for beginners, who can have much apprehension or fears to launch oneself in freestyle.
How do you use the Big Airbag?
The Big Airbag is placed on foot of a snowy slope, the skier or snowboarder launches, once in the air, he makes his move after which he falls on the Big Airbag.
What are the conditions to use the Big Airbag?
It has such success, it needs a good physical and muscular condition. Because even if the safety device is complete, the drop related to speed is not insignificant! You is asked of you to have a ski insurance that covers this type of activity. For children, it is from 9 years but with parental authorization. Parents always are responsible for their child(ren).
The necessary equipment is the one you use for alpine skiing.
What clothes do you need for Big Airbag?
You ski clothes are perfect: pants and a jacket, with maybe a coat over your jacket to not get cold because of the speed. You must not forget your gloves, you ski mask and a helmet.
Do you need special equipment?
You need slope skis. The best skis are those that give you good balance and a good grip on difficult snow. Protection on the elbows and knees are not obligatory but highly recommended! Wearing a helmet on the other hand is absolutely obligatory.
Who are the organizers?
The instructors of the ESF of each winter resort that offer the activity. Either the instructors are present to give advice for the jump only, or it is part of freestyle ski lessons that you can take as well as alpine skiing lessons.
What are the costs?
That depends on the ski schools and the resorts. For example, you can pay €2 for a jump, or €8 for 5 jumps or even €12 for 10 jumps. There are also beginner steps or experienced like lessons. The costs are not specific either since they are different in you location or stay.
There is much enthusiasm for Big Airbag since there are more and more ski resorts that are succumbing to the joy of offering new thrilling sensations to skiers and snowboarders. In Montgenèvre, resort in Hautes-Alpes, Briançon. In Angles, resort situated in Pyrénées-Orientales. In Menuires, in Vallée de la Tarentaise, one of the ski domains of the 3 Valleys. In Val Thorens, in the Alpes du Nord and in Vallée de la Tarentaise. In Saint-François Longchamp, in Savoie, in the Grand Domaine. In Karellis, Savoyard family resort in Vallée de la Maurienne. In Orcières Merlettes 1850, situated in the Alpes du Sud in the heart of the Massif des Écrins. In Arcs 1950, resort in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and known because it is one of the resorts of Paradiski. In Piau Engaly, the highest resort in the Hautes-Pyrénées. In Le Lioran, where you will find the biggest volcano in Europe, in the heart of Massif Central.
