Safety Shred Days
GRAND TOURMALET / PIC DU MIDI
Overview
Led by our Pyrenean ambassador and co-organiser Mathieu Crépel, the Pyrenees edition has brought ski and snowboard freeride enthusiasts, pro riders and mountain professionals together since 2023 with one shared goal: understanding risks and becoming more self-reliant in the mountains.
The programme includes mountain safety and avalanche rescue training, freeriding, discussions with experts and time together. All in the Safety Shred Days spirit: an accessible, friendly approach combining practice, conversations and shared experiences.
Join us from 17 to 20 December 2026 at Grand Tourmalet / Pic du Midi!
FORMATS
DAY OR WEEKEND OPTIONS
WITH OR WITHOUT A LIFT PASS
A SPECIAL KIDS DAY, RESERVED FOR CLUBS/SCHOOLS
FREE EVENTS OPEN TO EVERYONE
OPTIONS
BUILD YOUR OWN PROGRAMME TO SUIT YOUR LEVEL, NEEDS, INTERESTS (AND BUDGET)
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CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE
4 WAYS TO EXPERIENCE
THE EVENT
SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER
SAFETY DAY
THE TRAINING
A day of mountain safety and avalanche rescue training, for all levels
SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER
RIDING SESSIONS
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
A day of freeriding and/or ski touring with a mountain guide, to progress and explore the resort
SATURDAY 19 + SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER
WEEKEND PACKAGE
TRAINING + PRACTICE
No need to choose — enjoy the whole weekend!
SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER
KIDS DAY
CLUBS ONLY
A training day specially designed for young freeriders aged 8 to 16, supervised by their clubs/schools
Saturday 19 December
SAFETY DAY
Mountain safety training
THE TRAINING
From 45.00€
A full day of mountain safety and avalanche rescue training, open to everyone, with several levels suited to beginners and more experienced riders.
Learn how to use an avalanche transceiver, probing and shovelling techniques, first aid, and the basics of snow science and mountaineering (level 1 — novice). Immersive, technical scenarios help you put your knowledge into practice (level 2 — intermediate), while more experienced participants analyse terrain with our guides and manage real situations (level 3 — expert).
To go further, another level draws on the training designed for pro riders: level 4 — rope handling and avalanche rescue in remote terrain.
INCLUDED:
- Practical and theoretical training
- 1-day lift pass with Gras Savoye insurance, only with the lift-pass package
- Welcome breakfast and lunch
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:
- Skis or snowboard
- Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe: loans available on site, subject to availability
- Your own backpack
- Warm clothing (a day outdoors)
- Appropriate insurance for skiing/snowboarding on and off piste
LEVEL 1NOVICE
You have never attended a training course, or your last course was more than five years ago, and you want to (re)learn the basics before heading off piste.
TRAINING CONTENT
- Get familiar with and search using an avalanche transceiver
- Probing
- Shovelling
- Victim care
- Multiple-victim scenarios
- Snow science
- RECCO system
LEVEL 2INTERMEDIATE
You have already completed the Novice course at Safety Shred Days, or your last training was less than five years ago, and you want to expand your avalanche rescue skills and knowledge.
TRAINING CONTENT
- Complex avalanche scenarios
- Real conditions
- Multiple burials
- Victim care
- Situation analysis
LEVEL 3EXPERT
You have already completed the Intermediate course at Safety Shred Days and want to sharpen your skills in the field through training focused on analysis and decision-making while freeriding.
TRAINING CONTENT
- Analyse the day’s avalanche bulletin (BERA)
- Observe the snowpack and terrain
- Choose a line based on the group, ability and terrain
- Descent behaviour
- Communication
- Off-piste descents with a guide to discuss and revisit avalanche risk management
LEVEL 4ADVANCED — ROPES
Rope handling and avalanche rescue in remote terrain
You have already completed our Expert course and want to develop your knowledge of using ropes for safety during rescue operations, with the same content and guides as the pro riders!
TRAINING CONTENT
- Complex avalanche scenarios
- Rescue involving rope handling
- Rope safety techniques
- First aid techniques in remote terrain
- The psychology of commitment in freeriding
Related formats
Offres associées
- SAFETY DAY — À partir de 45.00 € / personne
- WEEKEND PACKAGE — À partir de 135.00 € / personne
Sunday 20 December
RIDING SESSIONS
PUT YOUR SKILLS INTO PRACTICE WITH CERTIFIED GUIDES.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
From 100.00€
A full day with a mountain guide: a unique opportunity to develop your off-piste and/or ski touring/splitboarding skills while putting risk management into practice in a supervised setting. Explore the freeride/backcountry terrain of Grand Tourmalet, improve your skills or discover a new discipline, safely with a mountain professional and at an affordable price. Advanced sessions take place on the Pic du Midi for a unique experience!
INCLUDED:
- 1 day with a certified mountain guide, with a choice of workshops
- 1-day lift pass with Gras Savoye insurance, only with the lift-pass package
- Breakfast
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:
- Skis or snowboard (or touring skis/splitboard, depending on your chosen activity)
- Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe: loans available on site, subject to availability
- Your own backpack
- Warm clothing (a day outdoors)
- Appropriate insurance for skiing/snowboarding on and off piste
Gras Savoye snow insurance does not cover the Pic du Midi, which is considered off-piste terrain. You must therefore have your own insurance to take part in the experienced freeride outings on the Pic du Midi.
FREERIDE
INTRODUCTORY
Explore the best freeride spots in Grand Tourmalet safely with a certified guide!
REQUIRED LEVEL
Beginner/intermediate freeriders who can comfortably ski or snowboard a red piste as a minimum.
EXPERIENCED — PIC DU MIDI EXPERIENCE
Take on the legendary Pic du Midi for an exceptional freeride experience. With a local guide, explore varied routes, improve your technique in ungroomed snow and enjoy spectacular views of the Pyrenees.
The experience includes the Pic du Midi lift pass, which explains the price difference. Gras Savoye snow insurance does not cover the Pic du Midi, which is considered off-piste terrain. You must therefore have your own insurance to join this outing.
REQUIRED LEVEL
For experienced riders only, very comfortable on black pistes and with previous freeride experience. The experience and difficulty of accessing the Pic vary with conditions. Guides reserve the right to refuse participation if they consider your ability insufficient to descend safely.
SPLITBOARD / SKI TOURING
INTRODUCTORY
Discover the basics of splitboarding or ski touring in this introductory session. Learn how to use the equipment, including attaching skins and kick turns, and make your own tracks.
REQUIRED LEVEL
New to ski touring/splitboarding, able to comfortably ski or snowboard a red piste as a minimum.
EXPERIENCED
For more experienced participants, this session explores the wilder corners of the resort, accessible only with a short hike. Discover quieter routes and improve your uphill and downhill technique while putting your risk management knowledge into practice in more complex conditions.
REQUIRED LEVEL
Several ski touring/splitboarding outings already completed, able to comfortably ski or snowboard a black piste as a minimum.
Related formats
Offres associées
- RIDING SESSIONS — À partir de 100.00 € / personne
- WEEKEND PACKAGE — À partir de 135.00 € / personne
Sunday 20 December
KIDS DAY
CLUB TRAINING
CLUBS ONLY
From 10.00€
This format is reserved for clubs, schools and educational groups supervised by adults.
A day of practical and theoretical training specially designed for young freeriders aged 8 to 16, ending with time to ride and talk with the professional riders attending.
Topics include: how to locate avalanche victims and dig them out of the snow; what first aid to provide and how to provide it; and how to analyse the snow.
INCLUDED:
- Practical and theoretical training
- Breakfast
- 1-day lift pass (insurance excluded)
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:
- Skis or snowboard
- Warm clothing (a day outdoors)
- Appropriate insurance for skiing/snowboarding on and off piste
- At least one supervisor per group
Related formats
Offres associées
- KIDS DAY — À partir de 10.00 € / personne
Schedule
Discover all the activities at the Pyrenees edition of Safety Shred Days!
Safety Day, Riding Sessions and Kids Day require booking and payment. We also offer free activities open to everyone, including Friday’s Movie Night, Saturday’s Arc’teryx Party and Saturday’s end-of-day conference.
DAY 1
17 December
PRO DAY 1
The first day of advanced training for pro riders. By invitation only.
DAY 2
18 December
PRO DAY 2
The second day of advanced training for pro riders. By invitation only.
MOVIE NIGHT
A free evening of ski and snowboard films, open to everyone!
DAY 3
19 December
SAFETY DAY
The training day is open to everyone, with registration required.
CONFERENCE
An end-of-day conference, free and open to everyone.
ARC’TERYX PARTY
The Arc’teryx Party, free and open to everyone.
DAY 4
20 December
RIDING SESSIONS
A day of riding with certified guides, with registration required.
KIDS DAY
The training day for ages 8 to 16, reserved for clubs and schools.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Find the key general information for the Pyrenees edition here. For questions specific to each day, please refer to the corresponding information section.
LOCATIONS
Check-in and workshops take place in La Mongie before the lifts open. You cannot access them from Barèges, so please plan accordingly.
LIFT PASSES
We offer packages with and without a lift pass. If you already have a season pass valid during the event, select the “Without a lift pass” option when booking.
IMPORTANT: you cannot reach the workshops using touring skis or a splitboard. If you do not have a valid season pass, you must choose a package including a lift pass.
Gras Savoye insurance is included with Safety Day and Riding Sessions lift-pass packages and covers activities in Grand Tourmalet, but not on the Pic du Midi. Kids Day does not include insurance. Suitable personal insurance is mandatory for the Pic du Midi. Please read the activity-specific information, particularly for Experienced Freeride on the Pic.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is NOT INCLUDED in the packages. You must book your own accommodation if you wish to arrive on Friday evening and/or stay on Saturday night. We recommend booking well in advance, as accommodation fills up quickly. Unfortunately, we cannot offer partner accommodation at present.
The event takes place in La Mongie and on the Pic du Midi. Book accommodation on the La Mongie side if you wish to stay overnight.
SKI/SNOWBOARD EQUIPMENT
We do not rent or lend skis, snowboards or backpacks. Bring your own equipment. If you plan to rent equipment in the resort for the weekend, collect it the day before your chosen activity, as we start before the shops open.
We have avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes available to borrow for the workshops, subject to availability.
WAITING LIST
Each level and activity has limited capacity to ensure quality teaching and a good experience for everyone.
If an activity is full, we may set up a waiting list depending on demand and cancellations. Places will then be allocated individually.
To make sure you can join your chosen activity, we recommend booking ahead!
WEATHER & PROGRAMME
Weather and mountain conditions may require us to adapt or change the programme and certain activities. We will always do our best to run the event, adapting the programme to conditions and safety requirements.
Groups and levels may also be adjusted on site so everyone is in a group suited to their ability and the conditions that day.
SAFETY SHRED DAYS
GRAND TOURMALET / PIC DU MIDI
The largest ski area in the French Pyrenees, Grand Tourmalet connects Barèges and La Mongie at the foot of the famous pass. It provides access to the Pic du Midi, where the cable car takes riders to 2,877 m and the start of exceptional freeride routes. Wide bowls, challenging couloirs and 360° views of the Pyrenees make it a unique freeride destination in Europe.
SERVICES AND ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION
USEFUL LINKS
GETTING HERE
For further information, contact the Grand Tourmalet tourist office. For questions specifically about the event, use our contact form or write to [email protected].