TERMS & CONDITIONS

Piste to Powder operates as an agency for the mediation of mountain guides in the Arlberg region, Austria. The client acknowledges and agrees that the contractual relationship between Piste To Powder and the client is limited to the proper facilitation of contact with a mountain guide. The mountain guide operates as an independent contractor, in his own name, account, and risk.

Place of Jurisdiction: Austrian law applies exclusively. All disputes arising out of or in connection with these terms shall be subject exclusively to the jurisdiction of the courts of Innsbruck, Austria. Austrian law applies exclusively.

REGISTRATION

It is important to register as early as possible. For 1-2-day tours, registration can be accepted at short notice, i.e. at the latest on the day before the start of the tour. However, participation following registration at short notice cannot be guaranteed. Registration is done via our contact form through our homepage. By sending your enquiry you accept that Piste to Powder is an Agency supplying UIAGM mountain guides. Full and final responsibility lies with the guide appointed to the group. You also confirm that you’d like to receive our newsletter.

PRICES AND OBLIGATIONS

The prices are for one person and include the fees for the guide and commissions. Group prices are valid only when the minimum number of participants is reached. All payments are to be settled in full before the guiding session or course begins.

PAYMENT

To confirm your booking, we ask you to make a deposit per credit card, PayPal or bank transfer. The deposit covers the agency commission. Please make the rest of the payment (mountain guide fee) directly to your guide in cash on the first guiding day.

INSURANCE

All participants are required to hold valid insurance policies covering: Mountain-specific accidents, including search and rescue operations, medical evacuation and repatriation. It is strongly recommended that clients procure trip cancellation insurance to cover non-refundable expenses.

Clients are solely responsible for procuring adequate insurance coverage for accidents, medical emergencies, evacuation, and repatriation. Piste to Powder shall not be held liable for any costs incurred due to insufficient insurance coverage.

TOUR CANCELLATIONS, MODIFICATIONS OR BREAKING OFF BY US

Piste To Powder reserves the right to cancel a tour because of an insufficient number of participants, or because of unfavourable weather or avalanche conditions. We will not cancel a trip unless we are obliged to do so by ‘force majeure’ such as government intervention, political or civil unrest, flight cancellations or an act of God and other unforeseeable circumstances, or if the number of fully paid-up bookings needed to operate the trip has not been reached. If we cancel a trip for one of these reasons refund is given minus any expenses which we have incurred on guests behalf and which cannot be refunded. If we cancel a trip we will not be liable for any expenses which may have incurred as a result of a guests booking or in expectation of the trip taking place such as costs relating to visas, vaccinations, connecting air flights and any other expenses.

The mountain guide who is guiding the group can make the decision to break off a tour or to modify it. Where a tour is broken off, the costs for the guest will be calculated in relation to the length of the tour carried out. For tours with overnight stay, the official mountain hut tariff serves as the basis for calculating the charges. Possible extra costs that arise from modifying a tour are to be paid by the guest.

Should the guide have to break off the tour because of insufficient physical or mental ability of the guest, no refund will be made. Any extra costs are to be paid by the guest.

Cancellation in OPEN GROUPS by us due to severe weather conditions (e.g. rain up to 2.200m, avalanche level 5): If a guided day in an OPEN GROUP is cancelled by us due to severe weather conditions, customers with a several-day ticket for an OPEN GROUP are entitled to a refund for that day. All OPEN GROUP special package prices are only valid as a package, hence the costs of the guided days will be recalculated based on the normal (non-discounted) daily rate for the OPEN GROUPS.

Cancellation in OPEN GROUPS by us due to insufficient participants: If you book a several day package for an OPEN GROUP and a guided day is cancelled by us due to insufficient participants, customers will receive a pro-rata refund. This means the refund will be proportionate to the number of days remaining in the guiding package.

CANCELLATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

For “day guiding” and “single day bookings”, when you cancel your day or your several day guiding:*
1.1. Up to 48 hours before the booked date, you will get a 100% refund less a handling fee of 10% of the deposit (minimum of 30 euros if you have paid your deposit already).
1.2. Up to 36 hours before the booked date, you will get a 50% refund.
1.3. Less than 36 hours before the booked date, you have to pay the full fee.
* Please note that there is no refund if less skiers than booked in are showing up on your guiding day, neither on a single day booking nor if you are booked in at a package price. On a single day booking, you are able to change the number of participants 48h before your booking.

For all packages, when you cancel your “guiding package”:
(Including 5 day Open, 3 day Intro to Off piste, 3 and 5 day Touring skills, all 2 or more day bookings in Lech Zürs, private touring packages 3 or more days, 10 day season pass):
2.1 Up to 14 days before the booked date, you will get a 100% refund less a handling fee of 10% of the deposit (minimum €30)
2.2 From 7-14 days before the booked date, you will get a 50% refund
2.3 Less than 7 days before the booked date, you must pay the full fee

For all hut-to-hut-packages and ski touring trips, when you cancel your “ski touring package”:
(Including all Silvretta packages, hut-to-hut-touring packages, private touring packages outside of the Arlberg:
3.1 Up to 30 days before the booked date, you will get a 100% refund less a handling fee of 10% of the deposit (minimum €50)
3.2 From 14-30 days before the booked date, you will get a 50% refund
3.3 Less than 14 days before the booked date, you must pay the full fee

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Piste to Powder acts solely as a mediation agency facilitating the engagement of UIAGM-certified mountain guides. The execution of all guiding services, including route selection, safety assessments, and risk management, lies solely with the contracted guide. Accordingly, Piste to Powder disclaims all liability for personal injury, property damage, financial loss, or any other adverse outcomes arising during or as a result of guided activities.

Jurisdiction and Applicable Law:
All disputes, claims, or legal proceedings arising out of or in connection with these Terms & Conditions, or the services provided by Piste to Powder, shall be governed exclusively by Austrian law. The place of jurisdiction is Innsbruck, Austria. By engaging Piste to Powder, the client expressly waives the right to bring any claim or legal action in any jurisdiction outside of Austria.

Assumption of Risk:
Off-piste skiing and mountaineering inherently involve risks, including but not limited to avalanches, changing weather conditions, and physical exertion. By engaging with Piste to Powder, clients acknowledge and accept these risks, agreeing that neither Piste to Powder nor its agents shall be held liable for any injuries, damages, or losses resulting from the inherent dangers of these activities. Piste to Powder shall not be liable for indirect or consequential losses, including but not limited to loss of income, opportunity, or enjoyment, arising from guided activities or associated cancellations, modifications, or disruptions.

Photographic, videographic rights:
By participating in any activity organized by Piste to Powder, clients grant irrevocable consent for the use of photographic or videographic material featuring their likeness for promotional purposes. Should a client wish to withdraw consent, notification must be sent to info@pistetopowder.com in advance or immediately following the activity.

Further information:

Place of jurisdiction:
Innsbruck, Austrian law applies exklusively

Member of:
WKO Gewerbe Sparte Reisebüro

Alpinschulenverband Österreich

Verband der Österreichischen Berg- u. Skiführer

Please note that with 01.07.2018 the new package travel directive is taking effect. The Austrian Chamber of commerce is rewriting the “General Travel Terms and Conditions” currently, they will be published soon. Here you find the “General Travel Terms and Conditions (ARB 1992) which beside Piste To Powder’s specific Terms & Conditions apply. Please note that Piste To Powder is acting as travel agent exclusively with it’s services provided in the Arlberg area. The conveyed mountain guide himself acts in his own name, on his own account and on his own risk. Here you find further legal regulations for all services provided by Piste To Powder