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VIDEO: BD athlete David Pitschmann attempts a first descent of the Schaufelstiel Couloir in Austria
Black Diamond athlete David Pitschmann sent us this great video and quick note about a dicey couloir he attempted this spring in Austria. Check it out!
The couloir is on Stubai Glacier right beside the groomers. We've been looking up there for years but no one ever got up the courage. Arbor teamrider Alexander Hoffmann and I have now tried it, unfortunately in very bad conditions. As you see in the video, it was rock hard. Not ideal! The steepest pitch is a bit more than 45° and is 2 m wide, about 300 vertical meters. Unfortunately we could not ski the entire line as the double at the end of the gully was too hard and high (both at least 6 m). The ideal line will follow – some time.
The couloir is called 'Schaufelstiel' (shovel handle): the double is the grip, the couloir the shaft, the exit the shovel blade and lastly it terminates in the Schaufelspitze (Shovel Peak)!
— David Pitschmann
United States / English 
8 Jul 2011, 4:15PM
you could hit the gs course on the way down!