RECCO: How it Works and How it Doesn’t …

RECCO chips are now a common part of many bits of ski gear, from jackets and trousers to boots and more. But knowing what it is – and its limitations – plays an important role in staying alive in the mountains.

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RECCO was born in 1983 in Åre, Sweden, from tragedy; Magnus Granhed lost two friends in an avalanche, and set out to make sure that no one had to suffer the same loss.

In the 40 years since then, RECCO has become a standard part of the snowsports industry. RECCO Reflectors are sewn into hundreds of thousands of pieces of ski gear sold every year, and ski patrol and search and rescue teams across the globe are equipped with search devices. RECCO has undoubtedly save countless lives as a result.

But RECCO cannot be relied upon. Why? Because of its design as use as a ski patrol tool, it regularly takes more than half an hour for RECCO to be on site in the event of an avalanche. This is well beyond the 15 minute magic number for avalanche survival, and is a massive limitation of the technology.

Skiing Unlocked breaks down RECCO, how it works, and the limitations of its use.

UPDATE (30th November): Two days ago, an avalanche ripped through the Austrian ski resort of Stubai, burying eight skiers - all eight were rescued successfully sustaining a variety of injuries. It has also re-focused attention on RECCO as a mountain safety tool. Read on for more ...

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