Backcountry - explained in the PalmerProject-Ski and Snowboard-Lexicon
Backcountry skiing is skiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes or pistes. More importantly, the land and the snow pack are not monitored, patrolled, or maintained. Fixed mechanical means of ascent such as ski lifts are typically not present. Freeriding asks for a solid knowledge of powder riding. Freeriding is not a specific sport nor a specific style of riding, it simply gives a name to the new trend "riding on unmarked slopes or pistes". The reason for this trend is due to the new technologies of snowboards as well as special skis designed for deep powder. Both products are perfectly designed for both areas, ungroomed as well as groomed slopes or pistes. The expression "freeriding" has been invented from the snowboard world. Skiers have called freeriding, "Variation Riding". Snowboarders are calling the ungroomed and unmarked slopes or pistes backcountry. Off piste is the more general term people use when leaving the marked pistes and slopes. A very special form of freeriding is the extreme backcountry - big mountain - which takes place in especially deep and rocky areas.