We find ourselves caught in the seasonal tension between high preseason motivation and low to nonexistent snow depths, between the hype surrounding the first bursts of color in the fresh snow apps and cynicism about the closed, hype-like cycle in which Instagram bots and AI agents revolve around one another.

Minus 16 degrees, strong winds, and virtually zero visibility: the meeting with the Association of German Mountain and Ski Guides (VDBS) on the Stubai Glacier takes place in harsh winter conditions. The focus is on the dangers winter sports enthusiasts face beyond avalanches, including cold, cardiovascular problems, falls, and disorientation. A look at the latest accident statistics from the ÖKAS reveals just how easily these risks can be underestimated.

With a slope of about 55 to 60 degrees, over 6,000 meters high, and not a single report of an ascent, let alone a descent: We’re spending nearly four weeks in Bolivia on our snowboards and skis because of the southeast face of Ancohuma in the Cordillera Real. I discovered the face by chance on a 3D map. We want to find out on-site whether it’s actually skiable. A travelogue about splitboard tours and potential first descents on remote 6,000-meter peaks in the Cordillera Real (Ancohuma and Chearoco).

Before the first proper powder days arrive, let’s bring the snow to the big screen! The Freeride Film Festival is back on tour, and we’re giving away tickets: **three pairs for the Munich screening, plus two tickets each for Hamburg and Cologne.**

“In powder, the nose lifts up no matter how far forward I stand.” So what makes this one of the best all-round skis in the 112+ mm waist-width category? I’ll share my impressions from testing it with different riding styles, show what it’s really capable of, and give you a clear idea of who this ski is made for — and who should look elsewhere.

Short, wide, directional: The Stranda Biru is a volume shifter through and through. It’s a concept I’ve been rather skeptical of until now. Long and narrow was the motto. Read on to find out if this little devil managed to change my mind after a winter in the Black Forest and the Alps.

Clouds, clouds, Nicholas clouds! Powder runs that’ll make your knees go weak. A journey in search of that elusive flow state in the mountains, finding your own rhythm, and embracing a lifestyle built entirely around skiing. Could this be Paddy Graham’s last ski film? And if you’ve ever wondered why Chile should be on every skier’s bucket list, this film makes a pretty convincing case. But my personal favourite of the week is still the “Mindbender Live Score”: a custom music jam paired with some seriously stylish tricks.

We all still remember last year’s Christmas time. The Piedmont region was buried under 2 meters of snow during a heavy snowfall. I was lucky enough to examine it myself with skis and shovel just around the change of years. The snow profile I dug was about 120 cm thick at 2,000 meters and had no weak layers whatsoever. Well, it’s going to snow in a very similar pattern, and a first base layer will be laid down. But the amounts are manageable, and we’re not hyping this up with a “PowderAlert”—our good reputation is too valuable to us. Still, we’d like to take a closer look at this snowfall.