German Wehinger

Most of our local mountains are now either stone gray or green, as the snow has now retreated to the glacier regions. We set off for the snowy mountains of Zermatt in the canton of Valais to replace freeride abstinence with trail exhilaration.

The Upper Engadine is known for its sunny climate. The sun shines on average 322 days a year here. There is a lack of congestion, but when snow falls here, the fresh snow remains powdery for a long time thanks to the dry, cold climate and offers fantastic freeride runs in high alpine terrain.

According to the manufacturer, the Freeride Pro from Fritschi has not only been improved in terms of design, but also in terms of functions compared to its predecessor. The extent to which the manufacturer from the Kandertal valley in Switzerland has really succeeded in achieving a high-end level will only be revealed by the long-term gear review. Here are our first impressions of the new "Freeride Mountaineering" model.

Even if freeriders often pay little attention to ski touring skins, you should always keep the chapter on care in mind. Ski touring skins constantly rub against the snow and lose their waterproofing through friction and contact with the snow. Natural hair is more affected by this than synthetic products. If the climbing or gliding properties deteriorate, you should consult the manufacturer's care instructions. A block of impregnating wax to renew the protective layer is available in any outdoor store for just a few dollars. Especially with skins that have already absorbed moisture and are used in cold snow, there is a risk that lumps of snow will collect on them – the skins tend to "stollen".

The ski touring skin with the wondrous name "Multi Fit Skin Mixed Mohair"; with "Cobra Twin" tensioning system" conquers the mountain world of the Montafon with me. Even if the full product name doesn't seem very convincing to me, its reputation precedes it as an affordable, consistently good ski touring skin with all-round properties. In this test, you will find out whether I can confirm this reputation or whether the Cobra has bitten me.

"Monte Rosa" is the name of the largest mountain massif in the Alps. And Monte Rosa also gave its name to the so-called "Freeride Paradise – Monterosa Ski". In order to taste the fruits of paradise, we stayed at the highest possible spot in the Refugio Guglielmina at 2,880 m above sea level. But instead of being banished, we were rewarded with several big dump powder days.

In mid-May, a group of hungry freeriders made their way to Lapland in the far north to enjoy the last powder days of the 2010 season 200 km above the Arctic Circle. That was the plan, but instead they experienced the heaviest snowmelt for many years in Riksgränsen. But even this couldn't stop them from climbing Nordalsfjäll, heliskiing in the midnight sun and, of course, exploring the off-piste area of Riksgränsenfjället!