Lea Hartl

There was hardly a freeride qualifier podium last winter that Manuela Mandl, 28, wasn't on. With first places in Jasna, Nendaz, at the X-Override and in Roldal, among others, it's no surprise that she will be competing in the women's snowboard Freeride World Tour in 2017. We had a chat with Manu in the run-up to the event.

The Marc Achmüller shoe laboratory is a traditional business in its fourth generation. Master shoemaker Achmüller took over the business in Steinach am Brenner from his uncle and master Herbert Auer in 2011. Before that, grandfather Hermann and great-grandfather Josef Auer ran the business. Achmüller makes all kinds of custom-made shoes, but his main business is ski boots all year round, which he specialized in fitting during his apprenticeship. We talked to Marc Achmüller about his trade and learned a thing or two about ski boots.

Until a few years ago, the area around the Chilean volcano Puyehue was primarily known as a beautiful trekking region. Since Sherpa Cinema and Salomon Freeski TV were there and prominently featured the steep lines in the crater, the number of visitors has also increased during winter. Ever since the strange RedBull event Out of Hell, the Puyehue is no longer an insider tip - but it is still beautiful.

The Cerro Bayo ski resort near Villa La Angostura in Argentina's Lake District is a little overshadowed by the larger, better-known Cerro Catedral on the other side of the lake, but with nice touring and off-piste terrain it certainly doesn't have to hide. It is also much less busy.

The small Argentinian town of El Bolsón is located a good 200 kilometers south of Bariloche on the Ruta 40. Fruit and berries are grown here in summer and Bolsón is better known for the jams made from them than for its ski resort. If you want peace and quiet, this is the place for you.

Since last Sunday, a cold snap has had not only the Alps but also large parts of Central Europe firmly in its grip. To the east of a massive, blocking high in the Atlantic, cold air from the polar regions is being directed towards us. Snow showers are causing confusion in the northern German lowlands, in many places there is concern about frost damage to the fruit blossom and in the mountains, everyone who didn't give up on winter in February is going in search of a few more powder turns.

For most people living in the Alps, Andalusia is probably not on the list of must-visit ski spots. You actually feel a bit strange when you drag your ski bag towards a Spanish budget airline in late spring and are eyed critically by beach holidaymakers.

What was in short supply during the height of winter is now being made up for: With a strong push of cold air over Central Europe, the next late winter interlude is on the horizon for the weekend. Gardening enthusiasts should perhaps not put frost-sensitive plants outside just yet, while winter lovers will be delighted with the polar air expected by the models.

After a few dry, clear days, a change in the weather is on the horizon and fans of thunder and lightning are looking forward to the start of the thunderstorm season. The medium-term outlook is uncertain, but at least there is no threat of midsummer yet. Also: The Alpine Association presents its glacier report for the 2014/15 season.

Börm Bruckmeier Verlag, which specializes in medical literature in a "compact format", presents a detailed guidebook to take with you into the mountains, subtitled: From day trip to Himalayan expedition.

The last few days have been rather frustrating in terms of skiing in large parts of the Alps. T-shirt temperatures in the valleys and T-shirt removal temperatures at many climbing crags, rapidly dwindling snow and increasingly brownish remnants of pistes have reduced the motivation for ski touring. Why is it not really freezing at night, even though the weather is somehow "nice"? Is it going to get cold again and what's next?

The next few days will bring changeable, mild, often foehn-like weather in the north. In the south, it will be cloudy and wet, possibly with late base-building for the alpine touring season. Also: On the occasion of World Weather Day, the WMO warns us to face the challenges of the future.