Marius Schwager

22 kilometers long, 5500 vertical meters, 1000 racers, best time 44:35:07 (Patrick Ortlieb). The White Ring is the longest ski race in the world. As an embedded journalist, I tried to experience the White Hell. Burning thighs, rattling skis and a tortured but happy smile at the end.

The perfect powder snow days are not only rare, but also difficult to predict. However, this doesn't explain why some freeriders seem to have the "luck" of catching the best days, while others always get snow that has been blown away. For perfect days, you usually need nothing less than the perfect mix: sufficient fresh snow, a reasonable avalanche situation, good visibility, little activity, good terrain, etc.

Cliff-hucking, steep lines, every inch of fresh powder shredded. Our sport in its current form probably originated in Jackson Hole (Wyoming) in the 1960s - after all, what would our freeride culture be without the Jackson Hole Air Force?

Logbook entry: 22-25.09. Upcoming stage: Chur – Oberalp Pass – Cadlimohütte

Logbook entry: 26-30.09. Upcoming stage: Rifugio Grande Tournalin – Cervinia – Zermatt

Looking for a private ski resort? The Winterhorn ski resort in Uri is currently for sale. The starting price is 250,000 sFr. Bids can be submitted until July 17.

Cloudless sky, 35°... as I change my tire, I wonder if I'll find one of the wonderful trails I've heard so much about. Suddenly, two tanned bikers from southern Europe ride up to me and ask if they can show me one of their beautiful home trails with a sea view. Yes, they can.

Our beloved glaciers are melting at a rapid pace. So far, there is no patent remedy to prevent the melting. Last summer, a handful of geography students from Mainz attempted to slow down this process with a pilot project using wind traps. The results now published promise unexpected success.

In February 2009, PowderGuide conducted this interview with the exceptional freeskier Shane McConkey, who recently died in a ski base jump. Here, freeski legend Shane McConkey talked about his life as a freeski pro, future developments in freeriding, his personal climate footprint, Saucer Boy and much more? Our condolences go out to his family and all his friends.

A month-long road trip across the Alps in March - always in search of the best snow! Will this dream really become a reality after the furious start to the season in early winter but unproductive months of January and February?

And Marius' freeride road trip continues, always in search of the best and deepest snow: sometimes criss-crossing, sometimes criss-crossing the Alps...

Les Portes du Soleil ski resort is the world's largest interconnected lift-connected area. And as some of the lifts are in operation for hikers in summer anyway, many mountain railroads are trying to improve their summer business: with the help of mountain bikers. The conditions are excellent for freeriders who are flexible and swap their gliding equipment for rolling equipment. A rush of altitude meters on the downhill – and all at a bargain price!