Tobias Kurzeder

The first Kick The Vik Freeride Festival took place from March 9 to 17, 2013 in the Bernese Oberland freeride spot of Schilthorn. The Freeride World Tour Qualifier Contest in Wasenegg was the crowning finale of the festival. Alba Wunderlin from Winterthur triumphed in the women's snowboard category. Valeria Apostolo from Italy won the women's skiing category. Armin Beeli from Laax dominated the men's ski category. And Alex Rufibach from the Bernese Oberland held his snowboard up in the air in jubilation at the award ceremony.

I love these shaggy, long-fiber fur fleece jackets! The longer, the shaggier, the softer - the more comfortable. I can't understand why these warm fleece jackets are rather rare and why many manufacturers don't offer them at all or only occasionally.

In excellent conditions - sun and powder - the 5th FWT tour stop in Fieberbrunn, Austria, ended a week late on Saturday, March 16. Attention: Short report! A detailed report will follow shortly.

On March 16, 2013, the Nebelhorn Classics freeride race will take place in Oberstdorf for the 13th time. Skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers will compete for the coveted title - the Nebelhorn Classics Challenge Cup - in Germany's most famous freeride competition.

Viktor Kick the Vik is going for the double: Kick the Vik Freeride Festival (9.-17.3.) - Schilthorn Mürren and Kick the Vik eco freeride competition - Maighelshütte, Gotthard region (22.-24.3.).

New lifts, the merging of small ski resorts, comprehensive artificial snowmaking and ever more comfort and service - the Alpine winter sports resorts are fighting for their guests. The competition between winter sports resorts and lift companies for guests is fierce, as demand is stagnating. Many large ski resorts are trying to satisfy their guests with ever more modern and comfortable lifts, while smaller and medium-sized winter sports resorts are seeking their salvation in mergers.

The 4th stop of the Freeride World Tour is coming up. The race for the world championship titles in the ski and snowboard disciplines is still wide open for both men and women, although the favorites are already emerging: In the premier class, in the men's ski category, the US American Drew Tabke is clearly heading for the world championship title, pursued by his Swiss colleague and rival Jeremie Heitz.

Roger Fischer has written a wonderful, compact freeride guide for the ski areas in the shadow of the Bernese Oberland triumvirate of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Freeride Guide Jungfrau Region presents 43 rewarding descents with up to 2000 meters of altitude difference, which can be undertaken with mostly smaller ascents from the three Jungfrau ski areas Grindelwald First, Kleine Scheidegg - Männlichen as well as from the Schilthorn.

Avalanche airbags for freeriders and ski tourers are the equipment trend of recent winters. For many years, the avalanche airbag was an additional piece of equipment that was ridiculed or vehemently rejected by many traditionalists. However, more and more winter sports enthusiasts are now using avalanche airbags, which are designed to prevent burial in the event of an avalanche or at least significantly reduce the burial depth.

At the almost vertical 50-meter-high Cingino Dam in northern Italy, goats have developed a peculiar tactic to get at particularly tasty herbs that grow in cracks between the blocks of the dam wall.

The Scandinavian outdoor clothing company Norrøna has really shaken up the freeride market in recent years with many sensational models and styles. This is the first time that a Norrøna product has made it to PG Gear of the Week, and it is likely that this will not be the last time.

The world's best freeriders come together in the new unified tour: the new unified Freeride World Tour starts the 2013 season with new faces and the best and most famous freeskiers and snowboarders from last winter. The field is made up of the top ranked riders, including almost all of last year's winners from the Swatch Freeride World Tour 2012, Freeskiing World Tour 2012 and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding 2012, as well as a number of strong talents from the Freeride World Qualifiers and highly touted wildcard holders.