Freeride Testivals 2026 | PowderGuide on site

The event: technique, powder and passion

The Freeride Testival is the central meeting point for all those who love the terrain. The focus is on the large, free gear reviews, where over 30 leading winter sports brands make their equipment available. The special feature: You can test skis, snowboards and safety equipment, most of which are already from the upcoming season and therefore brand new and some of which have not even been tested by the ski media. In addition to testing, it's all about sharing and exchanging experiences at the afterhour with music and drinks, as well as some interesting side events that can be booked individually.

The 2026 tour stops at a glance

The tour travels across the Austrian Alps and offers a unique character at each location.

• January 24the - 25th, 2026: Hochfügen (Zillertal):
  The snow-sure kick-off in a legendary freeride hotspot, ideal for efficient gear reviews at 1,500 to 2,500 meters. More information about this tour stop here in our event calendar.

• February 07th - 08th, 2026: Silvretta Montafon (Vorarlberg):
  A versatile paradise with open powder slopes, technical sections and a particularly strong event culture. More info on this tour stop here.

• March 07th - 08th, 2026: Warth-Schröcken (Vorarlberg):
  The "snow hole of the Alps" beckons with huge amounts of natural snow and access to the extensive Arlberg region. More info about this tour stop here.

• March 21st - 22nd, 2026: Stubai Glacier (Tyrol):
  The high alpine finale at over 3,000 meters offers challenging variants and special offers for families and youngsters. More information about this tour stop here.

The Powder Collective: PowderGuide x Penguin

This year, we from PowderGuide will not only be there as a forecast partner for the weather and snow situation, but will also be represented at all four tour stops with our cooperation partner Penguin at our own booth! The booth is the central hub for the community and offers you much more than just information:

• It's the meeting point for Penguin courses:
  Every morning we start here with the briefings for the Penguin courses (see below). After the adventures in the field, the stand becomes a meeting point where all participants come together to review the day's experiences.

• Lounge area to hang out, exchange ideas and make contacts:

  Get a hot or cold drink and hang out at the Powder Collective stand to end the day together with DJ music. The tent offers enough space and a cozy seating area for socializing and getting to know each other.

• The PowderGuide snow depth prediction game:
  Take part in our raffle and secure the chance to win great prizes from the participating brands! If Mother Hulda plays along, there will be an additional tip on the current snowfall. You can bet live on site , just come by the stand for the relevant information! Every Friday before the respective Testival weekend, we will also publish an article for the snow depth prediction game. So you don't have to be there, you can also take part via the comment column. So stay tuned!

We look forward to meeting you in person! Come by, chat with our editors about the latest online content or simply enjoy a drink with us.

Your opinion is important to us

You can't be at the Testival but are still excited about the season's new products? Let us know in the comments which equipment you would like us to test and report on.

Exclusive courses with Penguin

Our cooperation partner Penguin offers tailor-made courses at all stops to improve your off-piste skills. Places are limited, so make sure you get your ticket for these highlights in good time:

• A women-only freeride course and a freetour beginners' course await you in Hochfügen.

• In Silvretta Montafon, you can take part in a special freetouring course

• In Warth-Schröcken there is an offer for advanced skiers on the Advanced Freetouring course

• On the Stubai Glacier there will be a beginners' course on Saturday and an advanced freeride course on Sunday (both "women only")

In addition to the Penguin courses, the Freeride Testival courses also include offers from local mountain and ski schools as well as other partners. These include, for example, technique training from the Schruns ski school, offers from the ROCK'nd SNOW mountain and ski school or the Arlberg Freeride Safari from the Warth ski school. The costs for the various courses and workshops on the tour range from €59 to €139, depending on the offer and provider.

Testival kick-off in Hochfügen on January 24th-25th, 2026

Are you keen to get your hands on the latest equipment and want to be part of the first tour stop in the Zillertal and still need accommodation? Then take a look at our partner Best of Zillertal and quickly book a cozy bed to round off your weekend.

We look forward to seeing you!