Freeride

I've been looking for the ski trousers of my dreams for a long time. This is exactly what the manufacturer promises me. Can the Nina Pants from Fly Low keep this promise?

Dalbello continues to develop the three-piece convertible ski boot design in the direction of ascent performance and presents a touring boot for the 16/17 season that should score points with both its downhill and ascent properties. We have been using the boot since spring 2016 and want to compare it with the normal Lupo and Krypton as well as with similar boots in its class.

During this spot check, we painfully learned what Mark Twain once said: forecasts are difficult, especially when they concern the future. Various platforms were virtually overflowing with predictions for an imminent dump in the Western Alps. Well then, bag and baggage in the van and off we go.

This season, PowderGuide has a new "ContestHappening" section. Over the past few years, we have already reported intensively on the various Freeride World Tour competitions, their qualifier and junior events, as well as the ever decreasing number of independent events. We want to continue to do this, just in a different form: Instead of selective reporting, we will provide an overview of the latest happenings in competition-oriented freeriding in a regular, weekly column in mid-winter. Our rider reporters will also continue to provide a direct insight into individual contests.

There has been concern about the legendary ski resort in the Hautes-Alpes for some time: since the closure of the Chambon Tunnel last year, visitor numbers in La Grave have fallen sharply. In addition, the lease for the gondola and ski area expires in June 2017. Many locals fear for the future of their local mountain if large investors from the neighboring mega resorts get involved.

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.

Salomon has combined all the know-how of recent years and incorporated the experience from the MTN series and the Rocker² series into the new QST product line. You can read in the next few lines whether the concept lives up to its promise...

Who wouldn't want to escape summer in Europe to find their beloved snow in the southern hemisphere? But somehow summer activities like biking are fun too. So why choose just one option? Word has spread to Europe in recent years that New Zealand is also a great place for biking. We used our ski trip to the other side of the world to explore New Zealand's excellent trails by bike. Here are our experiences, the advantages of a combined bike & ski trip to NZ and what you should definitely bear in mind...

The location of the ski resort at the entrance to Mt. Aspiring National Park near Wanaka is breathtaking and so is the freeride terrain in the area itself. The modern lifts and the favorable location for snowfall in the west of New Zealand's South Island make Treble Cone, or TC as the locals call it, one of the best freeride spots in the southern hemisphere. Reason enough to give TC a thorough spot review!

With an FWQ 1*, the expectations of the face are not particularly high. Uttendorf-Weisssee is completely different: a complex face with many options, a steep upper section and a challenging orientation in the lower section of the Tauernkogel. A contest in April generally demands good technique from the riders, as the snow conditions vary during the run.

Numerous freeriders from all over the German-speaking world and the risk'n'fun team gathered in Fieberbrunn last weekend for the Chill Out, the traditional final session of the r'n'f season. The conditions couldn't have been better: Glorious sunshine, north-facing powder runs and casual firn, hikes and tours, barbecues in deckchairs... In the evening, Lea from the PowderGuide editorial team provided input on weather issues and there were great beats in the Riverhouse.

Once again a perfectly organized Freeride World Qualifier Event with top snow conditions at the Faces of La Maretze and Mont Gond! Nicolai Göz was in Valais for PowderGuide and gives us an insight into the top-class qualifier event!