Freeride

After two corona-related cancellations (2020 & 2021), an event in 2022, where unfortunately no contest took place, and a weather-related cancellation in 2023, a BoT could be held again this year.

Davos is located in the heart of the canton of Graubünden, the largest canton in Switzerland in terms of area but also the least populated. Nestled between the majestic Albula Alps and the picturesque Plessur Alps, this winter wonderland at an altitude of around 1500 metres offers an interesting cultural history and an impressive mountainous landscape that makes freeriders' hearts leap of joy.

PowderGuide partner Atomic has provided us with the new Maverick freeride ski for testing. This is the short test of the Maverick 115 Cti, the flagship model, which has already been tested on the Freeride World Tour.

This season is full of new features. At the beginning of the season, we went online with the new website; now, as already announced, we are also going online in two languages. From March 2024, PowderGuide.com will be available in English as well as German. This will enable us to expand our readership and accessibility and create inclusion of the non-German-speaking Alpine region.

The Zillertal, situated between the Inn Valley in the north, the Zillertal Alps in the south, the Kitzbühel Alps in the north and the Tux Alps in the west, is not only one of the largest and most populous valleys in Tyrol, but also a sunny tourism hotspot. Nevertheless, there are countless interesting peaks and slopes for ski tourers and freeriders between Strass and Hintertux.

Ein wahrer Allrounder für all diejenigen, die gerne Touren gehen, aber bei der Abfahrt keine Kompromisse eingehen möchten.

The Backcountry Weeks are organised by GoVertical, an association of local mountain guides from the canton of Graubünden. They works together with the local destinations, in this case Davos/Klosters. On the long weekend in January, from 25/01/2024 to 28/01/2024, the 9th edition of the Backcountry Weekend took place in Switzerland's legendary winter sports destination. Backcountry Week 2024 offered a comprehensive and varied programme for all kinds of backcountry enthusiasts.

More and more adventurers are fascinated by the idea of exploring unspoilt nature away from the crowded pistes. However, the pursuit of freedom and adventure on the mountain requires an intensive examination of avalanche risks. Following a comprehensive revision in 2023, the Safety Academy Lab Snow from Ortovox offers a valuable and free resource to raise awareness of risk management.

The Arc'teryx Academy 2024 in St. Anton am Arlberg was an impressive experience for freeride enthusiasts from all over the world. The event offered a varied programme full of clinics, workshops, film evenings and talks with Arc'teryx athletes. In this report, we dive into the eventful days of the Academy, from the night tobogganing to the clinics led by experienced athletes and mountain guides. A behind-the-scenes look at an event that not only pushed the boundaries of ability, but also created a strong sense of freeride community and sharing.

The definitions of freeriding can sometimes differ from what we might be used to, leading to a great deal of confusion. I want to give a little introduction to Japan and share my experiences so far.

A freeride camp where you have the opportunity to learn from the pros, refresh your knowledge of avalanche safety and get valuable first-hand tips on ski care and repair.

Atomic is focusing on clearer specialisation of the individual ski series in the freeride sector for 2024/25. Gone are the days of the One Ski Quiver, clear differentiation is back in! The Bent series is aimed at backcountry freestylers, Maverick and Maven are designed for big lines in Alaska and the Backland series comes along on "missions" and downhill-orientated ski tours. The details of familiar models have been optimised and a few new variants have been added.