Hochkönig

PG user Birgit won this year's participation in the three-stage freeride training with risk'n'fun and reports on the Level 1 camp on the Hochkönig:

On February 19, 1916, the largest avalanche accident in the Eastern Alps to date occurred on the Mitterbergsattel between the Mandlwand (Hochkönig) and the Hochkeil, with over 200 people buried and 58 dead. Gerd Frühwirth has compiled some interesting records from contemporary witnesses to mark the hundredth anniversary.

Breathe a sigh of relief! The time had finally come ... The first Open Faces FWQ contest was successfully held on 07.02.2015. In bright sunshine and fantastic powder snow, not only was the first decision made at the 1*Freeride World Qualifier 2015 on the Hochkönig, but the juniors also celebrated their successful OPEN FACES premiere. Some newcomers were particularly impressive in the end.

The Dienten am Hochkönig ski area is mainly known for its wonderful treeruns and the numerous variants on the Aberg. But there are also a few treats for freeriders outside the ski area, such as the ski tour to the Klingespitze.

The Open Faces focus on young talent: Two of the three FWT junior competitions taking place in Austria in 2015 will be held as part of the Open Faces Contests in Kappl (18.01.2015) and on the Hochkönig (08.02.2015).

76 freeriders from 11 nations conquered the face on the "Stoana Mandl" at the season opener of the Open Faces series on the Hochkönig. After heavy gusts of wind had initially delayed the start, the Hochkönig finally gave the hoped-for GO for the start of the Open Faces and at the same time the start of the Austrian Freeride Series. Birgit Ertl from Radstadt won the women's ski category, Siobhan Challis won the women's snowboard category and skier Maximilian Dettenhofer and snowboarder Andreas Bichler won the men's category. For PowderGuide, participant Stephanie Posch reports on her day at the contest:

The Austrian Freeride Series kicks off its second season with the 1* Qualifier Open Faces Hochkönig on February 1st. At ten stops in four federal states, freeriders will be battling for no less than 9340 FW Qualifier points and the title of Austrian Freeride Champion over the coming months.

The Hochkönig is a magnificent massif in the Berchtesgaden Alps with high rock faces on the south side. The magnificent Birgkar runs through these walls to the Hochkönig summit at 2941 m. A classic ski tour on the Hochkönig.

The announcement for the Freeride Days at the Livingroom promised a lot... Mass start downhill race, avalanche lecture, practical avalanche transceiver training and a touring workshop... And all this in a living room atmosphere? Quite a lot planned for such a short weekend! Let's see if we can manage it all...

The Open Faces make a stop in Salzburger Land: While it was still overcast the day before, the Aberg in Maria Alm showed its best side on Saturday, 26 January, and gave the 74 starters at the OPEN FACES *FWQ Hochkönig a warm welcome. Hosting a Freeride World Qualifier for the first time, the Hochkönig ski region more than did justice to a 1-star event. Creative lines and clean jumps were required to win points from the judges. Ferdinand Winter (ski/AUT), Johanna Obermoser (ski/AUT), Niklas Hollsten (snowboard/FIN) and Jenny Farrah (snowboard/USA) knew how to get the best out of the face and won in their respective categories.

The Hochkönig, a magnificent massif in the Berchtesgaden Alps with its high rock faces on the south side. In the middle of this magnificent sight lies the Lammkopf at 2846m. The summit has something special about it, the Weißkar stretches southwards to this Weißkar: a classic among the steep face descents in Salzburger Land.