Montafon

Simon Graf, splitboarder from the very beginning, is launching three self-developed shapes this season with his newly founded label mr.splitboards: All MNT, High MNT and Powder MNT. He draws on over 20 years of experience in the industry. Wait - splitboards already existed 20 years ago? Yes, but the beginnings were adventurous! In this interview, Simon talks about his drive and we find out more about the history of splitboarding.

This season's fifth ContestHappening is all about the 4* FWQ in Montafon, we also look back at the Youngstars Challenge in Oberstdorf and forward to the 1* FWQ on Hochfelln and the upcoming FWT stop in Andorra.

The FWT stop at the Wildseeloder in Fieberbrunn will take place this weekend and Andorra is just around the corner. After that, the FWT will soon be looking towards the final in Verbier! While we wait for the big contests, PG colleague Lukas Zögernitz spoke to FWT judge Dion Newport.

The FJT starts the new season with up to 3000 young athletes who want to gain experience in contest freeriding. The young U-14 riders are now also taking part in some events. In addition, the participants will be divided into the U-16 and U-18 categories for the first time. New venues are on the agenda in Iceland and Japan and efforts are being made to make contest freeriding more popular in these locations too. The season finale returns to Verbier.

Seen from the valley, the Tschaggunser Mittagspitze is a striking peak, but apart from the last few meters from the ski depot to the summit, it is an easy ski tour. The last few meters to the summit require absolute surefootedness, but you will be rewarded with an impressive view!

From 23 - 25.03.2018, the snow-covered playground of the Silvretta-Bielerhöhe was once again the setting for a fantastic freeride spectacle. For the 6th time, 35 snow-hungry skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers gathered at the Saarbrücker Hütte to celebrate the Back on Track Feel Free Ride Contest 2018. OMG stands for "Oh My God" and describes the BOT 2018 pretty well, but still doesn't quite do the experience justice!

There hasn't been much going on in the contest area in recent weeks. But while the FWT circus is now slowly traveling to Andorra to hold the first European tour stop of the season next weekend, two top-class qualifiers took place last weekend with the 3* FWQ Silvretta Montafon and the 4* FWQ Jasna Adrenalin.

Once again, the Back on Track Freeride Contest at the Saarbrücker Hütte last weekend exceeded all expectations! To celebrate its 5th birthday, the BOT crew came up with a very special surprise for the participants. In addition, the Silvretta-Bielerhöhe once again provided the freeriders with an incredibly good time. But first things first. A look back.

Every year we go to the Montafon - and not without reason... For more than five years now, I've been drawn out of Tyrol, over the Arlberg and into the Montafon every season. The Silvretta Montafon in particular has become very dear to my heart and promises an impressive visit every year and exciting, satisfying images for our filmmakers and photographers.

After two World Tour stops in Andorra, the FWT riders are gradually arriving in the Eastern Alps and are taking part in the 3* FWQ in Montafon, for example, or are watching or familiarizing themselves with the local snow conditions in Fieberbrunn. We are all hoping for snow and that a safe contest can be held in Fieberbrunn or perhaps somewhere else.

For over 50 years, the Madrisa round tour has been the epitome of the lift-assisted freeride tour par excellence. From Austria to Switzerland and back or, as in our case, from Switzerland to Austria and back. After it was first published as a 'bold adventure' on PowderGuide.com in 1972, here it is finally as the current and modern freeride tour of the week.

Perfect conditions at the home peak for the first Austrian Freeride World Qualifier event in 2016! After numerous cancellations or postponements in this year's "Austrian Freeride Series" due to poor snow conditions or high avalanche danger, it was now time to start the freeride contest season in beautiful Austria under sunshine and powder snow! And the riders were really happy to find great conditions and were delighted with the perfectly organized contest.