Silvretta Montafon

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.

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.

Perfect snow conditions and blue skies made this year's FWQ 3* event in the Silvretta Montafon one of the highlights of the season.

Last weekend saw the third-to-last competition in the Open Faces Series: the Silvretta Montafon ski resort hosted the premiere of a 3* Freeride World Qualifier event. As the points at the end of the season are becoming increasingly coveted - after all, it's also about the overall victory of the Austrian Freeride Series - it was no wonder that many top riders had announced their attendance. In addition to the usual suspects, World Tour rider Neil Williman and local Fabio Studer, who returned from Canada just in time, were also at the start.

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.

Have you ever got cold teeth from the permanent grin? If not, or if you feel the need again, put on your skins and head up to the Heimspitze. This northern descent from the Heimspitze into the Valisera Valley offers pure freeriding pleasure. At around 700 meters in altitude, the ascent is easy to manage, even with heavy equipment.