Vorarlberg

After the successful premiere of the "Back On Track - Feel Free Ride Contest" at the end of the 2013 winter season, another edition of the top-class contest format will take place this year. True to the motto "Back on Track" - back to the roots of freeriding - powder-hungry freeriders from Voralberg and the surrounding area will meet up to ride together from April 4 - 6, 2014.

Bluebird and fresh powder - plus a fine contest face with lots of cliffs and a few kickers to sprinkle on top! 60 riders took part in the Nature Ride Backcountry Contest on Saturday, February 23rd in Damüls and impressively demonstrated their skills. Marlon Holzmann won the skiers' category for the second time in a row, ahead of Sven Rauber and Pascal Sander - the best girl in the skiers' category was Yvonne Nenning. Andreas Neyer won the snowboard category, just ahead of Thomas Feurstein and Manuel Holzmann. Kathrin Thum was the best female snowboarder. Contest participant Matze Kurzthaler was on site for PowderGuide.

While the contests in Tyrol are mainly focused on competing for Freeride World Tour points, things are a little quieter and more independent in Vorarlberg: In addition to the Eric Themel Invitational (Freeride Festival) and the Back On Track Freeride Contest, the Nature Ride has been offering an innovative contest format for years: on February 23, 2013, it's all about backcountry freestyle on the Portla Horn in Damüls.

Last week it snowed 60 cm in 48 hours in Bregenz, the usually unexciting provincial capital of Vorarlberg, with 52 cm falling on February 8th, with impressive precipitation rates of up to 13 mm/h. This was thanks to the legendary Lake Effect. The spectacle was due to the legendary Lake Effect.

Three major precipitation events characterized January in the Northern Alps: Andrea at the beginning of the month was followed by Fabienne around 20 January and finally Gisela a few days later. Up to three times as much precipitation fell as usual in January. With cold high Cooper, a rather dry, very frosty phase is now imminent.

While the north-western Alps are drowning in snow, there is no sign of winter in the lowlands. January temperatures are often around 5 degrees above the long-term average and it has only seriously snowed above around 600 meters so far. There doesn't seem to be an end in sight to the wet and mild westerly slide - or is there?

This classic ski tour is also interesting for freeriders who are prepared to tackle longer ascents due to its orientation and slopes. The downhill slopes are almost entirely north-facing. This allows for unadulterated powder fun long after a snowfall. Although there are usually already some tracks, these do not interfere with the finest powder and in spring the snow stays fresh on the slope for a long time. Fine firn runs are also possible in late winter / spring, at least as long as the snow reaches Lake Vermunt.