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Back on Track 2017

Looking back on a brilliant weekend

by Hanna Finkel 04/09/2017
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.

Feel Free Ride Contest 2017

Feel. Free. Ride. That's the quintessence of Back on Track. And it's well received! Once again this year, the event was fully booked within a very short time (5 minutes!). Those who were able to secure one of the coveted starting places via online registration could look forward to a family atmosphere (feel), almost endless freeride opportunities (free) and breathtaking descents (ride) in the Silvretta-Bielerhöhe. The focus was not on winning, as is usually the case at freeride contests, but on having a good time together in the mountains.

Off the beaten track

At Back on Track, you have to work your way up to your personal line to white happiness under your own steam. Access aids such as lifts, cable cars or snowcats are out of place here. With bag and baggage, you head off the beaten track through the breathtaking mountain world of the Silvretta up to the Saarbrücker Hütte, the starting point for the freeride adventures ahead. Situated at an altitude of 2538 m, the hut is run by the friendly hosts Sabine and Bruno and is a place for conviviality, friendly acquaintances and conversation. And not to forget: the hut fun.

The surrounding terrain also invites you to enjoy spectacular descents. And so the successful ascent to the hut was far from over. Everyone got together to carve down the surrounding slopes in the last rays of sunshine of the day.

Competition day and ay Caramba

In fact, the dedicated organizers Raphael, Andi, Samuel and Bernhard have managed to select a new, untracked contest face in all five years so far. This year, the Winterberg (2931 m) was the venue for the competition. The challenging slope impressed with its length and wildness: rocky passages alternated with steep gullies, long ridges and wide snow fields. And so it was that the 38 skiers and snowboarders set off a firework display of spectacular skiing action. Every competitor was cheered, amazed, clapped and cheered.

The standard of the skiers and snowboarders was extremely high and their skiing and snowboarding performances were a feast for the eyes. Unfortunately, the competition day was overshadowed by a serious fall of a young skier. However, the professional organization made it possible to rescue the victim quickly by helicopter. On behalf of the entire Back on Track team, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the mountain rescue and mountain guide team led by Lukas Kühlechner and Jonny Marinac for the smooth rescue and the safe contest. We all wish our comrade a speedy recovery and that she can go skiing with us again soon! Get well soon, Maria

Celebrate. Free. Ride.

Once again, the philosophy of the Back on Track Feel Freeride Contest was duly celebrated with magnificent descents and well-deserved après-ski at the Saarbrücker Hütte. The highlight of the evening, however, was the first Riders Judgement in the five-year history of Back on Track. On all three days, a heavy artillery of media presence was deployed. Following the freeride contest, all the lines were therefore served up once again in retrospect. The crowd went wild at the sight of their competitors' performances on the big screen. The atmosphere was at its peak and everyone celebrated each other extensively! In the end, Franz-Josef Meyer aka Franzl in the men's skiing, Thomas Kessler aka Kessi in the men's snowboarding and Hanna Finkel in the women's skiing/snowboarding left the biggest impression on the audience. So let the pictures do the talking.

Thank you Raphael, Andi, Samuel and Bernhard for once again giving us an incomparable weekend in the Montafon mountains! To describe it in your words: This weekend was "Outstanding", Chapeau!

Many thanks also to the loyal sponsors Intersport Montafon-Rankweil-Dornbirn, Arc'teryx, Jones Snowboards, Black Crows, SP, Pieps, Clif Bar, Contour, Raiffeisenbank Bludenz-Montafon, Rhomberg, Silvretta and Montafon Tourismus for their support, without which this event would not have been possible!

Photo gallery

This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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