We met Christoph "Schöffi" Schöfegger for an interview to get an insight into the local freeride programme for the next generation.
The Freeride Academy Innsbruck association consists of 6 coaches who, as professional freeriders, accompany kids and teenagers in the backcountry throughout the season and pass on their expertise to the next generation. The team is made up of former contest riders, state-certified ski or snowboard instructors and guides and filmmakers who share a passion: riding off-piste together.
1 coach - 8 kids - 8 days
1 coach - 8 kids - 8 days has established itself as a successful concept for the Academy. This means that 8 children aged between 10 and 18 go off-road together as a team with the same coach on 8 days throughout the season. The kids and teens can therefore adapt to the group and the programme and choice of terrain can be individually adapted by the coach. For the 22/23 season, around 40 kids and teens are divided into 5 groups (there is a special freeride contest group and a girls' group). The groups are divided up according to skiing or snowboarding ability, but also according to friendships and age, as fun should always be at the forefront and everyone can learn something from each other. The only requirement for participation is sufficient skiing ability to be able to ski smoothly off-piste. And motivation, of course!