If you feel that the speed on a hard, polished track no longer pleases you as before. Or after a good descent you doubt what exactly will happen to you first - hitting the lift pylon or crossing the sound barrier. Maybe you should try freeriding. New off-piste skills and new equipment will be required, but it will be a fresh delight and a new sensation, without betraying your favorite hobby.
TIGNES, FRANCE – Correct terrain and may have the best instructors in the world.
This place in the Alpine wilderness offers 33,000 beds and you can imagine that the fresh snow that falls will be trampled in the blink of an eye. But that never happens. Anyone who hires a guide or instructor for off-piste skiing is sure to find untouched snow, even days after the snowfall. Especially on the western side of the resort, the side opposite the adjacent resort of Val d'Isere.
The resort has a wide variety of terrain. There is a lot of hard black tin. But you'll also find a lot of short nicks between tracks, mid-sized chutes and half-bowls. The resort maintains its off-piste "NatuRide" atmosphere. There are many specially groomed and marked trails and, most importantly, protected from avalanches. These slopes roll out faster than other off-piste routes, but if you have time, you can ride them without a guide and avalanche equipment.
VAIL, COLORADO - The ultimate off-piste playground.
For beginners to freeride, North American resorts have one significant advantage over European resorts: they provide avalanche safety throughout their entire territory, on or off piste. And you don't need to take a guide or special equipment to enjoy freeride.
Vail has excellent opportunities for this ski de-stress thanks to its famous Back Bowls. They face south and west, which means conditions are better in the middle of the season; in spring they become limp from the sun. But on a cold, quiet day in the middle of the week, after a snowfall, there is no better playground to nurture your off-piste skills: not too steep a slope, not too long and almost free of trees and rocks. Each slope ends with a lift, no forced backcountry required. Ride as long as your legs can hold you.
HOCHFUGEN, AUSTRIA – One of the friendliest off-piste resorts in the Alps.
The Austrians call Hochfügen Schneeloch - “snow hole”. Located in a small mountain valley in the west of Zillertal, it does not miss a single snowfall and shakes every last crumb out of the snow clouds. Skiing above and below the tree line is varied and interesting. But the best thing is that there is a friendly freerider atmosphere. At the very top of the key off-pist descents there are boards telling you what the conditions of the descent are and what awaits you ahead.
Alas and ah! These slopes are not avalanche-proof like the slopes in Tignes or North American resorts. And this is good again, if you are just learning freeride, you will find yourself in the tender arms of local guides. Under their careful guidance, in a few days you will see how your technique has grown. You will feel impenetrably confident on the slopes of the alpine bowl located above and on the roller coaster below, through the forest. .
VAL THORENS, FRANCE – powder, sun, rock and roll.
Val Thorens is located in a high and large mountain bowl in the western part of the Three Valleys. The very top of the bowl, where there is usually a golden rim, is complex, but just below are gentle and treeless snow fields. When the clouds descend, visibility here in diffuse light is poor, but in sunny weather this is a real Valhalla for freeriders.
ÅRE, SWEDEN—Smooth turns and inexpensive lessons.
Ore stands at the foot of the convex round mountains called Orescutan. Their upper slopes are a blissful place to practice off-piste turns. No trees or rocks, the fields are ideal for confident progress in technology. Heavy snowfalls do not occur here; there is no need to wait for fresh fluff up to your knees. Usually up to 10 cm of fresh snow falls, which is generally satisfactory. There is enough snow on these slopes to be soft and airy, but not enough to make you run out of steam after 20 turns.
Good news for those who want to learn off-piste skiing, the cost of an instructor is almost two times lower than in the Alps.
LECH, AUSTRIA – very snowy, very chic.
If you want to practice in deep snow, take note of Lech and Zurs. Two old upscale resorts sit on the northern side of the Arlberg Pass. The level of snowfall here is the highest in the Alps. In Lech the average precipitation per season is 7.3 meters, and in Zurs more than 10 meters. The slopes here are not as steep as in neighboring St. Anton, which is important for a learning freerider. A big plus is the lack of competition in virgin lands. Regular visitors to these resorts prefer to spend time on the well-groomed slopes or while away their time in five-star hotels and expensive restaurants.
GRAND TARGHEE, WYOMING – Deep fluff for selfish freeriders.
This is a small place at the end of the world. Almost no one goes there. But on the right day, Grand Targhee is a true paradise on earth for freeriders of all genders and all generations.
There are three answers to the question “why?” First, the resort has a western exposure and harvests a rich harvest of snow from the Idaho plains. Targhee claims an average of 12.7 meters of snow falls here each year, which puts the small resort straight into the global snow super league.
Secondly, there are no big cities nearby, and those who could come are distracted by a larger resort - Jackson Hole. And the resort is deserted, you may even think that this is your personal ski resort.
Thirdly, the height of the slopes is ideal for off-piste skiing for skiers and snowboarders without much experience. Not too flat as to be boring. Not too steep to be scary. Rare trees will add flavor if you like slalom. Your experience and confidence are guaranteed to grow.
Today in Russia there are officially more than 200 ski centers; entire villages and cities serve them. Gradually, the equipment, service, and slopes are approaching the coveted “European level”, and there are also indicators for which Russian mountains have no equal, as the full slopes prove every year. The Russian portal strana.ru has collected the top 10 best ski resorts in Russia to ease the pain of choice for future tourists.
Among the southern resorts, it was named the best ski resort, mainly because this season, during the competitions of the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Krasnaya Polyana, all ski centers will be closed for skiing, except for “Mountain Carousel”.
Peculiarities: Krasnaya Polyana was chosen as the capital of the Olympics because of its unique climate. It is protected from the north by the Main Caucasus Range, from the south by the Ah-Tsu gorge, so the winter temperature here rarely drops below minus ten. Thanks to the mild mountain-sea climate, snow falls here with rare looseness, transparency and airiness, with thick snowflakes. This creates excellent freeride opportunities; groomed trails are soft, with fluffy snowdrifts on the sides. In addition, there is always the opportunity to take the train and an hour later find yourself among the palm trees on the seashore. In winter in Adler the temperature can rise to plus fifteen.
In the Caucasus region they are recognized as the best skiing (Terskol village in the Elbrus region of Kabardino-Balkaria) and Dombayskaya Polyana (Karachay-Cherkess Republic).
Features: freeride capabilities. You can even go from Elbrus to Cheget, but this is more suitable for skiers: there will be many flat sections along the way. But the probability of avalanches is very high. There is a map of freeride routes along Cheget and Elbrus, all of them pass in the so-called “couloirs” - mountainous terrain left by streams of melt and rainwater. The problem is that it is along the couloirs that avalanches occur. Therefore, you should not leave the slopes if you do not feel confident enough. You should always have the phone number of local rescuers at hand - their point is in Terskol. On your first outings, take an experienced partner with you, preferably a guide. And never go “in the field” without minimal avalanche equipment. The slopes on both mountains are very rocky, so experienced skiers warn: “You can go down to Azau, but your skis are just useless.”
A number of disadvantages of "Elbrus" were also noted - its height is 4200 m. At this altitude, even climbers are already seriously preparing for the ascent: they train their bodies, get used to the height, and sit there for days. Skiers rush up and down, overcoming a height of several kilometers and a height difference of 2 km. But despite this, the resort is becoming more and more popular every year and the flow of tourists is increasing. Dombay lags behind more than other Russian resorts in terms of service. Despite the appearance of hotels and rentals, this is not yet Europe at all.
A mountaineering and skiing Mecca since Soviet times. The mountain offers a dizzying view of the Dombay Valley among the fir peaks. In addition, the climate here is very mild, the temperature in winter rarely drops below 5 degrees, and in bright sunshine you can sunbathe without clothes. There are a lot of skiers in love with Dombay; as a rule, the reasons cited are the incredible natural beauty and great opportunities for off-piste skiing.
Disadvantages: Dombay lags behind more than other Russian resorts in terms of service. Despite the appearance of hotels and rentals, this is not yet Europe at all. For example, there is no proper toilet on the mountain. In addition, they may be rude, cheat, unexpectedly change the price of the lift right before boarding, or offer to pay less, but straight into the employee’s pocket.
Recognized as the best northern resort. The peculiarity of the resort is that in Kirovsk there is a polar night from November to January, during which time there are only a few trails with artificial lighting. But then comes the polar day, when you can ride after dark until 9 pm. Another disadvantage: finding some kind of entertainment in Kirovsk, besides skiing, is quite a difficult task. It’s worth coming here in groups and organizing your own leisure time.
Abzakovo and Zavyalikha are recognized as the best ski resorts in the Urals. has only one chairlift for 18 km of slopes. A rope rope longer than 1 km can be very inconvenient, especially for snowboarders. The chair is located in a fairly ventilated place, so it is easy to freeze. There is everything for a fancy holiday here: a mountain where you can ride in a relaxed manner, a cafe with a casino nearby, a swimming pool, massage, saunas and so on. However, the resort’s heyday is already behind us: prices for services still remain high. On the territory of the Abzakovo holiday home there is a water park, a zoo, a shooting range, horse riding and even a rally track, but most of these entertainments close when it gets dark.
More suitable for skiers than snowboarders: all its runs end in long, gentle slopes, which will not be easy for snowboarders, even experienced ones, but skiers can relax and unwind after the descent. There is no infrastructure around the mountain at Zavyalikha. On the mountain itself there are a couple of cafes, rentals, an instructor and toilets, but that’s all. Nearby is the city of Trekhgorny, which has closed status. Foreigners are prohibited from entering the area, and Russians have to undergo a full check at one of the traffic police stations on the way to skiing.
The most popular ski resorts in Russia remain the Siberian resorts, and the best of them are “Grace” (Belokurikha), “Sheregesh”, and the Bobrovy Log fun park.
The peculiarity is that people come here primarily for treatment, and then for entertainment like skiing, so the development of the slopes is not a priority for the city. Cafes, restaurants for every budget, many hotels, bowling, nightlife. Communications have been established with major transport hubs such as Barnaul and Novosibirsk.
What makes it special is the endless possibilities for off-piste skiing; there are no avalanches here. The trails are mostly separated by forest, along which you can also ride in all directions. Excellent conditions for freeride are created by snow - light and airy, the thickness of which in the season is about 4 meters. An ideal place to teach freeriding to beginners. Another characteristic feature of Sheregesh is its lift system. Most of the ski lifts on the mountain are owned by three operators, each with their own prices and lift passes. Sector A is “owned” by the groups “Kaskad-Podem” and “SkyWay”; a day of skiing costs 1,000 rubles for both. Riding in sector E will cost 700 rubles per day. You can also buy cards from all operators and simply put money on them, which is debited when passing through the turnstiles. The main thing is not to get confused.
Located right within the city of Krasnoyarsk, a 20-minute drive from the center. This is a year-round entertainment center that offers not only ski slopes, but also various extreme attractions, for example, the longest in Europe “Rodelbahn” - a rail track along which special sleighs run, manually controlled by levers. Disadvantages: there is a ski school next to the fun park, so the slopes are often occupied by athletes, which ordinary tourists are not warned about. As a result, several slopes are closed to visitors, and the cost of the ski pass remains the same. All this leads to the fact that guests often complain about the high prices of the fun park, noting that in neighboring regions a day of skiing will cost much less than the local 4 hours.
The Sorochany sports resort was recognized as the best ski resort in the central region of Russia.
Features: Compared to its neighbors on the list, Sorochany can hardly claim to be a real ski resort. However, we could not ignore them: more than 1 million people ski and board in Moscow. And those who do not have the opportunity to go to the mountains are forced to look nearby for a substitute. In this capacity, “Sorochany” is perfect. The main feature is the ability to ride in the light until late at night - up to 2-3 hours. There are very few people at this time.
Disadvantages: high cost with very low mountains. Despite the distance from the capital of 50 km, you need to understand that this is a Moscow resort with corresponding prices. “Sorochany” has enough competitors, but “Sorochany” is still considered the best resort in terms of the ski service provided, so those who want to ski in the Moscow region still come here.
A first-person account of how several freeriders were caught in an avalanche in the Irkutsk region. One small mistake: all participants in the descent were carried off the rocks by a huge mass of snow and ice. Everyone survived, but they were literally on the ropes.
Now in the small hall of the Artplay center there is an exhibition Helipro Chronicles dedicated to freeride skating. Anyone who looks at colorful photographs of mountains and snow flying from under a board directly into the camera lens is taken by the grandeur of nature and human capabilities, but few people think about how dangerous this can be.
Freeride can only be understood by trying to ride in the mountains on deep untouched snow on a board or skis. At such moments, freeriders experience a euphoria that dulls all self-preservation instincts, overcome by greed and impatience to be the first to ride where there is not a single trace yet. In this material we will tell you what freeriding is and how to start doing it.
Physical training
First of all, you need to take care of the physical condition of your body. One descent does not last long - depending on the length of the slope and your preparedness, but even one ride can be so tiring that you will ride and scream in pain. In this case, it is difficult to talk about pleasure.
First of all, the legs suffer, of course. Your knees are your natural shock absorber, so it’s best to pump them up well in the off-season. Do squats and the Viennese chair exercise (press your back against the wall with your knees bent, as if sitting on a chair and try to stay in this position for as long as possible). During the descent, the knees should be bent at all times to maintain balance and absorb shock.
The second important place during descent is your back. It’s also worth preparing your back for a trip to the mountains: any fitness club has back exercise machines, and if you don’t like a sweaty gym, then use your bed as a workout machine. Position yourself on the bed so that the lower part of your body remains on it, and the body above the waist is outside. With dumbbells in your hands, do inclines, increasing the load over time. If you have a weak back, you will be bent like a puppet with every push and jump, and this can cause you to lose control of the board.
Lectures on avalanche safety
Year after year, avalanche specialists and mountain guides do more and more research into avalanches, take thousands of measurements and cut out cubic meters of snow, assessing their density. However, no one will ever give you a 100% guarantee that a layer of snow cannot melt away in this particular place. An avalanche can never be ruled out, but every effort can be made to ensure that your descent is enjoyable and as safe as possible.
This part of preparing for off-piste skiing is very important. It is better to never neglect knowledge, and if you and your friends sometimes go off the slopes, knowledge about avalanche safety, snow conditions and skills in searching for victims and providing first aid can save someone’s life. Lectures on avalanche safety are often given by an avalanche expert from Krasnaya Polyana, an engineer-meteorologist at the Gorki Gorod resort. Maxim Pankov.
Equipment
It is a small sensor that can receive or send signals. You absolutely cannot climb off-piste without it. When seconds count, this thing will help your friends or rescuers find you in the snow, and it could save your life. You can even be in shorts and a T-shirt, but you should be wearing a beeper, at least out of respect for those who are skating with you.
The right clothes
You can talk about how to dress for the mountains for hours, but the most important thing here is clothing with a good membrane (fabric that does not allow water to pass through from the outside and removes moisture from the inside) and complete sealing of the set (pants that are fastened with the jacket, cuffs with holes for thumbs and special valves on the pants to prevent snow from getting under the legs). As soon as you find yourself up to your neck in snow, you will immediately understand which joints of your clothes are leaking, and for the rest of the day they will remind you of themselves in the most unpleasant way.
Backpack with ABS system
An advanced and expensive accessory that managed to save the lives of hundreds of people. As soon as you fall into an avalanche, you pull a special handle on your backpack, and two strong air wings instantly open behind your back, which will help you stay on the surface of the avalanche.
Of course, snowboarders mostly ride without a helmet. This is an inexplicable phenomenon - after all, everyone understands that a helmet will help avoid serious injuries, but at the same time they come up with all sorts of excuses (it’s ugly, it won’t save you anyway). Don’t think that the backcountry is exclusively soft and fluffy snow into which you fall like cotton candy. Trees, rocks, rocks - all this can unexpectedly burst into your life and leave you disabled. What can we say about the fact that the avalanche largely consists of ice blocks.
Types of skiing
GO OFF THE ROUTE
The riskiest and easiest way. As a rule, there are wide open spaces for skiing near the slopes that you need to be aware of. To do this, it is best to grab someone from the locals, and even better, consult with the avalanche service workers. Never follow someone else's trail, this is the most common mistake. You may find yourself in an avalanche or riding on a rock.
BACKCOUNTRY WITH GUIDE
Correct and relatively inexpensive. First, you walk for several hours, and then for several minutes you descend where only a few descended before you. It's expensive, but inexpensive and quite safe. Each resort has backcountry guides who know the local mountains and are in constant contact with the avalanche service.
SNOWMOBILE RIDING
Not cheap, but convenient - snowmobiles here act as a lift and allow you to make several descents in a day.
HELIBOARDING
In a matter of minutes, a helicopter takes you where only a bear’s paw has gone before, and you, together with experienced guides and riders, rush down the slope, where a helicopter is already waiting for you to take you back to another peak. This is a real paradise for those who love to ride off-piste, but it will, of course, cost you a lot.
THE ART OF FLIGHT MOVIE TRAILER
Where to ride in Russia
There are many resorts around the world famous for safe off-piste skiing, but in Russia there are not many of them.
The safest in terms of skiing near the slopes is the Sochi resort Rosa Khutor. The most experienced avalanche workers work here; during avalanche danger, the snow is removed with special gas cannons, and even off-piste there are restrictive signs (it is better not to drive past the signs with skulls, and at your own peril and risk to cross the Danger signs). If you are riding off-piste, a lifeguard can stop you and check for a beeper.
Sheregesh is a Siberian resort famous for its light and dry snow. The infrastructure and avalanche service here may not be as developed, but the gentle slope configuration reduces the possibility of avalanches. The winter season here begins in November.
Text: Tanya Chekhova
Spa care in Swiss style. Ski resorts in Switzerland in questions and answers.- Which resorts are best suited for families with children?
The best resorts for families with children in Switzerland are awarded the “Families Welcome” certificate of quality. These are not just advertising “tricks” of the resorts, this is a strict certification system for a number of parameters, and resorts with these certificates regularly undergo strict inspections.
What to look for when choosing a family resort:
- abundance of blue trails;
- availability of training trails near hotels/apartments;
- availability and location of children's playgrounds;
- availability of kindergartens and ski schools near your residence;
- climate (high mountain resorts are not very suitable for holidays with babies);
- duration of the transfer;
- availability of apartments or kitchen (if this is necessary due to diet or allergies);
- the ability to walk with a stroller (look at the map of walking paths, do not choose resorts located only along the main road, in the gorge).
For families with small children, the most important criteria may be the proximity of the resort to the airport, the ability to walk with a stroller or near the educational slide (if older children in the family ride), and the presence of a kitchen in the room. For a comfortable holiday with skiing children, just choose a resort where there are many blue and easy red slopes. Ski schools operate in all Alpine resorts; the language barrier, as a rule, does not matter much, because... The basic principle of training in the Alps is “do as I do.” If your child absolutely needs a Russian-speaking instructor, it is better to order his services in advance or join Russian ski schools that regularly provide training at Alpine resorts. Many family resorts offer significant discounts on accommodation and ski passes for families with children. In (1.5-2 hours Geneva) children under 9 years old can ski for free. The Villars ski pass includes 125 km of pistes, including the Glacier3000 glacier and the Les Diablerets ski area. Most of them are not too difficult, blue and red, although you can also find interesting freeride routes if you wish. Above the resort there are quite a few slopes suitable for skiing with the whole family; strong skiers will be interested in the slopes leading to Les Diablerets or neighboring Gryon. During the season, the resort runs special programs and events for families with children: the “Villars Night Show” with fireworks and theatrical performances, ski school demonstrations, astronomy and magic lessons, competitions and competitions.
In the central part of the canton of Graubünden there is a small resort called Arosa, offering good conditions for families with children. It is considered one of the sunniest in Switzerland and is located at an altitude of 1800 meters. The resort offers a variety of events and activities each week, especially for families (free for all holidaymakers). Many hotels are equipped with their own wellness centers with swimming pools and spacious spas, there are children's playgrounds next to the slopes, the resort has a special children's club, and there are toboggan runs and walking paths around the resort. Arosa's ski area is small (about 70 km of slopes), but with an optimal balance of slopes and modern lifts.
Another child-friendly resort is located in the Jungfrau region, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the country and in the Alps. The largest resort in the region is located at an altitude of 1034 meters. Together with , Grindelwald is a member of the elite Best of the Alps club. This resort is highly valued by sledging enthusiasts: around Grindelwald there are very long and picturesque sledding runs of varying difficulty (more than 50 km). There are not many top-class hotels in this resort; it offers a good selection of chalets and apartments. The ski area around Grindelwald mainly offers blue and red slopes, which are comfortable and very picturesque. In addition to all the possibilities for active recreation, Grindelwald offers a new service for thrill-seekers. Those who wish can fly 800 m down at a speed of 80 km/h on a special attraction - First Flyer. This unique, absolutely safe analogue of the bungee will appeal to those who love speed.
Small resorts in Portes du Soleil are also great for families with children, but don’t look for luxury accommodation and five-star hotels there.
- I want to spend my skiing holiday, but my wife doesn’t ski and wants to go to a spa resort. Where is the best place to go?
- One of the best resorts for those who want to ride and swim is Leukerbad, located in the canton of Valais. The resort in the full sense of the word corresponds to the saying “just what the doctor ordered.” Alpine skiing and other winter activities in Leukerbad are rather an addition to the local thermal springs, known since Roman times. Skiing in Leukerbad is going well, although experts, accustomed to hundreds of kilometers of pistes, may wince with disgust - there are only 50 km of pistes. However, the resort's ski area is very beautiful and perfect for intermediate skiers. Recently, the “Welsh Bath Village” was added to the thermal waters of the Lindner Alpentherme complex. Small traditional huts built from old wood house baths and saunas with different temperatures, a hammam, a waterfall and an ice-cold plunge pool. The Burgerbad thermal complex will appeal to families with children: water slides, swimming pools and various attractions are open to them. A visit to the resort's thermal complexes is included in the Snow and Spa ski pass, and after skiing, most guests head to the pools and saunas. Many hotels in Leukerbad have their own thermal springs, and in addition to the standard set for any wellness center, guests are offered a variety of exotic treatments. The 6-day Leukerbad ski pass includes 1 day of skiing in the neighboring resort of Crans-Montana, without spending too much on the road to other resorts in Valais.
In addition, there are thermal springs and extensive spa centers in Bad Ragaz, St. Moritz and some other resorts. Many five-star hotels offer excellent wellness centers where you can undergo a full-fledged wellness course or simply order a massage after skiing. A complete list of wellness hotels and resorts can be found Here. - Which resorts are best suited for freeride? Switzerland has many opportunities for off-piste skiing: the mountains themselves and the abundance of snow are conducive to this. A cult place for freeriders all over the world is Verbier(canton of Valais), where major international freeride competitions are held annually. The best time to travel to Verbier is February-March. Offering many patrolled off-piste routes, the slopes of this resort will be of interest to both skiers and snowboarders. Heli-skiing programs and skiing on the border of Switzerland and Italy are offered, above this resort in the season you can find many excellent opportunities for off-piste. It is also one of the most beautiful regions of Switzerland. The region offers a very varied terrain and an abundance of snow even at the beginning and end of the season. Above the villages there are special freeride zones for beginners (patrolled by lifeguards), as well as very interesting, more difficult routes. and its ski areas Corvatsch and Diavolezza have been attracting freeriders for many years in a row: there is always snow in these places, and in terms of the complexity of the terrain and the beauty of the mountains, the Engadine Mountains can compete with other beautiful places in the Alps. Absolutely wild slopes, from which an unforgettable view of the legendary peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau open above. It is in these places that the extreme Inferno race has been taking place since 1928. - Where is the best place for beginners to go? Every Swiss resort has slopes for beginners, but some are better suited for getting on your skis. Many blue runs are located in the resorts of Villars, Les Liablerets, in the Portes du Soleil region, Crans-Montana, Grindelwald and Wengen, Arosa. The ski area for beginners in Saas-Fee is well organized and is located next to the resort. There are many beautiful blue runs in Gstaad and St. Moritz. If you plan to travel with a company with different levels of skiing, it is better to pay attention to the largest regions of Switzerland, then both beginners and experts will be satisfied. Verbier is not the best choice for beginners; in Zermatt, ski areas for beginners are not very close to the resort. In Saas-Fee, the upper slopes are more suitable for those who are already confident skiers, although the lower "paddling pool" is excellent for children and those who are just starting to ski. Beginners can comfortably start skiing in Leukerbad; there is a special Erli ski area right next to the resort. But in the ski area itself there are few spacious blue trails for training; most of the slopes have a solid slope. If you don’t want to ski for the entire duration of your trip, but for several days, combining skiing with excursions, choose resorts located closer to major cities (for example, Villars, Le Diableret, Gstaad, Crans-Montana and Grindelwald - the road from them to Geneva, Lausanne or Berna will take no more than 1.5-2 hours). However, the compact size of Switzerland allows you to quickly find yourself anywhere. Before traveling to the resort with beginners, it is recommended that you carefully study the piste map and pay attention to the length and location of the blue pistes. In Switzerland, the difficulty of most blue trails is as advertised.
St. Moritz has repeatedly hosted world-class freeride competitions, in particular stages of the Freeride World Tour.
Activities such as winter freeride are a clear example of this, because just a few decades ago few people knew about it, much less practiced it. Considering the fact that freeriding does not require any complex equipment or inventory, the main thing is careful preparation and a successful choice of slope.
What is freeride
Winter freeride is alpine skiing and snowboarding on a wild, unprepared downhill route (from point A to point B). In other words, freeride recognizes only those slopes that are outside the maintenance and preparation of the ski industry (industry). This discipline is fraught with many dangers and pitfalls due to natural reasons, since there are potential threats:
- avalanches;
- cliffs;
- uneven coverage;
- dangers associated with unexplored territory;
- and so on.
Nevertheless, the discipline is thriving and developing, because the undoubted advantages can be considered adrenaline and impressions that no other sport can provide. In addition, going down wild, untouched snow is believed to bring out the full potential of alpine skiing and snowboarding.
List of the best places for freeride in the Russian Federation (2017)
In the Russian Federation, freeride has become very popular among active and athletic youth. First of all, due to the very concept and advantages of this discipline, and secondly, due to the huge selection of high-quality trails that are fully suitable for freeride. After all, Russia boasts a vast vast territory with picturesque landscapes, as well as a variety of climatic zones and topography. The popularity of freeride indirectly emphasizes the high demand for snowboard rentals in St. Petersburg.
Today, the most popular places for freeriding are:
- Mamai (a picturesque area located on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia).
- Adzhigardak (Republic of Bashkiria)
- Priiskovy (Republic of Khakassia).
- Elbrus region (Kabardino-Balkaria).
- Sheregesh (Kemerovo).
- Krasnaya Polyana (located in Sochi).
- Medvezhiy (Khabarovsk Territory).
- Kamchatka.
- And other equally successful suitable places.
Each area is unique in its own way, and in addition to its characteristics, it will delight everyone with the beauty of pristine nature. All of the above meet certain criteria. Namely: they are located in safe seismic zones, have a snow cover of at least two meters high, and also have a certain infrastructure for ascent, descent and first aid.
Description of the most popular routes
Mamai
One of the most successful places for freeriding, which has already become traditional during its development in our country. It is located in the south of Lake Baikal and boasts a favorable climate, rare occurrence of avalanches and other dangerous circumstances. The freeride season is about five months.
Its slopes are not surrounded by dense forest, which makes for a safe descent. The length of elephants is on average three meters, and the elevation changes are about 600 meters. There are many attractions and developed infrastructure. It should be noted that it works ski rental, thanks to which everyone will be able to rent or find a replacement for broken equipment (and this is not uncommon) Since ski rental in St. Petersburg is far away, the possibility of it in Mamaia is a real help!
Priiskovy
The best place for active and courageous youth who are equally active in freeride. The village of Priiskovy is located in Siberia, in the depths of the Kuznetsky Altau mountains. There are numerous trails here that boast excellent snow coverage, as well as relatively flat elephant terrain and no dense forests. There are no ski lifts in Priiskovoye, so you will have to make your own efforts to get to the desired route.
Adzhigardak
It is the oldest and most famous ski resort. In addition to excellent infrastructure and picturesque nature, it can offer an excellent selection of destinations that are perfect for freeride. There are more than ten slopes, the average length ranges from 500 to 1800 meters, and the elevation difference is 350 m. Adzhigardak has an excellent snow park, a youth school for education and training, as well as many lifts, which significantly save energy for the most important thing - exercise sports.
The listed slopes are only a small part of the potential, which carries a significant incentive for the development of freeriding in Russia, as well as in the world. The places mentioned in the table have approximately the same characteristics as the ski resorts described above.
