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Season in the Alps.

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Seb270
Posts: 14 - Karma: 184
Hey Newschoolers,

So i spent my first season in Whistler last year, and it was a super dope season where i learned really much about the backcountry, but also started learning the basics in the park M/L.

I just had my ACL, LCL and meniscus done 3,5 weeks ago, and i hope to be shredding in January and to the end of the season in the Alps this time.

Now I'm wondering which destination you guys think will suit a guy who's looking for both epic lines in the backcountry, and a descent park. Of course the nightlife means something to me too and the possibilities for descent jobs.

I've been looking at St. Anton and that is probably my top contender right now, but I've also been looking into Tignes(especially beacuse the danish freeride championships takes place there, and i would like to shred the face before the comp).

But I'm really open for suggestions, if you have awesome experiences from anywhere in the alps - let me know!
Jul 30 2014 1:25PM
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HolySchimmel
Posts: 1601 - Karma: 1,297
Well I have been living in Innsbruck for the last year and it's an overall awesome city (lots of students) with endless possibility shredding-wise.
Jul 30 2014 1:39PM
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Hackster
Posts: 145 - Karma: -11
St. Anton has decent backcountry but no reasonable park.

Do a search for all the other threads on the Alps, tons of info there since that topic has already been beaten to death.
Jul 30 2014 1:47PM
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skier58284
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 5,365
I have not skied in the Alps but from what I have heard look into Chamonix, Verbier, Zermatt, and La Grave.
Jul 30 2014 2:13PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,438
St Anton will be great for bc but yeah not the most parks around that area. It's also a pricey place to live but you could make good money there and the pass is fairly extensive.

I would look look at tinges and les deux alp as well. Deuc alp is grey as you have access to la grave and also all the parks an summer park on the deux alps side. Tinges is goo too I like the skiing there are the parks are good.

The he port de soliel area is great too. Live in morzine or lea gets and you will find work no problem. avoria has the stash park which is often rated in the top parks I Europe as well as quite a few standard parks.

People led will say Innsbruck too but I would not live there if your on a season just to ski. Live in resort. If your a student skiing in your spare time it's a great place.
Jul 30 2014 3:01PM
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FrankerZ
Posts: 223 - Karma: 1,129
I've been in st.anton many times and I keep going there every year. I'd say it's one of the best places for freeriding in Europe. The St. Anton resort is the most popular and it will get crowded and tracked pretty quickly.. but the real freeriding is in the backcountry of Stuben and Sonnenkopf (same lift pass) and no crowds.

As for parks, st anton has a small one which isnt that good but I think Warth (same lift pass) has a decent one.

Here's a great video from nimbus from Arlberg:

En Route Arlberg from NIMBUS INDEPENDENT on Vimeo.
Jul 30 2014 3:03PM
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FrankerZ
Posts: 223 - Karma: 1,129
FrankerZI've been in st.anton many times and I keep going there every year. I'd say it's one of the best places for freeriding in Europe. The St. Anton resort is the most popular and it will get crowded and tracked pretty quickly.. but the real freeriding is in the backcountry of Stuben and Sonnenkopf (same lift pass) and no crowds.

As for parks, st anton has a small one which isnt that good but I think Warth (same lift pass) has a decent one.

Here's a great video from nimbus from Arlberg:

En Route Arlberg from NIMBUS INDEPENDENT on Vimeo.


sry, here's the link

http://vimeo.com/49361754
Jul 30 2014 3:04PM
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HolySchimmel
Posts: 1601 - Karma: 1,297
I skied the big french resorts and I liked them too, but in my opinion, nothing really compares to the Innsbruck area in terms of options and variety. Plus the season pass (tirol card) is pretty awesome an can be used in a ton of resorts all over that austrian area (tirol).
I think it might be easier to communicate with the normal people in english, since a lot of french people are a bit distinct about their language.
Plus you get to know tons of people with the same interest because literally every student in innsbruck shreds in winter.
Jul 30 2014 4:20PM
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bennetwi
Posts: 31 - Karma: 92
Im going to St.Anton this season. its a shame to hear about the park being not so dope. A friend of mine said that the park crew there are quite good at knowing who the regular riders are and ask them what they'd like to see done.

Also... I hear St.anton has a train station... super easy to get around.

Super stoked for this season
Jul 30 2014 6:56PM
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Seb270
Posts: 14 - Karma: 184
FrankerZI've been in st.anton many times and I keep going there every year. I'd say it's one of the best places for freeriding in Europe. The St. Anton resort is the most popular and it will get crowded and tracked pretty quickly.. but the real freeriding is in the backcountry of Stuben and Sonnenkopf (same lift pass) and no crowds.

As for parks, st anton has a small one which isnt that good but I think Warth (same lift pass) has a decent one.

Here's a great video from nimbus from Arlberg:

En Route Arlberg from NIMBUS INDEPENDENT on Vimeo.


Awesome vid man, i also heard that you could reach some pretty epic faces just by traversing 10-20 mins. Do you go touring, or do you just have regular bindings on your pows?
Jul 31 2014 7:54AM
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Seb270
Posts: 14 - Karma: 184
bennetwiIm going to St.Anton this season. its a shame to hear about the park being not so dope. A friend of mine said that the park crew there are quite good at knowing who the regular riders are and ask them what they'd like to see done.

Also... I hear St.anton has a train station... super easy to get around.

Super stoked for this season


Sweet man! I'm pretty certain now that i will see you there. Do you have any accomodation yet? And when do you plan on starting the season there?

From what i've heard theres a small town not far from the St. Anton village, where accomodations are alot cheaper.

Also check this video out, one of my friends enjoying the bc in St. Anton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SVtXeXX9Z0
Jul 31 2014 7:57AM
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FrankerZ
Posts: 223 - Karma: 1,129
Seb270Awesome vid man, i also heard that you could reach some pretty epic faces just by traversing 10-20 mins. Do you go touring, or do you just have regular bindings on your pows?


Yes, I've seen some of those faces in person and they aren't that far from the lifts. I've managed well without a touring setup, a backpack that can carry skis will do just fine.
Jul 31 2014 8:10AM
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FrankerZ
Posts: 223 - Karma: 1,129
Seb270Sweet man! I'm pretty certain now that i will see you there. Do you have any accomodation yet? And when do you plan on starting the season there?

From what i've heard theres a small town not far from the St. Anton village, where accomodations are alot cheaper.

Also check this video out, one of my friends enjoying the bc in St. Anton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SVtXeXX9Z0


I have never spent a season there, just trips. Will be doing a season trip after I finish school in 2016.
The accomodations are more expensive in St. Anton but you could check out villages like Pettneu, St. Jakob, St. Christoph, Stuben and Langen. Those are really small places so you won't find any nightlife like St anton but they are cheaper. A nice thing is that there are free buses from all arlberg villages to eachother.

I've always stayed at Langen or Zams (20min drive to st anton). You could check those out too if you have a car.
Jul 31 2014 9:21AM
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 132
I'm trying to do a season in the Alps as well. The problem Im running into is the 3 month visa for americans. Anyone figure out a way around this?
Jul 31 2014 10:15PM
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powerslide
Posts: 570 - Karma: 273
Mayerhofen in ziller all you need i one valley
Aug 1 2014 6:07PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51594 - Karma: 161,747
I'm hoping to get over there. Maybe the winter after this.
Aug 2 2014 4:12AM
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dekadent
Posts: 7 - Karma: 8
Just a heads up, the Danish Freeride champs is a joke. Really.

On topic, did my first season in Val d'Isére, which is connected to Tignes by the Espace Killy area. Great backcountry, although dangerous as hell. Think the tally went up to 6 people killed during my season, so know your limits and your gear.

Really, just pick any big area and go for it. Obviously if you know the language(French/German) it'd be awesome for getting a job. If you're Danish you might wanna look up Le Petit Danois in Valdi for work, or go with any tour/hotel operator.
Aug 2 2014 8:47AM
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elis.jones1
Posts: 35 - Karma: 67
Spent the winter just gone in Tignes, nightlife was reasonable (massive new years event), backcountry was good, and so were the parks, super dependable snow which is really well maintained. Two parks to choose from, Tignes and Val park. Most accommodation is ski in ski out, especially in Val Claret, if not lifts are always close. Loads of easily accessible big lines, some super sketchy faces though, but not many tree lines at all if. A pretty expensive place to live, especially if you go out much. If/When I do my next season I will most likely spend it in Austria.
Aug 2 2014 9:22AM
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