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Zinal Freeride Powder Tour

Zinal - Set beneath the ‘Imperial Crown’ of five 4000m peaks – Bishorn, Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn, Dent Blanche – and with the Matterhorn looming just beyond, this is still one of the wilder regions in the Alps.  With a relatively small lift system and mainly intermediate slopes, this resort doesn’t attract many visitors each year. This makes it perfect, as it has a huge dedicated freeride area and the chances are you’ll be riding fresh lines for the entire week!

Flights and Transfers: Flights from the UK into Geneva airport, from there it is approximately a 2 hr transfer up into the resort via taxi.

The Lodge:  Staying in the comfortable Chalet Edelweiss, run by British ex-pats Eric and Penny, this will be the perfect base for your freeride adventure. The chalet is warm and comfortable, each room is furnished with local antiques, reclaimed timbers and original oak and pine floors that add to the character. It has 4 rooms in total and can sleep 8 people. The chalet is run on a fully catered basis, for one night of your stay you will eat out in one of the local restaurants. Penny or Eric would be more than happy to suggest and book a suitable location for you.

Itinerary: Extensive, varied terrain, big vertical drops, north and east facing slopes and a good snow record combine with the essential and hard-to-find ingredient – no crowds! Throughout the season, even days after the last snowfall, you can find untracked snow. Your local guide will take you to some of the best spots in the area and ensure you get the most out of your stay. Be it one or two days to get a feel for the terrain, or book them for the whole week and be treated to a unique freeride experience that few get to enjoy.

Guide price:  Based on 2 people for 7 nights around £1200 per person and includes:

• 7 nights lodging
• Breakfast every day
• Tea and cakes on 6 afternoons
• 4 course evening meal
• Wine, beer & softdrinks throughout the evening
• Tea and coffee whenever you want
• Free internet & wifi access
• Linen and towels
• Piste orientation
• Tourist tax
• Return private transfers to Geneva Airport
• A private guide is around chf 500 per day for up to 3 people.

Get in touch to find out more and to be introduced to the local suppliers.

swiss sidecountry with a swedish twist

Engelberg – a beautiful and historic town, with a grand Alpine setting and a freerider’s dream! “The mountain of the angel” was founded in 1120 by a Benedictine monk who heard an angel telling him to build a monastery where the town now lies. Today the monastery still stands and Engelberg echoes to the calls of skiers here for incredible off-piste skiing and one of the world’s longest vertical descents. We love it and we’re happy to present it to you!

Flights and Transfers: Flights from the UK into Zurich airport. From there it is a short 1 1/2hr transfer up into the resort.

The Lodge: In the heart of the resort is a small and recently renovated hotel. Run by a Swedish pair, it has a distinctly Scandinavian feel on the inside thanks to their keen eye for clean interior design during the refurbishment. Most importantly though is that the lodge epitomises the freeride scene and is well known amongst the powder skiing fraternity. With their laid back friendly atmosphere, fantastic hospitality and food, and a focus on getting the most from the mountain, everything about this lodge helps build the stoke for an awesome week.

Itinerary: Engelberg is situated at an altitude of 1000 metres, with the slopes reaching far above that and even a glacier to enjoy. It is the biggest ski resort in central Switzerland, with 82 km of pistes to make your legs tired.  Riding powder is what it’s all about in Engelberg, and our guides will take you on an unforgettable downhill tour of powder runs. If you’re prepared for a short hike (around 1 hr), you’ll be in untracked fresh all day long. This tour includes 3 days of guiding as part of a shared group (maximum 8 per guide), and they’ll take to you to the best spots in resort and in the near surrounding slopes based on conditions of the day. For a small surcharge why not upgrade one of the days to an offsite trip? Within one hour’s drive from Engelberg, you’ll find another “freeride-mecca” – Andermatt. The steep northern slopes lead down to the 1500 meter lower Urseren-valley. Skins and touring bindings are essential, since the best rides must be deserved.

Guide price:  Based on 4 people for 7 nights start from £1400per person and includes:

• 7 nights lodging
• 3 days guided backcountry riding
• 6 day lift pass
• Return private transfers to Zurich Airport
• Breakfast each morning
• Add around £42 a head for a day tour to Andermatt.

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

Still need convincing? Ok, check out this vid below of the freshies to be had in this area. We didn’t make it, but it helps give you an idea of what’s on offer:

Epic Italian Freeride Adventures on a budget

Located just over 90 minutes from Turin, and making up part of the Aosta Valley ski area, are the secret resorts of  Monte Rosa. Remaining relatively unknown to the masses, but a place that should firmly sit as a central plank for all serious freeriders, here you will find  the perfect combination of steep vertical descents,  tight couloirs and wide-open powder fields, all easily accessed by an efficient and quick lift system. The Aosta Valley area is made up of a number of sleepy resorts that offer up to 180 individual pistes, and the Monte Rosa area has within it the small resorts of Gressoney and Alagna. Although the nightlife is never likely to challenge the bigger resorts in the Alps, the riding is what you’re here for and from that extent it is world class. You will also find some great little restaurants and bars that are full of Italian charm and warm hospitality. With a combination of excellent terrain, short transfer time and some fantastic Refuges on offer for stays up high in the mountains, this area firmly sits as one of our favourite European freeride destinations.

Flights and Transfers: There are many flight options into Turin from the UK, and from here it is a quick 95 minute private transfer up into the resorts.

The Lodge: Based in the Italian resort of Gressoney, specifically in the Stafal region, for this adventure you will be located in a warm and comfortable B&B. Recently renovated the B&B offers a warm and comfortable base for those looking to keep the costs down. The ski shop is located right next to the lodge and there is a pub and restaurant below for some evening beers and feed after a hard day in the sidecountry.

Itinerary: The first couple of days you will get to explore the area on your own, exploring the links between the resorts and getting the lay of the land. On day 3 you will be met in the reception of your Lodge by your fully certified local wasabi guide. The next 3 days will be spent exploring the extensive sidecountry and backcountry on offer in the area. Head over to Alagna to enjoy 2000m of vertical descent, all made available from a simple 2 cable car trip. Challenge yourself on the various couloirs and enjoy great lunches in a secret Rifugio located way up on the mountain side. The last day of your holiday will be yours to enjoy as you wish, either hitting the slopes hard or taking it easy after 3 intense days of backcountry adventure. If you’re feeling intrepid this is also one of the best areas in the Alps for great heli-skiing, build in a day of this to enjoy some remote backcountry options.

Guide price: Prices are based on 4 people start from £800 per person and includes:

• 7 nights bed and breakfast lodging on a twin share basis
• 3 days guided backcountry riding
• Private return transfers from Turin
• Breakfast each morning
• Equipment hire for the duration
• Option for day heli-ski tours as an added extra

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

Pre-Christmas Powder Weekender (and Free Radicals Alpine Premier)

Kick start the ski and snowboard season this year with wasabi’s pre-christmas powder weekender! Shake off the office legs, test out your new gear and enjoy some fresh mountain air all before the Christmas break. Oh and did we mention we’ll also throw in tickets to the Free Radicals alpine premier of their new release?!

A must for all powderhounds, this weekend is set in one of the best deep powder ski and snowboard locations in the Swiss Alps and will offer:

• a 3 or 4 night stay in a Lodge full of stoke for freeride adventures (14th/15th – 18th December 2011)
• twin room on half board basis to keep your energy up
• a day of private guiding with wasabi’s guide – we’ll take you to the best spots for early season powder
• tickets to the exclusive Free Radicals Alpine Premier (see the video below for a trailer of their last feature length epic)
• a 3 day lift pass for the area
• return transfers to the resort from Zurich airport – it’s only a 90 minute transfer, ideal for a weekend break
• full TTA financial protection for you peace of mind

Prices are based on a group of 4 and start from: £805 per person for 3 nights and £922 per person for 4 nights.

Want to tweak the concept? That’s what we’re all about! Build in more ski and snowboard guiding, add in a little touring or get deep into the backcountry with a day tour to the surrounding secret spots!

Get in touch to find out more details about this epic weekend offer.