The end of the winter season here in Morzine, Avoriaz, and Les Gets, is in here. The mountain air is getting warmer, the snow is melting, and the goggle tans are in full effect.
And whilst we’re all looking forward to a little R&R at the end of an awesome, busy winter, we’re always thinking of the next opportunity to strap back in, and go riding.
Our friends and clients often ask how to get a snowboard fix during the long summers. So, we’ve prepared a little guide on how to make it through the warmer weather, as a snowboard addict.
Get to a glacier, stat!
Some of Europe’s higher resorts offer summer shredding on their glaciers. Because they’re so high up, usually above 2,500m, they benefit from cooler temperatures, so the snow remains in workable conditions year round.
Whilst these ski areas are fairly limited in size, they’re generally well groomed and cared for, and tend to provide brilliant snow parks for those looking to train during the off season – awesome!
Our favourite European glaciers
Stubai, Austria
Boasting one of the most famous snow parks in Europe, Stubai is also home to over 62km of piste – so you can spend the whole day riding without doubling back on yourself. A rarity for summer shredding.
https://www.stubaier-gletscher.com/
Dates: until mid-June, 8:30am to 4pm
Prices: One day €40, six days €190.40
Hintertux, Austria
Hintertux has an extensive ski area for your summer shred, and for those of you looking for some serious air-time, there’s even a 120m superpipe.
https://www.hintertuxergletscher.at/en/home/
Dates: May 12 to October 12, 8.15am to 4.30pm
Prices: One day €45, six days €215
Tignes, France
There’s good reason we take our Summer Camp to Tignes every year, with a well-shaped snow park and plenty of piste for progressive coaching, you’re hard pressed to find better snow in the summer.
https://www.tignes.net/
Dates: June 23 to August 5, 7.15am to 1.00pm
Prices: One day €25, six days €150
Les Deux Alpes, France
Served by 17 lifts, the Les Deux Alpes glacier offers 11 runs and a monster freestyle zone with two pipes (super and half), hips, rails, boxes, big air kickers, and a beginner area.
https://www.les2alpes.com/en/
Dates: June 23 to August 26, 7:15am to 12.30pm
Prices: One day €40.10, six days €200.50
Saas Fee, Switzerland
High up in the swiss alps is the Saas Fee Allalin glacier, with a double line of kickers in the snow park and enough features to keep even the keenest freestyle rider entertained.
https://www.saas-fee.ch/
Dates: July 14 to October 31, 7/8am to 12/3pm, depending on the date
Prices: One day 84CHF, six days 505CHF
REAL Snowboarding Summer Camp
Sound like fun? Keen for your summer fix? Why not join the REAL Snowboarding Summer Camp, and let us organise it all for you?
We takeover Tignes for the entire month of July to bring you snowboard addicts an awesome week of riding progression. It’s truly one of the highlights of our year.
We run one week for kids, one week for adults, and technical training weeks for specialist coaching.
We get up in the morning and enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading up to the glacier with the crew to throw down in the snow park, with your dedicated REAL Snowboarding instructors delivering world class freestyle coaching.
Then, in the lazy heat of the afternoon, enjoy a range of outdoor activities like mountain biking, skating, and trampoline training, or just send it into the (very) refreshing lake off the big air slide.
The entire week is built around bettering your snowboarding, with accommodation and tasty food included.
For more information, and to see exactly what goes on, head over here.
Book your place on the REAL Snowboarding Summer Camp now, and learn to ride the REAL way this summer.
Simple instruction. Stylish snowboarding.
Book your place on the REAL Summer Camp today: hello@realsnowboarding.co.uk
Photo credit: @samuelmcahon
Spring is the perfect time to progress your park laps. Warmer weather, forgiving snow conditions – it’s ideal. Learning freestyle though is something you can do throughout the winter. It’s also a great idea when there’s not been new snow for a while or you just want a new challenge. Give yourself the best chance at nailing your tricks safely, and stylishly with a freestyle snowboard lesson from REAL Snowboarding.
What can you learn in a freestyle lesson?
Freestyle snowboard lessons can teach you how to ride rails, kickers, flatland tricks, side-hits…the possibilities are endless!
Many people are surprised to find that freestyle lessons don’t always involve the park. You can learn the basic movements and skills needed for freestyle tricks on the slopes, away from the features you’re trying to hit.
This gets you prepped and confident so that when you approach a feature you’re confident in your ability and are able to just focus on nailing the trick.
Freestyle doesn’t always have to be about the park either. Once you start looking you’ll notice there are plenty of side hits on the pistes that you can play around on. A lesson can help you perfect the moves and then identify hits around the mountain.
It’s all about giving you the right tools to approach the trick, then building your confidence until you stomp it.
There’s still a lot to learn, regardless of your level
From learning the best way to take off on a kicker, to how to prep for a boardslide, it’s rarely as simple as just ‘giving it a go’.
YouTube and IGTV videos might break tricks down but nothing is as valuable as getting feedback and input from a qualified freestyle coach.
They can spot exactly what is holding you back and give you honest feedback. Sometimes what you think you’re doing doesn’t match the reality so using tools like video analysis can really help with your progression.
Why REAL Snowboarding?
One of REAL Snowboarding’s founding principles is to teach stylish snowboarding and help snowboarders to express themselves creatively. Freestyle plays a huge part in achieving creative snowboarding and we pride ourselves on delivering the most fun, and progressive freestyle snowboard lessons in Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets.
The REAL Snowboarding team have over 40 years combined instructing experience and have coached current GB Freestyle Team athletes. Dave and Barry both currently coach the RAF and British Army freestyle teams respectively, so you’re in good hands.
Whether it’s your first foray into the kicker line, or you’re looking for some professional help to stomp your spins some REAL freestyle snowboarding lessons will get you there.
Simple instruction. Stylish snowboarding.
Book your freestyle lessons today: hello@realsnowboarding.co.uk
Photo credit: @samuelmcahon
