Sölden in Ötztal - Swatch Snowpark Sölden

The Swatch Snowpark Sölden has become one of the most outstanding snowparks in the Alps over the last years. The diverse setup gets upgraded every season and also in the season 2011/12 it will boast with some additional obstacles to provide the right challenge for the international freestyle community. The Ötztal with its majestic mountains and a height difference of nearly 2000 meters between bottom- and top station, is also well known as freeride Eldorado.

Freestylers can reach the Swatch Snowpark Sölden on the Giggijoch easily by using the chairlifts “Hainbachkar” or “Silberbrünnl”. The park offers a very good balance of beginner-, medium- and pro- items as well as kickers between 4 and 15 meters (13 – 50 ft). Furthermore, the park contains a huge number of rails, boxes, wallrides and numerous other features, which are maintained every single day. Another legendary setup feature are the gondola rainbow and the e-rail, at which you will need more that one try for sure. Two years ago the “Swatch Shoot my ride” started that gives you the chance to watch and analyze your tricks on a big video wall at the bottom of the park. The upcoming season this special offer will be continued so you can optimize your tricks and jumps. Beginners as well as professional riders can expect new obstacles. Besides the two new XL butterflat boxes also an a-frame box, a 9m double kinked box and a 9m butterbox rollercoaster will be integrated into the existing park design. Setup variety, high chill factor and a training ground for new tricks are the keywords that describe best the Swatch Snowpark Sölden – one of a kind.

The uncontested terrain for Sölden’s freeriders is definitely the Gaislachkogl. Its peak at 3,058m (10,032ft) offers long runs in all expositions and the mainly steep slopes are a true heaven for skiers and boarders alike. Sölden's second major ski area is the Giggijoch, where wide and open slopes present themselves as the perfect freeriding area for beginners. In the rare case that there isn’t enough snow in Sölden's winter ski area, the Rettenbach glacier is the place to be! The mainly short to average sized runs guarantee pure powder fun. Even though Tiefenbach glacier predominately offers short ski trails, its peak (3.249m/ 10,660ft) is the starting point for some fantastic powder runs of up to 2.000 altitude metres. However, to be on the safe side make sure to take a guide with you!

Besides traditional events like the Freestyle Feast, there have been some truly epic shootings at two of the enormous big kickers, designed and build by QParks park designer Rudi Whylidal. Many well-known film crews and riders followed the invitation and the shots are featured in various videos. There is for sure more to come in 2011/2012, so get yourself ready!

Local Tipp: Rene Schnöller

„The absolute highlight of Sölden is its Public line. Even if there are quite a lot people, the queues are not too long and the riding-flow is not disturbed. It’s just a cool line where beginners and pros are having fun together in the snow. Instead of taking the direct route to the park, a little detour to the Geislachkogel is definitely recommendable, as the reward is a breathtaking panoramic view and some sick powderruns.”

Behind the scene with the Pirates - Airtime in Soelden from QParks on Vimeo.