Are you an experienced skier or snowboarder and tired of riding on groomed trails? Are you a fan of freeride? Then Bad Gastein is the right destination for you.

Freeride is free riding in the snow, usually in powder. When you ride on immaculate snowy slopes where you can enjoy complete freedom of movement. When freeriding you need to make sure you have good equipment and think about safety. Above all, it's important to be able to read the hill and think about what can happen, as you may be at risk of being buried by an avalanche.

Freeride equipment

In addition to good skis or a snowboard, which are needed for freeriding, there are other equipment that can save your life. The basic equipment is a beeper, shovel and probe. Others include an airbag backpack to help prevent being buried by an avalanche. This keeps the rider on the surface by increasing the volume of the body. Another useful aid can be an avalung, which helps to make efficient use of the air contained in the snow, helping to extend the time that the buried person can breathe. An avalanche balloon is another good tool to have with you when freeriding, as it acts as a signal buoy that makes it easier to locate the buried person.

Where to go freeriding in Bad Gastein?

The best place to go freeriding in the Bad Gastein area is Sportgastein, which is about 30 minutes by car from Bad Gastein. It's the only map of its kind in the world and uses the knowledge of the locals, which always comes in handy. The map is available at the ticket offices of the ski resorts and costs less than 20 Euro. In addition to the marked routes, the map includes information on avalanche prevention and rescue on the back.

In Bad Gastein it is possible to use a private instructor who can help you avoid avalanche danger, improve your technique and know the best places to freeride. The other alternative is open groups where you can meet enthusiasts like you. There are several performance groups available, from beginners, to advanced, to professionals, so it's up to you which level you choose. The price of these groups is from 98 Euro per person and the minimum number is 4 people and the maximum is 8 people. With a private instructor, the price starts from 69 Euros per person per hour.

The advantage of Bad Gastein is the information panels that can be found at the top of the Sportgastein. The panels include information about freeride routes, beep testers and information about the weather and threatening avalanches.

If this freerider's paradise appeals to you, there's nothing easier than to head to Bad Gastein, where we'll be happy to welcome you to our AlpenHeart residence, which is less than 29 minutes away by car. At the same time, you can ski straight away, as the slopes are practically right next to the hotel, and at the same time relax in the Felsentherme thermal spa after a hard day's sport.