We see these strange machines come out onto the slopes at the end of every ski day, but have you ever wondered exactly how a piste basher works its magic? Many ski resorts offer the chance to ride in a piste basher and even learn to drive one! Experience the majesty of climbing a steep ski slope in a huge piste bully, crushing everything that lies in your path. It’s an unforgettable behind-the-scenes experience that will make you appreciate all the hard work that goes into preparing the ski pistes every night. And the next morning, there’s nothing sweeter than waking up and hitting the freshly groomed pistes that YOU helped prepare!
There are a range of piste basher tours available. You can choose from night or day, short or long. Budget-friendly options include quick, simple tours in a piste basher, but if you’re willing to invest a bit more time and money you can learn to drive the piste basher, or even stay out all night long with the driver as they groom the ski area! As with skiing and snowboarding, weather in the mountains can be unpredictable and all the activities listed below rely on snow conditions. Please note, normally to ride in a piste basher you must be wearing normal shoes – not ski boots!
The Rosentalerhof at Saalbach Hinterglemm offers rides in a piste groomer on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 1pm and 7pm from December through March. Reservations are required; prices available upon request at +43 (0) 664 8444323.
Nighttime piste bully rides at the Jungfrau Region allow a different way to experience the ski slopes. You will accompany the drivers throughout their entire shift – 6-8 hours – as they prepare the snow for another day of skiing. Tours start daily from 4pm and cost 260 CHF; reservations are mandatory.
This one is the real deal, folks! Learn to drive a 10-tonne, 300-horsepower snow groomer at Les Saisies. Courses take place every day throughout ski season, and cost €129 for a 45-minute session.
Help co-pilot the slopes of the Aletsch Arena for only 80 CHF (50 CHF for children) at the Bettmeralp, Fiescheralp and Riederalp. There is a maximum of one guest per piste basher, for a maximum number of 3 guests per day. Tours run on Mondays and Wednesdays through mid-April, starting at 4:45pm and last around two hours. Advance booking is required for all tours.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis offers rides in a 9-tonne, 490-horsepower piste bully along with a detailed explanation of how to prepare the slopes. Routes vary but rides take place at 4:15pm from Serfauss or 4:30pm from Fiss, and last about an hour and a half. Children between the ages of 6and 10 or shorter than 1.3 metres can be accompanied by an adult; bigger children (must be at least 10 years old) must ride in a separate piste bully. The experience costs €54 for adults and €34 for children, and reservations are mandatory.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
