If you thought this year’s ski season was over, you can think again! Ski resorts across the Alps are finally celebrating the arrival of bluebird days, warm weather and what is undeniably the best time of the year... It's time for spring skiing! That's right, there's absolutely no reason to put away all of your ski and snowboard gear just yet. From outdoor music festivals to crazy competitions and unique family-friendly carnivals, we've made a list of some of the best events in the Alps this spring. It’s not too late to send out the season with a bang - whip out your sunglasses and sun cream and join in the fun!
Fondly known as
The Brits, the British Snowboard & Freeski Championships 2017 is a ski and snowboard competition in the freestyle paradise of LAAX, Switzerland. The Brits welcomes professional athletes from all over the world but it is also open to amateur skiers or snowboarders with a British passport. This week-long event also features plenty of live music and après-ski.
When:April 2-9
Where:
LAAX, Switzerland
Back by popular demand! Presented by Francofolies,
Live in Tignes
kicks off the festival season with free outdoor concerts featuring some of the biggest names in French electronic music.
When:April 3-6
Where:
Tignes, France
Quite possibly the most famous music festival in the Alps, Snowbombing descends on Mayrhofen, Austria every spring and brings a killer line-up and crazy parties. Spectacular venues keep the crowds partying all night; you can always nurse your hangover with some drinks on a sunny terrace the next day.
When: April 3-8
Where: Mayrhofen, Austria
Zermatt Unplugged
is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with some big names including KT Tunstall and Nelly Furtado, as well as an inspiring selection of up-and-coming artists. Chill out to soul, folk and jazz music in the shadow of the mighty Matterhorn.
When:
April 4-8
Where:
Zermatt, Switzerland
(c) Zermatt Unplugged
For two weeks in April, La Plagne’s six mountain summits come alive with magical activities of all sorts at
Subli'cimes. Try skiing on water, exploring ice sculptures or meeting your favourite fairytale character at this family-friendly festival in six different themes.
When:
April 5-18
Where:
La Plagne, France
Subli'cimes (c) La Plagne
The ultimate alpine EDM festival features open-air concerts right on the slopes in Sölden’s Giggijoch area. Gather with the relatively intimate number of 8000 other people this weekend at the
Electric Mountain Festival
to catch performances by top local and international DJ’s. The skiing isn’t too shabby either.
When:
April 6-7
Where:
Sölden, Austria
(c) Electric Mountain Festival
Stubai Glacier is open till late in the season, and what better way to celebrate than by
shreddin' it up
on the jumps at the snow park? If you’re more of a party person, come relax in a sun lounger at the barbecue and leave the freestyling to the pros.
When:
April 8-May 14
Where:
Stubai Glacier, Austria
(c) Tyrol.com
Courchevel sends the ski season out with a bang at the
Feria Blanche, a weekend-long celebration with spring skiing, beer gardens and live music. Ride a snow scooter, race your friends on the waterslides or have a hand at paragliding – you know you’ve always wanted to!
When:
April 16-17
Where:
Courchevel, France
Austria’s
coolest treasure hunt! On April 17, Obertauern will host a crew of ambitious gold diggers who compete to find 30 treasure boxes buried in the snow on the Gamsleiten 2, one of Austria’s steepest pistes. The grand prize is a BMW – will you be the lucky one?
When:
April 17
Where:
Obertauern, Austria
(c) Obertauern
Come discover the
Wild West
at Les Deux Alpes this April! Kids can make their own dreamcatchers, ride a pony and participate in an introduction to archery, among other things. Fun for the whole family!
When:
April 17-21
Where:
Les Deux Alpes, France
Watch piste bashers battle acrobats and parachuters on top of the Rettenbach Glacier in a
modern-day reinterpretation
of
Hannibal's
journey across the Alps with the Carthaginian army in 218BC.
When:
April 21
Where:
Sölden, Austria
(c) Sölden
The first event of the Arlberg Eagle alpine triathlon, the
White Thrill
at St. Anton sees 555 skiers and snowboarders test the limits of their endurance in a gruelling series of hikes and descents down ungroomed pistes. The atmosphere is infectious and the competition is open to anyone crazy enough to join.
When:
April 22
Where:
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Get stoked already for next season with the chance to try out new models from the 2018 collections of major snowboard brands. Kaunertal’s
Snowboard Spring Break
offers boarders the chance to ride demo equipment on a variety of terrain, from park to backcountry. And once you’re done testing the gear, epic après-ski awaits…
When:
April 29-May 5
Where:
Kaunertal, Austria
Snowboard Spring Break (c) James North
Ischgl bids goodbye to the ski season with a
rocking performance
by Italian rock star Zucchero at the Silvretta Arena, 2320m above sea level with panoramic views of the Alps. Ischgl also does a Top of the Mountain Concert at Easter with Andreas Bourani.
When:
April 30
Where:
Ischgl, Austria
(c) Ischgl
Temperatures are soaring and everyone is in a good mood out there on the slopes. Don't miss your last chance this year to celebrate another fantastic ski season!
Subli'cimes (c) La Plagne
If you thought this year’s ski season was over, you can think again! Ski resorts across the Alps are finally celebrating the arrival of bluebird days, warm weather and what is undeniably the best time of the year... It's time for spring skiing! That's right, there's absolutely no reason to put away all of your ski and snowboard gear just yet. From outdoor music festivals to crazy competitions and unique family-friendly carnivals, we've made a list of some of the best events in the Alps this spring. It’s not too late to send out the season with a bang - whip out your sunglasses and sun cream and join in the fun!
Fondly known as
The Brits, the British Snowboard & Freeski Championships 2017 is a ski and snowboard competition in the freestyle paradise of LAAX, Switzerland. The Brits welcomes professional athletes from all over the world but it is also open to amateur skiers or snowboarders with a British passport. This week-long event also features plenty of live music and après-ski.
When:April 2-9
Where:
LAAX, Switzerland
Back by popular demand! Presented by Francofolies,
Live in Tignes
kicks off the festival season with free outdoor concerts featuring some of the biggest names in French electronic music.
When:April 3-6
Where:
Tignes, France
Quite possibly the
most famous music festival in the Alps,
Snowbombing
descends on Mayrhofen, Austria every spring and brings a
killer line-up and crazy parties. Spectacular venues keep the crowds partying all night; you can always nurse your hangover with some drinks on a sunny terrace the next day.
When:
April 3-8
Where:
Mayrhofen, Austria
Snowbombing (c) Danny North
Zermatt Unplugged
is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with some big names including KT Tunstall and Nelly Furtado, as well as an inspiring selection of up-and-coming artists. Chill out to soul, folk and jazz music in the shadow of the mighty Matterhorn.
When:
April 4-8
Where:
Zermatt, Switzerland
(c) Zermatt Unplugged
For two weeks in April, La Plagne’s six mountain summits come alive with magical activities of all sorts at
Subli'cimes. Try skiing on water, exploring ice sculptures or meeting your favourite fairytale character at this family-friendly festival in six different themes.
When:
April 5-18
Where:
La Plagne, France
Subli'cimes (c) La Plagne
The ultimate alpine EDM festival features open-air concerts right on the slopes in Sölden’s Giggijoch area. Gather with the relatively intimate number of 8000 other people this weekend at the
Electric Mountain Festival
to catch performances by top local and international DJ’s. The skiing isn’t too shabby either.
When:
April 6-7
Where:
Sölden, Austria
(c) Electric Mountain Festival
Stubai Glacier is open till late in the season, and what better way to celebrate than by
shreddin' it up
on the jumps at the snow park? If you’re more of a party person, come relax in a sun lounger at the barbecue and leave the freestyling to the pros.
When:
April 8-May 14
Where:
Stubai Glacier, Austria
(c) Tyrol.com
Courchevel sends the ski season out with a bang at the
Feria Blanche, a weekend-long celebration with spring skiing, beer gardens and live music. Ride a snow scooter, race your friends on the waterslides or have a hand at paragliding – you know you’ve always wanted to!
When:
April 16-17
Where:
Courchevel, France
Austria’s
coolest treasure hunt! On April 17, Obertauern will host a crew of ambitious gold diggers who compete to find 30 treasure boxes buried in the snow on the Gamsleiten 2, one of Austria’s steepest pistes. The grand prize is a BMW – will you be the lucky one?
When:
April 17
Where:
Obertauern, Austria
(c) Obertauern
Come discover the
Wild West
at Les Deux Alpes this April! Kids can make their own dreamcatchers, ride a pony and participate in an introduction to archery, among other things. Fun for the whole family!
When:
April 17-21
Where:
Les Deux Alpes, France
Watch piste bashers battle acrobats and parachuters on top of the Rettenbach Glacier in a
modern-day reinterpretation
of
Hannibal's
journey across the Alps with the Carthaginian army in 218BC.
When:
April 21
Where:
Sölden, Austria
(c) Sölden
The first event of the Arlberg Eagle alpine triathlon, the
White Thrill
at St. Anton sees 555 skiers and snowboarders test the limits of their endurance in a gruelling series of hikes and descents down ungroomed pistes. The atmosphere is infectious and the competition is open to anyone crazy enough to join.
When:
April 22
Where:
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Get stoked already for next season with the chance to try out new models from the 2018 collections of major snowboard brands. Kaunertal’s
Snowboard Spring Break
offers boarders the chance to ride demo equipment on a variety of terrain, from park to backcountry. And once you’re done testing the gear, epic après-ski awaits…
When:
April 29-May 5
Where:
Kaunertal, Austria
Snowboard Spring Break (c) James North
Ischgl bids goodbye to the ski season with a
rocking performance
by Italian rock star Zucchero at the Silvretta Arena, 2320m above sea level with panoramic views of the Alps. Ischgl also does a Top of the Mountain Concert at Easter with Andreas Bourani.
When:
April 30
Where:
Ischgl, Austria
(c) Ischgl
Temperatures are soaring and everyone is in a good mood out there on the slopes. Don't miss your last chance this year to celebrate another fantastic ski season!
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!
