After months cooped up under stay-at-home orders this spring, the loosening of coronavirus restrictions in May allowed skiers in Italy the first tentative chances to return to the mountains and salvage some of the spring season.
At Klausberg in South Tyrol, a group of riders from the local region gathered for a small, socially-distanced session in the remains of the resort’s snowpark. Photographer Stefan Mahlknecht (@stefan_mahl) was on hand to capture the action.
“All of us missed spring skiing this season, especially since we had warm and sunny weather almost every day,” reports Stefan. “But in the end the situation changed, and were were able to put together a spring session like never before in South Tyrol.”
Markus Eder, Ralph Welponer and a collection of other South Tyrolean riders gathered at Klausberg in late May.
Making use of the snow that was left, they sculpted an impromptu hike park.
With the ski resort's blessing, the crew was able to make use of the park features on hand.
Dropping in!
Fabi Hofer looking happy to be back on skis.
Moritz Happacher flipping out.
Christof Schenk is a big guy who goes even bigger.
South Tyrolean style master Lukas Schäfer blessed the session with his catlike prowess.
Ralph Welponer drinking that cork juice.
After you keep Easy Tigerz inside for two months, he goes two meters higher on every hit. It's science.
After having to cancel a planned shoot at his local resort earlier in the spring, Markus Eder set up the jam at Klausberg as a substitute.
Markus truckin'.
Things that Freeride World Tour champions don't usually do.
It can't be a spring session without a good old-fashioned pond skim.
Markus goes the distance.
As the sun got low, the crew broke out the sled for some hot laps on the jump.
Tobias Sieder with a shrimpy sender.
Fabi Hofer airs one out.
Markus and Christof go over-under.
Tobias Sieder gets a shot in the bag.
Fun fact: besides killing it on skis, Luki Schäfer is also a skilled wildlife photographer.
A classy blunt into the sunset.
Gang gang.
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