Why the tourist destination and 130,000-inhabitant city of Innsbruck is the perfect starting point for any kind of freeride mission.

As the name already indicates, the Tyrolian capital combines both: all advantages a city can provide, but at the same time also perfect freeride terrain.

Due to Innsbruck’s unique geographical location, 4 resorts can be found within short distance. To be more precise, we are not talking about any, but with Nordkette, Axamer Lizum, Kühtai and Stubai Glacier rather some of the best freeride hot-spots.

Starting off with Nordkette: It simply can’t be overlooked – Just as the Downdays staff on a powder day up there.

Like most other people from around here, we usually still our hunger for first tracks in this sick terrain. No surprise that several Freeride World Tour contestants call this mountain range their home.

A little further, but still only a stone’s throw away is Axamer Lizum. Even though it only takes minutes to get there by car, a free ski bus is used to make sure that everyone can get their daily dose of fresh powder turns. That is, because the 300 hectare freeride terrain offers endless options to do so.

Almost equally close to town, but at a much higher altitude is Kühtai. On the one hand, this makes it a destination with guaranteed snow. On the other, only few trees are found, which opens up endless freeride possibilities and off-piste skiing.

Although Stubai Glacier is the furthest away from the city, it is still to be reached in under 45 minutes. But, besides the good accessibility, it has another thing in common with the rest: To keep all destinations as safe as possible, avalanche courses can be attended by everyone. Some, as for instance the SAAC avalanche camps are even without any cost.

But other than the rest, being Austria’s largest glacier ski area, means guaranteed snow from October until June. Hence, in the early season it is no coincidence that this place is where most of our team spends the mornings before heading to work.

For all the info needed, head over to the official Freeride City Innsbruck website.