Sölden v DiedamskopfThe Austrians know how to build a jump. And their snowparks, for shape and consistency, are some of the best in Europe
For our little Schnapps showdown we're going to take a look at two areas a little off the British beaten track, but stacked with goodness...
Swatch Snowpark Sölden, Ötztal
Sölden is busy little party town that features in some tourist brochures in the UK. It's good for a party, has loads of terrain and a surprisingly feisty backcountry offering.
The riding ranges nearly 2000m in vertical drop from the base elevation at 1350 to the top at 3250m, and the resort is stacked with gondolas, chairlifts and drags.
The Swatch Snowpark used to host the annual UK spring snowboard test and still makes a good venue for anyone after a park. It offers a good balance of beginner, medium and pro features and a huge number of rails, boxes, wallrides which are apparently maintained every single day.
Get a feel of the Swatch Snowpark from the tidy little edit below...
QParks Swatch Snowpark Soelden - Parkorama medium and beginnerlines from QParks on Vimeo.
We’re told that the resort has invested 1800 working hours into the preparation of the Snowpark and as an added extra off the “Swatch Shoot my ride”: video playback that allows you to watch and analyse your tricks on a big video-wall at the bottom of the park!
"The absolute highlight of Sölden is its Public line. Even if there are quite a lot people, the queues are not too long and the riding-flow is not disturbed. It’s just a cool line where beginners and pros are having fun together in the snow." Rene Schnöller
Park season
October – November on the Tiefenbachgletscher
December – April on the Giggijoch
Six Day Lift Ticket Prices (approx.)
Adults: €200
Adolescents: €150
Children: €115
Seniors: €175.00
Find out more
Website Resort: www.soelden.com
Website Park: www.snowpark-soelden.com
Website Village: www.oetztal.com
Snow phone: +43 (0) 57200 203
Sajas Diedamspark, Diedamskopf / Voralberg
Tucked away in Voralberg, towards Austria's western-most fringe, Diedamskopf offers some hefty terrain and an amazing park – the Sajas Diedamspark – located directly under the gondola.
Jürgen Kipperer, chief designer of QParks, together with park designer Nick Johnson from New Zealand, develop the set up. In its first season the park won the title “newcomer of the year” in the independent European snowpark ranking on www.snow-parks.com.
Smooth jumps, split into three distinct lines are the name of the game and offer a broad selection of features for beginner and advanced riders.
“The Diedamskopf is my home mountain and offers countless great fun possibilities in every weather condition.” Gigi Rüf
Season
Weekend service until early December
Daily service from early-mid December early-mid April
Park season
December to April
Six Days Lift Ticket Prices (approx.)
Adults: €175.00
Adolescents: €150.00
Children: €90.00
Seniors: €170.00
Participation in Network-Passes: 3 Tälerpass (www.3taeler.at)
Find out more
Website Resort: www.diedamskopf.at
Website Park: www.diedamspark.at
Website village: www.au-schoppernau.at
Snow info: +43 (0) 5515-4110-99
Photography by Rudi Wyhlidal/QParks
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The Austrians know how to build a jump. And their snowparks, for shape and consistency, are some of the best in Europe
For our little Schnapps showdown we're going to take a look at two areas a little off the British beaten track, but stacked with goodness...
Swatch Snowpark Sölden, Ötztal
Sölden is busy little party town that features in some tourist brochures in the UK. It's good for a party, has loads of terrain and a surprisingly feisty backcountry offering.
The riding ranges nearly 2000m in vertical drop from the base elevation at 1350 to the top at 3250m, and the resort is stacked with gondolas, chairlifts and drags.
The Swatch Snowpark used to host the annual UK spring snowboard test and still makes a good venue for anyone after a park. It offers a good balance of beginner, medium and pro features and a huge number of rails, boxes, wallrides which are apparently maintained every single day.
Get a feel of the Swatch Snowpark from the tidy little edit below...
QParks Swatch Snowpark Soelden - Parkorama medium and beginnerlines from QParks on Vimeo.
We’re told that the resort has invested 1800 working hours into the preparation of the Snowpark and as an added extra off the “Swatch Shoot my ride”: video playback that allows you to watch and analyse your tricks on a big video-wall at the bottom of the park!
"The absolute highlight of Sölden is its Public line. Even if there are quite a lot people, the queues are not too long and the riding-flow is not disturbed. It’s just a cool line where beginners and pros are having fun together in the snow." Rene Schnöller
Park season
October – November on the Tiefenbachgletscher
December – April on the Giggijoch
Six Day Lift Ticket Prices (approx.)
Adults: €200
Adolescents: €150
Children: €115
Seniors: €175.00
Find out more
Website Resort: www.soelden.com
Website Park: www.snowpark-soelden.com
Website Village: www.oetztal.com
Snow phone: +43 (0) 57200 203
Sajas Diedamspark, Diedamskopf / Voralberg
Tucked away in Voralberg, towards Austria's western-most fringe, Diedamskopf offers some hefty terrain and an amazing park – the Sajas Diedamspark – located directly under the gondola.
Jürgen Kipperer, chief designer of QParks, together with park designer Nick Johnson from New Zealand, develop the set up. In its first season the park won the title “newcomer of the year” in the independent European snowpark ranking on www.snow-parks.com.
Smooth jumps, split into three distinct lines are the name of the game and offer a broad selection of features for beginner and advanced riders.
“The Diedamskopf is my home mountain and offers countless great fun possibilities in every weather condition.” Gigi Rüf
Season
Weekend service until early December
Daily service from early-mid December early-mid April
Park season
December to April
Six Days Lift Ticket Prices (approx.)
Adults: €175.00
Adolescents: €150.00
Children: €90.00
Seniors: €170.00
Participation in Network-Passes: 3 Tälerpass (www.3taeler.at)
Find out more
Website Resort: www.diedamskopf.at
Website Park: www.diedamspark.at
Website village: www.au-schoppernau.at
Snow info: +43 (0) 5515-4110-99
Photography by Rudi Wyhlidal/QParks
Related stories
Resort Check Switzerland: Val d'Illiez-Les Crosets-Champoussin
Resort Check France: La Chapelle d’Abondance
Resort Check France: Les Portes du Soleil