SNOWBOARD IN SWITZERLAND DURING THE PANDEMIC.
A quick decision is key. A friend talked me into going to St. Moritz in Switzerland on Saturday, January 2nd. After heavy snowfall since Monday, January 4th, good weather was forecast. There's no better news for off-piste freeride enthusiasts. We chose St. Moritz over places like Davos, Laax, or Verbier because of its high elevation and higher fresh snowfall. Off-piste skiing is also permitted everywhere. So, on Sunday, January 3rd, before noon, we were already heading towards the border in Zgorzelec.
A trip to the Swiss mountains by car takes 10 to 12 hours, depending on your location. Most of the route is on highways. Poland and Germany are free, Austria has a 10-day vignette for €9.50, and Switzerland has an annual vignette for €39. The last 60-80 km of the route are mountainous, and in snowy conditions, a 4x4 or snow chains are recommended. However, the roads are regularly cleared of snow, and we drove on black asphalt between meter-high snowbanks. The route is, of course, shown by Google navigation or your car. There are no border controls along the way, and traffic is light.
Accommodation in St. Moritz can be expensive, or very expensive, but it doesn't have to be. The Booking.com app effectively helps you choose a hotel, hostel, b&b, or apartment. We chose the River Inn b&b (www.riverinn.ch) because of its affordable price, location near the cable car station and cross-country trails, and kitchenettes in the rooms. The receptionists speak at least four languages (practically standard in Switzerland), and late arrivals were no problem, with the key in the key box at the entrance. In the morning, a delicious and nutritious breakfast awaited us, and at the reception desk, we received ski passes and all the necessary information about the slopes and ski buses.
Telephone and internet only hotel wifi or transfer purchased from the operator! See prices below????
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Ski passes booked with your hotel are important because instead of CHF 90 per day, they cost CHF 45! It's worth asking about this option when booking and, of course, taking advantage of it.
Ski slopes and other attractions. The St. Moritz region encompasses the Corviglia region with its Piz Nair peak (3057 m) (www.mountains.ch) and the Fabelhafte Bergwelt, including Corvatsch (3303 m) (www.corvatsch.ch), Diavolezza (2978 m), and Lagalb (2893 m) (www.diavolezza.ch). It would have been difficult to visit all these places in the four days we had available. Access to the lifts is excellent thanks to a network of free, punctual, and frequent ski buses.
Corviglia is the closest to the city and always sunny, which was important given the significant frost during the trip. The slopes are well-prepared, mostly red, but also blue for less advanced skiers. Access is practically right up to the hotel in the snow. Great freeride from Piz Nair to the Suvretta Valley!
Corvatsch is a 15-minute ski bus ride away, a very extensive region, but some trails are connected by T-bar lifts, which not everyone likes. In severe frosts, the upper sections of the trails can be cold, so good Burton ski gear is essential. A large snow park with a jumping pillow is available for freestyle enthusiasts.
Diavolezza and Lagalb are two smaller spots, primarily for freeriders. Accessible by ski bus, it takes about 30 minutes. Beautiful views, few people, and great powder snow off-piste. From Diavolezza, there's a marked descent several kilometers long on the glacier and through the valley to the village of Morteratsch, unfortunately closed for now because not all the glacier crevasses have been filled.
Overall, the region offers conditions for everyone, including heli enthusiasts. When riding off-piste, we followed the "follow the tracks" principle, drawing on skills and experience from years of previous trips to various mountains. For less experienced freeriders, St. Moritz offers numerous instructors and guides, as well as a helicopter service, which we'll definitely check out next time!
Besides snowboarding and downhill skiing, you can run along dozens of kilometers of cross-country trails picturesquely situated on and around Lake Champfer and Silvaplana, ice skate on numerous ice rinks, sled down the Muragl track, play curling, or even bobsleigh down the Olympic track! Only the swimming pool complex is temporarily closed due to the pandemic.
Food is essential after so much outdoor activity. Restaurants on the slopes are open, offering takeout. The same is true for restaurants in town. Hot pizza arrived at our hotel in 15 minutes. For those who know how to boil water for pasta, the kitchenette in the room was also useful.
Covid-19 regulations. Masks are required in all cable cars, on lifts, and in the hotel. Disinfectants are available everywhere. Fewer passengers in the cable cars and on the lifts – social distancing. However, this does not cause queues, as there are significantly fewer tourists than usual.
In short, it's definitely worth a trip to Switzerland for snowboarding! The trip isn't long or difficult, accommodations and meals don't have to be expensive, ski passes cost the same as in the Dolomites, the hosts are warm and hospitable, and the mountain slopes and views are magnificent! I left regretting that my stay was so short, and I will definitely return to St. Moritz again.
You can receive other information, route maps, equipment tips, etc. by email, phone or in person at Fun Wind Burton authorized dealer at Wał Miedzeszyński 377 in Warsaw, by phone +48 22 616 03 95 or email pawel@funwind.com.pl
Greetings and welcome
Paweł Jędrzejewski
