March 8th, 2009 by mat
Frejn’s Freeride Inferno, Ischgl – image © ineedsnow.com
With plenty of new snow over the previous day or two, the Freeride Inferno, Ischgl took place in epic snow conditions. It was not a day for sun block or spring clothing though, it was biting cold at the top of Ischgl and intermittent snow, great conditions to keep the powder in good shape.
Long hike into the first route – image © ineedsnow.com
The first run took place over in Samnaun on the Swiss side of the connected ski area with Ischgl, whilst the second route was beneath the Palinkopf on the Ischgl side of the ski region. Mass starts ensured some classic pile-ups in the tight sections and around the first gates in the courses.
Mass start Freeride Inferno, Ischgl – image © ineedsnow.com
The after race ‘grill and chill’ took place in its usual location next to the Schwarzwasserlift with a fire, beer and food and a DJ tent. Great location and great event – Ischgl really know how to put on some epic events.
Tough routes through the rocks – image © ineedsnow.com
February 27th, 2009 by mat
Mass start Freeride Inferno, Ischgl – image © ineedsnow.com
7th March 2009 – over 70 of Ischgl’s snowboarders and free skiers line up for a mass start downhill run. The 1 km decent is all off-piste and subject to last minute inspection before the race starts. The Frejn’s Freeride Inferno is followed by the “Grill & Chill” with video presentations of the race and a party round a fire in the high alpine. One of the better Freeride / off-piste events of the winter!
February 20th, 2009 by mat
Before we are all filled with dread that the season is set to close, this concert is taking place in May, well into spring and a testament to the people in Ischgl who recognise that some of us will be deep in spring depression by that time and they keep the lifts running longer than almost all resorts. Full details are:
Location: Idalp, Ischgl
Date: Saturday 2nd May 2009
Entry: free for those with lift-passes
Dress code: Ozzie cork hats
I am going to be requesting a back stage pass from Dominik at Ischgl Tourism, after all he got us tickets for the Ischgl Top Model Beauty Pageant 
February 20th, 2009 by mat
Kappl in great conditions - image © ineedsnow.com
For families and those wanting a slower pace of things but also wanting to access the superb ski region of Ischgl then the neighbouring ski holiday resorts of See and Kappl are great options. I skied them for the first time this season, yesterday and conditions were superb. Cold and clear conditions that followed several days of heavy snow – you can get the idea
Both See and Kappl offer accommodation that is close to the skiing and much of the accommodation is in fact ski-in, ski-out. Lifts leave each resort from a central location and both See and Kappl offer a ski piste back to the resort that winds through large sections of the resort. Within the ski areas the emphasis is very much on families with dedicated kids ski areas at the mid stations and the skiing in both See and Kappl tends to favour the intermediate or beginner. For parents wanting to pop over to Ischgl and ski in one of the top ski areas in the Alps then one ski pass covers the Paznaun valley and all the resorts are linked by regular ski buses. See and Kappl are attractive and welcoming ski holiday resorts but lack the full-on après that Ischgl is a world beater for. Bars and restaurants are numerous but the pace of life in both See and Kappl are very much slower than Ischgl. I think they are both great options for families.
Its pretty good for big kids as well - image © ineedsnow.com