Favorite places for freeriding by Enak Gavaggio

While waiting for the beginning of the ski season, we decided to make you travel and dream.

We have entrusted our ESI athlete, Enak Gavaggio, with a mission, to share with us his best off-piste spots around the world. Have a good trip with our mustachioed globetrotter. 

- Les Arcs ( Savoie - France ) : His heart resort

Ideally located in the heart of Savoie and facing the Mont Blanc, the ski resort of Les Arcs is composed of 5 resorts: Les Arcs 2000, Les Arcs 1950, Les Arcs 1800, Les Arcs 1600 and Bourg Saint Maurice. The ski area has several initiation areas as well as secure areas for off-piste skiing. It is also possible to ski on the Aiguille Rouge glacier at 3226 m altitude.

Together with La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry, the ski area forms the huge Paradiski ski area.

Enak's opinion : " 360 degrees skiing with easy access off-piste, alpine terrain, between mountain pastures and forest, so you can ski every day ! 

- Sainte Foy ( Savoie - France ) : Its secret spot

The Savoyard resort of Sainte-Foy Tarentaise is located between 1550m and 2620m of altitude, it offers you the opportunity to ski in the middle of the larches or higher in altitude on the summits reaching more than 2600m. The freeride routes are numerous and not very frequented.

Enak's opinion : " Small friendly ski resort, offering a crazy skiing pleasure, very little skiing, as it is mainly reserved for a piste clientele ". 

- Verbier ( Switzerland ) : The mythical

A world-renowned Swiss resort, Verbier is known for its mythical peaks, a playground for skiers and freeriders.

It is the largest ski area in Switzerland with over 400 kilometers of trails. The legend of Verbier is due in particular to its mythical ski slopes, its champions and popular events like the Verbier Extreme.

Enak's opinion: "Simply magical, the cable cars and the summits, a huge area, but also much more known.

- Kicking Horse ( Canada ) : an incredible playground.

Kicking Horse Resort opened its trails only 20 years ago. With a high-speed gondola that transports you to the highest peaks and gives you access to an incredible playground that was only accessible by helicopter before.

Known as the powder capital of Canada, because the vast majority of the ski trails are unmarked for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy the fresh snow.

Enak's opinion "In Red neck mode, you walk a little and there, you access to completely crazy routes!" 

- Revolstoke ( Canada ) : Heli-skiing paradise  

Without a doubt one of the most renowned resorts in Canada for freeriding and heli-skiing. Approximately 18 meters of snow fall each winter in Revelstoke, turning the CMH area into a true powder paradise.

With its impressive mountains, huge glaciers and beautiful forest runs, the scenery is simply magical.

Enak's opinion: "Crazy vertical drops! Incredible slopes, but many parts forbidden to off-piste, so, be careful. " 

Japon - Powpow Island

Japan (yes all of Japan!) with its unusual snow cover, light snow, but huge flakes, Japan is a real paradise for off-piste skiing.

Rusutsu, Niseko, Kokusai or Zao Onsen, the incredible spots in Japan are numerous and offer fabulous landscapes that you will only see in Japan.

Enak's opinion: "Because it snows every day, the life on the spot is magic, spots with very short slopes and an incredible simple snow".

- Solitude Moutain ( Utah - USA ) - a confidential spot.

This spot is aptly named, because if you like solitude and freeride, this is the place for you. The place is so secret that not much information is available on the net, the easiest way is to trust Enak and go there.

Enak's opinion : " Utah offers a snow that is just crazy, so dry and light, a little corner of paradise where no one goes ! The best ! '' 

- Les Marécottes ( Switzerland ). The hidden paradise 

Les Marecottes, a small resort located in the Valais in Switzerland. This resort is especially known for its freeride, unknown to the general public, with its preserved slopes, it is the kingdom of ski touring and freeride.

Here, no snow cannons, it's real wild skiing in freedom.

Enak's opinion: "Between Chamonix and Verbier, there is a small resort and this is where paradise really is!"

- Zermatt ( Switzerland ) : Freeride with a view on the Matterhorn.

For ski enthusiasts, winter sports addicts and photographers in love with beautiful alpine landscapes, the famous ski resort of Zermatt is dominated by the iconic Matterhorn and its 4478m of altitude.

The area of Zermatt-Matterhorn (Switzerland) and Breuil-Cervinia (Italy) is the highest skiable area in the Alps. Nearly 360 km of slopes and also 36 km of yellow slopes dedicated exclusively to freeride.

Enak's opinion: "A classic, but beware of the boulders, they're everywhere!"

Taos ski valley ( New Mexico - USA ) Tacos & Ski

Taos is the highest resort in New Mexico with its highest peak, Kachima Peak, at 3800m. The valleys are deserted with a Mexican atmosphere and architecture, but in altitude it is possible to find snow! If the snow is sometimes missing, it is a magical place to ski.

Enak's opinion: "Incomparable, because you are in the valley in your underpants and you ski at the top, it's small, but it's the New Mexico atmosphere that takes over. But it's really small. " 

- Saint Anton ( Austria ). The spot to party

The ski resort of St. Anton is the most famous resort in Austria. Its ski area offers an abundance of off-piste skiing opportunities in powder snow.

As Enak confirms, the ski resort of St Anton is well known for its festive and lively après-ski.

Enak's opinion: "One of the only freeride ski resorts in Austria, it's beautiful, big, but most of all it's the best after-ski! The Austrians really teach us what a ski party is!"

Thanks Enak, for this incredible selection of freeride spots around the world. It makes us want to ski even more. Don't you ? ;)