Knee-deep in powder snow

The Sonnenkopf is an insider tip for all those who love freeriding. The Sonnenkopf, which gets by without any artificial snow, offers a number of deep snow options away from the pistes, as well as two designated "backcountry areas" for experienced freeriders.

What a feeling of happiness when you get off the chairlift - without any strenuous ascent - and have up to 1,250 vertical meters of powder descent ahead of you directly from the mountain station. The "Powder Run" into the valley impresses with its varied terrain and a three-kilometer route.

One of the best-known personalities from Klostertal is Nadine Wallner. She is a two-time freeride world champion and embodies the passion for freeriding. After many sporting adventures around the globe - from Peru to France to Alaska - Nadine is always drawn back to her home.

"The Arlberg is world-famous, Lech-Zürs, St. Anton - most people probably know that. There are many possibilities here. Stuben and the Sonnenkopf are less known and yet everything is possible here: ski tours, flowy lines, pillows and high cliffs - you just have to know where", says Nadine.

The freedom that Nadine always talks about and always feels when freeriding is something she finds in the mountains. "Knowing your own limits is the most important thing when freeriding, alongside the right equipment. Attending a freeride safety course or booking a guide from the region for tours in unfamiliar terrain is definitely a good idea. Then even inexperienced freeriders can enjoy the freedom that you feel when you draw your first line on an untouched slope."

For those who want to hone their freeriding skills in deep snow and learn more about the region and the protected areas, the Klostertal ski school offers special freeriding courses. Together with guide Christian and his experienced team, they head out into the untouched snow. The rule here is: it pays to get up early.