Part 1: A guide to skiing and snowboarding in Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the best destinations to go on a snowboarding European holiday. Switzerland is majorly covered by the world famous Swiss Alps that offer great snowboarding slopes for the enthusiasts. The amazing white scenery and the fantastic resorts make Switzerland a great snowboarding holiday. The main resorts are well connected by rail routes so getting there will not be a problem. The resorts for snowboarding are mostly located in the south of Switzerland, and on an average, accessible from Zurich within 2-3 hours by public transport. Travelers can also drive to the resorts in a private or rented cars.
There are exactly no resort reserved especially for snowboarding, but almost all ski resorts accommodate snowboarders. In fact, many resorts have installed half pipes for the benefit of snowboarders. You can also rent your snowboarding equipment from these resorts. Of course, these can be pricey owing to the oft quoted Swiss pricing, but you get worth your money after the end of the vacation. The Swiss did not switch to Euros and the Swiss Franc is still the primary currency in Switzerland. The resorts will only accept Euros if you have run out of your Euros. The resorts also offer snowboarding instructions for all levels of snowboarders, beginners, intermediate and advanced.
Here are the best snowboarding resort options in Switzerland.
• The Apres-ski in Arosa is a fairly relaxed resort compared to the others and is a good choice for novice snowboarders. The lift system is very good. The Apres ski houses 70 kilometers of pistes and long snowboarding runs. The après ski resort is crammed with clubs, bars and restaurants so you can have an amazing vacation. The snowboarding range varies from 1800 to 2650 meters.
• The Engelberg will be more appealing to the adventurous and it offers year long boarding facilities. The thrilling descent of 2000 meter make this resort one of the biggest and most dramatic of the world. The resort is served by a total of twenty eight lifts and it also offers night snowboarding option for the snowboarder. The boarding range runs from 1,050 to 3,028 meters.
• The St Moritz resort is supposedly the most beautiful of the Swiss resorts. Scenic snow capped peaks and amazing trails offer a once-in-a –lifetime experience for the snowboarders. 350 kilometers of piste offers amazing snowboarding experience. The St Moritz offer accommodation for all levels of boarders from the beginners to the advanced. A total of 55 lifts serve the resort and the boarding range is from 1,856 to 3,303 meters.
• The Zermatt resort is set dramatically in the shadow of the famous Matterhorn. This resort is most suitable for intermediate and advanced snowboarders as it offers heli-snowboarding option to the boarders. The resort is set at an altitude of 1,620 meters and is a truly fantastic experience. The Zermatt resort is simple to get around and is served by seventy lifts that span a range between 1,620 meters and 3,820 meters, placed in 150 kilometers of piste.
