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.
Part 2 :Best Ski Resorts in Switzerland
If you wish to ski in Switzerland, why not get acquainted with the customary Swiss way of enjoying skiing? The hard working Swiss are leisurely skiers. The Swiss look at skiing as an enjoyment break after a hard week’s work rather than calculating the vertical height and the ski miles. The Swiss like to extend their relaxation hours by unwinding at a long lunch followed by skiing in the afternoon. The lunch is the main meal and consists of numerous courses, beer, schnapps and coffee. The afternoon skiing is generally followed by a restrained celebration at the bars and a late coffee. Also, it is important to know before going to ski in Switzerland that the Swiss did not participate in the euro currency and the preferred mode of payment in Switzerland is Swiss Franc and not Euro.
Okay, so much so about the traditions of skiing in Switzerland. Here is a list of best ski resorts in Switzerland.
• St. Moritz: This scenic resort is the primary skiing centre in eastern Switzerland. Skiing is the St. Moritz region is classified into distinct regions according to the expertise of the skiers. The St. Moritz resort is more accustomed to advanced and intermediate skiers rather than new skiers. The Corviglia region on the mountains above St.Moritz is the most popular ski destination among other regions. Adventurous skiers usually head to the satellite resort of Sils Maria (Corvastch) and to the slopes atop the nearby village of Pontresina (Diavolezza). Intermediate level skiers generally enjoy the cable car ride from St. Moritz-Dorf to the top of Piz Corvatsch, 3,451 meter above sea level. From Pir Corvatsch you can ski a network of trails leading all the way down to the resort’s lake. The resort has one of the most dependable annual snowfall in Switzerland.
• Arosa: Arosa is supposedly the newest entrant in the ski scenario in Switzerland and is a huge draw among young crowd. The town is more contemporary than archaic and offers good swiss dining experience to the skiers. The resort has ample annual snowfall and broad alpine meadows to offer a liberating skiing experience. Arosa is also for intermediate as well as advanced skiers. Arosa is a relatively isolated eastern Swiss location.
• Verbier: The key ski resort of French speaking Switzerland, verbier offers a fun filled skiing experience. However, if you do not speak French, don’t feel uncomfortable as the town is interspersed with English pubs alongside French cafes. Verbier is especially for advanced athletes for its dramatic slopes. The resort is at the centre of a network of cable cars and gondolas that connect you to relatively unknown satellite resorts of Veysonnaz and La Tzoumaz.
• Zermatt: Located at the foot of the most photographed mountain in Switzerland, mount Matterhorn, this is a charmingly archaic resort. The towns is characterized by archaic buildings and almost complete lack of traffic. Zermatt has been always known as a great party destination over the Alps and the revelry can continue up to early hours in the morning. Skiers of varied expertise level can enjoy superb skiing in Zermatt.
