Scuol

Scuol is a dream spot for freeriders and those looking for an initial taste of off-piste riding. Also, it is the home to the Head Office and press team for the TTR which gives some indication of the quality of the resort.

Within the boundaries’ of the ski area there is a assortment of easily accessible gully’s and faces that can be reached from any of the lifts on the mountain. The terrain is varied and exciting, allowing off-piste riders the chance to go exploring. From the Mot da Ri lift riders can, for example, access steep faces or a wide-open valley within meters of exiting the lift.

From the Salaniva peak at 2710m riders can access a variety of off-piste terrain with the possibility to ride for 12km off-piste to the village of Sent at 1430m.  Scuol is also the starting point for backcountry and off-piste tours into the Silvretta range that forms the border between Switzerland and Austria. Off-piste and backcountry riders can, from Scuol, gain access to routes that link up to alpine huts in the region and spend several days touring. Whether you are looking for a powder run off the lift or a day of back-country touring Scuol is ideal spot for a variety of off-piste experiences.

One of the main attractions for snowboarders is the Scuol fun park. Set over a nice long run, the park offers hits for riders of all levels from wide slide boxes and mini kickers, to large kickers and technical rails.

The fun park is ideally situated at the heart of the resort’s two main pistes and provides an excellent base for riders and spectators. The park is maintained to a high standard and hosts regular freestyle competitions and snowboard camps.

Chicken Salad, a female only Freestyle camp runs at the resort, whilst the Element snowboard school offer Freestyle tuition for those wishing to progress further.

Directly accessed from Scuol railway station the resort is served by 14 lifts, covering a total of 80km of slopes over 25 pistes. The resort offers a mixture of wide pistes for riders of all levels. Beginners should enjoy the Schlivera and Planta blue pistes that skirt alongside the board parks. The resort also offers some small magic carpet lifts for those in their first week of riding. Intermediate riders will be pleased with the amount of wide open blue and red pistes where the terrain never gets too steep, however, within 3-4 days they may have covered most of the resort, so some riders may find the terrain slightly limiting after a week. For advanced riders there are a number of black pistes descending from the Mot Da Ri chairlift at 2583m. These will probably not prove too much of a challenge for very experienced riders as they never get too steep.

Those looking to physically challenge their legs, the Salaniva chairlift takes you to a height of 2710m where you can follow the 12km Traumpist Sent run down into the pretty village of Sent.

This run is by far the most challenging in the resort and is not lift linked, so it is worth saving it till the end of the day and stopping half way down at the Somi Bar if you’re feeling tired. A regular ski bus runs from there and will take you back to Scuol. It is also possible to ride all the way down into Scuol, however this run follows a narrow ski track which can struggle for snow in parts during the later months.

Absolute beginners may find some of the blue pistes around the resort a little challenging, but those with a week or more under their belts should cope easily with some of the pistes around the Motta Naluns Area. There are a number of high quality hire shops offering modern equipment at the bottom of the slopes. Scuol also offers some very short magic carpet lifts where total beginners will be able to find their feet. There are varied options for tuition and the local snowboard school ‘Element’ offers lessons for total beginners and upwards, with instructors who speak good English.