LIECHTENSTEIN
Exotic swiss trip
Early January 2006, the 4th edition of Engadinsnow isn’t as good as expected. The north face of Piz
Corvatsch looks like a “lowtide” reef... For that reason I ride safely and let Flo Orley win the race with a
gnarly run, in front of Steve Klassen and Fred Serin.
Frustrated by the lack of snow, I decide to lead an expedition towards the tiny state of Liechtenstein. Accompanied by rider Xavier Rosset and photographer Peter Charaf, we journey to the ultimate kingdom and
are pleased to find that the forth smallest state in Europe seems to have an equal amount of White Gold on
the mountains as real gold in the banks…
Long ago, Liechtenstein use to be part of the Holy German Roman Empire. Nowadays it is known as one of the main financial strongholds in the world. However, its women were only allowed to vote in 1984..!
It is maybe because of its conservatism, that this country offers such an untouched and authentic landscape
on its 157 square kilometres.
Hidden in the middle of its mountains, is Malbun. Home of the famous skiers, Hanni Wenzel and Marco
Büchel. Malbun isn’t only a ski resort in Liechtenstein. It is the one and only resort of the principality !
The resorts’ lowest part is home to kids and beginners. They enjoy a variety of green and blue slopes
through old spruces and larch trees. Above these slopes lay a tiny but useful snowpark. All around the valley, several sled slopes are available to tourists.
In the center of the village, aside the Turna lodge, is Sareis quad. Once on top, right above the Sareiserjoch panoramic restaurant, you’ll get a glance onto Switzerland and nearby Austria.
This place is also the starting point if you are planning to hike up Gamsgrads’ south face. This 2246m summit
is unique. Its dolomite limestone rocks offer numerous couloirs, standing rocks and even majestic arches.
This astonishing landscape is our playground on the first day. The atmosphere reminds us of Southern
America. The runs end into a vast powder field where there is not even a single track, 3 days after the end
of school holidays… Happiness and laughter all the way down to the village ! It looks like the resort is ours
for a few days…
We spend the next two days on Malbun west side, above and around Vaduzertäli chairlift and Hocheck
Tbar. Forty minutes of hiking bring us onto the ridge in between Malbun and Valünatal. From there, we ride down every single couloir we can. Nothing above 300 meters vertical but we have plenty of time... we are
the only freeriders in the spot ! Hocheck’s woody runs come next. Drops, turns and steep runs.
There is enough for 10 and we are only 2…
The weather changes and it is time to return to west Switzerland, but there are heaps of spots left to
Explore… Numerous big runs, exceeding 1000m vertical start from Nospitz, Augstenberg or Naafkopf. They
all end on Valünatal backcountry slope. Then, you only have to slide down to Steg and get a bus back up
to Malbun.
The freeride potential is big. No one knows about it. Not even Malbun inhabitants… Nothing like Verbier or Chamonix which are over packed with Brits and Scandinavian powder hunters…
Damn! Why did I tell you this spot is so good then…?
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Hotel wellness Turna
www.gastroguide.li/index.asp?object_id=100100&partner_id=1590
