5 freeride spots in Avoriaz
Discover the best freeride spots in Avoriaz!
Ready for the adventure?
Leave the safety of the marked slopes!
Discovery
Go ride incredible spots for off-piste enthusiasts.
Safety
Don’t forget the essential safety equipment when heading off-piste!
You are a fearless rider, one of those athletes with a taste for risk, seeking the thrill of adventure and adrenaline. You want to leave the safety of marked trails to practice this discipline known as freeride! You’re in the right place, as Avoriaz is full of unsuspected spots. In this article, we invite you to discover 5 places to go freeride backcountry skiing or snowboarding in Avoriaz.
Hold on, hold on! Safety first!
Freeriding obviously comes with risks, so here’s a quick reminder of the safety guidelines:
- Avoid going alone!
- Always carry a means of communication (a fully charged phone or a walkie-talkie)
- Bring an avalanche transceiver (like a high-visibility vest, it saves lives)
- Carrying a small shovel is a plus!
- Do not commit to a face if you are not an experienced skier or snowboarder!
5 freeride backcountry spots in Avoriaz:
1. The Fornet area
The Fornet area features two “snowcross” zones—secured freeride areas suitable for almost all levels! These two playful freeride zones offer the perfect terrain for carving beautiful turns in powder, sending jumps off rocky cliffs, and enjoying features ideal for inverted tricks.
It’s also the spot selected for Red Bull Infinite Lines.
2. The Stash
A snowpark that’s perfect in powder conditions: some areas are left untouched, and the wooden features allow you to blend freestyle/park riding with forest freeride!
Le Stash offers several routes ranging from “Intermediate” to “Expert” level, as well as a “Snake Run” (a boardercross with very tight banked turns). Halfway down, a cabin lets you take a break and is an ideal spot for a picnic. But beware! The giant picnic table there is actually a freestyle feature—it’s not meant for your lunch.
3. The Crozats Snowcross
A wide, impressive face located near the top of the Grande Combes chairlift, it offers the secured freeride area with the greatest vertical drop, as it can extend almost all the way down to the base of the Prodains cable car! Its width allows you to ride far down and still find a few fresh, untouched turns. It’s not the most playful area for backcountry freestyle, but it does offer some nice terrain features and a few small cliffs to jump.
Warning: if it’s closed, it means it’s not secured! This steep slope is beautiful but can be dangerous.
4. La Combette
A small forested area with countless possibilities, the edges of La Combette black run hide “pillows” and numerous pockets of untouched snow, sometimes giving it a mini-Japan vibe. Perfect for jumping from pillow to pillow and riding the same zone ten times without ever taking the same line! By heading back up via the Grande Combe chairlift, you’ll avoid the crowds and enjoy quicker access compared to the long ride down to the bottom of the Prodains cable car. But don’t tell too many people 🤫
5. The Manche Valley
The “Nature” version of freeride in Avoriaz—but go with a guide! Starting from Le Fornet, this wild off-piste route is as beautiful as it is playful. Located on a slope with no marked runs or chairlifts, you’ll quickly feel cut off from the rest of the world. Natural jumps, small cliffs, and beautiful slopes over a long vertical drop will take you all the way to Erigné, where you can catch a shuttle back to Morzine, then return to Avoriaz by cable car.
To go further:
Oscar Mandin
Follow the adventures of our ambassador Oscar Mandin.
Oscar is a 23-year-old freerider from Morzine. He currently competes on the Freeride World Tour, a circuit where the world’s best freeriders meet. Oscar started freestyle skiing and mogul skiing at the age of 10. At 17, he turned to freeride—and instantly fell in love with it. His strong freestyle background, developed in the snowparks of the Avoriaz ski area, allows him to combine tricks and line reading in off-piste terrain, giving him a unique style: smooth in powder and aggressive on cliffs.
La Freeride Week d’Avoriaz
Crédits photos Ⓒ: @Oreli.b, @OliverGodbold, @KenoDerlyn
