Freeride skiing in Bormio | Magic and dreamy powder skiing in Italy

Freeride at 3,000 meters: a unique experience for mountain lovers

Are you looking for a pure and direct contact with the mountain and you love extreme? Then freeride skiing in Bormio is exactly what you need.

Skiing off-piste gives you unique emotions out there, where there are no groomed ski runs but just amazing powder snow fallen from the sky.

Approach freeriding consciously. Go off-piste with a mountain guide or a ski instructor (and never alone!). Always check the avalanche bulletin, gear up with beacon, backpack, probe and shovel.

In Bormio 2000 verify if your avalanche beacon is functioning by trying the ARTVA check.

Be certain to practice this sport within the rules.

The best freeride spots in Bormio

Vallone

With over 3,000 meters of altitude the Mountain Vallecetta is the Freeride Paradise with heavy snowfalls and great snow quality which make Vallone a spectacular spot to practice freeriding.

In this area you mainly have two possibile itineraries: “The Classic” and “The Cross”. Both give great satisfaction within a silent and uncontaminated environment.

If you are a powder seeker, the Vallone’s experience is obligated, at least once in a life-time.

Suggested itineraries in Vallone

La Classica (The Classic)
You’ll never get tired of this one. Great satisfaction.
Reach Bormio 3000 by cablecar and pass below the station entering the hill side. No mandatory itinerary to ski down. After the first half don’t go too far left due to the presence of rock barriers. Reach the avalanche barrier before the plateau. Gather speed from here and go to the right, look out for the little road which will take you to the ski slopes with a five minute walk.
Do not enter the summit avalanche barrier: very dangerous area!
La Croce (The Cross)
Get out of the cablecar and pass below the station. Follow the western ridge which takes you to the Vallecetta summit. From the peak enter the couloir which faces North-East and join the Vallone’s classic.

The Skiers’ Spot

Magic and dreamy it’s the Skiers’ Spot, a freeride zone which offers two itineraries very exciting and evocative within 2,700-2,000 meters.

Skiing in the woods will awaken old time sensations and will make you go back to childhood!

Suggested itineraries in the Skiers’ Spot

Sciatori (Skiers)
Fun and fascinating descent in a magical environment.
Enter the off-piste to the right side of the slope S. Ambrogio by the flat section. No forced itinerary between changes of gradients and a fun wood. Continue until you intersect “Strada dell’Acqua” (Road of Water, it’s a narrow dirt road). Follow it to the left for roughly 20 minutes till you reach the ski slope at 2000 m.
Antenne (Aerials)
Attention, itinerary for experts only. Avalanche danger. We suggest you to enter with mountain guides only.
At the end of the ski slope Ferrari, reach the flat section and enter the off-piste to the right side. You will see some aerials above you. No forced itinerary, proceed until you intersect “Strada dell’Acqua”.

Information you have to know before approaching powder skiing in Bormio

Freeride skiing in Bormio: rules of conduct

Attention! The freeride areas are to be considered off-slope. Enter those areas at your own risk.

Follow these simple rules of conduct to practice freeride skiing in Bormio with more awareness and safety.

Freeride is an extreme sport. This means it is only addressed to expert skiers/snowboarders, adequately geared and prepared for self-rescue on avalanche.
Never alone. Never enter freeride areas alone. If something happens to you, nobody will be able to help you.
If you don’t know the two freeride zones we advise you to go with a mountain guide (tel. +39 351 8895411 – info@guidebormio.com)
Before you enter the off-piste areas always check the avalanche bulletin. Information is provided on our website’s home page or on the maps situated at the starting point and arrival of the cableway Bormio-Bormio 2000.
Remember that already with a level 3-considerable the risk of avalanche is possible and especially on drop off. Be careful and move with caution even when the danger level is 1 or 2. Travel strongly not recommended when the level is 4.
Mandatory gear: beacon, probe, shovel, backpack, freeride skis or snowboard. Helmet is well-recommended! A very snowy area is only apparently safe. It can hide a lot of hazardous like hidden rocks or trees. The beacon (or ARTVA) has to be worn with its case close to the body or in a pocket perfectly zipped up.
Don’t forget to check your beacon in Bormio 2000 before you get to the top and be always well-trained with the use of beacon, probe and shovel.
It is mandatory to re-enter the slopes only from the given trail as indicated on the maps. The freerider can’t ever re-enter the slopes out of the given trail.
The person who enters the two freeride zones must take up his/her responsabilities which can derive from the pratice of this sport and discharge Società Impianti Bormio from any kind of responsability civil or criminal, as a consequence of injuries or illnesses caused to himself/herself or to a third party within the freeride area.

Avalanche danger scale

Danger level	Likelihood of avalanches, size and distribution	Travel advice
1) Low	Natural and human-triggered avalanches unlikely. Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.	Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
2) Moderate	Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible. Small avalanches in specific areas; or large avalanches in isolated areas.	Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.
3) Considerable	Natural avalanches possible; human-triggered avalanches likely. Small avalanches in many areas; or large avalanches in specific areas; or very large avalanches in isolated areas.	Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.
4) High	Natural avalanches likely; human-triggered avalanches very likely. Large avalanches in many areas; or very large avalanches in specific areas.	Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.
5) Extreme	Natural and human-triggered avalanches certain. Large to very large avalanches in many areas.	Avoid all avalanche terrain.

Freeride guide

If you want to try powder skiing for the first time, if you have never been off-piste in Bormio or if you wanna have a fun day in total safety we advise you to go with a mountain guide.

Entering the off-piste areas with real experts of the subject it’s the occasion for you to try freeriding in safety and learn from their experience and competence which expedients and rules of conduct use in the middle of an off slope situation.

info@guidebormio.com

+39 351 8895411

Mandatory freeride kit

To practice freeriding it is mandatory to have the proper gear which, in case of avalanche, will give you the chance to self-rescue. You must have: beacon, probe, shovel, backpack, freeride skis or snowboard.

We’d like to suggest to wear a helmet since even a very snowy and apparently safe area may hide a lot of dangers like rocks or hidden trees.

info@bormiorental.com

+39 0342 904305