Snowboarding in Midi-Pyrénées

There’s a reason why so many snowboarders from Midi-Pyrénées are in the line up for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver… It’s the ideal region to surf on powder snow, in snow parks, on the slopes or in the great outdoors. Don’t forget your gloves!

Snowboarding in the snow parks

Freestyle riders eager to carry out a series of manoeuvres on their snowboard can visit the 12 ski resorts in Midi-Pyrénées equipped with a snow park.  They all provide riders with a chance to perform the wildest jumps thanks to a number of obstacles such as springboards (big-air, hip, step-up) or ramps (slide bars, box, rainbow box).  Resorts such as Cauterets, Barèges-La Mongie, Peyragudes or Piau-Engaly also offer courses featuring bumps and raised curves (boardercross).  Others, such as St Lary or Luz Ardiden, feature half-pipes measuring over 100m in length.  Perfect for sequence jumps!

➲ Ski resorts equipped with a snow park: St Lary, Cauterets, le Domaine du Tourmalet, Luz-Ardiden, Peyragudes, Piau-Engaly, Gavarnie-Gèdre, Luchon-Superbagnères, Guzet, Ax-3-domaines, Monts d’Olmes, Le Mourtis

Alpine and off-piste snowboarding

For those who prefer to course down the slopes at top speed, the snow is just as exhilarating in Midi-Pyrénées! 24 resorts have fitted out their ski slopes to accommodate riders.  The Pyrenees Mountains are equally suited to off-piste or freeriding, on both sides of the Tourmalet pass for example.  If you’re lucky, experienced mountaineers will reveal some other great places to freeride once you’re there… Be patient!
➲ Snowboarders choice: www.pyreneesnowboard.com

Great snowboard champions from the Pyrenees

The Pyrenees Mountains are a real source of talent when it comes to snowboard champions.  The Delerue brothers Xavier and Polo, triple world champion and cross-country Olympic bronze-medallist respectively, trained at the Brown Bears club in St Lary.  Vincent Valéry from Peyragudes is another top-class rider.  Not forgetting le Domaine du Tourmalet, where Mathieu Crépel, the 2007 half-pipe and big air world champion, does his training.  So many sportsmen who will be taking part in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver from 15th to 18th February 2010… Fingers crossed!

Practical information

To discover more about ski sports in the Pyrenees, visit the Tourist Confederation of the Pyrenees website: www.lespyrenees.net