Absolutely... snow parks are the sha
IMAY not know the difference between a kicker and a jib but I do know a shaper when I see one. And Seppi Harml is possibly the coolest shaper I’ve ever met. He throws shapes daily but don’t worry, I mean that as a compliment.
As head of the Shuttleberg ski area in Flachauwinkl near Salzburg in Austria, Seppi oversees a ‘shape team’ which grooms the resort’s snow park each day.
Just as pistes have to be groomed regularly, snow parks must be reshaped for safety and style.
The Absolut Park – which covers 1.5km of terrain and has a whopping 100 features in seven sections – is not only Austria’s oldest and largest snow park but also one of the most famous in Europe.
Free skiers and snowboarders come from far and wide to experience its world-class obstacles and with the capacity to build an Olympic standard half-pipe if required, it’s no surprise that park experts from around the world vie to work there each winter.
The park hosts the important ‘Spring Battle’ competition in March while park fanatics can hone their skills with ‘rad day’ coaching sessions every Friday throughout the season.
Back in 1998, Seppi was a freestylin’ teenager when he began pleading with his father – then the resort’s CEO – to build a snow park. His clever Dad listened and the park was born. Seppi helped to build it with his own hands.
Today, features include The Stash, a natural snow park in the forest (like the Stash in Avoriaz) and a Lil Stash for young freestylers who want to learn simple tricks on the slopes.
Park rats, as I like to call them, are split 50-50 between skiers and snowboarders.
Watching them fly down the fivein-a-row Kicker Line is jaw-dropping fun and according to Seppi, the park is also popular with ‘shred dads’, skiers and boarders who learnt their park tricks 15 or 20 years ago and are now returning with their own kids to shred the park.
And while snow boarding is reported to be in decline generally, Seppi says he is seeing a resurgence of the sport.
‘Snowboard companies like Burton are devising programmes which make it easier to start boarding straightaway so children no longer have to learn to ski first before learning to board” he says.
‘Snowboarding equipment is also evolving. Boots have more flex and grip, and on any given day you can choose between a carving, park or powder board’.
The Absolut Park at Shuttleberg also features a rail yard, jib park, ski cross run and beginner/intermediate line so there’s something for everyone in the family.
And speaking of families, Shuttleberg – just 40 minutes from Salzburg airport with winter flights from both Aer Lingus and Ryanair – is a great spot for families with a dedicated family run and lots of family-friendly features.
When your tweenies have finished perfecting tricks in the park, they can head to the Chill House, a bright airy building where they can try the mini-skate ramp, bouldering wall, eat a packed lunch without having to buy anything and admire those park rats!
The biggest surprise is that this area – part of the 750km Ski Amadé region – is almost completely unknown to Irish families despite it being so accessible to Salzburg.
Take my advice – learn the difference between elbow rails and barrel rails, and get yourself to this low key Ski Amadé gem.
Visit shuttleberg.com skiamadé. com