Time travel

Laax, Switzerland

Situated on a sunny plateau, high above the Rhine gorge, the Swiss mountain resort of Laax is at the forefront of the freeriding scene.

But it wouldn’t be the pioneering sports resort it is today without the vision of one man, Reto Gurtner, who set about transforming it after a twist of fate.

When his father, owner of the Crap Sogn Gion mountain cableway in Laax, died in 1983, 27-year-old Reto abandoned his studies to become a lawyer and took over the family business. Then, in 1996, he merged it with the Flims cableways to form the Weisse Arena Gruppe.

Building on his long-term fascination with the Californian surf scene, he initiated one of the most successful winter sports concepts in the Alps – freestyle.

Laax is now considered to be the Venice Beach of the mountains, just as Gurtner once imagined it, accepting snowboarders just as much as skiers and celebrating freedom in the snow.

The mountain railways, ski lifts and other services such as hotels, bars, rentals and winter sports schools belong to the Weisse Arena Gruppe. The resort is also home to the world’s largest halfpipe – the Big Beast – which is 656ft long, 72ft wide and 23ft high, as well as the first indoor freestyle hall in Europe.

Its ‘Greenstyle’ concept – which brings Laax closer to its goal of becoming the first self-sustaining ski resort – and the launch of the Inside Laax app exemplify Reto’s pioneering spirit.

In 2018, he was awarded the Milestone Award, the most important Swiss tourism prize, for his life’s work and decades of commitment, as well as for his constant quest for innovation.

The latest venture to be launched in Laax is its brand new augmented reality (AR) guided walk across the Senda dil Dragun, or Path of the Dragon, the longest treetop walkway in the world.

Four nights of skiing in Laax, staying at signinahotel, including ski pass for the Flims Laax Falera region, on half-board with access to the wellness area and spa costs from £616pp for arrivals until January 31 and from March 20 to April 11. signinahotel.com/en

Award-winning

Canadian leisure carrier

Air Transat has launched a seat sale with return fares from Gatwick to Toronto and Montreal from £329 and to Quebec City from £359. The deal is on to February 10, with Manchester and Glasgow to Toronto services also discounted.

airtransat.co.uk