First up: prepping and safety!
Our Zillertal adventure kicked off in Aschau, a small village tucked between stunning mountains. This would be our base for the next three days, and honestly, we couldn’t have picked a better spot! Before hitting the backcountry, it's key to make sure your gear is dialed and you know exactly where you're headed. No one likes surprises when they’re deep in the mountains. We took care of all this on the evening of our arrival, checking gear and mapping out our plan with our local guide, Benni. We made sure everyone’s LVS was good to go and locked in the next day’s route.
Day 1: Cloudy skies, but good vibes.
The weather wasn’t on our side at first; visibility was low, but thanks to Benni’s local knowledge, we still found some killer spots. We kicked things off in the Mayrhofen area, hopping on the lifts to get to the highest point. They are fast and comfy (shoutout to the Tux 150er gondola—it fits up to 150 people!), so we were up in no time. From there, we put on our skins and made our way up a nearby peak. The best part? You don’t have to hike forever to find epic freeride spots! Even with the clouds, the views of the Zillertal valley and the surrounding peaks were next-level. And the north-facing snow was perfect for some fun runs. The weather cleared up a bit in the afternoon, so we hiked more and snagged even more fresh turns. We also scoped out some great lines for the next day. That evening, we sat down with Benni again, checked out the maps, and got stoked for day two.
Day 2: Bluebird and big lines!
The forecast was spot on, and the second day delivered. We got up early and reached the peak in record time. The riders were amped to drop into some serious alpine lines, and they did not disappoint. One after the other, they carved out their own paths, slashing through fresh pow and throwing down some killer tricks. Zillertal pretty much has everything a freerider could wish for: amazing snow, endless peaks to explore, perfect powder runs, and jaw-dropping scenery all around. It's the dream spot! By the end of the day, no one could remember how many times they’d hiked up and shredded down—it was one of those days you don’t forget.
Don’t miss the Blue Tomato X Zillertal video to catch all the action and get hyped for the upcoming winter season!
A big THANK YOU to the Blue Tomato team riders, our guide Benni, David from Zillertal Tourism, Marcus and Dominik from Film And Ride, and photographer Andreas "Mone" Monsberger for making it all happen!
