The Latest Adventure News: February
Your latest outdoor adventure news from around the world
This month, find out about outdoor events near you, read awesome adventure articles, check out incredible race results, and watch a snowsports film by a pro - read on!
four events for your radar
Pow Pow Splitboard Festival
This year's PowPow Splitboard Festival at Col des Aravis is sure not to disappoint. If you’ve ever wondered about trying splitboarding out, now’s your chance. You can even take part in a race!
Lots of brands to test out, snow safety education, splitboard intro courses, and winter camping workshops are just some of the highlights of this splitboard-dedicated festival in France.
WHEN: 3 - 5 March
WHERE: Col des Aravis, La Clusaz, France
HOW: More info here
Pierra Menta International Ski Mountaineering Competition
The iconic Pierra Menta - the benchmark international ski mountaineering competition - is back and is taking place in Arêches-Beaufort, France - as it has done on a yearly basis since 1986.
Stay tuned for some sensational athletic adventures, where more than 200 teams of two skiers take part in a particularly demanding and exhilarating race.
WHEN: 8 - 11 March
WHERE: Arêches-Beaufort, France
HOW: More info here
freeride world tour
The famous Freeride World Tour - a FATMAP partner, no less - is in full swing. Don't miss out on its upcoming races: Fieberbrunn Pro in Austria and Yeti Xtreme Verbier in Switzerland.
WHEN: Fieberbrunn Pro 11 - 17 March | Yeti Xtreme Verbier 25 March - 2 April
WHERE: Fieberbrunn, Austria | Verbier, Switzerland
HOW: More info here
La Trace Des grands
The thrilling ski mountaineering and freerando event, La Trace des Grands, is about to take place in Chamonix, France. Expect some incredible feats across its three races on the Mont Blanc range.
For those not racing, join in for some mountain-top yoga, guided ski mountaineering outings, a ski pass to make the most of the ski region, and much more!
WHEN: 4 - 5 March
WHERE: Chamonix, France
HOW: More info here
Captivating Reads
Article #1 ~ originally published in Sidetracked
“Every breath fights in my throat. We have been struggling for hours now up a steep, ice-covered cliff at 5,500m, in the dark, holding tightly onto fixed ropes. Our bikes, strapped to our backpacks, have increased our individual loads to over 20kg,” writes Gerhard Czerner.
This article is written proof that mountain biking beneath K2 in Pakistan is serious type-two fun, which is tricky in the moment but exhilarating when you reminisce about it.
The author had a dream of visiting Concordia in northern Pakistan, and went for it. Czerner was drawn to the confluence of two mighty glaciers, the Godwin-Austen and the Baltoro, considered to be the heart of the Karakoram.
“Nowhere else on Earth do more 7,000m and 8,000m mountains jostle in such close proximity, including the forbidding pyramid of K2, second-highest peak in the world,” he explains.
Dive into a mountain biking adventure across deserted plateaus, snowy caps, and jagged rocky peaks in Pakistan.
Article #2 ~ originally published in Fall-line Magazine
You've heard of Chamonix and Val Thorens, but have you heard of Villard-Corrençon? Problaly not. This article dives into why this hidden French region should be on your skiing list.
Fewer crowds and lower costs, not to mention sensational skiing, the Vercors Massif may not be in the Alps, but it still has plenty to offer. If you’re looking for an unhurried, easygoing vibe for your next ski trip, with 125km of piste, 19 lifts, and no chance of a rowdy Folie Douce, then Villard-Corrençon in France should be on your winter holiday list.
Image by Snowscat
Article #3 ~ originally published in Cereal
No doubt you have heard of Patagonia. The tip of the Americas is famous for its unpredictable weather patterns, moody mountain ranges, and staggering peaks. What’s more, it is riddled with over 12 National Parks, with Torres del Paine one of its most famous. Yet how much do we actually know about this rugged and wild region?
Torres del Paine alone covers over 181,000 hectares and is the largest, southernmost, and more sparsely populated of Chile’s 16 administrative divisions, explains the article’s author.
Patagonia is, in fact, divided between Chile and Argentina into two unequal halves by the third longest border on earth. Chile only holds one tenth of the Patagonian landmass but it is the region with the most varied topography, the lushest flora, and the most abundant wildlife. From vast, flat volcanic plains devoid of vegetation in the East to soaring rock walls and green mountain passes in the West, Patagonia offers it all.
It should be on every outdoor-lover’s to-do list.
Sensational Results
These three athletes’ results wowed us
FATMAP Ambassador, Kylee Toth, has been busy this past month.
Kylee came in fifth place in the individual skimo event at the French National Cup in Aussois, on 14 January, coming in 9m 16s after the winner, Marianna Jagerčíková. Check Kylee’s route here.
Then, on the weekend of 18 February, the ski mountaineering World Cup circuit had a race in Val Martello Italy, where Kylee finished 21st in the individual, 18th in teams, and 26th in sprint, which was mid pack. This was a true backcountry race with no ski lifts or pistes. Racers from all over the world came to participate in preparation for World Championships, which are in Boi Taull Spain. Take a look at her route here.
Images of Kylee by skimostats.
2. The snowboard halfpipe title went to Hirano Ruka and Ono Mitsuki from Japan.
The two snowboarders grabbed their titles at the Mammoth Mountain World Cup at the US Grand Prix World Cup on 4 February.
Hirano, the Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020 champion in snowboard halfpipe, captured his second win of 2023 after grabbing gold in Laax, Switzerland, in December. It's his fourth snowboard halfpipe World Cup career win.
Eighteen-year-old Ono took an early lead in the women’s snowboard halfpipe with a 90.75 on her first run and didn't need a better one, claiming a four-point victory over Cai Xuetong of China at 86.75. Maddie Mastro of the U.S. took third (82.00). Ono captured her second consecutive World Cup title after joining her teammate Hirano as winner in Laax. This marks her sixth career World Cup podium.
3. FATMAP Ambassador, Erika Vikander, came third in the snowboard women's division at the Freeride World Tour at Baqueira Beret.
Erika is in full swing at the Freeride World Tour, grabbing third place at Baqueira Beret in Spain in late January / early February. Then, she came fifth in Ordino Arcalis in Andorra between February 4 - 9.
Keep an eye on her as she sets off for the Freeride World Tour’s next, and final, two stops: Fieberbrunn in Austria and Xtreme Verbier in Switzerland in March and April.
What To Watch This Month
What skins are the best for your adventures in the mountains? What is the difference between natural and synthetic fibres? Glue or glueless skins? Xavier De Le Rue answers all these questions and more in his latest episode, How To Choose & Care for your Skins.
In this episode of How To Xv, Xav goes through some of the different options available in the skin market to help you choose which skin type is the best option for you, how to look after them, as well as some little tips for perfectly getting them on and off.
See you out there!
Team FATMAP