High up the imposing snow-covered ice walls let a freerider’s heart pound faster. In the meadows it’s the kindness of the locals who ensure an unforgettable experience.

In Spring 2014 together with the ski alpinists David Pitschmann, Fabian Lentsch, and Michael Trojer we headed to the remote Russian Altai Mountains in hope to discover a skier’s paradise. After a long travel we found ourselves again in a tiny woodshed at the sidelines of a Russian farmers’ village called Kurai, having no idea what is going to happen next. When the first sun rays squinted into our room, we opened the curtains and saw the whole Altai Massive stuck out of the Siberian steppe – unspoiled and incredibly beautiful. Will there be good skiing out there? What we finally found deep in the heart of these soaring mountains excelled our wildest imaginations – a truly unexpected fortune!