Big Events

With the Relentless Freeze festival kicking off the season this weekend at Battersea Power Station. I thought I would have a look a few of the snow events happening across Europe this winter.

Relentless Freeze 28-29th November, London, UK
Skiiers and snowboarders competing on a 32 metre high jump complete with 500 tonnes of real snow is pretty impressive considering it's central London. Combined with performances from The Streets, Groove Armada and Zane Lowe it's a great day festival and there's still tickets left.  Be warmed: apres session followed by the ski gear shopping tent can lead to an expensive day out.


Avoriaz Night Parties 28th Jan- February 10th, Avoriaz, France
The tourist office describes Avoriaz as the home to 'the biggest dance floor in the Alps' and events are common here with 5 mini festivals over the season ranging from jazz to cabaret to rock. This first event is mainly European dance and electro but there is also a free freeride competition if thats not your thing.


X-games  14th-16th March,Tignes, France
For the 3rd time ESPN brings the X-games to Tignes bringing the best of the world riders to complete against each other in events such as slopestyle and superpipe. The standard and quality of the competition is truly world class and the best thing about it? Its 100% free to watch. Last year 2 Many DJ's played in to thousands slope side, expect more of the same this year.

The Big Snow Festival 23rd-29th March, Kopaonik, Serbia
This is only year 2 of this festival and is apparently going to double in size for 2012 after joining forces with the team behind EXIT festival in Serbia. It is rapidly becoming fierce competition for Snowbombing as it's cheaper with a decent line-up. Last year was headlined by the likes of Devlin, Example and Wretch32.


The Brits 28th-25th, Laax, Switzerland

Its the competition featuring the UK's best skier and snowboarders compete in half pipe and Big Air. On the last day the hundreds of competitors battle it out en-mass from the top to the bottom of mountain in a matter of minutes, its carnage, Last year the apres sessions were headlined by Pendulum, no word yet on what's planned for 2012.

Altitude: 26th-31st March, Mayrhofen, Austria
Unlike all the other festivals on this post this is not a music festival or a ski competition it's a comedy festival in the Alps which personally I think is a genius idea. Headlined by the big names on the British comedy circuit such as Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Al Murray and Tim Minchin. There'll be no shortage of laughs and it's something a bit different to do in the mountains with a more chilled out vibe.

BUSC-The Main Event 24th-31st March, Saalbach, Austria
Organised by students for students. There's not a hell of a lot of information up on their website, well there's pretty much nothing. However it will include some surprisingly good student skiing and snowboarding as well as live music, previous acts have included DJ Switch and Jackwob.

Basscamp 2nd-6th April, Morzine, France
Morzine's electronic music and snowsports festival fuses boarder cross and rail jams with plenty of dance music this year nheadlined by Foamo. The most appealing thing about this festival is the back to the 80's street party on the last night complete with sound systems and plenty of neon onsies- sounds epic! 

Snowbombing 9th-14th April, Mayrhofen, Austria
Its the daddy of all ski festivals and proof that you don't need tents and mud to make a festival work. It's known for its big names and extreme and en-mass fancy dress. This years time up includes Prodigy, Example and Groove Armada with more and bigger acts to be named over the coming weeks. Expect a hell of a lot of dance music, outrageous outfits and buckets loads of jagermister.


I know that most of these events overlap and would be crazily expensive to go to all of them however if you are in a resort nearby they're definitely worth a visit. Are there any other ski festivals to note? Let me know.