Les Diablerets: The joys of wint...air
Words & Photos by Joao-Filipe Rodrigues
I started snowboarding when I was 21. Uh it’s kind of late for some, but here I am on my 30 and I still love it and still learning new tricks everyday riding. I’m a child sea, born in France in Britanny North West coast, so I started skim boarding and surfing like all of us here. I had snowboard posters in my room before having surfing ones I would rather buy snowboard magazines than surfing ones. All the snowboard movies would include ride in Les Diablerets. For me that was the place to be for freestylin.
Later on my 22 I manage to visit some family in Geneva so I use my last francs to buy a trip to Les Diablerets.
That was a shitty rainy day but one of those you don’t care about rain, you just ride because you are so happy to be in a place you ever wanted to be.
So here I am in the place I always wanted to be. During winter I can ride it from December to April.
Then it would open from May to August and it would open for autumn from October to late November.
Les Diablerets includes Isenau which his a small resort with a great park (the hip shots are in ISENAU), you would get in from the village by the red eggs (see the pic) an old school one installed from the start. Then you have Les Meillerets which is linked to Villars (my home resort).
You can also reach Reusch, which is located in the swiss german part, by the glacier.
And Then you have the Glacier culminating at 3300 meters. This one is the one of the videos.
The park is greatly shaped every day. The pipe is one of the best regarding to all the japanese guys comin here (hahahahhahah). The kickers are huge, for those who dare to fly, and rails are very different.
For the last 6 years Les Diablerets was the place to be for all the best riders. Now the Glacier has shifted his owner and a lot of modifications will come with time.
So this year , it will be closed for the entire summer. But would open for October.
Resume:
Les Diablerets is one resort with three skiable areas:
*Isenau has 6 lifts with 25km of slopes and an awesome park plus a boarder cross. Isenau is the area for beginners. The tracks are mainly easy. The Swiss Ski and Snowboard School gives classes there, the more often on the Crua track. A lot of snowboarders come to that part because of the snowpark.
*Les Meillerets has 30 lifts and is linked to Villars and Gryon. with a total of 75 km of slopes. The Meilleret is mainly composed with red tracks (middle level). This big area is also well fitted for good skiers. From there you have the possibility to go skiing to Villars. At the bottom of the tracks, you will find the Ponylift and the Snowgarden for the small beginners.
*The Glacier has 10 lifts and 25 km of slopes, a pipe and a park including 4 kickers in one line, and variables gnarly rails walls. The glacier 3000 with his two new cable-cars. The beginners can take advantage of the easy tracks on the top and the good skiers will choose the famous « Combe d’Audon » track (14 km). The walkers will admire the panorama of 3000m. From the restaurant Botta 3000 and its self-service you will enjoy the superb view of the glacier and the Alps.
So you can ride down from 3300 meters to 1200 meters
Check out some action with ISBC riders Didier and Christian