BBC Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh is liable to pleasure. And never solely with regards to his exuberant and controversial commentary on the Sochi Winter Olympics.
We’re within the resort of Lenzerheide within the Swiss canton of Graubunden, on our first chairlift of the day. Forward of us, slopes filled with pristine energy glisten within the good early morning daylight.
When he has a snowboard strapped to his ft, wide-eyed Ed simply cannot cease speaking.
Purple haze: Lenzerheide is one in all Switzerland’s most pretty – however least identified – ski areas
‘Have a look at that run!’ he shouts. ‘Drop in there, make one flip towards that snow financial institution and open it up, straight into the center!’
Our information Dave Blackburn, a Briton who moved to the valley eight years in the past and runs native vacation firm Snow-motions, raises an amused eyebrow.
‘There is a honest quantity of avalanche hazard, so we’ll need to watch out, Ed,’ he says. ‘However we’ll nonetheless discover some good snow. That is the great thing about this place.’
Below Dave’s professional steering we’re quickly having fun with an thrilling descent from the highest of the two,546m Urdenfuerggli peak right down to the valley ground greater than 1,000m beneath. It is a long term, however the terrain is forgiving, whereas the snow is the stuff snowboarders fantasise about.
Hollering fills the air – and that is simply from Ed. A former skilled, he is nonetheless a strong snowboarder, and this can be a stress-free break from a busy schedule, which incorporates his present gig at Sochi.
It’s a hectic way of life, particularly as Ed lives in New Zealand for many of the 12 months.
So, he is introduced the entire household with him. They’re staying in The Lodge, a chalet simply down the valley within the satellite tv for pc village of Churwalden.
All downhill from right here: Lenzerheide gives positive ski terrain (left) – to the delight of BBC presenter Ed Leigh (proper)
However why select little-known Lenzerheide over every other resort in Europe?
‘I got here right here final 12 months once I had just a few days off,’ says Leigh over a fast plate of chips on the backside of the Heimberg raise. ‘I could not imagine the standard of the terrain.
‘Plus, there by no means appears to be anybody right here, which suggests the snow stays in actually nice situation for days after a storm.’
Lenzerheide additionally has lots to supply those that desire snowboarding on piste. Snow cowl is never an issue, whereas a brand new hyperlink to neighbouring Arosa means you might have entry to a powerful 220km of pistes.
‘It is intermediate heaven, with loads of user-friendly accessible terrain and excellent pistes. There are hardly any black runs, so it’s forgiving,’ says Blackburn.
In order for you wild partying, Lenzerheide will not be for you. However there are not any raise queues and it is supremely household pleasant. Bronze medals all spherical!
