The Best Summer Snowboard Resorts In Europe
Summer is officially upon us, but fear not, you don’t have to trade in your board and bindings for a beach towel just yet. There’s nothing wrong with an all-inclusive holiday to Benidorm per se, but it’s not your only option for a summer getaway on the continent. It might just be us, but we’d much rather be out shredding than sitting around a pool with a bunch of old men in budgie smugglers. There’s a plethora of summer snowboarding to be had across Europe and some of it’s a lot closer than you may imagine.
The general rule of thumb with summer riding is start early, finish early - this way you’ll make the most of the snow before the slush gets too heavy. Clothing-wise, you won’t need to wear anything super heavy-duty, usually a lightweight jacket and pants with some sort of DWR coating will suffice. Check out the Burton Melter collection for some inspo, slap on some SPF and you’re good to go. You’ll also want to make sure that you’ve got some decent eyewear, sunny days up a mountain and naked eyes don’t mix too well.
So if you’re still chasing your snow fix and want to top up your goggle tan post-May bank holiday, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite ski resorts to go snowboarding in the summer in Europe…
1. Zermatt - Switzerland
As the highest resort in Europe, Zermatt is most people’s go-to for summer shredding on the continent. If you’re looking to expand your bag of tricks and dial in your freestyle riding, Zermatt operates its snowpark during the warmer months, as well as standard downhill riding.
Resort website - https://www.zermatt.ch/en
2. Cervinia - Italy
If you prefer pizza to fondue, then Cervinia is the Italian counterpart to Zermatt, both making use of the iconic Matterhorn. It tends to be a bit more budget-friendly than the Swiss side and for 2023 Cervinia is open until 10th September.
Resort website - https://www.cervinia.it/en
3. Hintertux - Austria
The only year-round resort in Austria, Hintertux is the big brother to crowd favourite Mayrhofen. You can stay by the lifts at ‘Tux, but you’ll find a more lively post-riding scene down the valley in Mayrhofen with a ski bus to shuttle you in between the two.
Resort website - https://www.hintertuxergletscher.at/en/
4. Tignes - France
At nearly 3000m, the Grand Motte glacier in Tignes draws flocks of snow-hungry riders every summer. The lifts start running super early so you can make the most of the snow before it gets too slushy.
Resort website - https://en.tignes.net/
5. Saas-Fee - Switzerland
A favourite amongst pros looking to train in the off-season, Saas-Fee boasts quite possibly the best summer snow park in the world. Designed by the legendary Charles Beckinsale, the Stomping Grounds is where it’s at for freestyle.
Resort website - https://www.saas-fee.ch/en/
6. Zell am See-Kaprun - Austria
The towering Kitzteinhorn glacier provides Zell am See-Kaprun with ample snow until the end of May. It’s a little more family-friendly than some of the other options on this list, with a bunch of fun activities to get involved in when you’re off the hill.
Resort website - https://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/en
7. Stryn - Norway
One of the more budget-friendly options on this list with a 6-day pass setting you back roughly £200, Stryn Sommerski sits on the Stryneelva river so you can cool down with a dip after riding. There isn’t a huge amount of pisted terrain on offer, but you’ll find a mellow green run, a shaped snow park and some really tasty off-piste.
Resort website - https://strynsommerski.com/
8. Les Deux Alpes
You’ll be rubbing shoulders with some of the greats when you snowboard at Les Deux Alpes in the summer. A hotspot for international teams and elite-level training camps, L2A is all systems go until the end of June.
