Winterberg ski area beckons mountainboarders

Most of the runs are easy to intermediate, with a vertical drop of barely 100 m. Ski holidaymakers can also look forward to numerous cross-country trails, small ski jumps and 21 lifts. St. George’s ski jump is also the venue for many championships, including Nordic combined, bobsleigh and luge championships, the Wok World Championship and skeleton championships.

Winterberg in the Hochsauerland region is popular with ski holidaymakers. It is conveniently located for Germany’s major population centres, for example, just around 90 km from Dortmund. Now a new attraction is drawing visitors to this winter sports destination in summer, too. It is sure to interest and delight many ski holidaymakers and winter sports enthusiasts, especially snowboarders and freeriders. Fishing waders instead of ski suits are the order of the day. Mountainboarding is the magic word for the new trend sport on the ski slopes.

Mountainboarders ride the drag lift up the Winterberg slope. On the way down, there are two options: the green run, or the mountainboard cross course. It is said to be the only one of its kind in all of Europe.

The new sport of mountainboarding, which comes from the USA, is still little known in Germany. It is very similar to snowboarding, but even easier. Before long, many a snowboarder is sure to take to it, as it lets you keep up your training during the warmer months, too. Mountainboards look like giant skateboards. Beginners can even use boards with hand brakes. One thing is certain, though: sometimes you end up getting thoroughly “caked in mud.” Depending on the weather, mud splashes onto your clothes and face. But that’s all part of it, and is unlikely to put off true fans.

Photo: Wikipedia