• 3 days of freeride and touring guiding by Sandra & her team

• 3x nights with extended* half board in a double room (single room upgrade upon availability and request) at the renowned Hotel BLÜ in Bad Hofgastein 

• *extended half board includes 3x rich breakfast buffet, 3x take-away lunch snack from the breakfast buffet, 3x three-course dinner (drinks not included)

• Sauna & Wellness area in the hotel 

• 3-day lift pass for the ski resorts in Gastein (if you have a seasonal ski ticket for the region, please let us know in the booking process)

• avalanche safety workshop

• a goodie Bag filled with cool stuff from our partners

• the opportunity to test various Fischer touring (freeride) skis 

• & since a photographer will join us - you'll take home some of your best memories captured on camera!

MEET & GREET 
Thursday, 30th January 2025

• individual arrival in the afternoon, check-in possible at 4pm (earlier arrivals will still find a super cozy lounge area to enjoy a coffee at the hotel or explore Bad Hofgastein on a walk from the hotel) 

• 6pm - Grab your Welcome drink at the bar in the lobby and meet in the 1st floor for our official welcome at 6.30pm 

• dinner will be around 7.30pm in the hotel restaurant

• our guides team will support you to select and adjust the test skis for the next day(s) 

GROUNDHOG DAYS: CHASING POWDER & SMILES
Friday 31st January and Saturday 1st February 2025

Kick off your day with a hearty breakfast (be sure to wake up early to enjoy the wide selection). Based on the daily avalanche report and weather forecast, we'll head to one of the four interconnected ski resorts in the Gastein valley for a full day of skiing and touring. Whether we stop at a mountain hut for a coffee break or snack in the gondola to keep skiing, or find a sunny spot during one of our hikes, we'll just decide spontaneously within the groups.

After some relaxation and spa time (or apres ski) in the afternoon, and mingling with other women from the camp, we'll enjoy a tasty dinner with vegetarian and vegan options. We’ll wrap up the day with our popular inspirational talks, getting ready for the next day's adventures.

• 7 AM-ish: Start your day with a delicious breakfast and prepare your own lunch snacks directly from the buffet before we take the ski bus (included) in front of the hotel to bring us to the bottom station of the Schlossalm in Bad Hofgastein or take cars to e.g. Sportgastein 

• Morning to Afternoon: freeriding, touring and chasing exciting ski terrain in and around one of the Gastein ski resorts.

• Avalanche Safety Workshop: Become more aware with our avalanche safety workshop sessions, depending on weather and snow conditions.

• Afternoon: Return to the hotel, unwind in the sauna, or relax and mingle with fellow participants 

• 7:30 PM: Dinner time! Savor the Alpine Fusion Cuisine at Hotel Blü

• Evening: Inspirational talks and daily reflections to wrap up the day, change test skis 

ENJOY SKIING, BE PROUD & LEAVE WITH NEW FFF* IN YOUR PHONE
Sunday, 2nd February 2025 

• 7 AM-ish: Kick off your last day with breakfast and prepare your lunch snacks directly from the buffet

• Check-out: You can leave your luggage at the hotel, enjoy the ski day and use the showers in the spa area in the afternoon before you head home (or leave directly from the parking lot at the ski resort) 

• Morning to Early Afternoon: Make the most of your last day skiing in Gastein.

• Around 1:30 / 2 PM: Lunch at a ski hut in Gastein (note: lunch is not included in the camp price).

• Around 2:30 / 3 PM: Wrap up the day and say goodbye.

*FFF = female freeride friends

(*program may be changed and adapted due to weather conditions; communication will be supported with a whatsapp-group already prior to the camp)

SIGN UP for the #shadesofwinter FREERIDE TOURING CAMP if you have experience skiing off-piste in diverse terrain and snow and are eager to learn, improve, and embrace the challenge of earning your turns. If you're motivated to hike for pristine lines and seek adventure within and around the ski resorts of Gastein, this camp is designed for you. While we’ll use the lifts within the resort, we’ll also take our skins and head beyond the boundaries to add that extra spice of adventure to our days.

You should be an advanced off-piste skier with multiple skiing and ski touring (or freeride touring) days per season. You should also be able to perform kick-turns in medium-steep terrain and have some surefootedness for the final meters to the summit when hiking from the ski depot without skis.

Prepare for the camp by focusing on your fitness—strengthen your core, add regular endurance sessions to your schedule, and ensure your body is ready for the physical demands of hiking 400 to 800 meters a day over three exhilarating days. Imagine making Sunday your best day ever despite the physical challenges—it’s all part of the adventure!

FREERIDE & SKI TOURING PARADISE GASTEIN
Situated in the heart of Salzburgerland, the Gastein Valley is a premier destination for freeride skiing and ski touring. This exceptional area features four distinct ski resorts, including the highest non-glaciated resort in the region, providing easy access to pristine freeride and touring terrain at the edge of the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern.

Gastein's landscape is dominated by impressive 3000-meter peaks, offering a diverse and accessible playground for freeriders. The integration of ski lifts and touring options makes it an ideal location for those looking to blend lift-assisted skiing with backcountry exploration. Whether you're seeking thrilling descents or serene touring routes, Gastein has it all.

Sandra and her team are dedicated to helping women expand their freeride adventures. With their expertise, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Gastein’s varied terrain, pushing your skills and experiences to new heights.

OUR HOTEL

HOTEL BLÜ
Kaiser-Franz-Platz 1
5630 Bad Hofgastein
Österreich

Even though we have great gear to test from our partners, please make sure to bring your own freeride or touring skis with a touring binding (we recommend skis with around 90-100mm underfoot), length-adjustable ski poles, ski boots with hiking function, ski clothes, and full equipment for backcountry skiing and ski touring. The mandatory items are:

• Helmet and goggles

• freeride touring or ski touring skis with appropriate binding and freeride boot with hiking function or (rather stiff) ski touring boot, ski poles 

• suitable skins and ski crampons for your skis! 

• Backpack with options to mount the skis for short bootpacks (avalanche airbags are not mandatory but recommended)

• Shovel, probe, avalanche transceiver 

• Sunglasses, sunscreen, bandana, beanie, gloves…

• Insulated water bottle

Optional items include:

• Lunch box

• Additional snacks for the mountain

• Personal items and clothes for the mountains and the hotel 

Please ensure you're well-prepared to make the most of your time in the mountains!

Responsibility and risk:
Participating in outdoor sports like freeriding is thrilling, but it comes with inherent risks. Please be aware that no outdoor activity is entirely risk-free. We strongly encourage you to understand and respect your personal limits while exploring the mountains.

The guides are committed to ensuring your safety and will provide detailed instructions throughout the activities. It is essential to follow their guidance at all times. While we conduct thorough risk assessments and prioritize safety, you are ultimately responsible for your own actions and decisions during the camp. By participating, you acknowledge the risks involved and agree to take personal responsibility for your safety.

To ensure a safe experience, participants must be in good health and maintain physical fitness throughout the camp. Additionally, you must have valid health, accident, and liability insurance that covers outdoor sports activities, including freeriding and mountaineering, and is valid in the country where the camp takes place. 

We also recommend obtaining travel insurance to protect yourself in case you are unable to attend the camp.

Our Avalanche Safety Workshops
Freeriding and ski touring are exhilarating and we love it, but they come with inherent risks. Our avalanche safety workshops are essential to every #shadesofwinter camp because we believe in ongoing learning and improvement. These workshops are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to handle avalanche risks effectively.

You’ll learn to interpret avalanche reports, properly use safety equipment such as beacon, shovel, and probe, and practice emergency response techniques. We conduct simulated avalanche scenarios to enhance your practical skills and ensure you are prepared for potential emergencies. By the end of the workshop, you'll be confident in using your safety gear and capable of sharing this knowledge with your friends back home to promote a safer backcountry experience.

Cancellation policy: You can withdraw from the #shadesofwinter camp package at any time before the start of the camp by paying the corresponding compensation (cancellation fees, compensation flat rates) according to the general terms and conditions of shades.plus GmbH.

The following compensation flat rates apply per person in case of a cancellation:

• No-Show (failure to show up without justification): 100% of the camp price

• From 1 to 14 days before the start of the activity: 90% of the camp price

• From 15 to 21 days before the start of the activity: 75% of the camp price

• Up to 20 days before the start of the activity: 55% of the camp price

Minimum Number of Participants: If the minimum number of 6 participants is not reached, the organizer can cancel the event up to 21 days before it begins (withdrawal from the contract). In this case, the participant will be refunded the payments made for the participation fee immediately, but in any case, within 14 days after the withdrawal. The organizer will inform the participants promptly if it becomes clear at an earlier point in time that the minimum number of participants cannot be reached.

Insurance: It is recommended to purchase insurance (e.g., travel cancellation insurance, travel interruption insurance, travel baggage insurance, travel liability insurance, international travel health insurance, delay protection, personal protection, etc.) that provides adequate coverage from the date of the package tour contract until the end of the package tour. Additionally, health and accident insurance that covers outdoor sports such as freeriding, hiking, and mountaineering and is valid in Austria is recommended.

Booking/Contract Conclusion/Deposit: 

• Carefully read the camp description to understand all details and get hyped for your #shadesofwinter camp adventure

• Follow the provided link and complete the booking form specific to your chosen #shadesofwinter camp

• Ensure you provide all necessary information and agree to the terms and conditions at the end of the form 

• You will receive a personalized booking confirmation and travel contract with all further information 

• Transfer 20% of the total amount within 7 days to secure your spot at the selected #shadesofwinter camp 

• We will send additional information, set up a WhatsApp group, and connect you with fellow travelers 

• The remaining amount is due 20 days before the start of the camp. A reminder email will be sent to you 

The travel contract is concluded between the booking party and the tour operator if there is an agreement regarding the material parts of the contract (price, service and date). This results in rights and duties for the customer. 

Unless otherwise agreed, the traveler must transfer a deposit of 20% of the trip price to the account specified by the tour operator within 14 days of receiving the package tour contract, but not earlier than 11 months before the end of the package tour. If the contract is concluded within 20 days before departure, the entire trip price must be transferred immediately to the specified account upon receipt of the package tour contract.If the traveler fails to meet their payment obligations, the tour operator reserves the right, after issuing a reminder with a deadline, to terminate the contract and demand compensation according to the compensation flat rates.