St. Moritz is one of the most exclusive resorts in Switzerland, and indeed in the whole of Europe. An 'exclusive' resort usually translates into expensive, posh, fashionable for skiers, etc etc. However St. Moritz is also a hot spot for boarders who can afford it (i.e. pros) due to the extensive rideable area and amazing off-piste.

Two main mountains make up the ski area - Piz Corvatsch (3450m) and Piz Nair (3055m) providing a high altitude area comprising a diverse network of pistes. There are also two parts to the town - St. Moritz Dorf (the expensive part!) and St. Moritz Bad (and we mean bad as in the Michael Jackson sense of the word!). Bad is slightly cheaper for accomodation and the appearance of the buildings is not quite as attractive as in Dorf.

The high altitude of the whole area means snow conditions are usually very good - the central European location also creates a very dry climate which means good pow! The best areas for powder runs are the descents from the Piz Nair and Piz Corvatsch peaks, both of which have gondolas running to the top. The Piz Nair has no actual pistes running down from it, just off-piste. This lift can get very busy though and the face back down gets tracked out quickly so be sure to make it there early for the freshies. Some of the faces opposite the Marguns lift also provide some steap terrain, but be careful of rocks in this area.

There are many opportunities for backcountry riding in St. Moritz, and several local companies offer trips. It can be expensive but is worthwhile if you are into exploring.
For freestyle, the resort produces a specific snowboarders booklet which illustrates some of the best places for natural kickers etc - a good idea and useful if you don't know the area. You can pick these up from the tourist office. There are 3 main snowparks - one above the town of Corviglia which also has a halfpipe, and two parks in the Corvatsch/Furtschellas area. The parks are generally very well maintained and although the set-up varies each season, the parks all cater from beginner to expert.

Most of the nightlife in St. Moritz is aimed at poncy skiers and families, but there are still a few good bars worth checking out.



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