What Does a Slope of 1 Look Like

Best for Extreme Adventurers: Ice Climbing

Scaling a mountain in favourable weather is challenge enough. But adding snow, ice and freezing temperatures elevates it to peak cardio crucible. So why do it? "Ice climbing is a great way for you to stay fit when the mercury is sub-zero," says Will Gadd, a Canadian ice climber, who in 2015 became the first person to conquer a frozen Niagara Falls. "It provides so much variety. After the ice thaws, it forms differently the next season, making the routes unique every year. For me, there's nothing more exhilarating than swinging a medieval-style axe into a mass of crystallised ice and feeling it shatter."

(Related: Ski and snowboard pro tips with Aspen Snowmass)

Mountain Motion runs ice-climbing trips to several locations in Norway, including Aurland – a Mecca for ice climbers. This five-day course will see you hone your technique on some of the world's best virgin ice. Which is sure to come in handy for that Everest expedition on everyone's bucket list.

Coat £640 Dainese

Gilet £170 Peak Performance

Trousers £170 O'Neill

Boots £695 Moncler

Ice axe £126, helmet £130 and gloves £90 all Black Diamond at Ellis Brigham

Harness and carabiner £85 part of the Black Diamond Momentum SA package at Ellis Brigham

Best for Off-piste Mavericks: Freeriding

Pitztal, in the Austrian Tyrol, is so well set-up for freeriding – where bolder skiers and snowboarders head off piste to find the best powder and terrain – that it hosts the annual Pitztal Wild Face. The event, which in 2018 runs between 8-11 March, sees some of the world's gnarliest powder hounds battle it out in what the organisers claim is "the hardest freeride race in the world."

For the rest of us mere mortals, head to the nearby resort of Riffelsee for a gentler introduction to the discipline.

Choosing the right kit can make all the difference, believes Chris Shannon at the Snowboard Asylum. "A board like the Yes 420 is shorter with a bigger surface area, meaning it'll float on powder and make for a smoother ride," he says, which makes leaning back in order to keep yourself afloat in the deep snow far less crushing on your legs. www.pitztal-wildface.com

Coat £595 Perfect Moment at matchesfashion.com

Trousers £340 Arc'teryx

Gloves £80 and beanie £18 both O'Neill

Goggles £185 Dragon Alliance

Snowboard boots £460, snowboard £460 and Snowboard Binding £260 all Burton

Best for Wilderness Thrill-seekers: Snowkiting

If spending half your time on chairlifts is anathema to you, then snowkiting will take you up and away from the crowds. A kite is attached to you via a harness and propels you along, either on skis or a snowboard. "You can goas fast as you would on a snowmobile, but without the motor," says Reetta Koski, a pro snowkiter who runs kiting courses in Nuorgam, Finland.

A village of only120 inhabitants located 500km north of the Arctic Circle, its landscape truly defines the term wilderness. "The silence and beauty of this isolated region mean it's hard not to feel connected to nature," says Koski. Each day, Koski and her husband will transport you via Ski-Doo to where the conditions are most favourable and show you how to tame the wind to your bidding.

(Related: Upgrade your slop style in time for a winter break)

There's also the option to go trekking across the border into Norway, if you've got a particularly intrepid streak. "We'll develop your technique and teach you basic air tricks, but it's about more than just stunts – we teach arctic survival skills, too." Which is one thing you're unlikely to develop in Courchevel.

Best for Backcountry Explorers: Splitboarding

Splitboarding is the new alpine frontier. It essentially involves a snowboard that you can divide in half and use as skis to travel uphill, before putting them back together to speed back down. This means you can go out into the backcountry and access untouched powder, as well as experiencing the mountains in their remote, isolated glory.

"Splitboarding is all about good weight distribution and balance," advises James Stentiford, an ISTD-qualified snowboard instructor who runs courses in Tamok, Norway. "The common mistake is to lean forward on your toes as the slope gets steeper.

In fact, you need to do the opposite and make sure weight goes through your heel to help you 'stick' to the snow." Fitness-wise, by combining adrenaline-fuelled descents, with tough, heart-hammering climbs, you'll enjoy a scenic workout truly without equal.

Coat £850 and Trousers £595 both Nigel Cabourn x Peak Performance

Hoodie £314 BLACKBARRETT

Snowboard Boot £460 Burton

Goggles £180 Giro

Hat £40 Icebreaker

Gloves £90 Black Diamond at Ellis Brigham

Snowboard £750 and Snowboard Binding £390 both Burton

Best for Free-spirited Boarders: Powder Surfing

One of the most cumbersome aspects of snow sports is the restriction of bindings. So why not eliminate them altogether? That's the thinking behind powder surfing. This is, as the name suggests, 'surfing' on snow using a specially designed 'tailboard', with nothing attaching you to the object beneath your feet – bar the aid of rubber grips.

Park City SUP in Utah offers half and full-day powder surfing experiences, including professional equipment and transport via snowmobile.

Even for the experienced, getting good will take some practice: "Due to the absence of bindings, powder surfing requires far more skill and balance, so even smaller inclines are fun and challenging," says Jeremy Jensen, founder of leading powder board manufacturer Grassroots Powder Surfers (powsurf.com). "You also hike for your turns, so you get a great aerobic workout. All with the gratifying sensation of what many describe as 'surfing on clouds.'"

Coat £570 and Trousers £300 both Ea7

Jumper £293 BLACKBARRETT

Hunt boots £200 Deeluxe

Gloves £90 Black Diamond at Ellis Brigham

Rucksack £60 Eastpak

Sunglasses £180 Westward Leaning

Snowboard £115 Burton

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What Does a Slope of 1 Look Like

Source: https://www.menshealth.com/uk/style/a758727/5-winter-activities-beyond-the-slopes/

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