Image taken by laurenlogic.
The 2008 ski season saw a revolutionary new generation of snow parks hit Europe as the first environmentally friendly ‘Stash’ was opened in Avoriaz, France. Set amongst the trees of the un-pisted Lindarêts forest, underneath the Prolays lift, it provides hours and hours of amusement - especially in a white out!
Avoriaz was the obvious choice its location, as it is considered the capital of European snowboarding. It also has a tangible environmental conscience as it has been car-free since its conception and construction in the early 1960s. Avoriaz’s angular architecture was impeccably planned and executed so that the timber residences were set on different levels to blend seamlessly into their natural surroundings.
‘The Stash’ was developed by John Noel-Cavert, the expert who devised the numerous other parks in Avoriaz, in conjunction with Burton Snowboards. It uses only natural materials and takes advantage of the natural terrain to create a wooded trail with epic rails, walls, boxes, and huts which will test your freestyle skills to the max. This differs from normal snow parks which use large amounts of energy to create and sustain snow and features such as monster kickers with banging sound systems. Suitable for both pros and novices, parents and intermediate children, it will take many runs down the ‘secret passage’ to discover the full extent of ‘The Stash’. However, being able to actualise its full potential is another matter entirely.
‘The Stash’ has alerted other resorts to the necessity of using renewable and sustainable resources and having the lowest impact possible on the piste, an almightily important step for the future.
Burton Snowboards was founded by the snowboarding enthusiast Jake Burton in 1977, who is often credited with inventing the sport. It is the only snowboard company that is still privately owned and he takes great pride in his work and his social conscious, which is why he personally developed ‘The Stash’. He based it around his desire to create an area suitable for both freeride and freestyle that had nature at its heart in order to demonstrate the need for environmental protection. At the ‘cabin’ this goal is most tangible as subtle messages about environmental action are visible.
If riding Burton’s ‘The Stash’ eco park in Morzine-Avoriaz sounds like your idea of heaven you should stay in rudechalets™ morzine accommodation as they are also partnered with Burton, for an extravaganza of a holiday.
Chris Lavender has been skiing and snowboarding for over 20 years and is the founder and director of rudechalets which provides summer and winter accommodation in Morzine & Chamonix.