Ski And Snowboard Festivals: 2014 Guide

over-poulover · November 17, 2013

Ski and snowboard festivals: 2014 guide

Altitude Comedy Festival

Where Mayrhofen, Austria

When March 31 – April 4, 2014

Cost £155 for an early bird week pass

What's it all about? Altitude allows the opportunity to combine a day on the slopes with live comedy at an array of venues around Mayrhofen. The 2014 headliner is yet to be announced but if the line-up is anything like the previous years, the comedy will be as attractive as the pistes. Curated by comedian and snowboarder Andrew Maxwell, Altitude has hosted an array of talent including John Bishop, Al Murray and Phil Jupitus to name a few.

For fans of Live at the Apollo, heckling

More info altitudefesitval.com

The Brits

Where Tignes, France

When March 30 – April 5, 2014

Cost Seven nights accommodation, six day lift pass and festival wristband from £290

What's it all about? Now in its 25th year this week-long bash attracts thousands of ski and snowboard fanatics, from beginners to experts, for seven days of snow, music and partying. The Brits hosts the annual British Snowboard and Freeski Championships, as well as freestyle demonstrations from the best UK boarders and skiers. Nightly après sessions feature a Reggae BBQ, club nights and a mixture of live bands and world famous DJs. Previous performers include Chase & Status and Ben Howard.

For fans of Awards ceremonies, big air

More info the-brits.com

Momentum Ski Festival

Where Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland

When March 13 – 16 , 2014

Cost Three night packages from £695

What's it all about? The Momentum Ski Festival comprises three events: the City Ski Championships, the Alpine Business Forum and Momentum Après-Ski. It provides City firms and Europe's financial community with the chance to entertain clients and network with potential customers against a backdrop of downhill racing, live music and comedy. Celebrity guests include British Olympic skiers Chemmy Alcott and Graham Bell and comedian and BBC presenter Marcus Brigstocke.

For fans of Newsnight, stock markets

More info momentumski.com

Rock the Pistes

Where Portes du Soleil, France and Switzerland

When March 26 – 30, 2014

Cost Gigs are free once you're on the slopes but special holiday deals are available, including four nights in Châtel and a five-day Portes du Soleil ski pass from €250

What's it all about? Rock the Pistes lasts for five days and takes place across the entire Portes du Soleil ski area on the French-Swiss border. Featuring a range of French and international artists, the concerts are free on the mountain so all you need to see the gigs is a lift pass. With four gigs a day across two stages there's plenty to see. Acts confirmed for the 2014 festival so far include Mad Professor (featuring Lee Scratch Perry and Horace Andy), French metal troupe Mass Hysteria and soul singer Ben l'Oncle Soul.

For fans of Eurovision, large festival sites

More info rockthepistes.com

Hot Ice Festival

Where Val d'Isère, France

When April 12 – May 14, 2014

Cost Packages yet to be announced. Last season's offers included three nights self-catered accommodation, a two-day lift pass and one free entrance to the Aqua Leisure Complex from €173

What's it all about? A month's worth of spring snow and end of season parties. Last year's event included guided tours of the resort, races and behind-the-scenes looks into snowmaking and controlled avalanches.

For fans of Slush, spring

More information valdisere.com

Horizon Festival

Where Bansko, Bulgaria

When March 8 – 14, 2014

Cost Festival, lift pass and accommodation packages from £279 (festival and accommodation only from £199)

What's it all about? After a successful debut last season, Horizon returns for another week of slopes by day, rave by night. This season's venues included abandoned secret hotels, mountain stages in the forest, underground clubs, poolside chill-out spots and more. There's a rich and varied line up of electronic musicians including Kerri Chandler, Andreya Triana and Phaeleh, of course. There are also yoga classes, spa sessions and tobogganing.

For fans of Broadening horizons, glowsticks

More info horizonfestival.net

Spring Back to Vail

Where Vail, Colorado, USA

When April 7 – 20, 2014

Cost Packages yet to be announced

What's it all about? Vail, one of America's largest ski area, ends the season with a weekend of free live concerts (11 – 12 April) and the infamous World Pond Skimming Championships (April 20)

For fans of Ponds, skimming across them

More information vail.com

World Ski & Snowboard Fesitval

Where Whistler, BC, Canada

When April 11 – 20, 2014

Cost Tickets to individual events are sold separately but most start from around $20

What's it all about? The vast North American ski area hosts ten days of everything from top athletes pushing the limits and free outdoor concerts to fashion, photography, film and après. From 11 to 15 April the world's best snowboarders will compete in big air, boarderstyle and slopestyle events, while from 16 to 20 their two-planked counterparts will take part in slopestyle and big air in the World Skiing Invitational. During the day revellers can wander into the free State of the Art exhibition and in the evenings there's a variety of events, including a roller derby and professional filmmaker and photographer showdowns.

For fans of Baggy snow attire, anything 'gnarly'

More information wssf.com

Snowbombing

Where Mayrhofen, Austria

When April 7 – 12, 2014

Cost Five nights accommodation and festival wristband from £219

What's it all about? In its fifteenth year, Snowbombing is a week's whirlwind of international DJs and bands. Days are spent on the slopes, enjoying music on mountain-top stages or relaxing in the spa of a four-star hotel. Nights deliver cutting edge performances from world-class acts in unique venues; from a sky high igloo, to an enchanted forest clearing. Previous headliners include Dizzee Rascal and Kasabian and acts announced for 2014 so far include Carl Cox and Nic Fanciulli. Snowbombing is also known for fancy dress.

For fans of Reading and Leeds Festivals, animal onesies

More information snowbombing.com

Ibiza Rocks the Snow

Where Méribel, France

When December 2013 – April, 2014

Cost Travel, accommodation and all the parties for the first week from £399

What's it all about? Ibiza Rocks transports its dance parties from the Balearic isle to the pistes for the first time this season. Prepare for live gigs from breakthrough bands, DJ sets from pioneers of house and bass music and après hosted by the UK and Ibiza's biggest clubbing brands. There will be three weeks of events over the season, with the first running 14 to 21 December. The line-up for Week 1 includes Mistajam, Clean Bandit and Doorly.

For fans of Hedonism, the Mediterranean

More information ibizarocksthesnow.com

Snowboxx

Where Arinsal, Andorra

When March 23 – 30, 2014

Cost Lift pass, accommodation and festival wristband from £200

What's it all about? Taking place across two ski resorts in Andorra, Snowboxx combines main stage music, slopeside parties, late-season powder and much more. Andorra's duty-free prices make it great value for money.

For fans of Bargain Hunt, the path rarely taken

More information snowboxx.com

Top of the Mountain

Where Ischgl, Austria

When Throughout the season

Cost Varies, but admission is normally free with a valid lift pass

What's it all about? Ischgl holds three Top of the Mountain concerts a season: an opening event, an Easter concert and a closing event. Elton John was the first to grace the mountain stage back in 1995. Since then, a host of big names have entertained audiences in the biggest open-air arena in the mountains, the Idalp. This year's opening do sees Canadian rockers Nickelback headline on 30 November - admission is free with a valid lift pass. Ischgl and neighbouring Swiss resort Samnaun also host the Spring Snow Festival on 13 April, 2014.

For fans of Nickelback, a sense of occasion

More information ischgl.com

telegraph.co.uk/travel