Riding High in Sölden: Three Days of Powder, Après & Fine Dining
At 39, the thrill of fresh powder still hits like the first time. Some things never get old—carving through untouched snow, that crisp mountain air, and the après waiting at the bottom. This year, Sölden was calling.
The trip kicked off with a 3 AM pickup—the price you pay for getting to the mountains early. A quick flight from Manchester to Innsbruck, and before we knew it, we were gliding through Austria on a seamless transfer straight to Sölden. No hassle, no delays—just the way a snowboard trip should start.
With the mountains towering above and the snow calling our name, we did what any seasoned rider would: a wander, a beer, and a swim—the perfect warm-up before three days on the slopes.
Tucked away in the heart of Sölden, The Secret Sölden felt like a hidden gem. The hotel had a modern, stylish vibe, blending Alpine charm with sleek design. It looked newly refurbished, and the staff were welcoming from the moment we arrived—effortless check-in, bags sorted, and a cold beer within minutes.
But the real standout? The food.
With Michelin-guided dining, every meal felt like an experience. The chef was on another level—perfectly balanced flavours, high-quality ingredients, and dishes that wouldn’t be out of place in a top-tier city restaurant. The marinated salmon trout starter was melt-in-your-mouth perfection, but the beef cheek mains stole the show—slow-cooked, rich, and ridiculously tender.
If the riding wasn’t enough to bring me back, the food alone might just do it.
Sölden isn’t the busiest resort, which is exactly what you want when you’ve only got three days to ride. No long lift queues, no fighting for space—just maximum time on the mountain.
The modern lift system was seamless, with high-speed gondolas and chairs getting us up the mountain in no time. No outdated, slow-moving lifts—just efficiency, meaning more runs and less waiting around.
We got lucky with the conditions. Overnight snowfall meant we woke up to fresh powder, and the off-piste was unreal—soft, untouched, and ours to carve. The mix of open bowls and tree-lined runs gave us plenty of variety, and the best part? Making our own lines.
One of the standout moments was riding through the tunnel towards the glacier, an experience that felt surreal—cutting through solid rock before being spat out onto wide, open terrain, ready to drop into fresh powder.
The weather was a bit of a mixed bag—bluebird skies one moment, low cloud the next—but when the visibility cleared, Sölden’s terrain really showed its best side. A perfect mix of steeps, wide-open cruisers, and powder stashes made sure every run was worth it.
You can’t do a snowboard trip properly without a bit of après, and by the end of the first full day, things started to get lively. You could feel the group loosening up, the turns getting a little sketchier, and the laughter getting louder.
We stopped off at L'Finale Bar for a few post-run beers, which made those last few hundred yards down to the bottom… interesting. Nothing like a bit of après-fuelled snowboarding to keep you on your toes.
By the final day, we went all in. We ended up at Panorama Alm, Aperol in hand, Techno Tim on the decks, and some seriously heavy hard house setting the pace. The energy was unreal—mountains in the background, beats pumping, and the perfect send-off to an epic trip.
Après in Sölden is exactly what you want it to be—laid-back when you need it, full throttle when you don’t.
For any of you who watched Catchup 17 I said Big Dunc can't jump, turns out I was wrong and he got decent air.
There will also be a video shortly from Josh over at Dropping Logs of the boys trip