THE HISTORY OF PATGIFIC

Holidays to Switzerland may have connotations of luxury, with elite resorts and expensive watches, but LAAX has forever been a champion of the chilled, all the way back to its roots in 1983.

Reto Gurtner, President and Delegate of the Board of Directors of the Weisse Arena Gruppe, has always been fascinated by the Californian surfing scene, the relaxed lifestyle in sunny Venice Beach and the freedom of riding waves. When he took over the Crap Sogn Gion mountain railway in Laax from his father at a young age, he dreamed of incorporating this lifestyle up the mountains as well.

Today, 35 years later, LAAX is known worldwide as a freestyle destination with a relaxed, urban lifestyle. Reto Gurtner brought surfers to the snow, the snowboarders up to his mountain, and made LAAX the undisputed number one in the freestyle scene.

Here’s what the LAAX experts reckon are the best activities for an adventure in the Alps all year round…

Hike the award winning Trutg dil Flem water trail

Along bubbling pools of sapphire water and down into the forests of the valley floor, the Trutg dil Flem water trail follows the Flem stream along a gentle path that’s ideal for the whole family to enjoy.

Visitors are encouraged to take their swimming gear for a refreshing plunge into the stream’s pools. Be sure to take a minute to listen to the rush of water and the call of local birds while breathing in the fresh mountain air to completely unwind.

Sunset picnic at the Swiss Grand Canyon

Just a gentle, 45-minute hike from the town of Flims, and open year-round lies Il Spir viewing platform – giving a unique, 180-degree view of the Rhine Gorge, also known as the ‘Swiss Grand Canyon’.

Il Spir – meaning ‘swift’ in the local Romansh language – is an architectural feat in itself: shaped like a swift spreading its wings to take flight over the gorge.

Best viewed from above at sunset, admire this little-known European landmark as the sun lights up the gorge’s craggy outcrops and white-water rapids while enjoying a picnic for ultimate patgific vibes.

Learn to backflip at Europe’s first Freestyle Academy

The Freestyle Academy delivers a slice of Californian cool to the Swiss mountains.

Its ethos is clear: encourage guests to live with the wonder and fearlessness of children, always chasing a new adrenaline high.

Born with a dream of reinventing the famous skate parks and surf schools in California in the Swiss Alps, the Freestyle Academy has no rules; guests from age six and above are welcome to jump, climb, and flip all over the bespoke facilities, before taking their new tricks to the skate park or mountainside.

Last summer, the huge circus tent here became home to all the academy’s freestyle equipment and sporting facilities, while the original building is remodelled. Vertical ramps, trampolines, skatepark ramps and a giant airbag are all located in the temporary structure.