Updated August 4, 2025
If you’ve ever stepped off the Proclou lift and seen the powder stacked up under bluebird skies, you’ll get it. Avoriaz is the kind of place that doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t need to. Everything about it just clicks for snowboarding.
It’s not fancy. It’s not flawless. But it doesn’t need to be. You’ve got side hits everywhere, people who ride hard and say hi on the chairlift, and terrain that makes you feel like you’re actually snowboarding, not just a guest on a ski slope. Whether you’re here for the stash laps, the sidecountry bowls, or just a solid day with your crew, this place delivers.
A Snowboarder’s Paradise
Avoriaz isn’t just “snowboard friendly.” It’s built for it. You don’t feel like a second-class citizen behind the skiers. There’s no awkward traverses that ruin your line. You don’t need to unstrap every five minutes. And nobody gives you a weird look for hiking a side hit.
You’ll find mellow park laps, sketchy tree lines, cruiser days, pow stashes, and all the weird in-between stuff that makes snowboarding fun.
We’ve had days here that started with coffees in the village and ended with high-speed powder slashes in Fornet, legs cramping, faces frozen from laughing too much. It’s not about chasing vertical. It’s about linking a day together that just feels right.
Fornet
Two chairs up and you’re in one of the best freeride zones you’ll find without needing to hike. Fornet is weird in the best way… like someone handed a snowcat driver a bottle of wine and told them to freestyle a mini Alaska.
It’s mellow enough that you can lap it all day without blowing out your knees, but still steep enough to scare you if you take the wrong line.
We’ve had full powder days here, linking pockets of untouched snow between cliffs and rocks. And when it hasn’t snowed in a while, it still holds speed and shape. You don’t need a guide, but if you ride with someone who knows it well, you’ll start to see the lines hiding in plain sight.
The Stash
Every snowboarder has a mental bucket list. The Stash should be on it.
It’s a wooden freestyle zone built into the trees, with log rails, natural jumps, wall rides, berms, and weird features that make zero sense until you hit them just right. You don’t need to be a park rat to love it. You just need to enjoy messing around and riding with some creativity.
It’s one of the only places we’ve found where you can throw freestyle tricks in powder and still feel like you’re riding the mountain – not just a manmade park.
If you’re not feeling it that day, no worries. Ride the edges, carve the banks, or just roll through and watch your mates slam into a tree box.
Not ready for the full Stash? No worries there’s a gentler alternative.
Chapelle Snowpark
You know how most parks either feel way too gnarly or like they were built for 12-year-olds? Chapelle hits that rare sweet spot in between.
It’s mellow. It flows. And it actually makes you want to lap it, not just survive it.
We’ve had entire days here just messing around, learning new grabs, trying switch stuff, following each other through like it’s a BMX train. There’s music playing, the landings are forgiving and the vibe is zero pressure. You’ll see some legit riders here throwing down, but there’s no hierarchy. More often than not, someone will shout “yew!” if you finally land that sketchy front 3.
If you’re new to park riding or just getting your confidence back, this is the place to do it. Start on the rollers, build up to the boxes and kickers, and before you know it, you’re piecing together a full line.
The Lil’ Stash
The Lil’ Stash is a toned-down version of its big brother, built for beginners, kids, and anyone looking for a mellower ride.
Located on a wide green run, it’s ideal for learning to ride boxes, carving with confidence, and throwing in a few stylish turns. But don’t let its name fool you even advanced riders will find joy linking smooth turns through the trees or jibbing on small wooden features.
Take the Proclou chairlift up, and just at the top, you’ll catch a glimpse of another gem…
Local Tips That Make Avoriaz Even Better
Hit Fornet early after a storm. The sun touches it first and it softens up before most people have even finished their first croissant. If you get there ahead of the pack, you’ll score wide open powder lines that feel like heli laps.
Lap the Prolays chair for secret side hits. Seriously. That whole run is littered with little bumps, hips, log drops, and weird lines through the trees. Half the time, we end up skipping the parks and just sessioning that all afternoon.
On flat-light days, drop lower into Lindarets. The trees down there give you better contrast and visibility. It’s also where you’ll find more locals hiding out, especially when it’s stormy up top.
Avoid the end-of-day traffic back to Morzine. If you’re riding over to Les Prodains or heading to a linked resort, time it right. The home runs get hectic and icy. Cut your day short by one lap and thank yourself later.
And don’t sleep on the après. The Folie Douce scene grabs all the attention, but grab a vin chaud and tuck into a quieter terrace bar instead. The view, the sun, and the crew you rode with all day? That’s the real payoff.
Why It Keeps Calling Us Back
Avoriaz isn’t some polished, posh ski resort where you feel out of place if your outerwear’s scuffed. It’s gritty and real and built for riders. It rewards the early risers, the side-hit seekers, the creative lines and the good vibes.
If you know, you know.
And if you don’t yet? Go ride it. You’ll get it real quick.
