Summer in the Swiss mountains is always fun. It could be your first or 30th, but each one is special. And with so much on offer, you can never be bored. 

The permanent mountain dwellers amongst the SnowPros team have been spending it in a variety of ways.

Dave has been col searching on his motorbike, taking in magical mountain vistas and literally road testing the roads. Matt has been building a mountain chalet, Stefan has been toiling away in the vineyards, and Jim has been surfing, yes, in Switzerland... more of that later. 

Soon summer will end, the valleys and the mountains will turn orange and then white, and winter will be here. 

The arrival of the winter season is exciting for many reasons. The top ones are that we all get to ski again, and everyone gets back together to share that passion. 

The range of pursuits is diverse during the summer, and it's often hard to stay connected as everyone chases their summer hobbies. Winter is when we all come together to enjoy the snow.

With all that in mind, we thought we would prompt you to start thinking about the ski season and let you know that we will be o[ening the diary for ski lesson bookings on the 6th of September. 
 

Keep an eye out for future newsletters as we have some big announcements to make and course news.

Surfing in Switzerland 
Jim Duncombe

As a young surfer growing up on the North coast of Devon back in the 80s and 90s, I dreamt of travelling the world looking for waves.  And when I turned my back on the beach in exchange for a mountain life in the Alps, I assumed that surfing would be a rare event. 

But then someone opened one of the most advanced wave pools right in the middle of landlocked Switzerland, and catching waves was back on my radar. 

Last month I had two sessions at the Alia bay wave garden in Sion, and it was incredible.  Each session lasts an hour, and the waves are perfect throughout. The day is divided into hourly sessions, with the waves changing each time to suit the group.

There are waves for complete beginners all the way up to huge pro waves. 

Despite being man-made, the waves felt natural and as close to being in the sea as possible. It's a great option if you fancy a surf or want to get into the sport but live in the Alps. 

They plan to operate the pool all winter long. If you have ever dreamed of skiing in the morning and surfing in the afternoon, this is your chance. 

alaiabay.ch