Burton Stash

A new concept in snowparks imported from the Californian resort of North Star, it was developed by Jake Burton himself, famous for his visions on the future of the snowboard.

Attracted by Avoriaz's reputation as a snowboard centre, the professionalism of the teams here and the resort's ability to designate an area reserved for the project, Burton chose Avoriaz as the first European resort capable of managing this ambitious project.

Burton's philosophy is to create an area in the middle of the forest that caters for a mixture of freeride and freestyle, whilst simultaneously transmitting messages about environmental protection.

The "Stash" is born from absence -as Jake Burton stated -sliding structures for 'senior' riders who started freeriding about 20 years ago and who now have children who are into freestyle, not only on snowboards but also on skis, where there is enormous potential for development.

Parents and children aspiring to ride together in this area whilst doing different forms of snowsports will find here a domain that is, by common consensus, ideal for shared fun. Riding the Stash means heading into the heart of nature but on secure terrain.

Situated in the middle of a large expanse of un-groomed snow it is ideal for trying out wide turns in powder snow. These slopes wind in and out of the trees in the Lindarets forest and are punctuated with hidden wooden obstacles all around the circuits that skiers stumble across when hurtling down a 'secret passage'. You have to ski or snowboard down the same slope many times to discover all the concealed modules.

3 slopes of varying levels join up half-way down and lead to a cabin hidden in the middle of pine trees, then separate again to snake their way along this beautiful forest's hidden by-ways. The cabin is where messages are subtly spread - not forced down throats -about actions that can limit environmental damage. It is also possible to engrave your own message in the wood.

Avoriaz and Burton's goal is to make the Stash a reference point in Europe for both snowboarding and skiing, where ski schools can take pupils, thereby creating a new approach to the teaching of snowsports. They also wish to target parents and children wishing to have a go at backcountry skiing in a safe place.