Alaïa Parks by Tudor: Switzerland’s new freestyle hotspot

By: Ethan Stone March 10, 2022

For those in the know, it’s no secret that the swiss ski resort of CRANS-MONTANA is home to one of the best snowpark scenes in the Alps. Now that the Alaïa Group has taken over management of the Crans-Montana snowpark, we can only expect that this reputation will continue to grow.

Alaïa who?

If you’re into action sports in Europe, chances are you’ve already heard the name Alaïa before. This innovative start-up is focused on developing the fertile ground of the Swiss canton of Valais—already one of the world’s top ski destinations—into a freestyle paradise for all comers. That mission has already led to the development of Alaïa Bay in Sion (Europe’s first wave pool), Alaïa Wake Surf in Le Bouveret on Lac Léman, and Alaïa Chalet, a sprawling indoor/outdoor skatepark and sports center in Crans-Montana. With the addition of the Crans-Montana snowpark, Alaïa is now a veritable sports powerhouse spanning concrete, water and snow. All they need now is a bike park, and they'll have an action-sports gauntlet to rival Thanos.

There are only a few places in the world where you can ski and surf on the same day. Thanks to Alaïa, Switzerland is now one of them. Photo: Florian Breitenberger/The Nines

“Thanks to our presence within the ski area, we can officially say that Alaïa no offers the possibility of combining several sports in one day, including snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing. A childhood dream is becoming a reality and I can’t wait for our customers to experience it.” - Adam Bonvin, Alaïa Group founder

A home away from home for the pros

With its Olympic-size halfpipe and 140,000 square meters of terrain, the Crans-Montana snowpark was already one of Europe’s best. The new “Alaïa Parks by Tudor” promises to continue the rich tradition of freestyle in western Switzerland. Beginning in December, various lines have opened progressively, starting with the Cry d’Er zone and continuing with the “Mérignou” mini-park. Towards the end of the season, the snowpark will migrate up the mountain to the Plaine Morte Glacier, where the park will continue operation into June. On-snow operations have been entrusted to Helvepark, a Swiss company specializing in snowpark operations. You might already know them from parks like Gran Masta Park in Adelboden-Lenk or the Prinoth X Camp on the Stelvio Pass in Italy.

Swiss snowpark specialists Helvepark are known for their playful features like this snow miniramp.

In search of a long season? The park on the Plaine Morte Glacier is open into June.

Bundle it, baby

Long story short, Alaïa’s acquisition of the Crans-Montana Snowpark means that you can “bundle up” your next visit to Crans-Montana for a massive multi-sports experience. A Day Pass for the price of 45 CHF for adults (37 CHF for kids) get you access to the snowpark, plus full access to the Alaïa Chalet and an optional surf session at Alaïa Bay. Skiing, surfing and skating all in one day—it’s not a question of whether or not it’s possible, but whether or not you’ve got the energy for it! A full winter season pass costs just 349 CHF for adults (287 CHF for kids), and there's also a spring pass that runs from April to June. Get more information on the available offers at alaiaparks.ch.