Pri Freeride Cat Skiing Packages
Overview
If you are on the hunt for a seriously fun & different ski adventure, the Pri Freeride Company has been running a major cat ski operation for well over a decade in the remote heart of Siberia in the tiny village of Priiskovy (or Priiskovoye or Priiskovoy!). Located near the Kuznetskiy Alatau mountains (& nature reserve) Priiskovy is a paltry 3,200km east of Moscow & 2,600km northwest of Beijing! From humble roots they are now a proven, well established freeride powder ski destination in a location that evokes all kinds of emotions & intrigue. As a bonus, Pri Freeride is located in one of the few places in the world that enjoys freeride powder before, during & after the northern winter. Operations can be in full swing by mid to late October & don't finish until June in some seasons.
Despite the remote location; the food, lodgings & services at Pri Freeride are exceptional and include a restaurant, bar, micro-club, hot tub, sauna & massage therapist! The Pri Freeride crew have wide-ranging experiences across the globe & understand what guests are after. Their ethos is 'we love the same as you do!' Mountains, fresh snow, good freeriding, great company, food, warmth, fun and coziness. This is one location where you will definitely meet an international mix of like-minded people. For information on how a week of cat skiing and snowboarding in Siberia works see our Itinerary page
Getting to Priiskovy
If you think travel to Siberia & Priiskovy is daunting, think again. A single internal flight from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk (or Yemelyanovo) Airport (KJA) is all it takes. Pri Freeride will assist with any required travel support documentation & will pick up & drop you off at the Krasnoyarsk airport.
For detailed information on how to get there, see our Getting to Priiskovy page &/or read our Travel to Russia page.
Lodging & Food
The moment you arrive at Priiskovy, the sense of local hospitality is immediate with guests presented with a shot of local brandy. The lodge is full of history & character. Whilst not a luxury 5-star hotel, it is cozy, warm, comfortable & welcoming - perfect for a week in the wilds of Russia. Rooms are twin or double share and the food is exceptional. For detailed information see our Lodging, Food & Facilities page.
Snow & Weather
One image that everyone conjures in their mind at the mention of 'Siberia' is a cold wintry landscape. The ancient mountains of the Kuznetsk Alatau near Priiskovy is no exception. Snow accumulates in the region from early October & is often skiable well into May or even June . Operations usually start in early November. Powder snow conditions in November & early December can be superb. January is the coldest month & from mid-February to the end of March is called the 'velvet season' for its silky smooth consistent snow. April can have great powder days interspersed with early springlike conditions.
Daily Vertical & Terrain
On average a group will achieve at least 6-10 runs a day for a usual daily vertical of about 3000m. The current record vertical for a group is 6,094m in a day. Daily vertical (as always) is dependent on a number of factors - season, weather, snow conditions, riders experience & distance to the chosen mountains. The Kuznetsk Alatau mountains used by Pri Freeride Company are not high, but they don't need to be! Peaks utilised are Semeynaja (1,293m), Stolovaya (1,320m), Transvaalskaya (1,386m), Ivanovskaya (1,391m), Zaozernaya (1,657m), Gus (1,460m) & Panfilovskaya (1,335m). Priiskovy village is located at an altitude of 800m above sea level, so a typical vertical drop on a run is 300-400m; or more depending on location. Steepness can vary between 15-51º - you choose! The length of any single run is typically from 700m to 1.5km. The slopes are amongst a varied range of inter-mountain cirques, chutes & glades. The vegetation on the mountains is rather sparse (birch, spruce, shrubs), which allows safe & fun riding at medium to high speeds (yee-har!).
Snowcats
There are 5 Pisten Bully snowcats, each with a comfortable, well ventilated 14-seat cabin with panoramic windows. Freeriding is available during daytime from 9am to 7pm (later in the season).