SF Freeride Cat Skiing Packages
Backcountry Catskiing & Catboarding in Pelister National Park
SF Freeride Cat Skiing is a lively, family-run operation in the Pelister National Park of North Macedonia, 2½hr by road south of the capital Skopje. Cat skiing with SF Freeride combines classic Macedonian hospitality with fun, high alpine & tree glade powder riding. Of the several things make SF Freeride stand out, one of them is the people running it. Come here ready to laugh & enjoy some frenetic freeriding.
Highlights
- Perfect for passionate skiers and riders seeking untouched powder, breathtaking alpine terrain, and a personalized experience.
- Local professional guides with decades of mountain knowledge will show the some of the most pristine backcountry slopes in the Balkans.
- Custom-built snowcats deliver unforgettable freeride experiences in a safe and friendly environment.
- Terrain includes wide alpine bowls, open glades, ancient pine forests, and steep chutes.
- Experience true local hospitality in a fantastic hotel, family owned and operated by the catski team with modern, comfortle rooms & delicious cuisine.
- Have FUN. Whoop yip, yahoo your way down with the friendly team, then have a few apres drinks with them at the end of the day.
To see how a typical tour program looks, click on the Itinerary tab.
Make a Booking Enquiry ->
Snow & Terrain
The ski & snowboard terrain at SF is based around Mt Pelister (also known as the Baba Mountain) in pristine backcountry in the heart of Pelister National Park. At just over 2,600m altitude, the peak is accessible by snowcat, & if conditions allow, a wonderful array of steep chutes can be ridden. The skiable vertical is around 1,200m but is effectively more like 700m in reality, as the lower mountain is only utilised toward the end of the day. Runs are 1 to 4 kilometres long. Following the guides down through the trees is wonderful as they know every nook & cranny. There is an option to ride a long extreme descent off the southern side of Pelister if conditions allow & then getting picked up by the van.
Pelister stands alone along the border with Greece & can be lashed by huge winter storms. Terrain is predominantly northerly aspect & ranges across a huge bowl from the peak in the west along a ridge to easterly facing lightly wooded slopes that catch the morning sun. The high alpine gives way to light & then heavy trees, allowing SF Freeride to operate effectively in poor visibility.
Lodging & Food
Unlike many Balkans cat ski operations, SF Freeride run their own superb quality hotel, bar & restaurant, so a tour package doesn't rely on any third parties. Your base for this adventure is the Hotel Sumski Feneri, a charming mountain hotel just 7 km from the city of Bitola and perfectly positioned at the foot of Pelister. Owned and operated by the same family behind SF Freeride, the hotel offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere with comfortable rooms, breathtaking mountain views, and a rich blend of traditional Macedonian and international cuisine.
After a full day in the snow, you can relax by the fireplace, enjoy local wines, or unwind in the peaceful forest surroundings. The operation also utilise the Shiroka Mountain Lodge (a solid hut) at 1,950m elevation as a central base for the cat ski day on the mountain. All lodging & meals are included in the package, and aside from voluminous breakfasts & dinners at the hotel, a fabulous lunch is served in the mountain hut, which has a ski-in ski-out position in the valley.
For detailed information on accommodation & food, click the Lodging tab.
Snowcats & Safety
SF Freeride have multiple modern, comfortable snowcats capable of seating up to 14 people including the guides. One snowcat is always held in reserve to cover any unforeseen issues. A lengthy journey (40min to 1hr) is required to get up the mountain in the morning, but the wait is worth it as you get to know your guides & get pumped up with a few tunes. The guides are first aid & avalanche hazard trained; plus new, modern avalanche safety equipment is available for guests to use.
Where is SF Freeride?
SF Freeride is in the Balkans, at the southern end of North Macedonia near the small ski area called Pelister. Close to the border with Greece, SF Freeride operates within the Pelister National Park. For detailed info on the best to get there, see the Travel to SF Freeride page. Return airport transfers from Skopje (SKP) airport are included in the package tariff for groups of 4 or more, however an additional €20/person is charged for groups of 3 people or less.
More Info & Booking
If you need more info or want to book a catski trip with SF Freeride, use the Booking Form ->.