Switzerland’s Bedretto Valley
Driven to produce a snowboard film with limited environmental impact, a group of riders explore the unique Bedretto Valley in southern Switzerland. Bordering Italy and infused with Mediterranean culture, the Bedretto serves up an abundance of human-powered powder.
I’m sitting somewhere in the Swiss Mittelland, sipping a cup of hot tea. My own nervous face stares back in the reflection from the train window—it is already pitch black outside. From the half-defunct loudspeaker I hear for the third time, “Our train has stopped for an unknown amount of time due to a disruption between Lenzburg and Dietikon. Please excuse the incon—” crackling and static. Silence.
My impatience turns into mild panic—it’s becoming quite likely that I will miss my last connection to Airolo in Zurich. The whole thing would be half as serious if the rest of the crew, comprised of freestyle legend Reto Kestenholz, videographer Philipp Eyer and photographer David Birri weren’t already waiting for me there. Even the taxi from Airolo to Ossasco is already booked for the next morning. “It’ll be fine, you’ll see. Now don’t be so silly,” Philipp calmly tells me over the phone in his unmistakable Walliser-German. Said and done. Phillip’s charm doesn’t just calm me down—he also manages to convince the train conductor in Zurich to wait for me to arrive, despite the notable delay. All is well that ends well. Except that, because of my sprint through the Zurich main station, I’m bathed in sweat before even climbing the first foot of a mountain. But none of this matters anymore, as I’m finally on the train going to Airolo. Nothing else can stand in the way of our first lines in the morning light of the Bedretto Valley…