Speed Riding

Speed riding is a spectacular discipline that combines skiing and paragliding to create high-speed descents. At the Verbier Air Show, riders launch from the slopes above Medran at around 2,200 metres, equipped with skis and a small paragliding wing. They alternate between fast skiing phases and flight over rock bands and terrain drops, creating a unique aerial ballet.

Speed riding demands dual expertise in freeride skiing and wing piloting. The wings used are much smaller than those in standard paragliding, giving them high speed and extreme manoeuvrability. Riders must read the terrain constantly to choose when to stay in contact with the snow and when to take flight, all while managing speeds that can exceed 100 km/h.

The slopes of Verbier are an ideal playground for speed riding: the varied terrain features steep couloirs, rock bands and open spaces that allow riders to showcase their full repertoire. Demonstrations offer the audience a dynamic spectacle where athletes appear to play with the mountain, touching the snow then soaring upward in a fluid, continuous sequence.

Speed riding demonstrations are planned for Saturday 11 April and Sunday 12 April between 11 AM and 2 PM on slopes visible from the Medran area. The discipline requires good snow cover and favourable wind conditions. Spectators can follow the descents from the Medran terraces, where riders arrive in their final approach.