In Slovakia freestyle and freeride snowboarding together with freeskiing (freestyle & freeride skiing) have seen a boom lately. In recent years fun parks with various jibs have been built in every major skiing resort.
In our country, a fun park (also called snow park or snowboard park) means a certain prestige and it influences considerably the opinion of the large public as well as the opinion of freestyle riders themselves who are grateful that they can fully enjoy this sport. It is always a group of keen local snowboarders that is behind the construction of the parks, because they take the biggest part in realisation of the projects of snow parks. Frestyle events have been going full blast and in every snow park the bigger and bigger events are being organised that attract people and media to look at the young riders performing their art on huge jumps or rails.
The best conditions for snowboarding in Slovakia can be found in the following ski resorts (in alphabetical order):
Jasná
The Burton Snowboard Park on a moderate hill in Otupné Ski Resort, a ski lift along the whole park, admission to the park with a valid skipass, five freeride zones (three on the northern side and two on the southern - in Chopok - Juh Resort).
Martinské Hole
Javorina Snowboard Park with a balanced ski lift and possibility of BorderCross and Slides is located at the altitude of 1,365 to 1,456 metres above sea level. Several rails and jumps are constructed in one line for both experienced and less-experienced skiers. The park can be reached by a ski lift called Rekreačný with a Javorina ticket. The resort includes 480 metres of well-maintained ski slopes for snowboarding fans and freestyle skiers.
ORAVA SNOW – Ski Oravská Lesná
Snowboard park with a 600-metre long run, obstacles, kickers, boxes, butterbox, funboxes...
PARK SNOW Donovaly
A snowboard park that provides an opportunity to practise BorderCross, FunparkJumps, FunparkCorner, FunparkBox, Slides, runs suitable for freeriding, jumps with many rails and jibs, snowboard club Bulldog.
Svit – Lopušná dolina
SKICHEM resort contains a U-ramp for snowboarding on a special slope for snowboardists, with a wide array of natural obstacles, man-made barriers, benches and railings.
SKI PARK Kubínska hoľa
The Represent Snowboard Park is suitable for fans of freestyle skiing, with courses as long as 400 metres, and includes a ski lift. It contains artificial snow and sound distribution, and it is admission-free. It offers platforms of various levels of difficulty, barriers and is safely separated from skiing slopes. The resort also contains a free-ride zone for fans of extreme sports.
700 metres of well-maintained tracks and a snowboard park that offers BorderCross.
Veľká Rača
600 metres of well-maintained tracks and a snowboard park offering a U ramp, BorderCross, FunparkBox and a school of snowboarding.
Vrátna Free Time Zone
Snowboarding fans can have enjoyable experience in the Paseky a Príslop Resort on artificial snow and in Poludňový Grúň Resort on natural snow. Experienced fans can enjoy a demanding (black) slope in Oštiepková mulda Resort.
Some minor resorts also offer an opportunity to enjoy your snowboarding experience:
Kokava – Línia (snowboard park)
Nižná Polianka – Makovica (900 metres of well-maintained tracks)
Zázrivá – Kozinec (500 metres of well-maintained tracks and a snowboard park with a two-metre high bridge)
