No Snow? No Problem, We’ll Just Ski on Rocks

Although it’s December and the skiing season is officially open, there is no sign of snow in the Tyrol region of Austria. But that’s no reason not to ski, at least not for those brave enough to practice the winter sport on a rock-covered slope.

45 kilometers west of Innsbruck, near the picturesque village of Haiming, skiers have found the perfect place to test out their skiing equipment, even though there’s not one white patch of snow in sight. The brave daredevils climb a rock-covered slope on foot and descend on their skis, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. The rocks aren’t as smooth as snow, and they obviously do a lot of damage to their equipment, but the avid skiers don’t seem to mind, as long as they get to practice their favorite sport. Falling of your skies during a descent on the rocky slope of Haiming isn’t what you’d call a pleasurable experience, that’s why only experienced skiers are advised to try their luck here.

Photo by Dominic Ebenbichler/REUTERS

Thanks to photographer Dominic Ebenbichler, you too can witness the beauty of skiing on rocks, from the comfort of your own home, simply by scrolling down this page. And if you’re into extreme skiing, volcano snowboarding might also be to your liking.

 Photo by Dominic Ebenbichler/REUTERS

 Photo by Dominic Ebenbichler/REUTERS

 Photo by Dominic Ebenbichler/REUTERS

 Photo by Dominic Ebenbichler/REUTERS

 Photo by Dominic Ebenbichler/REUTERS

 

Sources: Stern.de, Republica.it