Schneehaufen: Parkour on the Nordkette

Extreme jumping, parkour, freerunning — these sports often look reckless to the untrained eye. But watching them up close on the Nordkette during Schneehaufen, the first event of its kind, quickly makes one thing clear: this is not about blind leaps or unnecessary risk. It’s about preparation, physics, creativity — and a whole lot of passion.

Schneehaufen (literally “snow pile”) was the first event ever organised by a local freerunner Simon Wening and from the very beginning, the ambition was clear, showcase the sport in a spectacular alpine setting, and inspire more people to discover it — safely and responsibly.

Around 30 people officially took part in the event — roughly 15 freerunning professionals and 15 trained athletes — but many more stopped by to watch. With a DJ, lights, and even a fog machine, the atmosphere felt more like a celebration than a competition. What stood out most wasn’t just the jumps themselves, but the support surrounding them. Before each jump, athletes could be seen focusing, visualising, psyching themselves up. And the moment they landed? An eruption of cheers, applause, and encouragement from everyone around them. It truly takes a village — especially when that village is built on trust, respect, and shared passion.

Just two days before the event, organisers were faced with a challenge that reflects this winter in Innsbruck all too well: there simply wasn’t enough snow to safely execute the planned jumps. For a sport where safety is paramount, improvisation without precautions was never an option. With the help of Bagjump, an airbag was brought to the Nordkette on incredibly short notice. Asked on Monday whether an airbag could be installed by Wednesday, Bagjump rose to the occasion and made the impossible possible. Athletes were able to jump onto an airbag instead of risking hard, icy snow — a creative solution for sure!

That didn’t mean snow was completely off the table. Thanks to the support of the Nordkette team, a snowcat helped create a decent sized snow pile, allowing a skier to launch a few impressive jumps and another jumper took things to the next level by jumping with an inflatable tube — an epic moment against the alpine backdrop.

What looks like a split-second leap is, in reality, the result of meticulous planning. Every jump is calculated: take-off angle, distance, rotation, landing mechanics. Athletes mentally rehearse the movement again and again before committing. At Schneehaufen, safety was never an afterthought — and it was clear that this was nobody’s “first jump.” These were experienced freerunners and trained athletes who know their limits and respect them.

That respect also extends beyond the physical. A highlight of the day was a talk by Promente Tirol, focusing on the importance of mental health — an essential aspect of parkour and freerunning, where confidence, focus, and self-awareness are just as crucial as strength and technique. The event also helped raise funds for Promente, underlining that this is a community that gives back.

This may have been the first Schneehaufen on the Nordkette — but hopefully not the last. The organiser’s long-term goal is to grow the sport, welcome newcomers, and eventually offer beginner courses to make parkour more accessible while maintaining its strong safety culture.

For anyone curious: don’t try this at home — but do keep an eye on the community. Recaps of the event can be found on social media and YouTube, and if this first edition is anything to go by, many more creative, high-flying moments are yet to come.

I didn’t quite know what to expect when I was invited to Schneehaufen. What I found was a warm, welcoming community, an infectious energy, and athletes whose skill and dedication left me genuinely blown away.

Between the alpine scenery, the innovative problem-solving, and the unwavering support everyone showed each other, this was far more than just an extreme sports event.

I can’t wait to see what comes next - for future events, check out Simon Wening's Youtube channel here.

All Photos : © Laura Wunsch