Flumserberg is a large ski area famously close to Zurich. It is also known to be good for beginners, but first time skiers / snowboarders should consider the following to know what to expect.
For first-time beginners, there are two short pistes to get started. One is at Tannenboden (This is where most people start) and one at Tannenheim. You can avoid buying a lift ticket by starting at Tannenboden. Both of these pistes are short, and have conveyer belts to take you back to the top. At Tannenboden the slope starts steep, then after about 10 meters it becomes too flat to gain any speed. This makes it safe, but for snowboarders it also means strapping out of the board and back in a lot.
In other ski resorts it's common to have a second, longer conveyor belt for progressing, but in Flumserberg the next possible step is one of the blue slopes. The good thing is that there's another free piste nearby called 'Madils', which is only accessible by hiking 5 minutes up across a blue piste. The lift for Madils is a rope that drags you up the hill, which is difficult for a beginner, but the slope itself is very nice for beginners, and less crowded because it's harder to get to (and in case you missed it, it's also free!). If you have a ski teacher they probably won't take you here unless you ask, because they don't want to make you hike there.
For beginners, you will most likely take the T-bar lifts at Tannenboden, or the chairlift to Chrüz. This is not exactly the perfect piste if you're still not that confident, because the T-bars drop you at the top of some hills that you have to somehow brake on, and the blue slope from Chrüz starts with a rather steep section that leads directly to a flat spot, which is inconvenient for snowboarders. But there's also great mellow sections that are good for training in slightly more difficult terrain.
When it's time to tackle your first red slope, you will probably take the lift from Chrüz to Stelli. This is actually quite nice, except for a narrow flat section that leads to an uphill section. People are going fast here and if you fall it can be quite sketchy, and if you fall and lose your speed you'll have to get up the uphill section by yourself. From there you can join a blue which is very easy.
For intermediate, Flumserberg is a very good place to improve confidence and your capabilities. There are many good places to do jumps, 180s, and other slope tricks. For your first time on a black run, the slope called Breitmantelpiste from Leist to Plattis is perfect. You can also ride along the side of the blue pistes to begin to understand powder riding.
For advanced, the snowpark is small in comparison with other popular ski resorts, and the owners of the ski area seem to be terribly afraid of being sued for building a jump too big. But it is also easy there and very quiet compared to ski areas with bigger parks. There's no park lift here so you'll probably end up hiking. Off piste has some beautiful ways through the forest.
For experts, there's nothing made for you, but there a few naturally formed backcountry kickers, and even some parts of the piste which are possible to safely get some air from. Most years, the regulars will build a powder kicker between Twärchamm-Verbindugspiste and Edypiste.
The absolute beginner piste can be difficult in high season, because it can be crowded with first time skiers that don't have much control. You'll also see a lot of people simply walking back to the top because there are too many people already waiting in line for the conveyer belt.
On the weekends in high season it can get a bit crazy, especially if there's an event going on the blue slope from Chrüz can probabaly be one of the busiest slopes in Switzerland. But outside of that it should be quite good, since there's not a huge amount of tourists coming to spend the week here.
Due to it's proximity to Zurich Flumserberg will never be empty. At least you'll have an audience for your tricks 😉
And FYI don't expect an Apres Ski here 🥲
The big deal about Flumserberg is that it's '1 hour from Zurich' but in reality, it's 1 hour to Unterterzen, then you take a gondola which lasts another 15-20 minutes. By that time it is actually equally as distant as other ski areas which don't need a gondola to get you to the first chairlift. It is quite a straightforward journey though.
Apart from the full-area ticket, Flumserberg has a beginners ticket and a points ticket. If you will come down the slopes really slowly, then a points ticket is probably the right choice. If you don't want to push yourself for red slopes yet, but can do a few laps of Chrüz, then the beginner ticket is perfect.
You can also check out the Snow 'n Rail, which gives you a discount on the ticket, or the Winter-Hit Flumserberg from SOB.
If you're an absolute beginner, just make sure not to buy a full ski area ticket at Unterterzen, they can sell you a cheaper ticket that's only for the gondola.
Flumserberg is not so high compared to other resorts. It can rain there leaving slushy snow that freezes into ice. However conditions are good for almost the entire season. In powder, the Häxäwäldi area will be beautiful and the Leist area will offer some opportunities for backcountry kickers.
Hoch Ybrig is the smaller ski area close to Zurich, but definitely still big enough to spend many days at without getting bored. The park here is fantastic, and it's one of the only places in east Switzerland with an airbag.
For first-time beginners, this is a great choice. At Seebli the beginner slopes work using conveyer belts, and there is one short one and one long one. They are the perfect steepness to learn the first steps, and the longer one is a perfect step up for progression without having to go far. You could also take the bus to a smaller section of the ski resort called Oberiberg where there is a conveyer belt and two T-bar drag lifts. A day pass at Oberiberg is half the price of the normal Hoch Ybrig lift pass.
For beginners, once you move beyond the absolute beginner lifts, you will be kind of thrown in the deep end because the first blue slope you would try is quite long and not as mellow as you might want for your first run.
For intermediate, Hoch Ybrig is great, you can build up lots of confidence on the blue and red slopes here, and there's even off piste sections you could comfortably test out.
For advanced, there are a few options for black slopes, which will definitely give you the feeling of being on a black. But the best thing about being an advanced rider in Hoch Ybrig is the awesome park. They really have something for all skill levels so you can learn boxes and rails, and jumps with the exact right steps.
For experts, Hoch Ybrig has an airbag! While it's a flat one, it can help to get the guts for whatever flips you're trying. The jumps in NBC park are not a joke, you can do a lot here!
Hoch Ybrig is not a crowded ski resort. People read that it has less kilometers of slopes and less ski lifts and they decide to go somewhere else, but that's a mistake! Hoch Ybrig has so much to discover.
Note that the gondola to Seebli goes quite infrequently, so if you're going for an early lesson, check that it's even possible to be there on time due to the bus conncetion.
There are two different starting points, Hoch-Ybrig Weglosen and Hoch-Ybrig Laucheren. If going by public transport check both options, because depending on when you want to leave, it can save you a couple of hours of waiting to depart.
To use the beginner slopes you don't need to buy a full ticket, only the way up to Seebli.
You will have to take a train and a bus to get here, which most people view as more difficult than Flumserberg. If you take the bus to Laucheren, you arrive right to the ski slope, no gondola needed. Snow 'n Rail is also available for Hoch Ybrig.
Hoch Ybrig is not a high resort, but it's north facing which keeps it colder and stops the snow from melting. They also have snow cannons which they use at every opportunity.
Laax is a resort famous for attracting pro skiers and snowboarders to the amazing freestyle park, massive pipe and famous competitions. But it's not just for pros, the area is so big it has something for everyone!
For first-time beginners, there are decently long, mellow pistes at Laax, Flims or Falera. They use a conveyer belt to take people back to the top. Beside Crap Sogn Gian there is a beginner piste with a low button lift, however this only operates if a Laax School instructor is there so it's risky to plan to use this, if you're not taking a lesson with Laax School.
For beginners, there is a very good blue piste from Nagens down to Scansinas. The lift is a gondola, so this avoids all the stress of learning to get off the lift. It's possible to repeat this section for hours on the Flims beginner ticket, and the blue slope is very wide with practically no flat spots and many mellow stretches that are great for building confidence.
For intermediate, Laax is great for long flowing runs that are safe to build confidence with speed and carving. The runs from Crap Sogn Gion down towards Laax or Falera are not too steep, but enough to safely try out slope tricks.
For advanced, there are normally three or four parks where you can train in freestyle. The beginner park is always there to try new tricks for the first time, which you can take to P60 or the medium line. P60 has lots of railing opportunities and the shapers get creative to let you see what you can invent there. The medium line normally has the most suitable jumps for doing tricks in the air. Sometimes there is a P60 terrain park, which has obstacles made of wood. On the normal piste, you can find places to do slope tricks basically everywhere.
There are plenty of good off piste opportunities in Laax, including some spots where people train their first flips. It's possible to snowboard from Crap Sogn Gion to Flims off piste, but it's a long way and you can get a bit lost, so don't go unless you are sure of the way.
For experts, Laax is one of the best places in europe. Push youself in the pipe, on the kickers, the gnarly rails and if you're capable, even parts of the pro line!
Along with fame comes some crowds, but Laax is big, so people are dispersed. The parks can have queues behind the easier obstacles, and sometimes people don't know park etiquette. But the shapers to a good job of keeping park features right even with so much traffic.
Laax is quite far from Zurich, and perhaps not worth the trip if you are going by yourself only to use the absolute beginner, conveyer belt lift.
By public transport, people normally do it all in one day by taking a train to Chur and then the bus to one of the Bergbahnen stops at Flims, Laax or Falera. Then the same trip in reverse to get back to Zurich.
Laax has dynamic pricing so tickets vary by day and demand. There's a beginner ticket that's normally significantly cheaper and covers key learning areas like from Flims to Nagens or the blues beside Crap Sogn Gion. When buying a beginner pass, make sure to buy it from the correct base station (Flims/Laax). The conveyer belt slopes in the valley for absolute beginners require a very cheap ticket to use.
For freestyle-focused trips, there is a park pass available.
Snow 'n Rail is also available for Laax.
Laax is a high resort, so when everywhere else is not good, this is one of the options you should check! Snow cannons help to keep things nice, but on very crowded days it can still become a bit chopped up at the end of the day.
The option that few know about, Melchsee Frutt becomes a favourite for most people that visit! It may be small, but the freestyle / park offering is special because of how accessible it is for progression, building up from the smallest rail (perfect for your first time) to kink rails that make you think 'oh ****', and a big air kicker that the shapers do so well, it is the best we know of for your first time trying big air.
For first-time beginners, you will start in Frutti land, which is a really great place to start out. There's a conveyer belt for a really mellow slope and a shorter steep slope. There's even a drag lift for a long mellow blue slope!
For beginners, when you move onto the other blues, it's not extremely easy, but it will give you a gentle push into it which will probably help your progression. So take it carefully and it will be totally fine.
For intermediate, this is an awesome place to gain confidence, perfect for moving onto reds that feel like reds, and it's not that steep of a resort, so it's perfect for trying out your first tricks on the slope.
For advanced, if your goal is to become an expert in freestyle, we can't recommend anywhere else to spend time than Frutt. The rails and jumps are perfect for reducing the risk when building confidence and familairity.
Off piste has natural terrain features you will find great for trying your first flips in powder.
For experts, note that there is a rather forgiving big air kicker here (of course, make your own assessment of it). The railing options get gnarly enough (although not like Laax) and they have some creative things too like wallrides.
There are cliff drops around, but we recommend to hit it only with someone who's done it before!
This is not a well known resort. There won't be many queues in the park. In high season there might be a bit too many people in the beginner area but it's nothing as bad as other places.
Melchsee-Frutt isn't the fastest place to reach from Zurich. However it's not farther than Laax/Davos/Lenzerheide. You need to go via train and take the bus for the final stretch
Melchsee Frutt has a beginner ticket for the beginner area. If you are at the stage when you just want to use the easiest rail in the park all day, and don't want to take a lift ticket, you can buy a ticket for the gondola one way up the mountain, and then hike to the park (in which case, you can't take any of the chairlifts, of course).
Snow 'n Rail is also available for Melchsee-Frutt.
Melchsee-Frutt gets windy, which can cause a bit of crust on the snow. Bring a camera and this can actually be cool! Melchsee-Frutt gets powder, and there is a perfect place for snowboarders to do their first tamedogs into it.
The best choice depends on exactly where you travel from, what level you're at and what your particular interests are. For first time learners leaving from Zurich, Hoch-Ybrig is probably the best choice for its well designed beginner area, proximity to Zurich, and less crowded slopes. As you do your first blue and red slopes, Laax, Melchsee-Frutt and Flumserberg all become good areas for progression. For your first black slope, Flumserberg has a great option called Breitmantelpiste. Once you start with freestyle, Melchsee-Frutt is clearly the best, and as you get comfortable on rails and boxes moving to Hoch Ybrig and Laax are good options. If you are capable and ready for big air, go back to Melchsee Frutt. Beyond this, Laax has the highest upper-boundary, and you can still visit Hoch Ybrig for the airbag.