One meter wide, 110 meters deep: Freeskiers and snowboarders showcase world-class action on a narrow mountain ridge
Felix Georgii, Max Hitzig, Fabian Bösch and Ian Matteoli give a performance on the edge in Italy – riding an alpine ridge that forgives no mistake.
High in the Julian Alps of northeast Italy, four elite winter sports athletes have redefined what precision riding looks like. On the exposed Sella Nevea Pass, they tackled a hand-built, 350-metre-long course carved along a razor-thin alpine ridge—sometimes no wider than a single metre—with drops plunging up to 110 metres on either side.
This was a true no-fall zone. Every jump, rail and transition demanded absolute focus, flawless execution and mental control. Wakeboard professional and avid snowboarder Felix Georgii (GER) joined Max Hitzig (GER), the 2024 Freeride World Tour Champion, Italian Olympic snowboarder Ian Matteoli (ITA) and Swiss freeski legend Fabian Bösch (SUI) to take on one of the most exposed freestyle courses ever built.
A 350-metre tightrope in the Alps
Set at 2,050 metres above sea level, the course features eight jumps and obstacles sculpted directly into the natural terrain. Rocky outcrops, steep slopes and narrow ridgelines define the route, with some sections running just metres from a sheer rock face above a 110-metre-deep gorge.
At its most extreme point, riders face a 30-metre-long pump-and-push section balanced on a ridge just one metre wide. In places, two athletes ride simultaneously, separated by only a few arm lengths.
“It’s all about doing tricks as perfectly as possible. There’s no room for risky landings here.”
says Georgii
Precision over fear
Even for athletes accustomed to high-consequence environments, the Sella Nevea course demanded careful calculation. Built by hand and shaped around the mountain’s natural features, it required riders to blend creativity with discipline.
“Fortunately, I’m not afraid of heights, but I still tried to look straight ahead and never down.” Bösch echoed the sentiment, noting that total focus became a survival skill: “When I ride, I don’t look left or right—I only see the course.”
says Matteoli
A mental balancing act
Beyond the technical difficulty, the course tested mental resilience as much as physical ability.
“The hardest part was getting a feel for the course and overcoming mental blocks. You simply can’t afford mistakes.”
explains Bösch
One feature stood out above all others: a seven-metre-long gap rail suspended over a 110-metre abyss.
“That’s the craziest feature. You have the least room for error there.”
says Matteoli
Once conquered, however, confidence followed.
“Mentally, it was a huge challenge, but once you overcome it, you’re fully in it.”
Bösch adds
What unfolded on the Sella Nevea ridge was not just a freestyle showcase, but a statement about the future of progression—where innovation, environment and elite skill meet on the very edge.
Key Facts
Location: Sella Nevea, Italy
Athletes:
- Felix Georgii (GER) – Wakeboarding: X Games Real Wake Gold (2017)
- Max Hitzig (GER) – Freeski: Freeride World Tour Champion (2024)
- Ian Matteoli (ITA) – Snowboard: First to land a frontside 2160; 2nd overall Big Air World Cup 2024/25
- Fabian Bösch (SUI) – Freeski: FIS Slopestyle World Champion (2015), Winter X Games Big Air Aspen winner (2016), first to land a Quad Cork 1980
Terrain:
Narrow alpine ridge with steep slopes on both sides; a high-exposure, no-fall zone using natural mountain topography
Trick Features:
- Step-Down: Rocky ridge take-off with slope-adapted landing
- Rainbow Rail: 6m long, 3.5m high rail with smooth transitions
- Mini Gap: 10m long natural gap with optimal flow
- Big Gap: ~20m jump clearing two cliffs into a sloped landing
- Flat Rail: 6m rail bridging a 45° slope between boulders
- Down Rail: Steep downhill rail with a narrow landing zone
- Pump & Push: 30m uphill connector on a ridge just one metre wide