Figln – Fun in the Spring Snow

Outside of Tyrol and Austria, figln is hardly known. Figln does not mean anything indecent, but is simply the short form of firngleiten, meaning skiing on firn snow with special skis. Snow is not just snow, even "normal" skiers know that. Its consistency changes depending on the weather and temperature, and new snow is different from old snow. Firn is a special feature of late winter or early spring. The name firn comes from the Old High German "firni," which means "last year's." Firn refers to old snow that has been repeatedly thawed by the sun. Through this repeated thawing and freezing, the fine snow crystals merge into larger, graupel-like clumps, making the snow sticky, soft, and heavy. It has an almost ten times higher density than new snow.

Skiing on firn has its own feeling. To navigate better on this surface, special firn skis were developed, extremely short skis made of lightweight metal or wood, measuring 50 to 65 cm in length, with a binding mounted at the rear end. This binding is usually a simple lace binding, so no special ski boot needs to be worn. Firn skis can also be easily stowed in or on a backpack, making them ideal for spring mountain tours to quickly traverse the still extensive snowfields during the descent. The modern aluminum firn skis do not have a base on the running surface or proper edges. Unlike touring skis, they are not sensitive to the stones or rocks rolling around in firn snow.

The "invention" of firngleiten probably dates back to the 1930s, with firn skis first patented in Austria by the Innsbruck engineer Emo Johann Heinrich in 1946. Soon, firn skis were also used in competitive racing, with the first races taking place in 1960 and the first Austrian Championships in 1972. In 1995, firngleiten was recognized as a sport by the FIS, the International Ski Federation. Since then, there have been official European Championships. In competitive sports, firngleiten has evolved into shortcarving in recent years, but it continues in its classic form in the alpine area.

In Tyrol, figln can be considered a trend sport, mainly popular among locals. The figl season typically starts in March. The technique is relatively simple: you sit quite far back, shift your weight forward to accelerate, and use your heels to brake. Normally, poles are not used. Many Tyrolean ski schools offer special courses for beginners to quickly learn the basics of firngleiten. Falls are common even among experienced figlers, but on the soft firn snow, they are not too serious as long as you don't land on a rock. The difficulty of mastering the short aluminum skis is also part of the fun of firngleiten.