As we gathered for another edition of the Euro Season Opener on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, I could feel something special in the air. Was it the snow-covered highways, the crowd of Eastern European shredders, or the fact that we were able to bless so many people with scholarships? I didn’t know—but for some reason, this turned out to be one of my favorite Season Openers of all time.
I had prayed that this edition would be an East Alps shred weekend, bringing more riders from the east into the picture—and we succeeded.
In the past, the Season Opener has been a real hail-mary-snow-dump situation where we had to pray hard for that first layer to cover the mountain. This time, the entire European Alps had already seen an early snowfall, but none of us expected to be blessed with three days of non-stop snow leading right up to the event. THANK YOU, JESUS!
So even though the first day was misty and sketchy, Saturday delivered: hip-deep powder and a full bluebird day. Legit JAPOW conditions. As one guy said, “I need to take breaks because I’m smiling so much—and I keep eating face shots!” (A face shot is when the snow bursts into your face as you turn 😉.)
Another highlight: the charcuterie nights. Usually it’s a final-evening tradition—a communion-deluxe kind of moment where we gather around a table and share cheeses, cured meats, bread, and drinks from our regions. But for some reason this year, it happened not once but three times. It genuinely felt like family.
And the crew this year was special. Sixty-six percent of the group were German speakers—nothing unusual there—but the remaining third was a beautiful mix of Czechs, Slovenes, Slovaks, a Ukrainian, and a Swede. I had prayed that this edition would be an East Alps shred weekend, bringing more riders from the east into the picture—and we succeeded.
We were a group that truly mingled, shared food and stories, and cared for one another. More than ever, it felt like the family of beloved sons and daughters in Christ that we are.
There are many needs this year in Europe—prayer for hearts to be touched, people willing to teach, and financial support to keep the mission going.
If you want to be part of this movement, email me at cedric@wearesfc.org.
