Felix Georgii, Max Hitzig, Ian Matteoli and Fabian Bösch Come Together in Italy’s Julian Alps for a Session Focused on Precision, Creativity, and On-Snow Flow.
With the winter sports season entering a decisive phase ahead of February’s biggest competitions, Red Bull athletes Felix Georgii(GER), Max Hitzig(GER), Ian Matteoli(ITA) and Fabian Bösch(SUI) gathered in north-eastern Italy for a session centred on flow, control and creativity, riding a purpose-built alpine line on the Sella Nevea Pass.
Set at 2,050 metres in the Julian Alps, the 350-metre course ran along a mountain ridge just one metre wide, a “tightrope” of snow above drops of up to 110 metres. Shaped directly into the natural terrain, the line demanded calm decision-making and clean execution, where every jump, rail and landing was approached with calculated risk rather than improvisation.
Watch the full action clip from Sella Nevea on YouTube.
Feat Overview
- Step-Down – Take-off on a rocky outcrop with a landing adapted to the slope.
- Rainbow Rail – 6 m long, 3.5 m high rail set on a natural elevation with optimised flowing transitions for flow and safe landing.
- Mini Gap – 10 m long, 3 m high gap that draws on the natural ridge to offer speed, flow and snow cover.
- Big Gap – Approximately 20 m over two cliffs into a slightly sloping landing.
- Flat Rail – 6 m rail built between two boulders above a 45° slope.
- Down Rail – Steep, exposed downhill rail with a narrow landing zone.
- Pump & Push – 30 m long intermediate section connecting two parts of the descent, running slightly uphill and requiring speed; at one metre wide, it is the narrowest part of the course.
A Ridge Built for Precision
The hand-built course features eight jumps and obstacles positioned along the ridge crest, with steep slopes on both sides and elements shaped by the natural topography. At its narrowest point, a 30-metre pump track stretched across a section only one metre wide, requiring balance, rhythm and focus.
“It’s all about doing tricks as perfectly as possible. There’s no room for risky landings here,” said Georgii.
The challenge intensified when Georgii and Bösch rode simultaneously with only arm’s lengths between them. Timing, awareness and trust in each other’s lines become as important as individual technique.
Focus Over Exposure
Despite their experience at the highest level of freeskiing and snowboarding, the athletes described the line as a test of mental control as much as physical ability. “Fortunately, I’m not afraid of heights – but I still tried to look straight ahead and never down,” said Matteoli. Bösch added: “I’m usually so focused when riding that I don’t look left or right – I only see the course.”
Each feature is shaped to follow the ridge’s natural contours, dictating speed and take-off angles. The result is a course that rewards commitment and precision, encouraging riders to trust their preparation and stay present through every movement.
A Mental Balancing Act
Finding rhythm on the ridge required time and repetition. “The hardest part was getting a feel for the course and overcoming mental blocks – you simply can’t afford to make any mistakes,” said Bösch. Matteoli pointed to the most demanding element: “The gap rail is the craziest feature, where you have the least room for error.”
That rail spans seven metres above a 110-metre void, becoming a defining moment of the line. “Mentally, it was a big challenge,” Bösch said. “But once you’ve overcome it, you’re fully in it.”
Key Facts
- Athletes: Felix Georgii (GER), Max Hitzig (GER), Ian Matteoli (ITA), Fabian Bösch (SUI)
- Location: Sella Nevea Pass, Julian Alps, Italy
- Terrain: Narrow alpine ridge with natural rock and snow features
- Course Length: 350 m
- Altitude: 2,050 m
- Maximum Exposure: Up to 110 m vertical drop
- Narrowest Section: 1 m wide, 30 m long pump track
Why It Matters
The Sella Nevea project highlights how modern freeskiing and snowboarding continue to evolve beyond competition settings. By combining natural alpine terrain with carefully designed features, the session demonstrates how elite athletes push technical boundaries through preparation, precision and calculated risk, while keeping the emphasis on creativity and enjoyment on snow.
About the Athletes
Felix Georgii (GER) is a Red Bull athlete, a professional wakeboarder and snowboarder, known for translating board control and spatial awareness across disciplines. He won gold in Real Wake at the X Games in 2017, and regularly applies his background in wakeboarding to creative snow projects.
Max Hitzig (GER) is a Red Bull freeski athlete and the 2024 Freeride World Tour Champion. He is recognised for his ability to combine technical freeride skiing with controlled line choice in complex alpine terrain.
Ian Matteoli (ITA), also a Red Bull athlete, is a member of Italy’s national snowboard team, and one of the sport’s technical innovators. He was the first snowboarder to land a frontside 2160, and finished second overall in the 2024/25 Big Air World Cup standings.
Fabian Bösch (SUI) is a Red Bull athlete and a freeski slopestyle and big air specialist. His career highlights include a FIS slopestyle world title in 2015, Winter X Games Big Air Aspen gold in 2016, and becoming the first freeskier to land a ‘Quad Cork 1980’ – a manoeuvre consisting of four somersaults with five and a half twists.
