BigDayz

BigDayz is the mobile snowkiting school of Marco Köppel, known as "KOP", who has spent every winter on the Bernina Pass since he started snowkiting in 2000; the operating company, Bigdayz Kitesport GmbH, is registered in Widnau (St. Gallen) and has a shop in Bever, in the Upper Engadine. The Bernina Pass is the main base: the school reports north wind about 70% of the time in winter. When the wind is not right, it moves to Silvaplana or Furtschellas; in light wind, lessons move higher up as hike & kite sessions. On the pass, the school has set up a small container station with seating, solar panels powering a wind measuring station and a webcam, a toilet and parking, as well as information on how to use the spot.

Lessons are taught in small groups, up to four students per instructor, with radio contact. The school recommends a two- to three-day course for beginners (theory, equipment, kite control, first attempts, then free riding); kitesurfers coming from the water take a shorter transition course. Training uses Flysurfer Peak 4 and 5 foil kites, and the school also has inflatable kites and Ozone kites for advanced riders, from 4 to 13 m². Options include uphill and downhill tours, hike & kite with snowshoes, trips to the Lunghin, powder sessions and photo and video sessions.

The school advises students before they arrive (what to bring, getting there by train or car from Zurich airport), arranges ski or snowboard rental, rents out kites, bars, harnesses, wings, helmets and snowshoes, and helps with buying second-hand snowkites; a taxi can be arranged on request. Outside the snow season, BigDayz runs kite safaris by boat and kitesurfing camps in Egypt (Soma Bay, El Gouna).