Snowbombing.

If you read that word, smiled to yourself and nodded knowingly either because you’ve experienced all that the word promises then I suggest you click on the next article.

However, if the name means nothing to you then you’re in the right place. You’re about to find out about what many view as the world’s best festival.

That’s quite a statement isn’t it? However, when you combine snow sports, mountains and world class music it’s hard to see where it could go wrong.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. It can go wrong. It can go horribly wrong in terms of the lack of sleep, overdose of adrenaline and the risk of drinking more than your weekly recommended units of alcohol, not to even mention the usual risks snowsports present. But is it worth it? Abso-bombing-lutely.

Proudly in its twelfth year, this weekend will see 1000s of revelers arrive in the picturesque Austrian Alpine resort of Mayrhofen, lovingly called the Hof by Snowbombers past and present. As a ski resort the Hof offers enough skiing to keep both intermediates and advanceds happy, gasp-worthy big jumps in the Vans Snowpark and excellent bus connections to a nearby glacier making it a very worthy destination for end of season skiing. It’s compact size and seemingly party-spirited locals have made it Snowbombing’s chosen home for eleven years.

So the snow’s good enough, but this does not a festival make. Essentially it’s the music and Snowbombing is no stranger to big names. I’m a three time Snowbomber and over those hedonistic three years I have bopped along to the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Grandmaster Flash, Friendly Fires, DJ Marky, Fat Boy Slim, De La Soul and 2ManyDJs.

Not convinced yet that it could possibly, maybe, might be the best festival in the world? Well, let me tell you that what I actually love most about Snowbombing is its sense of humour.

They fly Mr Motivator over to do warm up and cool down aerobics on the top of the mountain, they have a fancy dress theme virtually every day and they let the comedian troupe Cuban Brothers go loose throughout the resort who attract attention by shouting out choice phrases such as “Don’t be shy, show us your pie!”. You’re more likely to hurt yourself laughing than you are on the slopes.

Sadly Snowbombing is a sold out event for this year. In fact if you listen closely you may be able to hear the squeals of excitement from the Alps as the action kicks off this Sunday, but it’s worth knowing that the costs vary according to your accommodation choices, which all include your festival wristband and you pick your other add-ons like flights, transfers ski passes and ski school. However, it was my experience that it worked out as roughly the same cost as your typical skiing holiday.

It’s worth disclosing that despite my over-enthusiastic tone this post was NOT sponsored by Snowbombing, however if they’d like to retrospectively thank me by sending me there next year I’m up for that. Now that I’ve had a year off to recover, I think I’m ready. I’ve even got my penguin outfit lying around here somewhere…