Last winter, as the first snowfall began to blanket the Alps and close high-altitude routes, we turned our attention south to chase the lingering warmth and discover silent coastal trails far beyond the reach of the winter crowds.

In this exclusive edition, Alpina Marina has partnered with Austrian e-MTB manufacturer NOX to explore the art of extending the riding season where dramatic topography meets the ocean line.

The "Murtal" is a region of contrasts. We feel this as we arrive in a side valley that likely few have ever had on their radar: "Die Gaal" in the "Seckauer Alpen". Around 1,300 souls live here, as well as in the neighboring community of "Seckau". The tranquility of this rurally shaped region is intensified by its immediate proximity to the "Red Bull Ring".

“Vives!” they shout here—a toast that celebrates life—and we fall in love with it instantly. To life! To serenity! To this oasis nestled in the Dolomites, where the mountains whisper and the people have mastered the art of pausing. “Life is too short to be hurried,” Epicurus once said, and in Val Badia, this thought seems woven into the meadows, the forests, and the faces of the locals.

This region is probably the nicest ass of Austria. Located in the west, this alpine forest with silent mountains called “Bregenzerwald” is hiding behind the busy Rhine Valley at Lake Constance, where Austria is kissing Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany all at the same time.