“Big Bucks on the Trails” – The New Graubünden Tourism App

Turning the Cross-Country Challenge into an even more Digital Playground

In recent winters, thousands of cross-country fans have embraced Switzerland’s largest Nordic skiing region under the motto: “All ski, all season.” Graubünden Tourism took this popular challenge and together, we gave it a digital twist.

The Vision:

The new app needed to do more than just track skiing distances—it had to:

• Offer more bang for the buck by combining GPS tracking with gamification, personalized challenges, and an engaging reward system.

• Inspire users to go the extra buck by exploring trails across multiple regions in Graubünden.

• Introduce big-buck incentives that encourage users to share their experiences and spread the word.

• Motivate tourists with themed quests and challenges that keep them coming back for longer stays.

• Strengthen the locals’ connection to their home trails and turn them into app ambassadors.

• Build an engaged Nordic skiing community, welcoming both beginners and pros, all united by the thrill of the trails.

The bottom buck: This app isn’t just about skiing—it’s about fostering a vibrant, motivated community that’s always ready to buck up and hit the snow.

A Native App for iOS and Android

From the get-go, it was clear: a native iOS and Android app was the best bet. Third-party tracking solutions didn’t meet Graubünden Tourism’s specific standards for data privacy, so we built it from the ground up.

Built in Flutter, with an OAuth2-based login system powered by Microsoft Authentication Library, the app delivers a buckload of features:

• Cross-country essentials: Beginner tips, trail maps, location-based info (transport, food, equipment, weather, and more). Dynamic icons and teaser lists keep everything at your fingertips.

• The thrill of the chase: Whether you ski solo or in teams, the app bucks the system by turning every run into a challenge. Distance milestones, altitude gains, and trail completions are all part of the game. Instead of points, you earn Bucks—from a basic wooden buck to the ultra-rare diamond buck. The ultimate reward? A luxury cross-country skiing holiday in Graubünden!

• Building the herd: Community challenges bring skiers together, while ski cafés offer both virtual and real-world meeting points. It’s all about buckling in and enjoying the ride together.

Key Features Developed and Implemented

• Tracking: Your skiing progress is logged using altitude, GPS, and barometer data. The system cross-checks everything with swisstopo APIs for accuracy, so you always know where you stand.

• Maps: We adapted MapToolKit’s streamlined version of MapBox, already used in Graubünden Tourism’s web solutions. Since MapToolKit doesn’t have a Flutter SDK, we custom-built the integration.

• User & Invite Management: Profiles are handled via discover.swiss, a proven system in Swiss tourism destinations. Invite management? To keep it simple, this is handled seamlessly with dynamic links and Google Firebase.

More Than Just an App – It’s a Bucking Revolution

For Graubünden Tourism, this app is where the buck stops—a next-level marketing tool that expands their reach and puts partner destinations in the spotlight. The buzz on social media post-launch already proves: this one’s a big buck winner.

For users, the app is the ultimate guide to cross-country skiing in Graubünden. It helps them plan, connect with fellow skiers, rack up trophies, and stay informed with push notifications.

The “Big Bucks on the Trails” app is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

So, are you ready to make a buck, break the buck, and get buck wild on the trails?