Austrian Alps: why Tirol is the center of alpine skiing

Arlberg

People have been skiing in Arlberg for over a century. It is the largest resort in Austria – and the fifth largest in the world! The area, which is dominated by the Arlberg Pass, has many mountains and valleys that are connected to each other by 15 aerial trams, 45 chairs and 28 tow lifts. This unique ski area forms five villages: St. Anton, St. Christophe, Lech, Zurs and Steuben.

A single trail gives you access to nearly 190 miles of trails, plus about 130 miles of (non-prepared) slopes. Don’t miss the Valluga Cable Car as it takes you to the summit of Mount Valluga, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the Austrian, Swiss and Italian Alps. And do not forget that skiing means refueling; There are more than 30 Gault Millau award-winning restaurants (most with equally stellar cellars) in the area.

St. Anton am Arlberg is home to the Arlberg Ski Technology, developed by the legendary Hannes Schneider in 1912. Schneider’s progressive system of ski education (snow sweeper, stem and leg Christi, and then Christi (parallel rotation), helped transform St. Anton skiing became the largest school in Europe, and as such, Schneider is credited with creating a professional ski education, became a world ski celebrity and is considered one of the “founding fathers” of skiing in the United States.

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Innsbruck

There is a reason Innsbruck It has been awarded two Winter Olympics (64 and 76), and why Austria has won more alpine skiing medals than any other country. Innsbruck is a beautiful medieval city surrounded by mountains and is a siren song for skiers and outdoor explorers.

The Ski Plus City pass provides access to 13 ski areas (Stubaier Gletscher, Axamer Lizum, Skizentrum Schlick 2000, Kühtai, Hochötz, Muttereralm, Bergeralm, Nordkette, Serlesbahnen, Elferbahnen, Patscherkofel, Ranger Köpfl, Glungezer); 22 city attractions (highlights include Bergisel Ski Jump, Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Alpenzoo, and Imperial Hofburg); Three swimming pools (eg spas and water parks), public transportation including ski bus to all resorts. It’s easy to fall in love with Innsbruck for its mix of quaint slopes, urban adventure and beautiful architecture.