Kitzbühel Destination Overview | OnTheSnow Transportation + Big names, ski pioneers and the high society – but also Tyrolean down-to-earthness, Gemütlichkeit and hospitality: these contrasts are what make Kitzbühel one of the greatest ski resorts in the Alps. Kitzbühel is even recognised as the “Best Ski Resort in the World” for 2013. With 51 cable cars and lifts, connecting 170 kilometres of ski slopes, Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel is one of the largest cable car companies in Austria. In addition to the spectacular “Streif”, Kitzbühel trumps with a variety of ski runs suiting all sizes and ski styles. In fact, the vast and snow-reliable ski resort boasts an above-average number of family runs (69 km easy, 77 km intermediate, 24 km difficult).

The “flagship” run is, of course, the Family Streif, which elegantly snakes its way around the extremely steep part of the downhill course, before returning to the original racing track at the Seidlalm, dodging the “Hausbergkante” ridge on the incline Ganslernhang and ends up back at the usual finish. Don’t miss out on the most spectacular lift in the world: the 3S-Umlaufbahn (tri-cable gondola). It spans the 2.5-kilometre wide and 400-meter deep Saukaser Valley between the mountains Pengelstein and the Wurzhöhe. Snowboarders and freeskiers will also find their perfect playground on the Resterhöhe. The experienced QParks team lead by Franz Lechner is responsible for the setup of the Hanglalm Park as well as for the park on the Kitzbüheler Horn, including all kicker, rail, jib and tree lines, picnic tables and chill-out areas. Skiers and boarders keen to head off-piste will love Kitzbühel’s 200 km2 backcountry.

Around the 32 kilometres of ski routes there are endless opportunities to ride through perfect deep powder snow. After dark, the 700-year-old “Old Town” with its typical après ski bars and pubs becomes the social hub of the world. Fashionistas will be in their element hopping between international designer addresses, from Bogner and Boss, Gucci, D&G and Moncler, to Prada and Louis Vuitton. And between them, classic Kitzbühel “fashion originals”, such as Sportalm, Frauenschuh, Franz Prader and Helmut Eder, add a traditional element to the vibrant collection. The “town of the chamois”, as Kitzbühel is affectionately known, is easily accessible by road and by rail. From the airport cities Munich, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, it takes a maximum of one and a half hours by car to get to Kitzbühel. + The mountain Kitzbühel’s ski area has grown over the years into one of the world’s leading ski regions.

There are two sectors immediately accessible from the town itself, with gondolas ascending from opposite sides of the resort to the stand-alone ‘natural snow paradise’ of the Kitzbüheler Horn on one side and the famous Hahnenkamm on the other – from which it is possible to ski onto neighbouring ski areas above Jochberg and Pass Thurn. You can quickly expand the ski area available to you by purchasing the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard pass and taking a short ride on the ski bus to neighbouring areas such as the Skiwelt (280km more piste) or the Schneewinkel at neighbouring St Johann (170km more piste), each just 10 minutes away, and all included on the pass which incorporates other areas too – more than 1,100km of piste served by 360 lifts altogether in fact. Back on Kitzbühel’s local slopes, you’ll find 170km/60 pistes which are largely easy blues or intermediate reds, although there are more than a dozen blacks and 32km of marked off-piste routes so plenty to challenge experts too.

Much of the terrain is below the treeline, but the 750 snow guns ensure snow isn’t a problem. Off-piste Kitzbühel is not known as one of the world’s leading powder destinations, but there are a myriad of off-piste opportunities if you know where to look. The off-piste above Pass Thurn is often the best in the area as it’s the highest sector which typically, if not always, means the best snow. The Steinbergkogel area is recognised as freeride terrain down to the Ehrenbachgraben and routes 90 and 33 from there are possible, although you need to take a bus or taxi from the bottom of 33 or it’s a long hike back. On the Hahnenkamm area there can be good tree skiing and often unpisted slopes near the Eggl lift. There’s also a growing freeriding scene at the Bichlalm sector, once something of a Kitzbühel backwater, now offers some excellent powder field skiing served by a snowcat.

Ski slopes Although Kitzbühel does have plenty of off-piste challenges, the vast majority of skiers here are not looking for that, but rather the groomed cruising terrain which the ski area offers in abundance. Indeed if you add Kitzbühel’s ski area to the SkiWelt, you get 450km of piste – 85 percent of which is made up of blues and reds that just go on and on, the longest of them a 7km descent. Buy the regional Kitzbuhel All Star pass and that volume of pistes doubles again with more similar neighbouring regions added. This excess of easy and intermediate graded runs, supported by state-of-the-art high-speed, high-capacity chairs and gondolas, and you get wonderful family-friendly skiing. Half a dozen different itinerary routes are offered by the tourist office to help you make the most of it all.

Bigger still, but suitable for most recreational skiers, the Ski Safari route which takes you on a 50km circuit (35km on pistes, 15km on lifts) around a huge ski area covering Kitzbühel/Kirchberg to Pass Thurn is a ‘must ski.’ Since the completion of the 3S gondola, no ski buses are required to make the full safari route. The route is suited to intermediate level skiers and above. But it’s not all easy and intermediate stuff on the pistes. There are 28km of groomed black runs including the infamous Streif (see Inside Scoop) of course, one of the world’s most famous runs, and its neighbour, used for classic World Cup slalom racing, the Ganslern slope. Children are not forgotten either, the wonderful Mini-Streif course at the base of the Hahnenkamm is a brilliantly designed combination fun ski run and obstacle course for the budding young downhill racer. It’s not to be missed. Park/Pipe: As with many leading resorts, Kitzbuhel has revised its snowpark over the years and has constantly invested in ever better facilities.

The original park on the Kitzbuhelhorn remains but its focus is now on providing a smaller provision for beginner and early intermediate level freestyle skiers and boarders. The resort’s main facility is now at the Hanglalm in Jochberg where the state of the art Snowpark Kitzbuhel contains lines for all ability levels right up to pro. Signature features include the giant Gap jump, not for the faint hearted. Along with lines of rails, boxes and kickers, there’s a popular ‘treeline’ using elements made of wood. An all-new sector was added to the park in 2011-12 adding beginner-to-intermediate level elements to broaden the park’s appeal. An active shape team work to keep the elements in top notch condition, under the guidance of park designer Franz Lechner. A Tour Of The Terrifying Downhill Ski Course That Will Rip Open Your Pelvis "Like A Book" A Tour Of The Terrifying Downhill Ski Course That Will Rip Open Your Pelvis "Like A Book" Go to permalink At first glance, the Hahnenkamm doesn’t seem too gnarly.

A mountain near the ski resort town of Kitzbühel, Austria, the peak isn’t the highest in the Alps. Or the biggest. Or the steepest. And it has a funny name that translates to “Rooster’s Comb,” which sounds like a spot where the Trapp Family might picnic. But mention “Hahnenkamm” to Olympic downhill racers—daredevil athletes accustomed to doing 80 miles per hour on narrow, sharp sticks—and they start to shake in their custom-fit ski boots. Advertisement Why? Because, up close, the Hahnenkamm is home to the world’s most notorious, dangerous, blood-curdling downhill racecourse . [jump] Called the “Streif” (or the “Stripe”), it’s a wicked, twisting, insane snake of a run, one filled with blind drops, 260-foot jumps, and 85-percent grade steeps. The Streif sneers at those who make even the tiniest mistake. Too much weight on one foot? Game over. Skis pointed two degrees in the wrong direction? Dunzo. Lean back on your Rossignols for a split-second? Totaler Reinfall, mein Herr.

Your run will come to a very quick and painful end. So might your season, or worse. [jump] Skiing the Hahnenkamm is a harrowing experience from start to finish. But three spots on the course regularly devour victims, often in a catastrophic fashion. Do not attempt what you see below. Ever. Advertisement The Mausefalle The carnage starts just five seconds out of the gate, on a part of the course called the Mausefalle or the “Mousetrap.” There’s nothing mousy, however, about this blind 260-foot jump. Skiers can’t see the other side until they’re high in the air, too late to do much correction. Instead, at 70 mph, they must pick a mountain peak in the distance, and head for it as they come into the jump. Otherwise, they might splatter against a tree. Even the biggest and best get hurt by the mousetrap. Last year, Hans Grugger, an Austrian racer who’s won two World Cup gold medals in the downhill, bit it here during his training run. That’s him in the above video. Grugger doesn’t land the jump in the wrong spot. It’s worse than that.

After shooting off the Mausefalle, his body twists mid-air. He hits the ground with a sickening thud and skids, limbs splayed, before his prone body comes to a stop. His injuries were so massive he remained in an induced coma for two weeks and underwent brain surgery. Nine months later, he announced he’d be back on skis, but he hasn’t yet returned to the international race circuit. Advertisement Sponsored If the Hahnenkamm can rag doll a tough guy like Grugger—who pushed his body through a series of injuries, including torn knee ligaments (four times between 1998 and 2009) and a dislocated hip in 2005—it can ruin anyone. Downhill is the event in alpine racing with the craziest speeds, biggest jumps, and nastiest turns. The competitors are some of the strongest athletes in the world, pound-for-pound . On a normal course, the average racer can expect to pull some 3.5 G’s, more than astronauts have to deal with during a launch. That means they feel 3.5 times heavier than they really are while making explosive turns and trying to remain as aerodynamic as possible.

The Hahnenkamm could care less. No downhill course lets you relax. But this one bludgeons you the whole way. If you clear the Mausefalle, which means flying 200 feet through the air in just the right position—aggressive, forward—and landing with a cartilage-rattling crunch, you’ve got maybe two seconds before you hit some savage carousel turns and have to confront the next part of the course that wants to kill you. Advertisement The Steilhang No name games here: Steilhang translates, ominously, to “steep rock slope.” It’s a super-steep switchback, filled with teeth-chattering bumps, and it’s narrow, so your line—or the exact path you’re taking down the course—is crucial. That’s made especially hard because this is a fall-away turn. Meaning: The natural “fall line” of the slope (where a rock would go if it were tumbling downhill) is going counter to where you want to go—in this case, off the course and into the net. So you have to fight against the gravity of the hill. Just to make things more fun, the course narrows right at the bottom of the turn.

If your line isn’t 100 percent accurate, you’ll be picking netting out of your teeth. In 1989, Brian Stemmle, a Canadian ranked seventh in the world in downhill at the time, was gunning it on the Steilhang when he drifted ever-so-slightly off the correct line. You can literally pause the above video at the instant that, in ski racing, represents the difference between a podium finish and, in Stemmle’s case, horrifying injury. As the Canadian veers toward the netting, he throws his hands into the air, trying to do something, anything, to stop the onrushing devastation. Skis meet net. They take off ahead of the rest of his body and throw him back, head over heels, somersaulting helplessly. Advertisement Advertisement It didn’t just look bad. It was bad. The crash has been dubbed “the wishbone,” and it ripped open Stemmle’s pelvis “like a book.” His spleen ruptured. He was in a coma for five days. He suffered excruciating infections from wounds on his face.

Doctors gave him a 50-50 chance of surviving, and the only thing more extraordinary than the fact that Stemmle did survive is that, after three months in the hospital and 18 more in rehab, he came back to race on the international level for another decade, including one more spin on Hahnenkamm in 1994. But the Steilhang isn’t the end of the ordeal. To make it to the bottom, you need to be carving your skis, riding your edges, and getting ready for anything that comes up. Like the ruts that tend to form on the course. (Think of driving a car across potholes at 90 mph). Mother Nature usually chips in with some fog and flat lighting, making it even tougher to see what’s coming. This past race, the competitors had to deal with falling snow, which is nice when it’s falling in your backyard and nasty when it’s flying in your goggles. And you have to be planning. You have to be thinking. You have to be on, especially on the unforgiving Streif. Even in the last 20 seconds, danger lurks, as you take another blind jump into another fall-away turn.

The finish line, thankfully, is about to come into focus. But you’re not done, mein Herr. Advertisement The Zielschuss Right at the end, right when a skier might begin to feel safe, there is a final, cruel jump, taken at about 85-90 mph with some 200 feet in the air. It’s called the Zielschuss or “Goal Shot,” and it is where many racers succumb. Here’s the very disturbing video of American Scott Macartney, who was clocked at 87 mph going into the Zielschuss in 2008. Almost as soon as Macartney launches into the air, he knows something is wrong. His weight is shifted too far to the right. His left arm pedals the air, frantically, as if it could helicopter him to a safe landing. When he slams into the snow on his back, his right ski pops off like a snapped twig. He skids; the other ski hurtles into the fencing, where spectators watch, aghast. And he slides, prone and unconscious, across the finish line. The video keeps rolling as his body starts convulsing.

Advertisement Since Macartney didn’t miss a gate, he technically finished the race—in 33rd place. More importantly, he recovered fully. By the next season, he was back on the World Cup circuit, racing downhill again. He even took on the Hahnenkamm downhill in 2010. All guts, that Macartney. But sights like a man twitching at the bottom of the slope can psych out even the most fearless athletes. Last year, Canadian racer Jan Hudec opted out of the Hahnenkamm. “I was seriously scared just inspecting” the course, Hudec tells me. Advertisement It didn’t help that he’d broken his hand in a recent race. Or that he’d been standing 30 feet away from his friend Grugger when the Austrian crashed. But this year Hudec went for it. He came in 10th—a pretty sweet finish, considering it was his first Hahnenkamm downhill race. His first thought, as he flew out of the start gate, had nothing to do with strategy or form or his line. It was: “Oh my God, I’m skiing Kitzbühel.

This is crazy.” Yes, Hudec. It is crazy. If you’re skiing the Hahnenkamm, you’re nuts. But that’s the kind of attitude you need to excel on this course. And by excel? We mean survive. A former ski racer who never made it close to the Hahnenkamm level, New England native Amanda Ruggeri now lives in Italy, where she freelances for publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Atlantic. Advertisement Skiing in the Tirol | Ultimate-Ski.com Tirol Skiing in The Tirol The Tirol is Austria's best known ski region and home to some of Austria’s most high-profile ski resorts, including St Anton-am-Arlberg, often described as the ski capital of Austria, and Kitzbühel, famous for its legendary World Cup Hahnenkamm downhill. The Tirol (sometimes spelled Tyrol) is home to many of the best ski resorts in Austria and has always been regarded as safe, friendly and fun with its celebrated gemütlichkeit (or welcome), lively après ski and plenty of good quality accommodation.

It's an ideal destination for skiers and boarders of all ability levels and traditionally, many British and other nationals learn to ski in the Tirol - particularly in Alpbach , Mayrhofen , Obergurgl , Soll and Wildschönau, Alpbach / Ski Juwel Alpbach has won prizes as the one of the prettiest villages in Austria. The quintessentially traditional Austrian village, complete with onion-domed church, narrow streets and little traffic, is a delightful ski holiday destination. The skiing in Alpbach may be on the mellow side, but for those searching for excitement, there are serious challenges too. Alpbach's slopes are under-rated, both in variety and genuine steepness. For many years the British Army held their ski championships here. With the exception of a nursery slope in the middle of the village, the main ski area is a 5-minute free bus ride away and reached by a two-stage gondola to the Hornsboden at 1850m.

From there a network of lifts rise to 2025m on Wiedersbergerhorn, which is now connected by a new gondola to the Schatzberg above Auffach in Wildschonau, increasing the size of the lift-connected ski area at Albach from 44km to 85km. Part of the new Alpbachtal - Wildschonau "Ski Juwel" region with 130km of ski slopes covered by a single lift pass, Alpbach is approximately 60km east of Innsbruck and has plenty of novice terrain. While the ski area is best for beginners and intermediates, experts will find plenty of easily accessible off-piste. Alpbach is 62km east and south from Innsbruck airport. Alpbach ski resort report > Ischgl / Paznauntal Ischgl is the party capital of Austria. There are party towns and there's Ischgl, undoubtedly the most lively ski resort in the Tirol. Burning the candle at both ends is almost unavoidable, and for the German tourists who dominate the resort, de rigueur.

Ischgl celebrates the beginning and end of each ski season with huge concerts featuring internationally renowned singers and bands. Yet the skiing's challenging and extensive enough to require plenty of energy and skill, so partying every night can prove to be a mixed blessing on the slopes the next day. There's skiing from 1400m to 2870m (42 lifts serve 210km of slopes), and the resort shares a mountain and a lift pass with Samnaun, an isolated duty-free resort across the border in Switzerland. There's good skiing and boarding for all abilities including some easy off-piste skiing between the marked runs. Nearby resorts include See, Kappl and Galtur. Ischgl is 100km to the west of Innsbruck airport. Ischgl ski resort report > Kitzbuhel / Kitzbuheler Alps Kitzbühel is celebrated for its World Cup Hahnenkamm races, but it has much more to offer including a wonderfully picturesque medieval walled town centre.

The Kitzbühel-Kirchberg region has 54 lifts serving 170 km of pistes and while the general skiing public happily wander onto the Hanhenkamm, they are unlikely to want to venture down the actual Streif run. Like St Anton, Kitzbühel has an impressive variety of linked ski areas, much improved since the construction of the big 3-S cable car linking the Hahnenkamm-Pengelstein area with the Jochberg - Resterhöhe ski region, enabling skiers and snowboarders to return from Pass Thurn to Kitzbühel on snow rather than by ski bus. There's also the stand-alone (but easy-to-get-to) Kitzbüheler Horn, with some exhilarating motorway skiing. Kitzbühel has long had to endure criticism that the resort is lower than most other resorts in the Alps and therefore vulnerable to low snow yields. Strangely, in this respect, the resort punches above its weight and seems to attract good snow even though some slopes are as low as 800m.

Kitzbühel also stresses that many slopes are pastures with few rocks, and so need less significantly less snow cover to create good ski conditions. Kitzbűhel is just 95km from Innsbruck airport. Kitzbuhel ski resort report > Mayrhofen / Zillertal Mayrhofen, near the end of the Ziller Valley, with slopes from 630-2500m, is a big, wide open ski area which stretches out on both sides of the valley, and enjoys the bonus of having one of Europe's best summer-skiing resorts, Hintertux (with slopes reaching 3250m), within fairly easy reach. The combined (but not linked) area is called Glacier World Zillertal 3000. Mayrhofen, with a main street that's predominantly pedestrianised, is a mix of Tyrolean-style chalets, and four-star hotels. The main skiing is high above the tree-line on the Penken, which rises way above the town and is reached by a large gondola in the centre of town.

There are links with the villages of Finkenberg and Lanersbach and the gentler slopes across the valley on the Ahorn. There are some 146km of prepared pistes on the Penken, Horberg, Rastkogel, Eggalm and Ahorn served by 41 lifts, with a further 86km and 20 more lifts at Hintertux (12 miles away). Austria's "steepest groomed run", the Harakiri, is one of the attractions. Mayrhofen is 74km east and south of Innsbruck airport. Mayrhofen ski resort report > Obergurgl / Otztal Obergurgl in the Otztal has some of the highest skiing in Austria. Obergurgl, at 1930m, is west and south of Innsbruck and is reached by going as far as you can up the Ötz valley, a 20-minute drive past Sölden. Obergurgl's sister resort Hochgurgl, even higher, at 2150m is largely made up of luxury ski-in ski-out hotels.

Obergurgl and Hochgurgl are linked by the 3.6km Top Express gondola - a journey of some nine minutes. Obergurgl's slopes - 110k served by 22 lifts - can be sub-divided into the main runs on the Festkogl, reached by gondola or quad chair, and the smaller Gaisberg area, topped by the infamous Hohe Mut. Not long ago, the region invested 25 million euros on three new 8-person gondolas. A new run down from the Hohe Mut gives skiers and boarders an easier alternative than the old ungroomed and often mogulled ski route. Obergurgl is to the west and south of Innsbruck and 97km from Innsbruck airport.

Obergurgl ski resort report > St Anton am Arlberg St Anton is arguably Austria's premier ski resort and the Arlberg (including St Anton, St Christoph, Stuben, Sonnenkopf, Lech and Zűrs) is among the greatest ski areas in the world with 260km of pistes skiing (from 1308-2811m) served by 85 lifts. With a really diverse cocktail of different ski areas all covered by the same Arlberg ski pass, St Anton is the liveliest ski resort in the Arlberg. There really is something for everyone, but without question, St Anton - with formidable mogul fields and masses of excellent off-piste - is best suited to strong intermediates and advanced skiers and boarders. This goes for the nightlife too. Ski hard, play hard is the resort's leitmotif. Raw beginners in both disciplines might be advised to make their debuts elsewhere. Nearby Lech and Zürs, across the Tirolean border in the Vorarlberg, also form part of the Arlberg and are covered by the same Arlberg lift pass.

St Anton is 96km west from Innsbruck airport. St Anton ski resort report > Seefeld Seefeld, north-west of Innsbruck, is one of the most picturesque of Austria's mountain towns. There are 32 lifts including 23 T-bars serving just 27km of slopes on two mountains. Apart from this small network of excellent beginner and intermediate slopes (there are more challenging runs too), Seefeld is famous for cross country skiing, and was the location for the cross-country skiing events in both the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, as well as hosting the 1985 Nordic World Ski Championships. It's often described as the cross-country ski capital of Austria, with some 240km of cross-country ski tracks. Seefeld has virtually no through traffic and is just 22km from the Innsbruck airport. Seefeld ski resort report > Solden / Otztal Sölden, where the European World Cup circuit kicks off every year, has excellent glacier skiing, a big vertical drop (1870m) and wonderful views across the Ötztal Alps.

With 85 bars, pubs, restaurants and discos, the après ski starts early and gets "pretty damn wild". There's 141km of pistes skiing for all levels served by 34 lifts, but skiers in search of long, fast runs will enjoy it most. An 8-person gondola on the Rettenbach glacier takes you to 3247m on the Schwarze Schneide ("Black Blade") enabling skiers and boarders to try the "The Big 3 Rally" - more than 10,000 vertical metres in around four hours of hard skiing. You can ski from one glacier to another through a tunnel 170 metres long - then take the route through Rettenbachtal to the base of the Gaislachkogl gondola, up again, and down to the bottom to conclude the tour - about 50km. Sőlden is situated to the west and south of Innsbruck and 83km from Innsbruck airport.

Solden ski resort report > Soll / SkiWelt Wider Kaiser-Brixental SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental in the Tirol, Austria is 279km of slopes (from 620-1890m) including the biggest night skiing area in Austria, 91 ski lifts, over 70 mountain restaurants and bars and more than 1,40 snow-making machines covering 85% of slopes. Skiing from resort to resort is one of life's great pleasures in the mountains, and there's plenty of scope for it in the SkiWelt. The Brixental valley links four celebrated Wilder Kaiser resorts of Sőll , Scheffau, Ellmau and Going with Itter, Hopfgarten, Kelschau, Westendorf and Brixen im Thale. From Hohe Salve (1829 m), you can look out across more than 70 peaks of 3,000 metres or more.

A single lift pass covers the entire Ski Welt Wilder Kaiser region or you can buy a 'Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard' lift pass which enables guests to ski the pistes in SkiWelt, the lift connected Kitzbühel-Kirchberg region and more with just one lift ticket. Sőll is 78km east of Innsbruck airport. SkiWelt ski resort report > Neustift / Stubaital Neustift in the Stubai valley is an unusually pretty village jwith its own small ski area - but its big selling point is providing access to the extensive Stubai Glacier in the Stubai Valley, between Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass to Italy. The glacier, with slopes between 2300 and 3200m, has some 24 lifts serving 110km of runs. It's ideal territory for intermediates and above, popular with snowboarders, and handy for national ski teams in need of slopes for race training in summer and autumn. Neustift in Stubaital is 28km south and west from Innsbruck airport.

The glacier ski area at the far end of the valley is 20km south west from Neustift. Stubaital ski resort report > Wildschonau / Ski Juwel Wildschönau is a mellow cul-de-sac valley with three ski areas - 65km of skiing served by 25 lifts - spread along six kilometres sharing a common lift pass, and a free ski bus goes to and fro between them. Niederau is the Wildschőnau's biggest and best-known ski resort village, with après-ski bars, hotels, restaurants, discos and late-night clubs. An 8-person gondola takes skiers to the local ski area (21km) where there is a choice of red cruising runs all the way back down, or a chance to cut across to Lanerköpfl, where a black run snakes steeply down. Beginners have a choice of nursery lifts in the village or the top of the gondola.

Auffach is a small village, but has Wildschonau's biggest and highest ski area (41km), now connected to the Wiedersberger Horn ski area (45km) above Alpbach and part of the new Alpbachtal - Wildschonau "Ski Juwel" region (130km) Between Niederau and Auffach is Oberau, a picturesque little village with a 6km ski area aimed mainly at beginners. Wildschőnau is 72km east from Innsbruck airport. Getting to the Tirol Innsbruck airport is the main gateway to the Tirol and its central location provides short, convenient transfers to ski resorts throughout the region. If flying from the UK, Easy Jet operate daily flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and twice weekly from Bristol and Liverpool. British Airways fly five times a week from Gatwick to Innsbruck and new for winter 2012-13, Monarch will fly to Innsbruck three times a week from Manchester. Transfers from Innsbruck airport to resorts like St.

Anton, Ischgl, Obergurgl, Mayrhofen, Alpbach, Wildschönau, Kitzbühel take approximately one hour. While resorts like Seefeld, Kühtai or Neustift can be reached within 30 minutes. Munich airport (Germany) is served by British Airways from London, Manchester and Edinburgh, Lufthansa from London, Birmingham and Manchester, EasyJet fly from Stansted and Edinburgh and Aer Lingus from Cork and Dublin. New for winter 2012-13 Monarch will fly to Munich from Leeds-Bradford, Luton and Birmingham. Transfer time from Munich to Tirol is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, Salzburg airport is served by EasyJet from Bristol, Liverpool, Luton, London Gatwick, Jet2 fly from Edinburgh and Manchester, Flybe from Exeter and Southampton, British Airways from Gatwick and Ryanair from Stansted. Salzburg is convenient for resorts such as Kitzbühel, Söll, Kirchberg, Westendorf, St. Johann and Ellmau in the eastern part of Tirol; transfer time approximately 1 hour.

Airport Transfers to Tirol Ski Resorts Four Seasons Airport Transfers Four Seasons Travel in Innsbruck provides a reliable airport transfer shuttle service to ski resorts in the Tirol from Innsbruck, Munich, Salzburg, Memmingen, Bolzano and Zurich airports. The range of transfer services includes shared airport shuttle, private transfers in minivans seating up to 8 persons and 19-50 seat coaches for groups and a first class limousine service. Four Seasons customer support includes 24-hour telephone response 365 days per year as well as easy and secure booking online. Kitzbühel Ski Resort - Kitzbühel Snow Report & Ski Lift Passes Transportation + Big names, ski pioneers and the high society – but also Tyrolean down-to-earthness, Gemütlichkeit and hospitality: these contrasts are what make Kitzbühel one of the greatest ski resorts in the Alps. Kitzbühel is even recognised as the “Best Ski Resort in the World” for 2013. With 51 cable cars and lifts, connecting 170 kilometres of ski slopes, Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel is one of the largest cable car companies in Austria.

In addition to the spectacular “Streif”, Kitzbühel trumps with a variety of ski runs suiting all sizes and ski styles. In fact, the vast and snow-reliable ski resort boasts an above-average number of family runs (69 km easy, 77 km intermediate, 24 km difficult). The “flagship” run is, of course, the Family Streif, which elegantly snakes its way around the extremely steep part of the downhill course, before returning to the original racing track at the Seidlalm, dodging the “Hausbergkante” ridge on the incline Ganslernhang and ends up back at the usual finish. Don’t miss out on the most spectacular lift in the world: the 3S-Umlaufbahn (tri-cable gondola). It spans the 2.5-kilometre wide and 400-meter deep Saukaser Valley between the mountains Pengelstein and the Wurzhöhe. Snowboarders and freeskiers will also find their perfect playground on the Resterhöhe.

The experienced QParks team lead by Franz Lechner is responsible for the setup of the Hanglalm Park as well as for the park on the Kitzbüheler Horn, including all kicker, rail, jib and tree lines, picnic tables and chill-out areas. Skiers and boarders keen to head off-piste will love Kitzbühel’s 200 km2 backcountry. Around the 32 kilometres of ski routes there are endless opportunities to ride through perfect deep powder snow. After dark, the 700-year-old “Old Town” with its typical après ski bars and pubs becomes the social hub of the world. Fashionistas will be in their element hopping between international designer addresses, from Bogner and Boss, Gucci, D&G and Moncler, to Prada and Louis Vuitton. And between them, classic Kitzbühel “fashion originals”, such as Sportalm, Frauenschuh, Franz Prader and Helmut Eder, add a traditional element to the vibrant collection. The “town of the chamois”, as Kitzbühel is affectionately known, is easily accessible by road and by rail.

From the airport cities Munich, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, it takes a maximum of one and a half hours by car to get to Kitzbühel. + The mountain Kitzbühel’s ski area has grown over the years into one of the world’s leading ski regions. There are two sectors immediately accessible from the town itself, with gondolas ascending from opposite sides of the resort to the stand-alone ‘natural snow paradise’ of the Kitzbüheler Horn on one side and the famous Hahnenkamm on the other – from which it is possible to ski onto neighbouring ski areas above Jochberg and Pass Thurn. You can quickly expand the ski area available to you by purchasing the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard pass and taking a short ride on the ski bus to neighbouring areas such as the Skiwelt (280km more piste) or the Schneewinkel at neighbouring St Johann (170km more piste), each just 10 minutes away, and all included on the pass which incorporates other areas too – more than 1,100km of piste served by 360 lifts altogether in fact.

Back on Kitzbühel’s local slopes, you’ll find 170km/60 pistes which are largely easy blues or intermediate reds, although there are more than a dozen blacks and 32km of marked off-piste routes so plenty to challenge experts too. Much of the terrain is below the treeline, but the 750 snow guns ensure snow isn’t a problem. Off-piste Kitzbühel is not known as one of the world’s leading powder destinations, but there are a myriad of off-piste opportunities if you know where to look. The off-piste above Pass Thurn is often the best in the area as it’s the highest sector which typically, if not always, means the best snow. The Steinbergkogel area is recognised as freeride terrain down to the Ehrenbachgraben and routes 90 and 33 from there are possible, although you need to take a bus or taxi from the bottom of 33 or it’s a long hike back. On the Hahnenkamm area there can be good tree skiing and often unpisted slopes near the Eggl lift.

There’s also a growing freeriding scene at the Bichlalm sector, once something of a Kitzbühel backwater, now offers some excellent powder field skiing served by a snowcat. Ski slopes Although Kitzbühel does have plenty of off-piste challenges, the vast majority of skiers here are not looking for that, but rather the groomed cruising terrain which the ski area offers in abundance. Indeed if you add Kitzbühel’s ski area to the SkiWelt, you get 450km of piste – 85 percent of which is made up of blues and reds that just go on and on, the longest of them a 7km descent. Buy the regional Kitzbuhel All Star pass and that volume of pistes doubles again with more similar neighbouring regions added. This excess of easy and intermediate graded runs, supported by state-of-the-art high-speed, high-capacity chairs and gondolas, and you get wonderful family-friendly skiing. Half a dozen different itinerary routes are offered by the tourist office to help you make the most of it all.

Bigger still, but suitable for most recreational skiers, the Ski Safari route which takes you on a 50km circuit (35km on pistes, 15km on lifts) around a huge ski area covering Kitzbühel/Kirchberg to Pass Thurn is a ‘must ski.’ Since the completion of the 3S gondola, no ski buses are required to make the full safari route. The route is suited to intermediate level skiers and above. But it’s not all easy and intermediate stuff on the pistes. There are 28km of groomed black runs including the infamous Streif (see Inside Scoop) of course, one of the world’s most famous runs, and its neighbour, used for classic World Cup slalom racing, the Ganslern slope. Children are not forgotten either, the wonderful Mini-Streif course at the base of the Hahnenkamm is a brilliantly designed combination fun ski run and obstacle course for the budding young downhill racer. It’s not to be missed. Park/Pipe: As with many leading resorts, Kitzbuhel has revised its snowpark over the years and has constantly invested in ever better facilities.

The original park on the Kitzbuhelhorn remains but its focus is now on providing a smaller provision for beginner and early intermediate level freestyle skiers and boarders. The resort’s main facility is now at the Hanglalm in Jochberg where the state of the art Snowpark Kitzbuhel contains lines for all ability levels right up to pro. Signature features include the giant Gap jump, not for the faint hearted. Along with lines of rails, boxes and kickers, there’s a popular ‘treeline’ using elements made of wood. An all-new sector was added to the park in 2011-12 adding beginner-to-intermediate level elements to broaden the park’s appeal. An active shape team work to keep the elements in top notch condition, under the guidance of park designer Franz Lechner. Kitzbühel Ski Area | 170 kilometres of groomed pistes Kitzbuehel Winterspot Best ski resort in the world 179 km of perfectly groomed slopes with varying degrees of difficulty, 36 km of ski trails, plus 56 romantic ski huts and lodges: this is the Kitzbuehel ski area.

There are 54 cable cars and ski lifts, operated by the Kitzbuehel Lift Company, the Bergbahn AG Kitzbuehel, which is the largest cable car company in Austria. 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Kitzbuehel was voted “best ski resort in the world”, by Skiresort.de, the world's largest test portal for ski resorts. The ski area has been extensively tested across 18 categories. Freeride Eldorado In Kitzbuehel, Freeriders will find an almost endless ski area. The easily accessible backcountry extends over the provinces of Tyrol and Salzburg and for decades has been a tip for deep snow and has many firm friends. Please respect the forest and wildlife sanctuaries! Freeriding in Kitzbuehel World famous „Streif“ The Streif is the most famous ski-run in the world. The Hahnenkamm downhill is the slope that every skier wants to tackle.

Find all details here 180 days snow safety In Kitzbuehel an average of 180 days of skiing is possible each season (please see graphic below). The Gamsstadt underlines its reputation as a snow sure winter fortress. In recent years, Kitzbuehel has been the first non glacial ski area in Austria to open for the winter season. In winter 2012/13 the number of possible ski days was 182, and that extended from November 1st, 2012 to May 1st, 2013, this was a new record in the 87 year history of the Kitzbuehel Lift Company, the Bergbahn AG Kitzbuehel. Did you know that the winter temperatures on the Hahnenkamm have not become warmer for more than 45 years? This is confirmed by the official weather data from the Republic of Austria (ZAMG). You can find more information here: Stars from the Austrian Ski team train in Kitzbuehel! The stars from the Austrian ski team are repeatedly drawn to Kitzbuehel in order to hone their skills in training camps held on its slopes.

Particularly popular at the beginning of the season is the snow sure Resterkogel in Pass Thurn. This is where the Austrians always go in October, setting up the gates for slalom training. The Ganslernhang, in Kitzbuehel, is used repeatedly by various national teams for training throughout the season. Fascinating Kitzbuehel ski history No other ski resort in the Alps can boast such a long and successful skiing tradition. Ski pioneer Franz Reisch, Ski superstar Toni Sailer and the legendary Karl Koller have shaped the development of skiing in Kitzbuehel since 1892. You can read more about this in our chapter, “ Kitzbuehel skiing history ." Free practice lifts in the valley Did you know that in Kitzbuehel the use of all the practice lifts in the valley is free? This is a wonderful opportunity for families, beginners and those who have not skied for a while.

The following practice lifts looking forward to serving you: Rasmusleiten (Kitzbuehel) Kitzbühel Ski Resort | Kitzbuhel, Austria View full report Kitzbuhel photo gallery Every January the renowned Hahnenkamm World Cup Downhill ski race is held at Kitzbuehl (Kitzbühel). This race attracts ski racing fans from all over the world and has a festive air and the kind of significance that compares to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona or Mardi Gras in New Orleans. So as long as you can handle large crowds and an excessive amount of partying, it’s a great time to visit Kitzbühel. The rest of the season, the town—and skiing for that matter—is much tamer. When bedecked in fresh snow, this Austrian Tyrol resort is a storybook winter wonderland complete with narrow streets, candles burning in the windows, and the constant jingle of bells on horse-drawn sleighs. Kitzbuehl’s Old World charm draws an elite international crowd that can be likened to the rich and famous that frequent Aspen or Vail–but at about half the cost.

This former silver mining town, which dates back 700 years, lies at 2,600-plus feet (or 800 meters) above sea-level, and features breathtaking scenery reminiscent of scenes from the Sound of Music. Non-skiers on a Kitzbühel ski vacation have plenty of activities to do, from ice-skating and curling, to exploring the area’s many winter walking trails, and of course, everyone will enjoy exploring the town’s charming streets and stopping in at the many upscale boutiques, galleries, restaurants and bars. Ski Kitzbuhel “Kitz,” as the locals call it, boasts a storied ski history. Over a century ago—in the winter of 1893—skiing began in Kitzbühel. Consistent northwesterly snow provides Kitzbuhel with a reliable snowpack from December to April, but because the bottom section of the resort is situated at 2,640 feet the snow conditions can be variable. However, investments of 250 million Euro over the last couple of years have improved that issue immensely.

Beginners and intermediates should not let Kitzbuehel’s status as host to the most difficult World Cup event intimidate them. The Hahnenkamm is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of Kitzbuehel’s terrain, in terms of difficulty. In fact, Kitzbuehel is considered an intermediate skier’s paradise. Visit this Tyrol winter wonderland this ski season. Have additional questions or ready to book? Our knowledgeable Mountain Vacation Specialists are standing by your for call, chat or email. Request A Group Quote From air, lodging and excursions to ground transfers, lift tickets and equipment rentals, We will manage all your trip components so you and your group can get the most out of your time playing in the mountains and building memories that will last a lifetime. Call Us At Kitzbuhel Ski & Snowboard Resort Review KITZBUHEL Ski & Snowboard Resort Review The picturesque town of Kitzbuhel, AUSTRIA is surrounded by magnificent peaks giving access to almost 360° of diverse skiing and snowboarding terrain.

Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain at Kitzbuhel Four skiing and snowboarding areas are covered by the Kitzbuhel Ski Pass; Hahnenkamm Area, Kitzbuheler Horn Area, Bichalm Area and Jochberg-Pass Thurn Area. The terrain is made up of endless long wide linking trails, massive open powder bowls and cliff bands, moguls, treed areas and fast race courses. All four areas are supported by a first class lift system. Hahnenkamm Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain The Hahnenkamm Area is the main skiing and snowboarding area beginning at the base of the Kitzbuhel Village. It lift links the neighbouring villages of Aurach, Jochberg and Kirchberg providing endless terrain options from 6,000 feet down to Kitzbuhel. Discover huge open powder fields around the upper Pengelstein area as well as mogul runs and long intermediate linked groomers. Beginner slopes are located on the lower areas of the mountain. With such a large amount of trails to choose from and the excellent snow conditions all levels can expect to improve their skiing and snowboarding skills in the Hahnenkamm Area.

Kitzbuhel tourism / Albin Niederstrasser Hahnenkamm Ski Safari at Kitzbuhel The world renowned 35km Ski Safari is a great way for intermediate and above skiers and snowboarders to explore the Hahnenkamm Area. Specific elephant symbol marked trails show the way with a vertical drop of 5,000+ feet. It is easy to follow and is possible to complete the safari loop in both directions without taking your skis or snowboard off. A recently added reservoir with a storage capacity of 180,000 cubic meters has enabled more snow making to take place across the entire resort with specific snow guns installed ensuring the Ski Safari route will have snow from season start to end. Hahnenkamm World Cup The Hahnenkamm area is home to the famous Hahnenkamm World Cup Downhill race on one of Kitzbuhel's most challenging piste’s The Streif. Strong intermediate level and above skiers can cover the same terrain as World Cup Downhill Course skiers.

Kitzbuheler Horn Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain The Kitzbuheler Horn Area is a fun area all levels of skiers and snowboarders with wide and fast trails just right for perfecting carving turns. The lower slopes have a large section designated for beginners, a children's ski school and kindergarten and a snow tubing run. The area is also a snowboarder’s paradise with a 450 meter Boarder X run a world class standard halfpipe and a giant snowboarding slalom course. Bichalm Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain The beautiful Bichalm Area rises from the edge of the neighbouring village of Aurach. It is an ungroomed paradise of off piste deep powder. A snowcat transports skiers and riders to the top from where they can choose their own route down. Experienced guides are available for hire in the area. Jochberg-Pass Thurn Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain The Jochberg-Pass Thurn Area is linked to the Hahnenkamm Area via the ski safari route. It offers extensive skiing and snowboarding options for intermediates and advanced and is often less crowded than the Kitzbuheler Horn and Hahnenkamm Areas.

The Zweitausender runs are very steep and great for off piste powder for those looking for a real challenge. Recent Lift Upgrades at Kitzbuhel The old Steinbergkogel Chairlift was replaced with a new high speed eight seater chairlift. The new detachable lift has protective bubble covers heated seats and covers the distance 4 minutes faster than the old chairlift. The Ehrenbachhöhe T-bar was replaced with a new Sonnenrastbahn Chairlift; a detachable six passenger chairlift featuring child safety devices. The new chairlift transports skiers and snowboarders up to the Ehrenbachhöhe intersection much faster than the old T-bar and without the long queues. New Ki-West eight passenger gondola was installed providing access to the Kitzbuhel Winter Sport Area from Skiwelt Westendorf. The gondola transports 1,600 passengers per hour over 3,056 meters in less than 10 minutes. New Panoramabahn Kitzbüheler Alpen eight passenger monocable circulating gondola was installed for the 2006/2007 winter season.

The gondola connects Hollersbach/Mittersill in the Salzburg region with the larger Kitzbuhel ski area. Night Skiing and Snowboarding at Kitzbuhel Every Thursday and Friday night from 6.30pm to 9.30pm Kitchberg has night skiing and snowboarding on the Gaisberg terrain. The on mountain restaurants stay open serving hot drinks and sweet snacks. On Mountain Restaurants at Kitzbuhel On mountain restaurants serve hot delicious goulash, schnitzels, pizzas, sandwiches and rustic Tyrolean fare. The large restaurant at Pengelstein has a self service cafeteria lunch room, a restaurant and an enormous scenic sun deck. It has a snow bar enabling you to stop and have a quick drink whilst still strapped into your skis or snowboard! Restaurant Hochkitzuhel at the top of the Hahnenkamm Gondola is open for breakfast and lunch. It also has 5 course romantic candlelight dinners in the evenings.

Restaurant Gipfelhaus at Kitzbuheler Horn at the top of the cable car has a large sundeck enabling you to soak up the scenic views whilst looking across the valley back towards the Hahnenkamm area. Other Activities at Kitzbuhel Off piste activities at Kitzbuhel include paragliding, hiking, snow shoeing, ice skating, curling and hot air ballooning. Indoor tennis, bowling and swimming is available at the Aquarena. Kitzbuhel has a thrilling 5km long tobogganing course at Kirchberg staying open until 10pm every night. Shopping at Kitzbuhel The cobbled streets in Kitzbuhel are lined with the latest designer clothes shops, jewellers, art galleries and antique stores. Specialty food stores and markets are scattered throughout the town as are many ski and snowboard shops. Intersport, Ober Sport and Sport Olympia are just a few ski and snowboard shops selling and hiring the latest equipment. Restaurants at Kitzbuhel Kitzbuhel has 100+ restaurants ranging from local Tyrolean fare to Italian, French, Chinese and Mexican.

Traditional Inns like Huberbrau serve delicious local meat specialties. The Italian restaurants seem to be the most popular serving pizzas and pastas, Bariqu Restaurant highly recommended. Fine dining restaurants Schwedenkapelle and Tennerhof serve excellent food and have top service. Restaurant Neuwirt in the Schwarzer Adler Hotel serving Tyrolean creative meals in a casual atmosphere was awarded a Michelin Star in 2005. Nightlife at Kitzbuhel There is no shortage of evening entertainment in Kitzbuhel. Choose from cocktail bars, English pubs, packed bars and nightclubs open til all hours of the morning. The Londoner Pub has live bands and is always packed from 6pm onwards. Sigi's Sports bar is very popular as is Mangoes staying open until 5am. Kitzbuhel has 3 discos with Club Take 5 the most popular. If you want to relax go to one of the quiet hotel bars for a cocktail and cigar or even test your luck on the roulette wheel at Casino Kitzbuhel. More About Kitzbuhel Write a Resort Review Emily Watson, USA. Spread over so much area the skiing in Kitzbuhel is hard to top.

I believe you could spend a season there and still not ski every part. It's surprisingly well maintained for a European resort with great grooming, reasonably fast chairs, long bump runs, a lot of off piste powder filled bowls as well as a great variety of trails for all levels of skiers. I really enjoyed being able to cover miles and miles of trails each day, on some mornings we would catch the bus to surrounding towns, like Kirchberg and spend the day making our way back to Kitzbuhel. I did manage to put on a few pounds though, the schnitzels you can buy for lunch are sensational, I ate so much food, pastries for breakfast, schnitzels and potato dishes for lunch and pasta and meat for dinner. It wouldn't stop me going back though, maybe I'll spend a little less time at the table and more on the slopes! Paula Kerdel, USA. Not only is it incredibly glamorous and oh so european, it's has some of the hottest nightlife of any resort I've been too. It kicks off with happy hour at 5pm, live bands, dancing and drunk english men, ending 10 hours later with the stagger back to your chalet!

Oh, the boarding is top notch too, you could fit about 2 1/2 Vails into the inbounds terrain. The accommodation really varies, there are back packer hostels, hotels, self renting chalets and condos, which is what makes it so great and I suppose so suitable for those on a shoe string budget and those who have no budget! The legendary Streif in Kitzbühel : Skiing in Tyrol click The Streif is the most spectacular downhill ski race track in the world. It brings the best skiers from every corner of the world together in an almost gladiator style fight for the honour of victory on the Streif. During the winter, before and after the race, the Streif is a public ski area and one can tackle the racecourse or the easier Family Streif, which offers two alternative gradients. In downhill ski racing, the Streif, is regarded as the ultimate challenge because of the diversity of its terrain. All the elements of a classic downhill course can be found on the Streif, high speed breathtaking jumps, steep slopes, flat out gliding sections, curves, compressions, spectacular bumps and even a short uphill section just before the Seidlalm jump. The Streif has it all.

Possible for every good skier The Streif can be tackled in winter by most intermediate skiers. The start house is opposite the summit station of the Hahnenkamm cable car. The famous sections such as the Mausefalle, Steilhang and Hausbergkante, are marked as “extreme ski routes” and are often in very icy condition. These sections are for expert skiers only. Family Streif The Family Streif is a special highlight for skiers and snowboarders . The extreme sections of the racecourse can be missed out giving the opportunity to negotiate the other sections of the racecourse on the descent back to the town, by following the “Red 21” on the Kitzbuehel ski map. No longer a completely closed piste! In the summer of 2010, alterations were made to the Streif, including the introduction of a section from the exit of the Steilhang to the ridge before the Seidlalm that runs parallel to the racecourse but higher up the mountain. This has made it possible to ski next to the Streif during the preparation work in January and during the race weekend.

Other key areas are still closed from around January 6th onwards for necessary race preparation but disruption is kept to a minimum. Weeks of work are required to prepare the course for the race. Snow must be transported to the right places and the terrain has to be corrected if necessary with additional snow. The entire track is then prepared, frozen and solidified, with safety and security fencing, provisions for television coverage, a public address system and other related work to allow the race to take place. Streif – The nickname The world famous Downhill cours e is named after the Streifalm , the meadow on the upper part of the course. In turn, the pasture was probably named after a farmer named Brixner “Straiff”. The Mausefalle jump was baptised by Toni Sailer Senior, father of the skiing superstar, because the section in question reminded him of an old wire mousetrap. Just like a mouse within the wire case, the downhill racers make their way down this steep slope following the jump. The Mausefalle has been in use since the early 1950’s. Technical Details of the Streif Start elevation

Question: The Hahnenkamm mountain and ski runs are part of which European ski resort?
Answer: KITZBÜHEL