Austria

Austria borders many countries, such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, which may go some way to describe just how diverse and friendly it is. Austria has three main ski areas, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg. Tyrol is the most popular of the three with resorts such as the St Anton, Ischgl, Kitzbuhel and Mayrhofen located there. Salzburg is the next most popular with other resorts such as Zell am Zee, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Bad Gastein and Kaprun located within the region. And finally Lech and Zurs and Stuben are part of the Arlberg ski area can be found in the Voralberg region.

Austria despite being further away from the UK then France is actually relatively easy to reach, with such International airports as Munich, Zurich, Salzburg and Innsbruck all within a few hours of a major ski resort. The rail network also provides an excellent and efficient journey to many ski resorts, and example of which is St Anton, which has for many years has had its very own train station in the centre of the resort. Austria has many ski destinations which provide a variety of skiing ranging from easy blues to off piste routes; however Austria also has many glaciers providing a considerable amount of summer skiing too. The Solden, Kitzsteinhorn and Hinterlux glaciers are a prime example of these.

Austria for a century has provided Europe with some top skiing destinations. St Anton deemed by many as one of the most vibrant and exciting resorts in Europe is very popular with the British ski market. One of the most resounding qualities of the resort is its après ski scene, bars such as the Mooserwirt, Taps and the Krazy Kanagaroo are three are the most popular and with good reason. Après Ski despite being a French phrase has very much been adopted by the Austrian’s, Ischgl which grabs many headlines during the season hosts its very own outdoor festival at the end of the season which has seen the likes of Elton John and the Killers perform in the past. Mayrhofen, another popular destinations with the British ski market and après ski enthusiasts alike, plays host to the Annual snow-bombing festival. A festival which offers a very unique clubbing experience in the mountains. Over the years the festival has seen a variety of popular music acts such as Mylo, Madness and Prodigy and Fat Boy Slim... “A World Class Electronica Showcase in the Snow” the organisers have called it.

Apart from the effervescent music and après ski scene which Austria has been accustomed to, the nation also boasts some of the best alpine skiing in World. Austria is a nation which has produced some of the finest talents in the business; Hermann Maier and Annemarie Moser-Proll have won many Olympic titles and are considered to be two of the best skiers of all time. Overall Austria is 5th in the all time winter Olympics medal count and has won more alpine skiing world cups than any other nation (both individually and nationally).