Yes, it’s that time of the year again when we fish out our furry boots and become amateur meteorologists in the hope there will be a decent covering of the white stuff, because one thing sure to ruin a wintery holiday is no snow. One place where you don’t need to worry about snowfall, during winter and that is; The Kitzbuhel ski area in Tyrol, Austria. This place is as powdery as it will ever gets, with an average 180 days of snow a year, making it the country’s first non-glacial ski area.
Situated along the river Kitzbuheler Ache, this picturesque valley town is a winter fortress, with skiing taken place here since1893. Most years, it cements its reputation as a snow trap that lasts from autumn well into spring. A good winter season can give you over 190 ski days.
The Kitzbuhel resort consists of 179km of perfectly groomed slopes, with varying degrees of difficulty and 36km of ski trails, serviced by 54 cable cars and ski lifts. The terrain is varied but caters well for intermediates, with runs seemingly going on forever. There’s even half a dozen practice lifts in the valley foe free – perfect for families, beginners and those who have not skied for a while. If you prefere to walk, winter walking is catere for, with over 1,000km of trails in and around the area.
The snow park KitzSki is a meticulously crafted paradise for freestyle snowboarders can get creative on a total of 12 kickers, three rails, 12 boxes, five jibs, two tubes or one special feature.
Freeriders will find an almost endless ski area. The easily accessible backcountry extends over the provinces of Tyrol and Salzburg and for deep snow among the power hounds.
But there is one piste that puts Kitzbuhel on the map. If you’ve heard of the resort before, it’s probably become of the Streif, maybe the most famous ski run in the world. The Hahnenkamn downhill is the slope that every skier wants to tackle and is the scariest downhill on the World Cup Circuit.
Off the slopes, this medieval silver-mining town, with its multi-coloured facades, buttressed walls and chocolate-box churches, is like something out of a fairytale. This is one of Europe’s prettiest ski resorts, without question. Traditional inns rub shoulders with five-star hotels, providing accommodation to suit all. Austria is, of course, also famed for its après ski, and Kitzbuhel doesn’t disappoint.
There’s a lot going on after dark in this town, with a vibrant nightlife every night. This being Austria, drinks don’t mean you’ll need to flog your skis just to buy a beer; compared to other resorts you could even say it’s reasonable, if you know where to look.
The Londoners pub is a great place for the budget conscious and can get pretty raucous at night, while for those still standing, head to the nightclub Club Take Five.