Altogether, it adds up to a mouthwatering 56,800 acres of terrain. Other lines are to be found in hidden valleys, such as the Saukaser. Some of it dives off to the sides of the piste network – such as the wonderful Blaufeld run, which starts at the Steinbergkogel, and drops down to the little village Aurach bei Kitzbühel. What’s more, when there’s fresh snow on the ground, experts who hire a guide will also discover an extraordinary amount of off-piste skiing. You may well find yourself breaking into song.Ĭheck out our feature, Secrets of the Kitzbühel piste map, for more details on how to get the most from the pistes. Haybarns are scattered amongst the pastures, and even when the area is covered in a thick blanket of snow, the scenery is very Sound of Music. Kitzbühel’s ski area is spread over several “mountains”, none of which is especially high (the highest is 2000m), and all of which are thickly wooded on the lower slopes. If conditions are good, it’ll be a refreshing one. But if you’re used to the high and hoary resorts of France, such as Tignes, Les Arcs and Chamonix, you’ll find Kitzbühel quite a change. It’s a diverse area that will suit intermediates best – and (if the snow’s good) off-pisters too. The potential for skiing huge distances here is enormous – almost on a par with the Three Valleys. Kitzalps Allstar liftpass covers 10 different ski areas – including the SkiWelt resorts, Zell am See/Kaprun, and the Wildschonau and Alpbach – and a total of 356 lifts and 1087km of piste. Plan a midwinter trip for the best chance of soft, grippy, top-to-bottom snow.īear in mind that there’s also a lot more skiing nearby if you want it. But the lower slopes are susceptible to thaws. Admittedly, this means it doesn’t need much snow to cover the pistes – because the underlying hillsides are grassy and rocky. Kitzbühel is rather low for a modern resort. In other words, then, Kitz is a wonderful destination for those with healthy holiday budgets, who want some proper mountain heritage – without having to ski like Franz Strobl themselves. But there’s no denying that, for many of its guests, the sense of comfort on offer here is at least as important as the skiing. Meanwhile its pistes are, for the most part, flattering rather than frightening.Īdmittedly, away from the groomed snow, there’s an ocean of off-piste to be explored – 56,800 acres of the stuff, in fact, making it one of the unsung heroes of the powder-skiing world. Its pretty, pedestrianised streets are lined with luxury hotels and upmarket restaurants and boutiques, and its slopes dotted with charming mountain restaurants. This former silver-mining town, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Wilderkaiser mountains, is one of the softies of the skiing world. Aside from the Hahnenkamm, Kitz is a pussy catīut the funny thing is, the Hahnenkamm isn’t really what Kitzbühel is about. Such is the excitement generated by the race, that it sets off a bacchanalian frenzy among the spectators. During race weekend (on the third weekend in January) over 25,000 people book into hotels and B&Bs around the resort. The inaugural 1931 race was won by a Brit, Gordon ‘Mouse’ Cleaver, but Franz Strobl’s winning time in the 1997 Hahnenkamm downhill has yet to be beaten. Everyone who completes the course is considered a hero. This extraordinary 3.3km descent, which drops through 863 vertical metres – on a slope that at one point reaches 85 degrees – is the single most exciting race on the World Cup calendar. If you’ve ever watched the Hahnenkamm on TV, you’ll understand why Kitzbühel holds a special place in the hearts of ski-racing fans. 5.2 Great food on the mountain, and bags of atmosphere.4.9 Best Western Premier Hotel Kaiserhof.4.7 A stone’s throw from the Vorderstadt.3.1 Plenty of opportunities for off-piste after a fresh snowfall.
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