Two new challenges for skiers and snowboarders are among the many reasons to visit Ski amadé and the Salzburger Sportwelt says Hilary Everitt
Have you ever shivered on a freezing chair lift swinging around in a blizzard, maybe wishing you had stayed in the bar with a warming glühwein? More often than not, the seats are also cold and uncomfortable.
You are spared this experience in the delightful Ski amadé area in Austria’s SalzburgerLand. I was very impressed by the heated, plush executive-style seats on the two new chairlifts in Alpendorf where I was staying, but this was springtime, and with temperatures of 12°C and the sun shining down on me, I wondered whether it was time for them to switch off the heating, especially with energy bills soaring…
SalzburgerLand sits in mid Austria at the shoulder of the arm that borders Germany Switzerland and Italy. Alpendorf is a charming village at the eastern end of the Salzburger Sportwelt in the ‘JO’ ski area (St Johann in Salzburg). Its lifts, along with the new Panorama Link between Flachau/Wagrain and Flacaswinkel/Keinarl, have helped create Ski amadé, which makes up one of the biggest ski areas in Europe. It is now a network of 28 ski areas and towns offering 760km of ski runs.
Alpendorf is only an hour’s drive south from the airport in the stunning city of Salzburg. As the birthplace of the musician and composer Amadeus Mozart (Ski amadé is named after him), it is to be expected that there are references to the great man all over the neighbouring ski areas. The new ‘Flying Mozart’ in Wagrain gets you up to the Grießenkar peak at 1890m. Music is piped into the cable cars as you ‘fly’ up – shame it wasn’t a bit of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik or the famous and beautiful Queen of the Night aria from ‘The Magic Flute’. Think Ski amadé has missed a trick there!
All these excellent upgrades have enabled the area to produce a new challenge – the ’12 Peaks Trophy’. Each of the circa 2000m Peaks has a photo station, and you follow the map to tick each one off with a photo. The 46km course includes 30 lifts and 21 pistes, four of which are black. These, however, can be avoided, making the circuit available to all.
I decided to take on the 12 Peaks challenge on the last day of my trip. I started early hoping to make the most of the fantastic spring snow, but mother nature had other ideas and the rising temperature made the snow too slushy to complete the whole circuit. I did, however, bag six Peaks from Gernkogel to Grießenkar and it whetted the appetite to come back one day to conquer all 12.
As well as the 12 Peaks, there is also ‘The Challenge – ski your limit’ starting from the Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn area. Billed as one of the most demanding ski circuits in Europe, it includes 65km of slopes, 32 lifts and a 12,400 range of altitude. Strong skiers are expected to complete it in seven hours, excluding a lunch break. Another experience just waiting to be tackled. Watch this space…
The innovation and use of technology in Ski amadé is impressive. Around €30 million has been spent upgrading the lift system, with improvements such as the digital sign at the entry of the ‘Flying Mozart’ lifts that informs skiers which cable cars still have spare places, so singles and doubles can jump aboard which helps prevent long queues.
During my trip I skied with Manfred Pümpel, a guide from Skischule Alpendorf. The man is hilarious and brilliant. A former downhill racer and freestyle skier who has made a big impression over the years, Manfred’s biggest compliment came from the Polish Ski team who said he was ‘the best instructor and the best skier’ they had come across! The Skischule Alpendorf guiding team includes the equally marvellous Elfi Gruber. It’s worth seeking them out to guide you if you are staying in Alpendorf as they really will add to your experience on the slopes.
My stay in the village was also enhanced by The Oberforsthof 4* hotel which even has its own Lamas for après ski entertainment.
Mozart is of course famous for his music, but it is another famous name and modern-day hero from the world of skiing who is helping to promote Flachau, another resort in Ski amade. The village is the home of the great Austrian racer Herman Maier, aka The Herminator. His name appears frequently, and he even talks to you in the ski lifts over the PA telling you about the area. The Maier family runs one of the ski schools, a Racing Academy, as well as Crazy Teens courses for teenagers.
Salzburger Sportwelt is a stunning area offering an abundance of beautiful pistes snaking through the trees. There is still masses of skiing and snowboarding opportunities in the springtime, but earlier in the season, when it’s colder, you can make full use of those executive heated seats on the chairlifts. You may even bump into The Herminator. And if you want something more demanding, make sure you attempt the 12 Peak Trophy or ‘The Challenge’. I’m definitely going back to tick these ‘must-dos’ off my ski list and take advantage of that extensive off piste.
TRAVEL FACTS
Hils Everitt visited Skt. Johann in Salzburg, Austria, as a guest of the SalzburgerLand Tourist Office salzburgerLand.com and the Skt Johann in Salzburg Tourist office josalzburg.com
She stayed at the Hotel Oberforsthof: oberforsthof.at
CLICK BELOW for info on other activities:
- Family Activities for more details CLICK HERE
- Ladies week – 18-25 March 2023 – (open to all genders; buy one Lift pass and 2nd is free of charge), For more details CLICK HERE
- Via Culinaria Oberforsthof Alm and Hotel Oberforsthof feature on the ‘meat lovers pathway’ For more details CLICK HERE
Categories: Austria