January 27th, 2012 by matt
When St Anton am Arlberg has a January snow pack of 5.2m forecast snow is hardly needed - yet the incredible winter of 2012 rolls on. With barely a white patch of mountain but for the glacier areas at the start of December, it has been almost weekly heavy snow systems that have been rolling in across Austria. 5.2m is basically a male adult standing on the head of another with a third on top of the second - confusing maybe, but what it means is that at current rates is that in St Anton and most of Austria you won’t need to worry about catching an edge on a rock until mid summer. There have been building collapses in the northern Austrian Alps due to the snow and these units weren’t built to beach hut specs. This really has been a remarkable 8 weeks of winter in Austria. To what extent this heralds future weather patterns is unclear but after a record breaking dry period in November the heavens have opened to dramatic effect and there seems no let up.
January 15th, 2012 by matt
With blue skies, frigid temperatures and still masses of powder to tackle the conditions in Kitzbuhel today were some of the best that will be found all winter (probably). The snow pack in some areas was really mind blowing and whilst wind has played a role in drifting it into big slabs these sections in some places were 4 metres or more high. The Hahnenkamm race piste was looking immaculate and all fenced off and ready to deliver the epic race. One worrying blot on the horizon is the next snow front which is due to arrive for the men’s training day on Thursday, dump heavily on Friday for the super G day and carry on into race day on Saturday. Anxious organisers will start the sleepless nights as this system approaches - everyone else will be revelling in the continued epic snow conditions that arrived early December and haven’t left since. A quick snow report from today in the Kitzbuhel ski area:
January 10th, 2012 by matt
So the 5 day storm has basically run out of steam at a time when the snow base at the Galzig mid-station in St Anton is a stunning 5 and a half metres. Little wonder that several of the 5 Arlberg resorts were completely cut off in the last week - 5 metres is taller than many of the buildings in the area! And the astonishing thing about the 545cm snow depth is that it was essentially 0cm until very late November - the snow, certainly since mid December has been absolutely relentless and in the last week the snowfall has been staggering!
January 7th, 2012 by matt
With 120cm of snow already having fallen across Austria since Thursday and with a forecast 80cm of further snow to fall over the coming 2 days, Austria is in the grip of an epic winter storm. Roads and railways have been closed, whole resorts in the Arlberg have been cut off and for those on the slopes there have been banks of snow that defy belief. All a far cry from mid November when the lush alpine grass was all too evident, the current issue for the resorts is getting people in and out of the resorts and when in the ski area, allowing them access to the lifts and mountain huts that are barely visible under the snow. For the record it is once again Austria that is baring the brunt of this winter storm - confirming (as if it was ever needed) that Austria is the snow capital of the Alps.
January 5th, 2012 by matt
After the all too dry autumn, the winter has really arrived in the last month and the snow has been relentless with some great conditions on offer for those skiing or snowboarding in Austria over Christmas / New Year. Already there have been avalanche 4 warnings right across northern and western Austria and whilst the snow fall of the last month has been impressive we are currently entering a winter weather system that is predicted to cut of whole valleys such is the scale of the forecast snow falls. The system that arrived today is set to leave very significant snow accumulations across the entire region and is set to last right into next week. Without trying to pre-suppose too many downsides there could well be travel chaos on the roads this weekend as the busiest week of the tourist calendar draws to a close in Austria and the masses will be exiting the valleys. It is fair to say that heavy traffic should be soothed by the snowy experience of the previous week - November looked grim, mid December onwards looked very, very good.
December 29th, 2011 by Saalbach local
When the snow falls it doesn’t get much better than pre season skiing. We have spent the last few days on the slopes of the Ski Circus and the snow has been nothing short of perfect. The lift passes are at the much cheaper pre season price, we have not queued once even at the busiest places and the our favourite seats are free at the mountain huts. The best thing of all has been taking our son who is 7 to snowboard school. Again the prices are lower as its pre season and he signed up for a class that no one else signed up for so he is in a group of 1 which is basically private tuition for the week for the price of a class. High season there would be another 7 kids with him. We have seen this happen in low season Jan with couples turning up for ski school to find they are the only 2 in the class.
We had blizzard conditions here on Saturday and snow each days since. There is also snow forecast until Christmas day including heavy showers. For anyone coming to Austria in the near future I don’t hunk there will be too much of a snow drought. Standing on the top of the mountains you can see a very white Salzburgerland in one direction and a very snowy Tirol in the other.
December 12th, 2011 by matt
With the inaugural Youth Olympic Games all set for January in Innsbruck, Austria there could be some big stars of tomorrow flying the flag for the UK. One of those is freestyle skier Katie Summerhayes from Sheffield, England. Busy in preparation right now we caught up with Katie for a short online Q&A to get her feedback on how she has got where she has and what she is expecting from the YOG’s in Innsbruck 2012.
Katie Summerhayes
Q | How long have you been involved in skiing?
A | I have been skiing for 10 years now and been doing freestyle for 7 years!
Q | What got you hooked?
A | I just loved everything about it, the adrenaline rush, making new friends and seeing the mountains everytime I get the chance to go away!
Q | Favourite thing about skiing?
A | Being about the travel the world, meet new friends and spend time with my friends doing what I love doing!
Q | Least favourite thing about your life on the snow?
A | Having to catch up and do all my school work when I am away I say is the worse thing!
Q | Favourite resort?
A | Im in Breckenridge, America at the moment and I have to say I love it here so much!
Q | Describe your ideal day from breakfast to apres ski?
A | Have a good breakfast, go straight out skiing for a couple of hours solid training! Have lunch then go freeskiing for a couple of hours! Chill with friends during the night and watch a good film, have an early night ready for the next day!
Q | What are you competing in at the Innsbruck YOG?
A | In the YOG, I will be competing in Halfpipe. I am so excited, I really cannot wait!
Q | How is the preparation going?
A | Preparation is going amazing, trying to get as much as possible in so I can give it my all!
Q | Excited or nervous before a competition?
A | Bit of both really!
December 8th, 2011 by matt
After the heavy snow of the last few days the Mayrhofen ski area opened today with the Ahorn cable car ferrying skiers and snowboarders up to the fresh powder that has fallen over the last few days. The Penken side of the Mayrhofen ski areas is set to open in the coming days. With almost a metre of snow falling over the Arlberg in recent days then Austria is very much ready for the early season visitors. Clouds, sun and snow are all forecast for the coming week in varying degrees depending on location but Kitzbuhel is set to see further snow on Saturday.
December 6th, 2011 by Saalbach local
What an amazing day this is - still fairly green at 8am and now in Saalbach and Kaprun there is a really decent dump. Add that to what the snow cannons have laid down and I think we are going to be good to go. One lift is already open in Hinterglemm ahead of the official opening. Friends on the mountain have been posting pictures of their kids more than knee deep in snow. There is also more forecast which is good as we plan to be on the snow next week. Needless to say there has been a lot of celebrations with hotels sending out mail shots today on the snow conditions. Salzburgerland has another couple of days of decent snow this week. I think I’d better get the snow shovel and auto socks ready for the car. Winter has arrived !
December 1st, 2011 by matt
After a November that can best be described as mild to reasonably cool, very sunny and very, very dry, then the arrival of December is bringing winter fully back to earth with heavy snow set to hit the west of Austria from this weekend onwards. Records for lack of precipitation have been smashed in the Tirol in November with possibly not a millimetre of rain, snow or anything else falling out of the sky for the entire month. It hasn’t prevented Obergurgl and Ischgl from opening on schedule but I am sure that they are as relieved as anyone by the weather charts. Over the weekend resorts such as Ischgl, Solden, St Anton and Kitzbuhel are set for a period of heavy snow that will have a slight interlude before the snow returns early next week. We are very likely be announcing the first flake as soon as it leaves the cloud so keep checking back.
November 30th, 2011 by Saalbach local
One of the most beautiful things coming up to Christmas is visiting one of the seasonal markets. I love going to Salzburg, drinking gluhwein and browsing the seasonal stalls. If you are taking children a visit to the Marionette Theatre is particularly atmospheric at this time of year - it backs onto the wonderful Mirabelle Palace and Gardens. Children never forget the magical puppet shows with have to be experienced - the puppets are incredibly intricate and the puppet masters make them move so realistically. I met the manager of the theatre in September and spent some time talking about its history - its a wonderful gem in Salzburg in terms of the performances and architecture.
Not sure what you will be doing on Christmas day itself ? We will be sitting in an Austrian Spar and heading next day up to the Glacier in Kaprun. In Austria the businesses all close on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas day meaning that you can go out for a meal and to the Spar on Christmas day itself. Families all celebrate on Christmas Eve and its worth noting shops and most bars will be shut. Traditional Christmas dinner in Austria is Carp and Sacher Torte - a bit of a difference from our standard bird and Christmas pud.
I can honestly say that there is nothing more atmospheric than Christmas and the build up in Austria.
November 27th, 2011 by matt
After a month-long period of blue skies and sun and a complete lack of rain or snow, the cycle seems headed for a welcome end over the Austrian Alps with snow forecast in Kitzbuhel in the east and Ischgl and St Anton in the west. It hasn’t been the temperatures necessarily over the last month that have been despairing, more the dryness of the conditions - the sun has been warm but generally the air has been cool. The problem though has been the relentlessly dry conditions, with no part of the Alps spared. Luckily for Austria the glacier skiing takes place on 8 glaciers and these benefitted from some great early autumn snow so have been offering some great skiing. All of them will be welcoming a top-up for sure, from cloud laden skies. Forecasts are conflicting at the moment but all agree that Friday / Saturday should see a decent dump, others are identifying Wednesday as another day due to bring snow.
November 24th, 2011 by matt
Some kudos but I am sure that they would happily replace that with some snowflakes - Obergurgl in Austria opened on time and has ski pistes running back to the resorts thanks in part to some early season snow and a larger part due to the snow cannons that pump out artificial snow. Temperatures have been milder than average over the autumn but hardly balmy in Austria, rather it is the incessant dry weather that has dominated for many weeks now that has delayed the season opening for many big name resorts in France and Switzerland including Davos / Klosters which has just announced a delay. Ischgl in Austria is set to open on schedule tomorrow and so long as you aren’t looking for off-piste heaven then the piste skiing really should be ok. We had friends on the Kaunertal Glacier this week and they had a great time with groomed pistes and bright sunshine. Quite when the weather will break is not known but it just has to be soon - it is time for some grey threatening skies after all this tanning weather!
November 12th, 2011 by matt
Our parent company Jagged Horizons ltd. has launched a corporate ski events portal this month offering the promise of ‘Affordable, Inspired, Excellence’ in the Alps. Building on the knowledge that we have gained over many years operating across the breadth of the Austrian ski market - www.jaggedhorizons.com will offer ATOL protected corporate ski trips primarily to Austria but also Switzerland and France and for those looking for something really different - destinations in Hokkaido, Japan. With most attention focused on Austria the new venture is promising to deliver affordable options for corporate and ski groups that do not compromise at all on quality…..just no silly 1850 prices! The message seems to be getting out there to the wider market and it is certainly something our clients have long experienced - Austria can rarely be beaten or even matched on price without making serious compromises in quality.
Corporate ski trips from Jagged Horizons
Inspired programmes for groups are core to the new offering with venues chosen to match the corporate needs - castles to launch new products, ice caves to entertain, 3000m+ huts to brain storm and some of the best alpine events anywhere as backdrops to corporate hospitality - whatever the needs there is an activity / venue mix to make the absolute best of the trip time. And being Austria the delivery promises to be excellent from the arrivals lounge through to the departures lounge and everything in between from the deepest snow in the Alps to the best apres ski on the planet. Resort reviews and guides on our blog and website are based on experience - our © credit in the corner of our images means we have been to, skied and sampled what is on offer in a destination - we know these resorts and think we can provide unrivalled corporate and group ski trips to Austria.
November 10th, 2011 by Saalbach local
I was back in the UK and part of the world record breaking ski chain yesterday at the Chill Factore in Manchester. There is nothing like beating a world record with a bunch of fellow skiers on a Wednesday morning - it proved to be far more difficult than most people thought and we only made it on the last attempt.
Following the event we all had hot drinks and snacks in the bar and as ever talked about skiing. The vast majority of people there love Austria and ski there regularly which was great to hear - without fail they all had good things to say about it. The good value skiing, great terrain, glaciers and apres ski seemed to be the right mix for the enthusiastic skiers. The lovely thing about the record attempt was the people taking part - some were young students and had learnt to ski at school some had been skiing 40 or so years. Just reminds me of the wide appeal that both Skiing and Austria have.
Oh yes and a big well done to all my co record breakers.
