Archive for the 'Innsbruck' Category
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!
March 21st, 2011 by matt
Aside from the altiports in the Alps such as Courchevel and Meribel, Innsbruck has to be the shortest airport transfer available? Innsbruck airport may not accommodate the Airbus A380 but any European flights are able to land, unlike the altiports which take anything from light aircraft to remote controlled versions. It is a genuine airport and is wonderfully compact. From pulling the skis off the carousel to getting a lift pass, via a collection or taxi rank then I think is possible in 20-25 minutes and that represents one, if not the best transfer from an international airport to the slopes that I know of. Take a look at it the other way round - you are on the slopes and can see your outbound flight arrive:
March 20th, 2011 by matt
Great powder day in Innsbruck - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
After the colder weather and snow last week the skies cleared today to give one of the best powder days in some weeks. At least 30cm of powder was on offer in Innsbruck and judging by the detonations that were taking place on the north side of the city they had as much if not more than the south side of the Innsbruck valley. My time up there was limited due to Josh being ill over the weekend but there were many lucky and happy people on the slopes today. Sunny and clear all week now according to the forecasts, see the video snow report from Innsbruck today:
http://www.vimeo.com/21272461
March 16th, 2011 by matt
After days of strong winds the weather pattern is changing and snow was falling on the slopes above Innsbruck this afternoon. The forecast is for snow from now until early next week which is really welcome given the sunny and dry conditions of the last couple of weeks. Traditionally this is a great period for snow in the Tirol so it is a relief that is has started falling. You can see the latest video snow report from the slopes above Innsbruck today:
March 12th, 2011 by matt
The third coming of the skigloo is now complete in the mountains above Innsbruck, Austria. The concept a couple of years ago was to create a place where likeminded skiers and snowboarders could enjoy an apres ski drink after the slopes. The location in pristine nature above Innsbruck along with a hand crafted igloo that required no snow cannons or mechanised construction is a great place to mix and reflect on life in the mountains. Free beer and schnaps are an added incentive to drop by 
Tomorrow will see the first party of the season in version 3 of the skigloo.
March 2nd, 2011 by matt
The third incarnation of the (in)famous skigloo is with us and we are provisionally looking at the 12th or 13th of March to welcome friends and strangers to an afternoon of temperance and salubrious apres ski. Located high in the back country of Axamer Lizum, Innsbruck we will be issuing a meeting point to those looking to join in on the apres ski in this impressive creation in an even more wonderful natural setting. It promises to be another epic meeting and we will give firm dates next week. See the completed exterior of the skigloo:
January 1st, 2011 by matt
Fireworks above Goetzens, Innsbruck - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
Fantastic weather greeted the fewer than usual numbers on the slopes over here in Innsbruck. The fireworks and festivities of the previous night decimated the queues at lift stations despite the wonderful blue skies and just below freezing weather. After the frigid conditions of mid/late December the weather is perfect for the holidaying masses right now with excellent snow and temperatures just below freezing in many resorts. Last night we had another great firework display with contributions from mountain huts dotted across the peaks - the explosions really looked spectacular high up above the valley. Snow is forecast for tomorrow and then cold, clear conditions for mid-week.
December 12th, 2010 by matt
Innsbruck in the valley below mutters - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
Not my most active on the mountain today but great all the same in Mutters, above Innsbruck. The Mutters ski area is really popular with local families from Innsbruck and offers modern facilities and easy skiing. Today and for the last few weeks it has also been offering great early season snow. I still haven’t got the bindings fixed on my sons’ skis so we were relegated to a bit of sled action around the top of the gondola - not an ideal workout given the calories I had consumed in the Muttereralm. Views down onto Innsbruck are always great from Mutters but whilst the blue sky contrast today was far from evident there was a great atmosphere to the weather. Snow fell all day and snow is forecast all week in the Tirol somewhere between intermittent, moderate and heavy depending on the ski location and the day - basically pretty good to varying degrees wherever your ski destination is!
December 5th, 2010 by matt
The weather charts are looking fantastically good for the coming week in the Tirol - 6 days of snow are forecast. Not entirely needed as the slopes resorts here are deep in snow but it is all welcome. But not great for the avalanche conditions with bulletins suggesting slab avalanches are likely this week on off-piste terrain due to drifting snow - all this in the first week of December! I guess the region is a victim of its own success with so much snow falling over the last few weeks. See the latest video snow report from the Tirol today:
December 2nd, 2010 by matt
Fading light, clouds and new snow create an impressive scene - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
Mid week at this time of the year really throws up some great skiing and snowboarding. The slopes and off-piste are often nearly deserted with very few holidaying at this stage of the winter. The results can be epic conditions. Fresh snow overnight brought around 20cm of new snow to Axamer Lizum and were it not for the incredible start to the winter then that would headline stuff. Deeper powder and more sun in previous days for sure but today was a great day to be in the mountains. The new snow and dramatic skies made for a great atmosphere and there is more snow set for the coming days in the continued cold temperatures. See the latest snow report:
November 27th, 2010 by matt
Taking it all in or cursing the delay - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
I am running short of superlatives to describe the start to this winter season. First the glaciers got hammered with snow from the beginning of September onwards and then the non-glacier resort over here in Austria, right on cue get cold temperatures and persistent snow that broke today to usher in winter 2010/11 in Axamer Lizum, the highest ski resort in the Innsbruck ski region. The pictures and video tell the story better than I can but in summary, cold conditions, blue skies and around 30cm of powder for the opening day today - epic start to the winter on my local hill. Before any jealousy sets in, I was there in a observers role, my wife is in London on a hen weekend and Josh my 18 month old broke his ski binding on his first ski earlier this month. So it was a buggy through a liftie’s office and onto the funicular to watch a top, top day of skiing. The karmic wheel has turned finally :).
This was an opening day that will be tough to beat - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
November 19th, 2010 by matt
Lots of snow coming down right now in Tirol with the snow level down to 800m around Innsbruck. I didn’t manage to get up to Obergurgl today but maybe on the weekend for some of their opening weekend events and some skiing in blizzard conditions! Yes the snow is set to fall all today with brighter weather tomorrow and then back to moderate to heavy snow on Sunday and into and all through next week. Those in need of vitamin D need supplements this coming week
November 17th, 2010 by matt
New snow in Innsbruck - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
Early season continues to offer some great snow conditions - the skies cleared today after a couple of days of snow and there was around 15cm of new snow at the base-station in Axamer Lizum. More fell on the peak but at the base-station the snow was heavy with sleet partly falling at that altitude. In the higher resorts and the glacier then the snow will have been excellent. No idea when the Innsbruck resorts are set to open, the say the end of November but many years when the conditions are good they open earlier. I think they may open for skiing this weekend but don’t book a flight based on that. The glaciers are all open and Obergurgl opens tomorrow - I was planning to visit but it might have to be Friday when low cloud and snow is forecast - there’s nothing quite like a white-out at 3000+m
See the latest snow report:
November 8th, 2010 by matt
View over to Axamer Lizum with around 4ocm of new snow - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
The mild and dry spell is behind us and there has been a good dump of snow in the Innsbruck area and further afield in Austria. I was up at Axamer Lizum today to check out the snow and there we had around 40cm of new snow by this afternoon with more forecast overnight and into tomorrow. Plenty of snow-clearing go on and a few ski tourers up there but generally quiet and really atmospheric. I did see a Bollywood production going on just below Axamer Lizum though to add a bizarre element to the alpine serenity:
‘You’ll freeze your ears off’ - image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk
See the latest snow report from Innsbruck:
October 26th, 2010 by matt
You don’t always envy them on the steep slogs up the mountain but the local ski tourers in Innsbruck had a 10/10 day today. Not a lift operator in site meant the hills around Innsbruck today were the exclusive preserve of the ski tourer. My one and only ski tour was to the Wildspitz, the highest peak in Tirol, on borrowed touring ski gear. Not sure I set any ascent speed records but I made it all the same in ill-fitting boots and on 20 year old skis. Personally I prefer speeding up the mountain on a lift to get the powder but you have to respect these people for getting to the peak under their own steam. Today though was their day of the season, you can see a short video of the snow conditions that they got:
