Imminent opening of Austrian ski resorts – what 09/10 has in store?

In last couple of years I have spent a good deal of time out of Austria, skiing in Japan, Andorra, Switzerland and France. This winter I have 2 trips planned for Switzerland and Italy and the rest of the time it is going to be Austria. So winter 09/10 in Austria – well it has got off to a great start, the conditions on the Austrian glaciers have been excellent and better than anything else in the Alps. As well as skiing my local areas in Innsbruck I will be spending a good deal of time in the Zillertal Arena. I only discovered this ski region in the last couple of winters but it really is one of the very best. The Zillertal Arena is the biggest ski region in the Zillertal Valley has an impressive top height of 2500m, almost 2km vertical down to Zell am Ziller and has Gerlos, the ski-in, ski-out resort of Konigsleiten and a great beginners ski area at Hochkrimml. As I mentioned I will be there a good deal this winter. I am also planning an early heli ski with friends from Stuben am Arlberg – it was something we had organised last winter but ran out time. I am really looking forward to skiing the Arlberg in December before the crowds arrive. Injuries aside I will be skiing right through to June and will be introducing my son Josh to snow sports before his 1st birthday. Our piste view project is going to take a good deal of time up this winter in the sunnier months but should be a great project to develop. I cannot see any announcements yet but I am hoping my local ski hill at Axamer Lizum will open this weekend – if so a few leisurely runs and a couple of beers to celebrate as I run into the old faces that I haven’t seen since April. Not sure if we go for skigloo V2 - lots of fun last winter but time is scarce - we will see.

Our skigloo from the 08/09 season, the tranquil exterior belies its health ruining propensities – image © www.skiingaustria.co.uk