STUBEN SKIING – PART OF THE ST ANTON, LECH-ZURS REGION

The skiing above Stuben is compact with a number of intermediate ski pistes that lead down to Stuben am Arlberg as well as Alpe Rauz, the point for buses to Lech-Zurs or the start of the St Anton ski area. In many ways, Stuben am Arlberg has some of the best access to the St Anton ski area. Just down the valley is Zurs, also reachable via Alpe Rauz and a short bus transfer - the skiing in Lech-Zurs really outstanding. The Stuben ski lift leaves from directly next to the church and the ski piste runs along the edge of Stuben.

STUBEN SKIING – POWDER, ALBONA AND HELI-SKIING

On paper Stuben relies heavily on its access to the St Anton and Lech-Zurs ski areas. They dwarf the Stuben ski area in terms of ski lifts and ski pistes but for those in the know, Stuben off-piste skiing is rated as the best in Austria and maybe the Alps. The snow record in Stuben is incredible, the region around Stuben gets more snow than any other location in Europe. Then three lifts out of Stuben and you are at the Albonagrat, a ridge that feeds endless off-piste routes back down toward Stuben. It is the length of the ridge and the variety of routes that makes Stuben the best out there for off-piste. Local guides are a must but even with the locals from St Anton, its instructors, those dodging work for a powder day in Stuben, all descending on the Albonagrat after new snow, there are endless routes to find fresh tracks. And for those wanting the ultimate, there is heli-skiing. The nearby ski holiday resort of Zurs is the only place (along with Lech) where heli-skiing is permitted in Austria. With its avalanche transceiver testing device in the resort centre, Stuben really is the off-piste capital of Austria.

HELI SKIING IN STUBEN

As well as the best off-piste skiing in the Alps on the Albona ridge, Stuben offers heli skiing from a heli launch site on the Flexen Pass. See our heli ski flight in March 2010 with friends from Stuben am Arlberg and a world champion powder skier.