Dec. 10, 2009

I personally rate alongside the Arlberg as the best ski region in Austria. It is very different to the Arlberg and very varied. The fundamentals are there – skiing to over 2500m, the biggest ski region in the Zillertal Valley and varied lift linked ski holiday resorts. The variety of the resorts is superb, Zell am Ziller is an authentic working town, Gerlos an après ski resort in a great setting, Konigsleiten is a wonderful ski-in, ski-out chalet resort and Hochkrimml has a ski-in, ski-out family friendly ski area. Today I skied the Zell am Ziller section, the links into Gerlos and the rest of the Zillertal Arena open on Saturday. Snow conditions on and off-piste were really great and the skies were incredibly dramatic with the new weather systems bringing snow rolling in over the northern Alps with layers of blue sky intermingled. All in all a great day and good to be back on skis in the Zillertal Arena – it is a top, top ski area. I should be back there tomorrow for the Gerlos ski opening – DJ Moped will be staring – no idea what randomness he will bring to the party but it should be entertaining!