SKIING AUSTRIA
WHERE A SKIER'S HEART BEATS FASTER
Anyone who talks about skiing in Austria must also talk about Sölden. The ski area at the heart of Ötztal is one of the best and most spectacular in the whole country! Here you will find out why.
Big, bigger, BIG3
Let's start with a few numbers: There are 144 slope kilometers for every taste within the Sölden ski area. More than 30 mountain gondolas and lifts are waiting for you so that you can hit the slopes as fast as lightning - including the two currently most powerful feeder gondola lifts in the world, which can transport over 8100 people per hour up to Giggijoch or Gaislachkogl. Extra bonus: Thanks to the glacier ski area, comprising the two glaciers of Rettenbachferner & Tiefenbachferner, you can improve your ski turns in Sölden from the end of September to the beginning of May.
Offering the BIG3, Sölden is Austria’s only ski area to have three peaks higher than 3000 meters that are easily accessible by mountain lift. Plus breathtaking viewing platforms. The highest peak is Schwarze Schneide, which attracts skiers to Rettenbach Glacier - with a downhill run of around 15 kilometers. Therefore, it’s not only one of Sölden's longest slopes, but also one of Austria's longest top-to-bottom ski runs. If you improve your turns here, you will have an altitude difference of almost 2000 meters. This is what skiing in Austria stands for!
ENTERTAINMENT AWAY FROM THE SLOPES
At some point, even the most motivated skier must take a well-deserved break. And this pause is more than impressive in Sölden, the Heartbeat of the Alps. In the year 2015, the James Bond movie "Spectre" was filmed in the ski area of Sölden. The world’s unique 007 ELEMENTS James Bond Adventure World inside the peak of Gaislachkogl at over 3000 meters altitude, sets a monument to this agent's adventures and leads through 9 different (mostly underground) halls into the realm of the most famous secret agent in the world. Absolutely worth seeing, not only for James Bond fans! Special tip: Right next to the James Bond Adventure World you will find the ice Q gourmet restaurant, where guests not only enjoy top-class cuisine but also get a taste of the film. The modernly staged building acted as a film shooting location for the 007 movie.
ON YOUR TOBOGGAN, GET SET, GO
If you want to swap two skis for two speedy runners, you have the opportunity to do so on Sölden's toboggan run. The fun-packed Sölden-Gaislachkogl toboggan run, easily accessible by mountain gondola, takes you safely down to the valley floor on 7.3 kilometers – it ranks among the longest toboggan runs in the country.
BOOK YOUR SKI HOLIDAY ON soelden.com
On soelden.com you can organize your absolutely snow-sure ski vacation quickly and conveniently: no matter if you are looking for accommodation, ski tickets or bookable activities, everything is in one place here. In our comprehensive accommodation list, you will find over 580 lodgings in all categories. Even guaranteed at the best price and with cancellation guarantee up to 48 hours prior to arrival (depending on accommodation).
You can book your skipass online in advance and save up to 22 percent compared to the regular ticket price. Of course, there are also perfectly matching adventures and activities bookable online in our Adventure Shop – from ski lessons and rental equipment to fondue evenings.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUSTIONS
Ötztal as Tirol's longest side valley offers a multitude of skiing opportunities in no less than 6 ski areas and 2 glacier ski regions. Hundreds of immaculate slope kilometers are waiting for ski enthusiasts. Early birds can already make their first turns on snow at Sölden's glacier in autumn. You can find all details about the Sölden glacier ski area here.
Thanks to excellent infrastructures and state-of-the-art mountain lifts, Sölden has become an internationally renowned winter sports center always on the pulse of time. This is precisely why Sölden kicks off the racing season every year on occasion of the AUDI FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Opening and welcomes both the top athletes of Alpine ski racing and their enthusiastic fans. Top sports opportunities and Ötztal's genuine hospitality are guaranteed. You can find all details about the holiday and sports region of Sölden here.
The number of calories burnt when skiing strongly depends on several factors. Skiing style, weight, difficulty level of the slope, ski equipment and even daytime temperature can all influence energy consumption. However, we can approximately guess it: an ambitious skier burns between 400 and 600 calories in a total of 60 minutes of skiing time on a moderately difficult (red) slope. To melt away calories effectively, the best thing is to take part in the BIG3 Rally across the three peaks higher than 3000 meters in the Sölden ski area.
For Alpine skiing you need appropriate sports equipment comprising a pair of skis, ski poles and ski boots. A ski helmet, ski goggles and sunscreen (SPF 30) are the right protective companions on the slopes. When it comes to clothing, you should keep to the “layer principle”: several (thin) layers of clothing keep you warm and dry. The first layer of clothing includes breathable thermal underwear and ski socks that transport wetness away from the body. The mid-layer is a fleece shirt or a lightly padded jacket that keeps you warm. The last and outer layer should be a ski or hardshell jacket and ski pants that protect against wind and weather. Ski gloves and a neck gaiter also protect fingers and face from cold and wet.
Depending on skiing style and terrain – for example freeriding - a spine protector, a backpack and an avalanche transceiver may also be required.
Shops and rental spots will be happy to help you optimize your ski equipment.