Its snow much fun in the Tirol!
After record-breaking October snow conditions in the Austrian Tirol, November’s snowfall proved a little less forthcoming, but fear not December has arrived and so has the snow. Many Tirolean ski resorts have received between 20-50cm of fresh snow, making a welcomed start to the winter season.
Already open for skiing are Tirol’s five glacier resorts, with 50cm falling on the Pitztal glacier and snow depths measuring from 146cm in Sölden to 170cm on the Hintertux glacier. Since 13th November, skiers have been enjoying fantastic conditions in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, whilst chart-topping singer Katy Perry opened the season in style in Ischgl last weekend.
With forecasts indicating even more snowfall on Friday, it will surely be a white weekend across Tirol. This weekend from the 4th to 6th December the following ski areas will kick off the season and officially open for 2009-10:
- St. Anton am Arlberg, stantonamarlberg.com
- Hochzillertal Kaltenbach and Gerlos, ski-optimal.at &www.gerlos.at
- Zettersfeld Lienz in East Tyrol, ienzer-bergbahnen.at
- High pointer in the Pitztal Tourist Office, hochzeiger.com
- Innsbruck (Patscherkofel, Axamer Lizum, Kühtai), innsbruck.info
- Ski World of Wild Emperor (a few lifts in the resort), skiwelt.at
- Kitzbuehel (a few lifts and slopes in the resort), kitzalps.at
- Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, serfaus-fiss-ladis.at
- Lermoos, zugspitzarena.com
- St. Jakob in the Defereggental, bergbahnen-stjakob.at
For the latest from the Pitztal glacier go to Youtube (youtube.com/user/tiroltourism) and Facebook (facebook.com/visittirol)
Late December Deals to Tirol
Save £430 – Obergurgl
Crystal Ski (crystalski.co.uk) has seven nights at the 4* Hotel Austria on half board in Obergurgl, with prices starting from £649 per person (was £1079), including return flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers. Departs 19th December.
Save £170 – Seefeld
Thomson Ski (thomsonski.co.uk) has seven nights at the 3* Hotel Schonegg on half board in Seefeld, with prices starting from £655 per person (was £825), including return flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers. Departs 19th December
Save £344 - Kitzbühel
First Choice Ski (firstchoice-ski.co.uk) has seven nights at the 4* Hotel Jägerwirt on half board in Kitzbühel, with prices starting from £655 per person (was £989), including return flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers. Departs 19th December.
Save £160 – Söll
Direct Ski (directski.com) has seven nights at the self-catering 3* Schindlhaus Apartments in Söll, with prices starting from £489 per person (was £649), based on 4 sharing and including return flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers. Departs 26th December.
Save £494 – St Anton
Crystal Finest (crystalfinest.co.uk) has seven nights at the 4* Chalet Fauner (sleeps 16) in St Anton, with prices starting from £705 per person (was £1199), including catered accommodation, return flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers. Departs 19th December.
Save £310.50 – Mayrhofen
Inghams (inghams.co.uk) has seven nights at the 4* Hotel Landhaus (Neuhaus) in Mayrhofen on half board, with prices starting from £597.50 per person (was £908), including return flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers. Departs 19th December.
Upcoming Events in December
Billabong Air and Style, Innsbruck - 5th December 2009
The world's best snowboarders converge on Innsbruck's outdoor Bergisel ski-jump for a day of intense competition at the Air & Style show. The event is notorious amongst snowboarders for its monstrous quarterpipe. The Rookie Challenge allows emerging talents to impress the crowds and music concerts will be performed by Swedish band The Hives. For more information visit air-style.com
Love and Lights Open Air Concert, Seefeld - 19th December 2009
Seefeld welcomes Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, to perform at the Love & Lights open air concert on Saturday 19th December in the Seefeld Kurpark at 7pm. Tickets cost between 44€ - 66€. For further information contact Olympiaregion Seefeld; region@seefeld.com
Uphill Race, Seefeld - 19th December 2009
Get ready for the ultimate uphill night race to the Rosshütte. Watch athletes and competitors skin up and race uphill from the base station of the Rosshütte gondola (1250m) towards the top station on the Seefelderjoch. Most parts of the race can be seen from Rosshütte mountain restaurant; live music and entertainment from Little Dix – starts at 7pm. For more information visit: skitourencup.at/seefeld
Wok Racing, Igls - 27th & 29th December 209
Crazy? Yes that’s right. It’s time to grab your cooking pot and zoom down the ice chute. The German talk show host and entertainer Stefan Raab was the first one to do it and now everybody has the chance to give wok racing a try! What started out as a crazy idea soon gathered a cult following and became a popular – and highly fun – activity on Igls’ bobsled track. Racers slide down the 1.2 kilometer long bobsled track in four-person-woksleds, which uses four woks per sled. The highest speed reached in a race wok was an incredible 90km/hr. Each wok race consists of two rides: a training run and the actual race. Cost 80€. See: tirol.at
