New in Tirol for the 2010-11 ski season
The wait is almost over as the new ski season approaches. Sölden will open tomorrow for 2010-11, one month earlier than planned, with a few lifts in operation on the Rettenbach glacier.
The Austrian Tirol welcomes the 2010-11 season with new happenings in the resorts across the region from additions and improvements to lift networks, new hotels to local events and festivals.
Ski Total’s brand new Chalet Hotel in Ischgl
Catered chalet specialist Ski Total has added Ischgl to its programme for 2010-11. They are the first ski company to acquire a chalet in the resort and what’s more it is a brand new 4-star Chalet Hotel. The newly built Chalet Hotel Abendrot, is perfectly located, close to the Silvrettabahn and Fimbabahn lift stations and will offer quality accommodation for over fifty guests, with spa, sauna and hot tub, WIFI plus a cosy lounge and bar area. Prices start from £644 per person in January 2011, including premium catered board, flights and transfers. For more information visit skitotal.com.
Ischgl’s €8million Designer Chairlift
Ischgl has unveiled a new designer chairlift, which will run from the Höllenkar Valley up to the Greitspitz, Ischgl’s top station at 2872m. The eight-million euro ‘Lange Wand’ chairlift, with heated seats and weather bubbles, will carry 2,400 people an hour, with a journey time of 5.6minutes. The addition will open up the easy access from the Höllenkar area to the challenging runs that drop down from the Greitspitz. In addition, the skiing over to Samnaun in Switzerland has seen vast improvements with a new six-seater chairlift, replacing the old Muller chairlift in the Alp Bella area. In total, a twenty-million euro investment is being spent to improve the Ischgl-Samnaun area with improved snowmaking machines, expansion of avalanche safety equipment and new garaging for snow groomers. For more information visit ischgl.com.
Sölden’s latest addition
A brand new mountain gondola will whisk skiers and boarders up the Gaislachkogel peak in the resort of Sölden in the Ötztal. Offering a high level of comfort as well as increased transport capacity, the gondola is also a spectacular architectural structure. All three new gondola stations feature a steel construction or skeleton on the inside and are covered by a giant plastic skin. Up to the middle station at 2714m, the 8-person gondola can carry 3,600 people an hour, with a journey time of 6.7 minutes. Those who want to reach the top of the peak at 3,040m can continue to the top on the triple rope gondola, which carries 30 people per cabin at a capacity of 1,400 people an hour. For more information visit soelden.com.
Nature calls in Fiss
Natural by name, natural by nature.The brand new Hotel Natürlich, opening this December, in the quiet resort of Fiss, has been developed around two basic principles – comfort and nature, The rooms have been designed using specially sourced Tirolean wood is used for relaxing effects and all rooms afford spectacular views into the valley. For more information visit natuerlich-fiss.at.
Designed with kids in mind in the Ski Welt
In the resort of Scheffau, located in the SkiWelt, Austria’s largest integrated ski area with over 250 km of pistes, is the new Osthangbahn lift. This detachable 8-seater chair lift is fitted with child- proof locks, heated seats and is perfect for beginners and kids!
Ski & the City with Inghams
Inghams has introduced new ski short breaks to Innsbruck. City skiing has never been so easy, especially in Tirol’s capital city, Innsbruck. Not only can you be on the slopes within an hour of landing at the airport but the ski lift takes you straight up the mountain directly from the city centre.
What’s more the Tirolean capital is surrounded by a total of 9 ski areas and 285km of piste, making up the Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck. From the Olympic slopes of the Axamer Lizum to glacier skiing on the Stubai, all the ski areas are easily accessible using the free bus service and covered under one lift pass – the Innsbruck Glacier Ski Pass. A 3 night package price on B&B starts from £385 per person at the 4* Austrotel or from £415 per person at the 4* Hotel Grauer Bär, including flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck with BA and transfers.
Inghams has also introduced the 4* Hotel Hochfirst in Obergurgl and the all-inclusive 4* Hotel Bergland in Seefeld.
Crystal introduces two new Tirol resorts
Crystal Ski has announced the inclusion of Alpbach and Niederau to its programme for 2010-11.
Innsbruck to host its third Olympics in 2012
Preparations and investment will continue this season ready for the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games, which will take place from 13th – 22nd January 2012 in Innsbruck and Seefeld. Innsbruck will become the first city worldwide to host the Olympic Games for a third time, following the 1964 and 1976 games. The goal for the Youth Olympics is to introduce young athletes to the Olympic spirit, to provide them with a public arena to showcase their talents. Over 1000 athletes, from over 70 nations, aged between 14 and 18 will compete across a range of disciplines from biathlon to bobsleigh to downhill skiing and ice hockey. The construction of the Olympic Village is underway and many of the Olympic venues used in 1964 and 1976 have been renovated and upgraded. For more information innsbruck2012.com.
Best Season Openers 2010-11
Kaunertal October opening
The Kaunertal glacier will officially open for the 2010-11 snow sports season on October 15th, with the legendary opening festival weekend running through to the 17th. It’s one of the earliest opening dates with snowboard and freeski contests, concerts and parties as well as the "Testival" which includes brand new material for the 10/11 season. The full programme is now online at kaunertal-opening.at.
Oktoberfest hits the Stubai Glacier
Bavarian beer, sausages, pretzels and music arrive on the Stubai Glacier on October 30th for the highest Oktoberfest celebration at 2900m. This weekend also sees the opening of the new Restaurant Eisgrat. For more information visit stubaier-gletscher.com.
St Anton Competition
The waiting is almost over as St Anton opens in style on 26th November with a VIP-competition to win pole position and carve the first line of the new season with ski legend Karl Schranz. The prize also includes 3 nights in a 4* Hotel, lift passes for the winner and 3 friends, the loan of an Audi 4-wheel drive for the weekend and lunch for four at the Galzig Verwallstube, Europe’s highest altitude gourmet restaurant. On the morning of the 26th the lucky winner will ride the Galzigbahn to the top with a glass of champagne and canapés to hand before becoming the first skier to ski the piste and officially open the season to all. Enter online at stanton-ski-open.com. The celebrations will continue with the Ö3 Mountainmania party kicking off on Saturday at 5pm and the chance to try out the hottest new trends for free during three days of testing for the new season’s ski and snowboard equipment.
Gossip to launch Ischgl’s season
Internationally famous for its high profile concerts, performed at the beginning and end of the season, Ischgl’s legendary opening season concert will be performed Indie rock band Gossip on Saturday 27th November. For more information visit ischgl.com.
For more information on the Tirol region go to: visittirol.co.uk
