One thing sure to ruin a wintery holiday is no snow. Yes, it’s that time of the year again when we fish out our furry boots and become amateur meteorologists in the hope there will be a decent covering of the white stuff.
But there is one place where you don’t need to worry about snowfall. The Kitzbühel ski area in Tyrol, Austria, is as powdery as it gets, with an average 180 days of snow a year, making it the country’s first non-glacial ski area opened for the winter season.
Situated along the river Kitzbüheler Ache, this picturesque valley town is a winter fortress. Most years, it cements its reputation as a snow trap that lasts from autumn well into spring. Last winter, the number of possible ski days was 191 - a new record in the 87-year history of the Kitzbühel Lift Company, the Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel. But, epic snowfall aside, it is the well-rounded nature of Kitzbühel that won it in the title of World Best Ski Resort 2015 at the World Ski Awards.
The resort consists of 179km of perfectly groomed slopes, with varying degrees of difficulty and 36km of ski trails, serviced by 54 cable cars and ski lifts. The terrain is varied but caters well for intermediates, with runs seemingly going on forever. There’s even half a dozen practice lifts in the valley foe free – perfect for families, beginners and those who have not skied for a while.
The snow park KitzSki is a meticulously crafted paradise for freestyle snowboarders can get creative on a total of 12 kickers, three rails, 12 boxes, five jibs, two tubes or one special feature. With the five new feature added this year, the shape crew is responsible for a total of 35 obstacles.
Freeriders will find an almost endless ski area. The easily accessible backcountry extends over the provinces of Tyrol and Salzburg and for deep snow among the power hounds.
But there is one piste that puts Kitzbühel on the map. If you’ve heard of the resort before, it’s probably become of the Streif, maybe the most famous ski run in the world. The Hahnenkamn downhill is the slope that every skier wants to tackle and is the scariest downhill on the World Cup Circuit.
Off the slopes, this medieval silver-mining town, with its multi-coloured facades, buttressed walls and chocolate-box churches, is like something out of a fairy tale. This is one of Europe’s prettiest ski resorts, without question. Traditional inns rub shoulders with five-star hotels, providing accommodation to suit all. Austria is, of course, also famed for its après ski, and Kitzbühel doesn’t disappoint. There’s a lot going on after dark in this town, with a vibrant nightlife every night. This being Austria, drinks don’t mean you’ll need to flog your skis just to buy a beer; compared to other resorts you could even say it’s reasonable, if you know where to look.