St. Anton am Arlberg Skiing

St. Anton am Arlberg Skiing Terrain

Although St. Anton is most famous for its off-piste terrain and ungroomed itineraries, it’s a little known (and perhaps in the circumstances, slightly ironic) fact that it was here that trails were first groomed to make skiing easier – this was before automated machinery, just a few men with a hand-pulled roller flattening the snow surface back in 1949.

Back in St. Anton, some of the gentler terrain is found right next to the village where there’s an excellent children’s ski school area incorporating protected nursery slopes for young learners. More extensive gentle terrain with mostly blue-graded runs are located in the Gampen area above.

Intermediates are spoilt for choice, but should certainly take a look at the separate Rendl sector, reached by new gondola from the village center, and home to almost entirely red rated pistes with a maximum steepness of 40%.

There are still tough groomed runs for advanced skiers as well as all the freeride terrain. Mattun and Schindlergrat are infamous bump runs for example. The Ski Arlberg Pass includes the neighboring ski slopes of Lech Zurs (reached by bus from St. Anton), which has a tamer reputation than St. Anton.

Off-Piste

Most of the legend that is St. Anton relies on the tiny Valluga 2 cable car which climbs up the slopes to the region’s highest point at 2,811 meters and opens up some seriously extreme terrain. So serious in fact that you are not allowed to enter the cable car with skis or board unless accompanied by a qualified guide. Those challenges include the option to ski through the Pazieltal towards Lech, but are only suited to extremely skilled expert skiers who won’t be unnerved by the danger of death if a wrong move is made. However, for the rest, the top of Valluga 1 at Vallugagrat (2,650 meters) provides ample access to lots of steep and deep terrain, and it is exposed to some of the most abundant snowfall of any area in Austria and much of the Alps. These are just some of the numerous itinerary routes, open bowls for which perhaps St. Anton is most famous, chutes and steep gullies that abound in the sector – although it does have to be powder day for them to be at their most epic of course.

Park/Pipe

St. Anton’s main terrain park is located on the resort’s Rendl mountain. The Stanton Park area is home to a plethora of kickers, ramps, pipes, boxes and rails, and keeps getting larger each season. It now has three main lines, a Pro-line, medium line and jib-line, so there’s something for all ability levels. The park has also been designed for easy access and fast laps thanks to its location next to two lifts. With the Ski Arlberg ticket, you can access multiple terrain parks and the Funslope on Galzig.

The White Thrill race that takes place on Valluga each spring is one of the most exciting and testing races in the skiing world.  The race starts on an agreed date in late. The race isn’t downhill all the way: the race includes a 150 meters ascent.

Breakfast

• Der Bäcker Ruetz is the main village bakery and is open early daily so a great early stop if you want to grab the first turns of the day. There’s an option to preorder your fresh baked goodies the day before if you wish. Arlbergstraße 83, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria

Lunch

• Verwallstube Restaurant is run by head chef Bernhard Neuhold and located at 2,085 meters. It has built a reputation for wonderful gourmet cuisine, such as exquisite Bouillabaisse et Aioli as well as Tyrolean delicacies and exquisite gourmet creations. Kandaharweg 9, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria

Dinner

• Hazienda has an eclectic, international menu. Popular with locals, advanced booking is usually essential in peak season. Dorfstraße 56, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria

Apres/Nightlife

• Krazy Kanguruh at the base of the slopes is one of the most popular bars in the area. Dancing on tables in ski boots while knocking back shots is the norm here, and it’s almost impossible to get in between 4 pm and 7 pm as it’s so popular (arrive by 3pm to bag your space). Don’t forget you still need to ski the final stretch back to the resort when the bar closes around 8pm so watch alcohol consumption. Mooserweg 19, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
• Mooserwirt is the place that is tipped by some St. Anton insiders as better, these days, than the Krazy Kangaruh. But it has the same “too popular” problem as the Krazy Kangaruh – normally impossible to get in much after 3 pm as its packed full. Unterer Mooserweg 2, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria