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St Anton am Arlberg,AT
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Reservations #:
++43 5446 22690
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| MOUNTAIN STATS
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| Top Elev: |
9222 ft/2811 m |
| Base Elev: |
4278 ft/1304 m |
| Vertical Drop: |
4944 ft/1507 m |
| Lift Capacity: |
111092 |
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| TRAILS
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| Beginner: |
0 km |
| Intermediate: |
105 km |
| Advanced: |
31 km |
| Expert: |
140 km |
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| LIFTS
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| Gondolas: |
10 |
| Triples: |
35 |
| Surface Lifts: |
38 |
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If you were to question a group of aficionados about the top Austrian ski destination, odds are they would say the Arlberg or mention one of the resorts in this region. This is, after all, where Austria's skiing took its first faltering steps in 1907 and where legendary ski hall-of-famer Hannes Schneider perfected the Arlberg Method which was brought to the U.S. in the 1930s.Traditional in style yet modern in service and amenities, this region is what newer resorts in the U.S. try to emulate when they strive for the Austrian 'look.' Able to absorb thousands of guests at any one time, the towns of the Arlberg have determinedly retained their village atmospheres-'The only high-rise buildings are the churches,' one local proudly told us-while at the same time providing a totally modern ski experience. And because so many British frequent the area, U.S. visitors will feel very much at home in this still very Austrian destination.So dense are the skiing opportunities, the area has been broken down in the collective skiing consciousness into the various town-resorts that compose the region. St. Anton, St. Christoph and St. Jakob are normally discussed as a unit spread along the southern side of the Arlberg massif. Lech and Zrs hold down the west-facing side of the mountain and the small village of Stuben sits beside the road at the far western edge of the region where the Lech and St. Anton valleys go their separate ways. Separated by miles of snow fields, peaks and passes, these towns are all linked by shuttlebuses, lifts and a single Arlberg ski pass to form a skiing wonderland for intermediate and expert skiers. Once remote-and inaccessible after heavy snow-the area is now only a two-and-a-half hour drive from Zrich Airport and less than two hours from Innsbruck. St. Anton, the largest, is a bustling and fun resort, and could be considered the most egalitarian of the three with its wide range-from low cost to ritzy-of accommodations and dining. This historic ski town is dramatically different now that the main rail line has been moved and no longer separates the village from the slopes (the station is just outside the village, across the highway, next to the Tennis Center). No more waving to the Orient Express, but also no waiting for trains to pass to get to or from the lifts. New pedestrian areas are opening up and there are now more facilities for visitors, such as a public swimming pool and activity center. With 'something for everyone,' the town fills up, especially on weekends. Lift lines getting up to the skiing in the morning used to be long, but new lifts have cut the waiting time dramatically. And once up on the mountain, the vastness of the slopes spreads everyone out and lift lines are minimal.The quieter, St. Anton neighborhood of St. Jakob, just down the valley and comprised mainly of guest houses and restaurants, is now more accessible to skiers thanks to the new Nassereinbahn gondola.
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resort info
