Leslie Massey
Austria is a paradise for snowboarders, with over thirty freeriding and snowboarding resorts scattered across its picturesque terrain. From gentle slopes to challenging descents, there's something for every skill level. Here's a look at some of the top spots to snowboard in Austria, from the legendary St. Anton to the vibrant party scene in Sölden.
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St. Anton am Arlberg
The village of St. Anton has a traditional feel, with a cobbled main street lined with bars and restaurants. The area is also known for its nightlife, with a famous bar crawl known as Run-1. However, note that most bars require you to change out of your snowboard boots before entering after 8 pm. The village also offers top-end hotels, spas, and excellent cuisine.
The Arlberg ski pass allows access to the linked areas of St. Christoph and Stuben, as well as the resorts of Lech and Zürs via bus. These areas offer great snowboarding terrain, with ample amounts of powder. St. Anton itself has 280km of pistes, but it is the 180km of marked off-piste runs that set it apart from other resorts. The resort encourages riders to explore beyond the pisted runs, offering steeps, deep powder, and tree-lined slopes.
For freestylers, while there are plenty of natural hits in the area, some reviewers suggest that the terrain park in Rendl and Lech could be improved. Beginners may also find the resort challenging, as many of the blue runs have steeper sections, and some of the lower runs are narrow. However, there are excellent guiding packages available, such as Black Sheep Snowboarding, which can help newcomers navigate the terrain and access the nicer beginner runs.
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Ischgl
The Silvretta Arena ski resort in Ischgl offers a vast area for winter sports enthusiasts, with stunning views and perfectly groomed, varied slopes. The resort is situated at a high altitude, ensuring reliable snow conditions from November to early May. The ski season is extended with the help of an artificial snow-making system, comprising 1,100 snow guns. Snowboarders can explore 239 kilometres of slopes, with ski runs up to 11 kilometres in length, as well as special slopes and snow parks. The resort features 45 cable cars and lifts, providing swift and safe access to the summits for around 97,000 people per hour.
The resort town of Ischgl provides a range of top-notch accommodation and dining options, along with a vibrant nightlife scene. In recent years, efforts have been made to improve the après image, including a 2000 euro fine introduced in 2016 for stumbling through town with ski equipment after 8 pm. Ischgl is easily accessible, with the resorts of See, Kappl, and Galtür located within a 20-minute drive or bus ride, offering a diverse range of experiences.
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Saalbach-Hinterglemm
The resort's cul-de-sac layout ensures a unique experience, allowing riders to loop in either direction and explore the vast area both on and off the pistes. Saalbach-Hinterglemm is particularly renowned for its excellent freeriding options, making it a top choice for those who crave open spaces and fresh powder. The north-facing slopes maintain firm snow conditions throughout the day, providing a consistent riding experience.
For those seeking a challenge, the run under the Schattberg X-press in Saalbach offers a long and steep descent, while the run under the Zwölfer-Nordbahn in Hinterglemm can present a windswept, icy mogul experience. Additionally, the black/red trail from the top of Zwölferkogel is perfect for those who want to pick up speed and enjoy the wide-open spaces.
When it comes to off-snow activities, Saalbach-Hinterglemm delivers a vibrant atmosphere with its apres-ski bars and clubs, offering a lively nightlife scene for those who want to unwind and socialise after a day on the slopes.
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Kasberg, Almtal
Kasberg, in the Almtal region, is a popular snowboarding destination in Austria, offering something for everyone, from beginner slopes to challenging descents. The ski resort, known as Kasberg – Grünau im Almtal, is located in Upper Austria, in the Salzkammergut region, and is easily accessible from the A1 motorway, providing a fast, safe, and avalanche-free journey.
The resort boasts 23 kilometres of slopes, with 12 lifts to transport guests, including an 8-person cable car, a gondola, a 4-person chairlift, and 9 T-bars. The winter sports area is situated between 620 and 1,600 metres in elevation, ensuring a good variety of terrain. Snowboarders can enjoy the fun park, which features various obstacles and jumps, catering to freestyle fans of different skill levels.
The Kasberg resort stands out for its rustic ski huts with sun terraces, providing a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. The surrounding Alpine views add to the appeal, making it an ideal choice for both sports enthusiasts and families alike. The traditional huts offer local cuisine, allowing visitors to indulge in delicious Austrian winter dishes.
For those seeking a well-rounded snowboarding experience, Kasberg delivers with its combination of exciting slopes and a laid-back atmosphere. The resort's proximity to the motorway and its variety of facilities make it a convenient and enjoyable destination for snowboarders visiting Austria.
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Kitzbuehel
The town also offers a Snow Park on the Kitzbueheler Horn mountain, with an entire zone dedicated to children. The funslope, with waves, tunnels, and a bridge, makes skiing an adventure for kids. The kicker line for advanced skiers and snowboarders is perfect for trying out freestyle tricks. The free practice lifts in the valley are a unique offering available to all beginners. Ski rental is available across the whole of the Kitzbuehel area.
The town has a state-of-the-art lift system, with 58 lifts facilitating fun on the slopes for beginners and professionals alike. A total of 233km of pistes, of which 181 are marked and groomed: 46 blue (94 km), 32 red (67 km), and 18 black (20 km). The KitzSkiWelt Tour route links all the main lifts of both ski regions but is quite long and difficult to attempt in one day. From Kitzbuehel, the access point for the semi-interconnect is at the base of the Pengelstein gondola, where there is a short ski bus (XPress SkiShuttle) to SkiWelt Ki-West gondola.
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Frequently asked questions
St. Anton am Arlberg is a legendary snowboarding destination, with challenging terrain, stunning scenery, and an array of thrilling runs. Other top spots include Kitzbuehel, Kreischberg-Murau, Nassfeld Ski Resort, and Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn.
Ellmau, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, and Kasberg are all great destinations for beginners. Ellmau has access to 284km of varied pistes, Saalbach-Hinterglemm has plenty of north-facing slopes, and Kasberg has a mix of beginner slopes and challenging descents.
Ischgl has Europe's biggest snow park, with 35 obstacles, a championship half-pipe, fun boxes, various jumps, and an integrated stretch for carvers. The Dachstein Superpark and Planai park are also great for freestylers, as they host the World Snowboard Tour and the O'Neill roof battle, respectively.
