KitzSki

Photo: J.Ciszak/skionline.pl. Kitzbühel in Tyrol is one of the most exclusive and renowned ski resorts in the Alps. The main ski areas of Kitzbühel and nearby Kirchberg are the Hahnenkamm, Pengelstein, Resterhöhe, Gaisberg, Bichlalm and, highest of all, the Kitzbühel Horn. The area around Kitzbühel comes really close to perfection in terms of piste variety, ski infrastructure and things to do after skiing. The pistes stretch between the Steinbergkogel and the Pengelstein. There are steep, mogul-filled runs (down to the Ehrenbachgraben) as well as gentle slopes (Pengelstein-Nord towards the Maierl lifts in Kirchberg) that are perfect for less experienced skiers. There are also opportunities for off-piste skiing, for example the descent to Jochberg (Pengelstein-Süd). On the east side of Kitzbühel, a cable car (large cabins) runs up the Kitzbüheler Horn. The slopes here are slightly gentler than on the Hahnenkamm. The only drawback of this terrain is that the snow melts too quickly (the peaks here are relatively low, from 762 to just under 2,000 m). You reach the Hahnenkamm ski area from Kitzbühel by cable car, by chairlift or, much faster, from Klausen on the modern Fleckalm gondola. Thanks to a relatively new investment, the 8-person "Ki-West" gondola, Kitzbühel gained a link with one of Austria's largest ski areas, Ski Welt Wilder Kaiser Brixental. This created one of the largest ski regions in the world. The investors estimate that after the French Trois Vallees and the Swiss Portes du Soleil (both offering more than 600 km of pistes), it is the third-largest ski region in Europe. The lift stations are in Westendorf and Kirchberg. The gondola project also brought a new 4 km piste with machine-made snow. Besides modern infrastructure and superbly groomed pistes, Kitzbühel also draws visitors with a large number of interesting recurring ski events. It is famous above all for the January weekend when the Hahnenkamm races are held on the notorious Streif race course. For a few days Kitzbühel, a small Tyrolean town, then becomes the centre of the skiing world. For cross-country skiers, Kitzbühel offers an extensive network of varied trails. The Hahnenkamm and the Kitzbühel Horn have also long been regarded as top snowboarding terrain (on the Hahnenkamm, the Kasereck slopes and the Silberstuben run are particularly famous). You can go ice skating or play hockey on the frozen surface of the Schwarzsee lake, which covers as much as 8 hectares. The après-ski offer is so rich and varied that for some visitors it is the non-skiing entertainment that makes up the substance of their winter stay here. The number of restaurants, snow bars, pubs and discos, and of all kinds of après-ski events, can make your head spin. Those who want to spend a winter holiday in an oasis of peace and quiet would do better to go elsewhere.