Skiing Austria

Scenic Ötztal, Tirol's longest side valley covering approx. 65 km, promises unrivaled skiing fun for beginners, families and ambitious skiers alike. There are no less than 6 ski areas with 90 mountain lifts  spread all over Ötztal, including 2 glacier ski areas. Ranging from small to large, authentic to action-packed, they all have their advantages. But all areas from the entrance to the valley to its rear end have two things in common: state-of-the-art lift infrastructures and absolute snow reliability thanks to altitudes beyond 3000 m.

Austria can call itself home to several renowned ski resorts. Two of them, namely Sölden and Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, can be found in Tirol's Ötztal. Every year in October, the international skiing elite gets together in Sölden to celebrate the start of the new World Cup season. The two glacier ski areas in Sölden are of course not only reserved for professionals. Sölden is also Austria's one and only ski area to have three ski mountains higher than 3000 meters with spectacular viewing platforms, accessible by top modern lifts. A few kilometers towards the upper valley at almost 1900 meters, Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is one of the most snow-reliable ski areas in the Alps. And that's why the resort is one of the first winter ski areas in Austria to open its doors in autumn. Fabulous slope conditions are a matter of course here, it is not for nothing that “Gurgl” has committed itself to Top Quality Skiing.

A simple question that has unfortunately no simple answer. How many calories you actually burn on a day of skiing depends on several aspects such as intensity, duration and terrain you have chosen. Even if we cannot give an exact number, we can guess. If we assume an average but ambitious amateur skier who skis for one hour on a moderately difficult (red) piste, energy consumption ranges between 400 and 600 calories. Depending on whether you put more or less pressure on the ski edges and how you use your body weight, the number of calories burnt can of course vary. An interesting detail: The daytime temperature on the day of skiing also influences calorie consumption. Therefore, you burn more calories on cold winter days than on a warm spring skiing day. The entire Ötztal with 6 ski areas and 90 mountain lifts promises plenty of ski challenges ready to melt away calories.

Alpine ski equipment consists of skis, ski boots and ski poles. You also need the right ski clothing and protective equipment. A complete set of ski clothing comprises the following items: ski socks, ski underwear, a middle layer of clothing (depending on temperature), a ski jacket and ski pants. Of course, warm gloves and a cap (when you take off the helmet) are an absolute must. Ski goggles can protect against snow flurries, but also against UV radiation. Last but not least, a ski helmet and possibly also a spine protector are part of the essential equipment. A backpack can be used, if necessary, for example to carry extra clothes or drinks and snacks. The expert Ötztal sports shops offer everything you need for unlimited fun on the slopes - skis, ski boots, ski poles and helmets can be rented on the spot.