St. Anton am Arlberg: The Ultimate Freeride Paradise
Powder Department above 3,000 Metres
Freeride Hotspot in the heart of the Zillertal Alps
Insider Tip in the Paznaun Valley
Where Pro Riders Test Their Skills
Long Lines in the West of Tirol
Top Terrain for Freeride Beginners
Great North-Facing Slopes for Freeriders
Freeriding High in the Sky
Many of the best freeride areas in Austria are located in Tirol. The Stubai Glacier and the Kaunertal Glacier are among the top areas with great powder conditions, which are suitable for deep snow skiing due to their altitude alone. Other hotspots include Hochfügen in Zillertal, Fieberbrunn in Pillerseetal and the off-piste areas in the huge St. Anton am Arlberg ski resort
Deep snow skiing is best where the snow is dry, powdery and untouched. In other words, at high altitudes where snow is guaranteed, on glaciers, but also on northern slopes where there is less sunshine. In Tirol there are many ideal freeride areas with a high powder factor, for example on the Stubai Glacier and the Kaunertal Glacier as well as in Fieberbrunn, which is not quite as high up but offers very snowsure slopes and hosts the Freeride World Tour every winter.
There are ski resorts in Austria with great snow reliability. Many of them are located in Tirol, where there are five glacier ski areas. However, ski resorts at lower altitudes such as Fieberbrunn, Hochfügen in Zillertal, Axamer Lizum near Innsbruck and Kappl in Paznaun are also considered freeride hotspots, where some of the world's best skiers meet up for powder skiing and international competitions.
The most important aspects of freeriding are the right equipment and the right know-how. That means having all the avalanche safety equipment you need (avalanche beacon, probe and shovel) plus knowing how to use it. You should also consider the snow and terrain conditions when planning your adventure.
You can find the latest official avalanche risk report here.
Various institutions offer avalanche safety courses, for example the Austrian Alpine Club and the SAAC. Here you will find camps and courses on the topic of freeriding.
