Now that it’s getting dark at night and the electric blanket has gone on, it’s time to think of the ski season. But by the time you may be just about to start thinking of it, some of the Austrian resorts are already open!
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the main resorts, when they open, and what they have planned on the opening weekend or, in some cases, as a festival.
Here are some of the opening dates and any particular events planned for the start of the ski season for resorts which tend to make a bang with their ski openings in November and early December (and in one case in October!):
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Start of the Ski Season in Austria - opening dates for selected ski resorts
We’ve only picked a few of the higher or more well-known resorts out – all of the resorts have their projected season opening and season closing times in the Ski Resort overview pages.
Many ski resorts have their own parties, concerts and festivals to set off the season. So if you fancy a few days at the beginning of the season, check out the flights into Innsbruck or Salzburg and enjoy the start of the season with the locals.
Obergurgl
Obergurgl, which is currently scheduled for an opening on 19 November, with World Cup ski races scheduled for 21 and 22 November.
Sölden
Sölden’s glacier ski areas are expected to open in September if snow conditions permit, but the winter season proper starts with the World Cup ski racing event in October on the Rettenbach glacier. The women’s giant slalom is on the 24th and the men’s on the 25th of October.
St. Anton
St Anton has its opening weekend scheduled for 04 December this year.
Ischgl
Ischgl starts out this season on 26 November, with the traditional opening Top of the Mountain concert from (TBD) on 26 November.
Kaprun / Kitzsteinhorn Glacier
The Zell am See / Kaprun ski area has the advantage of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier which opens 10th of October, given good snow conditions.
Obertauern
Moving on we travel over to the province of Salzburg and its own high-level resort. Obertauern is expected to be open for skiing on 20 November. The Ski Opening Week starts 28 November with with Fantastischen Vier und on 04 December with Anastacia
Saalbach Hinterglemm
The Saalbach Hinterglemm partially opens ski operations on 27 November and hosts the BERGFestival from December 3-6, and Rave on Snow from Dec 10-13 to celebreate the Seasons start.
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