Now that it’s getting dark at night and the electric blanket has gone on, it’s time to think of the 2019 ski season in Austria. 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!):
Obergurgl
Obergurgl kicks off the season as one of the first non-glacier resorts to start up. From November 13, 2019 the Skiopening offers music and parties at mountain huts and restaurants.
Read more about Obergurgl
Sölden
Sölden’s glaciers open around the end of September 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 26th and the men’s on the 27th of the month. Both events of course with support programmes of music and frivolity…
Read more about Sölden
St Anton
St Anton has its opening weekend scheduled for the 28.11 – 01.12 this year, with a ski race, Audi driving experience and Sarah Connor and Nico Santos featuring as live music acts.
Read more about the St Anton skiing
Ischgl
Ischgl starts out this season on November 28 with German reggae stars Seeed featuring for the Top of the Mountain Opening Concert on November 30, as always free with a valid ski pass.
Read more about Ischgl
Obertauern
Moving on we travel over to the province of Salzburg and its own high-level resort. Obertauern kicks off the season on November 28 with a concert by the German rapper CRO on November 30.
Read more about Obertauern
Kaprun
The Zell am See / Kaprun ski area has the advantage of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier and opens in the first week of October, given good snow conditions. The WOW Glacier Love on November 08-10 is the first festival, with DJs and well-known dance and house acts taking part.
More about Kitzsteinhorn skiing
We’ve only picked a few of the higher or more well-known resorts out – but many others 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.