Skiing in Flachau

Flachau’s favourite son – champion ski racer Hermann Maier – brought the resort worldwide renown and the regular floodlit World Cup race attracts thousands of spectators every year.

But even without all of the publicity the ski area above the village has enough to attract anyone looking for a winter holiday with a variety of intermediate runs and plenty of places to ski to.

Flachau has three different access points to the skiing located at three different points in the village strung out at the base of the Griessenkareck mountain. The valley lifts in Flachau, like those in nearby Flachauwinkl, have all been rebranded – here with ‘jet’ at the end of the name.

Starting at the furthest east, the Star Jet 1 six-seater chairlift rises above the venue for the women’s World Cup race, a night slalom. (The slope and racetrack has been renamed after Hermann Maier.) Like almost all of the valley runs, the run back down to the village is a wide and relatively undemanding red run, although icy conditions can make it slightly more tricky.

Above the initial Star Jet there are two more Star Jet chairlifts (II and III) accessing the top of the main ski area and the route over to Wagrain, as well as the highest section of the Flachau skiing around the Kogelalm cable car and the Topliner chairlift. There are a couple of black runs here as well as some ungroomed routes to the side of the main piste and through the trees for those looking for a deep snow experience in appropriate conditions.

Back down at Flachau and moving around the base of the mountain, the next point is the popular Achter Jet gondola, which rises to around the altitude of the second stage of the Star Jet chairlifts. There are plenty of mountain restaurants available in this popular part of the ski area.

The third of the Flachau access points is the Space Jet collection of chairlifts. Like the Star Jets around the corner, the Space Jets are three chairlifts which eventually reach the Kogelalm area and the top of the other series of lifts. Like all the other sides, the runs back down to Flachau are wide and long intermediate red pistes through the trees.

Those looking for slightly easier runs may prefer the unchallenging area around the Star Jet II and Space Jet II and a long looping blue run which crosses over the main red routes.

In between the settlements of Wagrain and Flachau is the Rote 8’er gondola, which again accesses the Kogelalm area and an interesting red run back down to the mid-station. Beginner and less adventurous intermediates will enjoy the area around the mid-station and the run back down to the valley.

The link into the Shuttleberg area between Flachauwinkl and Kleinarl also leaves from just under the Kogelalm.

Finally, over above Wagrain, the Flying Mozart gondolas also access the Kogelalm in two different stages. Once again, the runs to the parking area on the edge of the town are the familiar wide red runs with plenty of opportunity to stop for a drink or a bite to eat.

The difference with this valley run is the G-Link cable car, which starts half-way down the red run under the Flying Mozart gondolas and provides a way of getting over to the other side of the valley without skiing all the way back down to the floor and crossing Wagrain.