Top Events And Developments In Schladming-Dachstein For Winter 2018

The Schladming-Dachstein region is one of the top 5 touristic regions in the Alps. During the winter, it thrills its guests with a very well-established infrastructure for Alpine and Nordic skiing. As the venue of the Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2017 and 1993, the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2013 and 1982, as well as the 1999 Nordic World Ski Championships, the region has already been in the international spotlight several times.

A decade ago, the status that the Schladming-Dachstein region holds today was still just a vision in the minds of far-sighted decision-makers. In autumn 2007, the regional tourism associations and mountain railways adopted a new course in touristic development. The Schladming-Dachstein Tourismusmarketing GmbH was founded to increase their marketing power. In 2015, a further fundamental milestone was set. The merger with the tourism association for Ramsau am Dachstein has brought about the Austria’s largest touristic region, which recorded over 3 million overnight stays last year.

Mathias Schattleitner, the General Manager of Schladming-Dachstein Tourismusmarketing GmbH, gets straight to the heart of his philosophy: “The Schladming-Dachstein region has now been responsible for the promotion of the western part of the Styrian Ennstal for ten years. A lot has happened and has been a success during this time. Above all, the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games and the 2013 Alpine World Ski Championships were significant driving forces. Our performance as a touristic region can only then remain high if we work hard to make it even better. Right now, the most important thing to do is to get started, take the next step, and use our combined efforts to reach the next level.”

With two major events, the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games and 2013 Alpine World Ski Championships, turbo-charging the development of the Schladming-Dachstein region, it has become extremely dynamic in the past few years. The officials are continuing to look optimistically to the future.

In March 2017, the world’s biggest sports-social event of the year took place in Graz, Schladming, and Ramsau am Dachstein: The Special Olympics World Winter Games. 2,600 athletes from 105 countries took part in the event, while 630 accredited journalists formed an enormous international media presence. The Schladming-Dachstein proved just why the symbol of Styria is a green heart. Ennstal warm-heartedness – as an essential part of this Styrian heart – harmonised perfectly with the Games’ motto, “Heartbeat for the world”. And no wonder. After all, four years prior to that, another large event demonstrated this warm-heartedness to many. The “ski festival with a heart”, the 2013 Alpine World Ski Championships, brought over 300,000 visitors to the region – more than any Alpine World Ski Championships before it. Over 500 million people worldwide watched this event on their TV screens.

Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area: 123 kilometres of nonstop ski runs

The Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area incorporates the well-known ski mountains of Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen, and Reiteralm into one, in an offer unique to Austria: 123 kilometres of nonstop ski runs, as well as 44 modern cableways and lifts.

The Hauser Kaibling is the most eastern ski mountain of the Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area. With a guaranteed parking space, it has ideal conditions for a first visit. “The most beautiful ski runs” are not only an advertising claim by Hauser Kaibling, but a reality. A devoted team with a fleet of state-of-the-art piste grooming machines are in charge of ensuring that the slope preparation on this mountain is one of the best in Austria.

Skiing on Planai is skiing on the trails of world champions. Having hosted two Alpine World Ski Championships (2013 und 1982), Planai has won the attention of the international sporting world as a “World Championship Mountain”. The resulting expansion of the infrastructure brought about the following amenities for guests to enjoy:  wide slopes, highly efficient snow-making systems, a modern valley terminal building (Planet Planai) with a “one-stop shop”, and one of the most modern underground car parks in Europe.

A state-of-the-art 10-person gondola lift can transport up to 2,500 people to the peak of Hochwurzen every hour. On this mountain, you will see lugers, as well as skiers and snowboarders – both during day and night. With “Hopsi” ski runs, fun slopes, and slopes of varying difficulty, the Hochwurzen has made a name for itself as a family mountain in the past few years.

The Reiteralm is located at the western edge of the Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area. In the past few years, it has become established as a “training mountain for the world skiing elite”. During winter, the world’s best ski racers often train on the slopes that also enjoy popularity among non-racing athletes. At the International Ski Area Test, the Reiteralm was the only ski area in Europe to receive the “Triple Gold” piste quality seal.

The Reiteralm is a training mountain for the world skiing elite, the westernmost point of the 4-Mountain Ski Area here in Schladming. And now, as of winter season 2017/2018, it has added yet another exciting attraction!

Located right in the heart of the ski area, “Crosspark Reiteralm” opens its doors this winter. In terms of its dimensions and features, there’s nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world. Which means, this new park offers an ideal opportunity to experience the action-packed winter sport of “Ski Cross” up close and personal. On two separate courses, tailored to practically every skill level, the Crosspark promises unforgettable experiences for everyone!

"Our goal is to make the Reiteralm, our ski mountain, even more attractive to our guests and to present ourselves as an innovative ski area. Thanks to Crosspark Reiteralm, that’s exactly what we have succeeded in doing”, says the head of the Reiteralm lift company, Daniel Berchthaller.

With banked curves and all kinds of jump action on a total length of 750 meters, the regular course promises action for the whole family. One special highlight: Right at the end, daredevils even have the option to make a jump right through a mountain hut! For their part, the pros will be met by ideal conditions on an 1100-meters-long race- & training course. The course set-up doesn’t just guarantee optimal training results either: Thanks to its exciting features, it is also a perfect venue to host ski- & boarder-cross world cups. Members of the general skiing public can even see how they are able to handle a slightly water-down version of the pro course, allowing them to enjoy a taste of the nerve-tingling fascination of ski-cross competition.

Guests can begin their ski day on the Reiteralm with a delicious breakfast on the mountain. The hut hosts offer four varieties of breakfast between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.: crunchy “Alps breakfast”, healthy “Athlete’s breakfast”, hearty “White sausage breakfast”, or – for very eager skiers – a “Shorty breakfast”. Out of the investments made to upgrade the gastronomy sector on the Reiteralm in 2017, one in particular stands out - the Schnepf’n Alm. The Keinprecht family have generously expanded the guest rooms and panorama terrace. In the new “living room”, guests can enjoy excellent food and drinks with a clear view of Dachstein.

Cross-country skiing for sports enthusiasts and top athletes

A first-class network of cross-country skiing trails allows for pure enjoyment when cross-country skiing - on all of 435 kilometres in the Schladming-Dachstein region. The Ramsau am Dachstein location is one of the top destinations for cross-country skiing in the Alps. There, guests can also try out the trendy biathlon sport.

Pit stops with delicious treats

The culinary options on the ski mountains in the Schladming-Dachstein region are some of the best the Alps have to offer. In winter 2017/18, a few exciting features will be added, which will make the area even more unique and regional.

Investment focus: Après-ski

Après-ski experiences are the perfect way to end a fun day of skiing. In the Schladming-Dachstein region, the options in this area have been vastly developed to prepare for the 2017/18 winter season. The Hauser Kaibling cableway is responsible for the highest investment.

Alm Arena: A new local hotspot in Ennstal

“Gastronomy is a significant factor in what the ski mountain and region have to offer. This is why we have invested around €5.5 million in the new Alm Arena at the foot of Hauser Kaibling,” explains Arthur Moser, Director of the Hauser Kaibling Cableway. The two leaseholders and experienced restaurateurs Christian Steiner (Hotel Pichlmayrgut) and Christian Gappmayr (Posthotel Schladming) want to establish the highly-frequented location as a new hotspot in the region. “What many other businesses consider Premium, is our Standard. In the Alm Arena, it is our major goal to delight guests with après-ski that is on par with top international ski areas.” Modern and traditional elements shape the building style of the new structure. A glass dome, which can be opened in good weather, is the optical centre. Scrap wood, stone, and glass are the main materials.

Rustic: MühlStodl at the foot of the Reiteralm

Directly next to the valley terminal for the Silver Jet cable car, the Mitterwallner family established the ski lodge and après-ski bar Mühlstodl in 2017. The architecture of the new bar combines traditional lodge flair with modern elements. The diverse cuisine offers range from classic home cooking to gourmet cooking and is characterised by its high quality. Also on the Reiteralm, next to the upper terminus of the 6-person Gasselhöhe chairlift, Josef Payer has updated and expanded the Schirmbar. His après-ski also now features a large panorama terrace with a magnificent panoramic view.

The largest après ski location in Europe: Hohenhaus Tenne in Schladming

The Hohenhaus Tenne in Schladming is Europe’s largest après-ski location. The four-floor structure offers everything that you would expect from a top event venue - the two lower floors with Hohenhaus Alm (room for maximum 250 people) and the WM room (room for maximum 150 people) are perfect for all kinds of private functions. The location plays hosts to corporate and Christmas functions, as well as galas, balls, and much more. The two upper floors are used to celebrate the typical “Tennen après-ski” – in a unique atmosphere, with top DJs from the party scene and many live acts. For those who would rather bring their ski day to an end near the summit of Planai, Thomas Knaus extended his après-ski bar Almrausch is summer 2017. It is now twice as big as it used to be.