Hinterstoder And Wurzeralm Ski Areas: Successful Ski Season Thanks To Plenty Of Sunshine

Although the Wurzeralm and Hinterstoder ski areas have just closed, the past season has been a positive one. The two Upper Austrian ski areas recorded a 7% increase in ski visitors compared to the previous year and an absolutely top record in terms of sunny days.

Early snow and lots of sun

"Three factors are largely responsible for our successful results: early snowfall, plenty of sunshine, and a tireless piste team," says Helmut Holzinger, CEO of Hinterstoder-Wurzeralm Bergbahnen AG. Thanks to the snow conditions, the ski areas were able to open as early as the end of November. Numerous sunny days even before the Christmas holidays and a compact blanket of natural snow at the start of the season laid the foundation for a successful winter season.

First season with dynamic pricing

"The switch to dynamic pricing for ski tickets was also new. By booking early, many guests were able to enjoy great-value ski days," says Holzinger. High demand on some sunny weekends did mean that day tickets were more expensive than in the past. However, many skiers took advantage of the opportunity to book early to purchase ski tickets that were significantly below the usual daily prices. "Although there was some explanation required at first, the dynamic pricing model has now become accepted by our guests, as many are familiar with it from other sectors, such as the hotel industry or air travel," says Helmut Holzinger. The dynamic pricing model also ensures better and more efficient management of the flow of guests. This season, the valley was not closed once due to an excess of guests arriving.

Piste teams successful despite little fresh snow

The early snowfall in mid-November 2025 laid the foundation for this season's success. With tireless efforts, the piste teams in Hinterstoder and on the Wurzeralm prepared the foundation for a successful winter season from the natural snow cover. All guests benefit from the compact snow cover produced at the beginning of the season until the end of the season. "Thanks to the expertise of our snow masters and the piste team, we managed to keep the slopes in excellent condition until the end, even though there was relatively little new snow during the season," says Helmut Holzinger.

303 hours of sunshine

The number of sunny days in Hinterstoder and on the Wurzeralm peak set a record this season. With 303 hours of sunshine, this year's winter ranks third in the ranking of the sunniest ski season in 25 years. According to GeoSphere Austria, only 2016/17 (337 hours) and 2013/14 (323 hours) had more hours of sunshine. "Dry air and frequent high-pressure weather created excellent conditions for skiing on the slopes. The many sunny days in February during the semester break were perfect timing for vacationers in the ski area," says Josef Haslhofer of GeoSphere Austria.

Exciting event program as a success factor

The numerous events that take place every winter on the Wurzeralm and in Hinterstoder are also an important part of the successful season. These include the Stodern – traditional mountain food, the Genussgipfeln (culinary summit), the Flirt Carousel, the numerous après-ski parties at the Löger-Hütt'n and the Bärenhütte, and the Almdudler x Napoleon Winter.Grillgaudi, which attract thousands of guests to the two ski areas every year.