Nine Top Ski Areas Awarded Styrian Slope Quality Seal

This year there are 9 ski areas that can look forward to the Styrian award."Each ski area that is allowed to bear this award is fully committed to the highest quality, safety and trust," congratulated Fabrice Girardoni, chairman of the specialist group. 

• This year's "newcomer" presents itself in a family and sporty way among the seal of approval winners: The Hauereck ski area, which sees itself as an "alternative to the large ski areas", is happy about the first award in 2022. Between 1,000 and 1,300 meters above sea level, there are three main runs, plus a fun park. A 4-seater chairlift and tow lifts take ski enthusiasts up the mountain, baby and practice lifts and magic carpets are free. The “Hauer”, i.e. the Willenshofer inn, is gastronomically convincing. In the valley there is the "Snowman Hut" and several huts on the slope. 
• Small, compact and everything right on site: The family ski area Mönichwald offers 5 km of slopes with three drag lifts and welcomes between 10,000 and 12,000 guests every year. The facility is particularly suitable for beginners who want to make their first turns. Calculated over the last 10 years, Mönichwald must have "created" around 40,000 new ski fans. Located at 1,000 to 1,300 meters above sea level, the ski area is snowed - new, energy-saving snow lances are currently being tested. Mönichwald is awarded for the second time. 
• The new 10-seater gondola is the pride of the Grebenzen ski area, which is happy about the second re-award: the booking requests are increasing and increasing. The investment means significantly more comfortable ascent, so that even less experienced ski fans can reach the highest point at 1,600 meters above sea level - and back again. The total of 23 kilometers of pistes in the ski area are snow-covered and therefore snow-sure. In addition, there is a 7 km long toboggan run, which can also be easily reached with the new gondola lift. 
• A brand new 10-seater gondola is now going up the Galsterberg. The ski area offers 15 kilometers of pistes and a 5 km natural toboggan run. The Gallic children's area "Galstiland" and the three "Funruns" are special treats for families with children. Attractions such as the wild boar hunt in Little Gallier Park, the 85 m long magic carpet and a musical skidoo made of wood await the little ones on the slopes. Tourers also get their money's worth on the versatile Galsterberg. The two ascent options start directly at the valley station and both lead via marked paths, either through the forest or over the piste to the mountain station of the Vorderkar chairlift at almost 2,000 meters above sea level.
• The Hauser-Kaibling is the easternmost point of entry into the Schladming 4-mountain ski area from Hauser Kaibling - Planai - Hochwurzen - Reiteralm. Here it goes up to over 2,000 meters above sea level. 16 ski huts await sports enthusiasts. The entire Schladming-Dachstein region is a member of Ski amadé, which includes 5 regions, 25 locations, 760 km of slopes and 270 lifts - all of this can be experienced with a single ski pass. A total of 123 kilometers of pistes await – from easy to difficult. 51 lifts take guests up the mountain. The popular ski area has received the coveted award for the seventh time.
• The Lachtal doesn't call itself "legendary" for nothing: It is one of the oldest ski areas in Styria. The first lift was put into operation here at the beginning of the 1950s. The Lachtal is home to world champion and World Cup winner Nici Schmidhofer and impresses with its high alpine character and spaciousness. 36 km of pistes and ski routes lead from 1,600 meters up to 2,222 meters above sea level. The mountain station of the "Zinkenlift" is the highest lift station in Styria. The Lachtal is also among the winners for the seventh time.
• The Mariazeller Bürgeralpe is also starting its seventh excellent year: The 8-seater gondola "Bürgeralpe-Express", two 4-seater chairlifts and a button lift ensure effortless ascent to the ski paradise, which offers 11.5 km of slopes and all levels of difficulty. A 2.5 km long natural toboggan run guarantees winter fun on two runners for young and old. The route with a great panoramic view leads from the mountain to the valley station of the 8-seater gondola.
• The Planai and Hochwurzen form the center of the Schladming 4-mountain ski area. In 2022, the railways will celebrate their 50th anniversary. 123 kilometers of pistes and 43 modern cable cars and lifts are available to winter sports enthusiasts. The Planai scores with its sporty descents, but is also very popular with families: big adventures await little ski fans in the “Hopsi Winterkinderland”. The neighboring mountain Hochwurzen invites you to go skiing, tobogganing and winter hiking.
• Just like Planai Hochwurzen, the Stuhleck ski area has again been crowned with an award. Comfortable 6-seater and 4-seater chairlifts take winter sports enthusiasts up the mountain quickly and safely. 26 km long and not too steep descents await ski fans. Thanks to the difference in altitude of 1,000 m, continuous descents of more than 5 km are possible in one piece. A separate children's adventure track makes children's hearts beat faster. In addition, 2 snow parks, a mogul run, steep curves and a figure obstacle course ensure enthusiasm among guests of all ages.

Quality, service and safety in winter sports 

"With the numerous awards, Styria shows itself to be a versatile and attractive winter sports region that scores with safety, different orientations and always the highest quality," emphasizes specialist group chairman Fabrice Girardoni, who also took the opportunity to speak to Economics and Tourism Minister Barbara Eibinger-Miedl for to thank the extension of the quality offensive. This enables small and medium-sized ski areas in particular to implement upcoming modernization of the infrastructure, for example with more energy efficiency and sustainable technologies. "In this way, the state is making a significant contribution to further raising the standard and facilitating urgently needed entrepreneurial measures," says the chairman, "especially in economically uncertain times."

According to Girardoni, the cable cars would do it. thank you as a reliable driver of added value and jobs in rural areas. “Because it is primarily the regions that benefit from the cable cars: the added value factor of 7.4 proves that for every EUR 1,000 in wages, salaries and profits paid, a total of EUR 7,400 in added value is created in the region. We are proud of this effect and we will do everything we can to continue to contribute to the prosperity of our country with our work in the future.” 

“Styria is a traditional winter sports region. Decisive for this is the variety and the high quality of the offer that we can offer the Styrians as well as our guests from home and abroad. The Styrian Piste Seal of Approval is the visible sign of this. Congratulations to all award-winning ski areas,” said Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Minister for Tourism.

Economic stimulus 

WKO Steiermark President Josef Herk also pointed out this enormous importance during the event: “The Styrian cable cars not only stand for top quality in winter sports, they are also an important economic driver in many regions. Her example in particular shows how essential the current energy issue is. If prices remain at this level, this will have lasting consequences for our operations and thus for general prosperity. We have to prevent this by all means, so it is important to set all levers in motion in the sense of an affordable energy supply," says Herk, who also took the opportunity to congratulate the award-winning cable cars on their outstanding work. 

With the first award from the Hauereck ski area, there are already 27 ski areas in Styria that have been awarded the Styrian slope quality seal. "The high standard when it comes to safety is particularly important. One goal is for more small ski areas to take part in the Styrian Piste Seal of Approval in the future, since our children in particular can learn to ski there", says Weihs, the chairman of the Piste Seal of Approval Commission.