Having mastered the basics, Karen Creed falls head over heels for skiing on the Austrian slopes.
Accident prone people are generally a danger on the slopes. That doesn’t stop me from taking ski holidays. My motto is if there are mountains and snow, I will put my ski gear to good use. Having tumbled my way down the slopes of Vermont, grasped the basics in Tignes and perfected them in Lillehammer, by the time my fourth ski holiday came around I was feeling rather confident.
Austria came highly recommended from other passionate skiers. Given its landscape and climate it’s no surprise that skiing is one of the country’s most popular outdoor activities. Most of the Austrian Alpine resorts were villages before they were ski bases, and so retain a certain rustic charm. As I was soon to find out this is no pile-em-high, ski-em-cheap experience.
The country’s natural reserve means mountain tourism has stayed on the right side of rampant, while still offering a range of accommodation, high-tech lifts, and well-organised, connected ski areas. The ski zones offers spectacular scenery, much of it dotted with ski villages. It is also a great place for snowboarders, who can use all the tracks and lifts. Innsbruck in particular is considered Europe’s snowboarding capital while the popular ski resorts include St Anton, Bad Gastein and Kitzbühel.
Of all of the resorts gathered under the umbrella of the Kitzbüheler Alps, the one bearing the name is by far the best known on the international scene. Kitzbühel hosts The Hahnenkahm, one of the most treacherous and most famous of all of the downhill races on the world cup circuit.
As a result it has earned much publicity in the global village. The resort, combined with a host of satellite resorts, boast as formidable a selection of ski terrain and diversity as you are as likely to find anywhere in the alps. Kitzbühel is not a new resort either – but rather one that is steeped in history and glory. It is a multifaceted destination that attracts a large number of sophisticates as well as throngs of eager holiday skiers from all over the globe. Renowned as much for its après ski scene as its daytime activities, I knew I was going to like this place.
Waking up to blue skies, bright sun and perfectly powdered slopes, my ski holiday could not have started on a better note. My only concern was what ski group I should join – go back to my reliable beginners or else chance the advanced group. Regardless of how good a skier I may become, I will always do ski school. Apart from the skills and confidence it gives you to tackle tougher slopes, it’s the element of fun that lures me to it most. My sides ached more from laughing than the hardcore skiing after a week – all thanks to a great ski group. They were all average skiers who had accomplished the red slopes still rather apprehensive of the death-defying black. I was the most clumsy of the group, tackling every slope at a crazy speed. By day two I had earned the name Cannonball Karen.
Aching, tired and bruised, my hotel was my little haven every evening where I could indulge in all its comforts. In the middle of Kitzbühel lies the beautiful Hotel Kitzhof, embedded in magnificent nature and still only five minutes on foot from the picturesque city centre. Some evenings I would sit with a drink in the Kitz Lounge, and have a dreamy view over the towers of the city to the Kitzbühel Horn. Upon the other side, the Hahnenkamm looms from its best side – with the “Streif”.
The bedrooms and suites are designed like modern wood lodges, an innovative design with much old wood, glass, loden and modern furniture. In summer there is also the terrace, which has a waterfall, pool and a modern interpretation of a cottage garden. Like other premier ski areas, this hotel has wised up to the fact that skiers love to relax in style after a hard day on the slopes. Every evening I could enjoy the spa area with swimming pool, sauna, fitness equipment and even a massage.
Since we were on a half board basis we enjoyed a buffet style dinner every evening in the wood cabin style restaurant in the hotel. The food lived up to the gourmet standards that Austria prides itself on with plenty of tender meat and creamy cheeses in the local dishes. Outside the hotel there were numerous other diverse restaurants not to mention cafes serving hot chocolate and bars serving stronger tipples.
Karen went to Austria on a ski package with Directski www.directski.com
To book a ski holiday contact your local travel agent. A week’s half board stay at the 4* Hotel Kitzhof costs from € 989, with return Dublin, Ireland flights and transfers. www.directski.com or Telephone (IRL) 1890 201205
Unravel Travel www.unraveltravel.eu
Hi Karen,
What do you mean “average skiers” !!! – We were all crap if I remember.