FIS RACE COURSES AND OFF-PISTE AWAIT THE ADVANCED & EXPERT SKIERS IN KITZBÜHEL
Aside from the Streif race piste, which most advanced skiers and snowboarders choose to tackle, the best advanced skiing in Kitzbühel takes place in the Steinbergkogel and Ehrenbachgraben sector. Easily accessed by the Hahnenkamm gondola, the area combines with the Hahnenkamm race course to produce a distinct, advanced sector in the Kitzbühel ski area. The pistes in the Steinbergkogel and Ehrenbachgraben area are steep and above the treeline. First tracks in this area can be fantastic, with steep corduroy on offer. In a natural bowl, the steep skiing is visible from the valley floor as well as from the chairlifts.
OFF-PISTE SKIING IN KITZBÜHEL
Better skiers and snowboarders should take a local guide and head off into the Kitzbühel off-piste. The gradients in the Steinbergkogel and Ehrenbachgraben provide some excellent off-piste routes. The off-piste routes are easily visible from the chairs serving the area and as well as being easy to reach by chairlift, there are also a number of tracks through the area where skiers and snowboarders can drop-off, into the powder. The Hahnenkamm sector at Pass Thurn also offers some great off-piste skiing, not necessarily as steep or as readily accessed as Steinbergkogel and Ehrenbachgraben but well worth a trip out as well.
SKI WELT
Outside of the Kitzbühel ski area, the neighbouring Ski Welt ski region can be accessed via the Westendorf ski area. Predominantly an intermediate Mecca, the Ski Welt does have some good steep skiing from the Hohe Salve, the iconic, domed peak which is visible from afar. On each side of the peak there are steep ski pistes as well as some off-piste that clients can access with a ski guide.
THE HAHNENKAMM STREIF
The crowning glory of any group ski trip to Kitzbühel, the infamous Streif race course on the Hahnenkamm peak is a must for good skiers and snowboarders. As well as testing themselves on seriously steep pitches, there is the whole allure of skiing down a race course that has welcomed every legend in the history of men’s downhill ski racing, albeit skiing at around 10% the speed of the racers. The top section is ridiculous, whilst being on the ‘Mausafalle’ and imagining a tucked, straight line descent is unfathomable. As group ski activities go, the Hahnenkamm race piste is one huge bonding session of shared experience, successes and spills. And for corporate ski groups, the fact that the Streif race course spills out in the resort outside the Streifalm is just genius – the most feared race course in the world, followed by world-beating après ski. The Streif is not available for the whole season and before and after the race weekend the course is prepared and decommissioned, at other times the Hahnenkamm ski route can be chopped up and mighty challenging.