Looking for endless groomed runs? Then head to SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental where 90 lifts connect 280km of tracks! The is the biggest interconnected ski area in Austria connects 8 little villages that all have their own valley run. This is one of the reason you will find numerous huts on the mountains and this area is well-known for its charming atmosphere.
Pros and cons of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental
Of course its hard to get bored in this area, with so many kilometer of tracks you can ski around the entire week without taking the same track. There are loads of valley runs with lovely views and a lot of mountain huts to sit back and relax. All towns are connected and therefore you can ski from one town to another. Make sure you get back in time to avoid a long bus ride back to your town.
If this still does not sound appealing enough this ski area is linked with the world famous ski resort of Kitzbuhel, though on a separate lift ticket or an additional fee. This is the place where the famous Hahnenkamp Run is held every year and is part of the FIS World Cup season. Austria has so many incredible events and places to travel that it makes it one of my favorite countries to travel in Europe. For a detailed destination guide for Austria, click the link!
The highest peak in the ski area does not even reach the 2,000m, which means runs are not so steep. For the experiences rider there is not a lot of challenging terrain. Slopes are more suited for beginners. Almost all runs are either red or blue. This area is perfectly suited for families and runs can be packed with classes of beginners and kids. Neither is this the ideal area for snowboarders with some flat areas around.
Due to its low altitude it can get quite hot even in winter, what of course affects the snow conditions a lot. Though they say the valley runs are open until the beginning of April I have had some difficulties already in February.
Freeriding in SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental
Freeriding is not popular cause its lacks steep terrain and freeriders won’t come here on powder days. Although its not big, like in all resorts there are definitely some opportunities. This means you won’t experience a lot of competition when there happens to be a dump!
Snowparks in SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental
The area has 3 Funparks, two smaller ones in Ellmau and Söll and a big one in Westendorf. Surprisingly the one in Westendorf is quite cool and specially suited for snowboarders, called Boarders Playground. It has a line for every level and within one lap you are able to hit 6-7 kickers, which is a fair amount. The obstacles range from the simplest ones to tricky rails. Being not such an experienced park rider I enjoyed the simple obstacles. It’s a perfect park to get in touch with this discipline of snowboarding. The park also has a separate pro-line for the experienced guys, next to the chill-out area.
Après ski in SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental
With so many villages around the ski area it is impossible to miss the après ski here. All the villages are connected by either busses or lifts, so there is the opportunity to have a drink in each town without worrying how to get back! The après ski already starts on the mountain. The more than 70 huts give you plenty of choice to take a break from skiing. Many of them still boost the traditional charm of Tyrolean huts and are very inviting to have one more drink. If you want to ski from hut to hut then this is the place to be! The towns of Ellmau and Going are fairly quiet, but in Westendorf, Hopfgarten and Söll you will find plenty of opportunities to celebrate a good day on the mountain!