TRAVEL: Austrian ski resort has the wow factor

Alan Shortt

“ARE we there yet? Are we there yet?” Yes we are!

 Only 50 short minutes from Salzburg Airport we arrive in the village of Flachau in the Salzburger Sportwelt, the winter centrepiece of the Ski amadé, Austria’s largest ski paradise with over 760 km of pistes, 270 lifts, 120 ski huts, 25 ski and snowboard schools, 16 toboggan runs and adrenaline-fueling freestyle snow parks and fun slopes. 

That should be enough for a one-week sunshine snow holiday in the spring!

Sunshine skiing

 The Salzburger Sportwelt is Austria’s very own Three Valleys ski area, comprising of Flachau, Wagrain-Kleinarl, St Johann-Alpendorf, Radstadt, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Eben and Filzmoos. The region is experiencing the best snow conditions for 30 years. 

 The resorts are all linked via shuttle buses and large new lifts with heated seats for your bottom and your back. The slopes are wide and well-groomed and perfectly set up for the intermediate skier. 

 To truly enjoy your snow space experience, rise early and get the first lift up the mountain, breathe in the crisp, cool clean air, step into your skis, smile for your selfie, lean forward and slowly cruise down the perfectly prepared piste, an 8km tree-lined snow crunchy carpet – nobody on your right, nobody on your left, just you and the mountain and your own private ski slope. 

 Springtime on the mountain guarantees sunshine, so you will need your factor 50 and, yes, you will get a suntan. 

 If you are travelling with beginners, you can look forward to their graduation from the nursery slopes, because the whole group will be spoiled for choice with the number of long winding blue runs, allowing skiers of all standards to explore the area together.

 Top tip: take the ‘Link to Heaven’ on the G-LINK to Wagrain – it includes a cable car breakfast while crossing the valley, early bird skiing and the ‘Snow Space Salzburg Challenge’, costing €65pp. 

Snow parks

 The ‘Absolut Park’ in Flachauwinkl-Kleinarl is one of the largest and best snow parks in the Alps. Expert snow shaper John Melville, from New Zealand, has shaped the XXL Superpipe and the 5x kickerline to international top standards. 

There are over 100 obstacles within the six sections of the 1.5km park. 

When you are finished your free-riding you can relax in the specially designed Chill house, with practice mini ramp, boulder climbing wall and yoga relaxation area. 

 If you like competition on the slopes, check out the ‘Absolut Park Spring Battle’, which runs from March 16-22.                  www.absolutpark.com

Where to stay

 The beauty of Flachau is that it’s a DIY holiday – the large tour agents are nowhere to be seen so all accommodation is done by direct booking, which means you decide where you stay.

 Just visit www.salzburgersportwelt.com for your full choice of accommodation. 

 We stayed in the fantastic four-star Hotel Waidmannsheil at the foot of the ski slopes, beside the ski lift, very close to the ski rental store and even closer to the brilliant après ski bar, the Hostadl Alm. The food in the hotel was superb, with a very reasonable wine list, and the pool and wellness suite were exquisite. www.hotel-waidmannsheil.at 

Where to eat

 The food up and down the mountain is excellent. Always ask the locals for advice: ask who serves the best spare ribs, the best Veal Wiener Schnitzel and please try the Kasenodelsuppe – crispy fried cheese dumplings in broth… yummy! The restaurants I recommend in Flachau are: Zomm Zottl, Herzerl Alm, Zum Holzwurm, and a beautiful rustic ski hut in Zauchensee called Burgstallhuette.

Have a day out

 Eat Mozart chocolate balls in stunning Salzburg. Spend the day humming songs from ‘The Sound of Music’ as you explore the ancient, narrow streets. Stand in the queue in Salzburg’s oldest bakery – Stiftsbackerei St Peter, still baking bread in the original 12th century wood fired oven. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch at Gastoff Goldgasse, where the Baroque recipes on the menu are from 1719 from the original cookbook, ‘Konrad Hagger – Neue Salzburger Kuche’. For dessert, have the Salzburger Nockerl – it takes 20 minutes to cook so put your order in now! 

How to get there

     Aer Lingus operates up to two daily flights from Dublin to Munich and a weekly flight from Cork on Saturdays up to March 30. Fares start from €39.99, one-way, including taxes and charges.

 Aer Lingus operates a service from Dublin to Salzburg until March 30. Fares start from €55.99, one-way including taxes and charges. 

For the best deals visit aerlingus.com

 The Salzburgerland Sportwelt region is located less than one hour from Salzburg, and is within easy access by bus, train or by private transfer.