Ski Arlberg

Last updated
Ski Arlberg
Sonnenkopf Ski Arlberg (203037193).jpeg
Location Vorarlberg, Tyrol (Austria)
Nearest major city St. Anton am Arlberg, St. Christoph am Arlberg, Stuben am Arlberg, Lech am Arlberg, Zürs am Arlberg
Top elevation2,811 m (Valluga-top)
Base elevation1,269 m
Skiable area>300km of prepared pistes >200km of unprepared back country for freeriders
Lift system 85 lifts
Website https://www.skiarlberg.at/en

The Ski Arlberg ski area is situated in the Arlberg massif in the states of Vorarlberg and Tyrol (Austria).

Contents

Since the winter of 2013–14, the villages of Lech, Oberlech, Zürs and Zug have been linked to the Warth-Schröcken ski area which makes Ski Arlberg the largest connected ski area in Austria. [1]

Geography

Since 2013, the ski resort includes the villages of Klösterle, Lech, Oberlech, Schröcken, St. Anton am Arlberg, St. Christoph am Arlberg, Stuben, Stubenbach, Warth, Zürs and Zug. [2]

The ski area consists of two parts, namely:

The highest elevation of the ski area is the top of the Valluga mountain at 2,811 m above sea level in St. Anton. [4]

View from the Sonnenkopf (Klostertal) Sonnenkopf Ski Arlberg (203037195).jpeg
View from the Sonnenkopf (Klostertal)

History [5]

In 1884, Emperor Franz Joseph I opened the Arlberg Railway, opening up the Arlberg region to visitors. [6] The Arlberg Ski Club was founded in 1901 and the first race took place in 1904, before there were any lifts or prepared slopes. In 1921 the first ski school was founded in Arlberg. Later, in 1931, the first of several films, Der Weiße Rausch, directed by Arnold Fanck, was made. In 1937, Austria's first tow lift and the first gondola lift went into operation in Zürs. [7] n 1983, Michael Manhart invented the Arlberg Jet, a snowmaking machine used exclusively at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Since the 2013/14 season, Lech has been connected to Schröcken by the 10-person Auenfeldjet gondola, making Ski Arlberg the largest connected ski area in Austria and one of the five largest in the world. [8] [1] For the 2016/17 season, the 10-person Flexenbahn gondola lift opened between the Arlberg East and West areas. [9] [10]

Lift system

The Flexenbahn gondola Flexenbahn .jpg
The Flexenbahn gondola

The ski area has a rich lift system consisting of a variety of aerial and surface lifts including 15 cable cars (cable cars, gondolas and funitels), 45 chairlifts (14 2-person lifts, one 3-person lift, 13 4-person lifts, 16 6-person and one 8-person lift) as well as 28 drag lifts. [11] A remarkable lift is the Weibermahd which is a combination lift, meaning that 8-person chairlifts and 10-person gondolas alternate on the same rope. It is the first combination lift installed in Vorarlberg and was manufactured by the Austrian-Swiss company Doppelmayr. [12]

St. Anton – St. Christoph – Stuben [13]

  • Albonabahn I (2-person chairlift)
  • Albonabahn II (gondola)
  • Albonagratbahn (2-person chairlift)
  • Angerlift (drag lift)
  • Arlenmähderbahn (6-person chairlift)
  • Fangbahn (4-person chairlift)
  • Galzigbahn (funitel)
  • Gampbergbahn (6-person chairlift)
  • Gampenbahn (4-person chairlift)
  • Kapallbahn (6-person chairlift)
  • Kindlisfeldlift (drag lift)
  • Maassbahn (2-person chairlift)
  • Maienseelift I (drag lift)
  • Maienseelift II (drag lift)
  • Mattunbahn (4-person chairlift)
  • Muldenlift (drag lift)
  • Nasserein-Kinderpark (practicing drag lift)
  • Nassereinbahn (gondola)
  • Nassereinlift (drag lift)
  • Osthangbahn (4-person chairlift)
  • Rauzlift (drag lift)
  • Rendlbahn (gondola)
  • Riffelbahn I (2-person chairlift)
  • Riffelbahn II (2-person chairlift)
  • Salzbödenlift (drag lift)
  • Schindlergratbahn (3-person chairlift)
  • Schöngrabenlift (drag lift)
  • St. Christophbahn (4-person chairlift)
  • Tanzbödenbahn (6-person chairlift)
  • St. Christoph (practicing drag lift)
  • Valfagehrbahn (6-person chairlift)
  • Vallugabahn I (cable car)
  • Vallugabahn II (cable car)
  • Vallugalift (drag lift)
  • Walchlift (drag lift)
  • Zammermoosbahn (4-person chairlift)
  • Gampen I (practicing drag lift)
  • Gampen II (practicing drag lift)

Lech – Oberlech – Zürs [14]

  • Auenfeldjet (gondola)
  • Babylift Berghof (drag lift)
  • Babylift Zürs (drag lift)
  • Balmengrat (drag lift)
  • Bergbahn Oberlech (cable car)
  • Flexenbahn (gondola)
  • Hasensprung (6-person chairlift)
  • Hexenboden (6-person chairlift)
  • Hinterwies (drag lift)
  • Kriegerhorn (6-person chairlift)
  • Madlochbahn (2-person chairlift)
  • Muggengrat (6-person chairlift)
  • Petersbodenbahn (6-person chairlift)
  • Rotschrofen (2-person chairlift)
  • Rüfikopfbahn I (cable car)
  • Rüfikopf II (cable car)
  • Schafalp (drag lift)
  • Schlegelkopf (2-person chairlift)
  • Schlegelkopf (4-person chairlift)
  • Schlosskopf (2-person chairlift)
  • Schüttboden (drag lift)
  • Seekopf (4-person chairlift)
  • Ski school lift (drag lift)
  • Steinmähder (8-person chairlift)
  • Superbaby (drag lift)
  • Trittalp (6-person chairlift)
  • Trittkopfbahn I (gondola)
  • Trittkopfbahn II (gondola)
  • Weibermahd (combination lift)
  • Zugerberg (2-person chairlift)
  • Zürsersee (4-person chairlift)
  • Practicing slope (6-person chairlift)
  • Practicing lift Flühen (drag lift)
  • Practicing lift Oberlech (drag lift)
  • Practicing lift Schwarzwand (drag lift)

Warth – Schröcken [15]

  • Dorfbahn Warth (gondola)
  • Hochalpbahn (4-person chairlift)
  • Jägeralp-Express (6-person chairlift)
  • Karhornbahn (2-person chairlift)
  • Kitzeliftle (drag lift)
  • Kuchlbahn (2-person chairlift)
  • Körbliftle (drag lift)
  • Salober-Jet (6-person chairlift)
  • Skischaukel Falken-Körbersee (2-person chairlift)
  • Skischaukel Falken-Spielboden (2-person chairlift)
  • Sonnen-Jet (6-person chairlift)
  • Sonnencruiser (4-person chairlift)
  • Steffisalp-Express (4-person chairlift)
  • Wannenkopfbahn (4-person chairlift)
  • Wartherhorn-Express (6-person chairlift)

The White Ring

The famous "Der Weisse Ring" sign is located at the mountain station of the Rufikopfbahn. Der Weisse Ring.JPG
The famous "Der Weiße Ring" sign is located at the mountain station of the Rüfikopfbahn.

The White Ring (German: Der Weiße Ring) is one of the longest ski circuits in the world (22 km). It comprises five downhill runs, five ropeways, an intensive ascent and a backcountry ski run and 5,500 metres of altitude difference. [16]

For the 50th anniversary of the ski circuit, the first White Ring ski race was held in the 2005–06 season. The course record is 44:10:75 minutes and held since 2010 by Markus Weiskopf. [17]

FIS Alpine Ski World Cup

The Ski Arlberg ski resort has been the venue for numerous World Cup ski races in the past, including the following: [18] [19] [20]

super G (women), winner: Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI)

In 2020, the Audi FIS Ski World Cup was postponed to 26 and 27 November due to a lack of snow and high temperatures on the original dates of November 14 and 15. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vorarlberg</span> State of Austria

Vorarlberg is the westernmost state of Austria. It has the second-smallest geographical area after Vienna and, although it also has the second-smallest population, it is the state with the second-highest population density. It borders three countries: Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The only Austrian state that shares a border with Vorarlberg is Tyrol, to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gondola lift</span> Aerial transport by cable

A gondola lift is a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift which is supported and propelled by cables from above. It consists of a loop of steel wire rope that is strung between two stations, sometimes over intermediate supporting towers. The cable is driven by a bullwheel in a terminal, which is typically connected to an engine or electric motor. It is often considered a continuous system since it features a haul rope which continuously moves and circulates around two terminal stations. In contrast, an aerial tramway operates solely with fixed grips and simply shuttles back and forth between two end terminals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detachable chairlift</span> Type of high-speed chairlift

A detachable chairlift or high-speed chairlift is a type of passenger aerial lift, which, like a fixed-grip chairlift, consists of numerous chairs attached to a constantly moving wire rope that is strung between two terminals over intermediate towers. They are now commonplace at all but the smallest of ski resorts. Some are installed at tourist attractions as well as for urban transportation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zermatt</span> Place in Valais, Switzerland

Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a year-round population of about 5,800 and is classified as a town by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Plagne</span> Ski resort in Savoie, France

La Plagne is a French ski area in the alpine valley of the Tarentaise (Savoie). Since 2003, La Plagne and the neighbouring resort of Les Arcs form Paradiski's ski area. It is currently owned by Compagnie des Alpes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial lift</span> Method of cable transport

An aerial lift, also known as a cable car or ropeway, is a means of cable transport in which cabins, cars, gondolas, or open chairs are hauled above the ground by means of one or more cables. Aerial lift systems are frequently employed in a mountainous territory where roads are relatively difficult to build and use, and have seen extensive use in mining. Aerial lift systems are relatively easy to move and have been used to cross rivers and ravines. In more recent times, the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of aerial lifts have seen an increase of gondola lift being integrated into urban public transport systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Anton am Arlberg</span> Place in Tyrol, Austria

Sankt Anton am Arlberg, commonly referred to as St Anton, is a village and ski resort in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It lies in the Tyrolean Alps, with aerial tramways and chairlifts up to 2,811 m (9,222 ft), yielding a vertical drop of 1,507 m (4,944 ft). It is also a popular summer resort among trekkers and mountaineers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlberg</span> Massif in Austria

The Arlberg is a massif between Vorarlberg and Tyrol in Austria. The highest peak is the Valluga at 2,811 metres (9,222 ft). Ski resorts at the Arlberg include Lech, Zürs, Stuben, St. Christoph, St. Anton, Oberlech, Stubenbach, Zug, and Warth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellmau</span> Place in Tyrol, Austria

Ellmau is a municipality in the district of Kufstein in the Austrian region of Sölllandl. It lies 12 km southeast of Kufstein and 9 km west of Sankt Johann in Tirol. It is located at an elevation of 820 m above sea level. It was mentioned for the first time in the records in 1155 and is nowadays part of the Ski Welt skiing area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zürs</span> Place in Vorarlberg, Austria

Zürs is one of the most renowned winter sports resorts in the Alps. Located in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg, almost directly on the border to North Tyrol, near the Flexenpass, Zürs is part of the Arlberg region, which also includes Lech, Oberlech, Zug, and Stubenbach. This region offers 87 ski-lifts, 200 kilometers of deep snow slopes and 305 km of ski runs. It has several hotels and guest houses, with a total of over 1,700 beds. It is popular for its downhill skiing, but also for its backcountry skiing and its Olympic ski championships. About four kilometers north of Zürs is Lech am Arlberg, another ski resort which is linked to Zürs not only via road, but also via ski lifts and pistes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lech (Vorarlberg)</span> Village in Austria

Lech am Arlberg is a mountain village and an exclusive ski resort in the Bludenz district in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg, on the banks of the river Lech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Åre ski resort</span> Ski resort in Jämtland, Sweden

Åre is a ski resort in Jämtland, Sweden, founded 115 years ago in 1909 and owned by SkiStar AB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katschberg Pass</span> Mountain pass in Austria at the border Carinthia / Salzburg

Katschberg Pass is a high mountain pass in the Central Eastern Alps in Austria between Rennweg am Katschberg in the state of Carinthia and Sankt Michael im Lungau in Salzburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid lift</span> Type of ski lift

A hybrid lift is a type of ski lift that combines the elements of a chairlift and a gondola lift. First introduced by Poma, who refers to them as Telemix, they have since been built by most lift manufacturers who refer to them by a variety of names; Doppelmayr refers to them as a combined lift, Bartholet refers to them with the French name, téléporté mixte, while the more generic terms chondola and telecombi are common in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plose</span> Mountain in Italy

The Plose is a massif with several peaks near Brixen in South Tyrol, Italy. Its peaks are: Telegraph, Pfannspitze and Gabler. It is bordered by the Eisacktal to the west, the Lüsner Valley to the north and east and the Aferer Valley as well as the Würzjoch to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SkiWelt</span> Austrian ski resort

The SkiWelt is Austria's largest interconnected ski area. It has 90 Cable car lifts and Ski lifts, 280 Kilometers of Ski Pistes, and 77 Ski Huts. The member villages are: Brixen im Thale, Ellmau, Going, Hopfgarten, Itter, Kelchsau, Scheffau, Söll and Westendorf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arosa Lenzerheide</span> Ski area in Switzerland

Arosa Lenzerheide is a ski area located in Arosa, Lenzerheide, Valbella, Parpan and Churwalden, Graubünden/Switzerland. It originated 2013/14 by connecting the existing ski areas of Arosa and Lenzerheide. With a total of 225 kilometers of ski slopes and 43 cable cars it is the largest contiguous ski area in Graubünden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuben am Arlberg</span> Winter sports resort in Klösterle, Vorarlberg, Austria

Stuben am Arlberg is a winter sports resort in the town of Klösterle in the westernmost Austrian province of Vorarlberg. It is located at an altitude of 1,410 meters and had 90 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The White Ring (ski circuit)</span> Ski circuit and ski race in Austria

The White Ring is a ski circuit and ski race in the area of Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg (Austria). It is located in the Ski Arlberg ski resort. With 22 km, it is the longest ski round trip in the world. It features 5,500 m of altitude difference. The circuit comprises 5 downhill runs, 6 lifts, piste ascents and a cross-country ski run.

References

  1. 1 2 "BERGFEX: Ski resort St. Anton am Arlberg - Skiing holiday St. Anton am Arlberg - Winter resort St. Anton am Arlberg". www.bergfex.com. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
  2. "Pisten St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth/Schröcken – Ski Arlberg - Abfahrten/Skipisten St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth/Schröcken – Ski Arlberg". www.skiresort.at. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  3. "Ski Arlberg - Tirol - Österreich". tirol.tl (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  4. Tourismusverband St Anton am Arlberg. "Aktuelles zum Arlberg Skigebiet" (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  5. "Skigeschichte | skiarlberg.at". www.skiarlberg.at (in German). Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  6. "Der Bau der Arlbergbahn 1/2 – Die Arlbergbahn" (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  7. "Ski Arlberg - Tirol - Österreich". tirol.tl (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  8. "Save on the Arlberg | skiarlberg.at". www.skiarlberg.at. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  9. "Pisten St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth/Schröcken – Ski Arlberg - Abfahrten/Skipisten St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth/Schröcken – Ski Arlberg". www.skiresort.at. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  10. "Flexenbahn | skiarlberg.at". www.skiarlberg.at (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  11. West, Ski Arlberg, Pool. "Cableways and slopes". Ski Arlberg, Pool West. Retrieved 2019-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. "8/10-CGD Weibermahd | References". www.doppelmayr.com. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
  13. West, Ski Arlberg, Pool. "Cableways and slopes". Ski Arlberg, Pool West. Retrieved 2019-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. West, Ski Arlberg, Pool. "Cableways and slopes". Ski Arlberg, Pool West. Retrieved 2019-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. West, Ski Arlberg, Pool. "Cableways and slopes". Ski Arlberg, Pool West. Retrieved 2019-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. "The White Ring - The History". Lech Zürs. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  17. "Tiroler Weiskopf gewinnt "Weißen Ring"". ORF. 11 April 2012.
  18. "ZÜRS BEKOMMT WELTCUP ZUSCHLAG". Lech Zürs (in German). Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  19. "World Cup St. Anton (AUT)". www.fis-ski.com. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  20. "Previous Results". Arlberg Kandahar Race. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  21. "Schneemangel: Parallel-Rennen in Lech/Zürs wird auf den 26./27. November verlegt". Ski Weltcup Saison 2023/24 (in German). Retrieved 2023-09-27.