First ski trip to Austria

Hello I will be arriving Austria Jan 6 2016 for two weeks ski vacation. This is first time skiing Alps. Coming from Texas and used to skiing the Rookies. I will be staying in the Mittersill area.I will have a car and be able to move around to different stations.I consider myself a intermediate skier looking for reds and blues, some powder but not deep. I have been skiing since 1960 but knees and age have kept up with my love of the sport. I gather I board a cable car and ride around to different mountains? Totally in the dark about this. Would like to hear everyone's suggestions and comments on skiing,lifts,etc. Thank you in advance.

Hi Michael, welcome.

You no doubt know that Mittersill itself is pretty small but you're going to be right in the middle of a whole range of great ski stations (Mayrhofen, the Ski Welt, Saalbach, etc. are all within striking distance).

What sort of skiing are you looking for, and will you have a car or be relying on public transport? A few of the forum regulars frequent that area so if you tell us a little more about what you like to ski, you should get some good advice.

Hello Michael.

I love Austria, the people are friendly, the food is lovely and the skiing can be outstanding. Without trying to throw a spanner in the works, have you considered a '2 centre' trip,which will give you a rest in between skiing?
I love the voralberg region (Lech, St Anton etc) and Lech in particular sounds perfect for you, and the area isn't too far away from where you are staying. Please let me know if I can help in anyway.

Best of luck

Steve

Thank you Steve.
Please explain what a 2 centre trip consist of. Would this refer to 2 different resorts? Im changing location to Kossen just a little north Kitzbuhel. I have read very good reviews on Kitzbuhel. My itinerary is wide open on where I go. Some reviews I've read on Innsbruck have not been good. Good reviews on St Anton, etc. So thanks for any info you can provide.

Michael

Hi Michael. a '2 centre' is pretty much as it sounds.....stay in a location, then move onto a different place. I only mention it as admin rightly mentioned that Mittersill is not huge, but not far away there are some amazing places to explore.

I agree with Innsbruck, I've been a few times and it isn't the prettiest of towns, whereas other places like St Anton, Kitzbuhel and Lech have lovely towns, as well as superb skiing.

These are dilemmas that I love, because regardless of what you choose, skiing is skiing!!!!

We are returning for the 7th time to Austria and we stay in the ski circus region. Leogang. It's has fantastic links to a huge region. Also there are some lovely little isolated resorts and a massive plus is the kitzsteinhorn glacier 20 minute drive or bus away. So if the snow is poor then this is a great fail safe. For me it's got everything and we will continue me to return.

Hi Michael, welcome to J2ski. I will be making the return journey in March, skiing in Colorado.

There are a few issues that I might help with.

Re the Innsbruck base, the closest skiing, where the Gondola goes directly from Innsbruck, up to the Nordkette area. This is a fairly steep area.

If you have a car, you can access some other close areas, including the Stubai glacier.

Depending on when you hit the Kitzbuhel area, you might be around for the Hahnenkamm week. I go most years, although nowadays I tend to go on downhill training day ~ you get all the same action as the downhill, without the financial hit. The training day is Tuesday 19th January. (I am always in Niederau 0n the 18th January!)

Yes, I agree with the Leogang suggestion, providing a good route into Saalbach/Hinterglemm.

There are many other great areas in Austria. It sounds like we have been skiing for a similar amount of time. I have skied in many areas in the world, and although my favourite all time run is in Colorado, my heart will always lie in Austria. I have skied over 200 weeks in Niederau alone.

One key factor to consider is your lift pass. From the places you have mentioned, you are likely to need the Tirol pass. The Kitzbuhel area, which would include Leogang, and many other areas, would be covered by the Allstar pass. But this would not cover the Innsbruck area, so is an unlikely solution.

With some passes, but increasingly fewer, age may count favourably on price.

Also, with some passes, if you are in an region for more than two and a half weeks, a season pass may be a lower cost solution, although, generally, the age benefit tends to disappear. I have bought season passes for the past 15 years or so.

If a season pass is a viable solution, you have a window of opportunity to reduce your cost. Normally, if you buy your pass prior to 5 December, there is a significant cost saving.

I would be quite happy to look at your ski pass options,and provide you with the relevant websites You can put your itinerary info here or PM me.