Extreme ‘Krip’ – some of the very best extreme off-piste in the Alps – Krippenstein Freeride Arena
Just back from a weekend in the superb and challenging Krippenstein Freeride Arena. The skis in the hire shop and on the cable car tell the story of Krippenstein (or as the locals call it ‘Krip’). From shoulder height all you can see on the cable car are fat, if not huge powder planks, often with helmets balanced on the tips. Backpacks and airbags are abundant – this is very, very serious terrain. The Krippenstein Freeride Arena is one of the true, elite off-piste Meccas in the Alps. The cable car base station is located in front of a sheer rock wall, whilst the top lift station and ‘ski area’ are located on the relative plateau high above the car park. The total ski piste area is dwarfed by the length of the off-piste ski routes, whilst those too are extended unofficially by variants on the ski routes. Make no mistake, this is absolutely an off-piste ski region that requires a local guide if you are going to take any of the off-piste ski routes. The terrain is very steep, has some light tree cover and often has superb powder skiing on offer. The routes are also littered with rock faces, snow covered caves and frozen water falls. For the better skiers and snowboarders needing some of the most challenging off-piste terrain in the Alps, you simply have to go to the Krippenstein Freeride Arena.
Guides are absolutely essential - image © ineedsnow.com
Ski touring onto the local glaciers is popular - image © ineedsnow.com
Conditions yesterday, 1st Feb were superb - image © ineedsnow.com
And for a big change the Dacstein West ski region is ideal for families and intermediates – it was good to take a few mellow runs after the Krip the day before 
I’ve skied the Krippenstein & Dachstein West for a few years now, not upto the extreme stuff of the Krippenstein, as a competent intermediate the 140km at Dachstein West is ideal, but the 11km run down to the bottom of Krippenstein is great, with very few other skiers you can really push yourself without worrying about other skiers/boarders around you.
The village of Obertraun at the base, is laid back, quiet drink sort of place, no huge apre-ski, but a really welcoming atmosphere. Rooms at the Obertrauner Hof are clean, functional and reasonably priced, at the centre of the village and a restaurant/bar on the ground floor. Will definitely be visiting again!
Hi Trevor, thanks for your comments, I have just discovered this place, something that you seemed to do some years before me. Unfortunately I did not get to do the run out to the valley as I was deep into the steep stuff coming down from the top station. I have to say that the Krippenstein Freeride Arena is one of the most impressive off-piste ski areas in the Alps, and yes having skied the Dachstein West the following day, the tree-lined cruisers are really ideal for intermediates and families. Together the areas pretty much cover all bases – I was hugely impressed and will be back. Obertraun I found as you described it – laid back and welcoming, everyone stopped to chat and we hung out in a great bar / restaurant beneath the Obertrauner Hof – pool and darts but no pork scratchings