Ineedsnow ski holidays blog » ischgl

New ski lift linking St Anton am Arlberg and Kappl in Paznauntal and maybe Ischgl?

mat — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:42:05 +0000

Sometimes new developments create as many problems as they solve. A new lift connection between St Anton am Arlberg and Kappl in Paznauntal is being much discussed in the region. So what do you do on a average morning in St Anton am Arlberg – 20,30,40cm of new snow – where to head. In the past it was pretty obvious – Stuben. But what if St Anton was connected to the Paznaun valley, directly into Kappl and maybe one day on into Ischgl, where then, west or south east? Well the St Anton – Kappl link is the long term project that is under a good deal of discussion in the region right now. With the upgrade of the Rendlbahn well under construction, the natural path south east into the Paznaun valley from St Anton am Arlberg is undergoing a major upgrade. Is the further link into Paznaun and the Kappl ski area on course for the coming years? What region worldwide would be able to compete with the combined St Anton – Ischgl region?

Which way to turn when knee deep in St Anton snow? Stuben or Kappl? - images © ineedsnow.com

A short video of the new Rendlbahn lift under construction and some of the architects impressions of the way it will look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WMyMBOIq2k

Mass start and mass pile-ups at the Frejn’s Freeride Inferno, Ischgl

mat — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:18:21 +0000

Frejn’s Freeride Inferno, Ischgl – image © ineedsnow.com

With plenty of new snow over the previous day or two, the Freeride Inferno, Ischgl took place in epic snow conditions. It was not a day for sun block or spring clothing though, it was biting cold at the top of Ischgl and intermittent snow, great conditions to keep the powder in good shape.

Long hike into the first route – image © ineedsnow.com

The first run took place over in Samnaun on the Swiss side of the connected ski area with Ischgl, whilst the second route was beneath the Palinkopf on the Ischgl side of the ski region. Mass starts ensured some classic pile-ups in the tight sections and around the first gates in the courses.

Mass start Freeride Inferno, Ischgl – image © ineedsnow.com

The after race ‘grill and chill’ took place in its usual location next to the Schwarzwasserlift with a fire, beer and food and a DJ tent. Great location and great event – Ischgl really know how to put on some epic events.

Tough routes through the rocks – image © ineedsnow.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7cAcjVRx-U

Frejn’s Freeride Inferno – Ischgl

mat — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:38:00 +0000

Mass start Freeride Inferno, Ischgl – image © ineedsnow.com

7th March 2009 – over 70 of Ischgl’s snowboarders and free skiers line up for a mass start downhill run. The 1 km decent is all off-piste and subject to last minute inspection before the race starts. The Frejn’s Freeride Inferno is followed by the “Grill & Chill” with video presentations of the race and a party round a fire in the high alpine. One of the better Freeride / off-piste events of the winter!

Kylie closes Ischgl – not literally, but KM will star at the season-closing concert at Ischgl

mat — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:14:59 +0000

Before we are all filled with dread that the season is set to close, this concert is taking place in May, well into spring and a testament to the people in Ischgl who recognise that some of us will be deep in spring depression by that time and they keep the lifts running longer than almost all resorts. Full details are:

Location: Idalp, Ischgl
Date: Saturday 2nd May 2009
Entry: free for those with lift-passes
Dress code: Ozzie cork hats

I am going to be requesting a back stage pass from Dominik at Ischgl Tourism, after all he got us tickets for the Ischgl Top Model Beauty Pageant

Ischgl for families – try See and Kappl

mat — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:51:25 +0000

Kappl in great conditions - image © ineedsnow.com

For families and those wanting a slower pace of things but also wanting to access the superb ski region of Ischgl then the neighbouring ski holiday resorts of See and Kappl are great options. I skied them for the first time this season, yesterday and conditions were superb. Cold and clear conditions that followed several days of heavy snow – you can get the idea

Both See and Kappl offer accommodation that is close to the skiing and much of the accommodation is in fact ski-in, ski-out. Lifts leave each resort from a central location and both See and Kappl offer a ski piste back to the resort that winds through large sections of the resort. Within the ski areas the emphasis is very much on families with dedicated kids ski areas at the mid stations and the skiing in both See and Kappl tends to favour the intermediate or beginner. For parents wanting to pop over to Ischgl and ski in one of the top ski areas in the Alps then one ski pass covers the Paznaun valley and all the resorts are linked by regular ski buses. See and Kappl are attractive and welcoming ski holiday resorts but lack the full-on après that Ischgl is a world beater for. Bars and restaurants are numerous but the pace of life in both See and Kappl are very much slower than Ischgl. I think they are both great options for families.

Its pretty good for big kids as well - image © ineedsnow.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSDUVQOhsOk

Ischgl powder, après ski and beauty contest: 13th Dec was hard to beat

mat — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:03:49 +0000

Well I am not sure days get too much better than this. After some great snowfall last week the skies cleared late Friday over Ischgl to serve up some fantastic skiing and this is only December 13th! We were invited by the great guys at Ischgl TVB to the Ischgl Top Model beauty contest that was running Saturday evening at the Pardorama Restaurant and myself and Innsbruck local Flo went along for some powder and great scenery.

Early in the morning we got some great runs through the trees from the Sassgalunbahn. As the skies cleared we went to the top section of the Ischgl area and although high winds closed the lifts to the Palinkopf, we took several routes down from the Greitspitz. Steep and superb routes with untracked snow although the skis will be in for a service this week – Ischgl is high and this early in the season the snow can be blown with rocks just below the surface off-piste. We took a lot of huge decelerations on our way to great banks of powder – helmets very necessary. And a message for all the snow domers in Ischgl this weekend who were heading off-piste, carry a peeps, shovel and probe – very un-cool and amateur to head off-piste without the right equipment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDiZLaBTN-4

Any fatigue from the day in the powder was soon forgotten as we sat at the Pardorama and were entertained by endless beauty queens that strutted their stuff. Miss Austria got my vote for her skiing ability, the rest was pure bonus.
The 13^th December 2008 will long hold a place in my heart – Ischgl delivered big time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJTLK6JtSdM

Any ideas for a better day then please post (publishable) thoughts below.

Axamer Lizum – Innsbruck serves up great powder skiing 12th Dec 08

mat — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:30:44 +0000

I wouldn’t expect any skier or boarder to favour anywhere other than their local hill in the right conditions. I am no different and for me Axamer Lizum always delivers great powder skiing, whilst untracked lines can be found days after the clouds have cleared. Today the clouds were still there but the crowds were few and the snow deep; Innsbruck has seen a great deal of snow this last week. It is not unheard of having great powder skiing as early as November and this year has been one of the very best starts to a winter that most can remember. The clouds are set to lift in the morning and we are off to Ischgl for a day of powder, après ski and an evening beauty contest all courtesy of the great people at Ischgl tourism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqJQaFcTi4M

Winter opening of the Ski Welt, St Anton and Ischgl

mat — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:27:40 +0000

So after the great snow of last weekend and the superb conditions of Sunday, the main resorts over here are set to open over the coming weekend. St Anton am Arlberg get things going on Friday with the start of a race weekend, whilst Ischgl is throwing another mega party on Saturday with Jenniffer Kae, Gabriella Cilmi and Leona Lewis. Also over the weekend the Ski Welt Wilder Kaiser and the Kitzbuhel / Westendorf ski areas are set to be linked when the ski area opens, creating the third biggest lift linked ski area in the world and the biggest in Austria.