St Anton Blog from Duncan

SNOW NEWS:

The past week has see quite a lot of weather coming in. Pretty much everyday its been snowing and Wednesday looks to have a massive dump, although the winds are quite high so that the upper chairlifts (Ahlenmahderbahn, Schindlergrat) may well be closed due to avalanche risk and subsequently restricting access to the rest of the Arlberg ski area. Stuben yesterday was great fun, its nearly all north facing and so holds its snow very well, as you can see in the photos!

Resort News:

As we head towards the mid-season plans are already being made by locals and seasonairres alike for the two big races at the end of the season. The first is the Wacky races - not always taken seriously by all participants, but fiercely contested by regulars - is a team event relay with checkpoints disclosed only on the day and a stipulation that each team must have at least four members and that there must be at least one girl, one snowboarder and one telemarker/blader. It takes place in the spring and has a finishing party at Taps.
The next one is the Weisser Rausch, only for the expert or confident skier but great for everyone else to watch. Its a group start from Valluga, the highest point of resort, all the way down to town. There are uphill sections, flats and moguls and snow obstacles along the way and its every man for himself.

Review:

This week I have been looking at places to go for those with a bulging wallet. As part of the Arlberg area ski pass you have access to Zurs and Lech, both more salubrious destinations than the lively St Anton and well known for their lavish hotels, bars and restaurants both on and off the piste. In Lech specifically you can go celebrity or royalty spotting as well as spotting the lift that appears in the Bridget Jones movie. You can have oysters and champagne at the ice bar (yes, everything is made of ice!) on the piste too! Closer to St Anton is the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph, surely the best and probably the most expensive restaurants around, in a beautiful traditional Austrian farmhouse and boasting arguably the best wine cellar in the region.

Duncan Smith, St Anton, Austria