Tyrol (Austria) > Reviews (6)

These days the skibuffs among you will watch the annual Hahnenkamm races in Kitzbühel, Austria´s prime World Cup racing event. Yes, and it´s "Kitz" (meaning kidgoat, Bühel standing for hill) which has been Austria´s pioneer skiingresort together with the Arlberg region (St.Anton, Lech and Zürs) for decades.

While I write down my memories of 38 years of skiing the world´s top slalom skiers prepare for their first run on the "Ganslern". Friday´s event was the SuperG, yesterday the famous downhill race on the "Streif" took place – both won by Stephan Eberharter, deservedly leader in the overall standings and successor of injured legend Hermann Maier.

Back to my roots: in 1964 my family of five – we lived some 50 km east of Vienna - took off for Kitzbühel in the Tyrolean Alps which was a day´s trip by car back then. Nowadays modern freeways and roads take you there in less than 5 hours. Kitzbühel is accessible by train from Salzburg or Innsbruck airports where you can fly in from England, Munich is also just 2 hours away.

Since then our X-mas and easter skiing trips have been spent at the house of relatives situated in the suburb of "Himmelreich", which translates to heaven, not uncommon in Austria´s holyest province. Ten years later it was right there that I procreated my son Marc – thus the title of this op - who still boasts proudly with "…having been made in heaven"!

Now without further ado: 262 funiculars and cabletows, 688 km of runs, some 300 with artificial snow for poor winters as skiing is possible between 700 and 2000 meters above sea-level. Info can be obtained online under www.kitzbuehel.com or by phone: +43 5356 6957, for room reservation dial +43 5356 62155-0.

A 6 day pass costs € 170,- for adults, kids up to 16 pay € 93,5. If you stay more than 2 weeks consider a season´s pass for € 461. Inserting the pass is no more necessary as it is equipped with either Key Card or Swatch access function. Your pass is also good for entry into all of the indoor swimming arenas and for the transfer buses between the different villages.

The quality of skiing is not only determined by the high standard of runs and the grooming – it is advisable to arrive either before X-mas, between January 7 and 31 or from the end of February until Easter week, during these times it is not crowded and prices for hotel rooms are considerably lower save for the racing weekend.

Even the non-skiers have lots of opportunities to spend a pleasantvacation: hiking, tobogganing at night, horsedrawn sledges, curling and crosscountry skiing can be arranged, equpment is provided for.

Apres-skiing is truly "in" in fashionable Kitz, so hurry after your last run to get a seat in the popular hangouts. Nightlife is high, the famous "Tenne" downtown has been the location of the "Miss Austria" pageant for decades, restaurants (for gourmets the "Giggling Stuben" and the "Unterberger Stuben" are highly recommended) and bars like "The Londoner" and "Stamperl" abound. Go and try a "Krapfen" (doughnut without hole filled with apricot marmalade) with hot chocolate at Praxmairs Sweets Shop just across from the Tenne. People with too much cash can try their luck at Roulette or Black Jack in the Casino.

I have skied in the Kitzbüheler Alpen both private and on duty as instructor for the kids of my school who get off for a skiing week once a year, we mostly staid outside of Kitzbühel in the small villages of Aurach and Jochberg where room rates are way lower than in Kitz.

Sorry, I got to take a break, the slalom-race has just started, Britain´s Alan Baxter will be contending with number 17....