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marcos am arlberg

Freeriding for the Fearless in Arlberg

10 freeride routes guaranteed to get the adrenaline pumping in Austria’s skiing Mecca.

Freeride Skiing Easy, Moderate, Difficult, Severe

marcos am arlberg
marcos am arlberg Photo: Hug Cirici

Description

The legendary Arlberg, famed for being the birthplace of Alpine skiing and still one of the most desirable snowsports destinations in the Alps. It’s a massive 305km ski area encompassing half a dozen traditional mountain villages in the far west of Austria. The reliable snowfall and heaps of powder make it a freerider’s wonderland.

All of the ski villages in the Arlberg area have their own unique charm, but serious skiers should head straight to St. Anton, which is renowned for being one of the best resorts in Europe for expert skiing. The lively little ski village sits at the base of Mount Valluga, a souring 2810m giant of the Austrian Alps. Only skiers accompanied by a mountain guide are allowed up the final cable car to Valluga’s 2,810m summit, so eager powder hounds will be sure to get their thrills on this epic off-piste descent. Here is a collection of freeride routes to get your Arlberg adventure started.

Sources: Thorne, P. (2014) Powder- The Greatest Ski Runs on the Planet. (2014) London: Quercus Editions Ltd. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ski/articles/Best-Austrian-ski-resorts/ https://www.skiarlberg.at/en

Routes included