Review of Kitzbühel, Austria

Resort Overview for Kitzbühel:

Kitzbühel is one of the best known names in skiing history and remains one of winter sports key destination resorts to this day. Residents of around 40 countries annually make the trip to the Tyrol to visit the resort marketed as 'The Pearl of the Alps'.

Located beneath the famous Hahnenkamm mountain, it has retained its compact village centre and traditional architecture which has grown from a thousand years of history. Today the village is a mix of the liveliest and most colourful international winter sports and après ski of a modern resort, with underlying sophistication in shopping, restaurants and accommodation. In short, there is the proverbial "something for everyone" here.

One of the earliest Austrian resorts to embrace downhill skiing, the first downhill skis arrived in the village in 1892 after a resident Franz Reisch, who later became mayor, read a book from Norway about the sport. Two years later a large consignment of skis arrived from Norway to be used in the first Ski championships at the resort. At that time downhill skiing was of the basic Telemark technique, Alpine skiing developed in the early twentieth century in Austria, and the first of the famous Hahnenkamm races was staged in 1931.

The Skiing in Kitzbühel:

Kitzbühel is a name synonymous with serious skiing, and conjures up images of historic victories in the great Hahnenkamm race by skiing legends like Franz Klammer. The 'Streif' run on the Hahnemkamm is actually 3200 metres long and racers hit speeds of around 140kph (88mph), around 50,000 spectators arrive each
season to watch this spectacular event. There are, however, a few other less internationally well known runs around Kitzbühel's mountains, better suited to we mere mortals.

160km (100 miles) of largely lift inter-linked ski runs on the Grossraum Pass include over 60 lifts giving a combined 75,000+ sph uplift between the neighbouring resorts of Aschau, Aurach, Jochberg, Kitzbühel, Kirchberg, Pass Thurn and Mittersill. There is a popular 35km (22 mile) one-day 'Ski Safari' route, with trails marked by an elephant symbol and a special guide available from the tourist office. Since winter 2007-8 the entire route has been covered by snowmaking.

Straying further afield the recently introduced giant Kitzbüheler Alpen Ski Pass takes in the skiing above more than 30 villages in the area and opens up a giant 700km (435 miles) of trails, served by over 260 lifts capable of uplifting 300,000 skiers every hour between them. Skiers and 'borders have a larger choice than usual of ski schools with five in operation, the largest of which is the internationally famous Rote Teufel School or 'Red Devils' with over 200 instructors offering tuition in all disciplines. Current snow conditions are broadcast through live film of the mountain peaks on the local cable TV service every morning.

Après Ski in Kitzbühel:

Kitzbühel is known for its lively and often sophisticated nightlife centred on the many restaurants, 40 or so bars and four discothèques. Especially popular bars include the Londoner on Franz Reisch Strasse and Goldene Gams on Vorderstadt. Warming drinks on offer include 'Jagertee' (tea with rum or schnaps) and
Glühwein. The Casino is open daily from 7pm with live music in the lobby from 9pm. There is also a cinema and other popular evening activities include bowling, tobogganing and sleigh rides. The ice rink is open from 8 to 10pm on Tuesday and Friday evenings.

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