| Austria has excellent snowfalls, world-class ski | | | | If you are an experienced skier looking for highly |
| resorts, slopes to suit all levels, it's easy to get to | | | | challenging off-piste runs, it is highly recommended |
| and it can also be very affordable if you look around. | | | | you hire the services of an experienced and certified |
| The largest and most moderately priced area is St. | | | | mountain guide. These professional guides know |
| Anton. This is an area that attracts serious skiers | | | | where to find the best snow and the best off-piste. |
| that are up at dawn to conquer the mountains. | | | | They also know the valleys, passes, mountains, and |
| There are specially designated parks and facilities for | | | | most importantly, they know the danger spots that |
| snowboarders and countless cross-country tracks. If | | | | should be avoided! |
| you are looking for deep powder off-piste (unmarked | | | | Snowboarders should visit in December and January |
| and ungroomed runs) and almost certain big | | | | when there is typically a lot of powder snow and |
| snowfalls, check out the Arlberg in western Austria. | | | | fewer people in the resorts. With fewer people on |
| The Arlberg is also the place to go for heli-skiing and | | | | the slopes, the virgin snow is a snowboarders dream. |
| heli-boarding. | | | | With the Northern Limestone Alps offering some of |
| The five famous ski resorts in the Arlberg region are | | | | the best snowboarding in Austria, St Anton attracts |
| at the towns of Lech, Zurs, Stuben, St Cristoph and | | | | snowboarders in droves as the destination of choice. |
| St Anton. There are about 85 lifts that operate here | | | | There are permanent road and pass closures in the |
| and a single lift pass links the resorts. St Anton is the | | | | Arlberg during the winter. It is highly recommended to |
| biggest resort in the Arlberg. Lech is the place to get | | | | check local information about road/pass closures that |
| your handmade boots (which also come in 1/2 sizes!). | | | | are affected by weather conditions. |