Overview
St Anton is part of
Arlberg, Austria’s largest ski area with over 300km of pistes, and 55km2 of off-piste terrain. From beginners slopes right through to off-piste itineraries, there is a great variety of terrain. The majority (83%) of pistes are red or black, meaning the resort does favour more experienced skiers. However, the links to St Christophe, Zurs, Lech and Stuben mean all levels of skiers can find their own slice of heaven in the Arlberg.
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The infrastructure is modern and up to date- the most recent addition is a “chondola” – the Weibermahd is a hybrid of 6-seater chairlift and 8-seat gondolas to increase uplift and ease of use. The bus service is second to none, and free to use throughout the day.
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On the Slopes
There’s a great diversity of slopes for all levels in St Anton. Beginners can get their ski legs back on the Nasserein area before heading to Rendl, on the North-facing slopes to avoid the crowds. More experienced skiers can cruise around the Galzig area (between St Christophe and St Anton), looping back around to try the many different blue runs, or take the smooth reds down to St Christophe itself. If you’re looking for a challenge, try Kandahar – this black slope sports some serious moguls by the afternoon. If your legs aren’t jelly by the end, we salute you!
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Cross-country
St Anton loves its
cross-country! There is a 40km network of tracks along the valley floor, connecting the villages of St Christophe, St Anton, Pettneu and Flirsch. On Mondays and Fridays you can even cross-country in Pettneu right through to 9pm. Our favourite run is the St Christophe – St Anton trail, which is an intermediate track at 1,800m, and offers amazing views of the valley.
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Off-Piste
Arlberg is renowned for its off-piste, with lots of open faces and accessible entry points. That means if you want first tracks, you’d better be on the first lifts – or even better, hike up in the early hours.
The top of Valluga 1 (2,650m) allows access to valley walls, open bowls, chutes and steep gullies. It receives some of the highest snowfall levels in Austria, making those powder days even more epic. If you are looking for a serious challenge, head up Valluga 2 to 2,811m for more
extreme terrain. Beware – you won’t be allowed to ride the gondola without a qualified guide – that’s the level of experience required to tackle this mountain.
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Remember, you should never ski off piste without the correct kit and expertise. Always
Respect the Mountain.
The BASI Level 3 (ISIA) Exam
The BASI level 3 or ISIA (International Ski Instructor Association – as it’s otherwise known) is the next BASI qualification from Level 1 & 2. The BASI level 1 & 2 are great qualifications but they can be done as part of a gap year or independently. For the BASI level 3 exam, however, can […]
What Makes St Anton So Special For Trainee Ski Instructors?
Last winter season marked the first ever Work & Train Level 3 ISIA programme in St Anton. It was a phenomenal start – our 16 trainees clocked up a cracking 3,360 hours of work – an average of 210 hours per trainee. We spoke to some of the trainees to see what they thought.