When you stand in front of the lift in Sportgastein at 8 a.m., have already seen the snowflakes falling during the night and creating a fresh layer of snow on the slopes, then every winter sports fan’s eyes shine. We caught exactly one such perfect morning on the third stop of our #5weeks5peaks Challenge. And so we took the opportunity to carve our tracks on the Freeride slopes of Sportgastein together with the outdoor influencers @florian.ganser, @shazza_m, @kuscheiart, @c.oberschneider, @kleinerriese, @patrese and @katharinawildenhof.
First breakfast, then Freeride fun
But before we ventured out into the powder with our deep-snow professionals from the ski school Freeride Gastein, we had to go up a bit after getting off at the mountain station of the Goldbergbahn. We went uphill to the summit cross of the Kreuzkogel at 2,688 m, where you can enjoy an incredible view in good weather conditions. By now we absolutely deserved a breakfast, and after the joint summit victory we visited the glass-aluminium dome of architect Gerhard Gastenauer, where a wonderful breakfast was served with numerous regional delicacies. A must for every taste lover!
Gourmet breakfast and summit victory in Sportgastein
- Date: Wednesdays
- Meeting point: 08:00 a.m. Cashdesk of the Goldbergbahn valley station
- Ascent: 08:15
- Standard price: € 52 | with Gastein Card: € 49 per person
- Registration the day before until 16:00 at the Bad Gastein Tourist Board (the gourmet breakfast takes place from 6 people)
No risk, lots of fun!
Before we finally jumped onto the deep-snow slopes, with our two freeride guides we went through all the important details that you have to consider before a trip on the powder, such as beeps, probe and shovel. Because without an equipment check, nothing is possible here. If you are travelling without guides, you can check the avalanche search device works properly again at the mountain station of the Goldbergbahn at the Freeride Checkpoint, and enquire about the existing avalanche status and all relevant information.
Our Freeride guides show us the way.
After checking everything, we were ready for the powder. The anticipation for the deep-snow routes, which were freshly “sugared” overnight, was huge and it definitely paid off to come to Sportgastein. Our Tip – “Golden Powder”, “Golden Rush” and “Golden Ride” are really cool Freeride ski routes where you can discover the Gastein Valley also off piste. After a lot of powder fun you will be able to return directly down to the valley of Sportgastein.
Of course, we tried all the ski routes and can confirm to you that they are truly wonderful deep-snow slopes, which are simply fun from the very first to the very last swing. Together with the guides, we experienced the Freeski paradise of Sportgastein at its most beautiful side and have really “powdered” ourselves until noon!
Freeride tours in Sportgastein
- Golden Powder (5,000 m length / 664 m altitude change)
- Golden Rush (2,000 m length / 398 m altitude change)
- Golden Ride (666 m length / 176 m altitude change)
Deep-snow skiing at its best. © Christoph Oberschneider
At the end of a fabulous deep-snow day in the Gastein Valley, we enjoyed a detour to the Alpen Restaurant Valeriehaus for lunch, where we recharged our batteries with burgers, schnitzel and Kasnockn. Simply a dream day in the winter sports paradise of SalzburgerLand.
Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG
Bundesstraße 567
5630 Bad Hofgastein
+43 6432 6455
info@skigastein.com
www.skigastein.com
