Carinthia Winter
2014/15
Alternative Winter Sports
Enjoy an Active Winter Off the Slopes
Carinthia, Austria’s sunny south, puts both ambitious winter sports enthusiasts and active connoisseurs in good spirits. The mild, snowy climate, the multiple hours of sunshine and the breath-taking natural surroundings provide an environment that is also perfectly suited for countless activities off the slopes to keep both the body and soul fit. The spectrum ranges from ice-skating and snowshoe hiking to sledding, cross-country skiing and ice climbing. Even Carinthia’s cities take on particular winter flair.
Europe's Largest Playground for Ice-Skaters
In the winter, Austria’s highest swimming lake, Lake Weissensee, is transformed in to Europe’s largest natural frozen ice surface. Skating enthusiasts and speed skaters alike romp about on the 6.5 km² surface, and for those who want to learn more or improve their technique, there is also a skating school on site. Lake Weissensee has also made a name for itself the venue of the Alternative 11-City-Tour, which attracts 5,000 active Dutch speed skaters to Lake Weissensee every year. This year, the event will be held from January 21 to 31. Smaller ice surfaces await visitors to the Villach region, among others, at Lake Vassacher See and at Lake Silbersee.
Only for Robust Calves
The former ski resort on the Dobratsch is considered a paradise for ski tourers. A trip from Rosstratte to the summit is recommended for beginners—you’ll need a good hour for the 430 metres in altitude. More advanced ski tourers can jump in at Heiligengeist, and head up the slope with the skins on the bottom of the skis. It’s a wonderfully beautiful tour, and is guaranteed to be avalanche free. But you’ll need quite a bit of power in your legs if you want to tackle the 1180 meters of altitude that lie between the starting point and the summit. By the way: in Heidialm Ski Park at Falkert, Carinthia’s first ski-tour learning trail will be in operation starting in November.
“Cross-Country” Skiing Taken Rather Literally
Cross-country skiing is a sport ideal for Carinthia. Bad Kleinkirchheim has 42 kilometres of magnificently groomed cross-country skiing trails, while Feld am See attracts visitors with stunning views along the Brennsee.
Beginners and experts alike love Lavanttal’s 100 kilometres of gentle sloping cross-country trails, and Katschberg’s 18-kilometre long Hohenloipe with its unforgettable panoramic views.
Villach’s Alpine Arena with its 3 kilometres of trails of varying levels of difficulty, and St. Jakob’s Cross Country Training Centre in Rosental are fully illuminated. The cross-country ski centres on Weissensee—which is also a member of the “cross-country ski holidays” group this year—and Pirkdorfersee are where the professionals feel at home. An insider tip: the 60-kilometre long, guaranteed snowy Grenzlandloipe run in Lesachtal. Carinthia’s most successful cross-country ski club can be found at Union Rosenbach in St. Jakob. The 3.5-kilometre long, illuminated run will be covered with artificial snow starting at the end of November.
Eagle's Nest
The Villach Alpine Arena can be found at the foot of the Dobratsch. The Nordic skiing sport centre, with its 90, 60, 30 and 15 metre jumps is setup to be operational year round and is home to ski-jumping aces like Thomas Morgenstern and Martin Koch from time to time during training camp. The Nordic package of the Alpine Arena is rounded off with 5 kilometres of cross-country trails, 3 kilometres of which have been ratified by the FIS to be appropriate for race use, which can be covered with snow and illuminated when necessary.
Purityon Snowshoes
Satisfaction here is all-encompassing. On snowshoes, you’ll make your way step-by-step across the deep snow through Rosental. At the wintryHohe Tauern National Park, experienced rangers know all the best routes and take guests on tours to track the “Big 5”: the ibex mountain goat, bearded vulture, golden eagle, grouse and chamois. The lunch packages are a real treat, and then head back on a wintry sleigh ride.
At Klippitztörl in the Lavanttal region, you’re sure to see everything worthwhile, as they provide a controlled compass system for snowshoe hikers. In addition, you’ll find something for everyone: “Schnuppertouren” introductory tours for beginners, panoramic routes for recreational snowshoers and challenging winter routes for enthusiasts. Around Lake Millstätter See you’ll also find picturesque snow scenes waiting to be explored, such as on the Millstätter Alm or at the Mirnock. Bad Kleinkirchheimrewards snowshoers, tired after a three-hour guided hike on the Klammerhütte (at the Feldpannalm), with a hearty grouse ragout and a typical regional dessert specialty of butter from Klaus Kohlweiss dairy infused with poppy seeds, honey and rum and served with Reindling. On the Dobratsch, snowshoe tours in the "Magic of Moonlight"are also offered—a “Full Moon Bus” runs from Villach main station starting at 6:00 PM.
Ice Cold Challenges
Ice climbers will enjoy the frozen, light blue glittering playgrounds in Lieser and Maltatal. In Maltatal you’ll find first-class routes like that along the Fallbach, Carinthia’s highest waterfall at 200 meters. Hohe Tauern National Park Region offers variety for visitors, such as walkable ice canyons, an illuminated climbing tower in Lainach, the ice climbing park in Heiligenblut and introductory climbing opportunities in the Tauern Alpine Outdoor Programs under the guidance of expert mountain and ski guides.
Adventurous trendsetters love the Funpark “NTC Blue Day” on Tressdorfer Alm at Nassfeld in Hermagor, where all kinds of equipment can be tried and tested on a whim.
Freedom Above the Clouds
For those who no longer want to hear any noise besides the wind in high altitudes, a flight in a paraglider offers the enjoyment of the Gerlitzen Alps while soaring far up above. Delight in views of the snow-covered forests, sparkling ice surfaces and mountain peaks basking in sunlight, not far from the borders with Slovenia and Italy. Not quite so high up, and all the more in-depth are the Llama Trekking Tours. On the snow, atop the meek pack animals, you’ll take in the panorama of the Gailtal and Karnic Alps, either on a two-hour long introductory tour or on a day-long, meditative trip, including an overnight stay in harmony with nature.
Paradise for Freeriders
Of course, you’ll also find the more adventurous freeriders enjoying ideal conditions in Carinthia, such as in Heiligenblut, where daring visitors who make the 1,300-metre ascent will be met with the facade of Großglockner mountain. Explorers can make new paths all their own on the Ankogel group of mountains, and you’ll find the equipment you could possibly need, including helmet-cameras, in the local mountain village of Mallnitz. A highlight of the guided tour is the descent to Böckstein, which takes you comfortably through the Tauernschleuse. Good news for freeriders at Innerkrems: 25 kilometres of slopes and two snow and fun parks have been added just for you.
What Else?
You are never too old for it—and it’s not really winter without some tobogganing: an approximately 8.4-kilometre long natural toboggan run attracts visitors to the Dreiländereck, and bothTurrach and Katschberg mountainsoffernighttimetoboganning.
Winter trail rides on Katschberg, the Fire & Ice bobsled run and the sled-dog race at Innerkrems (March 13 to 15) also invite visitors to stay active. Romantic moments also await, such as on a horse-drawn carriage ride in Bodental in the Carnica Region. For those who would rather just watch: the Audi FIS Women’s Ski World Cup will take place in Bad Kleinkirchheim on on January 10/11.
Press Contact Kärnten Werbung GmbH
Mag. Ute Zaworka
Völkermarkter Ring 21-23, A-9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel. 0043(0)463-3000-46, Fax. 0043(0)463-3000-60
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