photo : Vectorportal
The weekend of 13th and 14th October saw the opening of ski season in the Austrian province of Tirol. And later this month, the Ski World Cup 2012 Opening event takes place.
Sölden
Set in the Ötztal valley amid the ancient massifs of Tyrol, Sölden is the largest municipality (a self-governing area) in Austria after Vienna and Salzburg. It has more tourists than locals and because of this loses some of its quaint village charm. But what it lacks in prettiness it more than makes up for with amazing attractions in the surrounding mountains.
Austria’s second highest mountain – Wildspitze – is a towering 3768 meters above sea level only surpassed by nearby Großglockner. It also sports the world’s largest cable life, known as the Gaislachkogl. After a panoramic ride in the cable car, visitors are able to enjoy the delights of a panorama restaurant before skiing off into the sunset of Austria’s largest ski area.
Access to the area is also possible until the heavy snows fall by car, using the Gletscherstraße – the second highest hard surface road in Europe. This also leads to the Tiefenbachferner Glaciers, along Europe’s highest Tunnel road.
To get an idea of what the Opeing of the ski season was like, see below:
Ski World Cup Opening – 27.10.12 and 28.10.12
The programme of events for the Ski World Cup Opening – an annual event – starts on 26th October 2012, when the numbers for the women’s ski slalom is drawn in the evening. The first event starts at 9:30 on 27th September, with prize giving being scheduled for 18:30.
28th October is the men’s ski event, starting at 9:30 and winding up at 17:00.
World Cup Oktoberfest
Entrance to the World Cup Oktoberfest – a celebration of traditional beer – starts at 19:00 on 27th October. A ceremonial Festbieranstich, where barrels of brew are paraded and ceremoniously unplugged, will take place as the festival feeling gets underway.
The Oktoberfest was originally an event in Bavaria in 1810 to celebrate the visit of the princess Theresa to Munich. The following year an agricultural show was incorporated and since then it has developed as a festival with funfairs and other traditional attractions. Oktoberfest is enjoyed in various countries from late September and throughout October.
Traditional music and foods like the cheesy Kaiserwürtzel and Austria’s favourite Knödel will be available at the Freizeit Arena, Sölden, along with other regional and national delights.
03 Glacier Party
The Ski World Cup Opening is brought to a close on the 28th with the ’03 Glacier Party’ at the Rettenbachglacier. This is access by road using the Gletcherstraße or panoramabahn, Glaislachkogl.
Transport
For those needing help with transport, the Zentrum Shuttle service will operate on both days from Sölden :
- 08:00 until 22:00 on 27th October
- 08:00 until 17:00 on 28th October.
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