Welcome Innsbruck - Winter 2019

W E L C O M E 22 W I N T E R H O W K Ü H T A I D E V E L O P E D I N T O A W I N T E R S P O R T S R E S O R T The book “Die Lilienfelder Skilauf - Technik”, written in 1897 by the Austrian ski pioneer Mathias Zdarsky, provided the decisive impetus for the development of alpine skiing. The technique described inside for the first time made it possible to descend the steepest slopes in a serpentine line. Around 1905, German, Swiss and Austrian ski clubs combined their forces and state authorities became increasingly interested in winter sports. From 1909 Kühtai was finally discovered and developed as a ski area. The responsible government depart- ment at the time was the Ministry of Labour and Agriculture, who promised financial subsidies for the expansion of win- ter sports resorts. The Hamburg ski pioneer Willy R. Rickmers was appointed as an expert advisor, travelling the Tyrol and Vorarlberg during the seasons, sometimes accompanied by the Count of Merano. He inspected Kühtai in April 1909 and was enthusiastic. THE MAG I C That’s easy enough to understand. Because Kühtai, the high- est winter sports resort in the Tyrol, not only scores with its guaranteed snow, but also with its magnificent high alpine landscape inspiring skiers, ski tourers, cross-country skiers, tobogganers and (snowshoe) hikers alike. The experience of nature and sport comes first. The journey from the Inn Val- ley up to the Sellrain valley, which forms an almost secluded world as a narrow gorge makes access difficult, prepares you for the wild, barren beauty that awaits you here. Just a few kilometres from Innsbruck and yet quite different - that is precisely what makes the Sellrain valley and the Kühtai so popular and unique. WORLD CUP VENUE KÜHTA I • Skiing far away from the stressful hustle and bustle only 35 km from Innsbruck • Guaranteed snow from the beginning of December to the end of April • 2 ski areas - 1 ski pass - 86 km of pistes • 2x per week (Wednesday and Saturday) night skiing • Wide descents, dreamlike deep snow slopes • KPark and KidsPark • Unique ski touring area • Around 11 km of cross-country trails (classic & skating) • 2.5 km long toboggan run, illuminated every evening • Snowshoe/winter hiking experience S K I T O U R I N G & F R E E R I D E Situated at 2020 metres and only 35 kilometres from Innsbruck, Kühtai is an Eldorado for deep-snow lovers with its fantastic pistes and wonderful deep-snow slopes. The entire ski area lies above the tree line, so you can ski almost anywhere off-piste, but caution is always required. With over 20 three-thousand-metre peaks, the Sellrain valley is a ski touring area in a class of its own. From the beginning of winter until May, the Sellrain valley mountains are among the most popular ski tour destinations in the Tyrol. In Praxmar you can refresh your knowledge at the Lampsenspitze ski touring training trail. T I PPS: T H E MU T E ( 2 3 9 8 M ) I N KÜH TA I An ideal tour for beginners and children, with a total of 415 metres of altitude difference in 1.5 hours, a short and easy ascent to the summit. Starting point: opposite the Dortmunder Hütte, the ascent begins behind the restaurants in easy undulating terrain. Refreshment: Dortmunder Hütte. L AMP S E N S P I T Z E ( 2 8 7 5 M ) F ROM P R A XMA R The Lampsenspitze is in the ski touring area of Praxmar - Lüsenstal and is one of the most famous and most popular in the Sellrain mountains. Here you will also find Austria’s first ski touring educational trail - information boards until shortly before the summit provide tour hikers with interesting facts about avalanches. There’s also a great mountain panorama after 1194 metres of altitude have been climbed (2.5 - 3 hours, 4.7 kilometres). FOTOS: © TIROL WERBUNG