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PAID CONTENT FOR DAS EDE LWE I SS MOUNTAIN RE SORT
Family ski Grossarltal
For parents looking to share their love of skiing with their little ones, Grossarltal in Austria’s giant Ski Amadé region off ers comfort and challenge in equal measure. Words: Colin Nicholson
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f skiing conjures up images of purpose-built resorts, intimidating craggy mountains and slightly scary ski instructors, then Austria off ers a
very diff erent proposition. Here, ski areas link ancient farming villages in the Eastern Alps and learners can enjoy gentle skiing and traditional Austrian hospitality as they ski between wide, tree-lined slopes. Grossarltal is one such spot — a quaint
Alpine village that’s part of the vast Ski Amadé region. The wider area off ers 470 miles of piste, ranging from the Dachstein glacier to the Hochkönig mountains, and can be easily accessed from Grossarltal’s numerous ski in, ski out hotels. With wide, open pistes, top-quality ski schools, varied off -slope activities and friendly Alpine charm, this is family skiing at its fi nest.
A SUPERB SKI AREA Learning to ski can be daunting, but the Grossarltal-Dorfgastein area immediately eases any fears. Five gondolas take you up the mountain in comfort and from the summit, you can take your pick from 16 miles of blue runs for an easy route down. It’s an ideal place for progression, with 22 miles of red runs and eight chairlifts awaiting those who grow in confi dence during their stay. As skills improve, nursery slopes will
soon become a distant memory thanks to Grossarltal’s several highly entertaining fun zones. Glide through the tunnels of
the funslope, race down the undulating snowboard cross track and embrace some healthy competition at the timed slalom track before fi lling any hungry stomachs at one of the area’s 13 mountain huts. For those ready to fl y a little further, it’s
less than 20 minutes from Grossarltal to Alpendorf, where you can enjoy 125 miles of linked pistes, with challenges and snow parks aplenty. Older children can try the jumps at the Absolut Park — arguably the biggest in Austria — while parents will enjoy exploring the naturalistic Burton Stash Park, where plenty of powder can usually be found between the trees. However, family travel here is as much
about economics as it is entertainment. As such, the area has introduced several lift pass promotions, including the Family Bonus (where larger families only pay for the oldest two under-18s) and the Easter Family Special (free ski passes to all children up to the age of 15, from 18 March until the end of the season). As 90% of Ski Amadé’s pistes are covered by snowmaking facilities, you can be sure of reliable snow coverage even into the later weeks of the season.
OFF-SLOPE ACTIVITIES Tiny tots with tired legs may not relish skiing all day long, but a family-focused resort such as Grossarltal has many other activities on off er. There’s sledging through the forest on a mile-long fl oodlit track or enjoying cosy
Clockwise from above: Views over the Grossarltal valley from Das Edelweiss resort; parent and child overlooking the Ski Amadé region; Sirloin Grill & Dine restaurant; Das Edelweiss’s heated outdoor pool
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