The managers of Zauchensee were absolutely delighted to discover themselves in the "Ski Guide Austria 2026" as winners of this year's "Ski Guide Austria Innovation Award". It was finally time, albeit belatedly, to present the award in person.
The prize was awarded "to the lift company and, in particular, its managing director Veronika Scheffer for its independent, high-quality positioning within the Salzburg Sports World and its current investment in the Schwarzwand cable car, as well as to downhill world champion Michael Walchhofer for his willingness to invest in his family's three hotels and his associated role as an ambassador for Zauchensee as a World Cup venue." Fittingly, the prize was presented right next to the modern valley station of the Schwarzwand cable car, with the new, elegant 10-person gondolas gliding directly overhead. Naturally, the gondolas are red again, just like the previous model from 1987 – affectionately nicknamed "Grandpa" in its later years. But the real winner is comfort: for example, when boarding, as skis are stored in the floor inside the gondolas, but also thanks to the increased capacity of 2,300 people per hour and the speed. The exit point below the spectacular starting signal of the women's downhill race, which is on the World Cup calendar every two years, remains unchanged.
The story in Zauchensee is far from over.
Although the season is already well underway, the high-altitude resort of Zauchensee is the perfect starting point for dedicated ski enthusiasts until Easter weekend, allowing them to access the extensive network of slopes in the Salzburg Sports World directly from their hotel door. From the mountain station below the Gamskogel, you can immediately plunge into the shady Kälberloch slope, which, towards the end of the season, is no longer quite so challenging and demanding. Nevertheless, it's best not to try and match the pace of the World Cup stars.
Run number 9 is a fun and perfect ski route that offers plenty of room for experimentation while still being challenging for those new to deep snow. Like almost all the tours, it leads directly back to the resort village. This also applies to the Rosskopf, which enjoys more sunshine year-round. The third accessible peak, the Tauernkar, is particularly challenging in the mornings. What's unique here is that while there's only one starting and finishing point, blue, red, and black runs all offer a variety of descents back down to the valley.
Overnight stay at Walchhofer
The only run that doesn't end in Zauchensee continues the ski circuit from Rosskopf to Flachauwinkl. But Zauchensee is the perfect tip, especially towards the end of the season. Accommodation options include the Walchhofer hotels – and with children, the newly renovated and expanded Familotel Zauchenseerhof. Above the large indoor swimming pool on the ground floor, there are textile saunas, gymnastics, a spacious sauna area and finally a "balcony" which turns out to be a warm mini outdoor pool and from which the ski slope is clearly visible.
Während es im Zauchenseehof belebt zugeht, urlaubt man im unterirdisch mit dem Familienhotel verbundenen und von Michael und seiner Frau Barbara Walchhofer persönlich geführtem Hotel Zentral durchaus exquisit, was sich natürlich auch kulinarisch und im Weinkeller positiv niederschlägt. Da passt dazu, dass in der zum Hotel gehörigen belebten Schirmbar um 20:00 Uhr Schluss ist – denn Dinner und ein weiterer sportlicher Tag stehen an.