Untouched, fresh slopes, a spectacular sunrise, and not a soul in sight – conditions that make the heart of every passionate winter sports enthusiast beat faster. But to experience this, you have to get up early and head to a ski resort that offers this kind of fun. The demand for early morning skiing is certainly there, which is why a number of ski resorts have jumped on the bandwagon and offer such "first runs" at least several times a season.
One of the pioneers of these now traditional events is Bad Kleinkirchheim in Carinthia, where you can carve your first lines with Olympic champion Franz Klammer. In an exclusive group – a maximum of 50 participants – experienced skiers carve on selected slopes in Bad Kleinkirchheim from sunrise until around 9:30 a.m. Franz Klammer shares insider tips and tricks for the perfect carving turn. Together, the group explores the slopes, and the affable ski legend also shares anecdotes.
The Ski Guide Austria attended one of these "Ski before 9" events and, like the other participants, thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a true fan event, which even the legendary 1976 Olympic champion clearly enjoyed. Numerous requests for photos and autographs were no problem for him – quite the opposite. "Skiing on fresh slopes first thing in the morning is especially fun," said Franz Klammer. In short: a thoroughly successful event, which concluded not only with a delicious Carinthian snack but also with a souvenir. Ski Guide Austria author Günter Fritz had his ski helmet signed and has been skiing at least one class better ever since.
The price of 195 euros per person may seem a bit steep at first glance, but it includes not only the ski pass but also a really good brunch and, above all, close contact with the Olympic hero of 1976.
Exclusive morning skiing is offered in the Mostviertel region of Lower Austria under the slogan "Guga hö," which means "wide awake"—albeit without an Olympic champion as a guide. It takes place in Lackenhof am Ötscher, Annaberg, on the Gemeindealpe Mitterbach, and on the Hochkar, each starting at 6:30 a.m. The cost is €119 per person, including a brunch at a mountain hut. Children up to 15 years old pay €72. Unlike most other early bird events, the lift ticket is valid all day. Groups consist of 10 to a maximum of 30 people.
In Styria's Stuhleck, it's possible to hit the slopes with guides three times in February 2026, starting at 7:00 a.m. – including a deluxe breakfast, this costs €59 (plus a half-day or day ticket). In Vorarlberg's Montafon region, the Grasjoch cable car departs every Wednesday at 7:20 a.m. for the Kapell summit. From the mountain station, wonderful runs await, and breakfast is served in the Kapell restaurant from 8:45 a.m. The Versettla cable car offers this opportunity every Friday, also at 7:20 a.m. The cost is €56 plus a regular lift ticket. In Fieberbrunn, the "First Line" experience begins every Wednesday from the end of December 2025 to mid-March 2026 for an exclusive, small group of 30 people, starting at 7:30 a.m. In the Alpbach ski resort, the Wiedersbergerhorn cable car departs on Saturdays in March at 7:00 a.m. A First Line day ticket for adults is required, but the mountain breakfast is not included in the ticket price.
In Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, the "First Tracks" event takes place every Wednesday starting December 11, 2025. The start time varies depending on the season; the cost is €100, including a mountain breakfast from 9:30 a.m. A ski pass is also required. In the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser, the event starts at 7:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from mid-February to early April. On the Schmittenhöhe, the top event "Ski'n' Brunch" is held every Thursday at 7:00 a.m. in January and 6:45 a.m. in February. Participation costs €69 per person plus a valid ski pass.
In Zauchensee, guests can even go skiing with former downhill world champion Michael Walchhofer himself in the early morning: specifically on January 29th, February 26th, and March 12th and 26th, when Early Morning Skiing is on the program starting at 7:15 am. (Cost: 39 euros for adults, 25 euros for children, plus ski pass).
In Großarl, the event is called "Skikeriki – Skiing at First Rooster's Crow and Sunrise" – every Wednesday from the end of December to the beginning of April at 7:15 a.m., including breakfast, for €57 (€31 for children). Each participant must have a valid ski pass, and good skiing skills are required. To ensure a special experience, the number of participants is limited to 30. In Obertauern, First Track Skiing costs €99 without a ski pass and €169 with one. This includes an exclusive guided tour by locals who will share their insider tips, a delicious alpine brunch, and a surprise goodie bag. In Lech, the "Long Train" early start awaits every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. from the Rüfikopf lift for €47, including a Veuve Clicquot breakfast at the Schlegelkopf Restaurant (only in combination with a valid ski pass).
Special cases are ski resorts that regularly open their lifts earlier than the average mountain railway – for example, in Hochzillertal. There, guests can head up the mountain as early as 7:30 a.m. to carve their turns on the fresh slopes before everyone else – and all without any extra costs. Unless, of course, you book the VIP gondola package, which includes a glass of sparkling wine in the gondola and a breakfast brunch at the Kristallhütte. The cost for two people is €225. Similarly, in the Gerlitzen ski area in Carinthia, lifts regularly open at 8:10 a.m. And in spring and during school holidays, the Kanzelbahn lift even starts running shortly before 8:00 a.m. if needed. Generally speaking, the number of participants for early morning skiing is limited, and often, but not always, a regular day ticket is required in addition to the early bird ticket – which usually includes breakfast. Registration is almost always necessary as well.
SPECIAL EVENTS AND OFFERS
| Bad Kleinkirchheim | Early morning skiing with Franz Klemm: 3.2.2026 at sunrise |
| Mostviertel | Guga Hö – Morning skiing at 6:30 a.m. Göstling-Hochkar: 24.1.2026 Lackenhof-Ötscher: 21.2.2026 Gemeindealpe Mitterbach: 14.2.2026 Annaberg: 17.1.2026 |
| Silvretta-Montafon | Grasjoch Bahn, St. GallenkirchEvery Wednesday from December 24, 2025 to March 25, 2026, at 7:20 a.m. Versettla Railway, GaschurnEvery Friday from December 26, 2025 to March 27, 2026, at 7:20 a.m. |
| Arlberg, Lech, Oberlech, Zürs | Rüfikopf cable carevery Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. |
| Obergurgl | Starting in February 2026, every Friday at 7:30 a.m. |
| Serfaus Fiss-Ladis | „"First clue"“ every Wednesday from December 17, 2025 to April 8, 2026 |
| Zillertal, Hochzillertal | HochfügenCat-Skiing, Saturdays from January 11th to March 22nd, 2026, 7:30 am HochzillertalEarly morning powder fun, daily from 7:30, VIP gondola premium early bird Zillertal ArenaGood Morning Skiing, every Thursday and Sunday in March, from 6:55 a.m. Mayrhofen, AhornbahnDaily from 7:30 Hintertux GlacierWednesdays from the end of March to the end of April, 7:30 a.m., Hintertux valley station |
| Skiwelt Wilder Kaiser | Friday and Saturday from February 13th to April 6th, 2026, 7:30 am, SkiWeltbahn, Sonnenlift, Choralmbahn, Alpenrosenbahn 1 & 2, Talkaserlift |
| Ski jewel Alpbachtal & Wildschönau | Saturdays from the beginning of March, Wiedersbergerhorn cable car, from 7:00 a.m. |
| Stuhleck | Early BirdFebruary 15, 21, 28, 2026, 7:00 a.m., Celebrity Train |
| Schmittenhöhe | Ski'n' BrunchEvery Thursday in January, 7:00 a.m. |
| Obertauern | First Track at 7:15 a.m.: January 29, February 12, March 12 and April 2, 2026 |
| Großarl | Skikeriki, every Wednesday from 7:15 a.m. |