The "inventors" of the night trail in the biathlon stronghold of Hochfilzen, which is illuminated with self-sufficient photovoltaics, were delighted with the atmospheric presentation of the Ski Guide Austria Award 2025 directly on the trail. Like many of the varied trails in the Kitzbühel Alps - Pillerseetal region, it was still in perfect condition at the end of February despite the almost spring-like temperatures during the day.
The PillerseeTal and the municipality of Hochfilzen were awarded the prestigious Ski Guide Austria Award 2025. The region received the award for its outstanding positioning as a long-standing host of the start of the Biathlon World Cup season and for the innovative, self-sufficient solar-powered night trail, which is considered an environmentally friendly highlight in the winter sports sector. This innovative solution enables a night-time cross-country skiing experience without consuming resources and thus sets new standards in terms of sustainability. The total investment was 85,900 euros, of which almost 32,000 euros were borne by the state of Tyrol. The rest was borne equally by the Pillerseetal Tourism Association and the municipality of Hochfilzen. The solar-powered night trail in Hochfilzen is operated as a joint project of the tourism association, the municipality and the regio³ regional management in Hochfilzen. A total of 50 luminaires with photovoltaic panels and LED solar lights were planted in the cross-country trail. They switch on automatically at dusk and illuminate a radius of 20 metres for around four hours. In total, a distance of 1.6 kilometres is illuminated in this way.
Award ceremony at the cross-country ski trail in Hochfilzen
The award ceremony took place directly on the night trail in Hochfilzen, where Ski Guide Austria author Fred Fettner presented the award to Christof Willms, Managing Director of TVB PillerseeTal, Mayor Konrad Walk and Sebastion Eder from Regio³.We are very pleased with the award. It confirms our joint efforts for sustainability in the region and quality in the development of our services“, says Christof Willms, GF TVB PillerseeTal.
The Ski Guide Austria Award is presented annually to outstanding ski resorts, communities and initiatives that enrich Austrian winter sports with creative projects and forward-looking investments. The award underlines the Pillersee Valley as a Nordic competence center and biathlon stronghold as well as its consistent development in the field of sustainable cross-country skiing infrastructure.