To give due respect to the driving and innovative forces in the Austrian ski and winter industry, the awards are presented to the recipients in a fitting ceremony – something we wanted to share with our readers: For example, the Ski Guide Austria Award 2025 was presented to Ski Amadé by both authors. The ascent on the brand-new 10-person Rohrmoos I gondola to the Planai-Hochwurzen ski area confirmed that the technology here is always state-of-the-art. It not only ensures a comfortable ascent but, thanks to effective snowmaking and labor-intensive grooming, also provides magnificent runs, most of which the Ski Guide Austria team was able to enjoy during their January visit to Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen, and Reiteralm.

CONTINUOUS INNOVATIONS FROM SKI AMADÉ

Against the backdrop of the Reiteralm, Günter Fritz and Fred Fettner, authors of the Ski Guide Austria, presented this year's award to Christoph Eisinger, Managing Director of Ski amadé, and the "host," Daniel Berchthaller, Managing Director of the Reiteralm cable cars and President of Ski amadé. Pictured (from left to right): Berchthaller, Fritz, Eisinger, Fettner

The award was rightfully given for continuous innovations aimed at enhancing the appeal and strengthening the brand of Austria's largest ski region network. These include not only the nearly €100 million invested in quality improvements before last winter alone, but also, specifically, the transparent and customer-friendly dynamic pricing system, exceptional events, and the focus on upscale cuisine. Last but not least, Best Learn2Ski amadè, which sets new standards for the more than 40 ski schools within the network, was a key factor in this recognition.

QUALITY BOOST AT SPORTBERG GOLDECK

At the Ski Guide Awards ceremony (from left): Günter Fritz, Ski Guide publisher; Stefanie Hopfgartner, Head of Marketing; Christiana Zagler, Head of Cashier Services; and Herbert Wiesflecker, Deputy Operations Manager.

The Goldeck mountain, located near Spittal an der Drau, is considered a hidden gem among winter sports enthusiasts in Carinthia – not least because extensive investments totaling millions were made for the 2024/25 season, making the ski area even more attractive. The new Goldalm mountain restaurant with top-notch cuisine at 2,050 meters above sea level, the new Kiss & Ski area at the Goldeckbahn valley station, the new Seeblick slope overlooking Lake Millstatt, the new Glockner slope, and the redesign and reopening of the steepest and longest black run in the Alps, the S1, are all superlatives. These improvements were recognized with an award from the Ski Guide Austria team. The S1 – the longest black run in the Alps – is a particular highlight, descending from the summit at 2,142 meters with a vertical drop of over 1,600 meters to 537 meters. It was reopened last season after a hiatus of several years. With a gradient of up to 75 percent, the S1 run, with its motto "Black, Steep, Fast," offers a special experience for experienced skiers. The new, stylish Goldalm restaurant – Mountain Dining powered by Wini Brugger – boasts modern, high-quality cuisine, a departure from typical ski lodge fare, all at a very reasonable price. This is one of the reasons Goldeck received the Ski Guide Austria Award in February 2025.

HOCHFILZEN – EXCELLENT CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS

Award ceremony at the cross-country ski trail in Hochfilzen: Ski Guide Austria author Fred Fettner with Christof Willms, managing director of TVB PillerseeTal, mayor Konrad Walk and Sebastian Eder from Regio³.

The "inventors" of the Hochfilzen biathlon stronghold's self-sufficient photovoltaic-lit night cross-country ski trail were delighted to receive the Ski Guide Austria Award 2025 in a festive ceremony right on the trail itself. Like many of the diverse trails in the Kitzbühel Alps – Pillersee Valley region, it was still in perfect condition at the end of February, despite the almost spring-like daytime temperatures. The Pillersee Valley and the municipality of Hochfilzen were honored. The region received the award for its outstanding position as the long-standing host of the Biathlon World Cup season opener and for the innovative, self-sufficient solar-powered night trail, which is considered an environmentally friendly highlight in winter sports. This innovative solution enables a nighttime cross-country skiing experience without consuming any resources, thus setting new standards in sustainability. The total investment amounted to €85,900, of which almost €32,000 was contributed by the State of Tyrol. The remaining costs were shared equally by the Pillersee Valley Tourism Association and the municipality of Hochfilzen. The solar-powered night cross-country ski trail in Hochfilzen is a joint project of the tourism association, the municipality, and the regional management organization regio³ in Hochfilzen. A total of 50 light fixtures with photovoltaic panels and LED solar lights have been installed along the trail. They switch on automatically at dusk and illuminate a 20-meter radius for approximately four hours. In total, 1.6 kilometers of trail are illuminated in this way.