Where to Ski in St Anton

If you are looking for a unique yet authentic ski experience, Austria will hit the mark. 

The ski resorts have grown from traditional farming villages with historic domed churches to luxury ski meccas, with boutique high streets, jaw-dropping luxury ski chalets and lively ski boot-stomping apres ski that starts in the afternoon and goes on until the early hours. 

St Anton in the Arlberg ski area is one of the top resorts in Europe and should be high on everyone’s bucket list. Its charming pedestrianised high street is lined with old hotels, sport shops and cafes and an ultra-fast lift system connects over 305km of ski terrain. 

Adorned with a range of catered and self-catered luxury ski chalets, St Anton is perfect for family and corporate travellers looking for a warm Austrian welcome. Sadly it has a reputation for tricky skiing and expert off-piste, that often leaves clients questioning if it is the right choice for them.

So we’ve asked for some insider advice on the St Anton Ski Area from our friends at New Generations Ski School, to get their view on why St Anton works for all ski abilities, from beginners to the most experienced powder hound.

Situated in one of the snowiest areas in Europe, St Anton is well known for its bustling apres scene, 305km of pistes and unbelievable off-piste terrain. It’s part of the largest ski area in Austria; so you’re never short of terrain to explore. If you prefer to stick to the pistes, there are 131km of blue runs to enjoy if cruising is more your style. 

Often rated as one of the top 5 ski resorts in the Austrian Alps, this ski resort is popular with international clients. St Anton makes up one sixth of the Arlberg ski region (other resorts include Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, and Schröken), but where to ski in St Anton is often a question we get asked, especially from beginners or those who have wobbly ski legs.

ST ANTON FOR BEGINNERS

St Anton is renowned for it’s off-piste and challenging slopes, however less experienced skiers shouldn’t worry as there’s also plenty of gentle terrain too. St Anton is home to the first ever ski school. Pretty cool if you ask us! 

So is St Anton good for beginners? Well we certainly think so, as it offers not one but two beginner friendly slopes around the Nasserein and Gampen areas in the heart of the main resort centre. 

Nasserein button lift 

Just above the bottom station of the Nasserein gondola, this is a great training slope. It’s also super close to our group lesson meeting point, so it’s the perfect place to start. 

Gampen 

At the top of this gondola (accessible via the Nasserein gondola or Gampenbahn chair from the Galzig end of town) there are plenty of blue & green runs to explore which wind their way down through the trees back into town. 

Osthang  

Once you’ve got the hang of your turns and keeping in control you can start to think about heading up the mountain a little higher. Osthang (over towards the Galzig) takes you to a selection of pistes to practice and gain confidence. 

ST ANTON FOR INTERMEDIATES 

Gampen and Galzig 

All of these areas have a vast variety of runs for you to choose from. For the higher-intermediate, these offer a multitude of reds and blues to pick from; these areas make up some of the best skiing in St. Anton.

Rendl 

Head over to Rendl first thing, as it can be really quiet in the mornings. There are some gentle blue runs and a couple of easier reds to get you warmer up for the day. Rendl is also home to the fun park. Not your style? Grab a deckchair, kick back and watch others take on the kickers.

Kapall

Explore the other side of St Anton, by using the Gampenchair and then head straight onto the Kapall chair. This will open up a huge range of blue, red and black graded pistes to enjoy. 

If you’re looking for great views, make sure you take in the views from the top of Kapall. Or head up the Valluga I cable or Shindergrat chairlift. Valluga is the highest peak in the area at 2811m. 

ST ANTON FOR ADVANCED SKIERS 

With 123km of red pistes and 51km of black pistes the only problem you’ve got is fitting them all into your holiday! 

Let’s start with the Run of Fame. Advanced skiers listen up, as this should be on your list of pistes to explore. It’s a famous run that will take you from St Anton to the far end of the Arlberg ski area in Warth. A perfect opportunity to experience the variety of slopes and some fantastic scenery that is Instagram worthy. 

Fang Run (also known as black 34) will get your quads burning. This challenging mix of steep groomed piste and deep moguls will definitely test you. It’s a bit of a beast, so we wouldn’t recommend starting your holiday with this one! 

ST ANTON OFF-PISTE SKIING

Where do we even begin? MaienPlatt is perfect for intermediate to expert riders as you descend for around 800m, making it a feel good piste that keeps on giving. 

• To access it, take the Galzig Gondola up and take blue 64 approximately halfway down into St. Christoph.
• The track then narrows and takes a sharp right turn. You’ll need to take a left off the piste and this is where the fun begins!
• Whizz over the first flat section and onto a steeper section. In the lower part, take a left and cross a little ditch directly under the wooded ridgeline. This section will bring you out back in St Anton/Ortseil Moos. The slope faces south east, so stay alert to avalanches and be aware of the conditions. 

Want to get fresh track, but lacking confidence and knowledge of the area? Simply book an off-piste session with one of our instructors who will keep a close watch on conditions all winter long, and know the area like the back of their hand. 

If you’re more interested in perfecting your technique on the piste, then join one of our St Anton adult ski lessons or private ski lessons and explore the varied pistes the unique resort has to offer. Our adult & kids group lessons run for just 3hrs a day so you’ve plenty of time to ski with friends or practice. See you on the mountain.

Written by Melissa Rennard at New Generation Ski & Snowboard School

Not sure where to start planning your next ski getaway? Just ask our team for expert advice on the best place to learn to ski. With over 20 years of experience you are in safe hands.

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