St. Anton am Arlberg in Austria is the first port of call for winter sports enthusiasts, and has enjoyed a world-famous reputation for decades. Located in the Tyrolean Alps, it is known as a gateway to the Arlberg ski region and is often called the “cradle of alpine skiing” for its role in inventing the sport.

There are 88 mountain railways and lifts, 305 kilometres of prepared pistes and 200 kilometres of fantastic powder and granular snow slopes throughout the region, offering unlimited possibilities. One extremely important point – this Tyrolean resort is in an area of the Alps where snow is virtually guaranteed.

St. Anton am Arlberg is a snowy paradise of the highest calibre in winter, and a hotspot for hikers and climbers in the summer.

But there’s more - St. Anton am Arlberg is a modern holiday resort that has retained its traditional appeal. Hospitality and Tyrolean customs are as much a trademark of the village as its international, cosmopolitan character. And not only does it offer a colossal backdrop of peaks and popular (skiing) mountains, it also has all the comforts you would expect from an international holiday resort.

For those who want fun and relaxation off the slopes, facilities include a network of cross-country ski trails covering almost 40 km, a fun park, an illuminated toboggan run, ice rinks for skating and curling, as well as the ARLBERG-well.com centre with its indoor pool, sauna and steam baths.

A wide range of sporting opportunities jostle for position with fantastic wellness packages and homely Tyrolean dishes made with local produce. The multi-functional sports centre arl.rock makes numerous indoor activities and diverse kinds of indoor ball games possible as well as climbing, including a Via Ferrata climbing route leading to the roof. Ice-climbing is equally possible in the winter as is bouldering in all seasons.

Moreover, free-riders can look forward to 200 kilometres of virgin terrain - while winter holidaymakers are spoiled for choice with all kinds of events, including the weekly “Schneetreiben - Driving Snow” ski show, “New Orleans Meets Snow” music festival and the iconic “White Thrill” race.

St. Anton am Arlberg is a member of the 'Best of the Alps'; an association of the eleven most prestigious mountain resorts in the Alps.

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY

Whether magnetically attached to your chest, as an arm extension on a selfie-stick, or mounted in classic style on your helmet, during February and March 2018, winter fans can head to the Karl Schranz Finish Stadium again to avail themselves of free hire of the latest camera models, to create a cinematic memory of their ski-fun on the slopes.

The pros from Mountain Media Center then slice the recorded sequences together to create a personal video memory, which is then available to download.

The daily 'Sun & Snow Report' also makes use of this one-minute-long film to keep St. Anton holidaymakers informed on snow conditions, avalanche danger levels and the weather. The best clips even make it on to the television.

The Mountain Media Center is open daily from 30th January to 1st April 2018 between 15:00 - 19:00 and offers regular workshops on the safe handling of camera drones.

NEW ORLEANS MEETS SNOW

During the weekend from 6th to 8th April 2018, the 5th “New Orleans meets Snow” Festival brings a dash of southern flair to St. Anton am Arlberg for three whole days. Cool funk and blues rhythms can be heard at live concerts on the village streets and in many local establishments. Even up on the slopes they will be getting into the groove like there’s no tomorrow.

A typical New Orleans marching band will also march the streets of this Tyrolean holiday resort. The New Orleans meets Snow Festival has enticed the Austrian jazz elite to Arlberg for a fourth successive time.

The highlight of this year’s line-up is the 'Blues Night' on Saturday evening, with the Markus Linder Band and Vasti Jackson as special guests from New Orleans. New Orleans' gastronomy is offered on site. Doors open 19:00 - starting time 20:00. Entry free of charge!

THE SNOW MUST GO ON

Journey through time with an amazing firework display 'Schneetreiben', every Wednesday evening.

The slope in front of the Karl Schranz Finish Stadium in St. Anton am Arlberg is transformed into an über-dimensional screen: giant images projected onto the slope with brilliant 3D effects and a firework display create an extraordinary stage for 150 actors to demonstrate the historical developments of ski sport, in an impressive fast forward performance.

The premiere takes place on 30th December, after which the 45 minute 'Schneetreiben Ski Show' will be performed every Wednesday at 21:00.

The show is hosted by St. Anton am Arlberg Tourist Board, together with Skischule Arlberg and the Arlberger Bergbahnen Cable Car Co. Admission is free. Visitors can also watch the show from the ShowLounge, or even from the stadium roof.

THE WHITE THRILL

When the lifts close on the afternoon of 21st April, things really heat up on the slopes of St. Anton am Arlberg. This is the day of the "White Thrill" – the cult ski race which drives its participants to their absolute physical limits every year.

The atmosphere is electric, even during the day: a large proportion of skiers are already dressed in racing attire and try to conceal their mounting nervousness with jokes in the gondola or by looking übercasual about the approaching event. Things then start getting serious at 17:00, when 555 skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers assemble on the Valluga Ridge for the mass start.

The now legendary "White Thrill" alpine ski race attracts thousands of winter sports enthusiasts every year to St. Anton am Arlberg from all over the world. Anyone can take part, although many know from experience that this race is not suitable for all. Just choosing the right starting position at the mass start can win a few crucial seconds for later. The real challenge, however, follows shortly after on “Pain Mountain”. Those who hurry up this 150 ascent too fast, will pay for it with burning lungs. Those who take it too easy will fall behind the leaders. The unprepared slopes demand high levels of skiing skill and dexterity.

Paul Schwarzacher set a new record time of eight minutes and 14 seconds over the maximal distance in 2011, which is now the benchmark to beat. Times between 11 and 18 minutes are a good average, but for most it plays only a minor role.

The main aim is just to get over that finishing line. Spectators can also look forward to the flamboyantly attired participants, who roll in around half an hour later. By then at the latest, it becomes clear that fun does not fall by the wayside during this particular race!

SKI LIKE A VIP

We're giving you and a friend the chance to win a luxury 3 night winter holiday to one of Europe's most exclusive and largest ski resorts; St Anton, Austria.

Never skied before? Nows your chance! We're also including FREE private lessons, plus these incredible prizes:

• €500 spending money
• Luxury pre-flight overnight stay in our premium Runway Suite
• Return flights for two to Innsbruck
• 3 nights at the iconic Mooser Hotel
• Ski Hire
• Access-all-areas Lift Passes
• Private Ski Guide
• Apres Ski experience at Mooserwirt
• Airport Transfer from Innsbruck Retour with Four Seasons Travel
• Access to the new Tirol Lounge at Innsbruck Airport
• Pair of 12-month gym passes at your local Xercise4Less
• ...plus more amazing prizes to be revealed soon!

Click here to enter for FREE!