Cut Price Skiing in Austria

A view of the Tyrol mountains in warmer climes
Photo: mikol_ice / CC BY-NC 2.0

After my first skiing experience Out West a couple of years ago I vowed never to darken Europe’s icy slopes again. Park City’s powder, even in March, was unbelievable, staff proffered tissues in the lift line, there was always a chance you might see a Mormon, and there were burgers for lunch. Who could ask for more?

But that was before I edited our Smart Money page, in WOM’s January issue, and read about the fun and bargains to be had in Austria this year.

I’ll be honest: I don’t have the fondest memories of carving up the Tyrolean peaks. I learned to ski (sort of) in Mayrhofen at the age of six and remember losing my class in a whiteout, then finishing last in the slalom race. I still got a medal—that’s Europe for you.

Years later I returned, to St. Anton this time, with my Australian cousins who had been skiing since birth (I didn’t know they had snow in Australia, either). They’d schuss down the black runs at high speed, leaving me side stepping awkwardly in their wake. By the time I reached the bottom they’d have done the whole thing all over again.

Oh, and Austria was eye-wateringly expensive. The days I sat out the indignity in cafés only added insult to feigned injury—I spent a small fortune on Apfelstrudel. 

Not this year. Hit up Innsbruck in January and you’ll save about 30 percent on last year’s package prices, and you’ll catch the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Sadly I’m too old to qualify. But my skiing has improved since that fateful 1995 trip, so I might just give Austria's wild pistes another go this year.