Arlberg: the myth of the birth of alpine skiing

Today’s characteristics of the Arlberg

The Arlberg ski area is today one of the largest in the world, with an average snowfall of 9 meters per year and the possibility of skiing until the end of spring. The territories of the Arlberg between 1300 and 2800 meters host the fifth-largest winter sports area in the world: 305 km of connected slopes and 88 state-of-the-art ski lifts (even in some there are heated seats!). In Zurs all the technology applied to snow is displayed with the only heliski base in the whole Austrian country. Fans come from all over Europe for the aforementioned features and also for the après ski activities that certainly are not in short supply!

The history of skiing is here

The aura of magic to this place, however, is not conferred only by the sporting characteristics; history is king here! History says that at the end of the nineteenth century, in Arlberg, the practice of skiing was born, mainly out of necessity. The peasant population residing here had no choice but to get on skis to move and bring food from one place to another. Only later, at the beginning of the twentieth century, was the possibility of economically exploiting this brand new activity, with the opening of schools for what would become the favorite entertainment of the locals. The move with skis on your feet that went down in history was the one undertaken at Christmas 1900 from St. Anton to St. Cristoph by a group of young people, who enthusiastic about the company, founded what is still the Arlberg Ski Club. The same club organized the first home competition in January 1903, won by Hannes Schneider, who went down in legend as the first winner of a ski race. Great media prominence was given in 1931 by director Arnold Franck who with the film “White Ecstasy” set the stage for the continental limelight of the area.