Travel Diary: my first snowboarding experience and 5 other new things I’ve tried in Austria 

The winter days are over. But not my adventure spirit is not and, for sure, not my hand ache. Yep, I tried snowboarding in Austria. It was super fun. I would do it again, without blinking. As soon as I manage to rid away the pain in my arm. This is a (kind of late) of a travel diary to the Alps. In Austria. And the story of my my first snowboarding experience and 5 other new things I’ve tried in Austria.

austria snow

The snowboarding experience. I’ve always wanted to try snowboarding. I’ve imagined that it is as free an easy like riding a wave (not that I ever did some surf, but I really want to). And it was exactly how I’ve imagined: free, fun and… challenging. I fell a lot. I was back on my feet again. And fell again. But I did it. And I must thank for that to my wonderful instructors (Patrick in Kappl, Sten in Ischgl and the crazy funny Niels in See).

snowboarding first day

A proper après-ski experience. Yep, starting with a gourmet restaurant (Schlossherrenstube in schlosshotel-ischgl.com) – prepare to cut your own greens with a pair of scissors and to mix them with truffle butter. Then, some chocolate and a glass of champagne in the Champagne Hut, a little bit of dance and a walk through the most vibrant ski resort of Austria: Ischgl. “Relax if you can!” is not just a motto here, but a way of living.

gourmet

Sledging by night. Do not think it’s just for the kids. I tell you, the several kilometres by sledge down the hill are as tiring as the entire day of skiing. More fun, though, a little bit scary (when I was alone on a narrow road and there was no light but the moon), but just perfect to burn all the calories from the fondue I ate before. www.kappl.com – for more information.

A ride on Rat-Track (or PistenBully). I think this is every skier’s dream (at least from the masculine side of the crowd). Can you imagine the power of a Formula 1 car (as 450 horse power) moving every night on the pistes, slowly preparing the snow, sometimes guided by GPS only, in the blizzard? You all should try, if you have the chance. It’s very cool!

The most amazing SkyFly ride (www.skyfly-ischgl.at). There is nothing similar to that. Not the skydiving (too much adrenaline), not the kite surfing (to much focus). At 500 meters above ground, suspended from a cable, with my board on my back, I glided back to Ischgl with some 50 to 80 kilometres per hour. It was probably my most zen-like experience, and I am not kidding at all! 5 km of happiness.

A VIP on piste experience. At Alpenhaus restaurant there is more than a usual lunch between two rounds of skiing. Especially when you opt for VIP lounge. This gourmet hub (do not miss the pumpkin soup) – one of the highest in the Alps – can be accessed in just a few minutes from the mountain stations for the Silvretta and Fimbabahn cable cars.

food soup

To be continued… 

Of course, there is more to try in the area. I bet that next time I will try the cross-country skiing, the winter hiking tracks and snow shoe walks but, as well as… some curling.

Ischgl – it is for fun and party-goers. Those who are not tired after a day of skiing and they want to party like there is no tomorrow. Silvretta Arena Ischgl Samnaun impresses with ideally prepared pistes of difficulty ratings, fun parks and… a cross-border line with Switzerland. Plus some concerts with big stars at the legendary Top of the Mountain Concerts (this year, at 1st of April).

Top of the Mountain Concerts auf der Idalp in Ischgl (c) TVB Paznaun - Ischgl

Kappl – is the best area if you are a beginner. 10 ski lifts, 42 kilometres of pistes.

See – the family paradise, as the Austrian call it, is perfect to try all pistes, with different degrees of dificulty. 9 lifts, 41 km of pistes, two mountain restaurants with large sun terraces.

see

More info can be found on www.austria.info, www.ischgl.com, www.kappln.com, www.see.at

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