The Alpine resort of St Anton holds a hallowed place in the mind of most advanced skiers and boarders thanks to the sheer range of challenging runs the resort offers. You could spend two weeks here and never tire of the difficult red and black runs, the extensive off-piste opportunities and the extreme snow park. My advice? Book yourself a catered chalet: St Anton has too much good skiing on offer to spend any of your precious time worrying about what you’re going to cook for dinner!
Take on Some of the World’s Most Challenging Runs
Set in the Arlberg ski area with its 305km of pistes, St Anton certainly has a lot of runs to choose from, and the good news for advanced skiers is that most of them will set you a serious challenge. Whether you choose the fast Albonagrat red down to St Christoph, the mogul fields of Schindler Kar and Mattun, or the long endurance test of the Valluga to St Anton, your skiing will certainly be tested here. For the ultimate challenge you can even pit yourself against the world’s best downhill skiers on the Kapall World Cup run (you can time yourself completing the piste and see how you compare).
Venturing Off the Beaten Track
St Anton is a resort which takes its off piste as seriously as its official runs. A look at the map of the ski area will outline 200km of off-piste routes covering a staggering 55km². The terrain is helpfully marked as either ‘normal’ or ‘extreme’, but be warned – organisers assume a high level of experience and even the ‘normal’ runs can be extremely challenging for most advanced powder skiers. My advice would be to not even contemplate taking on the ‘extreme’ sections without a guide.
‘Normal’ routes to be attempted with caution include the runs down from Kapall and Schindlerspitze, Rendl and Stuben (known affectionately by skiers and boarders as the snow capital of the Arlberg). With this much powder to choose from you’ll find yourself collapsing at the end of the day when you arrive back at your catered chalet. St Anton is a mecca for off piste-ers so you’ll definitely want to join in the fun.
Tricks and Treats at the St Anton Fun Park
The snow park on Rendl is a veritable playground for skiers and boarders who want to show off or improve their tricks. There are three sections including kickers, pipes, rails and boxes with an area specifically designed for beginners which helps to keep them out of your hair. The well-maintained area includes some great natural pipes, kickers, corners and spines to get your heart pumping.
A word of warning though: the Fun Park is overlooked by the terrace at the Rendl Beach Bar, so don’t wipe out or you might emerge from the snow, battered and bruised, to the sound of cheering spectators.
Where to Stay
With this much excitement on the slopes you won’t want to be rushing home early to get to the supermarket or waste any precious après time slaving over a hot stove. Instead reward yourself with the warm welcome and home-cooked meals of a catered chalet. St Anton has a wide range to choose from and, after all that hard core skiing, you’ll definitely deserve it.
Tim Heal is the founder of Chaletline, a travel agency offering catered chalet accommodation in worldwide ski resorts. With an extensive knowledge of resorts and excellent post booking care, they pride themselves on the personal touch they offer to each and every client. If you're looking for a catered chalet, St Anton is just one of the superb ski resorts in which they can quickly and efficiently match you with the perfect accommodation. Catering for individuals, couples and groups up to 50, the knowledgeable Chaletline team will help you choose the right chalet in the right resort.
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