A Ski Trip to Austria with Katie Burrell - SÖLDEN/GURGL

Featured Image: Courtesy of Tourism Austria

Austria has long held a special place in the wide world of skiing. It’s where some of the sport’s most recognizable brands have cut their teeth. It’s where racing and freeskiing shake hands, with groomers, freeride, and park all meeting at the highest level. It’s been home to hundreds of legendary segments in some of the best ski films ever made. But the cameras and competitions are just the beginning. The ski scene here is an other-worldly experience in the best possible way, and like anywhere, it’s best when skied like a local. 

That’s what Katie Burrell found out during her trip across the pond last winter. In this seven-part series, Canada’s favorite leisure athlete dives into the culture and explores seven distinct areas: Ischgl, Arlberg, Sölden, Kitzbühel, SkiWelt, Zell am See, and Schladming.

In this episode, Burrell heads to Sölden/Gurgl, two of the highest ski areas in the Alps. You’ll find skiing from October through May here, with sprawling groomers that look like they were pulled out of a World Cup racer's dream. Sölden is home to the highest gourmet restaurant in Austria, where you can snag a bite before parking an arc on Austria’s longest on-piste ski run.

The two resorts also house experienced ski schools, and Burrell enlists their help to dial in the perfect turn. For tips about the resort and your own form, it’s definitely worth it to hire an instructor for the day when poking around these sprawling high-alpine ski areas.