A Ski Trip to Austria with Katie Burrell - ISCHGL

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, we follow Burrell to Ischgl on the border of Austria and Switzerland. It’s far from normal to be able to ski between two resorts; nonetheless, ski between two countries. But nobody said skiing in Austria meant sticking to the status quo. Perched high in the Tyrolean Alps, it’s one of the favorite freeride destinations in the area. It’s also a freestyle hub, as local Olympian Marco Ladner shows Burrell around the park. Don’t worry, Katie, it’s a steep learning curve!

And even if the weather takes a turn and the clouds force you into the valley, the amenities are enough to keep us happily entertained off the slopes for a day. Family-owned 5-star hotels, restaurants that would make the French envious and the famed Silvretta Therme Spa should keep you smiling for the time being.