Schladming has a good name as a beginners resort. They can take the easy gondola to the middle station where there's a huge flat area in good snow and gentle runs back down. One of these connects with the new 6 person chair at Rohrmoos which also has miles of easy slopes. Intermediates have the best of it though, with blues and reds covering the whole 160 kms, many through beautiful forests. For advanced skiers, Schladming, with its World Cup pedigree and international cachet, must definitely not be sniffed at. Alberto Tomba and Hermann Maier are big fans, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is a regular visitor. "I'll be back".
This ambitious and forward looking resort now has one of the best lift systems in Austria, if not the best. Modern, fast chairs and gondolas provide Herculean uplift, and the powerful snow making system is used early in the season to lay a good base. Snow is the top priority here. The heavily wooded, north facing slopes, groomed to perfection, are hard to equal. A helpful local TV weather channel, piped into our hotels, gives live broadcasts and daily forecasts.
The main area, and the closest to our hotels is the Planai, which is served by a gondola. Beginners have excellent skiing on good conditions from the middle station. There is a good mixture of skiing here, but it is easy to venture east to neighbouring Hauser-Kaibling which has tremendous fast runs on avenues through pine forest. West is the Hochwurzen which has miles of gentle runs and is superb for beginners. Further west is the Reiteralm, a charming area with paths and glades, typical of Austrian skiing. All four areas connect by lift and piste.
For boarders, there is a permanent course and no fewer than 3 half pipes plus fun parks and jumps. All the ski schools teach snowboarding. Further afield is the Dachstein Glacier, included on the pass and 1hr by free ski bus.
All the classic winter holiday pursuits are available including an epic 7.5km toboggan run on a prepared piste through the pines and under the stars. It's magical and costs only about £15 including transport and hot drink.
The pedestrianised centre of Schladming dates from 1322, and is a sheer delight. The ancient streets are lined with cafés and bars and twinkle with fairy lights. All the traditional winter pastimes are here but it's also a real town with woodyard, railway station and brewery with adjacent pub. The vibrant nightlife makes Schladming a popular choice for those looking for a lively time but the highly atmospheric stüberln and cafés become pleasantly busy rather than raucous. There's everything from modern music, to relaxing, traditional beer cellars and tea dancing.
We must say it's a fantastic resort now and is also notably friendly. The locals have every intention of extending Schladming's lead over most other Austrian resorts and we are delighted to be represented here in such depth.