In Saalbach-Hinterglemm winter sports enthusiasts are looking forward to a new gondola lift this season and the snowmaking system has also been improved. In addition, this winter is once again filled with numerous events. Find out what to expect of the season 2019/20 at the Skicircus!
New 12er Kogel gondola lift
As of the season 2019/20, a new gondola lift brings winter sports enthusiasts to the Zwölferkogel in Hinterglemm. It is best known for its World Cup slope, which runs alongside the lift. The new 12er Kogel gondola now replaces the facilities from 1993.
The cabins of the new Doppelmayr cable car are able to accommodate ten passengers instead of the previous eight. With the increase in capacity from 2,500 to 3,500 guests per hour and a speed of 6 metres per second, waiting times will also be reduced. The ride up to the 1,984 metre high summit of the Zwölferkogel remains divided into two sections. The middle station is located at an altitude of 1,530 meters.
The construction work for the new 12er Kogel gondola lift has been running since spring 2019, so that it could go into operation just in time for the start of the season in December 2019.
| Type | 10-person monocable gondola |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH |
| Distance | 2,648 meters |
| Height difference | 918 meters |
| Capacity | 3,500 pers./hour |
Hochalm Reservoir
In order to improve the snow safety, the Hochalm II reservoir has been enlarged. The water reservoir, which is intended for snow-making on the slopes, now holds 251,300 cubic metres. In order for the lake to blend in well with the landscape in summer, the entire area is being renatured. The project started in June 2018 and was completed in October 2019.
New ski pass and connection to Schmittenhöhe
Another novelty in the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn is the ticket network Ski ALPIN CARD. The ski passes are valid in three regions: the Skicircus, at Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See and the ski area Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun. In total, winter sports enthusiasts can take advantage of 408 km of slopes and 121 lifts.
>> More info about the Ski ALPIN CARD
This ticket network is made even more attractive by the new connecting cable car zellamseeXpress, which leads from Viehhofen to the Schmittenhöhe. Now, guests are able to use the ski bus shuttle regularly between the Schönleiten lift in Vorderglemm and the base station in Viehhofen. If the snow conditions allow it, it is even possible to ski directly to the zellamseeXpress via the slope 168, which leads from the Polten 8-seater to Viehhofen.
270 kilometres of skiing fun at the Home of Lässig
World Cup run or Freeride Mecca? Racetrack or snowparks? In the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn winter sports fans are spoilt for choice. Not without reason it is one of the best ski resorts in the world. As one of the largest ski resorts in Austria, the Home of Lässig, as the Skicircus also calls itself, offers a total of 270 km of slopes. In order not to get lost, a new slope guidance system was introduced. Information stands and LED displays at the entrance areas help guests finding their way around.
Who wants to experience as much as possible of the ski area should tackle the five ski rounds. On the Skicircus circuit, for example, ambitious skiers can circle the entire ski area once. That's 65 kilometers and 12,400 meters of altitude in one day. Therefore it is also known as "The Challenge".
More Orientation with the new Slope Guidance System
In order not to lose the overview of the large offer in the Skicircus, a new slope guidance system has now been introduced. Divided into 10 alphanumeric skiing zones, the mountains around the main resorts are numbered clockwise from A to L. As in road traffic, the new signs on the piste announce junctions and indicate the respective piste category (blue, red or black) as well as the lifts, zones and villages that can be reached.
In addition, information portals and LED displays at the lifts' entrances will help guests find their way around with location, slope information and routes.
The video explains how the new piste guidance system works exactly:
Event Highlights in Winter 2019/20
There's a lot to do in the Home of Lässig, even off-piste. Right at the start of the season, the ski resort brought international top acts onto the stage for the BERGFESTival. At different locations in Saalbach-Hinterglemm from 6th to 8th December 2019 you could see - and hear -LaBrassBanda, SDP, Voodoo Jürgens, Montreal and much more.
The new year starts with a real challenge. Because at the "Mountain Attack" on January 17, 2020, more than 1,000 touring skiers will be competing to conquer six mountain peaks and over 3,000 meters of altitude difference on a 40 kilometer route.
In spring the freeride elite will meet in Fieberbrunn when the Freeride World Tour stops from March 7 to 13, 2020. The Backcountry at the legendary Wildseeloder is the only stop of the tour in the German-speaking area and attracts the best freeriders of the world to the Skicircus for the twelfth time.
At the end of the season the White Pearl Mountain Days will herald the spring skiing season again. From March 20 to April 5, 2020, cool sounds, international cuisine as well as fitness and health programmes await you on and off the slopes. Then it's time to enjoy the sun and experience the "alpine lifestyle"!
