Austria’s Ski Season Kicks Off with Early Snowfalls

We love a bit of September snow. Especially when it means some autumn sliding. Which is exactly what’s happened in Austria. There is excitement in the air for many snow-starved riders as several of the country’s iconic glaciers welcome skiers back this coming weekend.

These premature openings result from September’s surprising and epic snowfalls. The cold front that hit the central Alps last weekend delivered up to 50cm of the white stuff on the highest peaks.

With the unexpected snowfall, resort teams across the Austria Tyrol rushed to get the pistes in shape and the lifts turning to welcome freestylers to parks, professional racers to the gates, and leisure skiers to the groomers. Teams have been working around the clock.

Several of the Fall Line team are frantically packing up their gear ready to catch the first flight out in the morning. (Or rather, they would be, if they weren’t in fact head-deep in magazine proofs, getting our 2025 Gear Guide to press…skiing, for now, will have to wait!)

Reckon you can swing a cheeky weekend visit? Check out these three early openers.

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Hintertux Glacier – Back in Action

After a brief pause in summer skiing, the Hintertux Glacier reopened on 18 September, thanks to a fresh dump of snow. This high-altitude favourite currently has 17km of runs open, offering early-season skiers a chance to get back on the slopes and allowing international teams to resume training. While only seven of its 19 lifts are operational, conditions will likely improve as winter approaches.

Stubai Glacier – An Early Start

The Stubai Glacier, one of Austria’s most reliable spots for early-season skiing, is kicking off its season earlier than expected. After receiving a good share of the recent snowfall, the glacier will open its slopes on today? This is nearly a month early, as the resort team hadn’t planned to open until mid-October.

Sölden – Opening the Rettenbach Glacier

Sölden has also joined the early-season rush, with plans to open its Rettenbach Glacier today, which is several weeks ahead of schedule. Situated at an altitude of 2,675m and with a top elevantion of 3,250m, the resort should hold its snow well over the coming weeks if temperatures remain cold.

Sölden Webcam – 20 September 2024

Gutes Skifahren!

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