Austria’s Gastein area is doing more for freeriders next winter with a new route, a Freeride Info Base and a new avalanche search and rescue practice area.
The new “Katstall” ski route from the mountain station of the Kasereben lift down to Angertal, will offer skiers and boarders an “off-piste” experience in the heart of the ski area. A downhill variant, aimed especially at the good skiers, there are no snowmakers and the run is not groomed, which means the route will only be available for deep-snow and moguls adventures when snow and weather conditions are right.
The Gastein lift company is also turning their Sportgastein sector into a “freeride competency centre.” Together with the specialists of Programat, a Freeride Info base has been built close to the mountain lift station in Sportgastein. It provides current avalanche reports, a terrain map with ski routes clearly marked, and electronic equipment used to check that your avalanche locator device is working correctly and switched on. In addition, it provides freeriders with up-to-date information and safety pointers.
Gastein is also creating an avalanche search and rescue practice area, also in the Sportgastein valley where skiers and boarders can practice for the worst-case-scenario, hunting for previously buried locator transponders.