Pioneers of Alpine Skiing on the Arlberg

Ski Arlberg is renowned for its milestones in the history of winter sports and is today Austria’s largest ski resort.

*"For the* *perfect ski holiday* *winter holidaymakers* *are best off staying right there* *, because in the evening you can ski straight into the hotel –* *simply legendary, just like the Arlberg.**"*

The Arlberg

The Arlberg remains renowned to this day for its milestones in the history of winter sports: starting with the parish priest Müller from Warth, who brought the first skis to the western Arlberg, or St. Anton pioneer Hannes Schneider, who revolutionised skiing with his legendary Arlberg technique. Today, Ski Arlberg is Austria’s largest ski resort, ranks among the five largest ski resorts in the world and offers skiing in a whole new dimension.

Arlberg Pioneering Spirit

It is said on the Arlberg that shortly after the turn of the century, on 3 January 1901, six friends set off from St. Anton to St. Christoph. Dressed in loden cloth, on simple boards with heavy boots on their feet and an ice-stick in hand, they made their way through the powder snow. At the Hotel Hospiz, which sits at 1,800 metres and ushered in a new era of winter sports, they not only took a break, but also set the first great milestone in the history of skiing.

The friends founded the Ski Club Arlberg, and with it the world’s first ski club. To this day, the guestbook at the Hospiz still contains the entry made by founding member and *town councillor Adolf Rybizka:*

*“Delighted by nature, enthused by sport, and driven by the necessity of creating on the Arlberg a modest meeting point for friends of this noble pastime, the excursionists taking part in this impromptu gathering felt moved to found the "Ski-Club-Arlberg"!”*

The entry was signed by the other founding members Carl and Adolf Schuler, Dr. Adolf Rybizka, Oswald Trojer, Josef Schneider, Ferdinand Beil, Dr.F. Gerstel and Liesl Trojer. Today, the Ski Club Arlberg is one of the largest in Europe and among the most steeped in tradition in the world.

In the Footsteps of the Alps’ First Ski Race

Three years later, on 5 and 6 January 1904, the Ski Club Arlberg held its first ski race, an event unlike anything the Alpine world had seen before. Today it is hard to imagine the sheer effort demanded of the competitors back then, since nobody had yet thought of ski lifts, cable cars or groomed pistes. The long-distance route ran from the Ulmer Hütte over the Schindlerferner to the Arlensattel, then up to the Galzig and from there down to St. Christoph and finally on to St. Anton. Anyone wanting to experience the feel of this century-old race route is advised to first fortify themselves with a treat or two at the Ulmer Hütte, which sits at 2,288 metres above sea level right beside the ski slope. Unless, of course, you happen to be related to Hannes Schneider.

The Ski Paradise Around St. Anton

Not only for its alpine beauty and outstanding piste conditions, but also for its snow reliability right down to the villages, the Arlberg is renowned and loved the world over. Small wonder, with over 305 kilometres of pistes offering plenty of skiing enjoyment for every level, from beginners to advanced skiers. The linked ski resorts of St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech with Oberlech, Zürs and Warth-Schröcken delight with their variety, and 88 state-of-the-art lifts and cable cars also play their part, treating winter sports enthusiasts to breathtaking views of the mountain world in the utmost comfort. Adrenaline lovers will also find sporting challenges on 200 km of off-piste variants, snowboard fun parks, carving areas and permanent race courses. There is always something going on at the Arlberg, and there is something for every taste, whether on the slopes, in the mountain huts or down in the valley. Many cosy meeting places such as the **superior">sun terrace of -Superior-Hotel in St. Anton am Arlberg in Tirol">Hotel Arlmont, which sits right on the ski slope, invite you to linger and enjoy. For the perfect ski holiday, winter holidaymakers are best off staying right there, because in the evening you can ski straight into the hotel – simply legendary, just like the Arlberg.**