I have skied all the "BIG ONES" such as Val d Isere,Tignes,Courchevel,Selva etc etc and i am heading back to St Anton for the 3rd year in a row.No more chasing the ultimate resort that has it all......We have found it.Snow record ,ease of transfer,atmosphere,lift system,attractive village and testing slopes.The French monstrosities have been ruled out forever from our group of avid skiers and we have decided to return to St Anton as it has it all.
Going back to St Anton this year for a second time - first three years back in terrific snow. Has been the best resort I have been to, outclassing Three Valleys, Verbier (only just because of Mt Fort) and Val d'Isere (easily). Was going to try a different resort this year, but the pull of St Anton too great and we didn't even get chance to ski the Valluga bowl due to avalanche risk last time!
France may have bigger resorts, but they ain't nearly as charming. But beginners should steer clear - come here if you get the bug...
This is genuinely a very good resort. In fact the best I have been to. I have boarded in over 20 resorts in france italy canada switzerland and austria, so this isn't the usual post holiday excitement which underpins most reviews.
It is not a beginners resort and there are no long cruising pistes to rest your legs. You will find that it will expose the defincies in your technique quite quickly as your legs begin to burn. There is not to much piste bashing going on so instead of the courdroy you get in france its more akin to a canadian resort. Quick to mogul and demanding on your edges.
Lifts are good and there is very extensive off piste including 180kms of unpisted trails aswell. I took a lesson with the advanced snowboard school for the first time in a long while. I was impressed with the instruction I got and they manged to move my technique along significantly. We spent a most of our time off piste and learnt a good deal about moving safely as a group,using avalanche transceivers and techniques for turning in powder. (not the usual weight on the back foot surfer style which has served me for so long).
Apres ski is beery and typically austrian. lots of dancing in ski boots and awful german techno. Also you have Lech, Zurs, St christoph, Sonnenkopf along the valley.
If your tired of open bowl resorts in france then St Anton may well inspire you.
I spent a season in this fantastic resort and have been back every year since. It is uncomparable to other Euro resorts. Amazing snow record, fantastic terrain, some fine lagers and some superb disco dancing and a major factor is the friendly, welcoming locals.
overall i think this is the best place to go in europe, it has the whole package. from excellent off piste, to the 260kms marked pistes to the unrivalled apres scene, gotta mention the krazy kanguruh and mooserwirt, u have to see to believe!!
I would say the only thing it is lacking is a descent live band, personally i think they should try and get some swedish bands, they know how to rock in the snow!
anyway cant wait to go back next year
l8rs
if anybody has any queries about the resort dont hesitate to get in contact
l8rs