St. Anton is the most famous ski hill in Austria. It is swarming with fans from all over the world. It’s big, it’s beautiful, it has something for everyone and it is a must ride for ski fanatics across the world. If you like it steep, you’ll find it, if you like moguls, they’ll kick your knees ass, if you like slow winding slopes that allow you to take in the scenery, you’ll find plenty and if you really just want to get drunk at the bar surrounded by peaks, you can do that at an outdoor patio as close to heaven as is possible. (Regardless of weather your heaven is in the sky or the mountains).
You may have to fight the crowds, and may find yourself in some long lineups. You may also find that the intermediate with an over inflated ego is stuck on your slope crying for his friends to climb back up and carry his skis down, but it’s all worth it.
There are some incredible lines to hike into. These are actually on-piste and provide ropes to help you cross some scary parts into some intense gullies. If you’re lucky and there’s fresh snow these lines are killer. Otherwise, be prepared to p-tex your skis back to life.
A lot of the expert runs are also long. So while it might take you some time to reach them, you will have a nice long descent before queuing back at the bottom for the telecabine. If you love powder, due to the hordes of people as well as the amount of expert skiers on this mountain, you may find fresh tracks a little lacking. It is possible to hire a guide and head off-piste but do hire a guide. This mountain is known for it’s intense dumps and can be extremely dangerous when heading out of bounds. It is not like North America where most terrain that can be reached from a lift, though out-of-bounds is controlled for avalanches. At St. Anton, you won’t see signs identifying the avalanche risk like you might see in North America, and so if there is a rope, and you don’t know the area and have some training in avalanche safety as well as peeps, shovels and a smart skiing partner, don’t risk it. SERIOUSLY.
But really, aren’t you mostly curious about the real reason why so many ski fans flock to this Mecca? YES, it is true. St. Anton has the best Après ski in the world. Be prepared to rock out with your ski boots on till the late hour of 8 p.m. Send your tired/hungover/beginner friend to save a table or standing spot around 3, or earlier, and then, when the runs close, the lights drop out of the ceiling, the shudders close shut and a dance party like no other will start to rage. After a few hours, you will start to sing German, you will have made friends with the crazy Pols next to you, chugged with the Germans, done shots of jager with the Austrians, hugged the British Girl who fell in your lap five times and learned how incredibly well you can dance in your ski boots.
Never, ever, have I been in a room so full of people who are so happy. Both the Mooservirt and the Krazy Kangaroo will provide all this fun and then some. The Krazy Kangaroo skews a bit younger and seems to be a bit more popular for snowboarders. But unless you are the grumpiest person on skis, you will have a blast! Just roll with it and leave the idea of personal space on the slopes.
Just try and remember where you leave your skis. Cause when the bar closes, the hordes or skiers spill out onto the slope to make the little run to the bottom. This is probably the most dangerous skiing you will do, surrounded by drunk people who can’t stand let alone ski. But it’s all in good fun and quite entertaining.
After an insane day of skiing and an even insaner afternoon of Après, if you make it outside your room after a shower at all, there are lots of restaurants and shops. The nightlife is a bit more tame since most skiers put it all out there for Après ski. You will see the diehards still in ski boots eating pizza at 10 at night and no matter what you feel like eating and drinking, you will find it in this town built around enjoying all things skiing and drinking.
