Getting the winter sports season started with verve and joy
One thing is for sure: new heights will be reached - in sports, musical entertainment as well as in culinary delights. Silvretta Montafon – the sportiest ski region – is certainly living up to its expectations in the 2018/19 winter season. In familiar high-energy manner, it is combining top level sports activities with exquisite cuisine, unique mountain adventures, and top acts from the Austrian-Bavarian music scene. A great atmosphere is guaranteed as acts such as DJ Ötzi, WANDA and LaBrassBanda will all be performing live on stage. On top of all this comes a brand new highlight in the valley: the Alte Talstation (or ‘Old Valley Station’) is a unique restaurant and bar concept with an après-ski arena and an eight-metre-long sky bar. Just in time for the start of the season, the Jöchle chairlift opens its ‘bars’ for a convenient transport of winter sports fans to the mountains. And those looking for more excitement after a day full of adventure in the snow should visit one of the resort’s mountain huts and restaurants. Bars and restaurants have extended its opening hours every Saturday from mid-February till mid-March, so everyone is welcome to “Party until 6 p.m.”.
Get out of the car, step into your ski boots and onto the slopes – of which there are plenty in the Silvretta Montafon ski region. Half of the region’s 140 kilometres of pistes are located at an altitude of 2,000 metres, thus guaranteeing lots of snow and a wide variety of descents. Additionally, modern snow-making facilities ensure excellent conditions throughout the winter season. The slopes are full of challenges and adventures, however, the journey to Silvretta Montafon is as easy as it gets. The area is perfectly connected to the motorway, visitors benefit from a quick and easy journey. Getting around within the ski resort is also as comfortable as it gets: Winter guests can reach several mountain tops within minutes thanks to a total of 35 operating cable cars and lifts.
Once the season starts, the new Jöchle six-seater chairlift at the Valisera region will commence its operation. It replaces three lifts and increases quality and comfort considerably while capacity approximately remains the same. This winter, the former valley station of the Versettla single-seat chairlift is the location of another new highlight that cannot fail to impress: the ‘Alte Talstation’. In addition to the Intersport Shop, featuring a ski rental service, the building also comprises an après-ski arena including a covered terrace and an eight-metre-long sky bar. The new structure sports a dark wooden façade typical for the region as well as a large window front that allows a spectacular panoramic view of the Silvretta mountain range. Inside there are several partitionable spaces which can be rented all year long. The interior features traditional elements and materials combined with modern Alpine design. And besides all this, the variety of event highlights and mountain adventures in the winter season 2018/19 create plenty of unforgettable moments.
World Cup & Top Acts
The girls and boys from STARMIX really get the party started. The Austrian-Bavarian show band will open the musical winter right at the start of the season on 1 December with a thrilling performance at the Kapellrestaurant. The pinnacle of sports and music will be united under the motto “Sport on the mountain, party in the valley” from 12 till16 December 2018. While the international FIS Snowboard and Ski Cross elite will be fighting on the mountain for a spot on the podium, live acts will be rocking the stage in the valley. The World Cup Open Air will be held on 15 December 2018 with WANDA, the famous Vienna band, giving their very first concert in Montafon. The indie rock band’s famous songs ‘Bologna’ and ‘Bussi Baby’ will keep the heat sky-high for fans to party all night long since the band folkshilfe will have them fired up, ready to have some fun.
Gerry Friedle, a.k.a DJ Ötzi will be another great highlight in the upcoming season. Together with the Austrian cult DJ, the final weeks of winter will be celebrated in style on 23 March 2019. When Bavarian brass music meets ska, reggae and punk, nobody can stay still! The winter months will be brought to a fitting end when LaBrassBanda will be live on stage on 6 April. It will be the final chance of reliving all the amazing moments of the 2018/19 season.
Mountain Adventures – On and Off piste
Winter is mainly dressed in white, but the mountain experience at Silvretta Montafon is extremely colourful and diverse. The packages are sure to fulfil the expectations of snow fans of all interests both on and off piste. Experience the breathtaking Montafon landscape, giving you lots of unique holiday moments to savour. Take a ride on a PistenBully snow groomer: you can really feel the immense power of the machine while driving it on the slopes. For those who aim for bigger challenges, there is the Freeride Adventure Day – with long summit descents, jumps, and small outcrops, all waiting to be experienced by adventure riders who are looking for thrilling moments. In addition, professional guides will inform you of what is to be experienced off piste, what the current conditions look like, and where to find the best lines and spots. By the way, early risers can have freshly groomed slopes all to themselves with a choice of fantastic ski adventures: ‘HochjochTotale’, ‘Nova Exklusiv’ and ‘Ländle Früah Sport’.
The Silvretta Montafon has even more to offer apart from its sporting challenges, e.g. a huge range of culinary delights of the highest quality. In VINNOVA, the highest wine bar in Vorarlberg, which opened only last year, you can relax with a choice of the finest wines, while enjoying the magnificent mountain scenery – at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres. Selected wineries are being invited on four different dates to special ‘vintner evenings’ to present their best wines as part of a five-course meal. Bavarian delicacies are served three times per season at the ‘Haxenabend – Pork Knuckle Evening’ in the Rehsee Stöbli, while winter sports fans can enjoy a delicious mountain breakfast twice a week at the Kapellrestaurant and the Nova Stoba before making their way to the piste.
If you are looking for something even more exceptional, you should consider spending a night in an igloo – at an altitude of no less than 2,300 metres. This wild but romantic winter adventure kicks off with a welcome drink in Valisera Hüsli, before visitors make their way to the igloo village sourrounded by flickering torches. Guests at Schwarzköpfle can look forward to some hot mulled wine, cosy blankets, and a delicious cheese fondue in the community igloo. The Igloo Adventure Night is a unique experience, whether you prefer to spend the time taking part in cosy chats around the camp fire, listening to the silence of the night, or watching the starry sky.
Party till 6 p.m.
What better way to round off a great day in the snow than at an après ski party with friends? Bars and restaurants will be open longer from 16 February till 30 March 2019 in line with its ‘Party till 6 p.m.’ event. Winter sports fans can look forward to hearty meals, cool drinks and hot beats alongside all the tasty après ski classics. The Versettla chairlift will also be in service longer on Saturdays, ensuring a fast and safe ride down to the valley. The ‘Alte Talstation’ down in the valley invites you to party even longer as rousing DJ tunes keep the spirits high in the après-ski arena and at the eight-metre-long sky bar. It’s all set for a day and an evening you will never forget.
