Press releases

Project “Schlossalm New”

Construction work on the station buildings (valley, mid- and mountain stations) as well as the line for the new Schlossalmbahn lift has been projected to cost 6.7 million euro. Foundations for the protective structure over the ÖBB-Tauernbahn rail line as well as the second stage of the gondola will be built this year.

Piste construction, the reservoir and avalanche-protection dam will eat up around 3.6 million euro in the first year of construction. 3.3 million euro is being invested in a highly efficient snowmaking system. 13.6 million euro in total will flow into the “Schlossalm NEW” project in the summer months.

The entire building project was approved pursuant to a very extensive environmental impact assessment process and will now be implemented in several stages. The new Schlossalmbahn and the n ew piste up to the mid-station will be opened in December 2018 .

Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG is investing around 85 million euro over the coming years in improvements to comfort and capacity. The new multifunction valley terminal on the far side of the main Gastein road will provide for stress-free access to the Schlossalm ski area in future. Up at the new mountain station, guests are greeted by an ideal distribution point, from where they have three different options to choose from for their downhill run (Schlossalm, Kleine Scharte and Haitzingalm), each dropping more than 1200 vertical meters. Furthermore, the pistes will be expanded by 20 hectares, while a new reservoir with a water capacity of 150,000 cubic meters will provide optimal snowmaking for the entire Schlossalm ski area.

A detailed financing concept was developed in order to implement this project. “A quarter of the total investment can be covered by free cash flow. Here we are talking about around 21.3 million euro”, explain Wolfgang Egger and Franz Schafflinger, CEO of Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG. A combination of various external financing instruments is being employed to raise the remaining 63.5 million euro.

One element of external financing is an innovative citizen participation model, which will be continued in the coming season. Anyone interested in participating in the next round of citizen-participation can sign up now to receive the very latest updates. Further information is available on the Internet at 1000x1000.at/skigastein.

Piste Equipment and other Machinery

Around 25 snowcats are deployed in order to be able to offer perfectly groomed pistes every single day. Around 1.5 million euro is being spent to purchase two new snowcats and a tractor as well as exchange skidoos and motorized vehicles.

Giant Slalom Piste with “Skimovie”

Our customers have been able to make use of Skiline – a system which automatically records the total number of vertical meters each skier has logged – for a number of years. A new feature is now a “Skimovie” facility, installed on a permanent giant slalom course (Haitzingalm training piste on the Schlossalm in Bad Hofgastein), a course which is designed differently every day.

Everyone who passes through the turnstile at the start is automatically “tracked” by cameras from the start to finish of the course. The video is transferred in real time to a server and is available to the skiing guest shortly after crossing the finish line.

The ski pass serves as identification. With the ski-pass number, you can go to www.skiline.cc or use the Skiline app to view, download and share the kilometers and vertical meters you have skied as well as photos and videos.

The photo point on the suspension footbridge is also integrated into the system.

Fun Slope Gastein - Schlossalm

“Fun Slope Gastein” is located in the area of the Haitzingalm and is a product that offers a broad public a welcome change of pace from skiing on regular pistes. The name says it all: promising added fun and enjoyment for all our guests!

From a technical perspective, a “fun slope” is a hybrid between what you would normally expect from a piste, snowpark and cross course. The “slope” consists of just a single course, with many of the elements similar to what you know from a beginner’s snow park, such as moguls and smaller jumps.

Special aspects of fun slopes are playful elements such as bridges, tunnels as well as “snails”, which are particularly enjoyable for the kids. From the “cross” world, we add elements such as banked turns and direction changes.

For guests to get the most fun, the length of the course plays a large role, while the width is comparatively less important. The ideal incline of the slope is very moderate and corresponds approximately to that of a blue-rated piste. With its striking cubage, every fun slope is a real “eyecatcher”.

What makes fun slopes so unique is the fact that they offer enjoyment for all winter sports fans. If it is too fast, simply slow down. What’s important is that everyone has fun, whether big or small, whether pro or rookie skier.

Gasti Park - Angertal

The rear area of the Gasti Park at Angertal Ski Center has been expanded for the enjoyment of the littlest guests. Mascot “Gasti” is a central highlight of this winter wonderland for the youngsters.

Out on the snowy field, they will discover a snow igloo as well as several Gasti figures in various forms and at regular intervals. Which means, the kids have plenty of opportunities to play “with” Gasti practically everywhere. With sliding apples and snow tubes, lots of fun on the slopes is guaranteed.

Summit Conquest & Gourmet Breakfast in Sportgastein

Famous for its high elevations, the ski area in Sportgastein offers incredible views of the surrounding 3,000-meter peaks. And it has never been easier to conquer an alpine peak: The summit cross on the Kreuzkogel (elev. 2,686 m) is easy to reach from the mountain lift station in just a few minutes.

Guests ride the gondola up at eight in the morning, after which it is just a few steps through the snow. From the mountain station of the Goldbergbahn, an expert local guide will bring you out to the summit cross, where you can enjoy spectacular views of over 400 high peaks.

After the obligatory summit photo, the gourmet breakfast promises to be a mouthwatering treat: Fresh bread and rolls along with all kinds of regional delicacies provide the perfect ingredients for an unforgettable breakfast in a glass-and-aluminium dome with panoramic views of the mountain world. This “Summit Conquest & Gourmet Breakfast” is offered every Wednesday in good weather.

Regular price: € 48 per pers.; with Gastein Card: 45 per pers. Meets: 8 a.m. at the Goldbergbahn valley lift station in Sportgastein Register by 3 p.m. of the day before through the Bad Gastein Tourist Office: 06432/3393-560

Mobile Ticketing – never stand in line to buy your ski pass again

Ticketing is processed directly via a mobile web service and can be accessed by means of any Internet-capable smartphone. Additionally, the mobile web service can be accessed using the “Ski amadé Guide” app.

The key-card ski pass can be recharged via mobile device whenever convenient: the ticket is active within a matter of seconds and can then be used immediately. Payment is safe and secure using a credit card.

Television Channel – Info Channel Gastein

The television channel operated by the Gastein Tourist Office may be viewed online from around the world.

At www.skigastein.com/livestream , the channel is broadcast 1:1 and in real time 24 hours a day. Allowing everyone to “take a peek” at Gastein whenever they want, and to access the very latest information.

Snow- and Piste Management

After such positive experiences in the last two winters, the satellite-assisted snow & piste management system is being expanded, with additional snowcats now being outfitted with high-tech snow management equipment. This is all about making the most efficient use of manmade snow, which generally costs around 3.5 euro per cubic meter to produce.

Every second as they drive, the snowcats collect snow-depth data accurate to within six or seven centimeters, which is then transmitted to a central hub as well as other snowcats in the ski area, making the information effectively available to everyone in real time.

The snowcats navigate with the help of GPS and Glonass satellites. For even greater precision in determining their position, a base station has been installed in the ski area, serving as a reference point with a precisely known location and able to send a correcting signal wirelessly. To help distribute the signal, repeaters are required. The combination of the satellite and corrective signals makes it possible to pinpoint each vehicle’s location.

In order to determine the snow depth, the computer in the snowcat needs a precise model of the terrain through which it is traveling. The landscape was actually surveyed by means of an aircraft laser scan when there was no snow cover. If the snowcat knows both its current position as well as that of the underlying terrain in summer, then the conclusion is obvious: Everything in between must be snow.

The depth of the snow is permanently and clearly displayed to the driver, both in numbers as well as a color display similar to that of any standard GPS system: It shows various areas in different colors corresponding to the actual snow depths. With the aid of incline sensors in the vehicles, it is possible to factor in the angle of slope, which in turn produces an accurate measurement of the snow above the solid ground below.

Press releases

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