Sportgastein

The highest skiing area in Ski amadé

Sportgastein is with an altitude of 1.590-2.650 meters the highest skiing area in Ski amadé. The ski area can be accessed by the Goldbergbahn and the Kreuzkogel lift. Skiers enjoy 24 kilometers of slopes, which are classified as medium to difficult. The sport experience is rounded off with the culinary offers of the ski huts.

Freeriding: Perfect snow conditions & powder fun

Adrenaline junkies who are looking for challenges and love off-piste deep snow skiing are in the right place at the Sportgastein ski resort!

In perfect snow conditions - powder snow, deep snow and firn - you can leave the slopes and start your skiing adventure in the freeride terrain. But not only that: in addition, there is a fantastic winter mountain panorama to marvel at here. The three ski routes Golden Powder, Golden Rush and Golden Ride are recommended, with which you can discover the most sporty ski area of Gastein off-piste, deep snow included, of course!

After about 1000 meters of altitude and powder fun, you reach the valley floor of Sportgastein.

Freeriding safety

All skiers should pay attention to warning signs as well as barriers and other off-piste safety tips. In the specially set up avalanche search field you can train at any time, free of charge and under real conditions.


 

Freeride Info Base

Freeride Safety Check

Three marked ski routes, numerous freeride variations and deep snow slopes in the immediate vicinity of the slopes offer pure off-piste fun. Not for nothing have top athletes like Sandra Lahnsteiner settled in Gastein. In addition, international contests and competitions take place regularly.

But of course safety plays a very important role in the terrain. That's why Gasteiner Bergbahnen has set up a freeride competence center in Sportgastein. A freeride checkpoint has been set up at the Goldbergbahn mountain station. This has all the safety information up to route descriptions, an "avalanche checker", and the currently prevailing avalanche warning level. The off-piste information system provides freeriders with the latest information and most important safety tips. Directly when exiting the lift, freeriders will find the daily avalanche situation report from the state of Salzburg, especially for the ski area in Sportgastein.

Wolfgang Egger, Board of Directors of Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG: „Sportgastein with its almost 2,700 meters of altitude offers perfect off-piste opportunities amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Hohe Tauern. The latest information and safety tips on our 3 ski routes should enable our guests to enjoy the maximum freeride pleasure. For this reason, we have decided to set up a Freeride Info Base in Sportgastein."

Components of the Freeride Info Base

  • Screen with current avalanche situation report (exit gondola Goldbergbahn)
  • Aerial view of the freeride area with route display
  • Topographic map
  • Avalanche transceiver - checker
  • Safety information (equipment, rules of conduct)
  • Display - avalanche warning level
  • Avalanche warning light
  • Electronic route approval
  • Emergency numbers, links

 

Ski routes for freeriders

There are three official ski routes in Sportgastein:

 

1. Golden Powder - 5000 meters lenght - 664 meters altitude difference

2. Golden Rush - 2000 meters lenght - 398 meters altitude difference

3. Golden Ride - 666 meters lenght - 176 meters altitude difference

 

Ski routes 1 - Golden Powder

 

route description The Golden Powder Route is the longest route in the area. The ideal entry point is just below the top station of the Goldberg cable car. At the end of the descent you can connect directly to the next route (Golden Rush) and freeride down to the valley.
lenght 5000 m
altitude difference

664 m

level medium
exposure west

 

Ski Routes 2 - Golden Rush

route description The Golden Rush Route starts directly after the Golden Powder Route. Especially the middle part is quite steep, ideal for well-practiced freeriders. At the end of the route you stand directly in front of the valley station of the Goldbergbahn.
lenght 2000 m
altitude difference

389 m

level medium
exposure west

 

Ski Routes 3 - Golden Ride

route description The starting point is directly at the valley station of the Kreuzkogelschlepplift. This route is the shortest, so perfectly suitable to warm up and get a taste for it.
lenght 666 m
altitude difference

176 m

level medium
exposure west

 

Safety note: The marked ski routes in Sportgastein are not prepared, not controlled, but secured against avalanches. Outside the routes you are in the free ski area, act exclusively on your own responsibility and move outside the liability of the cable car company!


 

Avalanche search field

ATC - Avalanche Training Center

Train at any time, free of charge and under real conditions. In cooperation with the company Girsberger and Ortovox, a state-of-the-art avalanche transceiver training system was installed. Because even the best equipment helps nothing without the knowledge of how it works properly!

How does it work?

At this station on the valley floor of Sportgastein, you can train the use of your avalanche transceiver under realistic conditions at any time and free of charge, without prior registration. The high-tech facility is computer-controlled and equipped with a user-friendly screen. The transmitters hidden in the training area can be searched for in different difficulty levels - the given time limit should not be exceeded. The training results can be analyzed directly on the spot.

Facts in summary

  • Fully automatic search station
  • Accessible to everyone, easy to use and free of charge
  • Possibility to set different accident scenarios
  • Countdown timer
  • Result query on the spot

So, to be as prepared as possible for skiing off-piste, grab your avalanche transceiver and avalanche probe, select your skill level on the touch screen, enter your name, press start and practice, practice, practice!


 

Insider knowledge for your pocket - the FREERIDE-MAP

Hohe Tauern Select

Gastein - Mölltaler Gletscher - Ankogel - Heiligenblut

The Freeride Maps show where to find the best spots and how to get there. The worldwide unique map for freeriders makes the knowledge of the locals available. All off-piste runs and couloirs in an area are color-coded in so-called freeride corridors in three levels of difficulty.

Detailed scale 1:25,000 includes all relevant information
Insider knowledge all rides on one map
Indestructible printed on water and tear resistant plastic
Easy to use four colour coded difficulty levels
Complete planning and safety information
Compact Format 10 x 15 cm fits all pockets
International all maps bilingual (DE/EN)
Kosten € 19,50
Outlets all cash desks, TVB Bad Gastein, Hofgastein, at Sport Fleiss and Sport Schober or online

 

More info about the Freeride Map can be found at freeride-map.com.

 


Safety and tips

Safety is paramount off the secured slopes!!!

What should be considered when freeriding?

Before you start a descent, always check the Freeride Info Base at the top station of the Goldbergbahn in Sportgastein. There you can see which routes are currently open or closed, what the current avalanche warning level is, important telephone numbers, what to do in free terrain and much more.

Outside the routes, you are in the free ski area, act exclusively on your own responsibility and move outside the liability area of the cable car company.

Below you will find some tips and information:

Gear Never ride without a helmet, avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, first aid kit and mobile phone.
Avalanche Search Area Before you head off-piste, you should familiarize yourself with your avalanche transceiver. Make use of our avalanche search area to practice for a worst-case scenario. You can find additional information here. It often takes several minutes for mountain rescue to arrive, which means that being in a position to rescue your own buddies can be a matter of life and death.
Off-Piste Safety Never ski alone and never enter unknown terrain! Bad visibility – try again another time! On steep slopes more than 30°: maintain at least 30 metres distance between each skier! Clearly define your next meeting point, and be sure to choose a safe place! Be alert to hazardous areas and snow drifts!
Avalanche Conditions* You can find current avalanche conditions in Salzburger Land here.
Weather You should always be aware of weather conditions, especially when you are about to head out into the backcountry. Be alert to changing weather conditions while you are skiing as well. A sudden turn in the weather can often have fatal consequences! Here you will find current weather conditions and forecasts.
Important Telephone Numbers Sportgastein ski patrol: +43 (0) 6434 3420 - 730
Alpine emergency: 140
Don’t forget to save these numbers to your mobile phone!
Freeride Guides* Experience in open terrain is one of the most important factors for an enjoyable, safe freeride experience. So, we would suggest gaining some of that personal experience as you allow one of our professional freeride guides to take you out through the backcountry! You will find many of our local guides listed here.
Rental Stations* If you would like to check out the very latest freeride gear or just need some expert advice, please go ahead and click here.
Beacon Checker At the Freeride Info Base located at the mountain station of the Goldbergbahn, you can double-check that your avalanche transceiver is working properly one more time before heading out on your freeriding adventure.
Important Advice Always pay attention to avalanche warning lights and safety signs. Always follow instructions given to you by the ski patrol or mountain rescue services.
Never trust pre-existing tracks in the snow! They don’t offer any guarantee for avalanche safety and could potentially lead you in the completely wrong direction.
Prerequisites The absolute prerequisite for a pleasant freeride experience is having the necessary skiing or boarding skills. Only ever go off-piste if you have the necessary level of physical fitness and the technical skills to do so.

 

* Third party offers and info, no liability on the part of the cable car company.


 

Recco

Avalanche Beacon Search System

Logo "Recco Avalanche Rescue System"

Application range of RECCO®

RECCO® is an avalanche transceiver system used by 650 organizations worldwide to assist in the successful recovery of buried victims. The technology was first introduced in 1983 after Magnus Granhed developed it together with the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm based on a personal experience with an avalanche accident.

Since then, the system has successfully established itself in this field and is used by an extensive network of major winter sports resorts, heliskiing companies and mountain rescue organizations in Europe, Japan and North America.

RECCO-SYSTEM

Thanks to harmonic radar, the RECCO® system enables rapid, directional determination of the exact location of a buried subject. The two-part system consists of the RECCO® detector, which is operated by the professional response teams, and the RECCO® reflectors, which are integrated into clothing, helmets, protectors or boots.

RECCO-reflectors

There is no need to learn how to use the RECCO reflector. The device cannot be forgotten, as it always remains integrated in the equipment. Also, it does not require batteries. Many manufacturers of winter sports equipment have integrated the reflectors into their products, therefore there are no additional costs for the end user.

RECCO reflectors cannot prevent avalanches, nor can they guarantee a rescue after an avalanche accident, but they assist professional search teams by making accurate localization possible.

RECCO as support for search operations

Although the search method is similar to avalanche beacons, the RECCO system is not designed for search by private individuals and is not a substitute for carrying an avalanche beacon off-piste. Rather, it supports searches using conventional equipment without interfering with the function and effectiveness of avalanche dogs, avalanche transceivers, or a probe search. The RECCO system enables faster professional search operations and gives skiers and snowboarders another chance of survival in the event of a burial.

Source: www.recco.com