World championship cross-country skiing in Tirol
Last updated on 14.01.2019
Anyone who comes to Tirol for cross-country skiing will get to experience world championship terrain. And it’s not just in the Olympic region Seefeld, venue of the Nordic World Ski Championships 2019 that pros and recreational cross-country skiers can enjoy a perfectly developed network of cross-country trails, but throughout Tirol.
From one World Cup to the next one – at least in Tirol. In 2017 the Biathlon World Championships took place in Hochfilzen, and these will be followed by the Nordic Ski World Championships in Seefeld in 2019. Seefeld and Hochfilzen are examples of the infrastructure that holidaymakers appreciate in Tyrol’s cross-country skiing regions: Good accessibility, perfect cross-country ski runs, quality-assured accommodation, top service for Nordic skiers and exciting cross-country skiing events. In St. Johann in Tirol, for example, one of Austria’s best-known cross-country races, the International Koasalauf, takes place every year. Seefeld organises the annual Nordic Combined Triple, Pertisau am Achensee hosts the famous 3-Valley Race every year and Lienz hosts the annual International Dolomite Race.
Tips from five of the best cross-country skiing regions in Tirol
In the Olympic region of Seefeld alone, there are 246.5 kilometres of cross-country tracks, seven of which are 44 kilometres long and specially designed for adaptive Nordic skiing. Seefeld even has its own dog trail. The “Cross Country Academy” offers cross-country training on site. One of the most scenic cross-country trails on the Seefeld Plateau leads to Wildmoos. The five-kilometre circuit with its three crisp climbs is particularly popular with ambitious cross-country skiers and should not be underestimated despite having “only” 145 metres of altitude gain. The quaint Wildmoosalm mountain hut is a great place to stop for refreshments.
Anyone who travels to Tirol for cross-country skiing should also make a detour to East Tirol. This is a cross-country skiing paradise with a network of more than 400 kilometres of cross-country trails. In Obertilliach’s cross-country skiing and biathlon centre, international pros are always welcome, while beginners can learn the cross-country skiing basics. This is also where the Grenzland cross-country trail spans over a total of 51 kilometres, reaching 800 metres above sea level over the Kartitscher Sattel in the picturesque Lesachtal valley. It connects the East Tirolean villages of Kartitsch, Obertilliach and Untertilliach with a short detour to the neighbouring state of Carinthia. You might even bump into Ole Einar Björndalen along the way, whose adopted home is Obertilliach.
With a network of 75 kilometres of cross-country trails across Ischgl and Galtür, The Paznaun-Ischgl region is perfectly suited for beginners as well as ambitious cross-country skiers. Due to the high altitude, the cross-country trails have guaranteed snow from the beginning of December until well into spring and offer ideal conditions for cross-country skiers – after all, the network of cross-country trails in Galtür reaches an altitude of more than 2,000 metres above sea level. In the Galtür hamlet of Wirl, for example, the Silvretta – Bielerhöhe high-altitude cross-country trail starts, leading to the impressive Silvretta reservoir at 2,040 metres above sea level. The free use of the cross-country ski runs, along with a free ski bus in the entire valley round off the cross-country skiing experience in Paznaun.
Located on the border to the Allgäu, the Tannheimer Tal offers Nordic winter sports enthusiasts a very special cross-country skiing experience. Beginners in particular will find optimal conditions here: 98 of the 140 kilometres of cross-country trails are marked as easy. What’s more, the maximum difference in altitude is 50 metres. Advanced cross-country skiers will also get their money’s worth in the Tannheimer Tal: the Ski-Trail is 31 kilometres long and even crosses the border into Germany. The top-notch infrastructure and the free use of all cross-country trails are proof of the region’s cross-country skiing opportunities.
750 kilometres of cross-country trails of all levels of difficulty connect the numerous valleys and villages of the large Kitzbüheler Alpen holiday region. A very beautiful cross-country trail is located close to Hochfilzen, the venue of the 2017 Biathlon World Championships. On the 12-kilometre-long, medium difficulty panoramic trail near St.Ulrich am Pillersee, cross-country skiers can enjoy the view of hamlets, wide meadows and Lake Pillersee. The cross-country ski trail is prepared for both skating and classic style.
At a glance: Top cross-country ski areas
The Olympiaregion Seefeld, Osttirol, Paznaun-Ischgl, the Tannheimer Tal and the Kitzbühel Alps are just a few examples of the numerous top cross-country skiing regions throughout Tyrol. More information about the most exciting cross-country skiing events for professionals and amateur athletes, as well as accommodation options, can be found online:
www.tyrol.com/things-to-do/sports/cross-country-skiing/xc-regions.
Further information about winter in Tirol can be found at www.tyrol.com. High resolution images can be found at: www.presse.tirol.at/en and www.bilder.tirol.at