St Anton Holiday
Skiers and snowboarders coming to the Austrian village of St Anton will not be disappointed - as host to the 2001 Alpine World Skiing Championships, winter sports runs through the veins of this resort.
Located in the Tyrol region of Austria, St Anton is a picturesque village with a resident population of 2523 people.
It is a prominent Austrian ski resort and is situated at 1304 metres above sea level with a good number of ski lifts, chair lifts and cable cars travelling to a maximum height of 2811 metres.
St Anton has a history tied up in Alpine Skiing and when fresh snow arrives here the only thing that will match the fantastic runs is the notoriously hedonistic lifestyle.
The region lends itself to the more accomplished skier and snowboarder because while there is an ample choice of intermediate to advanced slopes, the lower gentler runs can often get a little overcrowded.
One of the most prominent points in St Anton is the well-known Valluga summit, which takes skiers or boarders all the way to the valley floor via one of the best and longest intermediate ski slopes in Europe.
Off-piste ski enthusiasts will be in their element with the nearby Lech and Zurs being widely attributed as offering some of the best off-piste skiing in Europe - visitors will need to catch a bus from St Anton to enjoy their delights.
Snowboarders need not fear being forgotten as St Anton has some of the best snowboarding terrain in Europe. Kapall, Rendl and Gampen are all good for boarders with the steep powder fields, natural obstacles and drop-offs providing all the choice you will need for some exhilarating free-riding.
For those who are wishing to brush up on some long forgotten skills in St Anton or even develop some new ones, there are two very reputable ski schools in the area. Both schools employ hundreds of instructors and guides that provide excellent tuition that caters for all levels.
St Anton is not the cheapest ski destination due to its prominence in the European scene and the number of winter sports enthusiasts who return year-in year-out. However, upon arriving from nearby Innsbruck, the Arlberg Ski Pass seems to offer the best value as it allows you to ski at nearby Lech, Zurs and St Christoph also.
St Anton has a legendary nightlife with a huge variety of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Although not everyone's cup of tea, it is not unusual to hear some revellers returning from a local watering hole in the early hours of the morning.
The best of the bunch among the village's infamous hostelries is the Krazy Kanguruh, which has live music and is filled with a host of European revellers all kitted out in their skiwear - the short run home can often prove challenging for some.
St Anton is a must for any true ski or snowboarding enthusiast. If your lucky enough to be here when there is a fresh downfall of snow, you will ski yourself into exhaustion on some of Europe's finest slopes - and if you like some après ski, you're unlikely to sleep for the duration of your stay!
