Sankt Anton am Arlberg is a village in Tyrol, western Austria, with a population of c.
2,800. It is a prominent ski resort situated at 1,304 m above sea level in the Tyrolean
Alps with dozens of Aerial tramways, chair lifts and ski-lifts up to 2,811 m. It is well
known around the world as the host of the Alpine World Skiing Championships in
2001 and as one of the world's most famous international winter sports and a
summer resort. Skiing has a long history in this village: even before World War I, the
first skiing teachers were employed at St. Anton. It is located in the Stanzertal and
belongs to the district of Landeck.
A town of 2,500 permanent inhabitants, St. Anton offers the best expert skiing in the
Arlberg region, and the most lively apres-ski scene. St. Anton lies on the Rosanna
River, and is on the main east-west rail line between Austria and Switzerland. It is
part of the Arlberg alliance of ski resorts—a region that includes more 82 cable cars
and ski lifts, 260 km (160 miles) of groomed pistes and 184 km (114 miles) of deep-
snow runs.
A pedestrian zone forms the center of the town. On the western edge of village is the
"Galzigbahn" which has been replaced by a Funitel gondola. The new gondola also
includes the first ever ferris wheel, which enables passengers to board the
gondolas on ground level. The Funitel accesses the Galzig slopes and connects to
Schindler and Valluga peaks. On the eastern edge of town, the Nassereinerbahn
rises to the Nasserien area with links to Kapall peak. Kapall, Valluga, and Schindler
peaks provide skiers with close to 1,500 vertical metres skiing. Slope-side apres-ski
bars, such as Krazy Kanguruh and Mooserwirt, can be found on the Steissbachtal
trail just above St. Anton. A more subdued apres-ski scene exists in the numerous
pubs and cafes in town.
Expert terrain includes less frequently groomed ski routes such as Schindlerkar and
Mattun, and the backside of Valluga (2,811 m) down to Zürs, which is for experts only
if accompanied by a guide. There are also a large number of off-piste routes in the
area that experts can explore with the help of a guide. Rendl, a separate area on the
other side of town, is more suitable for intermediates. It also gets the late afternoon
sun. Many people end the day at the Rendl Beach--a lively outside bar with a sun
terrace and daily tea dances.
Other ski areas are Lech, Stuben and St. Christoph, a hamlet that became famous in
the 14th century when the shepherd Heinrich Findelkind built a hospice as a shelter
for traveler crossing the Arlberg pass to the Vorarlberg province. Alpe Rauz, near St.
Christoph, has one of the finest cruising trails in the region, an 820 m vertical slope
that takes one all the way from Ulmer Hutte to Stuben.
