Five Snowparks for all Ages and Abilities
Kickers, boxes, rails – snowparks contain all manner of obstacles in many shapes and sizes with the aim of giving freestyle skiers and snowboarders as much fun as possible, hence the term funpark. We definitely recommend a visit to one during your next trip to Tirol – be it as a spectator or an active participant. Tirol’s ski resorts are home to snowparks large and small for all ages and abilities, from complete novices to budding professionals, slowly-but-surely intermediates to full-send fanatics.
1. Kitzbühel (Unterland)
Kitzbühel is famous in Austria and around the world for the Hahnenkamm downhill ski race held each year in January on the infamous Streif piste, including the terrifying Mousetrap jump. But did you know that this resort in the eastern part of Tirol also has a snowpark where things can get pretty spectacular too? The snowpark has more than 40 obstacles of all shapes and sizes. Highlights include kickers from 2 to 15 metres as well as lots of rails, boxes, tubes, etc. For children there is a separate Kids’ Park where the obstacles are smaller and there is more space to learn in a safe environment.
2. Mayrhofen (Zillertal)
The PenkenPark takes its name from the main peak in Mayrhofen, the Penken. On this mountain you will find a large snowpark with six separate areas aimed at freestylers of differing ages and abilities. Once down at the bottom you can simply hop onto the chairlift and cruise back up to the top while admiring the tricks of others in the park below or soaking up the scenery with one gorgeous snow-covered peak after the other.
3. Ischgl (Paznaun)
The number one highlight of this snowpark at the top of the Silvrettabahn cable car is a huge airbag where skiers and boarders can practise their toughest tricks safe in the knowledge that there will always be a soft landing.
4. Stubai Glacier (Stubaital)
The Stubai Zoo snowpark on the Stubai Glacier is one of the highest in Tirol at 3,100 metres above sea level. Its south-facing location means plenty of sunshine all day, while its altitude is a guarantee for good snow cover throughout the winter. There are four lines in the park aimed at different abilities, from easy to difficult
5. Nordkette & Patscherkofel (Innsbruck)
The snowparks in the Nordkette Mountains north of Innsbruck and the Patscherkofel south of the regional capital are great for those who live in the city and holidaymakers who like a mix of the urban and the alpine. It takes just 20 minutes to get from the city centre to the Seegrube ski lifts at almost 2,000 metres, where freestylers will find the Nordkette Skylinepark offering great obstacles and amazing views of Innsbruck far below. On the other side of the Inn Valley lies the Patscherkofel mountain with its relatively new snowpark opened in 2017.
