Flachauwinkl - Kleinarl

As with most places you’ll find a few good spots but it’s not the most expansive freeride destination. Head over to the Zauchensee side for the better off-piste runs, but avoid the official ski-routes which get far too moguled. On the Kleinarl side, there’s a few drops and wind-lips in the area under the Absolute chair which heads to the terrain park. It’s best to drop in from further along the blue run, as it gets tracked out fast. From the Mooskopf there’s a little steep terrain between the Stash and the piste, and heading towards Kleinarl from the same place, under the bubble-chair can be okay.

This is the main reason for coming here. The 1.5km long AbsolutePark is a gem. The run starts with 2 meaty kickers and splits round the corner into two lines. The upper line features a number of rails and the lower a combination of kickers and rails depending on conditions. At the top of the park is the pro-line with a 25m kicker. Following on from the main park is a half-pipe squeezed in between the pistes.

The final section of the park is a beginner area with a few kickers and various rails & boxes. The park is very well maintained by their full-time crew and hosts the 4*TTR Spring Battle. At the bottom of the park is the Chillhouse with a climbing wall and a skate ramp.

In the same area and served by the powder-shuttle chair is the Burton Stash, a whole face of almost 40, mainly wooden jibs. The lil’ Stash at the top is perfect for your first boardslide, and then it’s hunt down the perfect run in the main Stash. With names such as Flat Miller Log Slide and natural snake run, there’s some cool things to find.

The pistes on the Kleinarl side are not going to provide any challenge for advanced riders but everyone else will enjoy. You can get some good speed down the top red run into Kleinarl, but take a visit over to Zauchensee for the steeper and longer runs.

The Kleinarl side is perfect for those taking their first turns. Fast chairlifts with flat descents are the norm, you won’t find any flat bits on the abundant beginner slopes, and the pistes are well maintained; what more could you ask for. For lessons including freestyle tuition book with the absolute School (www.absolutschool.at) which is at the Kleinarl side base area.