Mark Nicholls enjoys a glowing weekend of early season snowboarding and World Cup slalom racing in Gurgl, Austria.
There’s already a buzz in Gurgl – the ski season is barely days outdated and the slopes are deep with snow.
That feelgood begin to the winter season for the Austrian resort has been additional buoyed by an thrilling spherical of Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup racing with the lads’s and girls’s slalom occasions going down over the weekend of 23-24 November.
Slalom slope end line
Document-breaker Mikeala Shiffrin wowed the crowds with a surprising victory – her 99th – whereas Clement Noel left the remainder in his wake within the males’s occasion on the Kirchenkar slope in Hochgurgl. There have been massive cheers for Austrian racers too, however a particular reception was reserved for British ace Dave Ryding, who’s the “native hero” having made the resort (which sponsors him) his alpine residence.
After ending a reputable seventh to the delight of the 9,000 spectators, he quipped: “I appear to be everyone’s second favorite skier and I’m proud of that!”
Gurgl’s 112km of slopes and 25 mountain lifts opened on 14 November, some 10 days forward of the slalom occasions and with loads of snow falling, together with on the eve of the races, there was an air of optimism.
Returning stars
Delighted with the Gurgl consequence, after ending 16th in Finland on the season opener the earlier week, Ryding is pragmatic about his longevity, having simply turned 38.
Dave Ryding
Talking to Skier & Snowboarder after the race, he mentioned he was taking every race because it comes however acknowledges he’s in good firm age-wise, pointing to Austrian Marcel Hirscher popping out of retirement at 35 (to now compete for The Netherlands) and Lindsey Vonn returning to the slopes at 41.
As Britain’s most profitable skier, having gained a slalom world cup race at Kitzbuhel in January 2022 (and the one Briton to take action), he was not being drawn on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
“I simply take it race by race,” he tells me. “I can’t assume long term, I’m too outdated for that, however I’ll resolve what to do on the finish of the 12 months.”
However he was equally eager to level to the type of fellow Brits Laurie Taylor who was 23rd total in Gurgl and Billy Main.
Vivid future for British snowboarding
Whereas Shiffrin and Clement dominated, Ryding was delighted along with his personal efficiency.
“We had a extremely robust day, a slight mistake on the second run, which was a bit painful, however I can’t complain,” he mentioned, “and to be on this place already with new tools after two races is means past the place I believed I is perhaps.”
Reside race occasions on the end line scoreboard
There’s no denying the slalom brings an intensely thrilling environment to the slopes. Reside footage, replays and immediate cut up occasions preserve the crowds absolutely knowledgeable because the skiers race right down to the accompaniment of something from rousing classical music to heavy steel.
With Taylor and Main pushing him in coaching and “getting quicker and quicker”, he added: “The longer term is vibrant; the subsequent 20 years goes to be good for British snowboarding.”
Additionally seen having fun with the motion in Gurgl was the legendary Konrad Bartelski, now 70, who completed second in Val Gardena, Italy, in December 1981.
Assured snow
Gurgl can be a stunning resort to ski and one Ryding has no hesitation in championing: “The very best factor about Gurgl is that you’re assured snow.”
Hochgurgl slope. PHOTO: Otztal Tourism
What the 2 essential ski areas of Hochgurgl and Obergurgl within the Ötztal valley even have is that important ingredient for a protracted season; they sit at altitude with the snow-sure slopes at 1800-3030m.
The British ace is at all times completely satisfied to be out on the piste and mingle with leisure skiers and followers and pose for selfies, or head as much as the Hohe Mut Alm, his favorite view within the Alps, for a fast espresso.
“Snowboarding is nothing with out the followers so it is very important give a bit again when you’ll be able to. In Gurgl, everyone seems to be a fan as a result of it’s my second residence within the Alps and I get such a heat welcome. I like to be within the village within the winter.”
He was additionally filled with reward for the race organisers, the course preparation and the resort’s enthusiasm to stage world cup races.
Motorbike heaven
A spotlight of the occasion was the well-known Mountain Motorbike Museum (TOP Mountain Motorbike Museum in Hochgurgl, Tirol), simply down from the slalom end line and internet hosting the media centre.
Mikeala Shiffrin with the race trophy within the Mountain Motorbike Museum
Arguably the world’s most interesting bike museum, it suffered a devastating fireplace in January 2021 with 362 classic and traditional bikes going up in flames. Extremely, it was rebuilt inside 10 months, with lots of of bikes donated to accompany the stellar assortment of dual brothers Alban and Attila Schreiber who personal the museum. It now has some 550 machines on show, together with historic fashions from the 19th century, traditional racing machines and uncommon motorbikes, many value greater than 100,000 euros and a few valued at greater than 1m euros.
“As a museum, it most likely holds essentially the most worth of bikes anyplace,” mentioned Mark Upham, one of many curators. “What’s particular about it’s that whereas a number of museums have specialist or English bikes for instance, right here the gathering is eclectic; we need to have bikes that attraction to a number of completely different folks.”
Guests can anticipate to see BMW and Ducati machines, an American roper from 1867 and the Brough Superior, with the well-known Lawrence of Arabia connection.
Ski-in-ski-out
Throughout my weekend in Gurgl, I stayed on the High Lodge Hochgurgl with ski-in-ski-out entry to the slopes and loved just a few runs earlier than heading off to observe the slalom occasions. Set at 2150m with direct elevate entry, it has 71 rooms, together with 41 suites, a superb spa with sauna and steam rooms, a big indoor pool, an out of doors pool, plus fitness center and remedy space.
High Lodge Hochgurgl. PHOTO: High Lodge © Konstantin Volkmar
In conventional Austrian fashion, there are beautiful wood-panelled eating places, spacious rooms, and the Scheiber Sports activities ski rental is conveniently situated beneath the resort.
Hochgurgl is about increased up and excellent for slope entry, whereas Obergurgl has a extra conventional village really feel.
There may be additionally loads of selection on the slopes with round 60km of blues, 33km reds, 15km of black runs and 4km of ski routes.
There’s an array of eating places and mountain huts providing fabulous cuisines and several other have spectacular views, resembling from the High Mountain Star at Wurmkogel. There are additionally toboggan runs and night time snowboarding.
Gurgl is named the Diamond of the Alps, and it definitely is aware of methods to ship a glowing weekend of snowboarding and racing.
TRAVEL FACTS
Lodge Hochgurgl
Lodging/flight: Mark Nicholls stayed on the High Lodge, Hochgurgl, and flew into Innsbruck airport from London Gatwick with a 90-minute switch to Gurgl.
Ski cross: Peak season grownup one-day ski cross is 73 euros, six days is 429.50 euros. The season runs from mid-November to late April.
For extra info: Go to gurgl.com
Classes: Austria, Information, Racing, Resort Information & Reviews
