Ski, snowboard

Action Mountain Penken Calls for Fun

Every winter, the Vans Penken Park in Mayrhofen draws riders from all over the world due to its unique freestyle playground. The park ranks among the biggest European snowparks and is home to many local snowboard pros as well as a favorite destination to many international snowboard stars. Located in the Zillertal region, one of the biggest valleys in Austria, the area is famous far beyond Austria's borders for a good reason; the valley is a one giant resort with one of the most beautiful and most diverse terrain in the Alps. Apart from the legendary Vans Penken Park, the area has something for everyone really: energy-sapping descents, pistes for cruising and coasting, the ultra-steep Harakiri, special racing and speed tracks as well as authentic Tyrolean mountain huts for regaining your strength in style.

27. 11. 2015

Everything but Boring: Six Snowpark Areas

There’s no question about it. One thing skiers and snowboarders definitely won’t be on the Penken and that is bored. Whoever spends his winter vacation in Mayrhofen, has 136 piste kilometers and 57 lifts to choose from on Leisure Mountain Ahorn and Action Mountain Penken. The latter certainly lives up to its name. Apart from the Harakiri and it's unbelievable gradient, Vans Penken Park is the place to be if you’re looking for action. It counts among the best snow parks in all of Europe and offers a great selection of different areas: Medium Area, Advanced Area, Pro Area, Fun Area and Advanced Kicker Area. Here everyone will find the perfect shapes and obstacles. The Sun-Jet 4-seater chairlift gives winter sports lovers fast access to the park and the perfect view for watching the pros shred the snow. At the Kids Park there is also the Mittertrett draglift for the up-and-comers. Every Tuesday and Saturday from 1 to 3 pm, visitors can take part in a free photo shoot here, too.

The Vans Penken Park in Mayrhofen extends over an entire slope on the sunny side of Action Mountain Penken. Photo: © Frank Bauer

Photo: © Patrick Steiner

The Harakiri - Steepest Ski Run in Austria

Your first turns are still forceful and you give your skis free rein. But soon you become more cautious, and start feeling your way to the legendary piste turn by careful turn. And of course it’s not your run-of-the-mill descent. It’s the Harakiri – which demands respect since up to 78% gradient is only something absolute experts can master. For most skiers this is the highlight of the day or possibly of the whole winter vacation. At the Knorren chairlift bottom station you can see many happy, relieved and euphoric faces. They made it. “Brilliant! I have to do it again right away”, a visitor cries out. “I didn’t think about it too long and just went straight in. Then you don’t have to overcome any inhibitions when you get to the edge”, says another. The chairlift staff knows these reactions well. All day he witnesses the relaxed faces of skiers enjoying the moment of success after mastering the run. Every Friday from 1 to 3 pm, visitors can record this exhilarating experience at a photo shoot. The pictures can then be downloaded in print quality from the website online shop free of charge.

No Limits: Speed Pistes for Racers

No one needs speed offenders on the piste. Especially not on the Penken since it offers speed junkies their very own areas. There are three free and specially prepared racing tracks in all, Unterberg I and II as well as the Hintertrett racing tracks at the Sun-Jet. In addition there’s also the free speed track at Gerent. What makes Mayrhofen’s pistes so special, are the excellent snow conditions. And it’s not only the location in the high altitude central Alps which is responsible for this, but above all also the sophisticated and extensive snow management. Perfectly prepared pistes every day and superb conditions well into spring – that’s what Mayrhofen is known for. Mayrhofen is also well-known for its marvellous valley run from Ahorn Mountain. A mammoth run of 5.5 km and 1,400 altitude meters takes you down into the valley on partially black-rated pistes. Last winter, sensationally good conditions still prevailed at the end of season on 12. April. Winter sports enthusiasts can always rely on unforgettable experiences in the snow in Mayrhofen. And now you can document all your happy moments in a very individual way. At the information cash desk at the Lärchwald chairlift bottom station, everyone can rent a helmet camera. When the camera is returned, the recordings can be burned onto a DVD straight away. This is surely the perfect holiday souvenir.

This winter Mayrhofen is also once again living up to its reputation as being a top-notch event location. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s about sports, music, fun and games or off-the-wall entertainment. The varied range of events meets the highest standards and the calendar is full to bursting. Check the mountain out!

A festival filled with fresh air, blue skies, black runs and white-hot parties... That's Snowbombing, a week-long whirlwind of world class DJs and bands, in the idyllic alpine setting of Mayrhofen. Photo: © Derek Bremner