Every few winters, the world gathers to watch gravity-defying jumps, heart-racing races and fearless finishes on snow.

In Austria winter sport isn’t a spectacle, it’s part of everyday life. The same country that produces world-class ski racers and snowboard stars also builds vast beginner areas where three-year-olds learn to glide and where progression feels natural, playful and gloriously achievable.

The journey from first turns to Olympic performances often begins on the very same family-friendly slopes. Britain’s first gold medal on snow was won by Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes, and Huw’s journey began in Austria. He first stepped onto a snowboard in Westendorf and later trained in Mayrhofen, in the heart of Zillertal.

FROM FIRST TURNS TO FAST LINES

Austria’s ski regions are designed like stepping stones.

Start small.
Build confidence.
Then explore.

In Zillertal, families begin on wide, forgiving blue runs before discovering terrain parks, timed ski courses and funlines that weave rollers and banked turns into confidence-building adventures. Older children can test themselves on SkiMovie tracks (racing the clock like professionals) or try beginner-friendly snow parks designed to introduce small jumps and boxes in a controlled, welcoming environment.

High above the valley, the Hintertux Glacier keeps winter alive for much of the year, offering snow parks that attract freestyle skiers and snowboarders keen to refine tricks long after spring sunshine arrives elsewhere.

Meanwhile, in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, imaginative themed slopes evolve into dynamic fun areas with waves, tunnels and playful obstacles that subtly develop balance, coordination and control, the foundations of every great racer or freestyler. As confidence grows, people gravitate towards snow parks and slopestyle-inspired zones built for progression.

Over in Paznaun-Ischgl, the Silvretta Arena’s expansive terrain includes professionally shaped parks and boarder-cross-style courses where snowboarders can chase friends through banked turns and rollers. It’s fast, flowing and addictive.

And in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, families can graduate from calm valley learning areas to higher-altitude terrain with sporty character. Zauchensee in particular has a reputation for serious ski sport credentials, yet its progression remains accessible for families building skills step by step.

PARKS, PIPES AND PLAYGROUNDS

Freestyle culture is firmly embedded in Austria’s mountains. Across major regions, snow parks feature:

Beginner zones with mini jumps and boxes
Medium lines with kickers and rails
Advanced features for experienced riders
Boarder-cross-style tracks with rollers and banked corners
Timed racecourses open to guests

In valleys like Zillertal and Paznaun, professionally maintained parks attract international riders, while still leaving space for families to explore safely.

SNOW-SURE STAGES FOR EVERYONE

Altitude matters in the Alps, and Austria delivers. Many of its resorts sit above 1,200 metres, with glacier skiing extending seasons well into spring. Regions like Zillertal even offer skiing on the mighty Hintertux Glacier, where winter lingers long after it fades elsewhere.

But here’s the twist: for a country synonymous with snow, Austria is remarkably sunny. Resorts like Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis boast around 2,000 hours of sunshine a year!

WHERE BIG DREAMS FEEL POSSIBLE

What makes Austria different isn’t just its facilities. It’s the atmosphere.

You can arrive as a nervous first-timer and leave feeling capable. You can bring toddlers and teenagers and satisfy both. You can watch your child master their first gentle turn - then, years later, watch them charge confidently through a cross course or land their first clean jump. To discover what Austria has to offer you visit: https://www.austria.info/en-gb/