St Anton Ski Resort Advanced

Favourites include ungroomed ski routes Schindlerkar and Mattun, both of which include several steep descents and usually plenty of moguls. Stuben has abundant opportunities, including the north face red run which descends over 1,000 m of variable terrain.

Valluga
The Schindler and Valluga lifts give access to the most accessible off-piste itineraries, with a vast selection of open bowls, steep chutes and narrow gullies. A 4-man cable car reaches the viewing platform on top of 2,811 m Valluga for stunning views. Skis and boards may only be taken on the lift by people accompanied by a qualified guide, for a descent of the notorious Valluga north face . The initial slopes seem to drop away into the abyss; falls must be avoided as you wind your way left down between cliffs and rocks to the Pazieljoch saddle before skiing the glorious open powder fields all the way down to Zürs . From the Pazieljoch onwards the gradient is relatively gentle, but the initial exposed descent from the Valluga summit is genuinely dangerous to fall on and not for the faint hearted.  

Stuben
The powder snow capital of the Arlberg, Stuben has several life times of off-piste skiing. Open mountain faces and deep forests await the adventurous skier led by a competent guide. Favourite off-piste routes (both accessed from the top of Albonagrat) include: the moderately difficult Geisleger on the north face, which often holds great powder and is good for short turns; the harder Maroikopf-Langen route, which involves booting up 20-30 minutes to Maroikopf followed by 4 miles off-piste and 1,300 m vertical, taking in the “Krachel” snow bowl and the narrow “Wasserfall” gully past blue ice-columns, eventually ending up at Langen railway station to catch the last train (or a taxi) back to St. Anton.

Rendl
The separate area of Rendl offers a more relaxed approach to off-piste. Much of the best terrain is hidden well away from the lifts so take a local mountain guide and, conditions permitting, check out the deep powder in Hinter Rendl, Malfontal and Rossfall. Favourites include the moderately difficult Rendlscharte-Malfontal which is accessed by dropping off the back of Rendl into Hinter Rendl; after skiing towards Rendlscharte, shoulder your skis for a 30 minute climb before enjoying 10 km (6 miles) of fantastic backcountry skiing and 1,350 m vertical through the Malfon valley to Pettneu, returning to St. Anton by taxi.