Krippenstein - Obertraun

The praise is for the freeriding. SnowPlanet magazine once placed Krippenstein above Cortina and St. Moritz, and pro skier Pep Fujas called it one of his five favourite resorts in the world. Reviewers point to dozens of kilometres of off-piste lines, a valley descent that seems to go on forever and hardly anyone on the snow. The Days of Freedom programme with freeride clinics and ski touring gets warm mentions.

The near-absence of groomed skiing draws criticism: there is effectively a single piste, so anyone not ready for powder runs out of options quickly. Everything starts at the top station, leaving no shelter when the weather turns, and the low base often means snow up high but rain below. Cabin space is tight and the queue is filled by sightseers rather than skiers. Sinkholes hidden under the snow are why newcomers are told to hire a guide.