Westendorf, SöLL

Part of Austria's largest lift-linked ski area, the Ski Welt (250km), although Westendorf is the only village on the pass not lift-linked in to it. However it is a lovely village, voted the most beautiful in Europe in 1998, and has some of the region's best skiing all to itself. There is a dedicated snowboard park above Westendorf which includes a half pipe and 'boarders have access to all pistes/trails and lifts. The ski area can be largely negotiated by chairlift and there's bottom to top access by gondola is a major plus point. In the wider Ski Welt, linked by bus, the greatest concentration of manufactured 'boarding terrain is on the Hohe Salve mountain above Söll where there's a fun park with three half pipes. Closer than Söll, indeed only a 10 minute bus ride away, there's another fun park with an 80m half pipe above Brixen in Thale, which was first established for the '96 - '97 season. A fourth option is another Park above Scheffau. The Ski Welt in general has a 'boarder friendly attitude as well as some useful terrain including natural gullies and fun features that develop in the woods at the edge of the trails. In the evenings Westendorf has the active nightlife that fits in with the off-snow model for most 'boarders' ideal winter holiday.ActivitiesSnowboarding: Snowboarding is available with a terrain park and a half pipe.Cross Country Profile: 32 km of cross country trails are available.LodgingSlopeside lodging is available; 4,300 beds. Additional lodging is available 15 km away.Winter RecreationSnowboarding, cross country, tobogganing, winter hiking, horse-drawn sleigh rides, curling, and ice skating. Also, paragliding, bowling, swimming, and sauna.