Where to ski in Austria this season

Austria's mix of beginner slopes, black runs and mountainside culture works for all — from families to hardcore off-pisters.

- Mike MacEacheran

Traditionally, Europe's best allrounder, Austria looks set to give France a run for its money this season as a go-to destination for British skiers. There's the diversity of resorts — from some of the highest in the Alps, to expertly maintained beginners' slopes set in historic mountain villages — plus ever-easier access. The increase of cheap flight connections to the likes of Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz and Klagenfurt, means those with summit gleams in their eyes can experience a winter lifestyle where serious powder highs and oompahpop-fuelled apres-ski is the norm.

Just as well that Austrian ski resorts are so flush with new goings-on that it makes sense to return every year. Recent seasons have seen a host of ultramodern lifts, namely in Schladming-Dachstein, Zillertal Arena and SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser. In Brixental, the solar-powered Eibergbahn is now the world's most powerful detachable chairlift (we'll spare you the technical details. Just think: swift and sustainable).

Too often, skiers stick to what they know, but even Austria feels the urge to push us in other directions. In Ötztal, ice-diving workshops in Lake Piburg and crevasse abseils in Obergurgl now marry extreme action with the more populist desire of chasing fresh snow. Happily, there's plenty of downtime on offer at the vast spa-leisure centre, Erlebnistherme Zillertal, reopening in Fügen after a major facelift.