Lech Zürs

At the end of January, I was supposed to take part in the legendary White Ring, the ski and snowboard race through the extensive ski area of Lech. Unfortunately, the event had to be canceled due to the weather. The race weekend took a completely different but exciting direction. I got a little insight into the freeride history of Lech Zürs and was able to pick up a few powder turns.

One of the most legendary ski races in the Alps takes place on Saturday, 21.01.2023. The White Ring - The race is a traditional ski and snowboard race in which all participants have to complete a lap around Lech am Arlberg as quickly as possible. On 22 downhill kilometers with an altitude difference of 5500m spread over six lifts, all ambitious winter sports enthusiasts can put their skills to the test.

The Snow and Safety Conference in Zürs am Arlberg is now part of the season opener on the Arlberg for the seventh year in a row. After last year's perfect conditions with a sufficient base and an additional load of fresh powder snow just-on-time, the participants and organizers were reminded once again this year that early winter does not always have the thickest snow cover.

Snow & Safety has established itself as an event to get the season off to a good start in Lech-Zürs. On December 1st and 2nd, there is an extensive range of courses and training sessions that can be attended for a fee. The varied lecture program in the evening is free of charge and open to everyone, even without registration.

For the fifth time, the "Snow and Safety Conference" took place in Zürs am Arlberg right at the start of the Ski Arlberg season. The generally difficult conditions in the northern Alps were known in advance, but this did not discourage the organizers from successfully carrying out their supporting program.

Until a few years ago, the White Ring ski race was a "family race" on the ski circuit of the same name through the Arlberg ski resorts of Lech, Zürs and Zug. And just like back then, the race starts at the Rüfikopf. Staggered into starter groups, the 2014 edition of the White Ring also featured a challenging route with a few directional gates through the Arlberg ski area.

When the days get longer and warmer, but we still don't want to put our skis in the cellar, it's usually about finding a ski resort that offers runs in as many exposures as possible. And one of the areas that offers ideal terrain for this is Lech-Zürs on the Arlberg. Reason enough for us to head to the Arlberg in mid-April for a firn session, which at times even turned into a powder session.

The third edition of the Bregenzerwald ski touring guide has now been published by Panico-Alpinverlag. The two authors Anton and Rainer Kempf know how to describe the numerous tours from Lech/Zürs to the Vorderwald in an accurate and straightforward manner. A special treat are the four crossings, which are described in an extra chapter.