Alpendorf

Alpendorf (German for "alpine village") is a village and a part of the town St. Johann im Pongau, located 55 km south of the Austrian city of Salzburg. It is at an altitude of 850 m above sea level.

It is situated 3 km away from the town centre of Sankt Johann im Pongau, a large town dominated by the Cathedral of Pongau.

The economy is largely dependent on tourism, particularly during the winter months when thousands of predominantly German, Danish and Dutch skiers visiting the village. The resort is popular with members of the British and American forces based in Germany. There are also a significant amount of English and Welsh schools visiting the area through Snowslippers, a UK based independent travel company.

Accommodation

The resort is largely made up of four and five star hotels, apartments and restaurants. More reasonably priced accommodation can be found in St Johann where hotels run a free shuttle bus. There is also a free ski shuttle bus that runs throughout the season from St Johann to Alpendorf.

For those wishing to travel slightly further afield, accommodation can be found in the villages of Goldegg and St. Veit. There are also free shuttle buses from these villages.

kiing

Alpendorf serves as one of the gateways to the Salzburger Sportwelt, one of the five alliances that make up Ski Amadé, a network of connected resorts with over 870 slopes and 270 modern ski lifts.

The resort, as a result of its location in the Eastern Alps has a good record for winter snow. There are lakes containing 30,000 cubic metres of fresh water which is used by the snow cannon which cover 95% of the slopes.

Unlike resorts in France and America, Austrian ski resorts only use fresh water for making snow. No chemicals or bacteria are added.

Resort statistics

*Altitude 850 m - 2188 m
*Length of ski trails: 350 km
*Cross-country trails: 220 km
*Snow cannons: 150
*Mountain restaurants: 80

Lift statistics

*Button lifts: 1
*T-Bars: 2
*Chair lifts (4 to 8 seater): 35
*Gondola (6 to 16 seated and standing): 12
*Aerial cable car: 1
*People movements: 56,000 an hour

lope statistics

*Blue Slopes (least challenging): 119 km
*Red Slopes (intermediate): 189 km
*Black Slopes (difficult): 42 km

Famous residents

*Ralf Schumacher
*Hermann Maier (nearby village of Flachau)

Links

* [http://www.ski-alpendorf.com/ Skischool Alpendorf]
* [http://www.rot-weiss-rot.at/ Red White Red Ski School]
* [http://www.toni-gruber.cc/ Toni Gruber Ski School]
* [http://en.skiamade.com/ Ski Amade Alliance]
* [http://www.sanktjohann.com/xxl/_lang/en/_season/at1/_area/457004/index.html St Johann/Alpendorf Tourist Office]
* [http://www.snowslippers.co.uk Snowslippers Website - organisers of visits to Alpendorf]