218 CultureShock! Austriaand Styria. The best-known location for the sport is 40
minutes outside of Innsbruck, at the Stubai Glacier. Other
areas in Tyrol are the Upper Tux valley and above Mayrhofen
on the Gefrorne Wand glacier.
Cross-country skiing, although less popular than downhill
skiing, is another great way to enjoy winter. If you live in
Vienna, you needn’t go far to indulge in the sport. Besides
a 4-km trail in the Vienna Woods between Cobenzl and
Kreuzeiche, there is also good cross-country skiing near
Mariazell. Seefeld near Innsbruck has 200 km of cross-
country trails. Many other resorts, like Kitzbühel, are well
equipped for cross-country skiing.Ice-skating
Ice-skating is another way to
enjoy being outdoors during the
winter months. In Vienna, there
are public ice-skating rinks at
the Rathaus and the Stadtpark.
They charge an entrance fee
and for skate rental. The Rathaus has two large rinks
and some amazing paths where you can skate quickly
and in a zig-zag pattern around the garden. At night,
the ambience changes with live bands and DJs playing
dance and hip-hop music. During carnival season, the
Rathaus rink offers shows complete with ice princesses
and princes.
If skating is not for you, you can try your hand at curling
at the Rathaus rink. A cold-weather event would not be
complete without something to keep you warm. Stalls
surround the Rathaus rink selling food, coffee, and, of
course, Glühwein.
Yet, in the winter, all you need is a snow-covered hill to
have fun, and this makes tobogganing the easiest sport to
practice. It doesn’t require lessons and kids love it. If you are
searching for a somewhat substantial hill, there is a toboggan
run near Cobenzl in the Vienna Woods.There is plenty of skating and
ice sailing on the Neusiedlersee
in Burgenland. Every other major
city and all ski resorts have ice-
skating rinks, but the best is in
Innsbruck, where you can skate
at the Olympic rink.