3 ski areas, 2 days, and 1 unforgettable experience: ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy – and we were part of it!
What is the ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy?
The ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy is a sporting challenge designed for ski enthusiasts, with participants riding the slopes at 10 designated lifts across three top ski areas in Salzburger Pinzgau and the neighboring Tiroler Unterland. The big challenge: the lifts are located in different ski areas within the SKI ALPIN CARD network and must be completed over 1, 2, or 3 consecutive days. The order in which you tackle the lifts is left entirely up to you.
The lifts included in the ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy are located in the following ski areas
- Saalbach-Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn
- Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area in Kaprun
- Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See.
This ski network spans a total of 408 kilometers of pistes, all accessible with the SKI ALPIN CARD. And let’s not forget the state-of-the-art lift systems and friendly mountain huts that likewise contribute to an unforgettable day of skiing.
Preparation and Registration
The decision is made, motivation is high, so it’s time to get started! Our Trophy adventure begins with painstaking research: we study the piste maps and plan a route that makes the most personal sense and minimizes unnecessary detours. No time to waste – we set ourselves the goal of completing our tour of the ALPIN CARD ski regions in just two days. This means tackling the ALPIN CARD Trophy in Silver.
Our carefully planned route:
- Day 1: We begin in the Leogang ski area, covering the lifts in Leogang and Fieberbrunn before continuing on to Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm.
- Day 2: Firstly, we focus on the Schmittenhöhe ski area, then finish off with our home mountain, the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier Ski Area.
The Trophy can be started from any location within the SKI ALPIN CARD network, and the lifts can be tackled in any order you please. We decided to rely on our car to remain as independent and flexible as possible. Tip: If you opt for the free ski bus, make sure you check the bus schedules closely so as to ensure you make it back to your originating ski area on time!
Registration is done through the Skiline app. We entered our ski pass numbers and signed up to participate in the ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy. All completed piste kilometers, vertical meters, and lift kilometers are tracked precisely, providing an intriguing overview of each and every day of skiing. Yet another exciting feature! 😉
SKI ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy in Silver: Two Days Decide It All
Part 1: A Perfect Morning in Leogang & Fieberbrunn
The weather gods are most definitely on our side as we set out on a radiant Saturday in January. Minus temperatures, brilliant sunshine, and pristine slopes await us. The Leoganger Steinbergbahn lifts open up at 8:00 a.m., and we are slicing down the freshly groomed piste in virtually no time – impossible to imagine a better way to kick off our ALPIN CARD Trophy experience!
Quickly back to the car, ski boots off, then on to Fieberbrunn and the brand-new Streuböden-Bahn lift (a drive of about 15 minutes). The Doppelmayr 10-passenger gondola, opened in December 2024, takes us all the way up to the Lärchfilzkogel summit station.
Part 2: An Active Day in Saalbach-Hinterglemm
In Fieberbrunn, we part ways for a bit. My husband and child carve their way from Fieberbrunn to Saalbach-Hinterglemm via the lift connections Reckmoos and Tirol I and II, while I take care of relocating the car (a drive of about 1 hour).
Our agreed-upon meeting point is for a short break at the Hochalmbahn in Hinterglemm: hot chocolate (with lots of whipped cream), a latte macchiato, and apple strudel. Not too long, though – since we also need to "check in" at the Spieleck 6er lift.
Next up is the brand-new 12er Nord, inaugurated in December 2024, just like the Streuböden-Bahn. Despite our tight schedule, there’s one thing we simply can’t skip: a run down the Zwölferkogel, the World Championship Mountain. From February 4 to 16, 2025, the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships for men and women will be held here.
Back at the base station of the 12er Nord, our thighs are definitely starting to protest a little. We give them a brief rest in the car as we drive from Hinterglemm down the valley to Saalbach for the Schattberg Xpress, a trip of about 15 minutes. The Schattberg Xpress carries us to the Limberg 8er, a state-of-the-art and ultra-comfortable chairlift. We skip skiing the piste back down to the Schattberg Xpress – since we need to keep moving so as to reach the Kohlmaisbahn, our final stop of the day.
And I’ve been eagerly anticipating this: the last few kilometers and the time pressure have left their mark on our muscles and our motivation. But there’s no other option – we ride the Kohlmaisbahn I and II to the top station, summon our last reserves for the descent, and are all relieved to finally reach the car park where our car awaits us patiently. Done – at least for today.
On the way home and out of the valley, we make a stop to visit my colleagues at ALPS KITCHEN mangia!. In his restaurant at the Saalbach Suites, Wolfgang and his team serve up Neapolitan-style pizzas (also gluten-free on request!) and homemade pasta. An absolute dream, and just “what the doctor ordered” after a day like today simply chock-a-block with skiing adventures!
Part 3: Magnificent Views from the Schmittenhöhe
On Day 2, we begin – thoroughly well-rested and energized – at the areitXpress in Schüttdorf and take one of our favorite routes on the Schmittenhöhe, Zell am See’s famous local mountain. From the Glocknerwiese, we ski via Breiteck and the Kettingbahn to the Sonnalm, and then to the Sonnkogel combo lift. In winter, this versatile lift operates as a comfortable chairlift, while in summer it’s turned into a gondola for the use of hikers.
A must: a coffee break at the Sonnkogel Restaurant, complete with a buttered pretzel topped with chives and the breathtaking view of our next destination, the Kitzsteinhorn. But at that point, it’s already time to head back to the Areit, where we hop in the car and drive to the Kaprun Center on the Maiskogel – a quick trip of about 8 minutes by car.
Part 4: Grand Finale on the Kitzsteinhorn
Our Kitzsteinhorn section begins with the Maiskogelbahn, and from there, the 3K-Connection takes us to the Langwiedbahn in the glacier ski area. We can guarantee you: the ride in the 3K-Connection’s glass-enclosed panoramic cabins treats you to truly breathtaking views of the Pinzgau mountain landscape.
Now there’s just one lift left to go in order for us to complete the SKI ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy: the Kristallbahn. The descent from the Kristallbahn top station takes us through the Easy Park, one of the snowparks on the Kitzsteinhorn, then straight to a plate of Kaiserschmarrn with applesauce. We treat ourselves to this classic Austrian dessert at the Gletschermühle to celebrate the successful conclusion of our Trophy adventure
The ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy and the Prize in a Nutshell
The ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy is a sporting adventure that requires careful planning, not to mention plenty of leg strength (even though you can bypass the black-rated slopes if you wish). The vast dimensions and diversity of the SKI ALPIN CARD network become strikingly apparent. It impressively showcases the highlights of each ski region – an experience that is bound to leave us with lasting memories.
Every participant in the Trophy receives an instant reward: a glass ALPIN CARD water bottle. This bottle can be collected by presenting a QR code at designated pickup points, such as the Schönleitenbahn in Saalbach or the Kaprun Center. Once you’ve completed the final lift of the Trophy, you’ll receive the code in a confirmation email. Participants in the ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy are also entered into a prize drawing, depending on their category – Bronze, Silver, or Gold – for exciting prizes such as a 365 Action Alpin Card, a winter season pass, or 2-day ski passes.
The ALPIN CARD Top 10 Trophy isn’t the only challenge within the SKI ALPIN CARD alliance either. Each of the three ski areas offers additional challenges, such as the K-onnection Cup on the Kitzsteinhorn, the Schmitten Action Cup, and THE CHALLENGE - Ski your Limit in Saalbach-Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. We are certain you won’t forget these ski adventures anytime soon! 🍀
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About the SKI ALPIN CARD
The SKI ALPIN CARD is valid in the three top ski regions of Saalbach-Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, Schmittenhöhe, and the Kitzsteinhorn. With the SKI ALPIN CARD, you have access to 408 kilometers of pistes along with a state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Current prices for the SKI ALPIN CARD can be found in the online ticket shops of participating ALPIN CARD ski regions, such as Saalbach-Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn.
Great bases for earning the Trophy include Saalbach Suites in Saalbach/Jausern, Tauernsuites Mitterwirt in Piesendorf (approximately 5 km from Kaprun/Maiskogel and the AreitXpress in Schüttdorf), and Tauern Lodges Uttendorf (15 km from Kaprun/Maiskogel).
Photo materials © saalbach.com/Georg Lindacher, Andreas Putz, Christian Wöckinger; Saalfelden Leogang/Michael Geißler; Kitzsteinhorn; private
Verena J.
E-Commerce Specialist bei ALPS RESORTS
Frühaufsteherin mit einer Leidenschaft für einsame Berge und gute Geschichten, immer auf der Suche nach spannenden Ausflugszielen und Erlebnissen.
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