Ski World Cup in Gurgl

It's no secret that Gurgl is a true heaven for all amateur winter sports fans. The perfectly groomed slopes, the panoramic ski runs, the high quality of the accommodation and no waiting times at the mountain lifts – all this stands for unrivaled “top quality skiing” in Gurgl. The international skiing elite will also experience it this winter on the occasion of the men's slalom race in Gurgl. The high alpine altitude and the resulting snow reliability as well as the technically demanding slope convinced those responsible. A truly exciting race is guaranteed. Added to this is the outstanding infrastructure within the destination. The slalom race has its finish area at the Top Mountain Crosspoint while the center of the fan zone is Gurgl Carat right in the village of Obergurgl. The program on the opening weekend will be rounded off with many side events such as Gastro Day, concerts, DJ sets and varied evening events.

About 5,000 to 10,000 visitors are expected to follow the ski race on site, cheer on their idols and celebrate the winter season start. Gurgl Carat, which forms the center of the fan zone, will serve as the central contact point for all guests. DJs will warm up the crowd in the foyer and on the forecourt while the start number drawing and prize-giving ceremony will also take place here. The halls on the upper floor become a VIP lounge in the afternoon, performances of festival bands are on the program on Friday and Saturday evening. An event of this size marks another milestone for the event-proven Gurgl Carat location. Felix Kupfer, managing director of Carat, finds the combination of ski opening and Ski World Cup particularly exciting. “We are proud to present ourselves to the general public at Gurgl Carat as the center of the fan zone. I am looking very much forward to a smooth event with many highly professional partners,” Kupfer states.

Even though the Alpine Ski World Cup is taking place in Gurgl for the first time, Ötztal is of course not a blank spot on the landscape for ski professionals. Every year the official Ski World Cup Opening takes place on Sölden’s Rettenbach Glacier at the end of October. From 28 to 29 October 2023, the giant slalom stars will duel in a women's and a men's race. Less than 3 weeks later the World Cup premiere is held in Gurgl. Oliver Schwarz, managing director of Ötztal Tourismus, sees the event as a great opportunity for the entire region: “In addition to the already established opening on the glacier, we are now also putting our winter sports and snow expertise in the spotlight of the international public in Gurgl.” The main aim is to establish Gurgl as an annual venue. Felix Kupfer, Gurgl Carat’s managing director, also emphasizes the “importance of the World Cup for Gurgl and the whole holiday region”. Such a major sports event with several thousand visitors requires good preparation in advance. The demands in terms of safety, traffic, catering, etc. are much higher than at other events. The first-class infrastructure in Gurgl and the high level of expertise throughout the valley are particularly helpful. Thanks to top events such as the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon, the Hannibal Glacier Spectacle and the aforementioned Alpine Ski World Cup in Sölden, the signs are good for a successful World Cup debut in Gurgl.

The Gurgl Ski World Cup marks the start of the ski season and heralds a winter brimming with events. Every Tuesday there is the weekly welcome evening with a stunning visual presentation at Gurgl Carat. Another winter highlight is the Pediatric Training Course (“Pediatricians’ Congress”) in January, which is held in Gurgl for the 56th time in 2024. Additionally, an event for women in leadership positions, which is organized together with the weekly newspaper “Die Zeit”, is already in the event calendar of Europe's highest congress center. There are also some smaller events as well as many ski-related requests for meetings and smaller congresses.

Lara Brunner is a freelance copywriter and specialist in content marketing. As a studied Germanist, she writes about all topics related to Gurgl Carat in the Carat.Blog. The Tirolean-by-choice seeks and finds inspiration for her texts amid unspoilt nature in Gurgl. That is why she spends most of her free time in the Ötztal mountains. With hiking boots or on skis, she prefers to explore the many three-thousand meter high summits in the immediate vicinity of Gurgl Carat.