Ski resort Schladming sits at the foot of Planai, one of four linked ski mountains. It has a long skiing tradition: the town has hosted many World Cup races and in 2013 hosted the World Championships, triggering lots of new construction.
Schladming ski resort
Most pistes are on the wooded north-facing slopes above the main valley, with some going into the side valleys higher up; there are a few short open slopes above the trees. Piste maps here can be confusing. The whole four-mountain area is covered on one map, but the individual mountains also do their own maps (Planai and Hochwurzen do a combined one).
Planai is the local mountain, reached directly by gondola from the edge of the town centre. It is linked to Hauser Kaibling at altitude via the high, wooded bowl between them. At the base of the mountain, the village of Haus has a cable car and gondola into the slopes. Links to the mountains to the west, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm, are at valley level (and the first involves riding a gondola down from Planai). Our favourite area is Reiteralm – a hi-tech lift system and nicely varied terrain, extended down into Preuneggtal a few years ago by a new gondola and runs.
There are several other separate mountains nearby covered by the local lift pass – including Fageralm (only slow chairlifts and T-bars, but lovely quiet, wide, easy cruising pistes and rustic huts – a very relaxing change of pace), Galsterbergalm, the Dachstein glacier and Stoderzinken.