Travellers to Kitzbühel need a big trunk! The latest carving skis, the ultimate golf set and the appropriate outfit don't fit in every car. Experience the get-together of fur coats and SUV's.

The season starts out with a spectacular polo battle on snow. If you think it's enough to cheer a bit in order to be in the first row of famous Hahnenkamm race or just be seen, you are wrong. For the real kick-off takes place the night before the race in "Tenne" when the notables from show biz, sports and business party hard into the early morning.

Audi offers a shuttle-service for VIPs the next day. For it's not only the ski racers who rush downhill the famous "Streif" (with 140km/h), but also some jet-set people see it as a must to face the challenge after the official race.

But it wasn't always that racy. In the 19th century Kitzbühel used to be a sanatorium und destination for people from Munich and Vienna looking for recreation who built their summer residences. Meanwhile the location has become an important centre for secondary residences. Mainly Munich people enjoy their free time there. Perhaps also because they remember that Kitzbühel was part of Bavaria once.

The first to discover the potential of the Kitzbühel Alps were the British with their fascination for skiing - as in other resorts too. Here the world's first ski circus emerged which today comes up with 170 kilometers of piste - thanks to long desired connection of Pengelstein and the Jochberg ski resort. The original mountain of Kitzbühel ist not the famous Hahnenkamm though, but the "Horn" measuring 2000 m. Snowboarders will find a fun park with spectacular halfpipes there. Many have had their dirst ski attempts with the Red Devils, a traditional ski school run by Rudi Sailer which has been there for 80 years.

But it's not only the ski circus who adds charme to Kitzbühel. The place captivates with its grown structure and the mix of its guests turning more and more mondane. Meanwhile the young glamour generation roughs up the classic VIPs. For them the "après-ski" starts mostly around noon in Sonnenbühel on the Hahnenkamm. At night they dance in the clubs, take schnaps in the „Stamperl“ or gamble in the freshly renovated casino. But the snow-snobs dominate the town only at certain times at preferred spots and one can tell exactly who has come for skiing or just posing.

The vantage of weekend domiciles that they don't just boom in winter. Same for "Kitz". Still the motto remains the same: "See and be seen". But the numerous sports fans dominate the other and the many golf courses and hiking tracks straighten out.

Mountainbikers will find a diversity of routes, swimmers fancy the Schwarzsee, Gieringer Weiher or the Aquarena for a dive-in. And last but not least the hotels jazz up the wellness areas, so that there should be nothing less than harmony.

by Karin Nagl

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