A different take on winter

Horse-drawn sleigh rides, biathlon, ice skating, tobogganing and more

Horse-drawn sleigh rides

The Austrians love their horses. The sight of horse-drawn sleighs gliding over the snow fields and through forests is an intrinsic part of the winter scene. A trip in one of the 70 horse-drawn sleighs in Ramsau is an absolute must. The classic circuit through the romantic winter landscape takes you over the Kulmberg (duration: 2 1/2 hours, including a stop at a traditional hut). Moonlight and night horse-drawn sleigh rides are a special experience, as are traditional and nostalgic horse-related events.

Winter horse trekking

Horse trekking in the snow and indoor equestrian activities are especially pleasurable alternatives to winter sports, because Styria's horsiest community offers just about everything that horse fans could want – riding, dressage, games and jumping, as well as lessons on ponies and carriage rides. Equestrian sport is superbly catered for at two stables – Reiterhof Brandstätter and Reitsportzentrum Zechmannhof. Many farms offer pony rides and trekking. Reitercamp Ortnerhof and Unerzhuberhof also offer lessons and other equestrian options.

Biathlon: the new world-beater

See if you've got what it takes to be a biathlete. Test your accuracy with real firearms in the biathlon stadium and discover the optimum heart rate and rhythm for shooting in between dynamic cross-country skiing units. Ramsau's cross-country skiing schools will teach you breathing and shooting techniques, so you can enjoy a fun, exciting day amongst like-minded people. The courses are available using air rifles, small calibre guns, or laser guns. Arms, ammunition, shooting range fees and insurance are included in the price. Information on courses is available from the cross-country skiing schools. 

Ski jumping for everyone

Amateur sportsmen can now get a taste of skills displayed by professional Austrian ski jumpers. Stage by stage participants learn important basic concepts with regard to equipment, imitation training and jumping technique. The ski jumping equipment is adapted to each individual and supplied by the ski jumping school. Fans of ski jumping are gradually introduced to the movements under expert supervision, so that subsequent jumps take place safely.

During the weekly taster courses participants jump using their own Alpine skis. Click here for further information.

Ice skating at "Kobald-Ice"

600 m² of flood-lit ice rink every winter at Hotel Kobaldhof. 

Full moon fever

the natural toboggan run 

on the Rittisberg opens up another dimension for night owls. The 3.5 km, lit route is ideal for family tobogganing parties in the evenings, offering fun for everyone, with a quick ride up the mountain by chair lift, and a fun slalom down to the valley in the toboggan!

Paragliding – a lofty experience

A flight off the Dachstein is a very special experience – and a bit of a closely guarded secret in winter. On a beautiful day, when a pilot takes off from the Schladming Glacier (2,700 m), he has an in-flight view to the Triglav mountains in Slovenia, and across to the Czech Republic to the north. Information and taster courses from Flugschule Aufwind and UP! Outdoor Experience.