- Details
- Written by: Jim Walker
- Last Updated: 20 Aug 2012
Fulpmes is a large but attractive village in the Stubai valley. The Schlick 2000 ski area above the resort is one of four in the area, which include those above neighbouring villages Neustift and Mieders, as well as the glacier skiing of the Stubai. All, along with four more areas around nearby Innsbruck, are on a single area lift ticket. The Schlick 2000 ski area nestles above Fulpmes, in the impressive Kalkkögel mountains known as the "Dolomites of the Austrian Tirol". Thanks to the sheltered location, the high valley is snow sure with the Stubai glacier offering a further snowsure alternative. Whether beginner or free rider, skier or snowboarder, the Schlick2000 ski area offers something for every level of ability.
A large village with good skiing close to the Stubai glacier and Neustift. Facilities include indoor pool and tennis, bowling, billiards and an ice rink. The skiing on the local Schlick mountain is varied and interesting, with the Stubai offering a snowsure alternative.
Mountain
The compact ski area features more than 20km (13 miles) of well groomed runs for all levels of ability. Although not one of the biggest international ski areas there is, Schlick 2000 manages to pack a lot in and has a reputation for some tough off piste terrain. There's a gondola up the mountain and six T Bar lifts at the top. However beginners will be happy here, starting on the nursery slopes at Frone Ben before taking the gondola up the Schlicker Alm mountain. Intermediates will enjoy the area the most with mostly delightful blue and red runs cut down through the forest with stunning views all around. For a change of view just head across the valley to the Elfer mountain about Neustift for more of the same, or Mieders, where the runs are mostly a little gentler. When you want to have a break there are ten huts, bars and restaurants where they serve culinary delights. The Stubai glacier is likely to provide the most challenges for more advanced skiers including the famed 10km (7 mile) off-piste 'Wilden Grub'n' run which has a 1,500m vertical drop. Take a guide! You probably won't be going down it, but Fulpmes added a new ski jump stadium at Bergisel in September 2002. It is a state of the art facility with lifts for jumpers and visitors as well as a spectacular panorama café. The four ski areas in the Stubai Valley participate in a joint Stubai Superski ticket. In addition eight ski areas around Innsbruck are available on the 'Glacier Lift Pass', including as it does the glacier lifts on the Stubai, open 365 days a year for guaranteed skiing. The areas are scattered at distances varying from 15 to 60 minutes travel time from Innsbruck. This single lift pass, valid for all eight ski areas offers some of the best value in European skiing. The premium "Super Ski" variant from the basic lift pass throws in a day's skiing in Kitzbühel and St. Anton (Arlberg Region) including the one-hour transfer.
Families
Ronny's Kinderland at the gondola mid-station has an excellent children's learning area and snow park, complete with magic carpet and carousel ski lifts. Full day or half day bookings are available, with the option of spending half a day off the snow in the non-ski kindergarten if desired. The Kindergarten Fulpmes takes children aged for three to six, there's also a list of babysitters available from the tourist office. Special deals including free kindergarten may be available if parents are booked in ski school.
Eating Out
Fulpmes has a good choice of restaurants (more than 20) serving everything from high value pizza to traditional Tyrolean specials. Popular restaurants for Italian include the Bel Ami and del Sardo; for traditional Tyrolean cuisine the Zirmachalm, Kla4 and Leonado Da Vinci are all nbormally good.
Apres
Fulpmes is quite a large resort with more than thirty bars and restaurants so it can be quite jolly when the right crowd are in town. Popular spots include the Ossi and the Corso. For lovers of microbrews the Alpenrose has its own private brewery! There are two nightclubs for late night/early morning dancing. Aside from the pubs and bars apres ski activities can include the toboggan run, sleigh rides and ice skating or curling. It's also very easy to get to Innsbruck by train or bus in only a quarter of an hour so a night out in the big city is quite feasible.
Boarding
There's a popular funpark at Schlick 2000 which has such a cult following that it has its own website. Events are staged here through the season. The Stubai glacier, a 35 minute car journey away, opens up a myriad of opportunities for snowboarders from novice to expert standard, including deep powder fields and the 10km long touring slope - Wilde Grub'n'. There's another funpark with half-pipe here, which was designed in collaboration with local snowboarders.
