TL;DR
Sometimes the best ski days are the ones you didn't plan. A two-hour drive through heavy traffic led to an impromptu afternoon at Planai Schladming, one of four connected peaks in the Schladming-Dachstein region. Here's what a half-day of exploring turned up - from World Cup race pistes and eight-seater chairs everywhere to a 1,200-metre top-to-bottom run that justified the whole detour.
An unplanned two-hour drive through Austrian traffic turned into one of the more enjoyable half-days on snow of the entire trip.
Schladming wasn't on the original itinerary. But with a lift pass that covered the region and a free evening, the logic was simple - book a hotel, drive down, and see what the fuss is about. Schladming-Dachstein covers four mountain peaks, with Planai being the most well-known thanks to its regular appearances on the FIS World Cup circuit. Across the valley, the Dachstein massif sat behind cloud, adding to the sense that this place has more going on than a single afternoon could cover.
Planai's base area sets the tone
The base infrastructure at Planai immediately stood out. The gondola station sits above a small shopping centre in the village of Schladming itself, and the walk from the free car park takes you through a compact little town centre. It's a smart bit of design - functional, well-integrated, and a far cry from the isolated car park-to-gondola setups you find at plenty of other resorts.
Free parking, again. Austria continues to make everywhere else look expensive by comparison.
First time SKIING at SCHLADMING | Austria
First impressions - bumps by midday
Arriving around noon meant the groomers were already history. Bumps had formed across most of the front-side runs within the first couple of turns. That said, after weeks of skiing in Europe, bumps have gone from terrifying to something approaching enjoyable. Short-radius turns through mogul fields are one of those skills that only come from repetition, and Planai provides plenty of opportunity for it.
