Renovation accepted

First hurdle for skiing on the Kasberg overcome

Skiers should be able to ski on the Kasberg again next winter.

(Bild: APA/Wolfgang Spitzbart)

Ski racers would say: the Kasberg has successfully completed another key passage, but it has not yet reached the finish line. The creditors have now approved the restructuring plan with a 20 percent quota. However, the family ski resort needs a new snowmaking system for the future.

"We are very happy that we have taken the most important step for the restructuring," says Friedrich Drack, Managing Director of Almtal-Bergbahnen, which operates the ski area on Kasberg. The decision is not yet legally binding, the restructuring plan still has to be confirmed by the court. This would secure the next season and preparations for the winter are already underway.

This year, we managed to break even and have proven that the operation can work. For the future, we need a new snowmaking system to enable four months of skiing.

Friedrich Drack, Geschäftsführer Almtal-Bergbahnen

"The decisive factor is snow reliability"
However, the next hairpin in the "race" to secure the ski area in the long term is already waiting: "The decisive factor is snow reliability, we know that. For the future, we need a new snowmaking system to enable four months of skiing," says Drack. The current one is more than 20 years old and needs three to four weeks to cover the entire slopes with snow, whereas other regions manage this in three to four days. They are looking for a "strong partner" and are also hoping for support from the state of Upper Austria for the investment.

Financial problems
As is well known, the state has supported Kasberg financially in the past with up to one million euros per season. However, the overall tourism concept demanded in return, including the use of the Kasberg in summer, failed due to the landowners, resulting in insolvency in 2023.