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Because the Covid-19 distance rules were sometimes not enforced, attempts are being made to counter this in Semmering and establish barriers. A toboggan run has already been closed.
Good weather and the upcoming Alpine Skiing World Cup drew a huge crowd today on the Semmering ski and toboggan runs in Lower Austria. In the rest of the ski areas there were more activities than at the beginning of the season on December 24, but there was no rush. Elevator operators praised Corona’s safety precautions, which were well received by guests.
Because in Semmering (Neunkirchen district) on Christmas Day, despite the increased presence of the executive branch, the corresponding announcements and signs, the applicable Covid-19 distance rules were “not always followed”, the community reacted on Saturday. According to Mayor Hermann Doppelreiter (ÖVP), 250 barriers were erected in the morning. Furthermore, the local chief called on guests to use only official parking spaces.
The sledding meadow on the so-called Panhanswiese, which is very popular on Christmas Day, was secured with barriers and is therefore only accessible to a limited number of people, Doppelreiter said. “We will control who enters the area. If that doesn’t work, we will completely cordon off tomorrow (Sunday, keep in mind).” The sledding meadow at the military cemetery is now closed.
“I couldn’t go on like this”
“It is not possible for us to judge who lives in a common house. But things could not continue as yesterday,” the mayor emphasized in a broadcast. The 250 barriers “would allow only a certain number of people to enter the area.”
Due to Covid-19 regulations, cable cars have reduced their maximum number of guests to more than half, tickets must be purchased online in advance. Access to the ski areas and their parking spaces requires a valid ticket. “This contingent concept works, but it is canceled with the wild parking along the state road immediately after the state border in Styria. I urge the executive to pay more attention to traffic safety in these areas,” said the chief. Semmering local.
Ski World Cup on Monday and Tuesday
As the Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup will also be held in Semmering on Monday and Tuesday, the organizers of the “Magic Mountain” face new challenges. According to OC boss Franz Steiner, around 500 more people will move in the Hirschenkogel just for the races. There are about 250 people from the FIS running camp, coaches and staff, as well as about 300 track workers.
“But they all have their parking space,” Steiner said. On the two days of the race, only one parking lot with around 200 parking spaces is available for public skiing, the rest are closed for the World Cup. This time, Semmering is celebrating 25 years of the World Cup, after international women’s ski races were held for the first time in 1995. Due to Corona, the event will take place this time without an audience or support program. . Tourist skiing and sledding are allowed.
Cable car folder services
The radiant weather in most of Styria and Carinthia ensured a good visit to their ski areas on Saturday, Stefanitag, at least the ones that were open. The rush was significantly greater than on the largely foggy Christmas Eve. Security measures against Covid-19 could be observed everywhere, also thanks to butler services, said the chairmen of the cable cars of the respective WK, Fabrice Girardoni and Manuel Kapeller-Hopfgartner.
The weather was dreamy on the Teichalm north of Graz or the Hauser Kaibling on the Ennstal, while the Tauplitz on the Salzkammergut recorded late-morning fog in the summit area, Lawinenstein. The same applies to the ski areas on the border with Carinthia, the western wine plain of Styria and Turracherhöhe in Upper Styria. A fine winter day in St. Jakob im Walde in eastern Styria also ensured a good visit. The same applies to Bad Kleinkirchheim in Upper Carinthia, the Gerlitzen near Villach or the Klippitzthörl in eastern Carinthia.
For Girardoni, representative of the Styrian cable car, who had a meeting with the district administration at lunchtime about the concept of traffic over his “own” ski area, the Stuhleck, the Covid-19 safety precautions were followed with masks and distances. “The measures were seen everywhere,” Girardoni told the APA, scenes like those in Semmering in Lower Austria, where the toboggan runs were crowded, did not exist.
Second home owners and locals
The chairman of the Carinthian group of specialists for cable cars, Manuel Kapeller-Hopfgartner, was also able to confirm this for his federal state. “We have a good turnout and it is generally more than on Christmas Eve. That is also due to the fact that in a normal winter in Carinthia there are about 50 percent locals on the slopes,” Kapeller told the APA. In the Gerlitzen ski resort car park you could see cars with license plates from Klagenfurt and Klagenfurt Land, Villach and Spittal / Drau, but also from Vienna, presumably owners of a second home. People would go skiing for three to four hours.
In Salzburg’s ski areas such as Zauchensee, Gastein, Filzmoos, Großarl and Flachau, there were also more winter sports enthusiasts on Saturday, as could be seen on the numerous webcams. However, there was still a lot of space left on the slopes, and the correct queuing at the cable cars and chair lifts could not be ruled out. Relatively more was happening in the much smaller ski areas of Upper Austria, here in Hinterstoder for example you could see grapes on people in front of a chair lift. The distances, that is, a clear space between the skiers on the chairlift, were, as far as you can see, well maintained.
(WHAT)
