The SalzburgerLand Tourismus Gesellschaft (SLTG) opened a special winter season 2024/25 on Monday evening with an atmospheric evening in Vienna. Around 250 guests experienced a varied journey through the highlights of the coming winter – from the Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach Hinterglemm to the new musical “Skiverliebt” to the world-class cuisine of four-toque chef Andreas Herbst.
Together with that Salzburg State Theater and the World Cup location Saalbach Hinterglemm crazy SLTG–Managing Director Leo Bauernberger to the pre-winter evening in the Vienna Palais Wertheim, which was also the Salzburg’s deputy governor Stefan Schnöll and sports councilor Martin Zauner not to be missed.
Legends shone with “golden” World Cup stories
The anticipation for the Alpine Ski World Championships was palpable, especially when talking to prominent winter sports legends like Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Alexandra Meissnitzer, Felix Gottwald, Michael Walchhofer and Michaela Kirchgasser. They shared their memories of brilliant successes and the special atmosphere at major sporting events and spread great enthusiasm for skiing in Salzburg’s winter sports resorts.
A delegation from Saalbach Hinterglemm, led by Mayor Alois Hasenauer and World Cup sports director Bartl Gensbichler gave insights into how the region is preparing for the World Ski Championships. And ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober spoke about the final touches on the Austrian ski team around two months before the start of the home World Cup.
Exclusive insight into the World Cup musical “Skiverliebt”
This provided the proverbial start to the World Cup winter Musical “Ski in Love”, which was composed especially for the World Ski Championships. will premiere on February 1, 2025 in the Salzburg State Theater and will also be performed as part of the World Cup. The main actors Alfons Haider, Anna Rosa Döller, Timotheus Hollweg and Larissa Enzi presented exclusive audio samples, including the charming song Two boards, that mean the world and the swinging one Kaiserschmarrn Waltz. State Theater Director Carl Philip von Maldeghem gave exciting insights into the rehearsals and preparations for this world premiere.
Celebrity guest list with winter anticipation
In addition to those mentioned above, the Salzburg winter start in Vienna was also celebrated by the State Secretary for Tourism Susanne Kraus-Winkler, the 2nd President of the National Council Peter Haubner, Austria Advertising Managing Director Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, Vienna Energy boss Michael Strebl as well as the ORF director Michael Kögler and presenter Alina Zellhofer.
>> ALL PICTURES: “IN LOVE WITH SKIING” IN VIENNA
QUOTED: START OF THE SALZBURG WORLD CUP WINTER 2024/25
State Governor Deputy Stefan Schnöll:
“This winter will be a very special one for our country. With a top sporting event that will radiate far beyond the two weeks in February. It means creating value for the people in the region and an important expansion of infrastructure, especially when it comes to rail services. A new train station means a real and long-term improvement for the valley and is another good argument for our guests to choose Saalbach Hinterglemm for their winter holiday. The event has long-term positive effects for tourism and a boost in demand for winter holidays in SalzburgerLand.”
Sports State Councilor Martin Zauner:
“The Alpine Ski World Championships are a huge opportunity for the sports region of Salzburg. The country lives for skiing, a great atmosphere and perfect organization are guaranteed at the races – the Saalbachers have already proven this several times in the World Cup. The images will transport the passion for skiing far beyond Austria. For our Salzburg athletes it is an event that you only experience once in your career. Last but not least, the event will also inspire many children and thus have a positive effect on our ski clubs in terms of young talent.”
Leo Bauernberger, Managing Director of SalzburgerLand Tourism:
“Winter sports, culture and first-class alpine cuisine – that simply fits together in SalzburgerLand, and that’s what we’re known for internationally. The 2025 World Ski Championships in Saalbach Hinterglemm offers us the opportunity to present our offering to a global, winter sports-loving audience. Together with its outstanding hosts, SalzburgerLand will demonstrate its world-class qualities – I am looking forward to an unforgettable event!”
Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, CEO of Austria Advertising:
“Austria’s image as a first-class winter holiday destination is unparalleled worldwide. The strong demand for winter in Austria shows that we are in tune with the zeitgeist with the top quality of our ski regions, the diversity of our winter and our unique attitude to life. Especially at major events such as the World Ski Championships, which not only demonstrate our top quality in winter sports, but also make a decisive contribution to regional added value, we prove: Austria remains the first address for unforgettable winter moments.”
Carl Philip von Maldeghem, director of the Salzburg State Theater:
“On the occasion of the World Ski Championships in Saalbach Hinterglemm, we are developing a musical that thrills like a rapid ski descent: with humor, catchy melodies and inspiring stories, we celebrate the fascination of skiing and the spirit of Austrian hospitality. We combine sport and culture with artistic passion – with a great team and partners who would otherwise not have come together like this.”
ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober:
“A medal at a home World Championships in front of our own audience. Not everyone has the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and hunt for medals in the presence of relatives, friends and thousands of ski-crazy fans. There couldn’t be a greater incentive for the Austrian athletes. For the ÖSV, a home World Cup is a special motivation and at the same time a great challenge. The 2025 World Cup is not only a sporting highlight, but also a welcome opportunity to present skiing worldwide in all its fascination and in all its facets. This event should and will underline the importance of Austria as a winter sports destination.”