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18 February 2018
Post originally written in: Deutsch Information An automatic machine translation. Super fast and almost perfect.

High mountains, raging rivers and spectacular views in the middle of the Alps. The reason why you meet especially many extreme athletes in Innsbruck is obvious, given the topography. That the definition of extreme sports is always in the eye of the beholder is equally obvious. Where one feels at home, the other already goes to his personal limits. Just take a look at the ski slopes.

These ten sports push different kinds of limits and are nevertheless omnipresent in Innsbruck

  1. Ice climbing

    Ice climbing has its own attraction. Anyone who voluntarily handles ice axes, crampons and ice screws on frozen waterfalls definitely belongs to the “experimental” category. Strong upper arms can’t hurt either, as Lena discovered during her self-experiment for the Innsbruck Blog. In the nearby Sellraintal there are several icefalls that are used for climbing, such as the Gasthausfall Lüsens, the hanging gardens, or the Easy Afternoon Fall in Lüsens.

    Eisklettern will gelernt sein. Foto: Innsbruck Tourismus

    Ice climbing has to be learned. Photo: Innsbruck Tourism

  2. Learn ski jumping (Natters)

    No master has ever fallen from the sky, not even from the ski jump. But you can still learn to ski jump step by step. Or you can content yourself with watching other daredevils on the Bergisel ski jump. At the practice jumps in Natters, however, youngsters from the age of seven train on Mondays, Wednesdays at 17:00 and Fridays at 16:00. Spectators are welcome.

    Skispringer am Bergisel wo auch die Vierschanzentournee stattfindet.. Foto: Innsbruck Tourismus

    Ski jumpers at the Bergisel where the Four Hills Tournament also takes place… Photo: Innsbruck Tourism

  3. Figln

    Figln in the gully. Extremely in the eye of the beholder, who just enters the 70 degree steep gully at the Hafelekar. Firn gliding, or short carving, is a very special sport that makes many a Tyrolean eagerly await the spring snow. Because in the soft mud, for example from the gully on the Nordkette, it is particularly easy to whiz downhill on the short metal skis. However, it takes a lot of courage at the 70 degrees at the start of the gully! The Figln, the necessary sports equipment can be borrowed directly from the Seegrube.

    Figln in der Karrinne.

    Figln in the gully.

  4. Downhill

    In knight’s armour and with a full-face helmet, hurtling down the mountain and jumping over jumps at the same time? Yes, you can do that too in Innsbruck. The route on the Innsbruck Nordkette(Nordkette Singletrail) is considered one of the most difficult, once you have mastered it you can count yourself among the few privileged people who have conquered this route technically, physically and mentally. Thanks to Crankworx and co. there are now also downhill trails on the Mutteralm, the First One is particularly suitable for beginners. Here you can find more information about Innsbruck’s downhill trails.

    Die neue Downhillstrecke auf der Muttereralm. Foto: Innsbruck Tourismus

    The new downhill trail on the Muttereralm. Photo: Innsbruck Tourism

  5. Gliding – Flying without engine

    Whizzing down the runway of the international airport in a small plane to take off into the air is a very special experience. Two clubs on the north side of the airport offer this training. If you have less time, just fly with Mountain Soaring, who also offer private training and advanced alpine courses for pilots. Cost: € 395 for at least one and a half hours around Innsbruck, exact flight distance depending on thermals. Also crazy are the guys with their Extra-G – here in Ashley’s Epic Innsbruck Video!

    Segelfliegen über Innsbruck. Foto: Simon Rainer

    Gliding over Innsbruck. Photo: Simon Rainer

  6. Hike & Fly Paragliding

    Climb the mountain in the morning, fly down with the paraglider in the afternoon. The dream of Hike&Fly has come true for many paragliders in recent years thanks to increasingly lighter equipment. Around Innsbruck there are many Hike&Fly hotspots, the local flight schools give information and offer courses. The only drawback is that it takes a lot of flying hours to get from a beginner’s course to an experienced Hike&Fly professional. Flying along, on the other hand, is quite easy, for example at Mountain Fly in Ellbögen. Tip: here you can read how Vil’s flight from the Nordkette went.

    Vil im Landanflug auf Innsbruck beim Tandemflug. Foto: Vil Joda

    Vil on approach to Innsbruck during a tandem flight. Photo: Vil Joda

  7. Hang Gliding

    Considering that the Tyroleans are so down-to-earth, they sure like to take off. Some even fly head first through the crowds of tourists. With a bit of luck, you can watch the hang-gliders themselves at the Seegrube launch site. However, it is better not to get in their way. If you want to fly with Flo Orley, the extreme sports pro from Innsbruck, you can find further contact details here. Cost: € 199 from Nordkette.

    Von der Seegrube starten häufig Drachenflieger. Foto: Innsbruck Tourismus

    Hang gliders often take off from the Seegrube. Photo: Innsbruck Tourism

  8. Snowbike

    In most parts of the world, as soon as snow falls, people prefer to leave their bikes in the garage. Not so in Innsbruck. This also applies to the areas outside the city, such as in the forest and open terrain. On the Muttereralm you can learn everything you need to know to roll down the mountain with suitable fatbikes and under the guidance of the Appi.at school.

    snowbike, muttereralm, mutters, innsbruck, schneefahrrad, snow bike

    Guide Markus “Appi” Apperle in his element. Photo: Marius Schwager

  9. Highlining

    While slacklining is a popular sport for the whole family, walking a highline is reserved for the pros on the rope. At lofty heights, they sometimes traverse really long distances, such as Christian Waldner from slackliner.at on the Nordkette near the Frau Hitt (see photo!). By the way, Christian also offers courses. For those who prefer to start close to the ground, there are various slackline spots in and around Innsbruck, for example: Slackline Parcours Axams Hoadl, Slacklining at the swimming lake Rossau.

    Highline Profi Christian Waldner auf der Frau Hitt. Foto: slackliner.at

    Highline pro Christian Waldner on the Frau Hitt. Photo: slackliner.at

  10. Ski touring

    A few years ago ski touring equipment was still the exception, but now the new popular sport has fully arrived in Innsbruck. Whether during the day, at night, in the ski area for training or on the peaks around the city, ski tourers and freeriders are everywhere. The particularly hardy ones meet once a year in the Sellraintal and take part in the Wildsaustaffel. Two climbers and two downhillers fight in a team for the first place. In doing so, a total height difference of 2,310 metres is overcome in record time. Next date: March 18, 2018.
    Reading tip: Marius has reported here on the blog about the Lampsenspitze ski touring trail.

    skitour, freeride, freeride city, nordkette, halltal, kleine karwendeldurchquerung

    Gleirschzähne, photo: Lea H.

Which of the extreme sports mentioned would you most like to try?

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