Industry News
A pair of serious slope collisions in Sölden, Austria, in the span of just two days, both involving Polish nationals as suspected offenders, is putting renewed attention on the behavior of some of the resort’s guests. The incidents come right as Sölden’s new alcohol-free zone and conduct regulations come into force for the 2025–26 winter.
The first incident occurred on November 29 at 9:58 a.m. on a black-marked slope in the Sölden ski area. According to police, a collision occurred between an unidentified snowboarder and a 54-year-old German tourist from the Roth district. The snowboarder allegedly continued down the slope without stopping—a violation of §2 of the FIS Rules of Conduct, which requires all parties involved in an accident to remain and provide assistance. The injured skier was transported to the Sölden clinic with serious injuries. The Tyrol Police launched an immediate investigation and identified a 43-year-old Polish snowboarder as the perpetrator of the collision. According to the police report, the Polish man is being charged with reckless behavior causing bodily harm and failure to render assistance, which could result in a prison sentence between three months and two years.
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Just two days later, on December 1, a second major collision occurred on blue piste No. 34 on the Rettenbach Glacier around 1 p.m. Tyrol Police allege that a 25-year-old Polish skier attempted to cut across the Seiterjöchl drag-lift lane, making a sharp left turn into two German siblings riding the lift. The 31-year-old sister suffered a knee injury and required medical treatment; the Polish skier briefly lost consciousness and had to be airlifted by Alpin 2 to the hospital in Zams. A breathalyser test at the scene returned a positive result for alcohol, prompting further legal reporting. The police report did not indicate the degree of intoxication, but in Austria, skiing under the influence can constitute gross negligence and may invalidate insurance coverage or lead to both criminal charges and civil liability.
Under Austrian law and the internationally recognized FIS Rules, both failing to remain at the scene of an accident and skiing while impaired carry significant legal consequences:
- Leaving the scene (FIS Rule 2 & 10): Skiers involved in an accident must stop, provide assistance, and identify themselves. Hit-and-run cases are typically forwarded to prosecutors.
- Negligence due to intoxication: Alcohol can significantly increase personal liability. Insurers may refuse coverage if impairment contributed to the accident.
- Potential civil damages: Offenders may be held financially responsible for the victim’s medical costs, lost income, and long-term injuries.
With two severe incidents in two days, including one confirmed alcohol case and one hit-and-run, authorities are expected to scrutinize slope conduct closely in the early season. The timing of the incidents is striking: both occurred just as Sölden introduced strict new alcohol regulations for winter 2025–26. Effective December 1, 2025, the municipality has implemented a ban on open alcoholic containers across large sections of the village and has increased police presence in the “party mile” between the Giggijoch and Gaislachkogel lifts. Failure to comply with the ban on carrying open alcohol containers can result in a fine of up to €2,000 ($2,323). Bars and licensed terraces remain unaffected, but drinking in public streets, long associated with Sölden’s rowdy après-ski scene, is now prohibited.
The ban comes into place after drunken behavior by tourists has escalated in recent years. The resort is one of Europe’s busiest destinations, and drunk skiing and snowboarding in particular have become a serious concern. Recent seasons have seen rising numbers of slope accidents involving intoxicated skiers, and rescue costs—sometimes reaching €10,000—increasingly falling on offenders.
With peak season approaching, the back-to-back incidents serve as a stark reminder:
- Impairment and high-speed slopes don’t mix.
- Leaving the scene is treated as a serious offence.
- Legal and financial consequences can be significant.
Based on my experiences last season in the French Alps, teenage guys skiing too fast and too close are a bigger threat than drunks.