Industry News
A 65-year-old ski tourer has died following a collision with a downhill skier at a ski resort in the Austrian state of Salzburg, police confirmed on Saturday, February 7. The accident occurred around midday on Saturday on the Schwarzeckal slope in Maria Alm—a small resort, which is part of the Hochkönig Ski Area—under circumstances that are currently under investigation.
According to the police report, the incident involved a 20-year-old downhill skier from the Pongau region and a 65-year-old ski tourer from Pinzgau who was ascending the slope at the time. For reasons still under investigation, the two collided on the piste.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene. The younger skier was airlifted by rescue helicopter to Schwarzach Hospital for medical treatment. The ski tourer was also transported by helicopter to the Christian Doppler Clinic in Salzburg, where he later died from his injuries. It is not known whether the skiers involved were wearing helmets at the time of the collision.
Police said investigations into the exact cause of the collision are ongoing. No further details have been released, and authorities stressed that it is not yet known how or why the accident occurred.
The fatal incident comes amid a growing safety debate in Austria over ski touring within resort boundaries. In recent seasons, several Austrian ski resorts have introduced bans or restrictions on “uphilling” — ascending pistes during operating hours — citing the risk of collisions with downhill skiers, grooming vehicles, and snowmaking equipment.
While ski touring has surged in popularity since Covid-19, particularly as an accessible alternative to lift-served skiing, resort operators have increasingly warned that shared use of pistes can create dangerous situations, especially on busy runs or in poor visibility.
