Hochfilzen Ski and Biathlon Stadium

The Langlauf- and Biathlon Centre stands in Hochfilzen, a village in the Pillerseetal valley in the Tirol district of Kitzbühel. It sits near the Salzburg border at about 1,000 metres above sea level. Built around 1965 and opened in 1967, the stadium has grown into one of the country’s main training sites for the Austrian Ski Federation. Since December 1986 it has regularly hosted Biathlon World Cup races, including the world championships in 1978, 1998, 2005 and 2017. The centre also organises Junior World Championships and military world championships. The complex includes a competition shooting range, an indoor shooting hall and asphalt roller-ski tracks. A 20-million-euro upgrade before the 2017 event added a team-service building with thirty wax and service cabins and thirty changing rooms. A new indoor shooting area with a treadmill covers 570 square metres and houses the media centre during competitions. The main building was extended and modernised to provide direct, short routes between all facilities. Visitors find wide Langlauf trails winding through the surrounding forests and meadows. The competition stadium sits at the eastern edge of Hochfilzen, with clear views of the valley’s gentle slopes. During winter events the stands fill with spectators watching biathletes shoot at targets set among the snow. In summer the roller-ski lanes let athletes train on dry ground while coaches and officials work in the upgraded buildings. The valley’s quiet air and high altitude create ideal conditions for both training and competition.