Ski vacation without a descent

Money back if the lift is closed or the slopes are hard?

A particularly high number of serious skiing accidents happen in winters with little snow(Bild: Hörmandinger Reinhard)

It's bitter: for some, this year's ski season ended in hospital after serious falls, while others were disappointed because a number of slopes were closed or in poor condition during their long-awaited ski vacation. The "Krone" wanted to know from the Chamber of Labor what the situation is in terms of compensation.

Hard or slushy descents, no snow in the fall zones off the slopes: for many winter sports enthusiasts, this year's season has already ended in hospital. It is noticeable that not only the number of skiing accidents is increasing, but also the severity of the injuries.

Mountain rescue required
This is also confirmed by Reinhold Petz from the Aigen-Schlägl mountain rescue team, which is on duty at Hochficht. The volunteers are called out up to seven times a day at weekends to treat winter sports enthusiasts who have fallen on the slopes.

1577 people injured in skiing accidents were treated in the OÖ Gesundheitsholding clinics between December 2023 and the end of February. This is around 20 percent more than in the same period last year and the severity of the injuries also increased.

Claims after serious falls?
But is there compensation if injuries occur due to adverse slope conditions? "Compensation always has something to do with fault. If the people in charge are working flat out on the condition of the slopes and it gets worse because of the weather, it's nobody's fault," says Ulrike Weiß from Consumer Protection at the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor.

This year, winter sports enthusiasts searched in vain for snow away from the slopes in many places(Bild: Schütz Markus)

"Everyone has personal responsibility here. Where nature is involved, others cannot be held liable," says the consumer protection expert. The situation is similar when it comes to the cost of hotel rooms or lift tickets.

Weather is force majeure
Here too, the accommodation booked for the ski vacation is not "to blame" if the weather hits the slopes and a few closed runs are not enough to get money back for lift tickets. "The entire ski area would have to be closed," says Weiß.

Her tip for your Easter ski vacation: "Don't buy lift tickets straight away or make sure the hotels can cancel at short notice."