Styria, Austria

Capital City: Graz
Closest Airport: Salzburg
Population: 1,203,986
Resort Area: Schladming - Haus im Ennstal - Untertal - Obertal - Rohrmoos
Snow Season: Mid-December - mid April
Main Language: German
Currency: Euro

As a region, Styria - in the south east of Austria (bordering with Hungary and Slovenia) - is known more for its lush meadows and green valleys than its pointy bits. But don't be fooled into believing it's any less rugged than anywhere else in the country. This is Arnie's back yard after all.

The crowning pinnacle of the region is the Daschstein glacier at 2,700 metres. Offering pretty much year-round skiing and board park action, this is where many of the world's top cross-country athletes train, and the rest of us mortals come to get an early summer tan. The slopes here at Ramsau and nearby Schladming have a great reputation with hard 'n fast piste shredders. But there's a seemingly endless network of cross country trails further down the hill too - nearly 300kms in fact.