Ski & fly with the Flying Fox XXL

We’re right in the thick of some glorious spring skiing. Snow-covered slopes, soaking up the sun on the terraces of the ski huts, and – to top it all off – whizzing past the valley as spring comes to life at 130 km/h. Hang on, stop! Whizzing? Yes, you read that right. With the Flying Fox XXL, a truly exceptional day’s skiing awaits you.

The early bird

In March and April, you have to get up early if you’re heading for the slopes. That’s because the first gondola leaves as early as 8 am, promising the best snow conditions for skiing in the sunshine. We – Nici and I – aren’t going to miss out on this opportunity either. And there’s also a very special surprise in store for Nici today. But first, we’re going to enjoy the sunshine and a few runs in the slightly powdery snow.

The legendary Leogang round

The Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn has something to offer for all levels of ability. We find the Leogang circuit particularly enjoyable. On mostly blue slopes, it takes around 1.5 to 2 hours – depending on your ability and the number of visitors in the ski resort. First, you head from Leogang via the Sportbahn towards Saalbach. There, we take the Schönleitenbahn to the top station and, after a long descent, finally end up in the centre of Saalbach. From there, we cross over to the other side of the valley to the Schattberg X-press. From Schattberg, we take the Jausern slope – the ultimate firn slope – down to the bottom station of the Schönleitenbahn. Then we carry on to the Poltenlift and back to Leogang.

The surprise is waiting

Back in Leogang, we set off for the midway station of the Asitzbahn. Just below the Stöckalm, the highlight of the day awaits: the Flying Fox XXL. Lying on your stomach, you glide over the Schwarzleo Valley – fantastic views and an adrenaline rush included. First, of course, there’s a quick briefing and a chance to put on the harness. Always with a cheeky quip on their lips, the lads from the Flying Fox explain what’s in store. The steel cable is 1,600 metres long. You reach a top speed of 130 km/h. The highest point is 143 metres above the ground. These figures alone are enough to set your heart racing. And then it’s time to go. Nici is clipped onto the steel cable, gets into the correct position and, faster than you can imagine, the last carabiner is released and, with a loud cry of joy, Nici whizzes off to the other side of the valley.

Good to know

We’d booked the flight in advance, as there’s only a limited number of flights per time slot. After the flight, you’ll be shuttled back to the Asitzbahn valley station, where you can take the Asitzbahn back up to the middle station and collect your ski equipment from the Flying Fox launch house. Of course, you can also go on the Flying Fox without combining it with skiing. And the best bit: with the Saalfelden Leogang Card, you get a 10 per cent discount on your flight!