The 38th Kaunertal Opening from 10–12 November 2023 will mark yet another wild autumn opening of the KAUNERTAL SNOWPARK. While we look forward to the opening of one our favorite glacier parks in the Alps, it's also a bittersweet occasion. Due to the changing climate and receding glacier, the 38th Kaunertal Opening will be the last of its kind.

The end of the Kaunertal Fall Snowpark

This Opening will go down in history as the last KTO as we've known and love them. According to organizers, future KTOs will be "realigned" and moved to the spring in a modified form, when "the construction of the Snowpark Kaunertal can be implemented with significantly less effort and a careful and sustainable use of resources and energy efficiency can be guaranteed."

In other words, this is effectively the end of the fall snowpark in Kaunertal — a sad but inevitable decision that's clear to anyone who has watched the glacier recede over the past years. However, we're assured that the spring snowpark in Kaunertal will continue to remain a fixture for many years to come.

A last hurrah

Despite the sad news, KTO organizers are determined to make sure that the final fall-season KTO goes off with a memorable "grand finale." Here's an overview of what's planned:

Photo Vernissage & Movie Night: Downdays is glad to kick things off on Friday evening with a photo gallery of the best shots from the Gaptastic Voyage as well as a mini-movie from the event. The spot is Quellalpin and the doors open at 4:30pm.

Retro Award: To honor Kaunertal's decade-long freestyle history, a selected jury will be on the lookout for the best retro outfit of the weekend. The winner will receive a glacier park card for the Kaunertal and Pitztal glaciers. So bust out your DayGlo, Spandex and headbands!

Jib'n'Skate Playground: The unique terrace setup at the Weißsee restaurant will be popping off with various open sessions including "cash for tricks" jams, an invitational pro rail session, a snowskate session, a girls only jam, and just for skiers, the "500 Bucks" Best Trick session on Sunday hosted by Daniel Hanka.

Retro Flash Mob: Don't miss Sunday's grand finale, when a gang of retroed-out riders will descend from the top station of the Karlesjochbahn down the glacier restaurant. This is sure to be one memorable ride!

You can also get a KTO souvenir tattoo for free at the Tattoo Station by Julian Tattoo, get a new 'do at the Mountain Barber offering the highest haircuts in the Alps, and of course, test gear from over 30 ski and snowboard brands.

And of course, when the lifts shut down, the party's just getting started. From the opening night party at Zappadello to the Ö3 Disco at Quellalpin on Saturday night, the party in Feichten is sure to rage until the wee hours of the morning.

This is the last KTO as we know it. Don't miss out on this chance to celebrate a historic opening in Kaunertal!

More info on the 38th Kaunertal Opening, including a full schedule of events, is available at the Snowpark Kaunertal website.