Like Wengen, but in Austria: the gentle family skiing, a long way lower

On the gentle ground, Schladming is a match. Thirty nine percent of its piste is gentler than 15 percent, level with Wengen's, the largest share of the 13 Austrian resorts we cover and, like Wengen's, joint seventh of the 55 we cover. Its blues average 13.0 percent, against 13.9 at Wengen and 16.4 for a typical Austrian blue, and its blacks are the gentlest of the 13 Austrian resorts we cover. We tag it a family resort, families are on its list as on Wengen's, and our read is down to earth and friendly, a valley town with floodlit night skiing and value on its list.

It joins up well, too. Four mountains are linked end to end with no bus, 123 kilometres, against the 101 in Wengen's own sector. The Ski amadé pass says 760, but across five regions that are not all joined, so plan a Schladming week on the 123. We measure 134 kilometres around the town, about 9 more than around Wengen, with 59 of blue and easier against your 51.

The trade is the height, above all. The village is at 745 metres, 529 below Wengen's, the skiing tops out at 2,001 metres by our measurement, and 7 percent of the piste is at or above 1,800 metres, against 66 percent of what we map around Wengen. On our measure it is not snow sure. Nor is it a quiet week: we do not tag it quiet, and night skiing heads its list. There is less black, 12.9 kilometres against your 20, and the reds are steeper, averaging 24.4 percent against 20.1.

Scenery is on Bad Gastein's list, as it is on Wengen's. Our read is grand and characterful, faded belle époque grandeur and thermal spas, with the spa on its list too, and we tag it traditional. The village is at 1,000 metres, 274 below Wengen's.

It is the one pick that goes higher. The skiing reaches 2,644 metres by our measurement, 324 above Wengen's top lift, though one is our measure and the other a lift height. Half its piste is at or above 1,800 metres, and 13 percent is above 2,200, against 14 percent of what we map around Wengen. Our test asks for more than half, so on our measure it is not snow sure. Its own area is 83 kilometres, one of four separate areas down the valley on the Ski amadé pass, and we measure 107 around it, which takes in piste beyond that area.

The trade is the gentleness. Thirty seven percent of the piste is steeper than one in four, the joint eighth largest share of the 55 resorts we cover, against your 20, and only 29 percent is gentler than 15 percent. Its reds average 25.0 percent, the ninth steepest of the 55 we cover. We tag it neither quiet nor family, and there are 8.2 kilometres of black.

With Kitzbühel the match is in the mix, not the mood. Its split between easy, red and black is the most even of the 13 Austrian resorts we cover and the third most even of the 55 we cover, where Wengen's is fifth. Its reds average 20.3 percent, against your 20.1, the gentlest reds of the 13 Austrian resorts we cover, and its blacks 25.9 against 24.3. And there is far more of the hard end: 34 kilometres of black, the most of the 55 resorts we cover, 7.3 of it double black, in the 135 kilometres we measure around the town.

Our guide adds something a Wengen skier will notice: Kitzbühel is a walled medieval town with its own railway station, and from a central base you can leave the car alone all week. Kirchberg, on the same ski area, is the more relaxed village.

What you give up is the peace and the height. Our read is medieval and lively, nightlife and racing are on its list, and our guide counts it among the great party towns of the Alps. The town is at 800 metres, 474 below Wengen's, the skiing tops out at 1,968 metres by our measurement, and 11 percent of the piste is at or above 1,800. It is not snow sure on our measure, and we tag it neither quiet nor family.