The Paddler ezine WW kayak collection 2013 | Page 121

With time honoured traditions
and events such as the Summer Solstice (mountain fires and torches), church
fairs and colourful cattle drives all of which are cherished traditions in the Alps.
During these festivals brass bands play ‘umpah’ music, rifle companies’ parade
around in all their plumage, locals dress in their national and regional
costumes (lederhosen for the men and dirndl for the women) are all
hallmarks of these events.

Of course traditional food such as mountain cheese, cured ham
(Speck), sausages (Wurst), pretzels can all be washed down by a
typical Alpine beer - in fact there are over 40 different types of
beer and some 4,000 different brands.
Austria is well known for its mountains, culture and especially
the skiing. With some of the worlds best and prestigious ski
resorts it is not just the backdrop that makes these resorts so
famous but the snow that regularly falls. St Anton am Arlberg
is renowned for all of this as it receives some of the most
snow in the Alps and has the terrain to match.

Throughout Austria there are an abundance of
glaciers, some of which are open throughout the
summer, which race teams and recreational
skiers alike frequently use. So with so much
snow and ice up in the mountains it gives
Austria huge white water kayaking potential
from Spring right through to Autumn.

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