The Austrian resort of Ischgl sits on the border across from the Swiss resort of Samnaun, and the two resorts share their ski slopes but have a long history with smugglers. In the old days, the Austrians packed their rucksacks with butter, cheese and furs to take over to Switzerland, returning with coffee, rice, flour, tobacco, sugar and spices to sell in Austria.
Even today, border police check heavily laden skiers returning to Austria from Samnaun to make sure they’re not bringing in more than their personal allowance from Switzerland to the EU.
This season, though, Ischgl is making the cross-border relationship a bit more fun and 100% legal in a new set of marked “smugglers’ routes” that skiers and boarders can follow using the resort’s iSki Ischgl App connected to GPS on their phones.
The aim for skiers and boarders is to amass kilometres rather than merchandise and to track and record their progress by GPS via the app. There are three well-signposted routes, gold, silver and bronze, of varying difficulty to cater for all standards.
Those who successfully complete their chosen circuit can enter prize draws every day, weekly and for each season. Prizes will include head bands, rucksacks, half-board hotel stays, lift passes and passes for mountain concerts. ischgl.com/apps
