The two final competitors for the 2010 Olympic Games were Salzburg and Vancouver. If Salzburg had won, the venue for the major Alpine events would have been Kitzbuhel, and the course for the Skiing Downhill, the premier event of the Games, would have been the infamous Streif, the worlds toughest downhill, bar none. Not even Whistlers most ardent devotees would argue that the fairly tame Dave Murray Downhill bears any comparison to the Streif, but how do Kitzbuhel and Whistler compare along other dimensions?

Ski terrain, lift system and grooming

Here Whistler has a decided advantage. The terrain is much larger and although there are fewer lifts many more of them are the modern high-speed quad variety, which makes for much shorter lift lines. The terrain in Whistler is also more varied, with cliff jumps and gladed runs in particular that are totally absent from the Kitzbuhel scene. Grooming is another advantage: much more of Whistlers runs are groomed daily compared to Kitzbuhel.

Off-piste and powder snow

Here I think it is fair to say that Kitzbuhel has the edge, not because there is more off-piste terrain, but because it last so much longer after a fresh snowfall than in Whistler, where by 11.00 a.m. almost all the fresh snow has been tracked out. In Kitzbuhel you can find fresh lines for days.

Accommodation

As with most Austrian resorts, accommodation in Kitzbuhel is largely offered in hotels and pensions, with relatively few chalets and condos available for self-catering accommodation. Although Kitzbuhel has a number of luxury hotels there is nothing comparable to the Four Seasons. There is, however, a very large number of Pensionen, more or less comparable to B&Bs throughout Kitzbuhel and its adjacent Villages. Whistler is much better off in terms of the range of luxury homes for rental.

Village and Retail

Here Kitzbuhel definitely has the edge. Both Kitzbuhel and Whistler have pedestrian-only village centres, but Kitzbuhels is a medieval walled city with the patina of ages compared to the Johnny-come-lately pastiche of Whistler. Also, whilst Whistler Village has mainly low-end sweater and ski shops, there is a glorious variety of high-end luxury retail establishments in the centre of Kitzbuhel, as well as famous Kaffee and Kche shops such as Langers.

If you are a keen skier, you should definitely visit both resorts. They are very different, but you will find much to enjoy in both locations. Despite the fearsome Streif, there is definitely more expert terrain available in Whistler, but Kitzbuhel has the incomparable charm of the Austrian Alps.