There are a lot of horrifically steep ski runs in the world, many of which work their way through tight couloirs or require mandatory airs. In the U.S., many of the steepest runs are never groomed, left natural with moguls and other obstacles. If you want to ski some scary steep groomers, you’d better head to Europe. Specifically Austria, where they tend to be quite proud of their perfect corduroy, is a great place to find these steep runs.
Harakiri at Austria’s Mayrhofen Ski Area is likely not the steepest groomed run in the world, but it’s certainly among the steepest that you can actually ski without being a professional racer.
According to Mayrhofen, Harakiri on Mount Penken is the most difficult groomed trail in Zillertal, featuring a gradient up to 78% over a solid distance. If you believe you’re ready to hit this route, they suggest sending Piste 12, or “Devil’s Run”, before hand to test your skills. The steep part at the end is often considered a test for Harakiri, earning a nickname that represents it (Harakiri Test).
