Where to Ski And Snowboard - Kitzbühel celebrates 007 in style

Kitzbühel celebrates 007 in style

22nd February 2017, by Abi Butcher

The ski resort of Kitzbühel will go James Bond crazy over the second weekend in March

The ski resort of Kitzbühel will go James Bond crazy over the second weekend in March, with an entire programme of events dedicated to 007.

It would seem fitting that the Austrian ski resort that boasts the world’s most dangerous downhill race was once a temporary holdout for Ian Fleming, the English journalist, author and naval intelligence office best known for his books about James Bond. Rumour has it that the spy’s favourite martini cocktail was created at the bar of the Tennerhof — then a simple boarding house but now a five-star hotel.

In celebration of Fleming’s time in Kitzbühel, learning both how to ski and how to speak German, the Austrian resort will host Fireball 2017, an entire weekend of James Bond-themed events for the whole family to enjoy. From 9 to 12 March Kitzbühel will host the “Ian Fleming Loop” ski race, a Casino Challenge and a black-tie “VIP Fireball”. The weekend will be kicked off with a 1970s party and finish with a ski show featuring James Bond being chased down the legendary Streif by an army of enemies.

Wannabe James Bonds and Bond girls will take to the slopes in March

The full schedule of events is available on fireballkitz.com and you can book your ski break to Kitzbühel on the Tourist Office’s new website kitzski.uk, especially designed for British skiers and featuring accommodation packages.

To top it all off, in true James Bond style, Kitzbühel is giving away a pair of hand-crafted skis with a limited Kitzbühel 2017 design. Click here to enter the competition.