Elfer in Stubai

Take off below: 47°05’55.0″N 11°19’27.3″E

This takeoff spot is situated right next to the cable car at 1.790 meters. In the summer, you have access to the entire slope, while in winter, the takeoff area is limited to the back half, positioned diagonally in front of the large sundial, near the wind turbine and wind sock. Typically, this takeoff area is designated for tandem pilots and student pilots, but when there's low activity, it's also open for free flyers.

Take off in the middle: 47°05’43.5″N 11°19’16.7″E

This spot is also known as the 'living room.' It's a 20-minute walk from the gondola station, providing access to stronger thermals. There's a wind vane on site. During the winter skiing season, it's best to avoid this takeoff since it's right on the slopes. Experienced pilots often use the 'living room' for top landings.

Take off above: 47°05’38.7″N 11°19’12.5″E

This is the highest takeoff point at Elfer, at around 2.080 meters. From here, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Elferhütte. During the winter ski season, you can easily reach the upper takeoff by using the drag lift from the Elfer gondola station at 1.790 meters. You can use regular skis or Figl (short cut-off skis) for this. It's also a great spot to visit in the summer and a wonderful place to catch a sunset!

Landing site: 47°06’45.4″N 11°18’56.8″E

This large meadow offers free takeoff on two sides. In the morning, there's often a glacier wind or no wind at all, while valley winds tend to come in later in the day. During summer, be cautious of the valley wind. Instead of a left-handed landing, opt for a left/right approach without turning away from the downwind leg. Avoid flying over Neustift village, as strong valley winds may make it difficult to reach the landing site.

Since 2023, you can buy a Flycard at the Elfer lifts (or online), which includes the landing fee.

The landing site is marked in the red rectangle in the image below, with a left-hand landing pattern recommended for valley winds. Notably, it's conveniently close to the parking lot and the valley station of the Elfer lifts.

Valley winds from the northeast, coming from the Inn Valley, allow for soaring at Elfer, especially during the midday hours in summer. Keep in mind that a northeast wind can amplify the valley wind in Stubai. Beginners, in particular, should be cautious and consider flying in the morning when conditions are calmer.

Be cautious during foehn weather conditions, as both strong southern foehn and northern foehn can create turbulent conditions at Elfer. Refer to the Foehn diagram for specific details. It's challenging to distinguish between southern and northern foehn based solely on the pressure difference between Bolzano and Innsbruck.

As a general guideline, when the foehn diagram displays a pressure difference of up to 4 hPa on Patscherkofel, you can anticipate wind speeds of approximately 30-50km/h (southern foehn). In such conditions, flying at Schlick (higher takeoff location) may become less favorable, but Elfer could still be flyable. However, when the pressure difference reaches 6 hPa or more, it often results in very strong winds with gusts exceeding 80 km/h. You might visually spot a foehn wall on the mountain range southeast of Elfer.

Kindly be aware that this information does not serve as an endorsement or recommendation for flying in foehn weather conditions and strong winds. Even with a 4 hPa pressure difference, foehn conditions can lead to highly windy and gusty situations. Exercise extreme caution when considering this information, and please understand that we bear no responsibility for your choices.