From Canada to Stubai: mountain guide championships in the spirit of friendship
Kaunertal, April 2025 - Half a century of camaraderie, alpine skills and living tradition: the 50th International Mountain Guide Championships took place in the Kaunertal glacier region from April 25 to 27, 2025 - a special anniversary in a place steeped in history. Exactly 40 years after it was first held, the event returned to the place where it had already brought together mountain guides from all over the world in 1985. Around 150 participants from more than ten nations accepted the invitation from the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations - including 89-year-old Stubai mountain guide Josef Gleirscher, who is still passionate about alpine terrain to this day.
It was no coincidence that the anniversary took place in the Kaunertal of all places. With over 80 three-thousand-metre peaks and the Gepatschferner - the largest continuous glacier in the Eastern Alps - the valley is considered the cradle of alpinism in Tyrol. As early as the 1920s, local mountain guides accompanied the first guests to the surrounding peaks. This long tradition was impressively honored at this year's championships.
Competition with heart
“Actually, the term mountain guide championships is almost an exaggeration,” said Hampi Schoop from the organizing committee with a wink. “Of course there was a ski race - but the focus was on the reunion between professional colleagues.”The oldest participant in the ski competitions was 89-year-old Josef Gleirscher from the Stubai Valley. Brandi Eiter, who had come all the way from Canada, had a particularly long journey.Austrian World Cup skier Simon Ruheland took part in the event as a forerunner, with the “Wildspitz Group” from the Pitztal and Ötztal valleys coming out on top in the team competition.
Entry of the mountain guides in Feichten - sporting competitions on the glacier
The ceremonial entry of the mountain guides in their traditional costumes, accompanied by the Kaunertal music band, was also a moving highlight in 2025 - open to all guests and visitors. There was plenty of sporting action on the glacier with giant slalom and ski competitions. Guided ski tours, group descents and freeride excursions were already on the program the day before. After the race, the finish area was an inviting place to socialize before the day came to an end with a festive gala dinner and award ceremony - as usual until late into the night. The festive finale was the traditional church service in the Kaltenbrunn pilgrimage church.
Tradition meets the future
A highlight away from the slopes was a visit to the newly renovated Gepatschhaus, Austria's oldest Alpine Club hut, which will be officially reopened later this year. The championships impressively demonstrated that alpinism in the Kaunertal is not only rooted in tourism, but also promotes a deep understanding of sustainable nature tourism. The Kaunertal was recently the first Austrian destination to be awarded the UNWTO “Best Tourism Villages” seal - a recognition of the conscious, respectful treatment of the Alpine landscape.
Anniversary book & exhibition by Martin Frey
To accompany the anniversary, the book “Mountain Guiding in the Kaunertal - A History of Courage, Skill and Community” by author Martin Frey was published, which sheds light on the development of mountain guiding in the valley. It was complemented by an exhibition in the Quellalpin, which offers a vivid insight into the changes and importance of the profession over the decades.
The 50th International Mountain Guide Championships 2025 in the Kaunertal were far more than just a sporting competition. They were an intergenerational, international celebration of community - open to everyone who feels connected to the mountains.
