Boutique-Hotel Schmelzhof in Lech am Arlberg | Ski Club Arlberg

Ski Club Arlberg – a legend

Founded in 1901

Just at the beginning of the 20th century 8 enthusiastic and high motivated people founded the Skiclub Arlberg:

“Delighted by nature, enthusiastic about the sport, feeling the necessity to make the Arlberg a meeting point for all friends of this noble pleasure, the trippers, who felt persuaded to found the Skiclub Arlberg “ex tempore”!”

St. Christoph, the 3rd of January 1901

Olympic Winners and World Champions

Back then no one knew what impact this step would have for the sport of skiing globally. Members of the Arlberg ski club have made a considerable contribution to the development of skiing since its founding in 1901, and as ambassadors of the Arlberg they have played an important role in the evolution of ski sports and overall enjoyment of skiing throughout the world.
The history of the Arlberg ski club is also the story of ski racing. No other ski club in the world has been more successful at Olympic Games and World Cup events, with some of the greats including; Trude Jochum Beiser, Ottmar Schneider, Egon Zimmermann, Karl Schranz, Patrick Örtlieb or Mario Matt remaining unforgettable.

Innovative technology

It is not just ski racing alone, but also the constant development of skiing technology and skiing equipment technology that owe much to the contribution of the SCA. Some 50 patents alone in skiing technology originate from Arlberg, of which most were taken out by SCA members. Times change and whoever aims for success must adapt to these changes. The SCA today is a modern organisation with some 9,000 members in 60 nations around the world, having proved that it has conquered its objective over more than 100 years.

Maintaining tradition and forging the future

It is still a very great distinction for many to be a member of the Ski Club Arlberg. The fact that this continues to be so is the responsibility of the many active SCA members. By carefully nurturing the historical aspects, highly committed and professional work with young people and working on the SCA brand, they assure the continuing existence and future development. A delight in nature and enthusiasm for the legendary Ski Club Arlberg!

S K I C L U B A R L B E R G S T O R I E S

Martin Strolz – 70 years ago

In 1954 in Åre (Sweden) Martin Strolz became the runner-up World Champion in downhill skiing wearing his own ski boots, just like his friends and Olympic champions Othmar Schneider and Egon Zimmermann.

Afterwards, he became a test pilot and product developer for Strolz ski boots. In the beginning, three generations collaborated: the founder Ambros Strolz, the racer Martin Strolz, and the young Hannes. The handmade boots were of the highest quality and the finest leather. In 1970, Martin developed his own synthetic hard-shell boots – the Competition model with a foam-fit inner boot was born. After the separation from Sporthaus Strolz and Strolz ski boots in 2021, the brand continues on as the renewed brand Hannes Strolz.

A collaboration between the two tradition brands from Arlberg – in memoriam Martin Strolz – resulted in the development of a Hannes Strolz ski boot for Ski Club Arlberg. Of course in the colors of SCA and exclusively available for Ski Club Arlberg members.

In the winter of 2023, Robert Strolz was a test pilot for the SCA Hannes Strolz ski boots, showcasing all their outstanding features, including an elegant slip on and slip of experience – ViVa.

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Photography: Franziska Strolz

T H E S K I C L U B A R L B E R G I N T H E S C H M E L Z H O F

Impressions Winter 2023

The ski club flag flies in front of the Schmelzhof as a sign of our deep connection with the SCA. In the Schmelzhof, we celebrate the admission of new members and honour long-standing members. We are happy to share a few impressions of the ski club winter 2023 …