The mountain biking season is finally here! As with every other sport, it is important to prepare your body for the stresses and strains specific to mountain biking. As well as good overall cardiovascular fitness, riders need strong legs to push the pedals uphill as well as a strong upper body to deal with tricky descents and keep control of the bike through tight corners.Roland Luchner, coach at the Innsbruck Olympic Centre shows you five exercises to get you fit for mountain biking. Let’s get started!

Our author used to love hiking, but since an accident she has had a fear of the mountains. Now she's keen to get back on the trails – and rediscover part of her old self.

Hiking is a sport open to everyone, but after a long walk in the mountains you may well find yourself with tired legs. That’s why good cardiovascular fitness as well as strong muscles are important. These also help keep you safe when negotiating rough terrain and make walking and hiking a more relaxing and pleasant experience.

As varied as the rich flora and fauna of Tirol, it can be interesting to consider the various inclinations and preferences that make us all unique, especially outdoorsmen. People approach hiking differently and people hike for all manner of different reasons, but I have started to notice some broad groups that account for most hiking styles. There are those seeking solitude and there are those who want to push the limits. There are those who want to capture pictures of that perfect moment and there are those who want nothing more than enjoying delectable dishes served on quaint on-mountain eateries. Naturally, there are many exceptions but I’ve found these seem to capture most hikers I’ve come across. What do you think?

Winter may be winding down, but there are still many reasons to get out on your skis and snowboard this time of the year. Spring brings warmer temperatures, more fun and sunshine galore. Don’t put those skis or snowboard away just yet! Here are twelve reasons we love spring skiing and snowboarding. Hello, spring ;-)

The beauty of snowshoeing comes from its simplicity—just strap in and go! I discovered this gentle winter activity last year and find it’s a perfect alternative to Alpine skiing. Do you want to traipse through deep powder in the backcountry, scaling peaks, or is a snowshoe run on packed trails followed by sledding down more your style? Or maybe, it’s somewhere in the middle where you’d like to snowshoe through a peaceful forest, connecting with the Zen of nature. For your snowshoeing pleasure in Tirol here are eight highly recommended trails.

One decision to make when you first start cross-country skiing is whether you want to classic ski, skate ski, or learn both at the same time. Martin Tauber, cross-country ski pro and four-time Austrian national champion, breaks the two cross-country skiing techniques down into easy understandable parts. Learning how to cross-country ski is a great way to find a fun activity that keeps you healthy and in good spirits over the winter. If you’ve never skied before we’ll show you just how easy Nordic skiing is, and if you have skied before you might pick up a few tips and tricks too.

Skiing is a great sport for lots of reasons. Some skiers like staying fit on the slopes, while others search for the ultimate adrenaline kick. Families enjoy spending time together in the fresh air, foodies complete a few runs in the morning before settling down to a long lunch. We have put together twelve unforgettable skiing experiences in Tirol, with something for everyone.

Nikolaus Niedermoser from the Neustift Ski School in the Stubai Valley provides lots of handy tips on improving your skiing technique in his YouTube video series. This blog post sums up Nik's most important pieces of advice. The fascinating thing about skiing for me is that I always learn something new every year. Short turns, carved turns, skiing switch, hitting the kickers in the park or cruising the backcountry powder - whatever you are into, the right technique makes skiing more fun. Check out the following tips and tricks from a long-time ski instructor.