Back on Skis

Most of the roughly 80 ski resorts in Tirol do, of course, have special beginners' areas with gentle slopes as well as ski schools and equipment hire shops. But it is nevertheless a good idea to inform yourself about your prospective destination in advance. After all, small and quiet areas often provide the best conditions for those learning to ski for the first time or returning to the sport after a while away. Here are some of our top tips.

• The Hochzeiger ski resort in the village of Jerzens in the Pitztal Valley offers special deals for beginners. These packages include everything you need for a great time on the slopes: accommodation, lift pass, equipment hire and either ski lessons in small groups or one-on-one private tuition. Not enjoying yourself? No problem! The lessons or tuition can be terminated at any time and the unused days of ski school, lift pass and equipment hire will be reimbursed, leaving you free to explore alterntive winter activities in the region.
• The Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau ski resort offers a Ski Comeback Package. This includes accommodation, a private ski instructor, a lift pass and equipment hire. On top of that there is also the Wildschönau Card with lots of great extras such as use of indoor swimming pools and snowshoe hikes.

Learning or relearning the right skiing technique only takes a few hours with one of the 7,000 experienced wintersports instructors in Tirol. Not only children but also adults will find it easy to carry out basic exercises such as the snowplough position and skiing around cones. The region's professional instructors have plenty of great tips and tricks to make beginners and those returning to the sport feel relaxed and comfortable on two skis.

Of course, having fun is one of the most important elements of skiing. Instructors have lots of ideas on how to incorporate different games and challenges into the lesson, taking into account the progress and ability of each individual skier. They also know the respective resort like the back of their hand. That means they can select the right slope for the right group at the right time, as well as knowing if or when a group is ready to move on to a longer or steeper descent. Some resorts such as Skigebiet Hochzeiger in the Pitztal Valley have a special practise area for adult beginners. Set away from the rest of the slopes, this is the ideal place for an enjoyable and relaxing experience on the snow. Modern techniques such as video analysis are also used by the resort's instructors on request.

Visitors coming to Tirol to go skiing need not worry about their equipment. All the things they need can be hired or bought in the resorts. Tips and advice on the best wintersports equipment for your needs are available from instructors, ski schools and shop staff.

The first thing to get right when skiing is your clothing. Here is is really worth investing in quality material that will last you several seasons. It should be warm and functional as well as windproof and waterproof. Good wintersports clothing can also be used for tobogganing, snowshoeing and winter hiking, so those who enjoy being out and about in nature during the winter months should make sure they have salopettes, a ski jacket, ski underwear, ski socks, a functional pullover and gloves. The outfit is rounded off, of course, by a helmet. These can also be hired in the resort.

The key equipment – skis, boots and poles – can be hired quickly and easily from one of the rental shops in the ski resort. That saves you having to drag around the equipment, costs less and guarantees that you will have the latest gear in top condition every winter. The ski schools in St. Johann in Tirol offer a special service which involves your personal skiing instructor coming along with you to the hire shop and helping you to choose the right equipment for your needs. Those thinking about purchasing their own equipment should talk to a member of staff in a sports shop. They have many years of experience in finding the right equipment for skiers of all ages and abilities, so they will know exactly the right model, length and ski shape for you. Beginners often start out with a relatively short ski that is easy to turn.

Last but not least, do not underestimate the sun's radiation in the mountains. It may be cold out on the slopes, but the sun is very strong. Therefore skiers should make sure they have sunglasses, suncream and lip protection with them at all times.

Skiing is not just a fantastic way of experiencing nature but also a great way to stay physically and mentally fit. Benefits include a reduced risk of heart attack. Remember: it's never too late to (re)start on the slopes. Good ways of preparing your body for skiing are sports such as running, cycling and gymnastics. These increase your fitness and reduce the risk of injury. Check out our five exercises to get fit for the next winter. It is also a good idea to warm up and stretch your muscles immediately before you hit the slopes. At first it is best to ski just short runs with regular pauses. As you get fitter and more confident, you can begin to ski a little further each time.

The 10 FIS rules of conduct on the slopes apply to all skiers and snowboarders. They help to keep everyone safe on the slopes. Beginners and those who are getting back into skiing after a while away should know these rules before taking to the slopes.