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My Kitzbühel ski lessons put me on some of the best slopes in the world; my introduction to the sport took me right into the heart of the Kitzbüheler Alpen in Tirol, Austria.
“Swing the bar across!” Tini shouts over and over from the chair ahead as I scramble at my first attempt on a ski lift. It was one of the first memories from my Kitzbühel ski lessons as I prepared to learn how to ski in Austria’s famed Tirol region.
My safety bar has been open a few seconds too long as the chair gently eases its way up the slopes in Tirol’s St. Johann. I’m alone on this simple apparatus, clutching my heavy skis for dear life while trying to work out where to place my arms and legs and lock myself in.
Despite instruction, the ski lift seems like a daunting machine as you master the bars and foot placement, and all its metal angles and wobbles. My instructor is the kind of woman who would push you on it if she had to, her dry humour and infectious laughter engulfing you in a hilarious baptism of ski lesson fire. She knew that making a pro out of me would mean not holding my hand, and that also meant not scratching the surface of this sport on a flat patch of land at the very bottom of the mountain, as many resorts would usually suggest doing.
Instead, I would get to see much of what lies up ahead in this landscape I’ve come to call the ‘Narnia of Europe’, and the ski lift journey was only the teaser to a day of tumbles and funny mishaps on my ski journey.
Taking Kitzbühel Ski Lessons. Why Choose Tirol, Austria?
If I was going to learn how to ski, it had to be in Austria. More specifically here in Kitzbühel in Tirol, on what is considered some of the best slopes in the world.
Here I was, back in the beautiful Kitzbüheler Alpen region, where I had previously spent a very adventurous summer – in winter, home to two of Austria’s largest ski areas that rate among the top ten globally.
St. Johann in Tirol, a new location on for my second visit, is located at the centre of this vast area that stretches to Salzburg, and it’s 42km of slopes are known as an ideal spot for beginners.
“What did I tell you about which way to hold your skis?” Tini remarks with a cheeky grin as soon as I am off the lift, trudging haphazardly over the crunchy snow as others are gracefully swooping off, before rounding the corner to start their descent. She taught us the correct way to balance the skis over your shoulder, with the curved front edge facing forward and the heal-binding on your shoulder. I’m an amateur.
“Remember, you won’t look like a beginner if you carry them the right way.”
We were taken to a spot with a gentle incline, next to a traditional Austrian hut. It was calming and beautifully still – a patch of sugary white-coated space that belonged to us almost exclusively for those two short hours before a sporadic run of colourful bodies glided down for their hearty lunch.
The slope wasn’t large, but I knew that I wanted to be halfway up it and gracefully descending by the end of my two-hour lesson. We were taught how to clip in and out of our skis and how to balance. Why these things seem small, they are essential before starting the real workout – climbing up the slope sideways, cutting the bottom ski in the snow at an angle to ensure you had a grip while inching up.
It was Tini’s sole purpose for us to achieve one main goal, aside from having fun – to make the shape of an A with our skis. In essence, we needed to learn how to stop. For that, we had to glide towards her, knowing that we would get a maternal hug for our efforts (rather than knock her over).
“Up again!” you hear after joyous high fives. There are no excuses, for laziness does not make an athlete. It’s painful and wearing, but you have to mentally push yourself, knowing that the fun part is getting back down.
Tini forms a makeshift finish line with her sticks and asks me to stop dead on them with my plough (the ‘A’) on my way down. I’m getting good now, and I need to up the ante. Yet, I fail many times and glide past, still happy I was moving at speed.
“Good, but you didn’t stop on the line. Up! Up!” She points in the direction of the hill; an indicator to begin another climb, while my friend Erik glides down and is continuously told, “Where was your A?” He begins his next ascent as I poise myself to fly down, sticks out to the side, like a slalom skier ready for a quick turn.
Aim high.
Then it suddenly all clicks. The initial falls and tumbles at the beginning are forgotten about now that I acquired the balance, control, and the basic technique. It’s now all combined with the thrill of cutting through a small patch of land. I climbed and glided over and over until I no longer made any mistakes.
The two hours came to a close, and I asked Tini how long it would take me before I could go and play with the bigger kids out there. She had landed herself quite the over-achiever who was already feeling very left out.
Being told that, with a private instructor and another full day of lessons (two sets of two-hour slots) I should be straight on the ‘blue slopes’, was a dream. For someone who had only had snowboarding lessons in Mont Tremblant (and failed) and who has so desperately wanted to experience the thrill of winter sports for many years, I couldn’t have been happier.
“Tini, so can I go higher now?” I said with a huge grin, knowing I was pushing the boundaries and brimming with confidence. I’d always asked if I go as far as the blue flag pole in the distance at the start of every climb like it was the winning line.
She had always said no. Not now. Not yet.
“You can go as high as you like,” she finally said. “Because I know that you can get down here with no problem at all.”
The blue pole was much further than I had anticipated, and I climbed as high as I could without exhausting myself, calling out to her to watch, like a child needing a mother’s validation of a new skill.
All I’ve ever wanted was to explore a mountain just like this, and while I had to take the scenic ski lift ride down, I watched the swerving dots of colour whoosh through the stunning landscape, sprinkled with flag markers, trees and pretty wooden huts.
“That will be me next year,” I keep telling myself, over and over.
The Kitzbuheler Alpen was my new winter playground; Austria my new crazy love affair.
And I will do it all over again, even if I have to wait another year.
Kitzbühel Ski Lessons and Skiing in Kitzbülher Alpen
Where to Ski in Austria: The Kitzbulher Alpen, with over 1,000km of slopes, covers the four regions of Brixental, St.Johann in Tirol, Hohe Salve and Pullersee Tal in the Kitzbuhel area, including 20 traditional Tyrolean villages. St Johann is in the middle, with readily accessible train and bus links to surrounding areas.
Kitzbühel Ski Lessons: Prices for a day ski pass start from 22 euros per day, rising to 46 euros in the low season and 51 Euros in high season, depending on the size of the area. The smallest is in St. Johann, hence being ideal for beginners and the place to take ski lessons.
An All Star card covers all areas; choose from three types of ski pass.
Where to stay in Tirol, Austria: I stayed in the adeo Alpin hotel in St. Johann, a budget offering recently established by famous Austrian skiers Hermann Maier and Rainer Schönfelder, making low-priced skiing holidays accessible to all.
Preparing for skiing: Kitting yourself out for ski adventures can be just as daunting as heading out of the big slopes to learn. How many layers? Check out my guide on ski clothing for beginners, which includes stylish, great-fitting, matching gear – a handy bundle without the hefty price tag.
For further information about the region and to plan your ski trip in the infamous Austrian Alps, visit the Kitzbüheler Alpen website.
Want to Learn to Ski in Tirol? Pin It!
Many thanks to Austrian photographer, Chris Wisser for the action shots.
Editorial Disclosure – The #InAustria blog trip was created and managed by iambassador in association with the Austrian National Tourist Office, Tirol Tourist Board and the Kitzbüheler Alpen Marketing GmbH. Borders of Adventure maintains full editorial control of the content published on the site.
Ellie says
Great article on learning a great new hobby! I organize trips each year and have friends that are complete beginners and absolutely love it when they take to it as positively as you seem to have done!!
Mela says
As already said: I’m so proud of you, you did great!
Becki says
Thank you, dear Mela. It feels good! Roll on next winter! 🙂
Geoff says
What a beautifully worded story you have shared. I worked as a ski instructor in St Johann for a couple of years so could really tune into your experience. Loving life!
I now teach one village down, in Kirchdorf, the smallest hill in the Kitz Alps. What we miss in size we make up with warmth and hospitality 🙂 please come visit next time you are here.
Geoff
Becki says
Thanks Geoff. I will be sure to visit Kirchdorf one day for sure! I’m excited about coming back to the Kitz Alps!