Great skiing in the Alps

Yesterday we experienced our very first day of skiing in the Alps. ever. Wow, what an experience! We've seen the amazing view from one of the peaks, got sunburnt, got a workout, eaten goulash soup and drank beer in the sun - and I've challenged my fear of riding a cable car!

Table of contents

A cautious start

Do you dare to venture into the Alps when you haven't stood on a pair of slalom skis for eight years? I used to ski quite a lot when I was younger, but that was a long time ago, and Peter has almost only done short trick skiing. Our friends Lennart and Beata haven't skied in a while either. Lennart has done a lot of skiing in the past - but Beata has hardly stood on a pair of skis at all!

We decided to start the first day on the very nearest slopes here in Neudorf in Reith. From our hotel Pirchner Hof it is an 800 metre walk to the first lift system, where there is also a nice family slope. When you want top-notch skiing, take a 15-minute bus ride to Alpbachtal instead - and that's what we plan to do today!

Kyrka Österrike — Nice walk to the lift system

Barer Österrike — On the way through the village you pass several bars - this one with a, hmmm, well-equipped guard.

Long and short skis

So how did this small group of "semi-experienced" skiers fare? Lennart and I rented regular skis, and Peter and Beata rented short trick skis - which are a bit quicker to learn to ski on.

If you really want to learn how to ski, you should of course invest in real skis, but if you only have three days and want to enjoy yourself a bit too, this could be a solution. Otherwise, the point of these short skis is to be able to do various playful tricks on the ski slope.

Then we simply started with the button lift up the family hill. Nice start for me (who is nervous about seat and cabin lifts haha) and for Beata, who has hardly skied before.

Trickskidor — My skis (left) and Peter's skis (right)

Hyra skidor — Peter gets help trying on the right size of ski boots

READ MORE: Skiing in Alpbachtal in Austria
READ MORE: Skiing holidays in Austria - snow, gluhwein and dumplings!

Up to the top - with a cabin lift

When we did a few warm-up rounds in the family slope, we naturally wanted to get to the top! At least me, Peter and Lennart - Beata chose to continue practising in the family hill. I am really afraid of heights, but I knew it's just a matter of biting the bullet. I can't say that I like riding a bit above the ground, but I must admit that it was both comfortable and easy to get on and off.

And then we were finally at the top! Wow! We really understand why people think the Alps are amazing. Sun, wonderful views and a long, long slope down in softly packed snow. Both Peter and I were completely exhausted, but apart from that, it was absolutely fantastic.

Kabinlift — I am not entirely comfortable with high altitudes ...

Äntligen uppe på toppen! Redo för härlig skidåkning i Alperna! — Finally at the top! Ready for great skiing in the Alps!

Skiing in the Alps and fun in the sun

After a few runs on the slopes, you deserve a beer and a goulash soup in the sun. Even though it's cold, you don't freeze and it's great to sit outside like this. We must say that we are very happy with our first day of skiing in the Alps. Today we will take the bus to the bigger lift systems and slopes in Alpbachtal. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Alperna Österrike — Nothing wrong with a beer in the sun!

Helena

07 January 2017 6:00

Austria

skiing, sport

Helena

Administrator

25 Comments

Add yours →

Henny says:

And you deliver as usual. I am impressed. Looks really nice. Just remember to skip the "one last run". That's when the accident happens. You don't have TIME to break arms or legs, do you?

07 January 2017 - 6:35

Reply
Mr Steve says:

What an amazingly powerful environment. The first picture tells me not to "mess" with the mountains. Wise to start in the family hill to get into the ride. Keep up the good work!

07 January 2017 - 7:08

Reply
Inga Magnusson says:

Incredibly beautiful pictures! Alpine landscapes really offer beautiful views, they make great backgrounds. I am not well travelled but have been to Austria on a couple of occasions in my life. Nice country with a lot of beautiful things to see both of nature and culture, also friendly treatment.

07 January 2017 - 7:19

Reply
Comment by post author

admin says:

Henny, yes the "one last ride" is a classic ... I'll try to think about it!

Steve, yes it felt good to start gently and "feel" the skis! Today it will be interesting to see the larger parts of this ski resort! 🙂

Inga M, glad you have been to Austria and many who comment mention the friendly treatment. We must agree that everyone we have met so far has been very happy and nice, and the staff is service-minded! And yes, it is beautiful!!!

07 January 2017 - 7:34

Reply
Matts Torebring says:

How nice that you have the sun! It is the sun, the view of the mountain peaks, that makes it all fun. Lunch at the top, sitting outside, gives even more flavour. It costs money to ride the kilometre-long slopes.

Now you have to take some time out with the blog for a couple of days, so you can enjoy yourself. But that's probably not possible. I know how much fun it is to take photos, write and tell stories when you're having fun.

07 January 2017 - 7:44

Reply
Comment by post author

admin says:

Matts, we've heard that they very often have sun here - even when it's not sunny in Innsbruck. And I really agree, the sun and the weather do a lot for the experience! Incidentally, we are here as travel bloggers and, as I said, we are conducting the trip in collaboration with the Austrian Tourist Office, so stopping blogging suddenly does not work 😉 In addition, it is just as you say, when you experience this much every day, you WANT to tell on the blog! 🙂

07 January 2017 - 9:08

Reply
Åse says:

Looks lovely, there's not much that beats sun, skiing and a warming goulash soup that's the stuff 🙂 Åse

07 January 2017 - 9:09

Reply
LinizTravel says:

Wow wonderful!!!! Enjoy!!! Now we are on our way! Hugs

07 January 2017 - 9:11

Reply
Camilla says:

Oh! Painfully wonderful to share your experiences in the Alps! We greet you from Sälen's small slopes 🙂.

07 January 2017 - 9:35

Reply
Ditte says:

Perfect! And nothing beats skiing in the Alps! Great pictures!
Glad you got to the top and then were able to stand on the bottom. The descents look fairly gentle and that is good if you are not so experienced.
A couple of private rentals are usually a good way to get started if you haven't travelled for a while.
Wishing you the best today with a supported lift system and more slopes to choose from.
It's great that you were able to avoid yourself in the cabin and the best way to get rid of a fear is to expose yourself to what you find scary.
Well done!
And I'm jealous! Big time!

07 January 2017 - 9:50

Reply
Ama de casa says:

Looks really nice! Well done for challenging your fear of heights and getting a little higher in the system 🙂.

After a day on the slopes, you are quite tired and have really earned an après-ski 😀.

Have a continued great time at the top!

07 January 2017 - 10:19

Reply
Goatfish says:

And I am enjoying the computer screen 😀 what lovely pictures you deliver and the story, wow.
Best advert! 😀
Great stuff ♥

07 January 2017 - 10:31

Reply
Across the board says:

Although I am no longer a skier, it looks incredibly wonderful, so wonderful that there is actually a liiiite desire to feel the nice feeling again when you rush down the slope. Have it still wonderful

07 January 2017 - 11:33

Reply
Role o Carina says:

Looks absolutely wonderful down there in the Alps!
Imagine how much skiing you've done in your days 🙂

Now they have been shelved...:-)

Have fun and enjoy yourself there......

07 January 2017 - 13:06

Reply
BP says:

What did I say?;-) Even the family hill is probably longer than most descents in the mountains;-) Very wise to start with an easy hill to "get warm" in the clothes - I mean on the skis. Then you had surely ordered sunny weather, which you got! Perfect!
Have a nice day today too. Oh don't forget to drink a glühwein, which is perfect for training pain... too;-)

07 January 2017 - 15:36

Reply
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Looks great snow and sun in the place where it should be. Scary with the cable car, but at least it was a good picture of you Helena.

07 January 2017 - 15:41

Reply
pilla says:

Looks insanely lovely! I must visit the Alps in winter. Keep enjoying!

07 January 2017 - 16:39

Reply
Lena says:

There you go, not wrong to cure the cabin-height-horror. Sun, food, views and friends also not wrong on the trip, have a good time! Do not count on training pain ;-/

07 January 2017 - 16:42

Reply
Husis blog says:

Looks to be lovely slopes, nice weather and just the right amount of people.
Quite simply, it looks wonderful!

07 January 2017 - 17:26

Reply
gun says:

Lovely pictures!!! Gets a longing down there even though I can't ski anymore.
Enjoy the sun...
gun

07 January 2017 - 18:56

Reply
Åke Hammarbäck says:

Good luck with skiing and Alpine fun! Enjoy your new adventure in winter sports!
Greetings from the ski slopes in Åre.
Åke

07 January 2017 - 19:01

Reply
Comment by post author

admin says:

Åse, can only agree! 🙂

Liniztravel, wishing you a wonderful trip!!!

Camilla, I'm sure you have a great time in Sälen too! Hugs

Ditte, we choose blue and red descents! There are black ones as well, but they're a bit too tough for us 😉 And yes, I was set on doing the cabin lift, so I just had to grit my teeth (and not look down) 😉.

Ama de casa, yes indeed you get tender!!! And thank you, the cabin lift was a challenge for a person afraid of heights like me 😉.

Geddfish, glad you like our pictures and stories! 🙂

Across the board, isn't it? And so it is wonderful to be in this environment! 🙂

Rolle and Carina, we have a great time! Glad that you skied a lot! 🙂

BP, we have noticed that the hills are low 🙂 And yes, it was nice to start calmly!

Nils-Åke, haha, yes Peter took the opportunity to take photos! As "revenge" I will publish a picture of him when he falls tomorrow 😉.

Pilla, yes, go to the Alps in winter! Wonderful! 🙂

Lena, the best way to cure fear is to challenge it!

Husisblogg, yes it is actually quite a lot of people. Not a lot of lift queues or so. Maybe not the biggest high season yet.

Gun, just being in this environment is wonderful!

Åke, thank you! And hope you have a great time in Åre!!!

07 January 2017 - 21:46

Reply
Mrs Anne-Marie says:

I have only skied slalom for a few days many, many years ago. Managed to avoid serious falls but remember my knees hurting.
Looks amazingly beautiful there on the slopes.

08 January 2017 - 3:25

Reply
Imelda says:

Looks really super cosy!

08 January 2017 - 8:15

Reply
Comment by post author

admin says:

Anne-Marie, it's easy to get a little pain somewhere if you're not used to it. Peter has felt it in his thighs and I in my calves. It's probably a matter of habit! 😉

Imelda, really lovely! 🙂

08 January 2017 - 9:21

Reply

1 Pingback

Skiing in Alpbachtal in Austria | FREEDOMtravel - travel blog with daily news

Great skiing in the Alps

A cautious start

Long and short skis

Up to the top - with a cabin lift

Skiing in the Alps and fun in the sun

You might also like:

Subscribe to our newsletter

25 Comments

Henny says:

Mr Steve says:

Inga Magnusson says:

admin says:

Matts Torebring says:

admin says:

Åse says:

LinizTravel says:

Camilla says:

Ditte says:

Ama de casa says:

Goatfish says:

Across the board says:

Role o Carina says:

BP says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

pilla says:

Lena says:

Husis blog says:

gun says:

Åke Hammarbäck says:

admin says:

Mrs Anne-Marie says:

Imelda says:

admin says:

1 Pingback

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

ABOUT FREEDOMtravel

CONTACT US

Social media and newsletters

SEARCH AND FIND ON FREEDOMTRAVEL

Categories

Archive