Att åka längdskidor i Österrike - skidskola i Vorarlberg

What is it like to cross-country ski in Austria? During this winter trip to Austria, we chose not to go skiing, but to experience winter in other ways. For example, we tried cross-country skiing at a ski school in Schoppernau, in Vorarlberg.

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Cross-country skiing in Austria

Cross-country skiing in Austria is a great alternative to downhill skiing, for example if you want to vary your day - or if different family members have different preferences. Maybe in some families it's like it was in mine (Helena's) when I was growing up - dad, me and my brother liked slalom, while mum enjoyed cross-country skiing best.

When cross-country skiing, you get to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery, and at the same time, cross-country skiing is cruel good exercise for the whole body.

There are, of course, lots of different places to go cross-country skiing in Austria. We stayed in the Bregenzerwald region of Vorarlberg and chose to cross-country ski in Schoppernau, where there is a ski school and many trails to choose from.

Getting ready for cross country skiing in Austria

If you don't have your own equipment for cross-country skiing in Austria, you have to start by renting. We got excellent help from Jürgen in Cross-country skiing school test centre in Schoppernau, which serves as a shop, rental, service centre and cross-country skiing school. He asked about shoe size and weight, and then picked out the appropriate equipment for us.

We have both been cross-country skiers before, but we can say that it was a long time ago. We can also note the progress made in recent decades. Wow, what flexible boots and bindings there are nowadays!

A 2-hour course

In collaboration with Visit Vorarlberg, we took part in a 2-hour course in cross-country skiing. Really good when you haven't skied for a long time, or if you just want to improve your technique! We had to start with some warm-up exercises ...

Then we set off! We went "classic style", as opposed to "skating", which is also popular today. It was a bit wobbly and unsure at first, but we got into it pretty quickly, not least with the help of the teacher who showed rhythm and movements.

We also got to try some different exercises. Among other things, you take off one ski and kick yourself forwards, without poles.

This is what we learnt about cross-country skiing

So, what did we learn about cross-country skiing? Considering that we were unfamiliar, there was some good information. Among other things, the following lessons stuck:

Always bend your knees and lean slightly forwards - never backwards.
Use diagonal technique (switching between the right and left foot in front of the other) when travelling flat or uphill.
Hold the poles backwards (a bit like a ski jumper) or pair walk (walk with both poles parallel) downhill.
Keep clear of the track when stopping, so as not to be in the way of others
Do not wave the sticks at others - they are pointed.
If you fall - bend forward and put your knees on the ground to get back up smoothly.

Cross-country skiing in Austria - ending with a schnapps

After finishing the course, we came back to Jürgen in the shop, who wondered how it went. Then we were offered a small Austrian schnapps. That would never have happened in Sweden, right? Nice atmosphere!

Lunch in Schoppernau

After skiing and a little schnapps, we of course needed lunch. It was a classic schnitzel at Hotel Gasthof Adler in Schoppernau. Good, nice and good service!

Cross-country skiing in Austria - things to consider

So, what do we say about cross-country skiing in Austria? Well, it can certainly be completely fantastic! Of course, you have to check the weather and find a good place where there are plenty of ski tracks. But yes, we can highly recommend this experience!

Remember to dress for a day outdoors in a winter climate, but not too thickly. You get warm when you move!

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Do you want to do more than cross-country skiing in Austria? Among other things, we can recommend making a Culinary winter walk in Austria. Nearby, of course, you can also experience downhill skiing and other winter adventures, such as snowshoeing. Or why not visit Bregenz, located on Lake Constance? Please read all our tips about Vorarlberg here. Below you will find all our tips for Austria.

Have you been cross-country skiing in Austria?

Have you been cross-country skiing in Austria? Do you like cross-country skiing? Do you perhaps ski in Sweden? Please tell us!

Facts about cross-country skiing in Austria

Cross-country skiing in Austria: There are many places for cross-country skiing around Austria. Find out more at Official website of the tourist office.
Cross-country skiing in Bregenzerwald, Vorarlberg: You can read more about all cross-country skiing destinations in the Bregenzerwald at the website of the regional tourist office.

Places for cross-country skiing in Bregenzerwald, Vorarlberg

Au-Schoppernau (50 km of classic tracks and 13 km of skating tracks)
Bezau-Bizau-Reuthe (20 km of classic tracks and 12 km of skating tracks)
Damüls (11 km of classic tracks and 5 km of skating tracks)
Hittisau (50 km of classic tracks and 30 km of skating tracks)
Mellau-Schnepfau (23 km of classic tracks and 20 km of skating tracks)
Riefensberg-Hochhäderich (12 km of classic tracks and 4 km of skating tracks)
Schwarzenberg (9 km of classic tracks)
Sibratgfäll (22 km of classic tracks)
Sulzberg (20 km of classic tracks and 20 km of skating tracks)
Warth skirts (14 km of classic tracks and 4 km of skating tracks)

5 Comments

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Annar Aas says:

Have only gone downhill in Austria, but in Funäsdalen we went cross-country skiing for several years. Ended with the market in Röros, we can really recommend it, third week of February every year. Thank you for nice stories.

26 January 2023 - 11:04

Ditte says:

Glad you tried it.
Have tried it in Austria and Italy. Nice in itself but here I prefer to go downhill. Would not perhaps go here for the cross-country skiing itself.

26 January 2023 - 12:47

BP says:

I have tried cross-country skiing once in Zermatt, Switzerland. It was not my thing, because you had to "work" way too much and got sweaty way too easily. No risk of that when driving downhill;-)

26 January 2023 - 19:12

JoY says:

Cross-country skiing is bad for us, it's been a very long time since we did it. But I remember that it was wonderful to go through the forest and difficult to brake in the turns when it went downhill.
Do you have to pay to use the tracks, as is the case in some places in Switzerland?

26 January 2023 - 23:02

Ruth Tatlock says:

When I was a kid, you got skis as soon as you could stand and walk...
Just stick the toe of your shoe into a strip of leather and you're on your way. - In the winter, we skied to school in my small home town.
There were no school buses. - The first time I went downhill was in Squaw.
Valley, California. Didn't have any slalom skis, so it was a little bit tricky to
manoeuvre cross-country skis on steep slopes, but it was possible, because I now understood how important it was to know how to fall with skis on.
feet. I just LOVED skiing in the woods at home... And what exercise - arms and legs and abs; everything is used.

27 January 2023 - 14:27

Cross-country skiing in Austria - ski school in Vorarlberg

Cross-country skiing in Austria

Getting ready for cross country skiing in Austria

A 2-hour course

This is what we learnt about cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing in Austria - ending with a schnapps

Lunch in Schoppernau

Cross-country skiing in Austria - things to consider

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Have you been cross-country skiing in Austria?

Facts about cross-country skiing in Austria

Places for cross-country skiing in Bregenzerwald, Vorarlberg

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