Cross-country skiing holidays

In 2011 we will be running two cross-country skiing weeks in Austria. We provide first rate instruction and you do the logistics (with our help, see below). The weeks both coincide with ski marathons which you can do if you'd like an extra challenge. Last year most people did the races, with others using the weeks as preparation for other races later in the season.

Go to - HOCHFILZEN, 5th-14th February 2011

OBERTILLIACH 2011: 9th - 17th January
SKI INSTRUCTION + PUSTERTALER SKI MARATHON

Pictures from Seefeld trip - Cross-country skis

In 2010 we had our first trip to Obertilliach, one of Austria's main centres for biathlon (skiing and shooting) in the beautiful Dolomites. It was a great success, and we are heading back in 2011 for another week of skiing and instruction.

As with last year, our priority is to offer the instruction: you can book flights and accommodation in Obertilliach. We will also arrange the transfer from Salzburg airport to Obertilliach and back, and transport to the races. Doing it this way means we can offer a much better value trip, and you can choose from a variety of accommodation options.

The plan in brief

The week will incorporate first class ski instruction in classic and skating technique, many miles of skiing and a chance to take part in the Pustertaler Ski Marathon.

The coach

The week will be led by Alan Eason, one of the UK's leading cross-country ski instructors and a former British cross-country ski champion. Alan is head instructor at Australia's largest cross-country ski resort, Lake Mountain, and has taken part in FIS Cross-Country Ski World Championships and many ski marathons.

The standard

The week is aimed at both experienced skiers with good fitness, and beginners who are very fit and well prepared on rollerskis. An interest in racing on snow is essential, and if you have any doubts about the trip's suitability let us know, we can advise.

If you are preparing for the Vasaloppet or other longer ski races later in the season, this will be an ideal week of training, and will fit in well with rollerski training.

The venue

Obertilliach is a village in Austria's Osttirol, not far from the Italian border and 40 minutes from the popular skiing town of Dobiacco. It has become a favourite training area for biathletes due to its snow record, and in recent years has developed some excellent tracks and a first rate shooting range, which has enabled it host IBU Cup biathlon races.

Obertilliach is also renowned for its rustic charm: most of the houses are made from wood and there are some excellent cafes, hotels and an all-important bakery. The tracks are close to the accommodation and there is a wide range of skating and classic trails. Apart from the biathlon, Obertilliach hosts the classic version of the Dolomitenlauf ski marathon and is used by top cross-country skiers and biathletes (Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen is a resident).

Logistics & planning

  • Arr: Saturday 8th January, Dep: Monday 17th January;
  • Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Dobiacco, Italy. See - www.ski-marathon.com
    • Saturday 15th January, 10am: 28km Skating
    • Sunday 16th January, 10am: 42k Classic
    • Race entry EUR32 for each race, EUR55 for both races if entered before 31/12/10 - see here (you may choose which races to do).
  • Suggested flights to and from Salzburg Airport, book at www.ba.com -
    • Sat 8th Jan: Dep London Gatwick 09:45, Arr Salzburg 12:40, BA2652
    • Mon 17th Jan: Dep Salzburg 13:30, Arr London Gatwick 14:30, BA2653
  • Recommended hotel: Hotel Gasthof Unterwoger (4 Star hotel, half board from EUR61pp). A very nice hotel in the centre of the village.
  • Recommended budget accommodation: self catering apartments available for roughly EUR20 per night per person. Contact Obertilliach tourist office (or Alan) -
  • More general information on Obertilliach, 1450m here
  • Info on Obertilliach Biathlon Centre / cafe here
  • Transfers & travel to races - we will use local bus company for transfers to and from the airport and races. Last year this was in total £50pp, and should be about the same this year, depending on numbers
  • Good value quality ski hire is available locally

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Training & instruction

  • The week will start with the fundamentals of classic and skating. Each day the lessons will be broken down into small and simple steps which produce a greater level of progress in classic and skating. The programme for the week will be structured to each person's needs, and what they would like to improve on.
  • A few days before the race there will be a trip to the race location to ski parts of the course, test skis and wax, go shopping and relax.
  • We are also able to have a go at biathlon in Obertilliach, and this can be arranged at any time during the week. [Alan to confirm cost].
  • Each day there will be two training / instruction blocks, classic and skate and in the evenings waxing talks, ski selection information and videos on training methods.
  • Skiers are not expected to attend all sessions, and are free to explore the trails.
  • With Obertilliach so well situated, we can ski from the vilage each day, and make regular trips to the biathlon and cross country ski centre which is only a short 2km run away.
  • Obertilliach has a very good snow record and has invested heavily this year in increasing snow making on the trails. Trails and village are not so shaded by the mountains (unlike Dobiacco which can be pretty dark at this time of the year).
  • Also this part of Austria has world class ski touring, with easy access to Italy.
  • If anyone would like to stay on after the week, Alan will be available to help anyone interested in preparing for the British Championships on an ad hoc basis.

To book

The instruction is £250 for the week. We ask you to pay a £50 non-refundable deposit to book your place, with the balance payable by 8th December -

Pay course deposit, £50 -
Pay course fee balance, £200 -

 

For more information

For more information on the trip, email iain@rollerski.co.uk or call 020 8348 2540 or 07968 286129. You can also contact Alan by email, alan_eason@hotmail.com

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOCHFILZEN 2011: 5th - 14th February
SKI INSTRUCTION + KOASALAUF SKI MARATHON

Pictures from last year's trip

Our trips combine first class cross-country ski instruction on some of the world's best trails, with the challenge of taking part in accessible 'ski marathon' races.

Hochfilzen is home to the Austrian ski federation and is the national training center for cross country skiing and biathlon. It is connected to a vast network of ski trails that run for over 120 km with easy skiing around the town of Hochfilzen and more challenging tracks on the biathlon world cup course. Or ski down to St Ulrich which hosts FIS continental cup cross country ski races. We plan to use both training centers for this week leading up to the Koasalauf ski marathon weekend, which is only a short trip to St Johann

The plan in brief

The week will have world class ski instruction in classic and skating techniques, video work some days and trips to some of Austria’s best kept secret cross country ski trails around the Hochfilzen and St Johann area. There will be ski waxing classes, and for those who wish a chance to take part in the Koasalauf Ski Marathons at the end of the week.

The coach & instructor

The week will be led by Alan Eason, one of the UK's leading cross-country ski instructors and a former British cross-country ski champion. Alan is ski school director and head instructor at Australia's largest cross-country ski resort, Lake Mountain, and has taken part in FIS Cross-Country Ski World Championships and many ski marathons. We will also be using other instructors over the week to give a more individual instruction and coaching when needed.

Who is this trip for?

The week for both experienced skiers and those who are new to skiing on snow for the first time (but have good fitness and preparation). An interest in racing on snow is not essential, as the Koasalauf weekend is for all - racers and non-racers.

If you have any doubts about the trip's suitability let us know and we can advise.

If you are preparing for other ski races or other longer skis later in the season, this will be an ideal week of training and instruction, and will fit in well with roller skiing.

Logistics and planning

  • Arr: Saturday 5th February, Dep: Monday 14th February
  • Koasalauf Ski Marathon, St Johann, Austria. For more information about the race www.koasalauf.at , email info@koasalauf.at
    • Saturday 12th February, 30 km , 20 km, Classic
    • Saturday 12th February, Children’s 2 km & 4 km Classic
    • Sunday 13th February, 30 km, 45 km & 16 km Skate
  • Suggested flights to and from Salzburg Airport -
    • Sat 5th Feb: Dep London Gatwick 09:45, Arr Salzburg 12:40, BA2652
    • Mon 14th Feb: Dep Salzburg 13:30, Arr London Gatwick 14:30, BA2653
  • We will arrange transfer from Salzburg airport
  • Hochfilzen is accessible by train from Salzburg, Munich and Innsbruck if you want to make your own way
  • Recommended hotel: Hotel Edelweiss, see www.edelweiss-hochfilzen.at
  • Recommended budget accommodation: contact tourist office
  • Hochfilzen Tourist Office - phone: +43 (0) 535456304 10 or +43 (0) 535456304 10 or email hochfilzen@pillerseetal.at , open Monday to Friday 9.00-12.00, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 14.00-16.00 (Alan can also advise, we would like to keep everyone in the same area)
  • Good value and quality ski hire is available locally
  • We will use local bus service for transfers and travel to races

Training & instruction

* The week will start with the fundamentals of classic and skating. Each day the lessons will be broken down into small and simple steps which produce a greater level of progress in classic and skating. The programme for the week will be structured to each person's needs, and what they would like to improve on.
* A few days before the race there will be a trip to the race location to ski parts of the course, test skis and wax, go shopping and relax.
* Each day there will be two training / instruction blocks, classic and skate and in the evenings waxing talks, ski selection information and videos on training methods.

For those who would like to have a go at a sport that is a little different, then Hochfilzen has a 3 km long toboggan run and a restaurant at the top for an evening meal then a fun ride back down into the village.

* Skiers are not expected to attend all sessions, and are free to explore the trails.
* With Hochfilzen so well situated, we can ski from the village each day, and make regular trips to St Ulrich.
* Hochfilzen hold the first of the central European biathlon world cups, and do whatever they can to have this event up and running, this means that there is always snow on the biathlon and cross country loops.
* If anyone would like to stay on after the week, there is the option to head to some of the alpine slopes in the area and lean telemark skiing, and also do some ski touring up into the mountains using local guides.

To book

The instruction is £250 for the week. We ask everyone to pay an initial deposit of £50, with the balance for this trip payable by 25th January 2011 -

Pay deposit £50 -
Pay remaining £200 -

 

For more information

For more information on the trip, email iain@rollerski.co.uk or call 020 8348 2540 or 07968 286129.

 

The instruction for the trips above is being run by Alan Eason, who is one of the UK's leading cross-country ski instructors (and one of our main rollerski instructors). Alan runs cross-country ski trips and training courses for ski holiday companies, Snowsport England, military teams and clubs. He is also an expert ski waxer, and experienced ski racer. You can find out more about Alan and his trips at www.totallynordic.co.uk

We now sell cross-country skis, see www.rollerski.co.uk/buyskis.html

 

  

 

Other holiday ideas -

Each year we help many people to prepare on rollerskis, to get more out of their cross-country ski holidays - wherever they go. Apart from our trips above, we help people prepare for trips with the UK's leading ski holiday operators -

XCUK holidays

XCUK is the new force in cross-country ski holidays and has quickly gained a great reputation for its skiing and service. It is run by keen cross-country skiers who offer excellent, well informed advice.
   
For rollerskiers, XCUK would recommend in particular their Skills course at Kvitavatn. This focuses more on technique, and is recommended if you can already ski to a reasonable standard. Their instructor will probably be Dagmar (who runs our Dorney proficiency rollerski courses) who'll give skiers a fun time as well as good instruction.

For beginners they would especially recommend their Level 1B/2 group at Dalseter from 13 March. The hire kit is good, there is a good variety of track, and people with roller but not snow experience would have the chance to progress quite quickly, once they had made the initial adjustment to skiing on snow.

 

Exodus holidays

Exodus is one of the UK's leading cross-country ski holiday companies, and its trips offer great skiing at different grades, with a variety of guides and venues.
   

If you are a complete beginner or experienced skier there will be something to suit. The 2011 Exodus brochure is out now, and is well worth a look. They operate in the Nordic countries, and across Continental Europe. You can see their full holiday listing here.