Introduction to Off Piste Skiing

Learn skiing safely and swiftly off the slopes! You are an experienced skier, confident on red slopes? Our mountain guide will teach you necessary techniques and safety aspects to ski off piste and help you to improve your performance in all snow types. At the end you will get a taste and introduction to the most important techniques for ski touring.

SCHEDULED DAILY ROUTINE

The following is a typical schedule with the guide fine tuning the plan according to the prevailing weather conditions and the experience of the group:

DAY 1: Arriving to Austria, welcome at Axamer Lizum (1580 m). After dinner: Preview of the activities of the week.
DAY 2: The guide will help to organise rental ski equipment, distributes the 5 day-ski pass and the booked avalanche equipment. The day starts with an analysis of the groups skiing techniques on a red route. The guide indicates the necessary skills and techniques to make the transition from piste to off piste. Safety aspects (introduction to the use of transceiver, shovel, probe). Planning of the next day.
DAY 3: Intensive off piste instruction in various snow conditions, learning about terrain, snow and standard operating procedures (SOPs), practice of rescue procedures and first aid. Planning of the next day.
DAY 4: Intensive off piste instruction in various snow conditions, learning about terrain, snow and standard operating procedures (SOPs), practice of rescue procedures and first aid. Planning of the next day.
DAY 5: Intensive off piste instruction in various snow conditions, learning about terrain, snow and standard operating procedures (SOPs), practice of rescue procedures and first aid. Planning of the next day.
DAY 6: Introduction to standard equipment for ski touring. Training tour how to use skins and technique for walking uphill, learning about slope angle and snow types, how to use avalanche emergency equipment: transceiver search, probing, shovel strategy. Planning of the next day.
DAY 7: Introduction to standard equipment for ski touring. Training tour how to use skins and technique for walking uphill, learning about slope angle and snow types, how to use avalanche emergency equipment: transceiver search, probing, shovel strategy. After dinner: reflections of the week
DAY 8: Farewell after breakfast
In the evenings there will be theoretical units on equipment and safety issues: avalanche awareness based on the AV strategy Stop or Go and alpine weather.

Photocredit: Csaba Szepfalusi

Ski equipment
- Introduction to basic off piste technique
- Techniques for different snow conditions
- Safety aspects
- Avalanche Bulletin
- Avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe)
- Avalanche avoidance and rescue procedures
- Practice downhill kick turns on a black run or in mixed-up and difficult snow conditions
- Practice braquage/pivot turns on a red run in a 2 m corridor
- Practice pivoting skis (braquage) on very steep terrain
- Practice controlling speed and steering accurately in steep and bumpy terrain
- Practice downhill kick turns in hard and soft snow
- Developing skating movement on flat terrain or uphill
- Practice herringbone ski climbing uphill
- Practice sidesteeping over obstacles such as fences, streams and mounds of snow

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Services Included:
- Accommodation in a 3* Hotel/Pension in the Axamer Lizum
- Halfboard (breakfast and dinner)
- English speaking instructor from Bergsteigerschule Alpenverein Edelweiss


Services not included:
- Flights to/from Munich, Innsbruck
- Additional meals and beverages
- Personal expenses
- ski pass (3, 4 or 5 days/depending on the decision of the guide)
- Travel insurance
- Rental equipment

€ 1.720,00   Normalpreis
€ 1.595,00   Preis pro Person für ÖAV-Mitglieder

€ 126,00

Fr. 14.11.2025