Learning To Ski In Zell Am See, Austria

I love winter. The cold crisp air, snow and picturesque beauty always leaves gives me fond memories of good times. I always ‘try’ to embrace the cold and love that feeling of wrapping up in a toasty coat and gloves while burying your chin within a fluffy scarf, the only thing that could make it any better would be a cinnamon spiced mulled wine. Mmmmmmm – it’s one thing that makes winter great.

What Else Makes Winter Great?

Another thing of course is skiing – equally as fun and has the potential to make you as giddy as mulled wine 🙂 The winter months are understandably when Europe’s skiing season really ‘kicks off’. There are hundreds of resorts to visit in places all across the European continent… and even in Scotland (in the deepest of winter).

My first attempt at skiing was in the beautiful town of Zell am See in Austria. Nestled in the The Zell Valley corridor within the Kitzbühel Alps – the town and surrounding slopes is one of the most picturesque places to learn how to ski.

As this was my first time skiing, I decided to organise a few lessons… and with good reason. I hit the slopes only to look like a crab on an ice-rink. I looked so far from composed, I was a sweaty hot mess and I swear the children on the learner slope were judging me 🙂 Thankfully, after a few hours (and a very patient tutor) – I was able to stand, start, stop and *drum roll please* turn! It was a little bit like learning to ride a bike, once I got the basics – all the other elements of skiing fell into place.

Once I plucked up the courage, I headed to the top of the mountains. Straight away I was blown away by the view – I had never seen anything like it. I loved the tranquility, the dramatic skyline and of course the snow. Thankfully, each slope is graded (by colour) to indicate the difficulty level of each slope. I passed green with flying colours and even managed many blue slopes for the rest of my time at Zell Am See while taking a pit stop or two for a tasty hot cocoa. Yum!