Frequently Asked QUESTIONS

Can I simply book a ski course or private lessons once I am in Obertauern?

We recommend booking courses as well as private lessons in advance. Once you are here, there might well be no more course slots available and private lessons might be completely booked up. It is also possible that the course you want might have been canceled. Though of course, if there are still some open slots, you are more than welcome to book after you get here.

Do I have to pay for courses or private lessons in advance?

Yes, you can only commence a course with a valid course ticket, which you will receive from the ski-school office after paying.

How can I pay?

At the ski-school office, you can pay in cash as well as by EC-, VISA or Mastercard.

Do courses also take place on Saturday?

No, Saturday is a day off for our ski courses, though you are still welcome to book private lessons.

Can I rent equipment for my ski course or private lessons directly from you?

No, we are only a ski and snowboard school. If you wish to rent equipment, please visit www.fruehstueckl.at or www.skiworld.at
Both of these rental businesses also have a branch right next to our ski-school office.

Can I buy a lift ticket at the ski-school office?

No, lift tickets are available from the various lift ticket windows in Obertauern, at local banks and at your own hotel.
Further info is available here: www.ski-obertauern.at

Are ski courses and private lessons canceled in “bad” weather?

Snowfall and wind do not constitute bad weather. Here, the simple rule of thumb is:
If the lifts are running, we'll be right here skiing and snowboarding!

As of what age can children attend ski school?

Ages 4 and up.
We recommend only booking a "sampler day" initially. If your child enjoys him- or herself, you are certainly welcome to extend – and will only pay the difference.

Where is the assembly point for children?

Our assembly point is right next to the Edelweissbahn lifts – below Hotel Cinderella and behind Hotel Montana.
Located within the fences is a children's practice area for beginners, equipped with a magic carpet, tow lift, and a "gingerbread house" to warm up.
Directly next to the practice area is a meeting point for experienced kids and the place where the youngsters are asked to demonstrate what they can do before being assigned to a suitable group.

How and when are kids assigned to groups?

Children who already have some skiing experience will be asked to briefly show what they can do on the first day of the course. Based on that, they will be assigned to a suitable group. Please note that the first group they join won't necessarily be set in stone! Groups can be switched at any time if the group is either too fast or too slow. The ski school office will tell you at what time group assignment takes place.

What are the course times?

Our ski courses for children always take place from Sunday to Friday
from 10 AM to 12 noon and/or from 1:30 to 3:30 PM
A ski course may also span two weeks. In that case, please remember that no ski instruction takes place on Saturday - though you are welcome to book private lessons.

We will not be arriving in Obertauern on a Saturday. Can you also begin a ski course during the week?

Children with skiing experience can essentially join a course at any time.
Beginners can only begin either on Sunday or Monday. If a suitable group does become available during the week, later commencement may also be possible.

Where do the children meet every day and where do I pick them up after?

Beginners
Meet daily at 10 AM (except on the day when they are assigned groups) and again at 1:30 PM, at the assembly point in the children's practice area.
Please pick up your child at the exact same place, either at 12 noon or 3:30 PM. If you have also booked lunchtime childcare, then drop off your child at 10 AM and pick them up again at 3:30 PM.
Experienced Skiers
Meet daily at 10 AM (except on the day when they are assigned groups) and again at 1:30 PM, at the assembly point in the children's practice area.
Please pick up your child at 12 noon and 3:30 PM at the Edelweiss Plateau (above the Lürzeralm and across from Hotel Leitner). If you have also booked lunchtime childcare, then drop off your child at 10 AM at the assembly point and pick them up again at 3:30 PM at the Edelweiss Plateau.

Where is lunchtime childcare provided?

We go eat lunch with the children at Hotel Krallinger.

Is lunch included?

No, the meal and childcare are not included in the price of the ski course.
The price for lunch/childcare is Euro 25 per child/day.
Lunchtime childcare can also be booked separately on a day-to-day basis. By 9.30 AM in the office - not with the ski instructors themselves! The children will go with their ski instructors to the Hotel Krallinger. There, they will then get to enjoy soup, a main dish, dessert and, of course, something to drink.

Do children need a lift ticket?

Children 5 and under
ride the lifts in Obertauern for free. Children 5 and under receive their lift tickets directly from the ski school during the course. These tickets are issued daily and collected later. If you are using the lifts with your child, simply walk through the turnstiles with your child between your legs.
Children 6 and older
Experienced skiers: Obtain the lift ticket before the start of the ski course!
Beginners: won't need a lift ticket to begin with. The ski instructor will let you know when is the right time to buy a ticket.

Do children need a ski helmet?

Yes, helmets are compulsory until their 16th birthday. However, we recommend that all other children/teenagers/adults also wear a ski helmet!

When will be child receive their ski-school vest?

The ski instructor gives every child in the group a vest each morning, collecting them all again at the end of the day.

When and where are the ski races and awards ceremony?

The ski races take place on Thursday morning. Sometimes the races ae postponed due to bad weather. In that case, we will notify you in advance.
The races for experienced children take place on the red-rated piste next to the Edelweissbahn lifts. For beginners, the races take place inside the children's practice area.
The ski instructor will give you your child's exact starting time.
The awards ceremony takes place on the afternoon of race day, right at the end of the ski course (from around 3:15 PM), then, the exciting awards ceremony will be held. The ski instructor will provide you with precise times.

How do you obtain photos of children's groups?

During the awards ceremony, you can purchase the photos from your child's ski instructor.

We would like to point out that the photographer only comes once during the ski course week. If your child is not yet in the ski course that day or is missing the photo session, no more photo can be taken.

Can children be picked up from the hotel?

Depending on the exact location of your accommodations, we may be able to pick up your children with our ski-school bus or by taxi. Likewise, return transportation may also be possible once the course is done in the afternoon. Please stop by the office to ask about times and options.

Can the ski instructor reach me if there is a problem?

Be sure to enter your mobile number on your child's course registration card. In that way, we will be able to contact you in case of emergency.

Are there rebates?

Early Booker Bonus
If you book and pay for your child's ski course in advance (e.g. via bank transfer) no later than 4 weeks (28 days) prior to the start of the ski course, you will receive a rebate.
Group Rebate
Simply ask for details!

Can I get my money back if my child doesn't like the course?

Fundamentally, we only refund money in the event of illness or injury, subject to official attestation from a local physician.
That's why, for younger children, we recommend booking a "sampler day". If your child likes it and wants to continue, the cost of the sampler day will simply be credited towards the full course with no additional expense involved.

Where is the assembly point for adults?

Beginners
meet right in front of the ski school office (No. 73 Römerstraße)
The meeting point might possibly change after a few days, but that is something your ski instructor will tell you.
Experienced skiers
meet daily at our assembly point next to the Edelweissbahn – below Hotel Cinderella and behind Hotel Montana.

What are the course times?

Our adult ski courses take place from Sunday to Wednesday between 11 AM and 2 PM.

We will not be arriving in Obertauern on a Saturday. Can we also begin a ski course during the week?

If a suitable group is available, experienced skiers can also join that group at a later time. That said, remember that courses only last until Wednesday. Beginners may only start a course on either Sunday or Monday.

Am I a beginner or experienced?

With regards to adults, we make a clear differentiation between
Beginners
who have never stood on skis before, learning everything from the ground up
and
Experienced skiers:
who already have one or multiple ski courses "under their belts" and are able to ski through curves and down pistes (at least blue-rated).

I am a beginner. Do I already need a lift ticket?

Depending on the progress of your group, you may indeed need to ride the lifts, potentially even in the first few hours of your course. That's why we recommend bringing some cash to buy a points ticket at the practice lift, or even buying a points ticket in advance.

Do I get my money back if I don't like it?

Fundamentally, we only refund money in the event of illness or injury, subject to official attestation from a local physician.
If you are uncertain, we recommend booking your course on a day-by-day basis. In that case, you will only ever have to pay the difference.

Where is the assembly point for snowboard groups?

Snowboard courses for beginners and experienced boarders meet daily right next to the ski school office (No. 73 Römerstraße)

What are the course times?

Our snowboard courses only take place on a half-day basis, from Sunday through Thursday.
Based on demand and reservations, the times are either 9:30 to 11:30 AM or 12 noon to 2 PM.

We will not be arriving in Obertauern on a Saturday. Can you begin a snowboard course during the week?

If a suitable group is available, it might be possible for experienced boarders to begin the course on a later day. That said, remember that courses only last until Thursday at the latest. Beginners, however, can only join a course on Sunday or Monday.

Am I a beginner or experienced?

When it comes to snowboarding, we make a clear differentiation between
Beginners
who have never stood on a board before, learning everything from the ground up,
and
Experienced Boarders:
They already have one or multiple snowboard courses "under their belts" and are able to board through curves and down pistes (at least blue-rated).

I'm a beginner. Do I need a lift ticket right away?

Yes, depending on how quickly your group makes progress, you will be using the lifts. That might even be within the first few hours. That's why we recommend bringing some cash to buy a points ticket at the practice lift, or even buying a points ticket in advance.

Will I get my money back if I don't like it?

Fundamentally, we only refund money in the event of illness or injury, subject to official attestation from a local physician.
If you are uncertain, we recommend booking your course on a day-by-day basis. In that case, you will only ever have to pay the difference.

Which winter sports can I learn in private lessons?

We offer private lessons for children and adults in alpine skiing, Nordic skiing (cross-country) as well as snowboarding.

Can I book private lessons after I've arrived?

That depends on whether you come to Obertauern during high or low season. We definitely advise booking your private lessons in advance to guarantee you get the times, instructor and language you want, …

What's the meeting place for private lessons?

Depending on where you are staying and your skiing expertise, the ski instructor may be able to pick you up directly from your hotel/ski storage depot. That said, it's also possible to meet at the lifts. We suggest chatting with our employees in the ski school office to decide what will work best.

What are the course times?

The times are not set in stone and can be scheduled individually with your instructor. And that might be for two, three, four or even more hours per day. Tell us when and how long you would like, then we'll check our capacity and try to meet your needs.

We won't be arriving in Obertauern on a Saturday. Can you also book private lessons during the week?

Yes, Private lessons are possible on any day of the week! (assuming capacity allows, of course!)

How are prices set up?

The prices for private lessons are daily rates.

Can I cancel or postpone private lessons at short notice?

No, unfortunately not. Cancelations are accepted free of charge until 5 PM of the day before. If you cancel at short notice, we will be obliged to charge you 50% of the total cost.
Fundamentally, we only refund money in the event of illness or injury, subject to official attestation from a local physician.
If you wish to postpone your private lesson, please notify us as soon as possible. If it is doable, we will, of course, make the scheduling changes you want.

What languages do private instructors speak?

All of our instructors speak fluent German and very good English. We also have instructors who speak Dutch, Slovenian, Russian, Croatian, Danish, and more. Simply ask at the office for more details!