Ski Trip 2026 – Hochzillertal

Ski Day 1: Sun, 18/01/2026

Our first ski day started early. Breakfast was at 7:00 a.m. Afterwards we had to hurry, because at 7:40 a.m. the ski bus was scheduled to pick us up and take us to Kaltenbach in the Zillertal. Once there, we went straight to the gondola. After the gondola ride, the remaining ski equipment was rented and we all gathered at the top.
Following a joint warm-up, the more experienced skiers set off right away to explore the ski area. The beginners first learned how skiing actually works. The most important terms of the day: French fries = going straight; pizza = braking (very important!). We also learned other basics, such as how to put on and take off skis. Then we went downhill for the first time over a short stretch. Some managed quite well right away, while others needed a bit more practice.
Later we moved on to the beginners’ slope, where we skied down and took the magic carpet back up. For lunch we had pasta with Bolognese sauce. Our verdict: definitely a good choice. In the afternoon we continued practicing and got to know different types of lifts. After skiing, many of us stopped briefly at the Postalm for après-ski before the bus took us back around 5:00 p.m.
After showering and dinner it was clear: skiing is fun, but also exhausting. Most of us went to bed quickly, hoping our muscles would be kind to us the next day.

Ski Day 2: Mon, 19/01/2026

We were back in Kaltenbach for skiing. At 9:00 a.m. we met in our ski groups for lessons. Today’s focus was on turning technique. After some time, we were allowed to ski down the slope a bit faster in small groups and continue practicing what we had learned. We had a lot of fun, even though some people fell and got extra practice putting their skis back on—right there on the blue slope.
At noon everyone met for a shared lunch at the Mountain View, which also gave us a chance to exchange experiences with the other groups. Afterwards, the groups were reorganized. The focus was on enjoying skiing and practicing together.

Ski Day 3: Tue, 20/01/2026

On Tuesday we again spent a sunny day in the Hochzillertal. In the morning we learned how to ski parallel turns and how to edge cleanly. Afterwards, we were able to further consolidate and improve our technique on the blue slope.
We enjoyed our lunch break in bright sunshine before heading, well energized, to our first red slopes around the Kristallhütte. The day was not only very educational but also a lot of fun.

Ski Day 4: Wed, 21/01/2026

Overall, this ski day was really great. Once again we were very lucky with the weather: it was sunny, not too cold, and the slopes were in excellent condition. Already in the morning the mood in the group was relaxed, and everyone was looking forward to the day in the snow.
A particularly memorable moment was the gondola ride. In the middle of the route, our gondola suddenly stopped. At first we laughed, but after a few minutes we started to feel a bit uneasy because we were hanging quite high in the air. Some people were briefly scared, while others tried to lighten the situation with jokes. When the gondola finally started moving again, we were all very relieved—and in hindsight it turned into a funny story that we’ll probably tell many times.
On the slopes, however, things went really well. We completed many runs and noticed steady improvement. Especially when it came to turning, we made progress and felt much more confident than at the beginning. Of course there were a few falls along the way, but that’s just part of skiing. What mattered was getting back up and continuing. Even though we were quite tired at the end of the day, we felt that we had learned a lot. For us, this ski day was not only athletic but also simply a cool day that we will definitely remember fondly.

Ski Day 5: Thu, 22/01/2026

The week passed faster than we had expected at the start. The muscle soreness had almost disappeared, so we set off toward Kaltenbach at 7:50 a.m. feeling fairly rested and alert. In the morning we skied in our groups, working diligently and with focus on our technique.
Part of the group dared to ski down to Hochfügen, meaning that even the more advanced beginners tackled their first black slope. The group on the other side of the mountain also achieved a major success: everyone managed to switch from the drag and platter lifts to the chairlift. Comment: skiing is way more fun like this! Finally getting to relax on the way up.
After lunch, everyone was allowed to ski in self-selected groups, which added variety, motivation, and fun. With continued perfect weather, some of us spent the afternoon on the sun terrace of the Kristallhütte.

Ski Day 6: Fri, 23/01/2026

Today we set off again after breakfast and gathered at the Mountain View restaurant after the gondola ride. Then we all took the Snow Express together up to the Kristallhütte to prepare for the skiing assessment. After everyone successfully completed their run, we were allowed to use our free practice time in groups and give each other additional tips.
To finish off, many of us took the chairlift up to the Kristallhütte once more to enjoy the good music and the incredible view.
After meeting again at the gondola, we took the ski bus back to the rental shop and returned our equipment, which went smoothly. After dinner, we started tidying up our rooms, and at 8:30 p.m. we watched the football derby together with the teachers and some students from other schools. It was a very nice final evening and a perfect conclusion to the ski trip.

Written by the students of the Vocational Grammar School St. Pauli (Grade 13)