Deep-snow courses for beginners & advanced skiers: freeride adventure in Flachau
In our deep-snow courses for beginners you learn to make your first turns in powder and to move more confidently away from groomed pistes. If you already have experience, you can improve your freeride technique and take on new challenges off-piste.
Skischule Flachau offers you individual deep-snow courses and Freeride Camps. Guided ski tours, special mountain experiences such as the Dachstein crossing and an avalanche course are also part of the offer.
Enquire about a deep-snow adventure
Do you have questions about our offers or special wishes for your deep-snow adventure? We’re happy to advise you personally and help you plan.
Adventures in deep snow
Freeride Camp Basic
You ski good parallel turns on red pistes. You’ve tried skiing in deep snow before. You want to get away from the piste and discover something new? You want to experience the feeling of freedom? Register now…
Freeride Camp Advanced
Linking turn after turn in boundless freedom, leaving fresh tracks on the slope. You can already ski a little deep snow and want to improve your skills. You now want to tackle steeper slopes and have a good basic level of fitness? Sign up now…
Deep-snow course
Deep-snow improvement course and deep-snow perfection course. Skiing in deep snow is by far the most beautiful and exciting form of skiing. With us you can learn or perfect it.
Ski tours
The supreme discipline of alpine skiing. A unique winter experience away from the pistes. Entry-level tours for beginners and more demanding tours for advanced skiers.
Dachstein crossing (for experienced skiers only)
We take the Dachstein cable car up into the high-alpine mountains. Then it’s almost 2000 metres of descent and 20 kilometres through open terrain and deep snow all the way to Obertraun, where a bus is waiting to take us back. For particularly fit guests there’s also the “Edelgrieß” run on the Dachstein as a treat (see below).
Avalanche course
Theory: Gathering information, planning, assessing the weather forecast, interpreting the avalanche bulletin, decision-making aids, weather, snow and avalanche mechanics.
Practice: Correct use of the avalanche transceiver (LVS), creating a snow profile, analysing the snowpack structure, freeride descents.
Freeride camps and deep-snow courses in Flachau
Are you looking for a freeride course in Austria, or do you want to learn deep-snow skiing from scratch and improve your technique in open terrain? At Skischule Flachau you’ll find the right course for deep-snow skiing: multi-day Freeride Camps for getting started and progressing, as well as individual deep-snow courses for 1 to 4 people.
Freeride Camp Basic: your first turns in deep snow
You already ski confident parallel turns on red pistes and are looking for a freeride course for beginners. In the Freeride Camp Basic you gain your first experience away from groomed pistes and learn to adapt your technique to the special conditions in deep snow.
The most important information:
- Requirement: Confident parallel turns on red pistes
- Duration: Up to 3 days
- Minimum number of participants: 4 people
Freeride Camp Advanced: for experienced deep-snow skiers
Have you already gained experience in deep snow and want to develop your skills further? This freeride ski course is for experienced deep-snow skiers looking for more demanding descents and steeper slopes. You should already have a good basic level of fitness.
The most important information:
- Requirement: Experience in deep-snow skiing and a good basic level of fitness
- Duration: Up to 3 days
- Minimum number of participants: 4 people
Individual deep-snow ski courses: work on your technique in a targeted way
Would you like to gain your first experience in powder or improve the skills you already have? Our deep-snow courses are also offered as private lessons. This means the exercises can be tailored to your ability and your personal learning goals.
Whether it’s a progression course or a perfection course: you can work on your deep-snow technique together with up to three other people.
The most important information:
- Duration: 2 or 4 hours
- Number of participants: 1 to 4 people
- Lessons: On a private-lesson basis
Ski tours in Flachau for beginners and advanced skiers
Exploring the mountains away from the lifts, climbing step by step and then enjoying the descent: as the premier discipline of alpine skiing, ski touring combines exercise in nature with special experiences in the snow. At Skischule Flachau you’ll find offers for first experiences as well as for longer tours.
Skitour Starter: your first steps on touring skis
Would you like to try ski touring? In the two-hour Skitour Starter you get to know the basics and can gain first experience of climbing on touring skis.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Minimum number of participants: 4 people
Skitour half-day tour
Would you like to spend more time on touring skis and explore the wintry mountains away from the groomed pistes? A half-day tour gives you the chance to experience ski touring more intensively without having to plan a whole day.
- Duration: Half-day tour
- Number of participants: 1 to 3 people, price depends on the number of participants
Skitour full-day tour
More time for the climb, the mountains and the descent that follows: on a full-day tour the ski touring experience takes centre stage. Which tour is right for you depends on your skiing ability, your fitness and the current conditions.
- Duration: Full-day tour
- Number of participants: on request
Special freeride adventures: Dachstein crossing & more
Are you looking for a special challenge away from the groomed pistes? From the high-alpine Dachstein crossing to spectacular freeride descents, impressive mountain experiences await experienced skiers.
Dachstein crossing: a day in the high mountains
The Dachstein cable car takes you up into the high-alpine mountains. From there the Dachstein crossing leads through open terrain all the way to Obertraun. Over around 20 kilometres and almost 2,000 vertical metres you experience impressive mountain landscapes and long descents. The return trip is by bus.
The Dachstein crossing is for experienced skiers who already have experience in off-piste terrain.
- Duration: 1 day
- Minimum number of participants: 4 people
Edelgrieß Run: freeride on the Dachstein
The Edelgrieß Run leads through the impressive Edelgrieß corrie on the south side of the Dachstein. Steep slopes, high-alpine terrain and long descents make this route a special experience for experienced freeriders.
For this demanding descent you should already be confident in deep snow and have good fitness.
- Duration: 1 day
- Minimum number of participants: 2 people
Run from the summit cross: freeride above Flachau
After a short climb to the summit cross of the Grießenkareck, a special descent away from the groomed pistes awaits. From the open terrain above the tree line you head through snowy slopes and forest passages back to the ski area.
A freeride experience for skiers who have already gained their first experience in deep snow and want to discover new descents.
- Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Minimum number of participants: 2 people
Which tour is possible depends on the current snow, weather and avalanche conditions.
Avalanche course: safety away from the piste
Anyone heading into open terrain needs to be able to recognise and correctly assess alpine hazards. In our two-day avalanche course you’ll work on the basics of avalanche science, tour planning and correct behaviour in the terrain. We combine theoretical knowledge with practical exercises in the snow.
Theory content:
- Understanding and assessing weather forecasts and avalanche bulletins
- Getting to know the basics of snow and avalanche science
- Planning tours and using decision-making aids in the terrain
Practical content:
- Correct use of the avalanche transceiver (LVS)
- Creating snow profiles and analysing the structure of the snowpack
- Applying what you’ve learned on freeride descents in the terrain
Course length: 2 days
Why head off-piste with Skischule Flachau?
Skischule Flachau has been looking after winter sports guests since 1967 on their way to new challenges. In our freeride and deep-snow offers too, we combine our ski school’s experience with a conscious approach to the demands of alpine terrain.
What sets us apart:
- Long-standing experience: As Flachau’s oldest ski school, we’ve been at home in winter sports for more than 50 years.
- Qualified ski instructors: Our team includes regional and state-certified ski instructors as well as trained ski guides and mountain guides with additional skills for leading groups in alpine terrain.
- Individual support: In our private deep-snow courses we can respond to your skiing ability and your personal goals.
- Safety in focus: In open terrain, assessing your own ability as well as the snow, weather and avalanche conditions plays a decisive role.
- Joy of adventure: Discovering new slopes, making fresh tracks and experiencing the freedom away from the pistes. That’s exactly what our hearts beat for.
Ready for your next deep-snow adventure?
Do you have special wishes or questions about requirements, equipment or tour planning? We’re happy to advise you personally and help you find the right offer.
Info
Course times:
Freeride Camps up to 3 days
Deep-snow courses 2 or 4 hours
Skitour Starter 2 hours, Skitour half-day tour and full-day tour
Dachstein crossing 1 day
Edelgrieß Run 1 day
Run from the summit cross 1.5 to 2 hours
Avalanche course 2 days
Minimum participation:
Freeride Camp 4 people
Deep-snow course 1 – 4 people on a private-lesson basis.
Skitour Starter 4 people
Skitour half-day tour, 1 to 3 people, depending on price
Dachstein crossing 4 people
Edelgrieß Run 2 people
Run from the summit cross 2 people
Frequently asked questions about deep-snow courses, freeride and ski tours
Can I take a deep-snow course as a beginner?
Yes. If you’re looking for an introductory deep-snow course in Austria, you should already be able to ski confidently on groomed pistes. For the Freeride Camp Basic you should have good parallel turns on red pistes. So you don’t have to be an experienced deep-snow skier, but you should have solid skiing technique.
What equipment do I need for deep-snow skiing?
Besides suitable skis, ski boots and a helmet, appropriate safety equipment is important off-piste. This usually includes an avalanche transceiver (LVS), a shovel and a probe. It’s best to check with our team beforehand which equipment you need for your chosen offer and whether you have to bring it yourself.
Can I join a ski tour without experience?
For first experiences of ski touring there’s our two-hour Skitour Starter. It’s best to talk to us before registering about the skiing and fitness requirements you should bring.
Do freeride camps and ski tours take place in any weather?
Whether a tour in open terrain can go ahead depends largely on the snow, weather and avalanche conditions. That’s why an up-to-date assessment of the conditions is necessary. We’ll clarify with you at the time of booking how a weather-related change or cancellation of your booked offer is handled.
Do I need to be able to ski deep snow already for the avalanche course?
The avalanche course combines theory with practical exercises and freeride runs. Since riding off-piste is also part of the programme, you should check your skiing requirements with our team before registering.
Can I book a deep-snow course just for myself or with friends?
Yes, our individual deep-snow courses are offered as private lessons for 1 to 4 people. You can choose between two and four hours and talk to our team about which learning goals you’d like to pursue.
