The things worth knowing
Information for your winter sports holiday in Gastein near Salzburg
Here you will find all relevant information for a care free winter holiday at the Gasteinertal valley near Salzburg in Austria.
If you are entering the pistes on skis or a snowboard for the first time or want to try out a new kind of winter sports, it is good to remember certain rules for your own safety and to get acquainted with the mountainous terrain. The weather plays an important role as well. Always follow the instructions of the personnel working at the pistes and you will not have anything to worry about – enjoy your winter holidays!
Equipment
Let a specialised company check and maintain your winter sports equipment before going on your winter holidays in Austria.If you do not want to bring your own skis or snowboard to Austria, rental services are at your disposal at the Gasteinertal valley near Salzburg. The members of staff will gladly assist you in finding the right equipment.
Safety vests and helmets for children are available free of charge at the skiing school for children from the snow sports school Schneesportschule Gastein for the duration of the teaching times.
Skiing courses for children
Children four years of age or older will be looked after by the certified skiing instructors during teaching times. Skiing instructions at the skiing school are very playful. Please decide for yourself if your child is ready for several hours of separation from you, and note your mobile phone number on the ticket for the skiing course, to be available at all times. Please remember to pick up your child after skiing lessons on time.
Skiing course groups
Instructions at the snow sports school Schneesportschule Gastein are held in small, groups of the same ability to ensure optimal training. If a group has less than four participants, the skiing school reserves the right to merge two groups or to shorten the teaching time. Compensation for courses cancelled due to bad weather is not possible.
Rules of conduct on the pistes
Like in traffic, there are rules of conduct for the skiing pistes as well. Please acquaint yourself with these rules before entering the slopes of the Gasteinertal valley.
- Respect for others: a skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.
- Control of speed for skiing or snowboarding: a skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the amount of traffic.
- Choice of route: A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.
- Overtaking: a skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left, provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.
- Entering and starting: a skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving up on the slopes, must look up and down the slopes that he can move off without endangering himself or others.
- Stopping on the piste: unless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.
- Climbing and descending on foot: a skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.
- Respect for signs and markings: a skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.
- Assistance: at accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.
- Identification: every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.
Accidents
If you get involved in an accident or if you witness an accident, please remember the following points:
- 1. keep calm!
- 2. secure the place of accident and retrieve hurt persons from the danger zone.
- 3. Report the accident by mobile phone or instruct another skier to report the accident at the next chalet or at the next lift station.
- 4. Do not leave those who are injured alone and make sure the injured person is sufficiently warm (especially from below – the ground is frozen!)
- 5. Do not worry, at groomed pistes professional help is nearby!
Weather service
Weather may change quickly in the mountains. The avalanche warning service is of special importance to skiers on ski tours and mountaineers off the groomed pistes. If you would like to enter insecure alpine terrain without the company of a skiing or mountain guide, please follow the instructions and information on-site. If you are planning a ski tour, get information on the weather situation before setting off.
telephone audiotape service in Austria – alpine weather forecast
Tel.: +43(0)450/199 0000-11
weather information in the internet
http://www.alpenverein.at
personal assistance
Tel.: +43(0)512/291600
Monday to Saturday 13.00 -18.00
Avalanches
Please take the danger of avalanches seriously and stay on the secure groomed skiing pistes. Do only venture into insecure terrain if you have sufficient alpine experience or are accompanied by a certified skiing instructor. Get information on the weather situation and avalanche warnings before setting out on a ski tour. Make certain that you have the according equipment and are in the right physical condition. Please inform the landlord at your holiday accommodation of the destination and duration of your ski tour.
Avalanche warning service for the province of Salzburg
Audiotape +43(0)662/1588
personal assistance +43(0)662/8042-2170
avalanche warnings in the internet www.lawine.at
