Cross-country Skiing Dobbiaco

• 5 days guided cross-country skiing, classic technique
• 7 nights at the 3-star Hotel Tschurtschenthaler
• Mix of flat and easy routes to challenging ascents/descents
• Cross-country skiing grades 1-4, Beginners to Advanced
• Multi-grade skiing available on certain dates

Compared to those used for downhill, cross-country skis are longer, thinner and lighter with bindings that allow you to lift up your heel. Most cross-country skiing is undertaken on prepared tracks (loipe) covering flat and hillier terrain enabling you to explore the winter landscapes away from the confines of the alpine pistes. It is a great aerobic workout and something that can be easily adapted to your skill and fitness level. Exodus offers cross-country skiing holidays to suit a wide range of technical and physical levels. Our cross-country skiing grades reflect both the level of physical fitness required and the level of skiing experience required. They are comparable to the activity levels we use on our snowshoeing, cycling, activity and trekking holidays. We believe a slightly different system is required, due to the tuition we provide on our holidays. This sets our cross-country skiing holidays apart, as we tend not to need to teach people how to ride a bike or walk. The aim remains to create groups of similar ability and fitness. Our descriptions are below, however, feel free to call and speak to an expert if you are unsure which grade or type of holiday will suit you best. At Dobbiaco, there are three grades of skiing offered, ranging from beginner to intermediate. Availability varies and depending on the dates there may be two leaders offering two different grades or one leader offering a single cross-country skiing grade. Please check the grade of skiing that applies to your selected week via our website. Grade 1 - Beginners A week for complete beginners. Inevitably we start with the basics, including how to stop using the snowplough technique and how to turn. You will be on skis for at least 5-6 hours a day with a focus on tuition, getting comfortable on skis and building towards longer tours through the winter landscape. In some centres there may also be some easy off-track skiing. This involves heading off the pre-cut tracks, typically across frozen lakes or snow-covered pastures. Grade 2 - Improvers These weeks are ideal for those who have enjoyed at least one grade 1 holiday and grasped the basics. They offer tuition to refresh and improve technique and typically will ski a little further than Grade 1 weeks, and over more varied terrain, i.e more ups and downs and therefore requiring a slightly higher level of fitness. In some cases these weeks are acceptable for newcomers to cross-country skiing. Beginners on these weeks should be very fit and proficient in sports that develop balance - ice-skating, roller-skating or roller skiing and will need to pick up the basic technique quickly. Please contact us if you wish to book a Grade 2 holiday but have not skied before. Grade 3 - Intermediates A grade 3 week is ideal for those looking to push on, tackle some slightly steeper terrain and cover more ground each day. Typical groups will have a few weeks skiing behind them, be very comfortable with the basics and happy on longer day tours. There will still be tuition on these weeks, at the required level. Grade 4 - Advanced Choose this level if you can tackle ‘ups and downs’ competently, manage a controlled snowplough descent, and if you want to skiat a lively pace. You should also be able to get up swiftly and easily by yourself after a fall. The mix of track and off-track skiingvaries.