For A Great School Ski Trip, Try Schladming-Amade

For students, a school ski trip means a chance to get away from the everyday, to push their limits in an exciting new environment while enjoying the company of their peers. For educators, it means an opportunity to help broaden their students’ horizons and encourage them to test their stamina, as well as a chance to enjoy the thrill of skiing for themselves. A key consideration in ensuring that everyone gets the most out of the experience is choosing the ideal location – with the wealth of excellent resorts on offer, there will be something to suit every group’s range of needs and abilities. A good option for mixed ability groups is a location with access to a variety of resorts, and the Schladming-Amadé area offers just that. The Area

Schladming-Amadé is an area that offers infinite variety to school ski trip groups. It incorporates Schladming – a historic mining town that has become a celebrated winter sports resort – and Amadé (named after the celebrated Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) – a network incorporating several mountains, 28 skiing towns and 860 kilometres of pistes. One of the largest ski areas in Europe, it is also one of the most beautiful, with the stunning vistas of the Austrian Alps that unfold as you glide down the slopes. The Resorts

As well as its size and beauty, Schladming-Amadé is a favourite school ski trip destination thanks to the variety it offers. With a number of interconnected mountains, it provides everything from gentle beginner-friendly blue and green runs to challenging championship tracks. The resorts that can be accessed with a local ski pass include Schladming itself as well as Salzburger Sportwelt, Grossarl, Hochkonig and Gastein – which offer an incredible range of ski routes of between them. Staying close to town will be ideal for first-time skiers, while the nearby Mount Hochwurzen will appeal to intermediates looking for something more interesting to try. For more advanced skiers, the professional winter sports track on Mount Planai will provide the perfect challenge.

Off Slope

As can be expected from a school ski trip, the majority of students’ time in the day will be taken up by skiing – but it is well worth considering what activities are available during the times spent off the slopes. Some trip leaders might want to combine local history and culture, and it is important for every trip to give students a range of options for their evenings. For sightseeing, there are some fascinating historic towns in the area surrounding Schladming, and the closest big city, Graz, is a hub of culture and art. For ways to relax after sundown, the town itself is full of excellent choices, including everything from ice-skating and sleigh rides to bowling and discos.

Susan Joubert works for Ski Plan Travel, the market leaders in excursions for schools. Experts in arranging school ski trip itineraries, Ski Plan has over 14 years experience organising safe and successful tours. We arrange courses with an extensive range of resorts for the best student experience.

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