Learn to ski in Val Gardena

Most easily accessed from Bolzano Airport (under 1hr) or Innsbruck Airport (1,5hrs), the ski resort of Val Gardena (Gröden) is located within the Val Gardena Valley of South Tyrol. The main villages within the resort are Selva Val Gardena/Wolkenstein (1,563 m), Santa Cristina/St. Christine (1,428m) and Ortisei/St. Ullrich (1,236m).

Val Gardena is surrounded by the spectacular Dolomites UNESCO heritage site, which includes the Sella Ronda, the Puez, the Odle and the Sassolungo. The ski region is part of the Dolomiti Superski, a world-famous network of 12 ski areas within the Dolomites, which offers a total of 1,220km of pistes.

The Val Gardena resort also includes the pistes at Alpe di Siusi and offers 175km local runs at altitudes ranging between 1,236 - 2,540m. Around 30% of the runs are classed blue and 60% red. Around 30% of the runs are classed blue and 60% red. Additionally, Val Gardena is of the few locations in which the local Ladino language has been preserved and is still in daily use. Visitors to the resort will therefore hear three local languages: Ladin, Italian and German.

Ski lessons for beginners in Val Gardena

The ski schools in Val Gardena offer ski lessons from age 2,5yrs. Group lessons for adults last 2,5-3hrs per day and have a maximum of 8 participants. Private lessons are also available, lasting between 1- 7hrs a day, either individually or in small groups. The ski schools in Val Gardena meet for beginner lessons either directly by the beginner areas or next to the nearby ski lifts.

The focus of beginners’ ski lessons is to establish the basic techniques of the snowplough, glide and braking. Once these moves are secure, lessons progress to slopes with a slight gradient, where the snowplough turn is introduced.

Ski novices with previous experience are taken by the ski schools in Val Gardena directly to blue slopes for lessons. Here, the instructors work on optimising posture and on introducing more challenging techniques, such as parallel skiing.

For practice after lessons, the ski schools in Val Gardena recommend the Risaccia and the Nives pistes, which are easily accessible from Selva Val Gardena/Wolkenstein.

Kids’ ski lessons in Val Gardena

Ski schools in Val Gardena offer ski lessons for little skiers aged 2,5yrs and upwards. Group lessons for the youngest learners age 2,5-4yrs last 2hrs per day. Kids aged 4yrs and upwards can have lessons for 3hrs - 6,5hrs daily, depending on the school. Some ski schools in Val Gardena also offer lessons with lunch care and a meal included, or with ski hire included.

There are children's areas & ski kindergartens in each of the three villages, St. Christina/S. Cristina, St. Ulrich/Ortisei, Wolkenstein/Selva Gardena, and also on Monte Pana. The basic skiing techniques are taught on the flat slopes of the Kinderland areas. Young skiers with previous experience are taken by the ski schools in Val Gardena to pistes that suit their ability, such as the blue Piz Seteur-Città dei Sassi, the red Plan de Gralba or the black Cir runs.

The 10km long La Longia piste, which lies in the Seceda area, descends over 1,273m and provides the perfect opportunity to work on the carving technique.

Val Gardena ski pass

There are two types of ski passes in Val Gardena: the Val Gardena / Alpe di Siusi ski pass, which includes 175km of slopes and the 79 ski lifts in the two areas, and the Dolomiti Superski ski pass, which contains 1,200 km of ski trails in 12 different locations. The ski schools in Val Gardena are happy to provide more information on choosing the most suitable ski pass for various needs.

Ski lesson prices in Val Gardena

The ski schools in Val Gardena offer various lesson packages, especially for children, some with equipment rental or lunchcare and a meal included. The prices below are the lowest price per lesson within the season and do not include any extras:

	Kids ski lessons	Adults ski lessons	Snowboard lessons
Group	from 40€/3hrs	from 37€/3hrs	from 35€/3hrs
Private	from 51€/hr	from 51€/hr	from 51€/hr

The best ski schools in Val Gardena

Ski & Snowboard School 2000

The Ski & Snowboard School 2000 offers group and private ski & snowboard courses for all ages and levels. Lessons are given in English, German and Italian.

Meeting point: At the school's Kinderland area or by individual arrangement.

CheckYeti customers reviews: Experienced, patient, reliable

Ski and Snowboard School Selva Val Gardena

Founded in 1937, the Ski and Snowboard School Selva Val Gardena offers group ski and snowboard lessons with optional equipment rental. Lessons are given in English, German and Italian.

Meeting point: In front of a specified ski lift, depending on the course.

CheckYeti customers reviews: Kids friendly, beginner friendly, entertaining

What makes ski lessons in Val Gardena special

Val Gardena offers an impressive 115km of slopes dedicated to cross-country skiing, with specific areas for both beginners and experts. The Vallunga area in Selva di Val Gardena is particularly well-loved for its exceptional landscape views.

Snowboard and freestyle lovers can practice their tricks in one of the snow parks in Val Gardena. Among the favourites are the Piz Sella Snowpark, which is 750m long and offers boardercross paths, kickers, boxes and rails. The King Laurin Snowpark extends over 1.5km and has more than 60 obstacles, plus a 120m halfpipe.

Val Gardena is one of the main starting points for the Sellaronda. This exceptional, 40km, circular skiing tour traverses the Sella mountain range and offers incredible views of the surrounding mountain panoramas.