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Ski schools in Val Gardena
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.
FAQs
How do we find a suitable activity?
In every ski resort you will find an overview of all available offers. On the left side you have filters to quickly find the right offer. For example, you can search specifically for beginner ski courses for children in groups.
How do we find offers for our desired date?
Under the menu item "Select course date" in the upper left corner of the page you can select a desired start date. At the top of the search results you will find the offers for the desired start date. Below follow offers in a similar period.
How do we find group lessons or private instructors?
Group courses are marked with "Group". You can search specifically for group courses by selecting the "Group" filter under the "Category" menu item. Private teachers are marked with the inscription "Private". You can search for private teachers by selecting the "Private" filter under the "Category" menu item.
How do we find offers in our language?
Under the menu item "Language" you can select a desired language. Afterwards only offers will be shown where this language is available.
When should we book?
During the holiday weeks, ski and snowboard courses are usually fully booked. In order to make sure that there is still a place available in the desired ski or snowboard course, the motto is: the sooner the better.
How do we find our appropriate experience level?
Next to the menu item "Experience level" you will find a description of the individual experience levels. If you're still not sure, you don't need to worry. Simply choose the experience level that best suits your abilities. Before the first lesson of a group course, ski schools will assess your abilities so that you can be placed in the right group. In any case, private instructors will take your abilities into account on an individual basis.
How do we find offers including equipment?
All offers including equipment are marked with the inscription "Ski rental included". If you find the inscription "Ski rental optional" you can book the equipment for this offer. You will find offers including equipment faster if you select the filter "Ski rental including" under the menu item "Popular options". Depending on the provider, an offer including equipment contains: skis, ski poles, ski boots and helmet. You will find a detailed list of the included rental items in the respective offer description.
There is no offer including equipment, where can we alternatively rent equipment?
In a ski resort there is almost without exception the possibility to rent winter sports equipment. If you book via CheckYeti, you will receive discounts from our partner Skiset, where you can conveniently reserve your equipment online.
How many participants are usually in a group?
This depends on the ski school. Some ski schools have a maximum number of participants per group. You can find this information in the descriptions of the offers.
At what age can children ski or snowboard?
There is no fixed age limit here. Supported by specially trained children's ski instructors, children can already learn to ski playfully at kindergarten age. Depending on the children's level of motoric and social development, the ideal starting age is between 4 and 5 years. Occasionally there are children who can already learn to ski at the age of 3 1/2 years.
How many days should the lessons last for our children?
During the holiday weeks, children's ski courses for beginners usually start on Sunday or Monday. The program is designed in such a way that the best learning results are achieved when your children take part in the ski course throughout the week. So they don't miss the final event (race, etc.) and experience a great week with their group. For advanced children the learning success usually kicks in on the third day.
Is it better to put our child in a group lesson or a private tuition?
The group lessons are generally recommended for beginners. Learning together with peers is more fun. The children are not constantly in the focus and have the possibility to catch their breath between the individual exercises, while the other children are on it. In order not to underchallenge highly talented children, a private ski instructor is recommended.
Can we join our child with a private instructor?
Yes, that's possible. Some providers even offer special family offers. Otherwise, you can simply book a private instructor for children or adults and inform the ski school after booking that you would like to go together.