Accessible skiing and cross-country skiing enjoyment in Tyrol

A physical handicap is no longer an obstacle to sporting activities these days. Not least because of special sports events like the Paralympics and the intensive media coverage about them, the fantastic achievements of athletes with disabilities are well known and recognized by the general public.

Skier with appropriate equipment - Photo: Mafue / Matt Boulton - Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0

For people with disabilities, their handicap is not a reason to refrain from practicing their sport, but rather an additional challenge. In Tyrol, several ski resorts have already taken on the special situation of people with disabilities and begun to dismantle barriers that make access to winter sports more difficult.

For example, the Hintertux Glacier has long been popular with disabled athletes and is used as a training area by various nations. In 2005, the Hintertux Glacier was awarded the Special Prize for Disabled Sports Facilities by the International Olympic and Paralympic Committee. From the underground car park to the panoramic terrace at 3,250 m above sea level, the ski area is completely barrier-free, and all facilities are accessible with monoskis. Of course, restaurants, toilets, and the ski school are also accessible without obstacles.

Accessibility in Hochötz

In the Hochötz ski region in the Tyrolean Ötztal, they also focus on barrier-free access. Monoskiers can go directly from the parking deck to the Panoramabahn, and all facilities in the ski area - with the exception of the Ochsengartenbahn - are accessible to monoskiers.

Most ski schools already have specially trained staff. Disabled skiing is part of the basic training for Tyrolean ski instructors, and there are also advanced training courses. Working with ski students with disabilities is a special - and particularly rewarding - task that requires a lot of empathy, as the requirements vary greatly depending on the type and degree of disability. In the future, it should be standard for at least one or two ski instructors at every Tyrolean ski school to have completed additional training for disabled skiing, so that all guests can be offered perfect service.

Sled cross-country skiing in Seefeld, in the Lechtal and in the Kaunertal

There have also been developments in Nordic sports: sled cross-country skiing has established itself as a wonderful sport for people with disabilities in recent years. In Tyrol's cross-country skiing areas, there are already a variety of trails that are ideal for sled cross-country skiers. The Olympiaregion Seefeld is also a leader in this segment, as are the Lechtal and Kaunertal. Detailed trail descriptions and a classification by difficulty make it easier for sled cross-country skiers to find the ideal trail for them, and sleds can of course be rented.

A tip from ski instructor Vroni from South Tyrol. She loves the sun, the snow, loud laughter, and children.