CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: DOBBIACO

Reality Check

Activity Details Cross-country skiing or Nordic skiing is becoming one of the most popular winter sports. Using longer, thinner and lighter skis than downhill with bindings that let you lift your heel, we explore the winter landscapes away from the confines of the alpine pistes. Most cross-country skiing is undertaken on prepared tracks (loipe) and exhilarating days are spent skiing quickly over flat ground and up and down hills. At Dobbiaco, we offer four grades of skiing with levels ranging from beginners to intermediate and advanced. On some dates there are two leaders offering two different grades, and some dates have one leader with one cross-country skiing grade and one leader running our Winter Walking trip (see tour code CID for details). Please check the grade of skiing that applies to your selected week on the Dates and Prices page.

Your Safety All active winter holidays involve some element of risk, from something as normal as slipping on icy pavements, to the possibility of injuries sustained as a result of the activities themselves. While we do all we can to minimize any dangers, participants must be prepared to accept some risk as part of the holiday. On the first few days of a beginner's cross-country skiing course your instructor will choose the trails and terrain carefully, and will avoid steep slopes, however, even on the flat you should expect to fall over. Unlike downhill skiing, where falls can happen at speed, most cross-country falls happen at slow speeds or from an almost static position, and cause no injury. Although it is very rare, some falls do lead to injury, in the worst cases this may include broken bones. Overall cross-country skiing is a safe sport to take part in, if properly instructed.

Grade 1 Beginners Recommended for beginners or those who feel the need to improve basic techniques. We teach you the essentials and explore gently undulating terrain. All or most skiing is on prepared tracks. More experienced skiers are welcome, but please be aware that the pace will be set for the beginners. Towards the end of the holiday you might ski 10-15km or more a day, at a gentle pace.

Grade 2 Intermediates and confident beginners A mix of flat and hillier terrain for those who have enjoyed a Grade 1 holiday, grasped the snowplough and now want to improve technique. We ski a little more quickly and over more challenging terrain than on a grade 1 trip. Acceptable for newcomers to cross-country skiing, but you should be very fit and have experience of other sports that develop balance - ice skating, roller-skating or downhill skiing. Grade 2+ Intermediates (unsuitable for beginners) On these holidays there is not enough flat terrain for us to accept beginners. Suitable for clients who have done a couple of weeks with us, have developed their snowplough and can cope fairly confidently with undulating tracks.

Grade 3 Advanced Choose this level if you can tackle 'ups and down's competently, manage a controlled snowplough descent, and if you want to ski at a lively pace. You should be able to get up swiftly and easily by yourself after a fall. The mix of track and off-track skiing varies depending on local snow conditions.

Alpine Skiing Information Many ski areas are easily accessible from Dobbiaco, including Plan de Corones and Cortina D'Ampezzo, each offering a wide selection of alpine skiing possibilities. Only a 10-minute bus journey away, San Candido and Versciaco have 53km of downhill slopes for all skiing levels. Alpine skis can be hired in Dobbiaco for approximately ?25 per day. For more information about the alpine skiing in this area visit www.dolomitisuperski.com Although we give information on the alpine skiing in our winter resorts, our leaders are not alpine instructors and may only be able to give limited advice about the facilities / conditions.