You train your entire body, improve endurance, and enjoy the peace of snow-covered landscapes. But anyone stepping onto narrow skis for the first time quickly realizes: without technique and preparation, things don’t glide as smoothly as they look. Here are practical tips for getting started – covering technique, equipment, clothing, and safety.
1. Classic or Skating – Which Technique Is Best for Beginners?
Cross-country skiing offers two main styles:
- Classic: Similar to walking – calm, rhythmic, and along groomed tracks. Perfect for beginners who want to gradually learn the feeling of gliding.
- Skating: More dynamic and powerful. Inline skaters or ice skaters can usually adapt to this technique quickly.
2. Why Beginners Should Take a Skiing Course
Cross-country skiing may look simple, but it’s technically demanding.
The key difference from walking is the gliding phase, which requires coordination, timing, and balance.
A professional course teaches proper movement – from pole pushing to controlled braking and cornering.
Mistakes made early are hard to fix later, so investing in lessons pays off.
👉 Tip: Near HIRBEN you’ll find several ski schools, including Ski school Valle di Braies (also offering courses in Villabassa), Snowsport 3 Zinnen in Dobbiaco, and instructor Lanz Iris.
3. Finding the Right Trail
Not every trail is beginner-friendly. As in alpine skiing, colors indicate difficulty:
- Blue: easy
- Red: medium
- Black: difficult
For your first sessions, choose a blue trail with gentle slopes. You can focus on technique and gliding without overexertion.
👉 Tip: Right behind the hotel lies the Hirben Trail, a 1.13 km loop – perfect for beginners.
4. Cross-Country Ski Equipment – What You Really Need
You don’t need to buy everything at once. In Villabassa, the Braies Valley, and Dobbiaco, you can rent skis, boots, and poles at local Nordic centers.
- Skis: Skin or waxless skis (Nowax) are ideal for beginners – no waxing required and easy grip on the snow.
- Boots: Warm, comfortable, and matching your ski bindings.
- Poles: Shoulder height for classic, chin height for skating.
5. What to Wear: Stay Warm Without Overheating
Cross-country skiing is a full-body workout, so overdressing is a common mistake.
Follow the layering principle:
- Base layer: Moisture-wicking thermal underwear to stay dry.
- Mid layer: Insulating layer for warmth, adjusted to your effort level.
- Outer layer: Windproof but breathable jacket and pants.
Finish with a headband or light beanie and thin gloves.
6. Get Fit for the Snow – Preparation in Everyday Life
Cross-country skiing engages the whole body – arms, legs, core, and back all work together.
Prepare with targeted training:
- Running, cycling, or inline skating for endurance.
- Core and strength exercises for stability.
- Flexibility training to stay mobile and prevent injuries.
👉 Tip: If you haven’t been active for a while, consult a sports doctor first – especially for heart or circulation concerns.
Dolomiti Nordic Ski – Europe’s Largest Cross-Country Network
If you want to learn or train in South Tyrol, Dolomiti Nordic Ski is paradise.
With more than 1,300 km of perfectly groomed trails, it connects twelve regions across South Tyrol, East Tyrol, and the Belluno Dolomites – including the Upper Puster Valley.
From easy beginner loops to scenic high-altitude tracks, there’s something for everyone.
A major advantage: one ski pass gives you access to all connected areas – sustainable, convenient, and endlessly varied.
PSSST: Our service for all cross-country skiers:
• Cross-country skiing expert and junior manager Fabian is always on hand
• Cross-country skiing tours (including technique training) with Fabian
• Competent advice and valuable tips on trails and equipment
• Trail tickets are available at reception
• ‘Hirben’ cross-country ski trail directly from the hotel
• Cross-country ski hire directly at Niederdorf railway station
• Free trail maps, up-to-date information and bus timetables
• Cross-country ski rack in the outdoor area
• Lockable ski room with heated boot dryer
• Water bottle belts and much more available for hire
• Laundry service & drying room: information available at reception
• Waxing corner with special waxing accessories in the garage
• Waxing service with our partner ‘Kraler Sport’ in Dobbiaco
Fun Fact
Did you know cross-country skiing didn’t start as a sport?
The first “skiers” were Scandinavian hunters over 5,000 years ago, gliding on wooden skis to travel and hunt in winter.
The oldest known ski, found in Norway, is more than 4,500 years old!
