Gliding along a cross-country trail at some speed may look easy, but what about doing the double pole and the diagonal stride? What sounds like an instruction for dancing the 'Schuhplattler' are the classic running techniques you need to master before starting off in a cross-country trail. To avoid stumbling, you had better go to a cross-country skiing school of Zell am See-Kaprun first. Experienced sportspeople will teach you the correct 'technical progress' there.

Beginners and advanced learners are taught by expert coaches how to pick up speed. And you also need to master the right braking techniques so that you will never overshoot the mark. Learning in a group is great fun, but private lessons promise the fastest success. The local shops and hire companies will gladly supply you with the equipment for a course and tips for servicing it properly.

You will soon find a skiing school you can have faith in. After some theoretical introduction you can directly start on your skis and in the cross-country trails: there are more than 200 kilometres of them right at your doorstep. The well-developed network of trails winds its way all through the region - plenty of space to practise the diagonal stride very thoroughly again and again.