School ski courses in danger: fewer participants, more challenges!

In recent years there has been an alarming decline in the number of participants in school ski courses in Austria. The annual ski course is a highlight of the winter for many primary school students, but fewer and fewer children are taking part. This phenomenon has several causes, such as meinkreis.at reported. In addition to financial aspects, the dwindling interest in winter sports also plays a role. In many families, skiing no longer has the same meaning as it once did. Schools like those in Gurk or Eberstein are not only faced with organizational difficulties, but also with a growing shortage of teachers who can ski. This circumstance increases the dependence on external ski instructors and makes running the courses more and more complicated.

Decreasing interest and organizational technique

At the Meisleding elementary school, for example, only 15 percent of the children were able to take part in the ski course last year. Director Elisabeth Zuschin from the Kappel elementary school reports that around two thirds of the children are still taking part. More and more schools are trying to make it easier for parents to cover the costs of equipment and bus travel by looking for sponsors or organizing winter sports fairs. This is necessary because the financial burden is too high for many parents. The hefty costs of around 175 euros per participant are often difficult to meet. There is also a trend that more and more parents and their children prefer to stay at home on the days of ski courses because there is no interest.

The question of when children should start skiing remains current. Experts recommend starting classes only from the age of three or four. Skiing too early can pose a risk of injury because the muscles are not yet sufficiently developed snowtrex.de explained. Children learn particularly quickly at this young age, but this shouldn't overwhelm them on the slopes. Having the right equipment is also crucial and it is recommended to consider alternative options such as ski bazaars to save costs. More and more parents are choosing to enroll their children in ski schools because learning in groups is often more effective and the slope conditions can be made safer.