Senior School students and staff had a fantastic time skiing in Austria during the Easter holidays. Setting off on Saturday 23 March, they travelled from Birmingham to Munich by air, then onto Salzburg by coach, arriving at the hotel just in time to unpack, get their kit sorted, and enjoy a delicious evening meal.
On Sunday, everyone was excited to hit the slopes of Alpendorf. They collected their skis and caught the chairlift to the nursery slope where they were assessed and organised into groups. It was a brilliant first day of skiing, with skiers of all levels making excellent progress and impressing the coaches with their enthusiasm and determination. It snowed in the morning and then brightened up in the afternoon to reveal some amazing views. In the evening, students and staff had fun at the local ten-pin bowling centre before heading back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.
On Monday, the advanced and intermediate groups went off adventuring and exploring the mountains. Meanwhile, the beginners continued to make excellent progress on the nursery slopes. Instead of eating at the hotel that evening, Trip Leader Mrs Roberts had booked a table at an Italian restaurant by the river in Salzburg. The pizza was excellent!
On Tuesday, a day’s sightseeing in Salzburg provided a welcome break from skiing. It began with a visit to the Mirabell Palace gardens where scenes from ‘The Sound of Music’ were filmed. Various scenes were recreated and recorded in readiness for the video round of the quiz on the final evening! A visit to a coffee shop led to the discovery of some huge cakes and souvenirs were purchased in the market square. Afterwards, there was a private tour of Salzburg’s fortress. Students learned about the invasions and history of Austria, gaining access to areas not normally seen by the general public. The day ended with some retail therapy at an out-of-town shopping centre.
On Wednesday, the beginner group experienced their first ‘proper’ day of skiing. It was also Tallulah’s birthday! In the evening, there were more thrills on the alpine rollercoaster which was very popular. Some students had five goes; Mrs Roberts just had the one (her screams could be heard for miles!). Afterwards, everyone returned to the hotel for a meal and some well-deserved downtime, evening games, and birthday cards and treats for Tallulah.
The final day of skiing was fantastic; there were so many personal achievements and everyone tried their hardest. The instructors all noticed everyone’s efforts and presented certificates at the end of the day. The final evening was spent at the hotel doing a fun quiz. Year 9 students won the video round and Year 10 won the knowledge round. Great fun was had by all!
On Friday 29 March, students and staff returned home excited to tell their families about their adventures. Trip Leader Mrs Roberts commented: “I returned home with an immense sense of pride in our school and our students. They showed such team spirit, kindness and exemplary leadership, and followed safety instructions to the letter – evidenced by no hospital visits! Our tour company representative and the hotelier both commented on what a great group of students we have, as did the ski instructors, who asked when we’re coming back!”
Rosa P and Gabrielle H Year 8 commented: “We had a blast in Austria. We skied for about 5 hours each day. The days ended by doing fun activities such as: bowling, pizza night, alpine coaster and a quiz night. The trip was so memorable, we will never forget it. Our favourite memory was practising with our ski group, the amount of times we fell over was hilarious. But overall, like we said at the start, the trip was a blast and an unforgettable experience.”
Our next ski trip will take place during Easter 2026. Look out for information in 2025!