NOTE: We regret to inform you that due to restrictions announced by the Austrian government we had to cancel this event. Our government advises to reduce all physical social interactions to a minimum. For further information, please check out this page.
We will try our best to find alternative activities for all affected events. For further details please refer to our event calendar and follow the updates in our newsletter!

Do you know what Austria’s national sport is? Damn right, it’s skiing and it would be a pity to do an exchange in our beautiful country without at least having tried to balance yourself on two wooden sticks (or one if you’re on the dark side with the cookies a.k.a. a snowboarder). This is why ESN Austria created the ESN A.L.P.S. - Action - Leisure - Party - Ski for you!

However, for us Austrians spending a day on the snowy slopes is only part of the skiing experience! When the ski lifts close around 4pm, Austrians often passionately engage in something called Aprés Ski – something you surely wouldn’t want to miss out on!

From 27.03. - 29.03. exchange students from all over Austria will gather in Saalbach Hinterglemm to spend an incredible weekend full of skiing, party and fun - you won't want to miss it! Let us show you how we ski!

How ESN did skiing in past years might give you an impression of the upcoming event. Enjoying the Alps on your skis will be great! How about doing some Austrian language training with the Austrian singer-songwriter Wolfgang Ambros until the event takes place?
Not convinced yet? Check out some pictures here and here from previous ski events!

Don't miss out on that amazing opportunity & join ESN A.L.P.S. - the peak of your exchange semester!

The event will take place in the ski resort Saalbach Hinterglemm - check their official website. You can also take a look on the ski-map here.

      INCLUDED SERVICES     

INCLUDED IN THE BASIC PACKAGE

• Transportation to Saalbach Hinterglemm and back to Graz
• Accommodation for 2 nights
• Breakfast (x2) and dinner (x2)
• Ski pass for 2 days (Saturday & Sunday)
• Evening program Friday (torch hike & games evening)
• Evening program on Saturday (pre-party & games evening)

There are also some optional offers for ski/snowboard rental (including boots) and instructed lessons (check the 'costs' section for price details).

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?

• Ski/Snowboard clothes (wear, glasses/goggles*, gloves)
• Ski/Snowboard rental (can be booked as an option)
• Lunch
• Drinks in bars/clubs
• Sunscreen

*) without covering your eyes you will risk snow blindness! Be careful and absolutely get an eye protect for this trip!

      PROGRAMME     

FRIDAY

• bus ride from Graz to the hotel/Saalbach Hinterglemm
• Check-in & getting your ski/snowboard equipment
• evening program
   

SATURDAY

• Finally time to ski/snowboard the whole day
• evening programme
• Afterwards Option: Club night

SUNDAY

• Check-Out
• skiing/snowboarding again
• return of rental equipment
• trip back to Graz

      COSTS     

BASIC PRICES

• without ESNcard: 248 € + 22 € deposit --> 270 €
• with ESNcard: 228 € + 22 € deposit --> 250 €

You will get 20 € of the deposit in the end of the trip by us, if everything went well in the hotel and in the bus. The remaining 2 € of the deposit refund you have to retrieve on your own (by giving back the ski pass in the end of the last ski day directly at the ski resort).

OPTIONAL PACKAGES & PRICES

• ski rental (+ 45 € for ski equipment)* - includes skies, sticks, helmet and boots
• snowboard rental (+ 50 € for ski equipment)* - includes board, helmet and boots
• ski/snowboard lessons (+ 15 € for 1 day/ + 25 € for 2 days)
• ski pass holders (e.g. Ski ALPIN Card) will pay less (show us your ticket and we will tell you the discount)

*) this is already the best discounted price - alternatively you can try to rent in Graz on your own (we cannot help you with that)

      REGISTRATION     

SIGN-UP

Online sign-up started and finished on Monday 9.3.2020 - be prepared to pay during the specified office hour (read the rules below carefully how this works!)

RULES

• FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
• first part is an online registration where you fill in your data (be aware - the online registration consists of two steps - you need to confirm your personal email address!)
• second part is to come to the next office hour and pay the participation fee plus any extras you want to book. In the confirmation email we suggest a time-slot - please try to be there during this time! If you cannot make it during the time-slot - be aware that the final payment deadline will be 11.03.2020 - if you didn't pay till then we reserve the right to give your spot to another student!
• You can pay only in cash. Bring the full amount! (depending on your optional choices)
• You cannot sell your seat for the A.L.P.S. event to another person. The place will be given to the next person on the waiting list if you do or try to do that.
• If you are on the waiting list and a spot clears you will be notified via email.

Thank you for your cooperation!

DO I NEED TO SIGN UP PERSONALLY?

Yes, for the first part of registration YOU must personally fill out the online registration as it requires that you can access and read your personal emails.For the second part of registration, no, you may send someone else to the ESN office to pay for the event on your behalf. BUT there is only ONE sign-up per person, so be aware that this person then cannot sign-up themselves AND this person must bring a signed confirmation from you.

Make sure that you give ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION to this person (see 'FAQ' section for data requirements), as well as the your ESNcard number (or a photo of it), email address, phone number - and the person has to pay the full amount for you!

HOW WILL THE SIGN-UP TAKE PLACE?

We expect, as every year, a lot of people for the sign-up and therefore we may reserve a waiting room. Please wait in this room until our staff calls on you and provides you with further instructions.

PLEASE BE QUIET - exams or lectures may be going on at university, even in the evening!

Due to safety and allowed noise level, please do not wait in front of the waiting room/lecture hall or in front of our office!

We call on you to respect the situation, these regulations and to keep silent, otherwise we are forced to cancel the sign-up that day!

There is also our usual business, like our regular ESN office hours, going on at the same time - so, it's possible to use the office hour, like any other, to receive our services.

WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO KNOW FOR SIGNING UP?

We will (need to) ask you a lot of questions, so it's best for you and us to be prepared for that! Here are the questions needed to organise everything in a proper way:

• optional offers (ski or snowboard equipment rental and/or lessons for 1 or 2 days? holder of any ski pass?)
• Make sure that you know your shoe size (European size), your height (in cm) and your weight (in kg), if you want to rent equipment!
• skiing/snowboarding level (for renting as well as instructed lessons - never skied/snowboarded before, beginner, intermediate, good, expert)
• ID or passport number
• phone number
• birthday
• food restrictions (no pork, no beef, lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, other..)
• emergency contact person (full name and phone number)

Something happened - CAN I CANCEL?

We are really sad you cannot participate - however cancelation is only possible up to 14 days before the event! If something happens after this deadline - still contact us! The sooner the better - we cannot promise anything but we will do our best to find a solution for you.

      MEETING POINT     

WHEN?

Friday, 27th of March 2020, around 10:00 am (Exact time will be announced to participants vie email - be sure to check your mails the days before the trip!)

WHERE?

Franz-Graf Allee (next to the Opera Graz)

      FAQ     

HOW MANY SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE?

Of course, we have a limited contingent, but that depends on ESN Austria and the number of participants from other Austrian sections. We might get some additional spots in the near future and will notify you, if you are on the waiting list.

DO I HAVE TO PAY THE FULL PRICE, IF I HAVE A VALID SKI PASS FOR THAT SKI REGION?

No, you will get a reduced basic price.

WHICH EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?

• You can bring your own ski/snowboard equipment or rent it for 2 days (check the costs section for price information).
• Please bring appropriate warm clothing for skiing/snowboarding!
• Please bring appropriate non-slipping shoes for the torch hike.
• Please bring an ID card (passport, etc.)!
• Please bring glasses/goggles (you need to protect your eyes up in the mountains)!
• Please bring confirmation of your health insurance (e.g. the European Health Insurance Card and/or any sports specific insurance)

Useful things are also:

• sun cream / sunglasses
• clothes for 3 days (note that it is always chillier in the mountains!)
• warm jacket (again, mountains)
• comfy clothes for the hotel / (slippers)
• extra towel
• water bottle and snacks
• some money
• confirmation of payment (you will get that during signing up process from us)

I DO NOT HAVE CLOTHES FOR SKIING! WHERE COULD I GET SOME?

You might not buy some just for that event, but beware - normal street clothes are not possible (and you would not be happy with it anyway). Maybe you know someone to borrow you appropriate clothing for skiing or you could rent it already in Graz? Some sport shops do offer that, but ESN Graz does not have a cooperation.

NOTE - The ski/snowboard rental at the event does NOT rent such skiing/snowboarding clothes and/or glasses/goggles!

SKI/SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTION FOR EACH LEVEL?

Yes, we will ask you during registration process, how good are you, or which kind of lessons you would like to have (like it's told in section 'registration').

If you never skied or snowboarded before it's strongly recommended to take an instructor and to take ski lessons instead of snowboard lessons!

I'M SO EXCITED! COULD YOU GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SKI REGION?

Take a look at the map of the ski region here! You can interactively switch on the slopes.

(blue slopes are for beginners, red slopes for advanced and black ones for experts only)

IS THERE ANY INFORMATION FROM THE A.L.P.S OC?

Sure, you can find more information here. But we think we covered everything here - if not please contact us or ask during our office hours!

Please note: When you take part in one of our events, you do so at your own risk and your own responsibility! We do not take any responsibility! Make sure that you have appropriate insurance!