First Time Ski - Soll

Ive just booked a New Years Ski Holiday for my other half and I to Soll. We are TOTAL Ski virgins so have booked a beginners ski tuition pack which includes passes, ski hire and lessons.

Looking for any recommendations, of places to go, how to spend New Years, what clothing we should bring etc....Any advice for first timers skiing would be super! :-)

We leave on the 27th and hope for snow :shock:

Welcome to skiing - it is a truly wonderful sport but beware it is addictive. Once you get a taste, it tends to become a compulsion for very many people :P.

Soll is a lovely and lively resort. It is quite compact so you will figure out where to go fairly easily. I would try to book something for New Years Eve before you head out. It is a really big night in Austria and most of the hotels will be laying on Gala evenings with fancy meals, music and dancing. There will almost certainly be a big firework display at midnight as well :shock:.

In terms of the skiing, the 1st couple of days may be a little frustrating as you will probably only get as far as the beginner slope just up from the village. However, it won't be long before your instructor is taking you up the mountain proper and you will get a sense of what the mountains have to offer :lol: One piece of advice - do not attempt to ski down to the village at the end of the day - it is a difficult run that is definitely not suitable for a total beginner. Always take the gondola down :wink:

Gloves!
Get good warm and waterproof gloves.

Make sure you take in some after ski Apres at the Salvenstadl bar. Some times referred to as the 'cross roads bar'. Although now there is an underpass, you cant miss it as its at the bottom of the gondola road to the main part of Soll. Great atmosphere, good live music, look out for 'Frog on the Tyne' they usually arrive that week. I'm sure the Glen the DJ will still be there.

Have you thought about having some lessons in a snowdome before you go?
If you've never had skis on before it can be rather a shock to the system!

We have been to Soll the last 2 seasons, including Xmas last year - thoroughly enjoyed both times.
Would echo previous comments here. Worth having a few lessons on dry slopes before you go, even if only to get used to the equipment and button lift. New years eve is big night in Austria - worth booking restaurants before you go. Best for us was Whiskey Mule (fantastic steaks - check out their menu on-line), the Bella Vita (bit more expensive) and the Dorf Stubn (more of an Austrian feel and food and very cosy place). We found booking very easy by phone and e-mail.
We used the ski school each time and found them excellent - really make the effort to help you enjoy your holiday.
The Salvenstadl is a great apres-ski bar - often has live music, but there are loads of good bars. Check out the hotel bars near the Gondola - always a great atmosphere anytime we went in.
There are 2 home runs. The red is not for beginners. The blue is a fairly gentle run, but narrow and if snow conditions are not good it can be tricky but do-able (take advice from your instructor as they will know if you are fit for it). There is great bar near the bottom of this run, nicknamed the Dark Bar because its usually dark when you leave it - but only leaves a very gentle run home (conditions permitting).
Soll is part of the Ski Welt area, which is huge, but as beginners you will probably not see much more than Soll. If you do fancy a different area I would recommend grabbing a taxi to Scheffau (about €10) as there are a number of excellent blue runs there for beginners.
Food and drink up in the mountain is very good value and quality.
I am sure you will have great time there.

This is perfect for you, it's called "how to be a skier"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPg4HuIQt9c

Seriously, welcome to the sport!!!!

Thank you everyone - getting very excited now. Looking into lessons at my local Snow Dome in Hemel, approaching friends to borrow ski stuff and searching for snow reports.

Great advice!