{"id":2275,"date":"2024-12-12T09:57:46","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T08:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peakx.at\/?p=2275"},"modified":"2025-12-03T15:25:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T14:25:38","slug":"who-is-allowed-to-lead-ski-tours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peakx.at\/en\/wer-darf-skitouren-fuehren\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is authorised to lead ski tours?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who is now authorised to lead ski tours?<\/h2>\n

In Austria, two professional groups are authorised to lead commercial ski tours. The first professional group are\u00a0State-certified mountain and ski guides<\/strong>. The second group are snow sports instructors and only those who have the\u00a0State certified ski instructor and ski guide training<\/b>\u00a0have completed.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tState-certified mountain and ski guides\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tState-certified mountain and ski guides<\/b> must complete a demanding three-year training programme. Candidates are trained in all facets of winter and summer alpinism. The training is preceded by a demanding aptitude test in which the candidates must prove their above-average skills. Every graduate of the mountain guide training course must be officially authorised. The mountain guide automatically becomes a member of the mountain guide association and must take out a comprehensive insurance package - liability insurance alone is covered for 8 million euros. This not only protects the mountain guide in the event of an accident, but also his guests.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

State-certified ski instructors & ski guides<\/h3>\n

Snow sports instructors are also comprehensively trained in alpine sports as part of their training.\u00a0Ski instructor candidates<\/strong>The first level of training receives safety training, but may only teach in the organised ski area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

National ski instructor<\/strong>\u00a0complete a seven-day alpine course and are then authorised to guide on ski routes and variants in the vicinity of pistes and lifts. However, regional ski instructors are not authorised to ascend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ski instructor\u00a0<\/strong>undergo a further week of alpine training and deepen their knowledge of alpine safety. The scope of authorisation does not yet change compared to the state ski instructor. After passing the aptitude test, qualified ski instructors can then start the ski guide training programme.<\/p>\n

The training for\u00a0Ski guide\u00a0<\/strong>lasts around 24 days. This is where training in alpine safety is perfected. In addition to theoretical parts, ski guides receive practical training in ski touring and ski mountaineering, orienteering, practical snow and avalanche awareness and mountain rescue exercises. Ski guides are authorised to lead and accompany people on ski tours and descents in open ski areas. The field of application ranges from classic ski tours to ski mountaineering in glaciated areas and ski mountaineering with alpine difficulty levels. More information about the\u00a0Ski guide training is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Important: Professional indemnity insurance<\/h3>\n

Of course, the insurance aspect does not only apply to mountain guides. State-certified ski instructors and ski guides are ONLY allowed to guide commercially as part of a ski school or with a valid licence. Why is this the case? When registering a ski school (including a \"one-man ski school\") or applying for a licence, ski guides must also provide proof of insurance.<\/p>\n

The professional liability insurance covers 7 million euros. If an accident occurs despite careful planning and safety measures and consequential damage occurs, both the guests and the guide are covered. Illegal guides do not have this insurance!<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\t„Schwarzf\u00fchrer sind nicht nur ein Sicherheitsrisiko. Ohne Berufshaftpflichtversicherung stehen Betroffene nach einem Unfall mit Folgesch\u00e4den oft mit leeren H\u00e4nden da!“\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Can the Alpine Club lead ski tours?<\/h3>\n

Together with the Austrian Alpine Club Association, the Federal Sports Academy Innsbruck organises a training course for\u00a0Instructors for ski mountaineering tours<\/b>\u00a0by. Instructors for ski mountaineering tours are authorised to lead members of alpine clubs on ski mountaineering tours (climbing glaciers and short summit ascents on rock). The training is only open to people who work in clubs, schools or other non-profit organisations.\u00a0honorary\u00a0<\/b>work. These persons are not authorised to guide for commercial purposes. The training to become a ski mountaineering instructor lasts 12 days.<\/p>\n

Who is still allowed to lead ski tours?<\/h3>\n

In addition to the people mentioned above, there is another group that is authorised to lead ski tours. In Austria, both the army and the police train their own mountain guides.\u00a0Police and army mountain guide<\/strong>\u00a0fulfil tasks that have to do with the fulfilment of official duties. Police mountain guides, for example, are responsible for investigating alpine accidents. Army mountain guides are special units that are deployed in the winter mountains. However, neither police nor army mountain guides are authorised to lead commercial ski tours.<\/p>\n

How do I recognise authorised ski guides?<\/h3>\n

The question \"Who is authorised to lead ski tours?<\/b>\" is of course inextricably linked to the recognition of authorised ski guides.<\/p>\n

State-certified and authorised\u00a0Mountain and ski guide<\/b>\u00a0must carry an identity card. They can also be recognised by the mountain guide badge of the International Mountain Guide Association. More information about\u00a0Recognition of mountain and ski guides can be found here<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0State-certified\u00a0Certified ski instructor & ski guide<\/b>\u00a0must be able to identify themselves. Only if they have a valid ski school or ski instructor licence or are employed in a ski school do they have an ID card from the relevant national ski instructor association with a valid annual stamp. The licence also shows the qualification of the snow sports instructor. State-certified ski instructors & ski guides may also wear a badge.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
Ski guide badge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
Example ski pass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Mountain\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
International Federation of Mountain Guides Badge (IFMGA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SOURCES:\u00a0<\/strong>Tyrolean Ski School Act of 1995,<\/a>\u00a0Tiroler Bergsportf\u00fchrergesetz,<\/a>\u00a0\u00d6sterreichischer Bergf\u00fchrerverband,<\/a>\u00a0Austrian Ski School Association<\/a>,\u00a0Tyrolean ski instructor regulations<\/a><\/p>\n

Author<\/h4>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo the blog
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDon't miss out: register now for spontaneous tours!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe to WhatsApp channel\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Further contributions<\/h2>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The question of \"Who is authorised to guide ski tours?\" is a concern for many recreational athletes. Anyone who joins a guided ski tour relies on the competence, qualifications and authorisation of the guide. Last but not least, your own safety depends on the decisions and guiding tactics of the ski tour guide.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1379,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t