Singer Sporthotel & SPA, Berwang, Austria by marketing deluxe

Singer’s Gäste-News Winter 2014/2015

Ski Fun x 3

Ski, ski and more ski –

for beginners, returners, families, children and bon vivants For the bon vivant skier – your pleasure is our passion

Ski, spa & culinary experiences beyond compare at the Singer Sporthotel & SPA – our hotel combines all the qualities of a great winter sports holiday. After an exhilarating day on the slopes with a stop for lunch at the Singer Stub’n, enjoy the après ski attractions

back2ski –

rediscover the pleasure of skiing! On your skis, get set, go... ...accept that getting back into the swing of skiing after a long break is not that easy. Do you yearn to ski down perfectly groomed slopes, feel the wind and sun on your face, and to gaze at the snow covered mountain panorama as you glide through the sparkling whiteness? Baby breaks, injury, too much on at work – all kinds of things can get between people and their skis and, after a long period of ski abstinence, many ‘returnees’ can’t wait to experience the joy of a perfect day on the slopes. If only I hadn’t left it so long after the last time... They say that the first step (back) is always the hardest, so we have made it as easy and pleasant as possible with a special package designed especially for you, and our back2ski activities, which are just as suitable for ski novices.

One of the first rewards for your return to the slopes is waiting for you at the Sonnalmbahn upper terminus where the glorious mountain views will take your breath away. After an ‘uplifting’ experience, treat yourself to a warming and nerve settling Jagertee at Johannes’ après ski umbrella bar;-)

back2ski • 7 nights indulgence half board • Ski pass for 4 out of 6 days (supplement for 6-day ski pass €50) • Ski hire for 6 days: platinum skis and boots provided by Sport Hofherr • 2 x 2 hours of one to one ski instruction provided by Berwang’s ski school • Your back2ski set: welcome schnapps, daily fitness sessions, and some refreshing mountain pine lotion for your legs • Calf massage (25mins) Sample rates per person: Rainberg – standard double room €1,571

By the way, at the Berwang ski resort it’s all about skiing and the pleasure of skiing. There are no long queues for lifts, no crowds on the slopes – in Berwang the term ‘easy going’ applies to more than just the après ski. This means that you’re in the best possible place for getting (back) into the swing of skiing.

Galtjoch – deluxe double room €1,725

at Johannes’ umbrella bar. A fantastic day’s skiing needs to be celebrated in style before relaxing in Singer’s SPA or taking a refreshing dip in the heated outdoor swimming pool. Wonderful massages and treatments energise you in time for the evening and a culinary

finale of creative and traditional dishes from our gourmet kitchen. Concluding the evening in the relaxing atmosphere of our Lounge Bar at Mr Thomas is simply a must. Well? Are you tempted?

Family skiing holiday – fun for all

Plenty of room for young and old From long johns to headbands, ski socks to bobble hats – family skiing holidays are a logistical challenge. Our family double rooms, family suites and family apartments provide spacious retreats for everyone. Ski fun for the little ones – Bobos Kinderclub® at Berwang’s ski school A top priority for kids who are learning to ski is having lots of fun! Bobos Kinderclub® ensures that their first skiing experience is in a safe environment with highly qualified instructors. Lessons are held in small groups, and the children are taught age-appropriately.

The fun and joy of skiing are at the heart of every lesson. Tots aged 3 to 3.99 learn in groups of two or three, and their daily lessons take an hour and a quarter. Children aged 4 to 5 spend two hours a day on the slopes with their instructor, and kids aged 5 to 15 can have up to four hours of fun a day on the piste, depending on their age and aptitude. The highlight of every ski course is the children’s ski race held every Thursday. Every competitor receives a medal and a certificate!

Thaneller – deluxe junior suite €1,900

Our top notch, family-friendly, tailormade skiing holidays include free ski passes for children up to 5 (proof of age required).

SINGER! @ S G N I SAV FAMILY children up to 5 : TOP TOP

fre ski for

Singer’s Gäste-News

Winter 2014/2015

Stemming is so old school!

Waist steering and race carving are the hip and happening things on the slopes today! An interview with Walter Falger of Berwang’s ski school

Mr Falger, what’s so special about your ski school? Walter Falger One of our great advantages has to be the topography of this ski area. We have the ideal training ground to facilitate a smooth transition from absolute beginner to competent skier. We are also equipped with a modern infrastructure that includes our brand new conveyor belt for beginners and children. Of course, accessibility is hugely important. Berwang’s ski school is located in the village centre, and can be reached without the ski bus. The quality of our work is dear to our hearts, so we are delighted that Berwang ski school has been awarded a Tyrolean Ski Instructors’ Association ‘Quality Award’. How would you describe our ski area? Walter Falger It’s a family-friendly ski resort where you never have to fear that you might get stuck on top of the mountain because of bad weather. We have great piste connections, wide slopes, gentle descents and modern lifts.

Another plus is that we are relatively independent of the weather. Our slopes never have to be closed because of ice or avalanches, and we always have an overview of the ski area. Even when it’s stormy, you can have great days on Berwang’s slopes as well as fabulous refreshment stops. Does the ski school have many students who want to refresh their skiing skills after a break? Walter Falger Yes of course. We get many enquiries from ‘old hands’ wanting to get back on their skis. What can you offer these returners? Walter Falger We have instructors who deal specifically with returners and run group courses of no more than 7 people to help them back onto the slopes. We also recommend that skiers who are returning after a sports injury or who feel apprehensive about getting

back into their skiing boots should have one to one lessons. These include an initial observation and assessment followed by video analysis and subsequent instruction.

The carving ski has probably saved Alpine skiing. Everyone, including us in Berwang, is seeing a much larger proportion of skiers than snowboarders since the carving era began.

How has does skiing today differ from skiing 20 years ago? Walter Falger We have shifted away from strength and stem turns, and now focus more on technique and carving turns, and balance is the key. Of course this has also affected ski design. Today, we have carving skis with various waist widths to suit different abilities whereas 20 years ago skis generally had no waist and were two metres long.

We used to hear instructors tell their students to put their weight on the downhill ski. Is this statement still on trend or has it been replaced by something else? Walter Falger laughs Although skiing has been modernised, it hasn’t changed completely. We do still use this phrase quite a lot, but we also tell people to switch edges and we have moved on from good old stemming to carving turns.

We now expend less effort on the piste and there is a higher equilibrium factor. The classic parallel technique has developed into hip width carving, which is executed at various levels of difficulty.

Berwang ski facts

As far as I’m concerned, it’s a real joy to get returners back up and skiing. When they’re finally able to go down a slope without giving it a lot of thought, and you see them get a buzz out of skiing again... sharing that is a real privilege! What advice can you give our returners? Walter Falger Prepare thoroughly with the help of ski fitness sessions. This makes it so much easier to get back into the swing of things. It’s best to start the exercises well before you leave for your skiing holiday. www.skischule-berwang.at

What are your experiences of skiers who return after injury? Walter Falger Every ski instructor will have had their own, different experiences in this respect. This is because we approach every student and their reason for taking a break from skiing separately and individually.

Arrive, pick up and ski –

thanks to a comprehensive ski & equipment rental service Ski-in and ski-out: the Singer Sporthotel & SPA is situated directly adjacent to the ski slope and the Sonnalmbahn cable car, which provides access to the Berwang ski resort. Berwang ski resort: 36km of slopes and 12 lifts – all connected and reachable on skis without unbuckling. Location: Berwang is located at 1,336m above sea level in an area of high snowfall. The ski runs are at 1,000-1,740m above sea level and thus at moderately high altitudes. Snow guarantee: snow canons produce additional snow on 80% of the slopes.

Ideal for families: all the ski slopes lead back to village, so you can meet up with friends & family members at any time and anywhere along the way – refreshments are available in the valley and on the mountain. Ski fun: there is an obstacle park for young guns in the Thanellerlift ski area. Weekly night skiing and ski shows. Ski pass: the only ski pass you need to access all of the region’s ski resorts is the Top Snow Card. Ski pass available at hotel reception.

Shuttle service: during the holiday seasons (22 Dec 2014 – 4 Jan, 15 – 28 Feb, and 29 Mar – 5 Apr 2015) a free hotel shuttle to the ski school assembly point operates twice a day, otherwise it’s a 7 minute walk. Ski lessons: a great way for ski returners to refresh their skills is to book a ski instructor for one to one lessons. Berwang’s ski school instructors pick up and return hotel guests before and after lessons. Glacier skiing: the Zugspitzplatt glacier at 3,000m above sea level is accessible by car and only a 15 minute drive from the hotel.

Is your ski equipment no longer up to date? Has the effort and expense of transporting skis, boots and poles from home lost its appeal? Sport Hofherr’s ski rental service offers the latest, top of the range equipment and what’s more is located next door to the hotel! It really couldn’t be easier or more convenient.

Singer’s Gäste-News

Winter 2014/2015

Leave your skis in the locker –

for a different wintertime snow adventure Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, ice skating and curling. The area around the Singer Sporthotel & SPA offers many gentle winter sports opportunities that are perfect for enjoying the fresh Alpine air and leaving your tracks off-piste. As part of our activity programme we invite you to join our guide Gerd Amann or our SPA Director Theresa to explore the area’s mountains, cross country ski runs and ice rinks – great ways to get to know our countryside. As the day draws to a close, you can look forward to tobogganing by moonlight: the crowning conclusions to any Alpine holiday in winter! Naturally, we also have an extensive indoor exercise programme for those days when you’d rather not brave the icy elements. Enjoy meditation, Yoga, aerobics and many other activities in the gym and fitness area with stunning views over the magical winter landscape.

Aching muscles? No thank you! What do you need for a good skiing holiday? Snow, good equipment, a lift pass, and perhaps a ski instructor... Here at the Singer Sporthotel & SPA we like to go the extra mile, and our SPA Director and sports physiotherapist Theresa and her SPA team are there for you before and after the piste. Our varied morning exercise programme including ski fitness, stretching and back exercises is an ideal way to get ready for the day’s skiing. In the afternoon, our masseuses and masseurs bear down on any aches and pains with

calf treatments and Tyrolean massages. Enjoy a revitalising post ski sauna and then venture outside for an exhilarating snow angel. After that, it’s simply a case of lying back and relaxing. If despite your most disciplined exercise efforts and daily saunas you still feel sore, our sports physiotherapist Theresa will give you the best possible care. Whether it’s with kinesiology tape, manual lymphatic drainage, vitality packs or functional training exercises – we’ll get you up and skiing again!

Allow yourself plenty of time for your return to the pistes, and take a day off to relax and enjoy one of Singer’s Bistro’s restorative vitamin cocktails by the open fire. A ‘day off ’ does not mean you need to miss out on any outdoor activities – Theresa will be delighted to take you on a Nordic walk in the mountains, or you might like to join our guide Gerd for a snowshoe walk to more remote areas.

Our winter activity programme: cross country skiing • snowshoeing • curling • tobogganing by moonlight • walking by torchlight • horse drawn sleigh rides • Yoga & meditation • back exercises & aqua gym • Nordic winter fitness • winter walks

Get fit for the piste with Theresa’s ski exercise tips! As a sports physiotherapist and passionate skier myself, I recommend that you prepare yourself with a few easy but effective exercises that you should start practising 3-4 weeks before your skiing holiday begins. Whether you’re a novice, expert, or returner – this will help you avoid sore muscles and musculoskeletal fatigue. To ensure a smooth return to the pistes you need to train balance and coordination as well as strength. With this in mind, I have put together a few of my favourite exercises for you to do at home:

Squats –

Lunges –

Our thigh muscles bear the brunt of all our ski moves and therefore need particular attention prior to venturing out onto the slopes.

As well as being the fashion model’s favourite exercise thanks to its toning effect on buttock and thigh muscles, it also builds strength, which is a prerequisite for safe skiing.

the classic

• Starting position: stand with your feet at shoulder width apart • Now squat down until your thighs and lower legs are at a 90° angle • Do 3 sets of 15 repetitions each • To intensify: hold the position for 20 seconds at the end of each set and simultaneously shift your weight from left to right (downhill skiing movement).

for balance and strength

• Starting position: step forward with one leg slightly bent at the knee and stretch the other leg behind with the foot on its toes • Go deep into the lunge making sure that your front knee does not extend over the toes. Return to a standing position. • 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions on each side • To intensify: from the standing position, bring the back leg forward and simultaneously go into a squat

Wedeling ski turns –

Balancing exercise –

• Starting position: place feet and knees together, bending slightly at the knee and hip • Jump with both legs from right to left and then from left to right • Repeat for 1 minute – increase by 30 seconds every week

To make sure that I actually do my balancing exercises every day, I stand on one slightly bent leg while I brush my teeth, and close my eyes. If this causes you to wobble too much, keep your eyes open and hold on to the edge of the washbasin. This way, you’ll benefit from a twice daily balancing workout.

looks great on the slopes

for a strong foothold

Singer’s Gäste-News

Winter 2014/2015

The year in review Relais & Châteaux Gourmetfestival On 14 September 2014, the Relais & Châteaux Gourmet Festival brought two distinctive kitchen virtuosi to the Singer Sporthotel & SPA. Michelin-starred chef Dirk Schröer from the Relais & Châteaux Burg Schwarzenstein made a guest appearance based on the idea of a

meeting between Rheingau and Tyrol. This evening of delectable delights began with Moët & Chandon Champagne and was followed by a 6-course dinner that included trout, wild salmon, foie gras, venison and chocolate fondant. The finest Hennessy XO was served to conclude the splendid repast.

85 years of the Singer Sporthotel & SPA We celebrated this special anniversary with our guests and friends, and were blessed with fabulous weather. The week’s festivities included an Alpine breakfast at the Kögele hut, a kitchen party with

award-winning chef Thomas Kunath and his team, a hike with our guide Gerd, and in conclusion a gala dinner with speeches by our Mayor Dietmar Berkthold and Hermann Oberreiter, Chairman of the

Department of Tourism, as well as many memories of the Hotel Singer of yesteryear and the Singer Sporthotel & SPA of today.

Singer’s Golf Cup We staged our 10th Singer’s Golf Cup this year and though the weather failed to cooperate, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their game and the subsequent gala evening.

We joined forces with BMW! Many thanks to BMW – our guests loved driving your luxury saloon!