Thanks to snow farming, the first cross-country tracks are opening as early as beginning of November. Here is how you can use short artificial snow loops for technique and building your fitness.
If you want to clock your first snow kilometres as early as beginning of November, you no longer necessarily have to head to a glacier. Reports from xc-ski.de show that locations such as Ramsau am Dachstein and Galtür in the Paznaun valley rely on snow farming: snow preserved over the summer is spread out in the valley to offer solid loops for cross-country skiers very early in autumn.
Naturally, early track offerings are more compact than in the middle of winter. In Ramsau am Dachstein, according to xc-ski.de, a 1.3-kilometre loop is available, which can be extended to around three kilometres in combination with a steeper variant. In Galtür, at an altitude of around 1,800 metres, a strip of track roughly three kilometres long is also ready. Despite autumnal temperatures, the cold—such as sub-zero temperatures overnight in Galtür—ensures a firm, compact base.
Both areas feature an elevation profile that amateur athletes should not underestimate. In Ramsau, a World Cup-worthy climb awaits, where skiers can choose between a steeper and a flatter track to manage their effort specifically. In Galtür, the route heads steadily uphill right from the start for around 800 metres before reaching a gently undulating to flat plateau. Up there, you can glide with ease before heading back to the starting point.
If you want to use the early track season to build your fitness, you should tailor your training to the elevation profile. The reports illustrate the different ways you can approach the conditions:
While the reports from cross-country skiing highlight concrete training opportunities on snow, snowboard magazine MBM is already looking ahead to gear for later winter—such as softer freestyle boots with a medium flex (5 out of 10) and bindings for playful resort laps. For your actual season start on snow, however, the early tracks offer the most direct way to rebuild a feel for edges, pressure, and coordination.
Your takeaway: Use the first short snow farming loops specifically for technique drills on the flats and manage your pace deliberately on the early climbs.
This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.