Tyrolean winter sports expertise also in demand in China

delegation from the Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association is currently on a working visit to China to further expand international cooperation in the field of ski instructor training. The program includes a visit to the world's largest indoor ski facility in Shenzhen and a presentation of Austrian ski instruction at the University of Hong Kong.

The Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association visits the world's largest indoor ski facility, "Qianhai Huafa Snow World," in Shenzhen | © Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association

The Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association, represented by President Richard Walter, Vice President Rainer Schultes, Head of Ski Training Simon Egger, and Managing Director Christian Abenthung, used the trip to further expand its cooperation with China and deepen the exchange in the field of snow sports. Since this winter, the Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association has been conducting ski instructor training courses in China together with its Chinese partner company, "Shihui Sports Culture Development." The Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association is thus making an important contribution to the international development of winter sports. "Winter sports are developing very dynamically in China. For us, it is a great opportunity to contribute our many years of experience and the high quality of Austrian ski instructor training internationally and to build new partnerships," emphasizes Richard Walter, President of the Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association.

During their visit, the delegation toured the Qianhai Huafa Snow World indoor ski resort in Shenzhen. Since its opening in 2025, it has been considered the world's largest indoor ski resort. Five ski slopes are available on a snow surface of approximately 100,000 square meters – roughly the size of eleven football fields. The longest run measures 441 meters with a vertical drop of around 83 meters.

In addition to discussions with representatives from business and politics in the metropolis of Shenzhen, the delegation also presented Tyrolean and Austrian ski instruction systems and the economic and touristic significance of Tyrolean and Austrian winter tourism at the renowned University of Hong Kong. The delegation then traveled to Beijing, where they held talks with the Beijing Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Austrian Embassy in China, and the General Administration of Sport of the People's Republic of China.

The Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association was founded in 1932 and has always stood for the highest level of knowledge transfer in snow sports. In numerous courses, participants receive comprehensive theoretical and practical training in alpine (skiing and snowboarding) as well as Nordic (cross-country) skiing. Tyrol has more than 400 ski schools, where around 7,000 ski, snowboard, and cross-country ski instructors teach over 800,000 guests each season. Approximately 70% of ski school guests are children.