ALPINE KNOWLEDGE

Practical knowledge. For better decisions on the mountain.

Many years’ experience as a skier, coach, mountain guide and instructor form the foundation of Alpine Knowledge. Practical knowledge, sound methods and personal experience – for better technique, improved performance and safe decision-making in the alpine environment.

From skiing technique and performance, through planning and risk management, to snow, terrain and decision-making: this isn’t about theory for theory’s sake, but about knowledge that works out there on the mountain.

Skier turning on a groomed piste against the low sun

Knowledge that inspires.

Alpine Expertise

Skiing & Freeride Performance

Freerider in deep powder with a plume of snow

Improve your skiing technique and develop a better understanding of movement, balance and control on the slopes. From the basics to advanced freeride techniques – with a focus on technical training, biomechanics and physical requirements.

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Movement & Decision-Making

Aerial view of a skier carving with a deep edge angle – ski technique

Good performance starts with efficient movement and clear decision-making. Discover how tactics, coordination, motor learning and mental skills interact and influence your actions on the mountain.

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Planning & Risk Management

Snow cornice above a deep-snow alpine valley – recognising avalanche hazards

A good run begins long before you make your first turn. Learn how to plan your freeride days systematically, assess risks and put tried-and-tested methods – such as the 3×3 filter method – to good use in practice.

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Terrain & Leadership

Group of ski tourers cheering in sunny high-alpine terrain

Reading the terrain, assessing situations correctly and acting safely as a team. This section covers terrain features, route selection, individual slope assessment, communication and the basics of responsible leadership in the alpine environment.

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Big Mountain & Equipment

Backpack, poles and touring skis in the snow – ski touring equipment

Challenging terrain places particular demands on people, technology and equipment. From glaciers and exposed ridges to couloirs and abseil points – complemented by practical knowledge of skis, boots and emergency equipment.

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What you need to know – Everything you need to know at a glance
Key facts at a glance

Each programme is tailored to your individual objectives, skills, experience and availability. As a first step, Markus will work with you to determine which format suits you best – simply fill in the contact form.

t. +43 650 266 5292
m: office@markusmorandell.com

Kalkofenstraße 10d
6425 Haiming

Yes – corporate events, group sessions, talks and special formats are available on request.

The pre-season performance sessions take place on the glacier in Sölden (from October). Ski performance coaching and alpine performance & risk management are held in Sölden or on the Arlberg (Lech, Zürs, St. Anton, Stuben), depending on the programme and as agreed.

State-certified mountain and ski guide, state-certified ski and snowboard instructor, former national team athlete and national coach, former head coach of the Swiss national snowboard team, long-standing member of the Austrian national coaching team.

To begin with, we’ll clarify your personal goals, your current level and the areas you’d like to work on. Right from your first runs, I’ll be observing your movement patterns, timing, balance and how you handle the prevailing snow and terrain conditions.

Based on this, we’ll develop targeted adjustments that will make the biggest difference for you. Depending on the situation, we’ll work on specific movement exercises, different turning radii and speeds, varied terrain or short technical sequences.

The key here isn’t perfect movement according to a set formula, but a functional technique that can adapt to different situations.

As the session progresses, we increasingly apply what we’ve worked on to free skiing. In this way, individual technical cues become movements that feel natural and can be reliably recalled even under changing conditions.

No two coaching sessions are therefore exactly the same – your goals, your skiing ability, the terrain and the current conditions determine the focus.

After the summer break, the initial focus is on rediscovering your own sense of movement and building a solid foundation for the coming season.

To begin with, we’ll get an overview of your current level. This is less about a formal assessment of technique and more about asking: Which movements are already working well? Where are there issues with timing, balance or confidence? And which habits might have crept in?

We’ll then work specifically on the most important fundamentals. Depending on your skiing ability, these may include balance, mobility, pressure build-up, turn control, rhythm or adapting to different speeds and turn radii.

The focus is on quality rather than quantity. Short, targeted exercises alternate with free skiing, so that new movement patterns can be integrated back into a natural sequence of movements as quickly as possible.

By the end of the session, you shouldn’t simply have ‘been skiing again’, but should have a clear sense of where you stand and what you should be focusing on during the first few weeks of the season.

A day like this doesn’t begin with the first descent, but rather with our joint planning.

We assess the current conditions, weather, snow cover, avalanche risk and possible terrain options, and discuss together what decisions this will inform for the day.

Whilst out on the mountain, this plan is constantly reviewed. The terrain, snow, visibility, the group and current observations can provide new information and alter the original assessment.

It is not just about which decision is made, but above all about how it is reached: Which pieces of information are relevant? Which ones can be misleading? What alternatives are there? Where do unnecessary risks arise? And when does it make sense to adjust the original plan?

Depending on the focus, we combine these decision-making processes with topics such as skiing technique, terrain selection, line choice, group organisation, communication and tactical behaviour.

The result is not a theoretical course in the traditional sense, but a practical day out in the terrain, where perception, decision-making, movement and risk management are directly interlinked.

The aim is not simply to adopt decisions, but to increasingly be able to understand the underlying thought and decision-making processes for oneself.

Skier in a red jacket making a dynamic turn on a freshly groomed slope
Personal coaching
begins with a
clear discussion.
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