From bobsleds to balloons in a blink

MY situation was this. Beneath me was a cigar-shaped box on metal runners. Wedged in front of me was a huge, hairy Austrian Olympic bobsled pilot.

A little beyond him, the mile-long sheet ice of the Olympic track at Igls snaked away into the distance, which could only be described as a little perturbing.

One last check to see if it really was me that was in this predicament, and off we go, letting gravity do its job.

It is good stuff, gravity, especially as you break the 100kph barrier.

All you can do is try to take it all in. The thunderous scrape of the runners, the G-force knotting your innards and the sheer thrill of incomprehensible speed. Then, 44.16 seconds later, you remember to blink. It is breathtaking, both metaphorically and literally.

But this was only a side dish to my main course of skiing in St Johann. Although my skiing level was only at the "r" of beginner, it soon became apparent that the pistes of St Johann and its surrounds offer much to suit all ages and abilities.

I was in the more than capable hands of the St Johanner Schilehkurierski school. The job, to make skiing as easy as it looks and get me on to the "m" of intermediate.

The quality of instruction was excellent. Each instructor was friendly and relaxed and each took the time to make sure everyone was improving at the required rate.

I spent the morning of day three in a private lesson. If you are serious about making noticeable improvements in a short space of time, then a private lesson is a good idea. With an instructor who is all eyes and ears, offering tips catered for your individual needs, it is amazing how sudden the improvement is.

I had been waiting years for a proper float in a hot air balloon. For it to finally happen above the snowy Alpen magnificence of the Tirol was more than I could have hoped. As our craft ascended higher, we rose above the imposing Wilder Kaiser mountain to survey the ski runs of the 2000m Kitzbuheler Horn in serene wonder.

It is as different an experience to the manic rush of bobsled as you can get, but no less enjoyable. The gentle whisper of the breeze, the odd blast from the burner and the occasional light aircraft passing below were the only sounds to interrupt the tranquillity.

We stayed at the Hotel Post, as beautiful a building as St Johann has to offer, with decorative Tirolean paintings adorning its walls. The food was excellent, and I was taken with the friendly, family atmosphere of the place.

A short train journey to Kitzbuhl is well worth it.

We went to sample the elegant architecture, the — "How much?" — shops and the bawdily enjoyable apres ski feel of the Londoner pub, the Jaegermeister-fuelled covers band making the place jump. As I gazed in awe at the famous Hannenkahn ski run which dominates the town, I decided that, with my knees, a professional downhiller might not be such a great career path after all.

If you are looking for a skiing experience that boasts 170km of runs, warm Tirolean hospitality and an adventure to remember for the rest of your days, then look no further than St Johann in Tirol. Disappointment is not an option.

Hotel Post features in the Thomsons Ski & Snowboard brochure 08/09. Seven nights half board from £414 including return flights from Bristol to Salzburg and resort transfers. You can book at www.thomsonski.co.uk.

Adult six-day Schnewinkel Lift Pass £127 to £148. Balloon flights: visit www.balloningtyrol.com or email the local tourist office at info@ferinregion.at for details.