STANDING at the top of an Austrian mountain, I can't believe I've made it - but it's the next stage that's the challenge.

Get the skis lined up, bend the knees, and off we go! Gliding down the slope, I'm talking to myself all the way, trying to recall when to shift my weight from one foot to the other to turn, which knee to bend more and all the other things I've been taught.

It might not be pretty, but I'm doing it - I'm actually skiing.

It's now that I can finally understand why skiers return year after year, waxing lyrical about pistes and powder.

As I sail down the relatively quiet blue run in Austria's St Johann in Tirol, I can feel the same addictive adrenaline.

At the ripe old age of 31, my husband finally persuaded me that skiing would be a great holiday. The only problem was, I'd only done it once and hated it.

I couldn't think of anything worse than being at the top of a cold, snowy mountain, crying as I fell over, again and again.

Thank goodness then for Go Ski Go Board, a new scheme that helps you learn to ski in the UK, so by the time you go on holiday you can enjoy the pistes from a normal view, rather than sliding down on your behind.

You have three two-hour lessons before you go and the price includes everything, so you don't have splash out on kit until you're certain skiing is for you.

When I arrived at the slope in the UK, it did look rather intimidating.

Putting skis on for the first time was all a bit alien but our instructor soon had us inching sideways up the nursery slop and snowploughing our way down.

By the end of week three, we were ready to face the real world.

Which brings me to Austria.

No husband this time; just me and my fellow beginners translating our snowdome lessons to the big wide world.

Ski instructor Harry's motto is "learning by doing". There's no messing around on green slopes here. After picking up our kit, we have a test run on the nursery slope and we are straight on a chair lift up to our first blue run.

St Johann in Tirol is part of the Kitzbuheler Alpen in the Tirol region. Perfect for beginners and families, it's a great place for us to start, full of long, wide blue runs where you can hone your skills.

As we perch on the top for the first time, it's a quick yell from Harry and we're off. Of course, this is pretty different to an indoor slope, but before long we're making our way down with whoops and smiles all the way.

Being new to skiing, I was also new to the legend that is apres ski and I was sceptical. I mean, it's just like going to the pub or a restaurant, but up a mountain.

But after the first night I'm converted. There is nothing like enjoying a warm gluhwein (mulled wine) halfway up a mountain, surveying the winter wonderland around you.

St Johann is great for both mid-slope and bottom-of-the-slope sessions, from the Grander Schupf Restaurant, where you can tuck into traditional Austrian dishes, or the Angerer Alm, which boasts one of the best-stocked wine cellars in the Alps.

Being a family-friendly resort, St Johann doesn't fit the debauched stereotype of some ski destinations. By mid-evening the bars have started winding down, so everyone can get home for a good night's sleep ahead of another day's skiing.

Ellen Branagh was a guest of Crystal Ski (www.crystalski.co.uk; 0871 231 2256) who offer a week's half board at the Hotel Bruckenwirt in St Johann from £335, including flights from Glasgow. A 'first-time' ski or board package includes six-day lift pass, equipment hire, and 20 hours tuition from £254.