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Hong Kong-born teenager Andy Cheng wants to be the first Chinese person to pass Austria's federal ski instructor exam - one of the toughest ski schools in the world. The 17-year-old moved to the Austrian Alps to improve his ski instructing and has already reached Austria's level 2.

"I would like to reach the highest level - the 'staatliche' exam in Austria," Cheng told CGTN Europe and added that he wants to eventually return to China. "This exam will get me very well prepared to organize and to improve the ski industry in China."

Austria's federal ski instructor exam is considered one of the most difficult in the world. It takes up to five years of preparation and requires not only excellent skiing skills, but also in-depth knowledge of equipment, snow conditions, avalanches and first aid.

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Winter sports are booming in China - but ski instructors are in short supply. For those hoping to teach the art of the slopes, heading to the European Alps is an obvious option and learn from the best.

Andy Cheng has big ambitions in the snow in China./ CGTN Europe

A few years ago, Austrian ski school operator Bernhard Ratschiller noticed Andy's potential at a skiing simulator in Shanghai. He suggested Andy could improve his skills in Austria. But he also wanted to make Austria's skiing knowledge more widely accessible for those unable to relocate. So he started creating a ski school app.

"You don't have to grow up at the mountains to become a good skier," Bernhard said. "Even if you grow up like Andy in Shanghai in the big city. if you have the dream and that motivation as a kid you can achieve that as well."

Bernhard has now successfully trained 500 Chinese ski instructors. The new app for his instructor school will allow him to reach even more people in China and across the world.

"You go online onto the platform, you pick your coach, and you will immediately have the access to the trainers in Austria," Bernhard added. The trainers then give regular feedback on the user's videos and coach them through the season."