 Poster: A snowHead
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| Shimmy Alcott wrote: |
| Kel, I'm exactly the same as you...want to go to Austria to save some money but I look at all the piste maps in the ski brochures and cant see one that really jumps out at me. |
x2.
Kel, for some reason I've never considered Austria to be on the radar either. Irrational, I know.
But, anticipating we probably will have good snow again this season, there may be a couple of last minutes to Europe, so Austria intrigues me.
Showing my naivety, is there good off-piste available in Austria, mainly within the area, with few restrictions (where sensible), and no guide needed?
Don't mind a fair walk to the lifts, or smallish area, or quieter apres. Not bothered about "chocolate box" villages either, but have always preferred reasonable base altitude, and basic but clean/warm digs.
(Sorry, if this is hijacking, please split it off).
John.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
mainly within the area
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I think that's just a North American way of seeing things, isn't it? In Europe you're either on the marked piste, or off it.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
mainly within the area
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I think that's just a North American way of seeing things, isn't it? In Europe you're either on the marked piste, or off it. |
Yes.
I guess I'm asking "is unguided off-piste, for the competent, ok?" Some places I've been in Europe it's not been allowed (or a grey area).
John.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
I tend to like the Austrian or Germanic Swiss ski resorts because I enjoy being in the minority/foreigner, rather than heading to the Brit enclaves of Courchevel/Meribel/Val Thorens/Verbier etc., where the language of choice in the Queen's English
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I like all those things too, but there are plenty of places in France where being Anglophone puts you in a small minority. One of our friends, particularly challenged in the language department, actually failed to reserve a table for dinner at our local restaurant where the proprietor speaks not a single word of English. They just had a complete comms failure - a bit dim on both their parts, really, as a few scribbled notes of time and numbers would have done the trick.
I have said it already but will say it again because of the constant appearance of quotes like the one above. The choice is between big well known resorts used extensively by British tour operators and small, much more local, places which retain more character and are more attractive to some holiday makers. It isn't just Austria versus France, for gooness' sake! I stayed in an Italian hotel - near Cortina - where the proprietors didn't speak a word of English too, though the young waitress spoke a few words to match with my very few of Italian. As far as I could make out when we paid our bill we were the first British guests they'd had. The entire place was full of Italians - it was great.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Kel, what's a Yetti bar? If it's guaranteed full of drunk Brits who are inclined to spew on the icy pavement on the way home then no, there aren't any round our way. 
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| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
I tend to like the Austrian or Germanic Swiss ski resorts because I enjoy being in the minority/foreigner, rather than heading to the Brit enclaves of Courchevel/Meribel/Val Thorens/Verbier etc., where the language of choice in the Queen's English
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I have said it already but will say it again because of the constant appearance of quotes like the one above. The choice is between big well known resorts used extensively by British tour operators and small, much more local, places which retain more character and are more attractive to some holiday makers. It isn't just Austria versus France, for gooness' sake! I stayed in an Italian hotel - near Cortina - where the proprietors didn't speak a word of English too, though the young waitress spoke a few words to match with my very few of Italian. As far as I could make out when we paid our bill we were the first British guests they'd had. The entire place was full of Italians - it was great. |
The OP specifically referred to his/her preference to mega motorway km piste-filled resort and was struggling to come up with an Austrian equivalent due to the smallish size of the resorts, hence the direction of the discussion (Austrian resorts can compare to the mega French ones), and suggesting smaller French resorts was not really an option because he/she seemed reluctant to consider the Austrian equivalent of the small lower altitude cosy French resort.
But you are right, French skiing is not limited to the mega resorts, even though at times it is seems that wat on  
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| BCjohnny wrote: |
| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
mainly within the area
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I think that's just a North American way of seeing things, isn't it? In Europe you're either on the marked piste, or off it. |
Yes.
I guess I'm asking "is unguided off-piste, for the competent, ok?" Some places I've been in Europe it's not been allowed (or a grey area).
John. |
It does depend on where you go, but there is certainly plenty of it available in many places. And yes, you are (usually) allowed to go there.
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alex_heney, thanks.
Which areas? How can I find out? And can it change, say week to week (excluding avi reasons, poor cover etc)?
When you go to Ca, you pretty much know what you're getting. Unless it's dumping, spending the whole time "on-piste" wouldn't appeal.
Cheers, John.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Kel, go to France you'll hate Austria
Shimmy Alcott, I wouldn't rely on the TO brochure piste maps, often out of date with lifts missing, non-existent lifts marked or lifts and runs in the wrong places. The Ski Welt is one example of this and then their own map isn't all that clear.
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BCjohnny, The Arlberg has something like 285km of pisted runs, 180km of iteneries plus off piste. The iteneries are the 'grey' area - marked routes but not (in the main) pisted - although did notice one this year that had been pisted.
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You know it makes sense.
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boabski, Cheers.
John.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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| BCjohnny wrote: |
alex_heney, thanks.
Which areas? How can I find out? And can it change, say week to week (excluding avi reasons, poor cover etc)?
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It doesn't generally change, apart from conditions, no. Obviously, the longer it is since the last dump. the more tracked it will be, but that is true everywhere.
I don't really do off-piste, so can only go by what things look like, and where I have seen other people going. In the last two years, I have been to the Zillertal and to the Ski Welt
In the Zillertal, there were what looked like huge areas available between the Zell am Ziller side and the Gerlos side of the Zillertal Arena. I think there was also quite a bit (but busier) in the Mayrhofen area too.
The Ski Welt had a fair number of itineraries, but also loads of off-piste between most of the pistes.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Off piste in Austria is just as changeable as anywhere, really, but there's loads of v accessable stuff. This is about 3km from Obertauern (sp?), I guess. Poor photo quality, but it gives you an idea.
[img]http://snowmediazone.com/the_zone/data/500/CC_skiing.bmp[/img]
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Wed 23-09-09 13:34; edited 2 times in total
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hey Guys. I would suggest St.Anton...... it has everything..... I would say that because I live there!!! However check out www.st-antonamarlberg.eu
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| Kel wrote: |
Looking to book a week mid March for family hols. Everyone tell's me how wonderful Austria is, trouble is when I start doing my research, I look at the Piste map too small, Hotel 200 yds from the bus stop , top station 2200 M etc etc.
The thing is I always go to the French ski factories and admittedly I am the kind of skier who likes to clock up the miles, which I know some of you will find mundane, but not me. Also want ski in ski out and somewhere that the conditions are still likely to be good in March. Les Arcs is probably my fauvorite area.
Everything I want from a holiday Austria on the face of it does not seem to provide, but all these people who tell me how good Austria is , they cant all be wrong can they. |
1. Lech;
2. Saalbach.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Interseting You look in the brochures on the net, the places that seem to come up are Kaprun and Zell am Zee, these have hardly been mentioned on here. Have to say I am amazed by everyones comments I Can feel a March trip to Ischgl may be on the cards.
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Kel, Kaprun is an excellent glacier resort, but a bit fragmented in that there are three areas - the glacier reached by a 20 minute 2-stage cable car from a car park 5 miles out of town, a local hill with 3 runs into the centre of town, and Zell am See 5 miles in the other direction. I like it, but mainly because I could get to it in 80 minutes from landing at Salzburg in a hire car, and Ryanair/Easyjet used to do 6am flights out on Friday, and 6pm flights back on Sunday for £20 in total. It has its limitations, but Zell am See is very picturesque and the area has enough to satify an intermediate for a week. You asked for something to rival the French megaresorts, and with minimal bus travel, so that ruled out both of them immediately.
I'm going back in February with my wife and her family, which will be my 4th visit. Just to confuse matters, I'm also going to Zell am Ziller in January
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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ischgl serfaus st anton lech should all be worth a look. a meal out on lech mountain hut was damn sight cheaper than most french resorts. I like fench austrian and swiss ski resorts
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| espri wrote: |
Where are you off to this time, Alex? |
I'm not sure yet that I will be able to manage it at all 
We still haven't sold our house, which means I am still doing 750 miles/week commuting, plus paying a mortgage, so funds are not in great supply.
I'm still hoping, but it will be last minute-ish to wherever is cheap(ish).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Trust it will work out, Alex. I'm just about to put my flat on the market, so I'm hoping that sells quickly.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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alex_heney, offer still stands Alex for you and the missus!
Cheapie to/from Salzburg or Munich and I'll pick you up and drop you off again - we can sort out ski hire and do days all over the place! Can't offer a Wellness area or sauna but there is an excellent thermal centre about 20 minutes away!
Think about it!
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Samerberg Sue, Well done. For all the fun and frolics, this what s is really about, people who really love skiing offering to help people who really love skiing
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You know it makes sense.
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| Kel wrote: |
| I Can feel a March trip to Ischgl may be on the cards. |
Me too, check out skyscaner....showing 29 quid each way gatwick to innsbruck
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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St Anton is not much more than an hour away from Innsbruck
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Poster: A snowHead
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Innsbruck is the best airport to land at. The mountains are so close it almost feels like the plane wings touch them!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Kel, if you're idea of a ski holiday is purely about getting out of bed, putting your skis on, skiing as much as you can, having dinner, going to bed (repeat x6) then arguably your best option will be France. However if you want a more rounded holiday then looking further afield to, say, Austria, may open your eyes.
For very many years, up until 5 or 6 years ago, I was of the same mind set as you and, save for the odd exception, always went to one of the larger Franch resorts. But then my ski holidays changed from 'a week of skiing' to 'a skiing holiday', and while I do not doubt that France has much to offer, I have found during these later years that resorts in other countries (Austria and Switzerland) have been more generally appealing. Correct, they do not offer quite the high mileage you may be used to, but they compensate in other ways, many of which have been pointed out in others replies..
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Skiing is NOT a holiday its a SPORT.
Holiday are for relaxation
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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stanton, That is your choice. It isn't everybody's choice.
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I love landing at Innsbruck too, its as if the holiday begins half an hour before you land when you start flying through the mountains. Maybe people love Austria or France or whatever for nostalgia, as the first ski hol or whatever but I first went to Mayrhofen twenty years back and I always get a warm glow going back I just don't get going anywhere in France, Andorra, US etc despite having great weeeks in them all.
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St Anton has everything - huge area (includes Lech and Zurs if you wish), the best off piste, great night life (if you want it - now I find I don't), good skiable vertical, good snow record. And I've even done ski-in ski-out there on the top edge of the village centre - not particularly expensively (I'll look up the hotel if you want to know). The main problem is if you don't want to do the standard Saturday to Saturday.
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snowball, I would be interested in the accommodation you mention, and any others you may recommend! Thanks in advance!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Planes & mountains tend not to mix. Pilot friend of mine says that Innsbruck is, by a no6 bus ride, THE HAIRIEST approach in his companies entire schedule
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I'm slowly being persuaded to dip a toe in the Austrian water. My prejuduces have pretty much all been overcome (except the one about over-enthusiastic Germanic bonhomie, but I suppose there must be somewhere you can get a drink that doesn't include thumping Euro-cheese or oompah).
Final reservation - how practical is it to drive?
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FAQ
but that is the only longer T-bar that I can think of too. And a new 6-seater chairlift is just being built to serve the same piste for this winter. The T-bar remains, slightly shortened, for those that like them.
