 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Snowheads
Which Austrian resorts would you recommend with plenty of red and black pistes and the option of lift served off piste? I'm looking for areas that are covered by the Salzburg Super Ski Card, so quite a few to choose from but it excludes some of the more obvious choices.
We're a group of reasonably competent recreational skiers, looking to go around late January. We've only really been to the larger French areas before, so bearing that in mind here's the wish list. A good sized, interconnected ski area (Whilst I could probably persuade my comrades to take the occasional bus, it really would be a hard sell). A good selection of more challenging red and black pistes. Access to a variety off piste terrain, and also access to a decent ski school / guide. Riotous apres is not on the list, although one of my mates has expressed a fondness for hitting nails into a log with the wrong end of a hammer.
Thank you!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Also, over the season, which are the weeks to be avoided? Christmas, New Year and Easter, of course, but when are the other times that places are going to be mobbed?
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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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@eversolazy,
Christmas week usually isn't busy.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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neither is Easter, Fasching is the week to avoid
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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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What and when is Fasching?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@eversolazy, Fasching is the week in which Lent begins. There are public celebrations and national holidays in the Catholic areas of Europe, which is relevant for Salzburgerland as this will be the main school holiday for Austria and Bavaria. In 2017 it falls in w/c 25th Feb but just like Easter, the date moves every year.
As for a resort, Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn must be on you shortlist. The interesting stuff is between Saalbach and Fieberbrunn, so you could stay in either resort. All 4 villages give access to 270km of pistes, plus the off-piste, without the need for buses. If you base yourself in Saalbach, there is a specialist freeride/off-piste ski school and guiding service - Freeride Ski School - based in the Scharlagl ski shop opposite the Turm 6 lift.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sun 17-07-16 10:12; edited 1 time in total
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Thanks guys. I'll focus my investigations on those areas. Does anyone have any thoughts about the suitability of Bad Gastein?
Are the holidays for Fasching spread over the weeks before and after, like Easter?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@eversolazy, The Fasching holiday is just one week. In 2017 it falls in week 9, which is quite late. For once it doesn't clash with the main Scandinavian, UK and Dutch weeks (7 & 8. ) so these 3 weeks may be marginally less busy than usual, although the Salzburgerland resorts are never really 'mobbed'. The only real busy time of the day is 9.30 - 10.30 when all of the ski schools are getting their kids onto the mountain.
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| eversolazy wrote: |
Thanks guys. I'll focus my investigations on those areas. Does anyone have any thoughts about the suitability of Bad Gastein?
Are the holidays for Fasching spread over the weeks before and after, like Easter? |
It's a good area but you need to travel on buses to get the most out of it and visit Bad Hofgastein/Dorfgastein/Sportgastein - there are plenty of red runs and a few blacks to keep you happy. Not sure about off-piste as we didn't try it.
Apres was a bit limited but we liked the Silver Bullet.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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There is some nice off piste around Schladming and Zauchensee.
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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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| quinton wrote: |
| @eversolazy, The Fasching holiday is just one week. In 2017 it falls in week 9, which is quite late. For once it doesn't clash with the main Scandinavian, UK and Dutch weeks (7 & 8. ) so these 3 weeks may be marginally less busy than usual, although the Salzburgerland resorts are never really 'mobbed'. The only real busy time of the day is 9.30 - 10.30 when all of the ski schools are getting their kids onto the mountain. |
Week 9 is Stockholm half term. We are stuck with that week and booked flights to Munich before realising it was Fasching. Some difficulty to find acommodation in Austria, but booked for hochfugen now 
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@eversolazy, As @quinton, has said above, the Ski Circus should be under consideration, as it ticks your boxes. It's not however exactly littered with black runs, although those that it does have are nice ones. There are however plenty of opportunities for off-piste and there are many expert skiers, who spend their winters exploring Saalbach's largely undiscovered back country - search on You tube for "Richard Bergenholtz Saalbach" for some really excellent (and very enticing) videos, compiled by the guys who run the Underbar, one of Saalbach's most popular hostelries.
Send me a message if you'd like a copy of my comprehensive guide to this resort.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks everyone, Ski Circus is sounding promising.
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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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@eversolazy, it's fantastic, I highly recommend it - and would also advise accepting Mr Tatman's kind offer of his resort guide.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I did, it's great! Thank you Mr Tatman.
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