 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi there,
I'm off to Zell in a couple of weeks for the first time and was wondering if there are any easy Black runs that I could try to help build up my skill level etc I've skied a couple of Andorran blacks before which to be honest are like French blue/red runs so was just wondering how Austrian blacks compare.
Are there any difficult ones best avoided by a lower intermediate such as myself?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The_Mac_Daddy, I did my very first black run in my second year of skiing in 1996 and done it in Zell. The resort is horseshoe shaped and you normally side down the two sides of the horseshoe. From memory the black run I skied was not too difficuly but it took 20 minutes from the top at the Berghohel ( ? ) to the bottom to ski. It was a very satisfying experience. There are not many black runs in the resorts.
I wll try and post up a piste map later and give you the name of the run. 
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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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In Zell am see, none of the black runs are particularly challenging. Blacks 13 and 14 are both amazing runs, because they have massive verticals, are very quiet and usually have very good snow. In fact, in three trips to Zell am see (we have an apartment there), they have never been icy. They're probably comparable to difficult reds in France.
Black 15 is the other black run down to the bottom of the Schmittenhohebahn. This is the only run down from the top of the Sonnenalm side of the mountain, and accordingly, gets quite alot of people traffic, so it can be quite icy. It starts off as a gentle cat track, before it becomes quite steep and icy. Nothing too challenging, but probably a run that you might want to avoid until you've built up your confidence levels.
Black 21 is in the Sonnenalm area. It's very wide, and not particularly steep, so is probably your best bet if you want to practice your carving or if you like to build up your speed (the whole of the Sonnenalm is like this, so is really nice if you class yourself as an intermediate).
If you like powder skiing, black 6 is extremely fun, as there is alot of easily accessible tree skiing to the side of it, under the nearby chairlift.
The final black is number 11, which is the run that leads into Zell am see itself; so if you want to avoid taking the bus or using a flat blue cat track, you'll end up here at some point. This run can often be quite crowded and icy, as it connects the majority of the mountains blue runs to Zell, so it can be crowded, and icy. Definately one to take care on at the end of the day.
Below is a link to the interactive piste map for Zell:
http://www.schmitten.at/en/winteramberg/pistenplan.htm
Enjoy your holiday (Zell was a good choice) 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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see here zell am zee piste map
Not very clear I know but the best of a bad bunch - the black run I refer to is just left off-centre, the wriggly one, is it number 14 cannot see the number properly
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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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The_Mac_Daddy, when are you going? I'm there 11-18 Feb....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm there 11th - 18th March
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Zell Am See was my first ski holiday abroad and I managed the blacks there . The last one, black 11 which takes you down to the base of the City Express Gondola is a nice run. If you want you can cross it a couple of time on a winding blue that runs through the trees then do the last bit on the black to the bottom as a starter.
Enjoy it The_Mac_Daddy, we certainly did. The early season snow (dec 17th - 25th) was excelent and as Mamcoz, says very little if any ice. As you will probably be aware Kaprun is on the same lift pass as Zell and Kaprun was considerably icy while we where there.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 23-01-06 20:56; edited 1 time in total
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Renry m8, he meant to say what are the blacks like on your ski's. You can only comment on the perspective of going down them mainly on ure back side. Who would have thought you can wear a hole in the back of your new sallopetes on your first visit
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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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Cheers Wavey, .
By the way you missed a decent day at Xscape today. Even Saddler skiied ok after 5 years since his last slide. CJ did okey on his board but we kept out of his way, that was until I skiied over it  (was a rental board mind)
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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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I skiied my first ever black in Zell. Run number 11 I think on the map. It was kind of unplanned, I just saw an instructor leading a group of kids down it so thought if they can do it then so can I. Very satisfying 
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xyzpaul, well done
I tried a black on my first day in Lake Louise - I went down most of it on my nose -
discovered later that it had been iced specifically for the men's world cup downhill - not good...
however going to zell in March and may give it another go...
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You know it makes sense.
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I didn't realise Saalbach was so close to Zell. Would it be possible to link the resorts???
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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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The ski busses are mostly new busses so they are not too bad, but as you have said the city express is perfectly located and does link well to the whole of the schmittenhohoe.
We where there December and used the City express every day and skiied down the last black run to the bottom which is at the base of the city express.
I have a photograph of this which I will post when I get home tonight
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks Renry
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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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| johnboy wrote: |
| I didn't realise Saalbach was so close to Zell. Would it be possible to link the resorts??? |
Talking to a couple of locals around Zell, there are apparantly plans to lift-link the two resorts in the next five years, although there is some opposition from enviromentalists. Everyone I've spoken to reckons it will happen though, just a case of when.
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Hi Al Tom. Looking at the run you did, I wouldn't have thought that you would have any trouble with the off-piste stuff in Zell. Admittedly, the area off to the side of black 6 is quite small, but it's fun before it's tracked out (pretty quickly at peak season times). Also, the chairlift is perfectly placed for doing quick loops through the area.
In my opinion, the best off-piste in Zell am see itself is off to the right hand side of Red 20, and before you go past the 2 man chair that services the area. You need to duck under a big fence to get into the area, but it is usually deep, soft and relatively untouched. Be aware that I have seen a couple of avalanches in this area, so take care if you want to try it.
In the Sonnemalm area, there are a few fun little powder runs in the trees and below the lifts. Can be fun spending a few hours here trying to find some of the better hidden routes. I must admit, I've never seen the route that you have highlighted on the piste map (which is quite out of date incidentally. Couple of new lifts since then). Perhaps if you contact a guide, they might be able to take you to that area, along with some of the big open powder fields that can be seen at the top of the mountain on your map.
The Kitzsteinhorn is basically one big powder bowl that they had the cheek to cut pistes into. Plenty of very accessible powder, including a couple of fun off-piste routes marked on the piste maps. You could easily spend a couple of days up there. Probably more if you're the sort of person who is into hiking for their runs.
I've only tried one area in Saalbach, and that is near the first gondola that you pass as you drive up the valley. Take this gondola up (crosses the road to the South-facing slopes) and then take a right until you see a chairlift that crosses over a large, wooded area (sorry if my instructions aren't very clear. I don't know how to upload images, so I can't highlight the area for you). This area has some of the most fun tree riding I've ever done. It's usually very quiet if you're adventorous and wonder away from the chairlift. Also, the trees can be quite closely spaced, so it's an exciting experience at speed.
So there you have it. Just about every off-piste area in the Zell am see area that I've tried. Don't expect anything in the league of St. Anton (let's face it, nowhere is in the same league as St. Anton), but there are plenty of fun little areas that you can waste a few hours in if you're willing to search for them. Enjoy your trip
edit: there is a link to the interactive piste map for Zell in one of my earlier posts.
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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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Thanks Mamcoz. May fi the conditions are OK I'll try it! And if I find another one I'll tell you!
About Saalbach, I understand that (I looked it in the Saalbach interactive map in www.saalbach.com) you take the gondola schönleiten (in Vorderglemm) and ride up the two sections. then go to take the MAGIC 6er chairlift, and under this lift there is a nice tree lined slopes. Is it OK???
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The_Mac_Daddy, to answer your original question, the black on the Sonnebahn (23 if I recall correctly) is dead easy and used to be (and should be) a red. 11, 13 & 14 are the three harder blacks. All good runs, moderately difficult. 13 & 14 are steeper than 11, but wider. 15 is a generally quite easy (narrow cat trap, followed by widening out althoug a little icy) with a bar half way down. Just don't do what I did and stop in their till after dark, and ski the bottom 25% in total darkness aiming vaguely for the lights of the town.
Hope that helps ...
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How long does the lake usually freeze over for??
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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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Anyone taken any recent pictures of Zell you want to share? Was wondering what the conditions were looking like.
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I'm off to Zell on Saturday, and shall be taking lots of pictures as I always do on ski hols so I can have them on my screensaver at work.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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please post some The_Mac_Daddy, .I do the same m8. Please post some here or in the media zone on your return.
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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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will do
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You know it makes sense.
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I have photos and some short movies, but not from my cam, I have to wait that my friends send me it! When I can I'll show you
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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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AlTom, have u got em yet mate
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The_Mac_Daddy, Nice pics - I can't wait 4 weeks!
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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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Nice one The_Mac_Daddy, my trip seems such along time ago now, was infact only 8 weeks ago
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Fantastic photos Mac Daddy!!!
We catched a really warm week with a lot of sunny ALL the days, and I can't see any cloud in 7 days (apart from fog)!!!!!
It's a pity, because I prefer a very bad time, bud with a lot of powder, I ski every week in the Pyrenees and when I do a trip to the Alps is for more vertical, for more quality snow, for to know different places and for POWDER, and we didn't found this last....sorry for the time, but we lives in different places and we can't meet for the work......I want to watched it too!!!!
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FAQ
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