 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, I'm after a bit of advice regarding Austria for March 15th-22nd.
This will be our groups 6th snowboarding trip, we have been in Avoriaz, Meribel Mottarer, Val thorens twice, Flaine and Tignes Le Lac. We are a group of six men between 35-45
Have absolutely no idea about Austria but we are after the biggest ski area that is snow sure for a group of above intermediate snowboarders. That is our most important priority. After that we'd like somewhere with decent apres, but we are the type who like to board from morning til lunchtime, stop for lunch up the mountain and then snowboard again til last lift or close to it. Would prefer somewhere that would offer ski in ski out as well.
After doing a bit of research it seems St Anton might suit our needs but open to suggestions. We just fancy somewhere different this year and think Austria seems ideal.
Thanks for any tips or suggestions
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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35-45, men, decent Apres, snow sure, big area... Mid March...
Ischgl or St- Anton.
Ski in ski out? that would be a little bit difficult, but if you have the money to spend, also possible.
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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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I'd agree that St Anton or Ischgl are the two options that come to mind.
St Anton is part of the Alberg Ski area which is massive. I have never been (I'm holding off going until my son is a stronger skier). It looks similar in scale to a mega French area like PDS or 3V with a number of connected resorts so you would get a lot of variety.
I have been to Ischgl and the ski area is very snow sure with an excellent lift system but not as extensive as the Alberg. One of the main advantages of the slopes in Ischgl is that it the level of connectivity of the runs and lifts is superb with lots of options for getting from A to B.
St Anton has a reputation for more challenging slopes of the two. So the best option may depend on what kind of intermediates you are. If you are the kind of intermediates to want challenging red and black runs St Anton would be a good fit. If you prefer to cruise around on red & blue runs then Ischgl might be better. I'd imagine both areas have enough to keep you happy though.
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@Kevin Loughran, St Anton would be an ideal spot. Ski in / out is not common, there are a few piste side spots but they tend to expensive (or more expensive than elsewhere). How budget sensitive are you? If you are used to squeezing into French shoe boxes then accommodation costs might come as a shock. Also bear in mind that while the Arlberg is indeed Austria's largest area with 300km+ of pistes plus 200km or so ski routes (itineraries) plus copious off piste this is all spread over a large area. It is not the dense network of lifts and pistes found in some of the French places. If you want somewhere with a wide variety of challenging snow sport (not just for rubber legged experts) plus top apres then St Anton has few challengers. Ischgl good too though the off piste & ski routes not as good, pistes maybe a bit more variety, I dont like the village but lots do, certainly lots of apres choice (less slopeside than at St Anton, perhaps good that there is less of the sliding back to the village at 8pm after plentiful beer thing).
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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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@Kevin Loughran, as a fellow snowboarder I'm curious to why ski/out is important to you?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ste_B wrote: |
| @Kevin Loughran, as a fellow snowboarder I'm curious to why ski/out is important to you? |
Me too.
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Thanks for the replies, will try and narrow down the search a bit to both ischgl and st anton.
Does anyone have any thoughts on Saalbach in comparison with these two resorts? We'd be flying Belfast to Salzburg so would be a bit less of a transfer as the other two are in excess of three hours.
We've always just had ski in ski out and it's nice to just be able to board right into our accommodation and straight out of our sometimes wet gear, we get changed in the mornings and are able to snowboard straight down to a chairlift and begin our day, or if one of us needs to nip into the accommodation to change lenses or grab something then it's not too much hassle
Maybe I'm just being lazy.
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| munich_irish wrote: |
| @Kevin Loughran, St Anton would be an ideal spot. Ski in / out is not common, there are a few piste side spots but they tend to expensive (or more expensive than elsewhere). How budget sensitive are you? If you are used to squeezing into French shoe boxes then accommodation costs might come as a shock. Also bear in mind that while the Arlberg is indeed Austria's largest area with 300km+ of pistes plus 200km or so ski routes (itineraries) plus copious off piste this is all spread over a large area. It is not the dense network of lifts and pistes found in some of the French places. If you want somewhere with a wide variety of challenging snow sport (not just for rubber legged experts) plus top apres then St Anton has few challengers. Ischgl good too though the off piste & ski routes not as good, pistes maybe a bit more variety, I dont like the village but lots do, certainly lots of apres choice (less slopeside than at St Anton, perhaps good that there is less of the sliding back to the village at 8pm after plentiful beer thing). |
We would probably have a budget or around 1200 per person. Our most expensive French trip has been 1100. Weve started to opt for private transfers and we always make sure that we all have beds in a bedroom instead of having some have to sleep on a pull out bed in the living room.
Would happily go to France again but just would like somewhere different. Having a look through sunweb the options don't seem to be plentiful. Maybe 7 different options come up and most of them are rooms with double beds in them which wouldn't suit us
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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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@Kevin Loughran, you'd have a decent time in Saalbach.
Definitely a better option from Salzburg wrt transfers.
Have a look at Snowspace Salzburg too.
Be aware that many Austrian places have twin mattresses on a single bed frame with 2 duvets. Maybe some of the Sunweb options are these?
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@Kevin Loughran, If you are going to be flying in to Salzburg then St Anton & Ischgl are really too far away, if those areas then Zürich is the best option, pretty easy by train from there (St Anton station in middle of the village, Ischgl need a transfer from Landeck). Both are reachable by direct train from Salzburg but it has to be around a 3 hour journey. Munich is doable but a fair way.
I know not everyone agrees with this thought but I dont think the the more easterly Tirol & Salzburgerland areas are a good option in mid to late March. We cant predict the weather in a few weeks time let alone 4 months. You could find fabulous conditions but more likely very spring conditions with heavy snow and afternoon t shirt weather. Personally would look to sort travel arrangements for somewhere other than Salzburg and look to some of the other areas obviously Arlberg & Ischgl but maybe also Zillertal (Mayrhofen & nearby) and Serfaus (though maybe not enough apres for your group).
For accommodation check out the local tourist office website, there are usually plenty of apartments even for quite big groups.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Kevin Loughran, maybe try looking on Sunweb, their deals tend to be accommodation and lift pass included. You can sort the flights and transfers yourself. If you're tied to flying in to Salzburg, it's a fair drive over to St Anton/Ischgl, so perhaps Saalbach would be a better option for you.
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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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Obertauern is good fun and pretty snow sure. Not a huge area by any stretch and runs are a bit on the short side but definitely worth a look
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Ditto Obertauern for snowsure, not very big though if as seems, you are all decent snowboarders. Always enjoyed it there.
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You know it makes sense.
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The only time my friends and I went to Obertauern it snowed heavily for most of the week. Opened up loads of additional options off the side of the piste and in between.
Without so much fresh snow it could have felt a bit samey.
As couple of cracking apres bars too.
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