 Poster: A snowHead
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To cut to the chase, my friend does not want to go back to France after a bad time there last year. She has her heart set on Austria, are there resorts in Austria that will cater for competent skiers and beginners alike?
I've looked in St Anton but it is too expensive, I also saw some deals in Niederau but when I looked at the piste map there's sod all to ski! Having said that, If there are off piste lessons available km's of piste aren't so important.
Maybe I should try and convince her to go back to Tignes...
Thanks, Will.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Will Stanton, Niederau is a family/beginners resort, it's where I learnt. St Anton is renowned for it's challenging pistes and lively Apres. To try and help you: what did your friend not like about Tignes, when are you going, and how much skiing experience do you have and what are you both looking for in a resort ?
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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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When we went to Tignes we made our holiday arrangements through the UCPA... I think the main aspect that put her off was the ski school; The instructors were French, and spoke in French all the time apprently, aswell as this there was no one else English in her class. I would like to do another week off piste, this must be possible in nearly all resorts....? I think for my friends some motorway blues and reds would be most confidence building.
Thanks, Will.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Will Stanton, Ok, that is a shame as there are many English speaking Instructors in Tignes:
> Our very own Stewart Woodward - who would be worth dropping a PM to for advice
> Stuart Bernard, who was my Instructor last week at the Atomic Boot Camp in Tignes, and also last year for our snow works course http://www.skifocus.co.uk/action60.asp?p=32
> Phil Smith Snoworks http://www.snoworks.co.uk/
to name but a few.
Having said that; Austria is great, and although I am happy to go back to a good resort, which Tignes undoubtedly is, it is exciting to try somewhere new. Most Austrian Ski Instructors speak English, but if you are in doubt, you can always find out before you book your classes.
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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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Will Stanton, yes, Ski Amade, 45 mins from Salzburg - massive area so you can take your pick where you want to stay. And yes, it is possible to get off piste lessons too. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ski amade is a good option. Saalbach would be good for your friend - I presume that there are off piste opportunities there?
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Greatly enjoyed St Johann in Tirol.
3 main ski Areas - St Johann itself 60K of mainly blue and red - good skiing for both beginner and intermediate, Waidring Steinplatte - 35K of motorway cruising - take as fast or slow as you want, some quite long, steep reds too, Fieberbrunn 40K of mixed ability runs, all linked by free ski bus.
On top of that St Johann is a genuinely nice village! (You may be able to tell that I liked it there, however it was good for one week, but not enough for more)
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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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| Will Stanton wrote: |
I would like to do another week off piste, this must be possible in nearly all resorts....? I think for my friends some motorway blues and reds would be most confidence building.
Thanks, Will. |
Lech is good..
hits the motorway blues & reds perfececlty, good for the over half and if you want (and the conditions permit) hardcore off-piste then get on the bus to St. Anton..
But it's not the cheapest place in Austria. I'm not sure why you say St. Anton is expensive I did a week there earlier this year for £500 including lift pass...
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Will, we were put off Tignes by the locals attitude as well. Mind you, if your original village was submerged and you were told that you are now in the ski trade rather than a farmer then you might be a bit grumpy as well! Did you ski Val d'Isere? Lots of motorways there.
Lech is excellent but pricey. St Anton is realy not the best for beginners. When my daughter was learning we went to Serfaus. It's now linked to the next door villages so the area is bigger. Just a bit further to drive, though. Worth a look I would say.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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So I think at the moment I (we) are leaning towards Ski Amade, it appears to have a good variety of skiing to cater for our various abilites. I looked breifly at prices (Iglu) in Lech and St. Anton both were starting at 500+ for early january.
IncogSkiSno, I'll prob head out to Tignes on my own later on in the season. Ill bear in mind the english intructors.
flangesax, Thanks for the tip. Any idea which resorts in particular in Ski amade for off piste, Its a big place!
jbob, I'll look into Montafon, looks promising....
bertie bassett, How exactly!?
Thanks for the help everyone! Now I'm spoilt for choice....Also been informed we now want a log burning fire. 
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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 Stanton, I know for sure that the Radstadt/Alternmarkt ski instructors can get permission from the farmers to do off piste lessons. There is also an unbashed red running all the way down the Fageralm mountain. Im sure there are others - I suspect the quieter places can do off piste lessons moreso than the big places.
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Will Stanton,
UCPA provide all included sports/adventures activities (I've used them for windsurfing and glider lessons... Great value for money..) but are not an "international" tour operator or ski school and as such are a (french) company aimed at and designed mainly for french customers.
So I am not surprised there was not much "support" for english speaking customers. Your friend should have been warned.
However, this is not a reflection on the resort itself. If your friend arranges her trip via a british tour operator and/or book her lessons in a school advertising bristish ski instructors, there should not be any issues...
That said (and I am French) there are plenty of good resorts all over the Alps, so it's good to try various ones.. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Will Stanton, The gastein valley is also meant to be a tip for off-piste. Especially the area round Sport Gastein 
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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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Hey! Thanks for all the help, I've narrowed it down to the Gastein and Obertauern areas. I'll make sure I let you know where we eventually go!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi,
Might be worth looking at kaprun (good for beginers) and zell am zee (ok resort for intermediates/ and a couple of black runs) At Kaprun there is a local hill and Glacier which is mainly suited to beginers but zell has a few more interesting runs. These two are seperated by a 10 min free bus ride.
Just another thought
Denise
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