Next season

caron-a wrote:

AJ wrote:

Looks like the annual pilgrimage to Niederau  

I'm being inexplicably drawn....

What's the snow like at such low altitude? 

Its never been a problem for us as theres always been plenty of the white fluffy stuff.Then again we always go the middle of January so i cant really comment on any other time.

AJ Adele

we are heading off to mont tremblant
really cant wait will be amazing

Hubby and I have booked for Ruka in log cabins, for mid January usually do Seefeld in Austria.

We're off to Niederau again in January, can't wait. Meeting up with a couple we met on our first ski hol there. Just LOVE that place

Nice question Tony.

Always spend my birthday in the Bichlwirt, 18 Jan presents of schnapps, zipfer, etc welcome. Then stay for two & half weeks. Most years that covers the Hahnemkam, and sometimes go over to Kitsbuhle and watch.

Most years, finish off the season with a week and half in Niederau. March is a very pleasant time to ski, and the light & length of daylight is good for painting. A recent problem has been the conversion of valley painting time, to top of the mountain gluewein time, followed by a last run down.

The other couple of weeks are spent in a couple of big areas. My other half likes to ski different runs every day.

However, the small group of skiers in our wee village, has voted to go to America next season. Have skied a fair bit in Colorado and love it. I am being swayed towards Utah, which actually suits me, but I don't think the group have thought through the full effects of steep off piste, and I am not about to enlighten them.

My parameters are, good snow, good runs, strong preference to ski within 50 metres of the door, good atmospere/ architecture, nice beer & pubs, modest cost mountain food, modest cost lift pass.

That is why I return to Niederau, year after year. Why do you think a core of J2SKI folk keep going back? Why don't we have a J2SKI meet up in the Bichlwirt on 18 Jan 09?

I'll be here; in the secret that is Jasna, away from those unsavoury Alpine prices....

A question for all the obsessives, eh!

Note sure yet - my main week is usually with a big group, lots of families including my own. We tend to favour the big resorts - something for everyone! The Crystal clubhotels in the big French resorts, Tignes, Meribel, Flaine, Alpe D'Heuz, etc. are usually well placed to meet our diverse needs and things like free kids places and group discounts bring down the cost. Might try Morzine/Avoriaz next year - haven't been there yet. My real ambition would be to get the group to St Anton - it is simply fantastic. Unfortunately, suitable accommodation for large groups can be hard to find and most tour operator accommodation (affordable!) is quite bit out of town.

Four of us went on a lads long weekend to Soll in January this year - it was great . Will probably try to do that again next year as well. Now that it is in the diary, so to speak, the missus will probably put up with me going again! Given the rave reports about Niederau, I might think about there for that trip. As far as I can gather, it is not much further than Soll from Munich airport (transfer times critical to effectiveness of weekend package - 3 days skiing for 1.5 days off work!).

Would love to do more but missus thinks one ski holiday enough for anybody and believes I am doing well with my second trip.

Its kind of nice to start thinking about it already but it really is too far away

Funny isnt it - Mrs H believes 2 ski weeks are enough, as she also likes her time in the sun in them summer, and before anyone suggests a summer holiday in the Alps - NO!
I however have managed to get her on 2 weeks, and wangle a 3rd week, be it with a mate as previously, or my daughter as this season. I need those 3 weeks.

I still cant get my head round this obsession with Niederau. It does appear there is a huge bias on here to that resort, which I guess only means I am going to have to try it sometime. But I have this mental block about the conditions and the height of the resort and ski area which keeps telling me to go elsewhere.

I do like the look of Jasna, and the prices are hugely attractive too. My requirements are similar to those of Dave Mac in terms of costs and location, although I do tend to end up making a decision based on holiday price. When you end up in Verbier for £269 catered including flights etc, I dont think you really care too much if its ski in ski out or what the architecture is, without sounding flippant. What is important is going somewhere where the ski area is a good size with varied runs, and that is snowsure so you cna get some good conditions. Short transfers are also a bonus, which is why I tend to rule out 3 valleys and Andorra every time, although France is almost all a non starter based on the rudeness of the people in the lift queues, the queues themselves (I dont do queues), the price of food and drink generally, and the fact that bad weather often means piste closures.

I notice a few people mentioning Norway, Finland and Lapland for next season. A good mate of mine is going for the first time in his early 40s next Jan, and is going to Lapland. It does appear to be a sensible choice for beginners based on snowsure conditions and nice easy runs. Not sure it would have the appeal for more experienced skiers, which I think is where the alpine areas are on a winner.

Long haul is simply not an option for me, as I cant afford to take more than a week off at a time, and I wont fly for 12 hours just for 6 days skiing, so Europe it is for me. Austria, any time. France, maybe only Serre Che has the appeal, or somewhere on the PDS. Switzerland I liked, and would like to see more of. Italy needs to have some good snow, but I really like the look of the Dolomites. As for Eastern Europe, I think I would have a week in Slovenia and try to do KG, Bled and Bohinj all in a week, as they are only small areas, or possibly take Dan up on his offer and visit Jasna.

Who knows what next season has to offer, until we see the prices on offer and what the snow is going to be like.