ski lessons in niederau

Ok, so as you all know I am going peak time (school holidays in February)to Niederau next year.

trying to get organised I contacted the red ski school to book the ski lessons, only to be told to book when I get there.

I am really worried that we will end up with no lessons at all with it being peak time and end up fully booked. Then what will we do (Jan you better limber up coz we could be knocking on your door begging for a lesson :wink:) lol

Do you think this is ok to leave it until we get there (not that I have much choice).

Karen

I wouldn't worry Karen.

Whilst I've no experience of "N" (being a long-time "M" skier )) I'd be amazed if they couldn't accomodate you and yours - they'll know what the peak numbers are likely to be and will have enough instructors available.


Cue Davemac and Jan...

Karen,

This is a very common feeling amongst guests to the village and one which I personally would like to be able to see a way to improve. All I can say is that the Ski School have been doing this a LONG time and to my knowledge there have never been any problems.

Another way to look at it, is that there is a fairly fixed number of beds in the village and that means that there is an upper limit to the number of potential guest that could possibly book lessons. Sepp (Head of Ski School) has a cunning plan that involves liaising with the hotels and independents to understand numbers and will bring more fully trained and qualified staff in to help out at peak times ... New Year and Feb Half terms being the two peak weeks you can bet no one in the village is going to want to let guests down (or lose out on a fee;)) …

All that having been said, in your position I would still prefer to know that the lessons are booked and then it’s another thing to tick off your list ;)

Hope this goes some way to helping ...

Jan

Hi Karen
Just re-inforcing Jan's message, I just received an email back from the ski school saying the same.

There are a number of travelling instructors, who just come in for the peak season, a guy called Mike T. is one, he was working there the same time as me, but has remained working for the ski school to help at Peak times.

There are also a number of local instructors that only work at the peak season.

So be re-assured, as Jan says, Sepp Schellhorn has the situation covered.

ok thanks for your replies. my mind has been put at ease.

Do you think the same would apply for the ski hire? or do i need to act onthis now?

Karen, re ski hire. Since this is a hardware issue, there is less flex than ski school.

The three hire places in Niederau are:

Blachfelders, by the side of the hotel Austria, opposite end. Good gear, good knowledge, good range of gear. Probably slightly the most expensive, although once you are on their computer system, next time in, you will expect to be offered a discount.

Margreiter, opposite Blachfelders, 20m nearer the gondola. Good gear, quite good knowledge, if they run short of equipment, they put an emergency call in to Oberau. On one occasion, ths method failed a friend of mine. From what I recently hear, they will have lost one/two of their good fitters, although this has yet to be confirmed. Skiset use these. I have used them for services, and they were OK.

Thaler. I do not wish to comment on this outlet.

The other possibility is that another location may have opened up, in the same area. It was reported that an English instructor, Phil, and his lady, have opened up an operation in the old bank. I can only imagine that this is ski hire, but I do not know that. Jan??

Dave Mac,
No, I don't think that Phil at the old bank is doing ski hire. (I'll text him and ask).
I always call Eric at Margreiters and ask him to put away a pair of good skis for rental for me, and he always gives me a whopper of a discount. This time, I'm driving down with Blodyn, and will be bringing my skis with me. I'll take them to Eric to be waxed etc, but I am also on the system at Blackfelders, since buying a pair of ski trousers for £100 a few years ago in ther shop at the Austria, after which Katrina at Blackfelders has also given me discount!(And a Christmas card every year!)

Karen: at half term, as Dave Mac says, the head of Schischule Wildschoenau, Sepp, will approach trusted past instructors and they will work for the busy week to the same high standard as his usual, season-long instructors. In fact, if I can only get a cheap flight at Feb half term, (Feb 14th), I'll be one of those instructors, but I work only with the (British) children. (busman's holiday!) L.

DAVE MAC,
i'll PM you phil's website in niederau. am not sure i'm allowed to give it out in the public forum, unless mr admin says so, and unless phil agrees? it looks as tho' he is not doing ski hire. L.