reports from Niederau

Now that the lady has posted, I can tell you that from where Caron started on Monday, she has made stunning progress. The run that Caron did was not the easiest red on the mountain, it has an extended steep section. It is fair to say that the slopes were in perfect piste condition, and if you were going to do it, today was the day.

But she did do it, and I can tell you that there was appropriate emotion in our wee J2 group.

For my part, it has been a privelege to give a little help, here and there. It is made much easier when the folk are really interested in learning about a place, and don't measure a place just by it's piste map and elevation.

What is more, I have learned a little more about our place. We went on sleigh ride to the next village, drawn by two big Haflingers, and routed through moonlit woods. It was a magical experience. I sat up front with the driver, and struggled with his thick wildschoenau accent. Then it turned out that a couple of years ago, I had given his children some cards of my Niederau paintings, so we were mutually aware of each other.

So tomorrow, Caron and her man are off home, and Admin Dave and I are off to the Schi-welt. He wants to get some ski miles under his belt and I know just the man to help him do that. :twisted:

Enjoy Ski Welt you two it will be great without the crowds!! Wish I was driving to Hopfgarten tomorrow morning instead of Kirkham :oops:

Dave Mac wrote:

It is made much easier when the folk are really interested in learning about a place, and don't measure a place just by it's piste map and elevation.

I recognise a dig at me when I see one 8)

For what its worth, I believe people fall for a particular resort for various reasons, and I would imagine N will hold a particular place in Caron's heart now because its where she got back on skis, with obviously a great deal of thanks to you for your input and support, and where she went down a difficult red for the first time: I remember that feeling! And having skied said red, I can confirm that in parts it is certainly not an easy run. She has clearly done really well, and I am delighted for her.

For someone like yourself, who has an affinity with the place and who has been many times previously, I am sure you give off a real enthusiasm about it, and know a lot about its history, and make a point in sharing that with others. As I said before, you ought to consider a position with the local tourist authority in their marketing department )

However, as I have said before, its not a place for me, because of its limited terrain and also because it does suffer with the conditions by being low down. People clearly like what they like, but it doesnt make me a bad person because I didn't find Niederau offered enough for me for what I want out of a ski holiday, does it?

I like cheese and peanut butter sandwiches, that doesnt that make me a bad person either does it?!

(I am procrastinating way too much today)

caron-a wrote:so, I'd like to go into detail about our trip and will do when I get home tomorrow. In the meantime, I've been threatened to post within the next half hour to tell you my news...

I SKIED DOWN RED 24 TO THE BOTTOM OF THE VILLAGE! :shock: The steepest slope I've ever skied. Grace was nowhere to be seen, neither was speed or style, however, I did it and I didn't fall over! I was petrified, my heart was pounding but I traversed it, no sliding (well maybe a little) and I'm here and well. Seeing a lady side stepping down in her boots with her skis in her hand made me feel even more triumphant!

enough said for now. sorry dave and admin, the husband [who took me down said tough run :evil:] has been flicking between this and the carling cup score so it's taken slightly longer than half an hour.

we had another incredible day and the evening was equally as incredible :D

see you on the other side...

Caron - having met you and spoken with you, particularly early last year when you were so low with your injury, I am absolutely delighted to hear how you have come on these few days. I am sure Graham has been really supportive, and it sounds like you have had a royal service from Dave Mac.

Red 24 is a great run, and not particularly easy too, so well done on making it down there. That proves how much you have developed, but also lost the fear too. Thats the key thing here I think, your confidence is high and you are not afraid to tackle slopes you perhaps thought were out of the question. Now all you need is more and more practise and confidence building, so your next trip (Tignes if my memory serves me correctly...?) will be a real adventure for you.

Niederau has obviously been a great few days for you, and I am sure you will hold it in a special place because of how you have developed during the time there. I am pleased for you. I didnt dislike Niederau at all, see the report that I wrote on the place, but for me its just too limited, and I need more to go at for what I want out of a ski holiday, which is why places like St Anton, Mayrhofen and Verbier were so enjoyable.

I hope you now stay free of injury, and continue to develop and enjoy your skiing, and share more experiences with us all on here.

Safe flight home.

How boring would it be if we all had the same favorite place, For me N is the perfect place for my kids to get to grips with skiing. The layed back way of life away from the hustle and bustle is bliss.I too would love to go back to the likes of St Anton which i have skied many moons ago, But my kids are way too inexperianced to take advantage of what a resort like that has to offer. I must admit that i am curious about what the Hof has to offer,Meaning suitability for the kids Tony ?



AJ Adele

It's a good job we all like somewhere differnt or we'd be skiing in one hell of a busy resort :lol:

smirnoff_skier wrote:

(I am procrastinating way too much today)

Me too :roll: My lab is out of action and looks like a war zone, so I'm reduced to paperwork or dreaming of skiing. Umm... difficult decision :wink:

Said goodbye to Caron and her man yesterday evening, they can only count their visit to Niederau as an absolute success. It was nice to see the progress that both of them made.

So today starts as a thread drift, since Admin Dave & I skied all day on the Schiwelt. So we skied above Soell, Scheffau, Itter and Brixen, and down into Ellmau, Going and Hopfgarten. We missed out Westendorf. We had a lot of fun mis-reading the piste map. There were a few opportunities to let rip, but later in the day, the pistes were a bit crowded.

I took a tumble in the deep snow, not paying enough attention to the change in slope, and didn’t adjust my weight. Snow depth was over 4 ft, so fun and games digging myself out!

Said goodbye to Dave, he is off early tomorrow. I have enjoyed his company, his sense of humour and skiing with him.

So a day free skiing with the locals tomorrow, before the family arrive late pm.