J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

That is unacceptable icy. You cannot possibly have planned to be in SA for a whole ski season. There are always ways!

Dobby, I have just posted a car hire note on Icy's prison page. I should have started it as a separate thread. Will your car hire involve driving in a different country,and, if so, do you have notification of a daily charge?

The latest car hire scam is a daily charge if you are taking the hire car into another country. Last season, on my January visit, I refused to pay, since it was only flagged up after I had paid, in advance for the car. They didn't persue it. On my March trip, the charge had appeared in the T&Cs, so I paid it.

The season past, more hire companies had this in their T&Cs.

Not only that, but the level of charge is increasing, and it is a daily charge. If I just go for a week, it is maybe £20/25. But going for 2 weeks, (my normal mid January trip}, it becomes a more serious consideration.

The car hire companies are saying if there is a refusal to pay, (it is a local charge), then the insurance in the country visited, is invalid.

I would be interested in other experiences. In my case, I fly into Munich, and drive the hire car into Austria.

I was fortunate on my visit to Perisher, to experience the best conditions anyone could recall.That includes snow depth and condition. This occurred after only two weeks in Australia, and was organised by folk that had worked in Niederau during the same seasons as me.

I was surprised to realise that my visit to Cardrona, (not Cardona), was some 21 years back. Don't seasons fly????

I worked for an Austrian ski school both pre and after EU entry. There was no difference. No visas. No movement of the earth.

The cost of travel insurance may change slightly.

Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy will all still crave our business. Competition will be the main driver, and Euro costs will continue to fall.

When I was a director of a Scottish engineering company, I won business in Austria, France, Africa.There was no change before, at or after the entry to the EU.

If the world implodes, and I can no longer ski in Austria, somewhat unlikely, then I will ski in Switzerland.

Well to be fair, I go there regularly anyway....

Errm, what was the question?

This is the French ski school system "at it" again. It is back-firing as non-French ski schools gradually are moving their businesses out of France.

However this post is about voluntary assistance. Where else in the world could you be taken to task for volunteering? Three years back, in Wengen, our group attended the TO daily group ski. This is the only time I have done this, but given the complexities of the Jungfrau region, it made sense. At the start of every session, it was made clear that there was no instruction, but only route guidance. The TO group were very methodical, one leading to indicate the route, and at least two staying at the back.

I doubt that a year could go by, where if I did in France, what I do in Austria, I would be arrested by the French police. Every season I am asked by individuals for assistance. Most times I am happy to assist, the individual makes good progress, I enjoy helping. On many occasions I then point the individuals towards ski school lessons. My local ski school sees it, and does not object.
I even gave a couple of morning privates in Colorado this season. Two instructors mentioned they liked my methods. No aggression from them.
I should add that no money changes hands, although I did once receive a cup of hot chocolate, gratis. I have no shame....

All good, but as things stand, I would struggle to get far, the roads here have heaps of snow, and there is more tomorrow. I know the Spittal will be closed.

I really need to get into ski touring.....

Felthorpe, if that was a plan, it may be better to stay on Soll or Scheffau, with a 20 min minibus ride into Niederau, all covered by the Allstar card. The Ski welt is a large area, but even larger if you cover other areas on the Allstar card, (St Johann, Kitzbuhel, etc)

Niederau has really good runs, but a limited number. Only 45km in the village. It is bus linked to Auffach, and then ski over to Alpbachtal, so totals 145km of runs. However, the village has a lot of character, as do the stubles up the mountain. It is different for me, because I have so many friends here. If you base in Niederau, you can minibus (or some hotels coach customers) over to the Ski Welt.

Then again, Alpbach is another good village to stay in, again full of character, famously called the chocolate box village of Tirol. Some really good runs and links.

However, this is a conversation for the future.....