J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

A few years ago there were reports of security turning back hand baggage containing ski boots. There were also many reports from J2skiers who had done just this. The worst example was an airline where the boots were allowed otwards as hand baggage, but not on the inward leg. Daft. I don't know if it has changed, but there are one or two occasions each season where I could take advantage of skiing just with hand luggage.

Have just been watching the night skiing down into Hinterglemm, and it is all complete. Thats only 1000m at village level. There were certainly a lot of hotshots heading straight down the fall line, great style. So no issues for them with the snow.
One or two days rain is no big deal. If it reaches freezing level at night, and the piste machines have done their stuff, the skiing will be good.
Interesting comments by Scarlet Fez and Finn. In 2008, many companies had changed equipment, snow production, snow storage.

It was only 2007. And it was the same all over Europe. It is nowhere near as bad as that. There is a foehn for a few days, then due to snow on Thursday.
Lots of soft wax, and you may need to lean back a little, but be be prepared to rock forward! It's just another little challenge to be enjoyed!

I am a fan of Alfons Walde, a Kitzbuhle artist, from the 1920s:

Table Curling, Austria at the table, not taking it seriously:

The Winner! (Who happened to own the hotel) )

The accident:

Eis Stuck Schiesen:

A rather different ceiling light:

Great snow:

We revisited the Skiwelt for New Year week, and enjoyed good skiing everywhere. It was, as expected, very busy, but the snow conditions were good. As usual, the piste map was a joke, but that is just how we treated it, allowing the uncertainty to be part of the fun. Its an interesting area, having good alpine stubles, views from the Wilder Kaiser to the Hohe Tauern, with the Kitzbuhlerhorn prominent, and views of my beloved Niederau, through to Alpbachtal.

Cost is an issue at New Year, and we kept a grip on this by booking early Easyjet flights, and taking a chance on slightly oddly located accommodation. This was a farm, in a valley end, tucked right under the soaring rock faces of the WilderKaiser. The owners ran us down to the Gondela each day, and collected us at night.

All the other guests were German, and little English was spoken. We were invited to take part at night, in an event called Eis Stuck Schiesen. Consisting of a length of ice rink, perhaps two metres wide, and fifty meters long, tucked in the shadow of a mountain chapel, the game was close to curling.

On New Years Eve, we had an amazing fireworks display, with champagne provided. We then invited the Austrians and Germans to join in a Table Curling championship, ensuring that the old man who owned the farm, won.

A braw week, marred just by one incident. Late one afternoon, I started solo down a black, at that time of day, pretty icy. There was a steady stream of people, some managing to stay upright! At the bottom of the first steep face, a German lady fell just in front of me. I stopped, and could tell straight off, it was a break. Put up my crossed skis behind her, and phoned through to the Bergrittung. While they were on the way, I straightened her twisted leg, and crossed her skis, as additional protection. It was certainly needed, as although our location was not steep, we were at the bottom of a steepish icy face. Her husband arrived, and then the Bergrittung arrived with the ackier. The poor lady was in great pain, and it was a bit of a dampener on the day. I had to have a gluewein to get over it!

The two relative beginners in our group made good progress, I kept getting us lost, and Frau Mac kept keeping us right! All in all, another good week, and a good start to our season.

The Kizbuhlerhorn through a sea cloud:

The WilderKaiser:

The BrennerAlm and Haus Kappelle

Inside the Kapelle

Inside the Brenner:

Hi Dave,
We are driving up from Hinterglemm on the 21st Jan. Leave 30th.
Probably also 2 weeks from 26 Feb, then move on to another place, but that is still under negotiation mit Frau Mac, and a couple of New Zealand skiers coming over to Niederau.