J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

Ian Wickham wrote:I need to hear it Dave, sing up and put it on youtube.

Sorry Iain, I need to take a step up in recording knowledge. All the other guys I was with at the weekend either had their own recording mini-studios, or access to a studio. If I want echo, I have to take the guitar to the bathroom! :wink:

Magic Skis Words and Music by Dave Mac

C E7 Am7 F
Rising up the mountain, through early morning skies
C E7 Am7 F
Reflecting on the beauty of my mountain paradise
Dm G7 F E
Sunrise-sparkled diamonds how they dance on frosted trees
C E7 Am7 F
Glistening silver ribbons, lighting up my magic skis


Oh to see the mountains, clothed in morning snow
Breaking through the crystals, how my magic skis will flow
Sunlit glades splash golden, all down the Märchenwiese
A fairy dell in Austria on Merlin's magic skis.


Resting by the mountain chapel, taking in the alpine view
Her long dark hair and laughing eyes, saw my lady in blue.
Our love entwined together, through the snowy frieze,
We skied our lives side by side, upon our magic skis.

Moonbeams dance across the snow, past chocolate trees on fire,
A million miles I'm flying through burning sunset skies,
Ice-clear thoughts race homeward, homeward through the trees
Twilight time powder gently falls on my magic skis.

On my magic skis

©davemacinniederau

John, this is the first time for 10 years that I will not have been in the Bichlwirt for my birthday, on the 18th Jan. We will be in Hinterglemm. We arrive in N. on the Friday. Man, that's gonna be a Hulay! Bob the Fish will out of his head, quite early!

My lads were slightly older than yours in La Thuile. Apartment was about three times larger than the one we had in Flaine the previous season. When we visited the shop for a Pizza, the old lady smiled at the boys, and taught them how to ask in Italian. After 3 days, she wouldn't serve them unless they asked in Italian!

Bikers cafe ~ you are a pedal pusher? My ski buddy is such.

Snow record is good, gave it out here a couple of weeks ago for last few years. Go to IGLU/Snow/Snow History and fill in the details. There was a bad year in 2007, but is was bad right through the alps.
Niederau has north facing slopes, captures the Kitzbuhle Alp snowstream, has tree-lined runs, ~ they induce light powder fall just beside the trees.
Like other resorts, you can get bad weeks, but the whole of the alps operate on machine-made snow from late November.

There are downsides to high altitude skiing, like bad weather, and where do you meet the kids?
The other place I would recommend for being child friendly are La Thuile, just soooo Italian child loving folk, and Borovets, mainly for the quality of it's ski school.

I would still go for Niederau, but then you have to understand that I have been skiing there for over 40 years, I may be biased!

If you can fly into Innsbruck, then it is a one and a quarter hour transfer to Niederau. Some super runs for inters, (have a squint at my www vids above), and one of the best ski schools in Austria.
Niederau voted Austria,s "Best Small and Fine Ski Village" two years running by ADAC, Germany's equivalent of the AA.

I would suggest staying at the Hotel Harfenwirt, very child friendly. Herbert, the owner organises a childrens choir near the end of the week. Nursery slope directly over the road, 50m to the lift that will take you down into the village.

Some good inter runs at Auffach, at the end of the valley, (ski bus)

Ski well.

Interesting video, Innsbruck landing, check out the turn at 40 secs...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKa9ILqgtS4
From Snowheads:

I was lucky in that the airline Crystal were using for flights from Bristol-Innsbruck were operated by Lauda Air, and while all the passengers using UK based airlines were being diverted to Verona, ours still left pretty much on time.

Greater separation between planes.

I believe it was wind direction that got my flight; the approach is along the Inn valley. Steep descent (and climb). Not Cat III, so visibility must be reasonable at a decision height. Needs specially qualified pilots.

We have used Innsbruck and never had a problem, but we have only used Austrian airlines (i.e. Austrian or Lauda). Have merrily trotted off to board a Lauda air plane on time at the same time as a load of BA passengers were trying to find their bags to put on a bus to drive to Munich.

Poor vis caused by snow falling, but runways perfectly clear in typical Austrian efficiency. The planes were all landing fine apart from the UK based airlines as aparently they don't have the necessary radar equipment - steep valley, big planes trying to turn etc. Flights were diverted to Verona and we had to get a coach there. Complete shambles to be honest but that was the tour operator's fault and nothing to do with Innsbruck airport or indeed the weather. Ended up getting shipped to Lake Garda for the night.

Some larger planes cannot make the turn within the Inn valley walls, should they need to abort. From the pilots point of view:
"You need a special Sim Training and special approved app plates. The plates are available to anyone who cares to pay for them through Jeppesen or the Austrian AIP etc. The Airport Authorities specify some special restrictions for Innsbruck and these are listed in the notes to the approach plates. These are that the handling pilot must have practiced an approach, baulked landing, circling approach, go around and departure before flying in to Innsbruck IMC or at night. These can either be done in a simulator with suitably realistic visual representation of the topogorophy or done in VMC at the airfield."

Hi Veca, Welcome to J2ski,

If you are staying in the village centre, check out the Post Bus times to Wörgl Station. The cost is about 8 Euros pp, and the journey takes about 20 minutes. Vorsicht! Do check the routing is direct to Wörgl, there are services that go direct, and some route towards Oberau, and then back.
Depending on numbers, you can get a taxi, Werner Rist is reliable and speaks perfect English, about 16/17 Euros, mention Dave Mac, and he will charge extra!
At Wörgl station, ticket office is on the left in the entrance hall, again, good English.

Train journey times are between 37 and 57 minutes, the journey is direct to Innsbruck Bahnhof and cost 11 Euros 2nd class and 19 Euros 1st class. Add about 20 minutes bus ride to Innsbruck Airport.
For train details: http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp

Hope this is helpful.