J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

I don't think that is right. For several years now, hotels with a restaurant have been smoke free. The Harfenwirt and Sonnschein certainly are.

I don't recollect any smoking in the Austria over the last few years, but you could contact Angelica at the Austria.

daved wrote:€29.38

Daved, I think you are bit light there. Most certainly, the base cost must be £29.43

Hi Cazgal. I have skied Niederau for 46 years, hence I have some understanding of the area.
Re your queries. at village level there are abundant beginner areas, with good developer runs at the top. All of the mountain runs are of a minimum of red standard, although there are some routes that are of FIS downhill standard.
Re your personal queries, Some hotels have swimming areas. Between Niederau and Oberau there is a classic walk. You can go up the gondela and head for a number of walks. There are trips into Innsbruck. there is snow shoe walking. If you need further info, please pm me, I will be happy to help.

It was a good bit cooler than that when I skied in Perisher....

Snowlily, there has been a fair dump of snow in The Wildschonau and Ski Welt, so you should be well Ok.

To answer your question, by car, Kaltenbach would be 30/40 minutes by car from Woergl to Kaltenbach. I think you will fund that will not be required to find snow. I will be just a few km from you on your final days....

That's a fair point, Bazza, and one I haven't seen raised on J2 before.

I guess it is fair to say that 90%+ of Euro skiers are predominantly piste skiers. They are beginners/intermediate/ early advanced, and so the needs are served by groomed pistes. I think it is reasonable to consider that most European resorts attach importance to maximising piste areas, but where possible leave side areas as off piste. My local Austrian resort does maintain a side off piste on the main runs.

This season I will return to Colorado, an oasis of deep snow. However it works differently in different resorts. Keystone and Beaver Creek do leave a stretch at one side as an off piste ~ and this is great. You can start on the piste, and then dip off into the deep.

In Vail, where I will be based, there are areas of tree runs within the piste area. again you can dip in, and try. Alternatively, you can go over to the back bowls.

In Canada, Whistler and Blackcomb, I was introduced by some Canadians to "noodlin" ~ skiing in the trees, all deep snow. "Don't stop behind the trees, that's where the bears sleep...."

Back to Europeland, in many large resorts there is heaps of off piste between runs, Lech, Ski Welt, St Anton, Hinterglemm, Kitz, Alpbach. (Sorry to be so Austrian, I have had many moments in France, but they seem distant)

However, it remains a fair point from Bazza.

Appreciate the positive responses, Steve, and Canadian.

If you are learning to ski, certainly at the early levels, there is a lot to take in, and sometimes it can be helpful that an idea is planted in your mind, and this does not appear to be directly linked to elements of technique, and yet, by focusing on the idea, several split elements are incorporated.

On the subject of boot cant, as an engineer, I always look for causal factors, ie, what has changed. The OP indicated a change in boots. Hence the possibility of a change in cant may be a reasonable suggestion, and worth checking. It is too easy for very experienced skiers to be dismissive of the difficulties involved in the early years of skiing.

I can still remember trying to tighten those laces, and latch up those cables. Seems only like a 100 years ago.....

chateaudoz wrote:Personally, I like Smartwool Merino ski socks; thin, comfy and warm.
They seem to last well too, I have skied 5 seasons on the oldest ones and they are still working well.

I think you would be safe to wash them now, Chat....

I tried Merino socks, and found them wanting, too thin, so you can feel every inner boot nuance, and not warm enough. However, I accept they worked for you. (I wear everything else in merino).

Nor do I believe that high price is a guide to quality, and that applies to all walks of life.

TK max Nordica seem to do Ok, and have lasted 35/37 weeks. (So far) About £5 a pair. I take two pairs, and wash one pair every night.
I have also, just for pure devilment, worn Matalan short day socks, then priced at 4 pairs for £5. I noticed little difference from ski socks.