J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

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.

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:

Does anyone know the words to "we are off to see the wild west show?" :)

Further to what fellow J2s have said, Jan and his frau go more than the extra mile in looking after Auhof guests. They run guests to and from the slopes. Our little group ended up in the Bichlwirt, (pause to praise the lord), and it just happened that there were no taxis available. Jan turned out to help.

RossF, if you are a fast skier, you need to ski with Jan. I am a constant student of ski technique, but Jan covers a much wider aspect, and his technical ability is mmm, quite good. We were talking about you today, and wishing you well from the 25th.

I think I can see steam from Switzerland from the top of the Marbachjoch.

Please refer to the most recent previous thread on chains/winter tyres.

Ise quoted Austrian law on the use of winter tyres, in which he was technically correct, but for practical purposes, in Tirol, you use winter tyres. I have talked to many locals round here, they have all receieved information about winter tyre use. Everyone believes it is a legal requirement.

The only time that you need to legally use chains is if the mountain roads are covered in snow, slush or ice. This is a possible, but generally unlikely event. It has been dumping snow all day, and chains were only used for half of the day.

You can phone your hotel the day before, and check the road conditions.

Been snowing all day, and was struggling with the viz. I dont normally wear goggles, so don't have any with me, but they were needed today. Hence I negotiated some from the lost property box in the Kropfraderjochalm. :oops:

Another succesful day for Caron, she skied the Mittermoose run several times, even though it was deepish fresh. Her man is very neat, has good basics, and proved during the day to be very adaptable. It was his first time in powder. Caron later also came down the Kropfraderjoch top face, an area that yesterday we negotiated around. (Where I duly earned the title of "B*****d") So big progress for the lady, who has my great admiration for her strength of character, courage and the positive way in which she has returned to skiing.

Caron was also struggling with the viz, so ermm, er, negotiated a cap from the lost property box. :oops: That seemed to fix things.

Admin Dave and I had several powder runs, two of which will go into my mental diary, bouncing straight down the fall line, whooping like a pair of 16 year olds. (which indeed we are). Our Dave turns out to be quite a powder hound. We did have one high speed near miss, and if we had wiped out it would have been my fault. Except that he was on my piece of powder, who does he think he is!

Two or three runs down with Jan towards the end of the day, but by then my knee injury was spiking, so although I avoided falling, my skiing was getting out of shape, so finished half an hour early.

It is scheduled to snow all night. Off out to dinner with the J2skiers, and then a visit to the Bichlwirt.

9.30 am sounds good Caron, nae doot, yeel hae done 3 runs by then.

Yodeladio

caron-a wrote:Dave, you haven't told everyone about the bit when I called you a B*stard for taking me down a steeper bit without me knowing :shock:
:D

Caron, I am ashamed of myself, :cry: and you did say you would never believe a word I said again.

On the other hand, you did ski more steeply than you had thought you were doing, so it's just a bit of phychology, gal.

Don't forget to show the Duke of Auhof the Christmas Panto. I think you my be in next years!!