J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

You are, as usual correct Ise, my memory is not what it was! The following is copied from etyres website, but was typical of many web sites.

The use of winter tyres is not mandatory in Austria, although their use can be enforced through road signs. In particularly snowy areas drivers have two options; either use winter tyres or fit snow chains around the car's summer tyres. All-season tyres can be accepted as winter tyres if they carry the M+S mark and have at least 4mm of tread. Any tyre with a tread depth of less than 4mm is regarded as a summer tyre. Snow chains may be used when the motorist deems them necessary. In addition chains canbe made compulsory in certain regions. Spikes can be used with cars that weigh up to 3.5 tonnes and speed limits are enforced for these vehicles.

There's something a bit odd here. The flare-up occurs only towards the end of a holiday.

So, maybe all the things that have been mentioned are in there, but, the one thing that is different on holiday is the bed. If your home bed is unusually hard or soft, then your sleeping posture will differ. The effects of this would accumulate during the week, and manifest itself towards the end of the week.

Tony_H wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:

Many TOs operate a weight restriction on your ski bag. Some are an inpractical 6Kgms

Easyjet is 12Kgms, but this is for "one set of skis".

This HAS to be some kind of money making scam, as it is totally impractical to expect a ski bag to weigh as little as 6kg.
Even 12kg is pushing it, when you look at some of the board bags and double ski bags people use.

Well it is certainly putting a close boundary. I have been a kilo over the 6 kgm level, on a couple of occasions, but not been hit for extra. Never a problem with Easyjet.

At the bottom of my winter packing list, I have the weights of all our skis, together with various double combinations, and the boot weights.

Most of the Austrian Instructors learned to ski from the age of 2 or 3. It is just taken for granted in the Tirol, as no doubt it is in other Alpine countries.

But as with all other aspects of life at that age, it is treated as playtime. (Well actually, I haven't grown out of that mindset!) The young ones are there to have fun.

So they don't need parents there.

There is usually a back up, in the case of the young ones becoming fractious.

As they get a bit older, and are skiing on the mountain, there is a teacher at the front, and one at the back, and that makes good sense.

Those of us who are DIY are certainly going to take a wee hit with our lift pass costs this winter.

Six day week Niederau pass:
Inghams £130
Crystal £133

In resort 150.4 Euros, at 1.07E/£ = £140.56, ie 5/7% higher.

So, if you have booked with a TO, and have not pre-booked your lift pass, you will make a bit of a saving by booking before you go.

If you leave it until you are on the transfer bus, you will pay the resort price in Euros, at whatever exchange rate/commision your card co decides.

WE have discussed this on a previous thread, and I recall the conclusions were that during the winter months winter tyres are mandatary in Austria, (probably Switzerland also?), but not in Germany.

The upshot is that if you hire a car at Salzbourg or Innsbruck, the car will be fitted with winter tyres. If you hire at Munich, it is fairly unlikely to be fitted with winter tyres.

Boots in your suitcase, or bottom of your rucsac.

I find the trick with weight is to have a winter packing list saved on your PC. Never take more than what is on the packing list, and when you come back, adjust your packing list by what didn't get worn.

You should be able to get all your winter gear, including boots, into a lightweight rucsac at between 12Kgms and 15Kgms.

Many TOs operate a weight restriction on your ski bag. Some are an inpractical 6Kgms

Easyjet is 12Kgms, but this is for "one set of skis". If close to the weight limit, I whip off the bindings, and put them into the rucsac. The skis can then sit into each other.

Salzburg Airport, so will be bound by Austrian law ~ should be supplied by winter tyres. Check the ts & cs. My memory is that the road into Kaprun town is not steep, so the issues are not the same as going up to a high valley resort.