J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

To be accurate, I should have said, "price restraint" not "price control"

Niederau, (wildschoenau), has increased prices by 1.02%.

I just do not know how they manage to do this, other than there has always been a strong belief in price control in the area, and that Austria/Tirol/Wildschonau have really gone strongly in the direction if eco-grants.

I know this is not a corporate case, but is indicative of attitudes in Austria. My old head instructor has invested in, ~ half metre depth roof insulation, (I have done this also), ~ 8 hot water solar panels, (I intend to, next year, geo-thermalheat extraction, (I am investigating)

The difference between us is:

1.His costs of installation are less than half of mine
2. He gets 80% grant, I might get 5%.

Bandit wrote:

AJ wrote:

Sorry but i thought Jan was qualified,But i have since been told other wise.I know his son was training to be an instructor.Sorry again as i dont want to mislead anyone and most of all cause Jan any problems.

I don't believe that you were misleading, Adele. Jan has previously offered, to address a period in Niederau, with the emphasis on "some coaching", not instructing. But I think that was related to a specific timescale piece of organisation.

It's very easy not to understand guys when they can't get their knees together. :wink:

Tino, you are in Austria. Assuming you are a European resident, and assuming that you haven't also forgotten your European Health Card, (which of course, all J2skiers carry in their wallet), then you will be given hospital treament.

The only grey areas are:

Costs of getting you off the piste to the Ambulance, and maybe the ambulance costs. Not sure of this position, but fair to say, not a high cost.

Helicopter cost, should you be caught out offpiste, or should you have a serious on-piste injury. Talk 3000 Euros.

Even with insurance, if you go off piste, in an area not recognised by he lift company, you may be liable for helischrauber costs. Depends on Ts and Cs, we had this discussion before.

I didn't know that Adele. That Jan is a bit of a dark horse.

Did you get sorted out for Niederau next year?

Mikei,

You are openly expressing what most of us never admit to ~ fear. Good on you. The trick is to rationalise the fear.

In reality, speed itself should not be the issue. Loss of control, falling, and the effects of the fall are the issue.

For example, imagine yourself on your favourite blue slope, skiing as fast as you can safely ski. Does it feel good? You bet it does, you are going fast, and you know you can stop.

So go to the next level run, ski not as fast as you did on the blue, but you don't feel as comfortable. Why? Because you are closer to your limit of control.

Why should this be?

Do you go into ski school every year?

If you don't, then how will you learn the next bit of technique that is going to help you move forward? Learning to ski is gradual, and I am still learning after forty years.

If you do get lessons every year, but don't make the progress that you really want to make, then change something. Or change everything. Change your ski school, or the resort, take privates, ski in Colorado. Do something different.

If you are capable of skiing red runs, just think how much you have improved since you first started skiing.

One turn at a time.

Hi Pavb2,

I am not clear as to what your are your key criteria.

Have skied Zermatt, Saas Fee, and lived for several winters in Niederau.

There is no other place with a stunning mountain view to compare with Zermatt. It's only bad point are the lift queues up to the Kleine Matterhorn. Many plusses, great views, dominated by the Matterhorn, skiing and lunching over in Italy is really nice, but the link may not always be open.

Saas Fee is a pleasant place, good skiing, does seem prone to piste closure due to bad weather. I reaaly liked Saas Grund, a 10 min bus ride. You get to ski right alongside an open-sided glacier.

Both Zermatt and Saas Fee have retained many of the old Swiss farm buildings right in the middle of the town, and both have heaps of places to spend money.

Niederau is much smaller, the Wildschoenau has only a quarter of Zermatt,s piste lengths, and a half of that of Saas Fee. It has a different, small village atmosphere. You don't take an hour to get up the mountain, and if you choose the right accomodation, you are virtually ski in/ski out. Again, many of the old tirol buildings remain as they were 400/500 years ago. Niederau has just been voted Europe's best village in the "Small and Fine" category, according to the ADAC VerlagReisemagazin. (Information, courtesy of Jan)

Looking at the Inghams brochure, the lowest HB hotel costs for all 3 locations are broadly similar.

All places have their strengths, take your time, and vist them all! :lol: