J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

One aspect of snowfall that interests me is the relationship between snowfall and location, rather than just looking at resort height.

There are one or two good sites that give good historical info by location. I have not seen anything that brings the locations together in terms of "streams" of weather. I am thinking of the consistency of weather in a line of resorts.

There are many places that I would have just have gone ahead with the holiday, for the atmosphere and character, but Tignes is not one of them. So I agree with Admin, on this occasion, cut your losses.

More to the point, suggest that you look on 2008 as an investment in your skiing future. It is tough if you have to have an operation, but the follow up physio is very important, and should be skiing orientated.

Just testing, Admin,

I think in mm but write in cm.

I had a momentary glimpse of heaven.

However, I do remember, back in the early 70's, when Niederau had just a single chairlift, (the first in Tyrol), and there was well over a metre of new snow.

There were about twenty of us at the 8.00am lift, all thinking great thoughts. None of these thoughts took into account that the chairs at the bottom were buried in snow, and took an hour to dig out! Still, eventually, we were first down the new snow.

Herman,

"So, you're saying that as you start the turn, you're accelerating and only start to decelerate later on?"

Imagine travelling across the slope, at a constant speed.

Whatever technique you use, initiate a turn.

As you start to turn, you begin to accelerate.

When you are pointing directly down the fall line, you are at the maximum speed of the turn.

As you continue the turn, your speed will gradually decrease.

At the point that you feel that you are comfortably in control, then initiate the next turn.

At the point that you wish to stop, then complete the turn until you stop.

One point to watch. Most people up to intermedaite level have a favoured direction of turn, and so you will remain more in control if you recognise this and carry out a more complete turn on the weak direction.

Ise uses the term "loads of edge check". The decelerating force is a function of:

Mass, (your weight),
Square of the velocity,
Angle of the ski to the slope.

So, as we build up our technique and capability, the speed down the slope gradually increases, and the braking force, (edge check), increases.

Hi Mervyn,
I will be in Niederau from 23rd March for the final week of the Niederau season. Even last year, when there was poor snow Europe-wide, Niederau had good end of season skiing.

The year before, I left at the start of April, with the mountain white and skiable top to bottom. Niederau retains the snow well, unless we get a warm south wind, (the Fehrn)

The immediate weather looks good. According to the j2ski forecast, there may be 470 cm of new snow within the next week. The other good point is the low temperatures, affording the lift company an opportunity to make some mounds of artificial.

The back up would be Auffach, which is higher, lots of red runs, and good for intermediates. This is something that eurasia may need to bear in mind. The season closes in Niederau on the 30th March, but closes in Auffach on 6th April. A ski bus operates between the two.

However, the last day of the season in Niederau is good fun, many locals go to the mountain top for music and drinks.

Ski well, will look for you in the Gondola, or at night in the Bichlwirt.

Reinforce the point made by bandit about the realisation of the feeling of control. I have had experienced skiers comment that they feel a bit too much on the edge, in relation to speed. I almost always suggest that they "complete each turn"

In reality, we need both, the feeling of control, and the surge of adreneline, as we experience a new edge of speed.

Souldrive used a good analogy of running drills. As an ex-cross country and fell runner, can vouch for the speed routines geared to gaining speed endurance. So be it with skiing, we learn and build on knowledge and experience.

Hi Adele,

Dunno if you are time-locked into school hols, (seem to recall you were the in late Jan, so you must have some flexibility.

Basic need is access to cheap flight. I am fortunate in that Easyjet do Edinburgh Munich, but to keep cost low, it is advantageous to do mid-week travel.

Depending on location, driving out keeps cost down, travel back on Sunday for lorry-free autobahn. About 10 hours to a channel port. (Or 22 hours back to Fife!)

You can get to Woergl by train from Innsbruck, Salzburg, or Munich. Or do car hire about £17/day.

Get a good low cost base on the edge of Niederau. I always stay just past the Bichlwirt, and ski into the village on the Tenladen T-bar, and to the door at night. Try to stay in the same place, apartment, b&b, and get a good relationship with the owners.

Buy a season pass. If you go for two weeks, you are in profit, then you can grab the odd long weekend.

Leave sets of skis in Niederau, so you are not hiring or paying your £15 or £30 charges. I stuff socks into my boots and put them into a rucsac. Total wgt 18kgm.

Eat the set menus, do a deal with the Harfenwirt, sus out the low cost filling meals. If you have an apartment, this is an obvious saver, along with supermarket drinkie-poos.

Have just tried to embed one of my Niederau paintings, but cannot master the technology!! Stick to skiing, I think!

Dave

Sticking to the subject, in our skiing lives, we cannot expect to cover all the resorts, particularly if you are a Niederau-nut or anyother-nut.

My tick list for resorts extends far beyond my 160th birthday. Which, I may hasten to add, I have not yet achieved.

Traditionally, Switzerland has been an expensive country in which to ski. Of recent years, the currency has strengthened, changing things.

My hit list included Klosters, Davos, Zermatt, (all done), Saas Fee, (in 2 weeks), Grindlewald-Wengen-Murren, and Verbier. Having had a squint at Bandit's pics, this list may be extended. Adele is correct, Gr-We-Mu is all on one area pass.

Trouble is, there are soooo many other places that need my attention. I severely need to re-adress Colarado, (next winter), central Canada, and umhh, er, more Niederau.

Tony, you made a totally incorrect statement on another thread, stating that it is well known that Niederau and Soell dry up early. You seem to equate height with snow depth. I really enjoy the Ski-welt, and in particular, Soell is a lovely village, having one of the best church interiors in Tyrol. I confess that they manage the region well. However, from the top of the Marbachjoch, we often see the Hoehe-Salve above Westendorf to be green, but the runs below us to be white. Twas ever thus.