J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

Giltsteinofen! That is a beautiful structure. Not obvious where it is loaded, maybe the top.
This is the Kachelofen in the Bichlwirt, a Welsh guy called Andrew, Herbert Thaler, and meself. The Bichlwirt is over 550 years old, and the front room is original.
So the log length is really important, they only loaded it once a day.

Take heart, Mahound, by pursuing the dry slope, you have adopted the right approach. You will save yourself time when you do hit the slopes.

Don't worry about the body/feet. You do use the body to turn, just a different part of the body than you are currently using!

One big difference you will notice when you go on the slopes, is that you will have much more space and time. Hence, you will be more relaxed.

Will you be taking ski school in resort? The answer should be yes! Where are you off to?

If this is a celebration,and should be special, then why not go to Colorado? Base in Breckenridge, great for all standards, the town is at 9000ft, so April conditions are good. You can rent a condo to suit.

If in the 3Vs, quiet life, a chalet in La Tania.

It is interesting to compare.

Austrian snow making regulation is province-based. I think that Snowmax is generally permitted, this being a bacteria fundamental. There seems to be greater importance attached to water resource and usage. In Tyrol, high reservoirs must be created. These are generally set up, so as to create a summer recreational option.

With much of Austria still operating small scale farming operations, individual farmers will cut timbers for themselves, and arrange to supply neighbours. Local knowledge is crucial, as "fire ready size" matters. Kachelofens are individually built, and each will have their own optimum log length.

Some years ago, there was a large scale re-organisation of hospitals in our area of Tirol, accompanied by a revision of helicopter service provision. Alongside this, GP surgeries are often equipped with X-ray equipment, so incidents up to bone breaks are dealt with locally. The over/under capacity provision issue remains the same, though.

Returning to snow making, €4/m3 seems very costly. I wonder if that changes when using water pumped from the valley c/w reservoir storage?

What a good question.
The cranes do not generally get dismantled. If they are in position, then they generally stay there, and restart in mid March.

Small and medium sized resorts tend to have fixed season opening and closing dates. There are a lot of logistics involved, particularly if a resort is heavily dependent on tour operators. They set their dates a year ahead.

Larger ski areas may open some of their lifts, as they will get business from locals and people withing driving distance. They need to be able to set up lift personnel, first aiders, ski hire and restaurants.

Slightly linked to this is the ground temperature for switching on snow making, although with advanced additives, this is getting less critical.

Log piles are usually all in stock by September/October.

Cattle are usually brought down from the Alms in late September, early October, and there is often an associated mountain festival. Also, the alm workers leave the summer farms.

At the end of my first ski season, I was offered a job to look after a summer farm in Austria!

All the summer cattle fencing has to be dismantled, and snow machines set in place.

I'm pretty sure there must be some logistical preparation in hospitals and medical centres, and the nature and number of accidents will change.

New skis to be delivered to ski hire shops, temporary staff to be taken on in all the village and ski related businesses.

This whole issue is a piece of French nonsense. I have worked in Paris & Africa with French engineers, and I rate them amongst the best. I understand they set great pride in qualifications and experience.

I believe this is similar in many French occupations, including skiing. This way of thinking, that you fully qualify for your arbeit/travaille is also part of my set of beliefs.

I do not believe that organisations such as Inghams, Nielsen, Crystal, or smaller operators, would risk their reputation, or their clients safety, by allowing their employees to lead their customers into danger.

So well done all the main TOs that have provided support to small operators.

Crystal have moved their touring provision to an French based English ski school. It is still a free service. Well done, Crystal. Please catch up, Inghams.

So last week, ESF have taken fright, and are now offering the same free service. In addition, the court case has beenput on the back burner, "until issues have been explored". Yeah, right.

As I pointed out at the start, this has nothing to do with the French view of being professional. I have worked with them, and have a great admiration to their approach. I suggest this is more to do with a bad management decision within one organisation.

NellyPS wrote:We always have a beer on the way back to the hotel, dinner and then we go for a walk and that also usually ends with a drink somewhere. Not very often we have big nights out anymore, can't do that and ski the next day.

Ah, Nelly, a good strategy. And you DO meet a better class of person in doing so!

I used to go for 6/7 weeks to Niederau with my ski buddy, Mel, but then he passed away. So I now take about 3 weeks in January/Feb, alone. I then do another 2/3 weeks in March with frau and friends.

For the January trip, I have been through the element of low cost single rooms, (you can get rooms for €20/22 b&b), but I now pay extra and get myself an apartment. I paint every day, so I can leave various paintings spread about, and the Hausfrau cleans around them!

Loneliness is not an issue. In January, I know about a dozen, ex-J2skiers will be there. I go to watch the Hahnemkamm training, meet with some of the internationals that train in the Niederau Race arena, meet up with the Disability Snowsport lot, drive to different villages and meet up with people I know, or have met on the internet. This year I plan to ski with an instructor, who lives in Scheffau ~ met him recently on J2ski!

I can ski at my own pace, so generally do not have to spend time waiting, and hence I maximise my ski time. Then when I stop for a break, I can sit and draw, without being anti-social.

At night, I go to different hotels, and meet a wide range of folk I have known for years. So, for me, solo time is idyllic.

When to book? I have always booked accommodation first week in October, for January, I get a special deal, anyway. When that is booked, I book my free Easyjet flight, (through Natwest visa points), and car hire, (early booking gives the lowest price). I then have until 5 Dec to choose which season pass to buy.

What's not to like?