Niederau

Ok.

Can one of the many Niederau officianados on here please answer a few questions for me? Reason for asking is that I've just looked at Jan's photos and it looks glorious. I've previously perhaps been a little dismissive of the resort, but so many of you speak so highly of it that I thought I may consider it as one for the future.

1. For a "low" ski area, what is the snow-reliability like?

2. Is there much skiing there for decent skiers?

3. How far away is Kitzbuhel and is there an easy connection?

4. Is there much reasonably-priced accomodation?

Thank you very much and apologies if these points have been covered before, but I can't be bothered to trawl through!!

Skidaddle.

Anyone..?

Typing now bud ;) ...

Thanks :D

Skidaddle: I hadn’t wanted to jump in here first; I guessed Dave Mac would prefer the honour!

But now that you ask, I’ll try and answer your questions.

1. You are correct that Niederau is amongst the resorts that could be called a “low” ski area. However this is where the easy bit ends. Almost all the slopes are North facing and whilst they (nearly) all enjoy sun at some point during the day the temps do tend to stay low enough to retain good snow cover for extended periods (10 – 15 days without snow doesn’t cause a big problem).

If you search the history of J2ski you’ll find some very esoteric discussions about Macro vs Micro climates and, without having any proper understanding of the metrology, I can tell you that Niederau does manage to keep it’s snow much better than a resort with it’s base station at 850m has any right to.

2. “Is there much skiing for decent skiers?” … Well isn’t that the $1M question on so many levels … Based on your post

I know this from experience, as after 7 years without skiing I hired a pair of Atomic SL9's and had an absolute blast. I went home and ordered some GS9's and went to Kaprun. The first few runs were a bit hairy and I thought "maybe these are a bit quick for me" But once I settled they were fantatsic and I improved with them. I now want something faster and snappier.

I think you’d have a blast!

The great thing about Niederau is that every ski review gives about 6 stars out of 5 for beginners, 3 out of 5 for Intermediates and about -2 for “Experts” – which suits me perfectly ;) As I have said before on here, I have, on several occasions, not got out onto the hill much before midday (Dam that Schnapps!) and still be able to ski totally untracked powder! Compare that with any of the “top” resorts: Verbier; Chamonix; Zermat; Stanton et al and if you don’t have the ability to blag your way up the hill like Pavel, (or have Ise’s commitment to climbing) all you’ll get is tracked out mush by 08:30 and where’s the fun in that?

To get back to facts, we have a World Cup Downhill training piste which I defy you to ski without at least turning occasionally, itinerant pistes that are not only rarely skied but provide amazing views, off-piste trials that even some of the local ski instructors have forgotten about and reds and blacks that the ski school rarely use before Thursday afternoon ;)

3. Kitzbuhel is about 30-40 mins away but the Ski Welt is much closer and much easier to access via the Post Bus. That said, “The Hahnenkamm” is a must as you’re so close, just don’t bother with wax ;)

4. Sure, lots. Probably best sourced locally on a DIY basis or there’s the Austria, Harfenwirt, Sonnschien, Wastlhof, Simmerlwirt and all the others if you fancy a package deal …

I’m happy to answer any more detailed questions – Just ask :)

Jan

Very, very interesting Jan and thanks so much for taking the time.

Can you pm me details of your place please??

Skidaddle.

Damn you Jan, you stole all my thunder, I have 80 years more Niederau experience than you, get in the queue!

Sorry to be so late with this skidaddle, have been at the Edinburgh Fringe all day with eldest son, who amongst all his other non-jobs writes on the Festival for a Scottish newspaper. Free tickets to everything.

If you want to ski Kitzbuhle, it is closer to go to Kirchberg, and ski over on to the Hannenkamm.

And ~ bummer, Jan has covered everything else. Except, I think it should become official that Jan has the best Auslander capacity for Schnapps ever seen, and still be able to ski the backside off most living creatures. Enough to say that usualy before I see Jan, I have already had ten runs.

Skidaddle, there are not that many runs at Niederau, but there are a 100 diferent ways to tackle each of them, and as Jan indicates, great rewards at the top, when you sit with a drink, looking out over the Kitzbuhleralps.

Thanks Dave Mac.

It seems there is a good amount of skiing between Niederau, Auffach and Kirchberg/Kitz.

Definitely worth considering for the GF and I.

)