Austrian weather and snow conditions

I bet snowman is glad that that he did not go to Austria. Don't think he would have liked that on the bus!

Tony- feeling your pain! Off to the ski-welt on Sat and min temps not going below 3deg so not sure if snow cannons will be going. Was there about 3 yrs ago when conditions were similar but still managed to find enough white stuff, Looks like as admin said earlier snow on the way from Tues. Hope you have a great time anyway.

I'm off to Skiwelt too and yes was there 3 years ago! I seem to remember it was like skiing through fishmonger's ice! Still an awesome holiday though. Better to ski in slush than not ski at all.

Bad Gastein is quite a bit higher than the ski welt so hopefully it should be ok!
Sounds like St Anton is ok.
Fingers crossed.

I dont mind the odd T Bar or drag.
Ellistine - NIgel will do his nut when he sees those!!!

Snapzzz - yeah right, sure!!!!

Tony_H wrote:

Snapzzz - yeah right, sure!!!!

Not sure what you mean there.

Genuinely, im glad im not going there. Snow reports are 100cm/20cm and we all know how resorts exatgerate their conditions.
Weather reports put temps as high as 8-9 degrees this week,the freeze line being as much as 3000m, so i don't think there will be any new snow for while.

Probs be ok high up but maybe a bit limited.

A grim year

I disagree with much stuff here. As long as you can ski down to the resort, it's all hunky dory. Good skiers should be able to ski in all conditions. Thanks to top class grooming, morning runs are brilliant, afternoon runs are rather more interesting.

At this time of year, north facing resorts get no sun, hence the ground temperatures remain low, and the snow is preserved.

In these places, the snow tends not to soften, but to become more hardpack. So take your skis in, and get the edges sharpened ~ ask for an 87 degree cut. Then ski smoooothly. (Not "agressively", as one guy suggested, a couple of years back)

What's not to like??????

Dave Mac wrote:I disagree with much stuff here. As long as you can ski down to the resort, it's all hunky dory. Good skiers should be able to ski in all conditions. Thanks to top class grooming, morning runs are brilliant, afternoon runs are rather more interesting.

At this time of year, north facing resorts get no sun, hence the ground temperatures remain low, and the snow is preserved.

In these places, the snow tends not to soften, but to become more hardpack. So take your skis in, and get the edges sharpened ~ ask for an 87 degree cut. Then ski smoooothly. (Not "agressively", as one guy suggested, a couple of years back)

What's not to like??????

Wise words David, from someone who knows Austria particularly well and may well be used to skiing in less than perfect conditions. I think Mr Snapzz only likes perfectly groomed pistes on bluebird days after 10cm of overnight snow. Not that I don't but you often don't get the choice.

It is annoying that the 2 other options we considered for this Saturdays trip are overflowing with fresh snow, but thats life. No one expected January 2014 to suffer from a lack of snow and above zero temperatures. You have to make the most of what you've got. And as Dave says, good skiers should be able to ski in all conditions.....just maybe not enjoy them QUITE as much as Mr Snapzz's personal preference.

Ilkeston or Austria next week..... ummmmmmmmm?????

Snow is pretty bad really, on Monday I had a little venture off-piste at Seefeld, the narrow path of gravel and protruding rocks was really not good for my new skis. Stayed away from the quieter piste where last week there were big patches of grass on the piste itself. And the snow there was, was soft. But what do I care, most the main pistes at good resorts are skiiable. Monday (a public holiday) was sunny, and a great day, I tend to side with those that say on groomed pistes, it is just fine, and if you don't like slush, go to a north-facing piste. I am OK with a little skiing in slush provided I can have my beer in the sun: that suits me far better playing the 'real man' in a blizzard.

I would think for anyone who likes to ski on pistes can have a decent holiday, though the kind of hard-core skiers who don't believe in pistes are going to suffer this kind of non-powder skiing: http://www.epictv.com/player/embed-player/269617?disable_ads