J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by SkiGirl

Thanks all for your help and advice. Ideally we'd like to go w/c 15th so that my hubby has his 40th when we're away. We'll prob book our leave from work and then leave it to the last minute and go where there's decent snow :D

Hi Mag

I'm also 5' tall and I got my ski jacket (a Trespass) in TK Maxx. It's a kids age 11-12 (I'm anything between and 8 or a 10) but I think they also have ages 13-15 so you might find something there that would suit. Although it is aged 11-12 it's still really roomy and I can get a t-shirt and woolly jumper underneath. I've bought salopettes in Mountain Warehouse and Trespass (not kids sizes) and they have been ok for length. I tried on jackets and salopettes recently in Ellis Brigham and they were a really good fit, I think it was the Helly Hanson range. It's a bit more expensive though. Marks and Spencer may be another place to try - I've never bought ski stuff from there but they do different lengths in all their other clothing ranges. Remember that ski boots will help take a bit of the length. Hope this helps! :)

More snow please! I also have the Neiderau webcam on my "Favourites" list :D

Hi

Hubby and I went skiing for the first time a couple of years ago. I got my ski jacket from TK Maxx (also great for horse riding!) and my salopettes from Mountain Warehouse. He got his first ski gear from there also but this year got salopettes in TK Maxx and an Animal ski jacket which he wears everywhere in the winter. We also got base layers from Mountain Warehouse and they weren't expensive. I'm quite small so was able to buy kids sizes and they were really good value. I have Peter Storm walking boots that I got from Millets (kids size again) and these are perfectly fine and warm for walking around the resort in the evenings. Think my hubby's boots are Timberland. Also v. good for tobogganing!! This Jan though there wasn't a lot of snow in the resort and I found I wore trainers for most of the time. It was also warm enough to ski in t-shirts this year in Austria but I also take thin polo neck tops, long sleeved t-shirts and a couple of micro fleeces because you never know. If you find you get too warm in the morning you can remove a layer at lunchtime anyway between ski school lessons. Also take a scarf or neck warmer because our first year the nursery slopes were about -15. A woolly jumper is also useful for the evenings for walking around, sleigh riding or tobogganing.

Hope this helps!! :)

Hi there

I've only been to Niederau in Austria and that's where my hubby and I learnt to ski. It's a short transfer from Innsbruck, about 1hr - 1hr15. Niederau is a small village so perhaps it's gonna be too quiet for your crowd but the Wildschonau Ski School is excellent. They hold a ski show on a Sunday night on the nursery slopes (gluwein galore) and there is a race day on Thursdays (snow permitting) with an "awards" night which is brill fun as all the ski classes meet up. The Hotel Austria is closest to the gondola, ski school and nursery slopes (1 min walk) but the Sonschien and Harfenwirt are also pretty close, about 5 min walk. Niederau is pretty quiet I imagine compared to bigger Austrian resorts but the Sport Cafe is fantastic right after skiing. You might not be fit to go out later after a few beers and jagermeisters in there! There is also the Cave Bar for night owls. There is tobogganing as well which is brill and a horse drawn sleigh ride up to a small bar above Niederau. The first year we went we got the beginners ski pack which worked out about £600 each staying half board in the Hotel Austria so I would imagine you could easily stick to your budget. A friend of mine has stayed in Kitzbuel three times and that is where she learnt to ski and she loves it there. It's a much bigger resort and would be about another half hour transfer.

Can someone help? My other half is 40 next year on 19th March and we would really like to go on a second ski hol for his birthday. We plan to go 15-22 March. I know Easter Sunday is 23rd March. Will it be more busy from 15-22 March or from 23-29 March? We never go on hols at that time of year and want to avoid the crowds if we can. Thanks for your help :)

Jan

Glad to hear it snowing in Niederau! The snow can only improve from last year. How nice to hear from someone who lives there - my hubby and I absolutely love it. We only learnt to ski a couple of years ago in Niederau and are hooked. The church bells - ha! They rang so often and apparently randomly we asked our ski instructor Christina (she also lives in Niederau - her mum is the English artist) to explain it!

DShiels
I also forgot to mention that I think you can fly direct to Salzburg in Austria from Dublin if you are thinking of booking your ski hol direct. I'm pretty sure there are no direct flights to Austria from Belfast. You can fly with EasyJet from Belfast to Geneva - I think there are quite a few high altitude French ski resorts within 1-2 hrs of Geneva airport.

Doh :oops: It's not Crystal we travel with its Inghams who go from Belfast International. I think Crystal only go from Belfast City.