Soll- Local knowledge sought

I have been to Soll and the area a number of times and have thoroughly enjoyed the whole package, skiing and apres.
Trying to sort a trip out for my family and Soll ticks all the right boxes I hope. I have a slight dilema, Mrs Fez is the least experienced skier and if Im honest is no more confident than a beginner and is scared stiff of the narrow road runs with steep drops. Can anyone remind me if after going up the main gondolla from Soll that there is access by blue runs to lifts to other blues only to get up and around the mountain which would not require her having kittens. She would be happy with a few nice wide long blues with a choice of restaurants etc to pass the time. Here's hoping!!!

Hi SF,
I have stayed all over the Ski Welt. and just about every area has it's tricky bits for beginner-developers. I ski there every year. A couple of years ago, we based in Scheffau, but I wanted to bring one nervous lady down, so I spent a fair bit of time reseaching the north facing runs, from Söll to Going.

I chose a route down from the HartKaiser, above Ellmau. My OH led her down for some of the way, then I took over. The lady had her fair share of falls, but she was gutsy, and she made it down.

The Skiwelt is a well loved area, but it is relatively recent. One old farmer told me he was a liftie in Söll, when each village had it's own chairlift, plus drag lifts, but there was no inter-village connection. Now it is one of the really good ski areas, with the world's worts piste map!

IF YOU ARE LIVING IN CENTRE OF SOLL YOU CAN STROLL TO THE GONDOLA WERE THERE ARE GOOD FACILITIES TO LEAVE SKIS AND BOOTS. FROM MEMORY THE RUNS DOWN TO BASE ARE MAINLY REDS WITH SOME IFFY BITS FOR BEGINNERS. WHEN WE TOOK KIDS ON FIRST SKI TRIPS WE WOULD GET BUS TO SHEFFAU WERE THERE WERE MORE RUNS DOWN IN THE END OF DAY RUSH. BUT SOLL IS GOOD ONCE YOUR UP THERE AND OF COURSE IF THE GIRLS OR LADS THAT DO NOT FANCY THE FINAL RUN DOWN OF THE DAY THEN HOP BACK INTO THE GONDOLA, ITS A HOLIDAY NOT AND ENDURANCE WEEK, THEN YOU ENJOY THE EVENING BETTER.

Hi Scarlet

There are a few easy runs to the right off the 1st gondola that she would probably enjoy.

The Scheffau/Ellmau areas have loads of nice blue skiing. You can reach this reasonably easily off the chair to the left when you come off the 1st gondola. However, while this is mainly a fairly easy route, there was be a few tricky bits depending on conditions - I would check it out yourself before bringing her over. You would also need to check out the route back - from memory, there are one or two pitches that she might not enjoy :cry:.

You could check out buses up to base of Scheffau to access that area - I presume there are regular services from Soll but never used them.

Two things to definitely avoid:
1. Do not take her up on the 2nd gondola - the runs off the top are really quite difficult.
2. Whatever you do, don't even think of letting her come down to the valley in the afternoon. The valley run is no place for the timid and will ruin her day. She should take the gondola down everytime :wink:

Hope that helps.

Wood side and Wanderer thanks for taking the time to write your recommendation. Totally agree with you about the last run down into Soll down the valley. When I have been to Soll before with an experienced group of skiers, as we normally put the miles in a number of them down their skis and get the gondola down so not to ruin a good day as it can be quite challenging.
It's official now we arrive in Soll on the 4th of January.
Does anyone know if Dave's sports is still up and running as we were last there2 seasons ago. Left them a message but got no reply, but then again it is in between the different seasons.

Hi! I am a ski instructor working in the local area, I would not recommend Söll as a good place for a low level skier, especially if they are scared of pushing themselves. Although in January the conditions should make life a bit easier for your friend, as the snow should be well groomed, good visibility, quiet and minimal ice. This should make it easier for your friend to manoeuvre the narrower paths, allowing the snow plough to be sufficient if absolutely necessary! Although I would not advise snow ploughing the entire run, it will most certainly be a thigh killer, and offer no benefits to Ones technique, more of a debilitating affect, due to possible fear, pain, exhaustion- these are not good memories for a low level skier, with the probable outcome of their week being ruined. Maybe until confidence/skill level allows it descend with the gondola.

The best place is Scheffau, it offers terrain for all levels of skiers, and is especially accommodating to low level skiers, offering perfect progression slopes. however I would not recommend skiing with this person to scheffau, I would seriously not do this, some runs you encounter could possibly put your friend off for life, it can be very difficult and scary!!

With regards to taking a bus, they are not too regular, and don't accommodate people with skis. As for a taxi, this will cost you €15 each way, so that's up to you.

Thepistepanther thanks for taking the time to reply. We are are booked to come to Soll. My wife has skied a couple of weeks before but it is fair to lacks confidence. She is going to have a lesson or two before we go and will be having lessons at Soll hopefully being put in the appropriate class to go with her lack of confidence. Hopefully this will bring her on. I know she will be happy to travel up and down on gondolas and lifts to get access to nice runs. As long as she can progress in some way and enjoys again the mountain experience she will be fine. Her sister who has skied a few times more and on her own admission not Franz Klammer will be with us so I have a feeling a little bit of sibling rivalry may help slightly to spur her on. :D

Scarlet fez, you are welcome! You don't need to be the best skier to enjoy all of the Skiwelt, as long as someone is competent in their technique and not too afraid, nothing (on piste) should stop them.

BTW I have started a website www.thepistepanther.com , giving in depth information on getting the most out of your holiday in Austria, including lots of money saving tips, current updates via photos, tips on skiing technique, best places to visit within the ski welt, just basically an insiders guide to the whole thing! It is only a couple weeks old so still in progress but I am updating content a few times a week, and will be focussing on preparation, and planning for the trip.

Far too often have I seen people on ski holidays not getting the best out of their trip, paying full/above average prices, not having a clue/very little knowledge of what's available to them. If there was any other information that you may find useful please don't hesitate to ask!