learning to board in austria

Ian Wickham wrote:

freezywater wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

tino_11 wrote:I have to do it,......

MAYRHOFEN

Perfect for boarding, very few flats, varied terrain and hardly any pull lifts!!

Its a good shout. And its always cheap to get to. HOWEVER, Freezy went there last January.

good memory Tony, and we couldn't possibly go back, could we?? there's always Niederau.......

AAAAAaaaaHHHHHhhhhhh :shock:

OK Whickers, I'm gonna rise to the bait. :P

I have, in the past, opined. (I think to Tino), that Niederau had it's problems for boarders. The main issue is that at the top there is a long plateau. The Gondola arrives in the centre, and you can come down under the Gondola, with no issues. In fact boarders get a better shout at the steep run, directly under the Gondola.

The other runs involve a ten minute shuffle, either to the left or the right. So hence my conclusion.

However, this year, was skiing with some good boarders, and asked them their opinion of Niederau for boarders. I was surprised at how positive they were. They were a very "can do" set of guys. But I checked with another boarder group, and got the same result. Then met a couple of boarder guys that visit every year.

However, these were all experienced boarders. The issue here is one for a learner boarder. (Yes, and we have heard the one about the difference between a beginner and an instructor!)

Downside that I see is that there will be some intermediate stuff on T-bars for a couple of days. Upside is they have some really good boarder instructors, red school, of course.

Then you do also get the other less quantifiable aspects of N., cross the road to the Gondola, friendliness, seems to be a fair few J2skiers, a very comfortable village. (Sorry Ian, I'm getting carried away, I can see the steam rising, I'll stop now :twisted:)

On a different point, can you help me please Freezy? I noticed some time back, that you bought a pair of Volkl Vertigo G2s. Can I ask how did you go on with them?

No steam Dave, just a bit of fun :wink:

Immense quantity of steam due from you Ian, just as soon as you get going on this pushbike!

Respect to you though, my bikes cannot be seen for dust!

freezywater wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

tino_11 wrote:I have to do it,......

MAYRHOFEN

Perfect for boarding, very few flats, varied terrain and hardly any pull lifts!!

Its a good shout. And its always cheap to get to. HOWEVER, Freezy went there last January.

good memory Tony, and we couldn't possibly go back, could we?? there's always Niederau.......

Given that choice, I'd go back mate.

DaveMac - still got the Volkl, used them extensively in Mayrhofen last year in varied conditions and couldn't fault them, not brilliant off piste although that may well be more down to my expertise rather than the skis :oops:

thanks for the pointers on Niederau, what's your opinion of the Harfenwirt and the Austria, the Sonnschein is looking like too much of a walk as we really wanted to be as close to the piste as possible.

Given the choice i'd go back to Mayrhofen but the wife wants to try somewhere different, she seems to like Scheffau, any reports good or otherwise??

freezywater wrote:DaveMac - still got the Volkl, used them extensively in Mayrhofen last year in varied conditions and couldn't fault them, not brilliant off piste although that may well be more down to my expertise rather than the skis :oops:

thanks for the pointers on Niederau, what's your opinion of the Harfenwirt and the Austria, the Sonnschein is looking like too much of a walk as we really wanted to be as close to the piste as possible.

Given the choice i'd go back to Mayrhofen but the wife wants to try somewhere different, she seems to like Scheffau, any reports good or otherwise??

That's encouraging about the Volkls, Freezy. The ski shop did indicate they would not be much use off piste. What he actually said was, "These skis need a fast piste skier" and I was a lost soul, I had to buy them! Well for £49, new......

Normally, my preference would be the Harfenwirt, it is at the top end of the village, with the Bichlwirt close by. The lift is just across the road, but it is a T-bar ride up, then ski down to the village. Perhaps, not good for a beginner boarder.

The Austria is in the village centre, and a walk across the road, then 50 metres up to the Gondola, and the same to the learner area. Also, if the boarder has to come down on the Gondola, the hotel is close by. Socially, there are several loud music small tent bars, and there is live guitar in O'Reillys, and the Cave Bar. Ski and Board hire is also close. Skiset use Margreiters, which is close by.

Can't help with Scheffau, have skiied there but not stayed there.

thanks Dave, the Volkls are great on piste, I only paid £50 for mine as well so you've defo got a bargain.

If you are learning to board, you won't need an all-singing all-dancing resort. You will probably only touch on a fraction of the ski area in your first week.
What you need is a board friendly ski area with minimal or no drag lifts (these are the last thing you learn). Not too steep, with wide runs.
Most ski areas fit this bill. But most are also very big; beware the lift ticket prices - no point paying for acres and acres that you will not use....