raddays » Snowboard & Ski

Snowboard & Skiing Day Trip to Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, Austria

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:16:47 +0000

On surfing the web for idea's during the Spring, after we though all our snowboarding days were over, I happen to start clicking through the Austria Offical Tourist Information website and came across Summer Glacier Skiing and was surprized there were a few to choose from.

Salzburg Airport, Austria

Kitzsteinhorn looked favourable at this point and I looked at its location in relation to Airports. It seemed like it was approximately 75 minutes from Salzburg Airport !.

I hunted down UK airports that flew to Salzburg and opted for Standead as the scheduled flight times looked perfect. I think we fly out at around 06.30am and landed in Salzburg airport at about 09.30, the last return flights were departing Slazbrug Airport at 22.40 tthe same day.

We pre booked the car hire, so once we landed one went to the car hire desk to beat the queues (if there was one out of season?) whilst the others collected the snowboard bags. We managed to leave the Airport just after 10.00 and headed on the empty motorway to the the Ski Slopes in the Summer (this is mad we said) !. We got changed in the car park and got on the gondola about 11.30am which wasn't bad, clear blue skies, red hot I think it was about 25 celcus and all the summer pistes were open. As this was mid week the pistes were empty and only the international Ski Teams seemed to be there.

Kitzsteinhorn-Kaprun Piste Map - Winter Version

Check out Kitzsteinhorn Glacier website for more details.

This particular trip was in early May and the furthest point you could ski down to was Langwied at 1978m which was a Gondola station. However we went in late June another year and you could Ski down to the Main Aplincentre at 2450m which is understandable.

There are plenty of runs to keep you interested for a day trip, we stopped about 13.30 for lunch and to soak up the sun even more. After an outstanding and surreal days boarding we headed for the Umbrella Bar at about 16.40 to unwind for an hour. The atmosphere as always in Austria was friendly and fun, the usual Bavarian Beer/Euro pop songs were blasting out which brought a mouth stretching smile to us all.

Kitzsteinhorn - View on Sonnenkarbahn Chair Lift

Once off the slopes we had a walk around the local village of Kaprun which is ideally situated for this area and Zell am Zee. As the flight was late in the evening we did not have to rush around everywhere, it was relaxed and we took out time getting back to Salzburg Airport to hand over the car and check in. On another trip we had a drive around Salzburg and dropped into the close by retail park for pizza.

Kitzsteinhorn Glacier - AlpinCentre Umbrella Bar

Overall this was an excellent off the cuff trip, which was well worth doing to break up the lack of snowboarding days during the rest of the year, I think we got about four and a half hours in boarding which wasn't bad and satified our appetite for snow, Austrian Mountain atmoshpere, Snowboarding and the great outdoors.

We took these trips when the flight taxes and hidden extra's where not as high and time tables may have changed since so please check. Its all about getting the earliest flight out and the latest flights back.

Have a look into it for the Spring/Summer months as it still may be worth a trip out for a slide.

What a Rad Day !

Check through to see if there are any possible bargins for your next skiing trip.

TAYLORMADE TOUR PREFERRED TOUR SPOON 13 GOLF CLUB
£15.80

Rossignol Passion I womens skis 154cm with Rossignol 90 adjustable ski bindings
£81.67

Salomon RT Xscream 700 Skis 173 cm with Sal 500 Bindings A Retail $19999
£25.32

Rossignol T Power Viper X Mountain skis 188ccm w Rossi Race 120 DEMO bindings
£6.65

ROXY Team JR girls skis 120cm with Rossignol kids youth ski bindings SNOW nr
£56.35

TAYLORMADE GHOST SPIDER HEEL SHAFT 41 BELLY PUTTER RH
£119.66

Volkl 724 EXD skis 149cm with Marker Titanium 110 ski bindings no reserve NR
£37.89

TAYLORMADE GHOST SPIDER HEEL SHAFT 43 BELLY PUTTER RH
£119.66

Volkl 724 PRO JR kids skis 100cm with Salomon c305 kids youth bindings SNOW nr
£35.45

ROSSIGNOL 93 RJ 135CM SHAPED DOWNHILL SKIS W COMP BINDINGS Make an Offer
£63.30

MARKER SPEEDPOINT M900 25 9 DIN EASY ADJUSTABLE bindings pre owned used
£43.05

SALOMON STREETRACER 06W SKIS WITH SALOMON BINDINGS LENGTH 150CM
£77.00

Black Diamond Velvet 2010 Womens Skis SZ 165 cm New
£126.62

K2 Comanche Sport Skis 124 cm with Salomon 609 Bindings D Retail $22999
£37.98

NEW 2012 Lange EXCLUSIVE RX 80 All Mountain Performance Womens SKI BOOT 245
£253.21

Rossignol Cut 104 R skis160 cm with Salomon 700 Bindings D Retail $14999
£25.32

ROSSIGNOL 7SV Alpine Skis 198cm with Rossignol bindings Also poles and bag
£21.00

Volkl Racetiger GS R World Cup Skis 187cm New 109870
£126.62

Rossignol Cut 104 RW Skis 150 cm w Salomon 500 Bindings Retail $14999
£31.65

NEW 2011 Nordica HOT ROD PRO 125 All Mountain Freeride SKI BOOT 255 US 75
£233.62

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Support Our Scottish Ski Area’s This Season

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:17:48 +0000

If you time the weather right, by checking it daily a few days before you can have a great time.

AT PRESENT MOST OF THE SCOTTISH SKI RESORTS HAVE EXCELLENT SNOW CONDITIONS FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

The Cairngorm Mountain Area seem to have great powder snow conditions at the moment if you can get up there.

View from the Day Lodge at Cairngorm Mountain Ski Centre

PLEASE CHECK OUT WINTERHIGHLAND.INFO website for up to date Lift Status, Weather Conditions, Webcams, Live Traffic Cams, basically all the possible information you can get to make a educated judgement on taking a trip to the one of the Scottish Ski Centres.

Please check the weather forecast and the road conditions before setting off, as it could be a wasted trip or time lost stuck on the access roads.

Also check where you can hire equipment, as you may have to queue at the Ski Centre Hire Shops. They may even be out of equipment by the time you get there. So please plan ahead as this is not one of the European resorts that has an endless choice of Hire Shops. If the Ski Centre Hire Shops are running short there is normally a note on the specific Ski Centre page on Winterhighland.info.

The Lecht Nursery Slopes - Ideal for beginners

We have planned and been on many a long weekend trips to one of the Scottish Ski Centres. We timed it right all from getting information from the mention website and we had great conditions every time. The community on the forum are also very helpful if you want a second or third opinion. Gone are the days of checking Teletext Snow Reports and once your get up there find the data was a few days old which can make such a difference in the Scottish Climate.

Anochmor - Nevis Range

Have a fun and safe trip !

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Old School Snowboards

For Fun — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:18:32 +0000

Been boarding since 1993 properly, however we did have a go on the Sims rental snowboard from one of the shops in Aviemore Centre back in 1989. Where you had to strap in your ski boots, however no one knew how to do it so we gave up pretty quick.

As we were skaters we just thought it would be easier than skiing, how we were wrong when there's no one to watch or ask.

Coming soon is a picture of a 1994 Nitro Snowboard and three strap bindings.

Please send in your beloved old school snowboard pictures, to see how they have evolved over the years.

Check the selection on offer at present.

Flow Snowboard Binding
£26.00

BURTON TRIAD SNOWBOARD BINDINGS
£100.00

Flow Pro11 Large Snowboard Bindings
£41.07

Burton Cartel EST snowboard bindings
£50.00

Flow MK03 Snowboard Bindings Large not burton union K2
£35.07

Womens Ride Snowboard 148cm with bindings
£135.00

Vans Fargo Snowboard Boots 9
£70.00

Snowboard Bindings
£18.98

2012 Technine Element Snowboard Binding Black
£139.28

2012 Technine Element Snowboard Binding Blue
£139.28

2012 Technine Element Snowboard Binding Graphite
£139.28

2012 Technine Split T Snowboard Binding Red Color Size Large
£88.63

2012 Technine Split T Snowboard Binding White Color Size Large
£88.63

K2 Snowboard bindings cinch mens size extra large
£67.00

BLIZZARD TC26 SKIS TYROLIA 360 BINDINGS 200 cm
£50.00

Burton Snowboard
£5.50

2012 Technine T Money Snowboard 159 Black Blue
£251.97

2012 Technine Womens Element Pro Snowboard Bindings MEDIUM Blue Raz
£139.28

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Family Ski Drive to the French Aples – Les Saisies

For Fun — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:18:53 +0000

On searching the bargins for a skiing holiday at Easter one year I came across the not so well known French Ski resort of Les Saisies. It may not be well known amongst the British Downhill Skiing population however it is famous for holding the Cross Country skiing and Nordic events in the 1992 Winter and many more World Class Events.

Les Saisies 1650m - La Lègette

It has a traditional timber built Chalet atmosphere with one main road running throught the centre of the village. You can ski-in ski-out generally from most Lodgings which is a big bonus for many.

Our family of six were lucky enough to obtain an amzing deal in a newly opened quality MGM appartment with free use of the private indoor heated swimming-pool with Jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish baths and fitness room. I think we got a good package as it had just opened and some minor items were not finished in time for the winter season. However this did not effect our family at all, the accommodation was as imaged in their marketing brochures.

Les Saisies Balloon Festival & MGM Appartments

Half our family were beginners so I was looking for a resort for the family, I was amazed that most of the runs were friendly towards children, beginners and intermediates. I didn't want a resort that had intimidating runs which would break their confidence and put them off for the rest of the holiday or forever. This resort was just perfect for all of us. Les Saisies is now linked to other small resorts and is called the 'Espace Diamant' which includes Praz sur Arly which is near the larger resort of Megève. It now boasts 185km of downhill pistes and 80km of Cross Country pistes to suit all levels. You have the chance to try Cross Counrty Skiing in the morning to warm up those muscles and then take to the Downhill pistes to test your turns and take in the panoramic views of the Mont Blanc.

The snow record for this area is one of the best in the Alpes due to its location near Mont Blanc, we went in April and there was not one run closed or going thin. We were lucky as the sun shone for all seven days so the children could play in the snow after skiing without getting cold and my wife could top up her tan at the bar.

I have been skiing and snowboarding since 1989 and visited many different ski resorts and this is the first ski resort where I have seen masses of walkers with snow shoes on buzzing around

Les Saisies Village & Slopes

the place which was lovely to see for a change. You can hire them in most of the Ski Hire Shops aswell as Cross Country Ski's.

Apart from Skiing you can use the outdoor Ice Rink which was nice to have for a small resort and their was a dedicated sledging Area which was very popular with the younger families. As the MGM Chalet was on the slopes we went sledging every night after the slopes were closed and had a great time.

At the time we visited there were not many British Families however the Ski School Spoke good English for the children. In our personal opinion we felt this was a good point about the resort.

Our journey back home to the UK started at 08.00, stopping off at 08.30 at the Patisserie in Praz sur Arly in the valley for our breakfast of pain au chocolat's and drinks. We arrived back in the East Midlands just gone Mid night the same day. We travelled by the motorways and used the channel ferry having regular stops for the children, so overall we didn't feel it took that long and it was well worth the trip and one day we wish to return to see how it has changed.

Check out the possible bargins below, to help reduce costs on your family Ski holiday. I always feel Easter is a good time to go in Europe as the air temperatures are warmer inthe day, so the kids can mess about inthe snow and not get so cold quick.