Nesselwang Powder Skiing

Skiing today, for a short time. And SUPER conditions. As I have been ill for two weeks now I haven't been ski teaching in that time, but for one hour of skiing in powder snow I was healthy enough (grin).

At the piste and up the lift at 9.30 with dad, just as the sun was peeking out through the snow clouds. Down the “Grüne Strich” on the first round, with one meter of powder. Met Paul on the way down and went after him. Dad had a crash and lost both skis. Went up again and had a brilliant downhill run through the forest. Went up again a few times with Paul, while dad had a coffee in the Enzianstüble. A few crashes here and there in powder snow were fine, hit a tree stump at one point (buried under the snow).

Paul went to the Neunerköpfle after that and I nearly went with him, but had pulled something in my leg so declined this time.

Had a brilliant one hour run in Nesselwang.

St. Anton Skiing

Skiing at St. Antons today. Extra took a day of work to enjoy the winter in a big ski resort.

Set of at 7.03 (3 minutes late!) and went along motorways and normal road until we reached St. Antons, after a short stop on the way. Had problems finding a car park, as the last time dad was here it wasn’t hidden behind meters of snow and disguised as a bus park.

After buying the tickets it was up the mountain and down for the first round. A bit cloudy and us being so high up were in the thick of it. Had problems seeing the snow texture, but got down with only one crash. Then right to the top, somehow getting there with a few lifts and a high up cable car. I didn't notice it was that far up until I saw it after the clouds had lifted later. But arriving at the top we still had cloud cover, which ended badly. Not seeing a hill in the deep snow dad went flying over his skies, straining his ankle because the bindings didn't open. Went up and down a few times and had lunch in the “Ulmer Hütte”. After that somehow down again, me not having a clue were to go and sending us down the wrong track at one point. Going up after that we went along a ski track, not a piste. Really empty, compared to the rest, and far of into the mountainside. Lots of lumps and mum had a crash at one point, but not a bad one. Steeply down a long lumpy stretch of snow, me going of the side of a cornice and lots of brilliant views of the slowly sun lighted mountains.

After that dad said his leg was aching really badly and he had to stop. After an disorganised downhill trip, with dad ending up at the car, me at the bottom of the lift and mum somehow at the top, I went back up. Meting mum, we went up once again after which she went down the piste and I took another round down the ski track, alone. Super views once again, but I couldn’t concentrate on those to long, as I went down the long lumpy stretch a lot faster than last time. Arriving at the bottom to go back up and meet mum, the whole piste was blocked. The mountain rescue team had closed of a complete access point to a lift, as someone had been injured and was lifted out of the forest area with a winch by helicopter.

Then back up and the last run down, on icy pistes, and of towards home after changing into normal clothes. Stopped at McDonald's on the way back for an evening snack.

Track at GPSies and Dad's blog here.

Hahnekam Skiing

 

Skiing at Hahnenkam in Austria today. Woke up early in the morning (7am) to get there with Dad before the rest of the tourists arrived. Being that early the lifts had not even open yet, so we waited a while. Then the first few rounds with Dad having a crash trying to avoid a sky tourer. Down and up a few times on not overly packed pistes. Had a drink and set of to go home when we met Vincent and Laura Lipp. Went up and down a few times with them, including me crashing at a rather high speed and Vincent landing on his head after brushing and spinning a small child.
Had something to eat after that and then one last round down to the car and on our way back home.
Dad's blog here.

Friday Skiing

Back from work early today, with beautiful sunshine and cold winter temperatures.

Out on the piste in no time with freshly waxed skies and super views above clouds once again.

Met mum and Daniel at the car later, as mum was ski teaching, and watched a helicopter come in under us to pick up an injured person.

Brilliant way to spend the rest of the afternoon.

Time Laps

Got a new toy for my camera for Christmas. It enables me to take time laps videos with my DSLR :-). Created my first video already and I don’t think the result was to bad, albeit a bit short.

Two hours of taking photos for this one.

Equipment: Nikon D90

Nikkor 18-105mm

Meike MK-MC36

Tripod

Oberjoch Christmas Skiing

Traditionally one of the first things we do on Christmas Day is skiing. Mum has to mostly attend church and Daniel and Rhiannon were sleeping, so it was me and dad this time.

As we have had warm weather which has melted away a lot of snow (cry), we went to Oberjoch for an hour and a half to ski on nearly empty slopes which were iced up. The tourists were probably afraid to go down as most of them where huddled near the tops of the slopes.

After a hot chocolate and another fast trip downhill it was back home to unpack presents and for Christmas lunch. 

Dads blog here.

Jungholz Skiing

Lots of skiing today!

First of all it was with the ski teachers to Jungholz for some practical training and to tell us what we are not doing correct on our skies. Up and down a few times with Werner and Jon telling us to ski backwards and do the snow plough. After the training we had a cup of hot chocolate and coffee at the bottom and then home for lunch.

In the afternoon we (the Hogarth boys + Rhiannon) went back to Jungholz with the French boys. Lots of fast skiing this time and some of piste powder skiing. As the final me and dad had quite a crash (hitting each other) and he now has a big bruise on his leg. Still all had fun and ready for more this winter. Dads blog here.