Archive for the 'Stuben' Category
April 23rd, 2009 by mat
OK, a few quotes of the winter and noting that one complaining blog user prefers pictures to words then there is a fair chance that this theme will get an easier ride 
One of my favourite hotels in Austria is the Hotel Mondschein. This was from Finbar about the 20th year anniversary of a group of French skiers driving past almost every ski resort of significance to get to the Hotel Mondschein, Stuben am Arlberg:
“This is no Holiday Inn, this is the real Austrian experience. I could describe in detail, but actions speak louder than words, so how’s this? There was a party of a dozen hard core French off-piste skiers from Toulouse. Yes, they crossed a lot of alps to get to the Monschien and Stuben, but get this,… for the twentieth time! Enough said.”
April 20th, 2009 by mat
There have been rumblings of disquiet regarding the look back at some of the images from the 08 / 09 winter. More precisely the blog entries have been compared to a re-run of MASH in terms of allure. Apologies for that, although I would quote the wordsmith Pat Butcher in this case “bit ‘arsh innit?” Ever one to keep the blog readers happy I will draw this theme to a close with three images that I think are worthy of a show. One I took and the other 2 were the work of a skiing obsessed Swede. I have to confess that he has the beating of my image in my opinion but I will let all you MASH fans be the final judge of that.
Ok, firstly the images taken by Petteri Koste. I was at Axamer Lizum, Innsbruck the same day as Petteri but whilst he took a series of shots that I rate as some of the very best I have seen, I moved between a plate of spare ribs and a few powder routes. You can find more of these at Petteris’ youtube channel.
© www.snurt.se
…and another great shot from a great day…
© www.snurt.se
…..and one last one of mine, from a few weeks ago in Stuben (so no “already seen that” complaints please)
I did those – image © ineedsnow.com
April 13th, 2009 by mat
I have to admit that spring skiing is not for me – I miss the short days and biting cold of the glaciers in November and December. That said (and not for the first time) I am widely ostracised when I air my views on Spring skiing. And if it weren’t for the dread that I feel each spring, imaging our mid winter climate in the Alps in the not too distant future then I would celebrate the great aspects of spring skiing more – the firn snow skiing that I have to accept is next in the pecking order after powder, the days with mates on sunny mountain hut terraces and the stunning views across endless ranges.
But this year where did the spring skiing go in the Alps – it went from winter to summer skiing? Here in the Tirol I was skiing powder on the 1st April in Stuben and since then it has been close to 20c each day and perfect sunshine here in Innsbruck. The snow pack has assured that patches in the ski areas around Innsbruck are almost entirely absent whilst the glaciers will offer sensational skiing and snowboarding for very many weeks – just pack the sun block !
The Skigloo – check google earth to see it still standing in August – image © ineedsnow.com
One casualty of the warmer temperature has been the Skigloo – still standing and sure to be seen the next time a google commissioned satellite maps the area this summer but starting to take the brunt of the warmer conditions. Not sure if it will be ready to host another bash before the lifts at Axamer Lizum stop running next Sunday but if not, then it has been fun. Time out of the office digging, a back injury, hospital bills, some large entertainment expenses landing on a desk at HMRC and some fairly challenging mornings can all be ascribed to the Skigloo. Was it worth it? Yes!
April 7th, 2009 by mat
Back in the office and editing videos – I know, justice is finally served
The first video shows the avalanche transceiver tester that is located in the main street of Stuben Am Arlberg – I have been to very, very many ski holidays resorts over the last few winters and this is a rare sight – Stuben really does offer the best off-piste that I have found and is serious about as well!
The second video is a snow report and a bit of a profile on Stuben and the skiing there.
April 2nd, 2009 by mat
After the great off-piste adventures of the previous day, yesterday was about skiing with the Rafferty’s and showing them some of the great piste skiing options out of Stuben. Basically Stuben is located at the heart of the Arlberg ski region with Lech – Zurs on ones side and St Anton and St Christoph to the other. St Anton and St Christoph are linked directly by lift and piste whilst Lech – Zurs are just a short bus ride down the Flexen Pass. For those wanting easy access into the heart of the St Anton ski area then Stuben probably offers the faster route to the Valluga region of the ski area. Yesterday though was the turn of the Lech – Zurs ski region and the conditions before lunch offered some of the best spring skiing you could imagine, the Muggengrat – Tali was just sensational.
Muggengrat-Tali, Zurs am Arlberg - sensational on the 1st April – image © ineedsnow.com
After a few more runs it was down into Zug before a run around Lech am Arlberg and then back into Zurs am Arlberg. The warmer temperatures had made the snow a bit heavier and the off-piste was best tackled on fat skis or snowboards. The snow pack in the Arlberg region should ensure great skiing right through into the very late spring.
Incredible snow formations during the afternoon in Lech – Zurs – image © ineedsnow.com
Next week I am back in Stuben for a spot of heli skiing
April 1st, 2009 by mat
I did those – image © ineedsnow.com
I lost a film camera today but also skied past the roof of what in summer is a house – sometimes life evens things out pretty quickly. There aren’t many areas that get the snow Stuben am Arlberg gets anywhere, whilst for off-piste skiers and snowboarders Stuben has to be top of the list.
March 29th, 2009 by mat
Firstly the winter- it may never end, so far this winter has been without doubt the best of the last decade and today I was in the Arlberg and a couple of days before April there is still 2+metres of snow on the roofs of Stuben am Arlberg. Quite incredible and more set to come over the next few days – Finbar and family (our ineedsnow.com ski holiday prize winners) arrived today in Stuben and won’t need the SPF 30 for a few days.
The car made its 20m and 45 minute journey through Stuben, sans driver like a docking manoeuvre with the ISS - image © ineedsnow.com
So I popped into the wonderful Hotel Mondschein today to meet with Markus the owner and upon leaving my hire car had disappeared from out of the front of the hotel. I thought it had been towed or else I had parked it another spot. I clicked the remote locking and saw it some 20m down the road, parked up at another hotel. Basically during my 45 minute meeting at the Mondschein, the car had slipped of its hand brake and gradually made its way through Stuben. I secured the car then checked around for damage, not a mark – for anyone who does not know the main street in Stuben, it is about 5 m wide and lined with historic, upmarket hotels. How the car managed to avoid what is basically a historic monument of a village is beyond me. One of the more bizarre moments this winter, I am sure it would have looked pretty strange to those who witnessed it as well.
Conditions in the Alrberg today, not typical spring skiing that is for sure – low cloud and snow:
March 6th, 2009 by mat
The luck of the Irish maybe but Finbar Rafferty from Ireland was smart enough to enter the ineedsnow.com prize draw by having a resort review published and he has been drawn for the top prize and has accepted the superb 7 night, half board stay at the Hotel Mondschein in Stuben am Arlberg.
Hotel Mondschein - historic luxury in the superb ski resort of Stuben
Included in the package is a heli ski trip, the only region in Austria that allows heli skiing and one of the very few in the Alps. Wucher heli ski have provided the expert service but Finbar also has the chance of a scenic flight over the Arlberg.
heli skiing in the Arlberg with Wucher heli ski
I had a chat with Finbar today and needless to say he is rather happy as are his kids who will additionally be joining their parents in Stuben – I told him of the quality of Stuben and the Hotel Mondschein, they really are exceptional. I am sure they will be able to add their views in the run up to and after the visit.
We will be sure to run further prizes in the future and whilst the biggy has gone, there are still Fischer skis, Ischgl ski passes and a selection of Tirol products still to win for any reviews submitted and published before the 20th March 2009 – so review and win!