Day 2 in Stuben – back on the piste and skiing huge distances
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 
Hi Matthew,
Back almost a week now, hard to believe that this time last week we were looking forward to our last day’s ski-ing for ‘09. Anyway, what can I say? WOW! is maybe close. The Arlberg region really has it all. First couple of days we enjoyed Stuben and a few of the runs on Alpe Rauz, which turned out to be just dipping our toe in the water. By the third day we found the other side of St Anton, and a slalom course which allowed out kids to embarrass us suitably. Who’s the Daddy? – not me apparently!
So far, so good, until who turns up, but Matthew from ineedsnow. We thought we were keen, waiting for the first lift to open in Zauchensee earlier this year, and ski-ing home as darkness fell, knowing that maybe, this was kinda pushing it? Different league! We should have been suspicious when we were the ones asking should we not take a break for the third time. As the afternoon wore on and we found ourselves ski-ing past kitchen windows, bidding Guten Abend to the good burgers of Zurs hanging out their washing, and sprinting through a car park scattering wheelie bins and anything else that got in our way in a desperate bid to get that last lift. What can I say? A man after our own hearts! Great day’s ski-ing, thanks Matthew. What was that beer ad, – ‘reaches the parts other beers can’t’ or something? Well, ineedsnow will bring you to parts of a resort the others haven’t even heard of!
So,..yep the ski-ing was brilliant. Hot sunny afternoons under Grecian skies, and plenty of deep, hard-packed snow. Scratchy and quick in the mornings, a bit heavier in the afternoons, but the trick is to stay high, and enjoy the long run down last thing.
The hotel? – lovely, and personal. 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.
Anyway, it’s Spring here now, and back to horses and kayaking.
Still,.. we’ve still got the sun burn…
Finbar
Hey Finbar
Great that you had a fantastic time, we really appreciate the time you took to add a review to our site and you were worthy winners of the draw, yes all in all a great outcome and I am sure that the Mondschein in Stuben enjoyed having you over here. Those kids of yours were as committed as any I have seen, if they keep skiing they are set to be outstanding skiers. The mad dash in Zurs am Arlberg was classic, I can honestly say that in the absence of a great powder day then it had to be something as persuasive as seeing two Irish kids hot on my heels and ready to illustrate well my advancing years that helped that biathlon-type poll for the closing ski lift door. Trust me that was the first dash of that nature that I undertook all winter – on behalf of the 3 adults that day – ‘thanks kids’
It was great to see those buoyant French in the hotel as well, it is about as good a recommendation as you will find to see a group from the Pyrenees that drove past every major ski holiday resort in the Alps to get to the Hotel Mondschein and Stuben am Arlberg – they were also drinking Austrian wine I seem to recall, wonders never cease!
Have a great summer Finbar, really good to meet up over here and when the kids are old enough to head off on their own then I would be delighted to have a few leisurely cruisers with you and Vera