You say winter, i say ski

It is no secret I grew up in a district where pumpkin is the biggest hill. Thus skiing came to my life quite late. You know, when you have grown up friends with driver licences so you can drive somewhere far to hit the slopes? As people say, better late than never. That is exactly what happened to me. I fell in love with skiing at the same moment I put my skis on for the first time. As the years went by, we drove for skiing trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Slovenia. It was always that happy week in winter when white fresh snow would replace the grey streets in the cities I used to live. In all these years, Austria somehow remained untouched. And looking back, I guess there was a good reason for that.

Today I live in my happy valley, Vorarlberg. The region where snow announces his arrival already in November if it is a good year. And accompanies us until mid of April. Let's call this region a skiing heaven, just for the sake of the story. Although, it is not far from the truth. So, firts thing first. You have to be prepared in time. Moving here meant getting the winter equipment sorted in time for the first skiing season. Ski boots, skis, winter clothes. Suddenly you become an expert and you need to have it all. A bit of consumerism, but you quickly find an excuse in the direction i-need-to-be-warm-it-is-cold-out-there. I was ready for the first season. Or at least I thought so. So let's start from the beginning.

Season 1.

My international friends promised to take care of me and show me how it all works. I still doubted in my actual skiing skills, so this year seasonal ski pass was not an option. This proved to be the right decision. Two weeks into testing the new equipment I somehow managed to go off-piste and nice people of Vorarlberg had to pull me back from the cliff where I got stuck. My actual friends were already too far to help, but not too far to document this situation (proof of me going off-piste will not see the light of the day). One more week passed, and while testing the next ski resort on the map called Lech, I fell and twisted my knee. The season was over and Lech ended on my blacklist. Need to remember to prepare better for the next season.

Season 2.

Preparations for that one started already in September. I was determined to show the slopes that I can conquer them. November was just about to start and among the internationals arrangments for the seasonal pass were getting more serious. So, I also decided to get one of these popularly called 3 Täler Pass. Basically meaning that you can access most of the skiing resorts around here with the same ticket. Must admit, very convenient. Even the weekly options. Now, we just had to wait for the snow. The wait was luckily not long. Snow falls started mid of November, making it possible for us to hit the slopes already in early December. So we did, you have to use the pass when you have it. Week after week, hitting the slopes around Vorarlberg, following the sun and searching for the best Gulasch Suppe and Käsespätzle.

It took some time to get used to the slopes here. They were different than the ones I knew. But then one day, I realized that I fell in love with one of the resorts. Diedamskopf. And my favourite slope - Waldabfahrt. Few kilometres of gliding through the forest, surrounded by the trees covered in snow. Instant reset from the crazy world in which we live. And somehow, no matter what was the weather everywhere else like, Diedamskopf always had sun. Additional bonus when hitting the slopes. It was hard to believe that snow followed us all the way to the mid of April. We closed the season beginning of April. Determined to be back in the next season.

Season 3.

We are back, and the snow is back. But I will cheat this year. I love Austria, but France was calling again. So the seasonal ski pass will wait for the next year. Anyway, this doesn't mean that my happy valley slopes will not see me this year. Oh yes, they will. And even the Ski race of which I am petrified. Some small updates on the overall situation - a new addition to my favourite ski resorts around here is Warth-Schröcken. Lovely place with lots of slopes. But still lacking some sun, so not taking Diedamskopf of the throne. The snow was kind to us also this year. Plenty to enjoy. And to go more or less without fear to the ski race to show my (not) amazing ski techniques. Results were as expected, worst than last year, but without any injuries. Next year will be my year, I will beat my personal record.

Season 4.

Time and seasons fly when you have a good group to share your passion with. This year internationals were again in for a ski season, mostly English friends. How did they manage to get that good in this sport, is a mystery to me? Most of them learned to ski on a rubber covered hill. But I must admit, they are damn good. Unlike some other English people with which we start each season with the beginner's lessons. Maybe season 5 will be their season if they do not decide to move away before. The rest of the crew is standardly good, I mean, after all, you do expect that from Austrians (this is their region, they were practically born on skis), French, Germans and Italians. Surprise are Brazilians, but I guess they are good at whatever they do.

Season 4 brought one nice surprise. I suddenly became obsessed with the Route 4 in Damüls. I don't know how I missed it before. Since we didn't have so much snow this year, Route 4 was taking over the throne. Especially when the sun would rise above one of the peaks nearby, clearing the fog and leaving empty slope to the ones anticipating its rays of light. After a day like that, I would even get brave enough to try and give Lech another chance, forgetting about my injury. But the world had some other plans for this season, so we had to close it early. Already at the start of March. Nevertheless, it was an amazing winter.

Before I close for today, it is time for some very subjective rankings

My top 3 slopes:

1. Route 4, Damüls

2. Route 9 followed by 13 and 21, Diedamskopf

3. Route 259 followed by 254, Warth-Schröcken

My top 3 meals:

1. Gulasch Suppe @ Käsker restaurant in Diedamskopf (the terrace and sun help in winning this contest)

2. Käsespätzle or Tiroler Gröstl @ SB Sonnenalm, Damüls

3. Gulasch Suppe @ Auenfelder Hütte, Warth-Schröcken

Do not worry, most of the people speak English, and if you get stuck on the way, just say Gulasch suppe if you are hungry or Bier if you are thirsty :)

#austria #skitime #hittheslopes #vorarlberg #3tälerpass #damüls #warthshröcken #diedamskopf