KILLIAN FORDEwith his weekly report...
Resort of the week:Saalbach, Austria
This long valley, populated with the villages of Saalbach and Hinterglemm and the hamlet of Vorderglemm, nicely blends traditional Tyrolean architecture with modern facilities. Saalbach village centres around a quaint onion-domed church in a pedestrian, car-free area.
Saalbach developed a reputation as a bit rowdy but that northern European clientele seems to have either mellowed out or moved on.
The skiing is best suited to intermediates and a circuit of the valley is possible, and fun. Take it slowly and sample the delights of still underrated Austrian cuisine, in one of the 13 good restaurants along the route.
For the more adventurous, take a short bus ride around the mountain to access the glacier skiing in nearby Kaprun, and the famous long black runs in the gorgeous town of Zell am See.
Resort Height1,000m.
Range930-2,098m.
Lifts55.
Total runs200km.
Longest run8km.
Best runMore like best route, take the Saalbach Ski Circus, a lift link tour of both valleys. It's the best circuit in the Alps and anyone with a week's skiing under their belt will be able to navigate it.
SnowparksTwo.
Season lengthMid December to late March.
Snow reliability ***
Who goesWith easy access from the motorways of Austria and Germany, Saalbach is a popular local resort catering for day-trippers and short breaks. It retains a strong Irish and British presence who return to its renowned ski schools and expanding ski area.
Value €€€€Lots of hotels, restaurants and hire shops in the valley keep most prices low.
AirportsSalzburg, Innsbruck and Munich.
Tour operatorsCrystal, Directski, Topflight.
Onlinesaalbach.com
Kitwatch
Camelbak has an ever-growing range of multifunctional products. The core aim is to keep sports enthusiasts fully hydrated. The company tagline branded on all its products is the blunt message: “Hydrate or Die.”
As spring kicks in, the temperatures rise and the days get longer, and boarders and skiers will lose more liquids through perspiration. Add in a typical holiday lubricated with alcohol and dehydration on the piste is very common. The best of the range for snowsports is the Camelbak Menace. It holds two litres of liquids and has pockets, clips and compartments for shovel and probe, clothes, goggles, food and tools. It’s available from Great Outdoors for €115.
Snow report
Fabulous conditions prevail all over Europe. From the rolling hills of Lapland to the peaks of Pindus in Greece, ski areas report excellent snow conditions and cold temperatures. As high season winds down, resorts are well set up for a long run out of a brilliant snow season. Most of the US resorts, on both sides of the country, received colossal dumps last week. The mid-range forecast for the Alps is perfect with lots of snow predicted. Scotland, where I spent an enjoyable two days skiing last week, retains its deep base and weather conditions are good.
On your skates
Topflight has an attractive offer in duty-free Andorra, which is enjoying its best snowfalls in decades. A week’s half board in the four-star Hotel St Gothard in the much improved and refurbished Arinsal resort is available from €389. Flights and transfers are also included. Departing March 7th. Topflight.ie.