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Best European early season resort

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Julius_Steezer
Posts: 776 - Karma: 4,536
Yo ns
So me and some mates are looking to ski in Europe from mid December through to early January. Ideally we want somewhere cheapish as we're dirtbagging it (so probs not Switzerland), has good early season snow levels and has a legit park which is set up to a decent level at that point in the season. Any back country would be cool but park is more important. So far we're thinking about stubai glacier but if you guys know of anywhere better then that would be awesome. We'll have a car so anywhere in Europe can be reached pretty much.
Safe
Jul 7 2015 7:22AM
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Joerga
Posts: 427 - Karma: 3,754
You should check out Snowpark Kaunertal too: http://www.snowpark-kaunertal.com/
Altough problem with Stubai and Kaunertal is that they have a big fall setup but only a small park in winter and if you come in December and stay till January the setup will be reduced in both parks during this time probably. You should think about going to two different locations maybe.

Advantage at Kaunertal over Stubai is that there are usually less people at the lift and it is easier to find cheap accomodations while both parks are great in fall and they have their full setup.
Jul 7 2015 8:19AM
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gbloomers
Posts: 31 - Karma: 30
i think the hinter tux glacier by mayrhofen will still be running in december, have a check because the park there is fun, real nice jumps.
Jul 7 2015 8:48AM
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Julius_Steezer
Posts: 776 - Karma: 4,536
Yeah I think the Tirol region pass covers a number of resorts which have ill parks so I might get that and just hit a new resort every few days. Are there any parks which have more than a handful of rails/jumps other than hintertux?
Jul 7 2015 10:21AM
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LOS
Posts: 81 - Karma: 2,672
Stubai park is the best at that time of year, if not one of the best parks of the whole winter.

Mid October till 20th November

and

Spring 10th April till 17th May
Jul 7 2015 10:58AM
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Julius_Steezer
Posts: 776 - Karma: 4,536
LOSStubai park is the best at that time of year, if not one of the best parks of the whole winter.

Mid October till 20th November

and

Spring 10th April till 17th May


Sorry if I'm being dumb, are you saying those are the best dates for the stubai park? If so, what happens to it on the 20th November?
Jul 7 2015 11:58AM
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Faction
Posts: 336 - Karma: 15,951
Studai is definitely great. Take a look into Laax and Saas-Fee in Switzerland too. Also Tignes and Les 2 Alpes offer good options in France.
Jul 8 2015 6:17AM
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dbchili
Posts: 2555 - Karma: 1,657
laax will no doubt be the best park in Europe that time of year. As you noted though, it's 70chf a day for a lift pass and accomodations during that time of year aren't even affordable if you've just won the lottery

the austrain glaciers kick off big in September but their parks all die down late November to give way to the real resorts

I would check the historical dates for mayhofen's penkenpark, they might be open that early, serfaus might be as well. You could also check livigno (although Italians aren't too famous for being proactive). You could also try and check the timing for the parks of the east Austrian glaciers like dachstein, they might not transition like the tirol glaciers do

To be honest, it's kind of a weird in between time to go, but i'm sure with some research and luck you'll be okay
Jul 8 2015 7:11AM
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AdiibA
Posts: 792 - Karma: 2,276
Julius_SteezerSorry if I'm being dumb, are you saying those are the best dates for the stubai park? If so, what happens to it on the 20th November?


the park gets pretty boring, no big jumps. pretty much nothing like the videos you've seen from stubai, as they're all filmed either during preseason or in late spring. you could check out Hintertux or Kitzsteinhorn. Mayrhofen might also be pretty good, depending on the snow conditions.
Jul 8 2015 7:19AM
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Julius_Steezer
Posts: 776 - Karma: 4,536
Yeah the Tirol region pass looks good as I guess we can use it to just hop between resorts so the parks change everyday (or if one is way better than the rest then just stick it out in that one)
Jul 8 2015 8:21AM
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Julius_Steezer
Posts: 776 - Karma: 4,536
Julius_SteezerYeah the Tirol region pass looks good as I guess we can use it to just hop between resorts so the parks change everyday (or if one is way better than the rest then just stick it out in that one)


Whoops, didn't see I posted that yesterday
Jul 8 2015 8:33AM
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jynx81
Posts: 359 - Karma: 479
I would stay away from Europe in early season. I went last year during Christmas and it was disastrous. We has more snow in southern pa. That being said i would look for the highest resorts. Last year Sweden was having a bomber year. Another big problem with euro resorts (to my knowledge) is lack of snowmaking. The most important thing is to look at what the current weather paterns are and decide of that. I went to Val/tignes.
Jul 8 2015 9:03AM
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Julius_Steezer
Posts: 776 - Karma: 4,536
jynx81I would stay away from Europe in early season. I went last year during Christmas and it was disastrous. We has more snow in southern pa. That being said i would look for the highest resorts. Last year Sweden was having a bomber year. Another big problem with euro resorts (to my knowledge) is lack of snowmaking. The most important thing is to look at what the current weather paterns are and decide of that. I went to Val/tignes.


Yeah ideally we'd go much later but due to various timing factors we gotta go in this window. The snow was shitty last Christmas in europe but it should be ok on glaciers I guess.
Jul 8 2015 9:15AM
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dbchili
Posts: 2555 - Karma: 1,657
jynx81I would stay away from Europe in early season. I went last year during Christmas and it was disastrous. We has more snow in southern pa. That being said i would look for the highest resorts. Last year Sweden was having a bomber year. Another big problem with euro resorts (to my knowledge) is lack of snowmaking. The most important thing is to look at what the current weather paterns are and decide of that. I went to Val/tignes.


we had a late start last year. The previous year it dumped in November and that created enough snow for decent conditions all the way through Christmas. Last year was nothing until January and then it all came in 2 weeks
Jul 8 2015 10:06AM
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willysworld
Posts: 2116 - Karma: 5,485
Go to Laax... or Vars in France. . vars is super super under rated.. and probably has the best mid winter park in europe.
Jul 8 2015 10:12AM
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jynx81
Posts: 359 - Karma: 479
]Yeah ideally we'd go much later but due to various timing factors we gotta go in this window. The snow was shitty last Christmas in europe but it should be ok on glaciers I guess.

Yeah true that. I was super pissed cuz we left on the day when it snowed a meter. Shit sucked we had to sleep at some friends house and ski over to get food.
Jul 8 2015 11:29AM
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jynx81
Posts: 359 - Karma: 479
dbchiliwe had a late start last year. The previous year it dumped in November and that created enough snow for decent conditions all the way through Christmas. Last year was nothing until January and then it all came in 2 weeks


Thats true. I remeber last year there so little snow that only tourist could ski. You just need that lucky break. Still remeber that snow storm late in December with a meter snow. To bad he had to leave on that day.
Jul 8 2015 11:32AM
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Julius_Steezer
Posts: 776 - Karma: 4,536
Does anyone know of/have some pics or edits from any of these parks from around the new year/Xmas last year? All these contributions are super helpful (cheers guys/girls) but actually seeing the parks would be sweet (I had a quick check but couldn't find much from after November which is when the Austrian glaciers apparently cut back on their parks)?
Jul 9 2015 6:02AM
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dbchili
Posts: 2555 - Karma: 1,657
Julius_SteezerDoes anyone know of/have some pics or edits from any of these parks from around the new year/Xmas last year? All these contributions are super helpful (cheers guys/girls) but actually seeing the parks would be sweet (I had a quick check but couldn't find much from after November which is when the Austrian glaciers apparently cut back on their parks)?


I actually shot this edit during the 3 days before Christmas at laax two winters ago

https://www.newschoolers.com/membervideo/679501.0/LAAX-stay-high?s=58200&t=6&o=8#TfbT5kf9gGhyf6ZO.97

In addition, for anyone coming over from North America, you'll probably have to adjust your expectations of what a good park is. Even the best parks in Europe I find barely stack up to some of the mediocore parks in North America. The jumps will be fine, but the rail selection is often way smaller, less variety and the setups can be a lot wonkier. A lot of Europeans get offended by such comments, but having skied Whis and Mammoth, and many many parks in the east, the European parks just are not of the same calibre. They're still fun and you'll have a blast, just make sure your expecations aren't too high
Jul 9 2015 6:49AM
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Hackster
Posts: 145 - Karma: -11
jynx81I would stay away from Europe in early season. I went last year during Christmas and it was disastrous. We has more snow in southern pa. That being said i would look for the highest resorts. Last year Sweden was having a bomber year. Another big problem with euro resorts (to my knowledge) is lack of snowmaking. The most important thing is to look at what the current weather paterns are and decide of that.



THIS!

Start into last season was a disaster indeed but not uncommon for the Alps, always a hit or miss. Snow wise your safest bet during early season is Norway but have no clue when the parks start to shape up there.
Jul 9 2015 11:11AM
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dbchili
Posts: 2555 - Karma: 1,657
HacksterNorway


he said somewhere not expensive

given that Norway is the second most expensive country in the world, it doesn't really fit that criteria
Jul 10 2015 3:00AM
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Hackster
Posts: 145 - Karma: -11
^^^^

Basically true, particulary food and alcohol. Thuogh it depends a lot on how you play up there. Catch 22 - snow vs cheap....
Jul 10 2015 3:25AM
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TRIKD
Posts: 67 - Karma: -3
You will have fun...I will leave this here :)
https://www.facebook.com/ProjektPommesSki/videos/411995065649501/?fref=nf
Jul 10 2015 3:29AM
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