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Obergurgl is aptly described in the tour operator brochures as 'a
gem at high altitude'. It actually lies at a dizzy height of 1930m,
making it the highest parish in Austria. Living at this height generally
means that you feel like you've got a permanent cold and walking
up the weeniest of hills makes you feel like your lungs are going
to burst and you need a ventilator. (Or maybe I'm just really unfit!)
Loads of snow
Anyway, the height means that we always have great snow, from November
until May and never suffer the dreaded 'bussing the guests out',
that many of our colleagues in lower resorts have to contend with.
This season so far has been no exception. We have had huge amounts
of snow over the last three weeks, so much so that many of the pistes
were closed at the beginning of January. Luckily, we have been granted
a breather and so the dense blizzards have stopped and we now have
instead beautiful sunshine
which is set to continue all week- hurray!!!!!!
Temperatures have warmed
up considerably from the -20s of last week to about -6, which feels
positively Mediterranean in comparison. The only blot on the otherwise
idyllic horizon is the fact that we are having some pretty strong
winds which are blowing all the lovely new snow away and leaving
a few big icy patches- yuck. The pistes are generally pretty quiet
at the moment but this looks set to change with the half term Rugrat
onslaught just 2 weeks away!
Night ski hangovers
There's been the usual drunken carnage, with the regular
Night Ski event being a particularly hangover inducing way to spend
a Tuesday evening. People converge at the top of the Festkogl mountain
to watch the ski school demo team hurl themselves down the piste,
whilst jumping through rings of fire and performing stunts with
other dangerous equipment. It's actually a pretty spectacular show
(free to watch with the liftpass) and it's all rounded off with
a fireworks display, and we aren't talking bonfire night at the
scout hut. Afterwards, about 300 hundred people cram into Heli's
legendary umbrella bar, (capacity 100) and drink copious amounts
of glühwein, whilst jumping up and down as DJ Josef spins his
wheels of steel.
DJ Otzi live!
The highlight over New Year was an appearance by DJ Ötzi,
he of 'Hey Heeeeeeaaaaay Baby (altogether now- ooh! ah!) fame. Being
treated to an impromtu live rendition was somewhat hilarious but
definitely an experience I will treasure........!!!!
Foreignors win curling comp
Last Sunday night saw the return of the
annual village curling competition, a very important date in the
Obergurgl social calendar. The Gurglers take their curling very
seriously indeed and were therefore most unimpressed when the rep's
team came second last year. ("But zee are not even Austrian!!!!!")
We decided to give them a break this year and so attended only in
a spectator capacity (ie, drinking). Well, as the night wore on
and more and more dodgy glühwein was consumed it all got horribly
messy. Luckily, the sexy young doctor was on hand to deal with all
the split chins and bruised bottoms. Unfortunately, despite my best
efforts, I didn't manage to break even a fingernail.
Sick with desire for Mr Big
After dancing away in the red velvet covered Austria 'bordello'
Keller disco, we were all too drunk to stand up and so the evening
came to a close. Although not before I had enjoyed a romantic 'skate'
around the now deserted ice rink with the object of my affections,
Mr Big. Given the amounts of alcohol involved, it wasn't long before
we both fell over and ended up lying flat on the ice, gazing at
the stars, twinkling high above the snow covered mountains.......
The moment was only broken by the fact that I had to run (in skates!)
to chunder behind the Ice Hole hütte. What a classy chick........
Was Mr Big put off by this flagrant display of the contents of my
stomach..........?
I'll let you know next month.........
Report from Vicky
- Natives Resort Reporter in Obergurgl
W ith Redeye
- Natives reporter official beanie sponsor
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