ArchiCAD Winter School: Skiing and Location Information

About Feuerkogel....

Feuerkogel is just the ideal place to run an event for ArchiCAD users - it's proved itself to be perfect for the last four seasons. For skiers, it is beginner and intermediate friendly. For families or the older skier, it's ideal. It still has some challenge for expert skiers, especially if there is powder or if you try the Feuerkogel Sport Challenge. It is only known by local Austrians and a few Dutch and us, so it is not crowded or expensive, and has the ideal accommodation for such an event. The week we have chosen is low season (local children at school) and the hotel is welcoming and affordable with special rates for children. The accommodation deal with the Hotel includes 6-day Lift Passes and unlimited use of the Cablecar down to the town of Ebensee.

We can't always guarantee the conditions - in 2006, we had the best snow in decades, and in 2007 we had such thin snow that we had to go to Tauplitz to get skiing. But things balance out, and in 2007, people found more time to get work done.

Feuerkogel is a hamlet of chalets and a small family-run hotels on a mountain plateau (1600m altitude) surrounded by mountains and valleys which have lifts and well maintained pistes within easy reach - no long walks, no buses, no queues! There are many lifts, manned by friendly locals.
Images of Feuerkogel on Bergfex. Map of Feuerkogel local / enlarged.

Webcam Views of Feuerkogel

Social Skiing images.... from ACWS 2004

Because it is off season it's not crowded - the other daytime skiers are mainly retired people, and a few school parties if the weather is sunny. You will not have to queue at lifts. In the evenings, we have the place to ourselves, apart from the people in the family chalets. If we want to do night skiing, we ask and they turn on the floodlights! During this week, the locals usually build a huge igloo which is turned into an 'english pub', with a ski-in bar - no kidding!

The Edelweiss Gasthof has mostly twin rooms with a few family ones for 3, so we have room for about 50 maximum. After that we overflow to the neighbouring chalets. The main Dining room/ Bar is also the Teaching space. There are also two additional dining rooms for relaxation, a bierkeller and weinkeller. There is a playroom and sauna in the basement, and there is a sauna in each of the chalets. ISDN Broadband ethernet and wireless Internet are available.

After the last cable car leaves for Ebensee at 5pm, the whole building is ours to organise for the evening. We are booking half board, so for lunch you have a choice of the other eating places on Feuerkogel, or you can eat economically in the Hotel. Beer is cheaper than in english pubs. Chalets nearby provide accommodation for families, holding 12 each with self catering facilities if you wish to be more independent (Chalet rooms are 1x4bed and 4x2bed). No smoking in the function rooms or bedrooms. (Smoking is OK in the small dining room and the bierkeller.) All water comes from snow melt or is brought up in the cablecar, so it must be conserved. If the sun shines, lunch is taken on the exterior south facing sun-terrace.

History: Winter School began in Jan 2002 with a GDL-only week for a dozen, staying in one of the chalets. We recognised that this had all the ingredients for an ArchiCAD Winter School. This resulted in the first ArchiCAD Winter School in 2003 with about 35 people. In 2004 ACWS grew to over 40. In 2005 and 2006 this was 70 people which is the limit of the hotel and the 2 chalets!

The view from Feuerkogel looking down towards Ebensee, and [swap] the Ski School get ready for another day's work.

Skiing Info....

The Berggasthof Edelweiss is the highest residential building of the resort. Three ski pistes start within a few metres of the hotel front door and 2 lifts converge on the hotel. Ski down from there, and you have access to all the other lifts and runs.

Feuerkogel has mainly Blue and Red runs, with some challenging sections for better skiers. The longest run is from just below the Hotel to half way down to Ebensee. By about 10am, the sun has softened the runs and they are perfect for skiing. Nervous people who havent skied for years will find the Blue slopes easy places to start. Once you have got your ski legs, there are a variety of Red runs to stretch your skills on. The steepest run is Steinkogel across the valley, always a challenge. Heumahdgupf towers over the Edelweiss Hotel, an ideal way to build up courage to face the Steinkogel. When soft snow falls, theres a day or two to practice powder skiing before the piste machine smooths it. There are slopes that the piste machine leaves untouched for soft snow users & snowboarders. Serious off-pisters should examine the hillsides from the height of the chairlift, so that you can find a way back up, and avoid crevasses.

If you havent skied for years, be assured that the skis for rental are top quality, modern short 'carving' skis, very safe and easy to use and turn, clip on and clip off safely. The ski hire shop have a range of comfortable boots for hire for all sizes including snowshoes and boots for walking. If you are willing to hire, there is no need to bring your own skis / snowboards. The cost in 2005 was €85 euros for the week.

Ski School: Total beginners can take part in organised group teaching with the local ski school: the instructors are very good: the nursery slope and button lift is VERY easy and safe. The tuition cost is 44E for one day, 75E for two days (there are variations, eg 3/ 4/ 5 day courses on their website). The local Ski School have a website http://www.skischule-feuerkogel.at/ with details of courses and equipment hire.

Our best skiers put the powder to the test! (from ACWS 2004)

Intermediate skiers will enjoy skiing in company with friendly Austrian ArchiCAD users who can give them further instruction. We encourage the 'Ski-buddy' system whereby nobody needs to ski alone. To cope with the demands of daytime skiing and evening brain work, its important to find time to fully RELAX (sleep) for at least half an hour during the 4.00 - 6.30 pm period.....me, I'm taking a beer in the sauna :-) Snow reports for the resort are posted on Bergfex. Weather Report on Bergfex. Also, Tiscover Snow Report. Nearer the date, we need to know: Shoe size and choice of Ski or Snowboard (beginners are advised: Ski first time, snowboard another year). Exercise beforehand! : To avoid thigh stiffness spoiling your week, it's good to adopt a regime of knees-bend and sit-up exercises for a few weeks prior to departure. It is important NOT to overdo the exercise, start with a gentle regime at least a month before, increasing the number of knees bends. Don't pop a cartilage or sprain an ankle with over-exercising!! And a bit of regular aerobic exercise, e.g. cycling, cycling machine or rowing machine helps. When you get to Feuerkogel, you will have a better time if you have done a bit of exercise.

Personal Info....

Email: ArchiCAD University Secretariat for further information