Skifaren in Flachau

The slopes of Flachau, the hometown of Hermann "The Herminator" Maier are some of the most famous in Austria and they had the best snow that I rode all winter.

The main pists/runs were all machine-snow but I found a great run on the side of the mountain that I ended up running all day by myself because the others were more interested in watching the Olympic ski races on the gasthaus TV.

Every square centimeter of Austria gets snow each winter, so it's no surprise that skiing is the national sport that everyone learns and follows. During my time here, I've even learned to notice the small differences in technique that allow ski jumpers to jump farther. There was this special—in German—on ski-jumping that I wish I could have taped and had to show to others because it was so funny. It showed athletes training: by jumping—or rather hopping—down large dunes of sand, jumping off a four foot platform onto a slippery frozen lake, and practicing tightrope for balance. But the part that really made me respect ski jumping was when they showed film footage from the early days of the sport and video footage of crashes. When they crash, they crash hard.

Anyway the soccer team in Blindenmarkt organized a trip and we (no kids because it was a school day) headed to Flachau on a Haberfellner bus (Haberfellner is the mayor).

I was very excited when I saw the amount of snow on the ground. Double excited when I went to rent a board & boots and came out with a brand new set. I was a too nervous to take my camera with me on the slopes but got a few pictures at the end of the day.

[castle] [flachau] [2] [3] [4] [5] [coming back from the gasthaus!]

[strange guy] [2] [3]

[signs] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Hey flatlander...decided to stop by your site before I went and took a shower. I always feel so dirty after reading what you have been doing....

Anyway, I noticed you found yourself the absinthe. You punk--I have been looking for that shit for a while now. How was it? You should try and bring some back to the states.

Today is my bachelor party. I will gargle down some dime store hooker's breasts for ya or maybe get myself a STD or two. You truly cannot have too many of those.

Two weeks from now and I am a married man.
See what you miss when you leave the country?

Take care of yourself, glad to see you are doing well.

-Shaun

P.S. In case I haven't mentioned it in the past, nice job on the site.

Wow bro, what an adventure! You need to write a book, I guess that might be what this is, huh?

119 degrees in Redding today! No shit!

So it is July 11, and you have not posted anything in awhile, are you headed back this way? When is the burning man? Aren't you attending?

These questions and many more will be answered by our fearless hero, next week. Same Beau time, same Beau channel....Peace Out!

Didn't get a chance to say goodbye. Hope I see you when you pass through again to pick up your stuff. If not, I'm sure I'll still be around whenever you make it back over to this side of the Atlantic. Bon voyage.

Love,

Katerina

Hey Beau, I didn't have a chance to say goodbye either. Kate and I are at the squat. nothing's changed!
Hope the voyage is going swimmingly, see you when you next swing by.

All the best,

Morwenna

I knew a Mr Jangles and he was a top bloke. Could it be the same man? Who is Mr Jangles?

Wanna comment?