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Studying Abroad. Where should I go to ski?

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PM4FreeJiberish
Posts: 447 - Karma: 3,533
I'm want to study abroad and use that as an excuse to go ski some crazy new place in the world. Where should I go? French Alps? Swiss? Norway? BC?


Aug 19 2013 1:59PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
Jersey
Aug 19 2013 2:02PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Innsbruck
Aug 19 2013 2:07PM
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S.Ki
Posts: 2171 - Karma: 3,213
Alps. Austria. Innsbruck.
Aug 19 2013 3:08PM
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Forcillo
Posts: 3801 - Karma: 3,580
Don't study abroad just for skiing alone. Think of the area, the culture, and what you'd learn from the experience rather than just going for the sake of skiing.
Aug 19 2013 3:32PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
For sure. I wanted to spanish speaking area to help with my language skills in addition to some skiin. Didn't end up having the time though.
Aug 19 2013 3:41PM
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dilla_says_go
Posts: 5333 - Karma: 168
i went to grenoble in the french alps. the city sucks balls but the skiing is epic.
Aug 19 2013 4:06PM
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dizzydizzy
Posts: 300 - Karma: 1,017
i studied abroad in NZ basically just to ski. definitely was a super sick time, plus their winter semester is july-mid november so you can stack 3 winters in a row. and i got to spend the end of fall semester just chillin on campus in the US with no classes which was super awesome

would definitely recommend NZ if you are tryna study abroad in the fall
Aug 19 2013 4:12PM
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Afronaut
Posts: 190 - Karma: 558
study in innsbruck, austria or munich, germany if you want to ski in the alps. Best place in scandinavia would probably be trondheim, norway!
Aug 19 2013 4:29PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 675
If you want epic skiing, I wouldn't go to NZ unless you want to ski park. NZ is an amazing place but the ski areas are much smaller than the states/europe, get less snowfall, and the season is pretty short.

Canada / Europe / possibly Japan would be my choices
Aug 19 2013 4:33PM
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mstevo
Posts: 237 - Karma: 300
Innsbruck or Salzburg
Aug 20 2013 3:49AM
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exile_ch
Posts: 715 - Karma: 609
Switzerland: LAUSANNE !

Epic party and student town. Very good University and schools all around. University is right on the lake.

Then skiing is 45 min away. You are right next to the Alps, lots of Swiss resorts to explore.  And not too far from the French one as well.

You don't need a car, almost all the resorts are connected via the best railway & bus system.

It's a full package.
Aug 20 2013 5:21AM
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mstevo
Posts: 237 - Karma: 300
Or you consider the ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Zürich. I've been there and the University and the City are just amazing. And it's in Switzerland so skiing would be no problem.
Aug 20 2013 5:42AM
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Maximumsushi
Posts: 7837 - Karma: 3,347
The answer is Innsbruck. I'm a Canadian who has skied in a ton of different countries internationally and lived in the alps, in Switzerland. Innsbruck is a great city with skiing VERY close by. Plus, you're going to get a relatively cool cultural experience compared to most places you can ski.

I'd also look at skiing in Hokkaido Japan if you're interested in some really great pow and a crazy cultural experience. However, the ski hills aren't as close to Sapporo as they are in Innsbruck.
Aug 20 2013 5:50AM
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HolySchimmel
Posts: 1601 - Karma: 1,297
Just gonna agree with most people here and say Innsbruck!


Aug 20 2013 7:54AM
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Belzebub
Posts: 451 - Karma: 812
http://www.oytun.no/index.php?lang=en
Aug 20 2013 10:16AM
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ESB
Posts: 9273 - Karma: 10,647
It's been said before but I'll say it again: Go to Innsbruck.

Awesome college and party town with a large population of young student skiers and boarders from across the world in the heart of the Tirol region, which is some of the best skiing you'll find anywhere.

The Tirol Snow Card covers 86 resorts in the region on one pass and costs 696 euros (which is about 900 bucks).

If you want to travel, you can go west to Montafon, the Arlberg, and Switzerland; south to the Italian Alps; north to the German pre-Alps; and east to the Salzburg region. But you won't need to go anywhere outside the region if you don't want to.

You'll be able to find carpools easily, and fast public transportation to most nearby ski areas. And if you don't feel like traveling for 30 minutes to go ski, there's a ski resort on the Nordkette above Innsbruck with a lift that leaves directly from town. You can literally walk out your front door in ski boots and jump on a bus to the bottom lift station.


Switzerland is too expensive (unless you're rich), and France can be spendy as well compared to Austria.


Here are some other good study abroad destinations:
Munich, Germany (awesome big-city living, only an hour from the mountains)
Salzburg, Austria
Annecy, France
Aug 20 2013 2:44PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
I studied in Bonn, Germany, so I wasn't really close to any skiing but I did travel through Innsbruck so I'd have to agree with most people in this thread and say that's the place to go.

IF3 was actually happening at the time when I traveled through there. I had completely forgotten about it and it was really disorienting to step off the train and see kids all over the place with Jiberish and tall-t's on.
Aug 20 2013 3:38PM
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Maximumsushi
Posts: 7837 - Karma: 3,347
I can attest to this. My rent was super cheap, 250 francs a month. But the cost of living is absurdly expensive. I basically lived on a diet of yogurt, cheese, salami, bread, chocolate, coffee, sauerkraut, and beer.
Aug 20 2013 7:29PM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
zermatt swiss
Aug 20 2013 8:54PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Do they have a lot of good Uni's in Zermatt?
Aug 24 2013 12:22PM
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Stuck.in.ohio
Posts: 331 - Karma: 33
Heading to Linz in a few weeks for study abroad as well, how good will the early season around Innsbruck be? I've heard that it might be a good idea to head to Hintertux or other glaciers if I'm skiing before Christmas.
Aug 24 2013 7:25PM
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Stuck.in.ohio
Posts: 331 - Karma: 33
Dub post..

Should have specified that Linz is in Austria around three hours from Innsbruck.
Aug 24 2013 7:50PM
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Stuck.in.ohio
Posts: 331 - Karma: 33
Good to know. I'm trying to see a bayern game but a local game would be sick
Aug 24 2013 8:17PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
You're better off going to Dachstein or Kitzsteinhorn for some pre season skiing, Hintertux is a fucking hike from Linz. Basically when you're in Linz, you'll be looking to ski Salzburgerland, not Tirol. Lots of great places in Salzburgerland!
Aug 25 2013 6:08AM
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Bateman
Posts: 8590 - Karma: 8,600
Im considering a year in New Zealand because New Zealand looks sick and i want to go somewhere you can ski, but not just to ski, obviously. Places like Innsbruck wouldnt really be a new experience to me.
Aug 25 2013 7:27AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
You do realise that there is a lot of other stuff to do in Innsbruck right?
Aug 25 2013 9:16AM
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jibbpeter
Posts: 1613 - Karma: 4,083
Don't go to Norway, everything is expensive as fuck, and we're all assholes.
Aug 25 2013 10:56AM
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mstevo
Posts: 237 - Karma: 300
If you want to go skiing in November or December you don't need to go to any glacier, there is snow all over the place. Look at resorts in Salzburg like Flachauwinkel (big park with great possibilities) or Zauchensee (great for pow).

It's like a 2 hour drive from Linz so that's not that bad I think.
Aug 26 2013 1:33AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
What? I can fairly confidently say that neither Flachauwinkl nor Zauchensee will be open in November, and in December the park and pow possibilities will be very limited in those places.
Aug 26 2013 3:57AM
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Stuck.in.ohio
Posts: 331 - Karma: 33
Awesome, thanks for the heads up! I'm looking to do some weekend trips anywhere but Tirol seemed to be where a lot of the resorts are.
Aug 26 2013 4:10AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
No man, you're all good in Salzburgerland, get the Salzburger Super Ski Card and you're fuckin golden, so much stuff there!
Aug 26 2013 4:13AM
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n.i.c.k
Posts: 87 - Karma: 136
I'm just finishing up my last year at school in Wanaka, New Zealand. I too am interested in studying abroad and Innsbruck seems to be highly recommended. Does anyone have any information on what it would be like to study there (ie. what university, language barriers, costs, accomodation etc). Any information would be sweet!!
Aug 26 2013 4:46AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Innsbruck is a sick city to live in, tons of stuff to do winter and summer.

Most people here speak English, especially with the younger generation it's not a problem, and a little bit of German will get you a long way. As to the Uni, I'm sure they offer courses in English, check it out here http://www.oehweb.at/

As for costs, rent can be slightly pricy, you're looking at 300 to 500 euros for either a room in a shared house or a small studio flat. Other than that living here is quite cheap, if you are young and not to fussy about what you eat, you can live off 100 euros a week easy.

Season liftpass for the entire Tirol region is 700 euros, and that gives you access to 80 different resorts.

All in all Innsbruck is a pretty sick place, I def recommend coming here! And if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Aug 26 2013 5:37AM
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mstevo
Posts: 237 - Karma: 300
Zauchensee usually opens when the conditions allow it. So it's possibly they open in the middle of october when there's enough snow. Not all lifts, but even then you have more than you need. November (middle to late) is not an unusual opening date for Zauchensee.

And the park in Flachauwinkl generally opens in the beginning of December (around the 12th or so), so pre-christmas skiing is nearly guaranteed (of course in relation to the weather conditions).
Aug 26 2013 7:00AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Good to know, but I would still go to a glacier in November, at least if you want park.
Aug 26 2013 7:05AM
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mstevo
Posts: 237 - Karma: 300
Yes and there are good ones around here. You spent some time in the area?
Aug 26 2013 7:20AM
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Pastucka
Posts: 408 - Karma: 936
I definitely wasn't riding chin deep powder in Zauchensee around mid December the season before last...

Aug 26 2013 8:20AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Yep, I live in Innsbruck now, but spent a season in Maria Alm, shredded a bunch at Kitz, Saalbach and Dienten. I use to go to Dachstein and Kitz every fall, but actually haven't been there in like 3 years, especially Kitz is looking well sick!
Aug 26 2013 10:25AM
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mstevo
Posts: 237 - Karma: 300
Are you studying there? Yeah those mountains are all nice. I'm trying to get to kitz a little more often, but dachstein is closer to me.
Aug 26 2013 3:52PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Right now i'm just chillin, just moved here with my girlfriend who got a job as a teacher, and I work as a shaper in the winter. Dachstein is sick too, so many laps! Like I said I haven't been to Kitz for a while, but man their parks look fucking sick these days!
Aug 26 2013 3:58PM
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Stuck.in.ohio
Posts: 331 - Karma: 33
I've got a few days at the end of my semester the second week in December where our school is going to Kitzsteinhorn but it seems other resorts have more expert skiing. Would you recommend Ischgl or St. Anton instead? Distance doesn't matter to me.
Aug 27 2013 3:12AM
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mstevo
Posts: 237 - Karma: 300
It depends on what you want to ski. If you want to ski park I think there is hardly any difference between the resorts. Kitzsteinhorn has big parks for every level. But when you want to go skiing pow there will be no better alternative than St Anton.
Aug 27 2013 3:17AM
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Stuck.in.ohio
Posts: 331 - Karma: 33
Not looking to ski any park out there since I only have a few days. I'm just hoping to ski some pow if there is much that early.
Aug 27 2013 4:01AM
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mstevo
Posts: 237 - Karma: 300
Okay than you should stick to Arlberg or Ischgl, and in the middle of December the chances are high that there are good amounts of snow there. Makes me really want to go there too now.
Aug 27 2013 5:33AM
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-SnowSnoli-
Posts: 756 - Karma: 1,703
Only meat is super expensive here.  But yer nights out in Lausanne can be super expensive. but if you get up to the resorts. it varies a bit more. Where I am french or austrian ski resorts are more expensive to go to.  But I guess it;s down to if you're going to get a part time job or not.. if you earn swiss francs. its not bad here. 20CHF/ph minimum wage.

Nendaz is relatively cheap for nights out. Skiing is amazing (same ski area as Verbier) and only an hour on the train from Lausanne. 
Aug 27 2013 5:48AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Having spent a lot of time in both Switzerland and Austria, I find it hard to believe there are any Austrian resorts where food is more expensive than Switzerland. Eating on the mountain in Switzerland is out of control expensive, where in Austria you can get away with 10-12 euros in many places.
Aug 27 2013 8:57AM
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-SnowSnoli-
Posts: 756 - Karma: 1,703
10-12 euros is what? like 15CHF... and you can easily get food on the mountain for that.
Aug 27 2013 9:19AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Which mountain is that?
Aug 27 2013 9:24AM
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-SnowSnoli-
Posts: 756 - Karma: 1,703
4 vallees... So Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon

and I know others along the valais (not zermatt and saas fee obviously they are expensive)

But yer you can normally get like spagg bol, sausage and fries etc for between 12-18 CHF if you go to the lift companies places..  privately owned ones are normally alot more.

Although can't beat goulash soup for 8 CHF
Aug 27 2013 9:36AM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2088 - Karma: 1,333
Ok, I never really skied outside Engadin, and I have not been to anywhere there where you would get off with less than 20 franks if you want a drink too, probably at least 25 and up.
Aug 27 2013 10:21AM
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