Snowboarding in Austria

Steenplatter ski slope
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Seasoned snowboarders are often heard uttering these few words ‘snowboarding ain’t for sissies’ – this much is true. In fact it’s so true I realize why they also say ‘there are two types of people in the world – skiers and snowboarders’. We can honestly say that we form part of the latter sporting ability, probably because we love the intense challenge, can handle the punches that boarding so often hands out to you on those icy slopes and we enjoy making fun of the posing, fashion conscious skiers (sorry skiers, we’re sure you are nice people deep down).

Gluwein in the snow at night
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On our recent visit to Austria - St Johan, Jon and I joined our snowboarding ‘Partners in crime’ aka Jason and Michelle (From SA) and my Austrian cousin Gerald, for a week on the icy slopes.

Seasoned snowboarders are often heard uttering these few words ‘snowboarding ain’t for sissies’ – this much is true.

Mixed moments of enlightenment, laughter, joy, frustration, disappointment, sweat and painful tears poured out the girls when the tough got going. But with their Armadillo padding they pushed forward until they could no longer push and succeed they did with lots of bruises to show. Between Michelle and me we must have consumed an entire pack of Voltaren and Myprodol to ease the bruised bums, ribs, knees and wrists. The boys on the other hand, played – as boys do – and challenged themselves with jumps some of which were met with hair raising ‘ouch that really hurt’ moments.

Schloss Eggenberg passage
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Jon and I were sad to leave after our week on the slopes but we were scheduled for our next train trip adventure to Austria – Graz, where my Dad comes from. Our two days were packed with sighting seeing castles, frozen lakes and visiting the family to watch old Super 8 home films of when I was a kid in Europe. We packed up again and boarded the express train bound for Prague in the Czech Republic.