police world Edition 3 2013

Article

IPA Ski week Austria 2013

Police World asked Section Ireland member, and regular particpant at IPA Ski Weeks, Cornelius O’Donovan, to share his experience with Section UK members.

C ornelius and his wife Carol joined a ski party of around 150 IPA members from seven countries from around the world. Cornelius told Police World, “ My wife and I have been attending the ski week for the last 10 years, after meeting IPA Austrian members in South Africa at an IPA International Conference 11 years ago. We are both experienced skiers and were invited to the annual Ski week in Austria the following year. We can safely say we have thoroughly enjoyed it every year since then.” The majority of people who attend the ski week are experienced skiers, but ski lessons are available on the mountain from various ski schools at the resort at your own expense. There are guides available, if required, who will be with you for the week. The groups are usually 6-8 people in size.

During the week there are various social events in the restaurants on the mountain where everyone meets up and has lunch and a beer. In the evening there is also some entertainment where the group meets up. “ It is great fun ”, explains Cornelius. There is après ski in the evening in a few bars, but it is not on the scale of the Tyrol. English is not widely spoken in this area, but all the Austrian IPA members speak fluent English and are extremely helpful and welcoming. The hotels in Nassfeld are in various locations around the resort, ranging from 3 to 4 stars. Nassfeld can be reached with flights to Klagenfurt from Stanstead airport and the transfer to the resort usually takes about 70 minutes. You can also fly to Salzburg, where you can get a train to Villach, which has a 40 minute transfer to the resort.

The price of the Ski Week includes half board accommodation in the hotel, ski pass for 6 days and the ski bus to pick you up each morning and back in the evening. Full details are usually advertised on the Austrian IPA Website around August each year, giving details of dates, hotels, itinerary and costs. Cornelius sums up, “I hope this information is of use to IPA members from the UK and hopefully we might meet you there next year.” Editor’s note: To view more photographs from this event go to www.ipaaustria.at and select Sections then Carinthia and drop down to Oberkarten.

Cornelius and Carol on the slopes in Nassfeld

A photo opportunity with an Austrian patrol car

Cornelius with other attendees of the Ski Week

14 Police World Vol 58 No .3 2013