Another Arlberg winter kicks off and starts as it means to go on. As crews drifted in around the German weekenders last week the parties just got bigger and bigger. It's that halcyon time of year when nobody's allowed to ski, everyone wants to meet everyone, and everyone is working hard so they need to let off steam. A nasty combination in this town.

Hardcore Highstreet
Last week saw the resort change into one five day pubcrawl. Cuba first up on Tuesday, with a traffic light party, the usual mix of cuban cocaine and flugerls resulting in something resembling a road traffic accident. Thanks to Frances and Kenny and the team.

Scotties took the baton on Wednesday with its opening party. Plenty of the usual fine pizza and wings washed down with a pint of green. Scary stuff. Thanks Sally, Alex and their crew for that one. The first theme event went off nicely - a Hawaian Xmas. Features of the night included a paddling pool being put to some interesting uses.

Funky Chicken & Moosewirt
Then it got really silly. Funky Chicken resort staff party on Thursday with food for everyone in absurdly plentiful supply. This years raffle runaway winners, taking the crown from Skiworld last year, seemed to be Ski Total. I think I'm buying Shane a proper tombola for next year. Thanks to Shane and the crew there.

Funky followed it up rapidly on Saturday with their season opening. With the beer at two Euros who could resist! That is if they could drag themselves away from the massive televised party in the Mooserwirt with the likes of Right Said Fred and DJ Ötzi!

Think we had Friday off? Erm no. The rather fantastic Short and Curlies played in Cuba packing that place out too.

Door Cuba - Saxon, Candi, Jarrod

Richard Crystal grates his face on the Osthang.

Dan and Simon at the Attack

So then the guests arrived, some of them really not giving their hosts time to recover before dragging them out. Hard life this one.

A few new things...
Resort has had a lot of changes this year. Nothing quite so fundamental as the moving of the railway station, but lots of good stuff. Kartouche is no longer with us, but Kandahar Club is in full force as club venue this year, with a full weekly program of nights. Cuba is feeling its way into the afternoon apres scene with great effect. There will be a lot of happy footy fans this year.

Cards are the in thing this year. This year's must haves, other than the obvious Alberg smartcard liftpass, includes the new Bubblecard. A multiuse pay card for the new internet laundry in town in the Versalla gallery. Opens later than the Mailbox and skibums can finally wash their smalls in town. The most sexy card to have though is the amazing Cuba self pour beer card. I might lose the deposit on mine as I think it's melting through overuse.

Oh yes, and we're here to ski aren't we!
The ski area is looking good. A few green patches lower down but the pistes are in fairly good nick. Lech and Zurs are looking the best at the moment. More snow coming this week hopefully.

With more nights to come such as Freefunk with Paul Kane at the Kandahar and the Volkl Ski Show after party at the Funky Chicken there's plenty to keep us going.

Report from Alastair Vaan - Natives Resort Reporter in St Anton

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