FALL LINE GETS ITS PISTE ON The complete skier PISTE PICS THAT WILL GET YOUR HEAD SPINNING ❆ PADDY GRAHAM ON THE EVOLUTION OF FREESTYLE ❆ SLUSH GALORE! THE JOY OF SKIING NOT-PERFECT SNOW ❆ SAM SMOOTHY ON RISK-TAKING AND GOOD DECISION-MAKING ❆ IN FOCUS: NAILING THE PERFECT PISTE SHOT IN CORTINA D'AMPEZZO GREAT GEAR + GREAT VALUE = SHREDTASTIC SEASON WINBIGPRIZESWITHSKIHALTI,K2,WEEKENDS ANDSPYDER WE'VE ONLY GONE AND GOT DAVE RYDING AND WOODSY! ON HOW TO CARVE LIKE A BOSS, AND NAIL THREE FREESTYLE TRICKS, IN A DAY (YES, IT IS POSSIBLE) EPIC SLOPES The world’s most remarkable runs, from the steepest to the most controversial THE DARK SIDE Night skiing like you’ve never seen it before 772048 122037 86> 772048 122037 NO POWDER NEEDED Nail your plans for the season now! The complete skier CARVE THE TURKEY: EPIC SKIING… IN THE MIDDLE EAST ❆ POW-HUNTING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA ❆ BACKCOUNTRY BASICS: PREP FOR YOUR SEASON’S ADVENTURES ❆ LESLEY MCKENNA’S CAIRNGORMS ❆ THE MAN WHO MADE SNOWBOARDING FAMOUS NEW GEAR FOR 2023 WIN WITHATOMIC, NORDICAGLENMOREAND LODGE Ready to ROCK? GET PREPPED Cody Townsend, Michelle Parker, Markus Eder + Team Fall Line on how we're planning for winter CHASING SNOW Buckle up for a camper van tour of the Alps FRANCE SANS QUEUES Skiing outside the Alps. Low costs, low crowds, big skiing Powder and Backcountry Special SAM ANTHAMATTEN ON TAKING CENTRE STAGE ❆ THE ART OF THE PERFECT POWDER SHOT ❆ FREERIDE THE FJORDS: CHASING SNOW IN NORWAY ❆ THE LIFE OF A SKI PATROLLER ❆ POWDER PHOTO GALLERY ❆ FIND YOUR FIRST... HUT TRIP THE BEST FREERIDE AND TOURING GEAR FOR 2023 WIN KIT WORTH THOUSANDS FROM DYNASTAR, MAMMUT,ORTOVOX,RAB AND ROSSIGNOL WHYENGELBERG ISTHEFREERIDING CAPITALOFTHEALPS “I SURVIVED AN AVALANCHE” First-hand tales from people who experienced every skier’s worst nightmare EASY POW Resorts where big snow + zero crowds = pow pow heaven 85> EVERY PIECE OF SKI KIT WORTH KNOWING ABOUT INSIDE £5.50 WWW.FALL-LINE.CO.UK GEAR OF THE YEAR 2023 Award-winning skis, splitboards, boots, bindings, clothing and more The complete skier WHY THE ORIGINAL SKI PUNK’S PRO MODEL IS OUR 2023 SKI OF THE YEAR WIN SIX EPIC PRIZES... EACH WORTH THOUSANDS MEDIA PACK 2023/24 ❆ Feeding the ski-obsessed soul since 1991 ❆ Creating high-quality content to partner your marketing message ❆ Written by the passionate, read by the dedicated ❆ Inspiring skiers to go further, faster and higher ❆ Adeptly linking brands to a fun and positive attitude WRITTEN BY THE PASSIONATE READ BY THE DEDICATED
HOW CAN FALL LINE HELP YOU?
Welcome to the 23-24 Fall Line media pack. Find out how you can benefit from working with us to access our readers, who are some of the keenest skiers out there. Whether you are a brand, retailer, tourist board or travel company we can help you communicate your message and build brand awareness.
WHAT IS FALL LINE?
Written by the passionate and read by the dedicated, Fall Line Skiing is the real skier’s magazine.
We’ve been creating high quality content to feed the ski obsessed soul since 1991 so we’re the trusted voice of experience. Formulaic editorial designed only to collect numbers just isn’t for us. Our content is original, compelling and often quirky and created to inspire skiers of all levels and experience to go further, faster and higher in the mountains.
CONTENTS 2 What is Fall Line / contents 3 Why choose Fall Line? 4 Fall Line Clients – who we work with 5 Who will you reach? - The Fall Line audience 6 Print Opportunities 9 2023-24 Issues and dates & Advertising Rates 10 Brands / Manufacturers 11 Retail 12 Travel and Tourism 14 Digital Opportunities 16 Our readers 17 More about Fall Line 18 Summer Adventure Issue 19 Key Contacts
Fall Line represents the aspirations of the UK snowsports scene. The inspirational content and immersive imagery ensure it is as relevant today as when the first copy came out more than 30 years ago
Page 2 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
MARK BRIGHAM, ELLIS BRIGHAM
Why choose Fall Line?
Our readers need you to help them achieve their skiing goals. Fall Line talks to the keenest skiers like no other snowsports media. For a start, there is no other magazine delivering season-long inspiration for skiers in the UK. Magazines work very well at engaging with readers in what we like to call the prime of their skiing lives. The stories are properly crafted and withstand being read over and over. The imagery is outstanding, relevant and inspirational. The reviews are put together by experts who know and love their subject. Our craft is fed online to an increasing audience, but it’s the magazine that serves as the wellspring of ski goodness.
Who are our readers? They are hugely enthusiastic skiers. They want to visit new destinations and resorts, they want to be well-equipped and need a full set-up of quality gear to enjoy their passion. Their skiing covers the whole mountain – most own two pairs of skis, avalanche safety gear and accessories to allow freeriding and backcountry skiing. Crucially, they have enough money to get stuck in at this level.
Fall Line offers innovative and deep engagement with skiers. These are people who research and buy into brands. We editorialise the messages you’re pushing out there, whether it’s about your drive for sustainability, the concepts that drive you, or the innovations that are going to make our readers’ experiences more… ski.
Because that’s what Fall Line is. It’s about being more ski.
Dickie, Publisher, Fall Line
WHAT WE DO
We are the only 100% actively bought independent ski magazine, available on the newsstand and by subscription.
We are the voice of experience with more than 30 years on the newsstand. Our key editorial staff are based in the Alps and Scotland with contacts, gear testing and story opportunities right on their doorstep.
Our articles are original, compelling and often quirky, written by industry insiders, pro skiers, mountain guides and trusted regular contributors from the UK, Europe, North America and beyond.
Our readers engage with Fall Line Skiing all year round via our lively digital channels. We give them their winter sports fix and keep them informed at fall-line.co.uk, through our regular newsletter and via our social media channels, 12 months of the year.
Whether you’re into resort ripping, freeride stash hunting or remote wilderness exploring, our bumper annual Gear Guide (on sale November 2023) is the ski geek’s bible. It features equipment, clothing and accessories hand-picked by our expert team, reviews of the season’s
best skis, interviews with industry insiders and in-depth kit analysis.
We are the staunchest allies of ‘Own your kit. Buy it in the UK’. We always emphasise the importance of a robust UK industry and we never advocate online discounters.
Our surveys are thorough, long running and give great insight into UK snow sports enthusiasts. We’re into our 19th year of questioning the skiing public and their feedback helps shape the way we communicate – see later for more survey feedback.
Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024 | Page 3
Fall Line clients
We work with the biggest brands in the ski industry
Page 4 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
Who will you reach?
❅ 78% of Fall Line readers take two or more ski trips each season
❅ 38% of Fall Line readers take three or more trips each season,
❅ 29% of Fall Line readers ski for more than three weeks each season
❅ They visit UK retailers where our technically minded readership seek out and buy the latest gear
❅ They have a lot of kit – almost all have at one or more pairs of boots and 92% own at least one pair of skis. They also have dedicated ski packs, tend to wear layered clothing and helmets, and over 50% have tried ski touring
❅ They’re actively looking for new places to ski, and they have the money to make it happen
❅ They travel to North America, Japan and alternative destinations more than average: 25% of our audience invest in long-distance travel compared with 10% of all skiers
❅ They book ski trips for friends and family, and crucially, they want to inspire others to ski!
❅ 30% of our readers lead a group of six or more. They influence gear purchase and trip choice, giving us a wide reach of influence
❅ They go to UK slopes and events
❅ They engage with Fall Line magazine through autumn, winter and spring – our on-sale dates for 23/24 run from October 2023 to April 2024
❅ They love the magazine. When asked if they’d prefer digital issues or just a website, over 90% replied that they wanted to continue getting a printed magazine
Fall Line are a joy to work with, helping us to target the right audience who are looking for the best information in the UK wintersports arena. They understand our demands and needs and always come up with the right result
Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024 | Page 5
SCOTT DOBSON, DYNASTAR & LANGE
Print opportunities
What we write about
❅ Inspirational reads on resorts and destinations, both well-known and offbeat.
❅ Outstanding photography: Fall Line is famous for it!
❅ Objective, entertaining, and wide-ranging tried-and-tested gear reviews created by our team of experienced and highly knowledgeable skiers.
❅ Big-name interviews: recent interviewees include Glen Plake, James Woods, Elyse Saugstad, Sam Anthamatten and Dave Ryding.
❅ Backcountry advice from British IFMGA mountain guide Martin Chester.
❅ Technique tips from the world’s best skiers.
❅ A Family Guide to... group advice; destinations to dilemmas.
❅ Must-read columns by Graham Bell and Sam Smoothy.
❅ Insider pieces such as My Mountain, Behind The Brand and Rig For The Gig that delve deeper into some of the most interesting sectors of the ski industry.
❅ Classic series such as WTF?!, Backyard Epics and One Lift For The Rest Of Your Life.
Glen Plake
CARVING SKILLS
Page 6 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
Partnering with Fall Line has helped us connect with our core skier and snowboarder audience across a range of different channels. They produce top-quality, inspirational content and have been really flexible in response to challenges over the last couple of years
KELLY ROBINSON, CRYSTAL SKI
Nicola Iseard talks to the mohawked mountain goat about the magic behind his signature touring ski – our 2023 Ski of the Year Wild and free with Elan giving me the reins meant I was able to create something slightly unorthodox on winning our Ski of the Year award with your epic signature ski! Glen Plake: Yeah it’s awesome! Without – which is really nice. Last time we spoke [Oct ‘21] was on about my fifth prototype and was about to can the whole project! wanted out of ski touring ski – not skiing ski we already have plenty of those. It is extremely easy to handle through just about compromise. You’re ski touring, so you might have pack on, you might be tired, the terrain might be terrible there are reasons to want We kept making jokes every time we tested it, we’d say: “Come on, let’s go find some avalanche debris!” The reality is maybe you using it, so let’s see how the ski copes with that? Can point down the face of the Grand Montets and do one giant turn? No, probably from rock-hard wind scour to absolutely perfect powder, and works great. the design process. How was it to be given such creative control? GP: I’ve been involved lot in ski design, but say, “Okay, you’re part of the test team” or “What’s your opinion on this?” but really let me take control from graphic design, sidecut able to create something slightly unorthodox. In the past, Elan has looked other people’s catalogues – like, “What are all these other own. Whatever other companies are doing is eight months ago want to know what we’re something that someone has already been doing then I’m two years behind already. unorthodox – 23m for the 180 is long! Are you a fan of long sidecuts? GP: LOVE long sidecuts, because they sidecut, the more the ski takes you for want especially with touring skis. a side-skid and never even put any energy into the turn, and just wash the whole thing something. The other thing I’m not fan of are those big ‘em. Okay, so with straighter tip you have to ski little more, but if bit of direction, there’s more good than bad when you don’t They ski tour like crap too – you can’t glide with them. So yeah, tip shape and sidecut were really, really big purist at heart but do you appreciate some of the tech advances like rocker? reasons for camber. From an edge-hold standpoint, there are reasons for camber. So yeah, that was big discussion too, and Ski touring has changed lot in recent years. The old hut-to-hut ski tours are not what it’s about now you might go hut to hut but might stay one hut for three or four days and go: “I wanna ski that, I’m tired of just looking up there.” So with that said, we need skis that Nice, well our testers felt you got the balance just right – the uphill verses downhill performance Ripstick but it skis great – I’m happy to ski it as daily ski. We used to say: “Well, shall we take our touring skis, or should we take our real skis?” “Okay, I’m all in” was the only pair took. had no idea where was headed, no information about the conditions. A friend of couldn’t keep up with him because my ski wasn’t stiff enough to get up to that speed, and was like, “Dude, you’re running away from my touring skis on.” But was okay with that. And the funny thing that we had these strange conditions as far as not having any touring skis and I’m the only one who actually didn’t break an edge and had major hits, definitely dry docked bunch of times. So the We were all cracking up. GEAR READ ELAN SKIS
What are you most proud of? GP: One thing think is really cool about this ski how the interlocking Es are the texture bring back the interlocking Es since got together with them they are Elan’s icon. But was, “Oh, it’s too old. It dates the skis.” when asked for the interlocking Es as a toneon-tone texture on top of the skis, they played with it, and now, lo and behold, you see that couldn’t believe they agreed to the two base colours too. When my first graphic prototypes showed up and opened the box and could see as a joke, there is no way this is going production.” But they were like, “No, it’s for real.” went for the moon and got it. How did the testing process work? Were there many people involved? GP: Actually, was the sole tester, besides on these.” There was some construction being introduced to me that did not like, especially for what we were trying to accomplish, and was able to say, “I don’t like this at all.” had to down-tune them bunch. took lot of the stiffness out of them. There were five rounds had an old pair of touring skis that used to use a lot, the Himalaya, simple old wood touring ski that Elan made there was weird tip, was ugly, nobody bought it, there were all these things wrong with the Himalaya, but there was a ski aspect to it that But here we were dealing with new materials, new sidecuts – the Himalaya 10 years old and think Elan were trying to NI: Hats off to Elan then for following your direction like they did – the way we brought the ski forth has never really been done by Elan that way. And gave everybody real kind of uplifting feeling. So this project than just the ski. There are lots of really cool, let’s say, barriers that have been broken, and breakthroughs, and new operating modes, which super cool. think that’s part of a design process that you don’t think about as a consumer. You see the end product and how we do things in the future. We’re loving the retro vibe… It’s so funny, because everyone says, “Ah it’s so retro” but it’s not retro at all! That was certainly the US forestry departments are to blame that everything in the outdoors supposed to be this drab, brown/green – can’t months, and we’re living up in the mountains, and all you see grey and black, and nothing living because we’re up above the tree-line, expedition is go sit in rose garden – “Whoa look at these colours, they’re amazing, holy cow!” To me, the real colours of the outdoors the skis are: sunsets and sunrises. And you look at them you’re like, “Oh wow, they actually are!” the the Plake takes his signature ski for ride. it’s ‘21] was the already touring, you –copes down and lot at all the big tip like camber. tours at three wanna you uphill up But the lo there But moon How touring made it bought trying Hats did the gave a lots that and and in that nothing up And are!” SLUFF TECHNIQUE FOCUS with Dave Ryding He made sporting history winning Britain’s first Alpine World Cup gold. Here ‘The Rocket’ details three carving drills we can master in a day… and a badass one that will take years! Stop, look back THREE DRILLS TO MASTER IN A DAY PATIENCE AT THE TOP OF THE TURN When carving, it’s important that you drop the urge to initiate each turn by manually turning, pointing or pivoting you let the skis do the turning for you. This drill great for practicing this key technique. LET THE SKIS RUN Find run that is not too steep, so that you feel confident to let the skis run bit. Start sliding forward, with your skis facing down the fall line. Keep your shins in the front of any movements with your feet or body that you ordinarily might do to get the turn started. DON’T RUSH IT about the fall line they have the feeling they’re getting out of control too fast – so they rush it and force their skis or their bodies into the turn, which then leads to Know that you can take the skis out of the fall line in the second half of the turn, which will kill your speed, so you don’t need to worry about allowing the skis to accelerate bit. A good way to practice patience during this first part nervous and rush it, count 1, 2, 3… before starting the second part of the turn. LEAN ONTO THE EDGES When you feel the acceleration, start to edge the skis and look for the balance against the outside ski. The skis will start to turn. This seemingly trivial task the first key to In the second half of the turn, the skis will slow down. pull you, get neutral and forward, and ready to step onto the new outside ski again. If you want to kill more speed, then have more pressure create more rounded turn, slowing you down. Stop, look back and expect those perfect deep trenches in the snow… THREE DRILLS TO MASTER IN A DAY LIFTING THE INSIDE SKI The next step is building up steering pressure earlier in the turn. If you want to go as fast as possible, then you want to this next drill, we’ll focus on moving up and forward to feel the outside ski earlier – and to make sure that you are really on that outside ski, you will lift the inside ski. SLIDE AND LIFT Repeat drill number one. Start to edge the outside ski, feel the pressure build and then lift the tail of the inside to make sure you’re fully on the outside edge. Edge more, outside ski for the whole of the turn will ensure you have more rounded turns with good steering and less skidding. Be sure to do this on a gentle run so as not to pick up too precise, as we can’t rely on forces to cheat! PUTTING THE SKI BACK DOWN that you don’t fall back on it, causing the outside ski to skid. Keep light – the outside ski is the boss, taking you around the arc. With the outset ski engaged and on the edge, you bigger arc? Keep your inside ski light – the outside ski is the boss, taking you SLUFF TECHNIQUE FOCUS
with Dave Ryding He made sporting history winning Britain’s first Alpine World Cup gold. Here ‘The Rocket’ details three carving drills we can master in a day… and a badass one that will take years! Stop, look back THREE DRILLS TO MASTER IN A DAY PATIENCE AT THE TOP OF THE TURN When carving, it’s important that you drop the urge to initiate each turn by manually turning, pointing or pivoting you let the skis the turning for you. This drill is great for practicing this key technique. LET THE SKIS RUN Find run is too steep, so that you feel confident to let the skis run bit. Start sliding forward, with your skis facing down the fall line. Keep your in the front of any movements with your feet or body that you ordinarily might do to get the turn started. DON’T RUSH IT about the fall line – they have the feeling they’re getting out of control fast so they rush and force their skis or their bodies into the turn, which then leads to Know that you can take the skis out of the fall line in the second half of the turn, which will kill your speed, so you don’t need to worry about allowing the skis to accelerate bit. A good way to practice patience during this first part nervous and rush it, count 1, 3… before starting the second part of the turn. LEAN ONTO THE EDGES When you feel the acceleration, start to edge the skis and look for the balance against the outside ski. The skis will start to turn. This seemingly trivial task is the key to In the second half of the turn, the skis will slow down. pull you, get neutral and forward, and ready to step onto the new outside ski again. If you want to kill more speed, then have more pressure create more rounded turn, slowing you down. Stop, look and expect those perfect deep trenches in the snow… THREE DRILLS TO MASTER IN A DAY LIFTING THE INSIDE SKI The next step building up steering pressure earlier in the turn. If you want to go as fast as possible, then you want to this next drill, we’ll focus on moving up and forward to feel the outside ski earlier – and to make sure that you are really on that outside ski, you will lift the inside ski. SLIDE AND LIFT Repeat drill number one. Start to edge the outside ski, feel the pressure build and then lift the tail of the inside to make sure you’re fully on the outside edge. Edge more, outside ski for the whole of the turn will ensure you have more rounded turns with steering and less skidding. Be sure to on gentle run so as not to pick up too precise, as we can’t rely on forces to cheat! PUTTING THE SKI BACK DOWN that you don’t fall back on it, causing the outside ski to skid. Keep light the outside ski is the boss, taking you around the arc. With the outset ski engaged and on the edge, you a bigger arc? Keep your inside ski light – the outside ski is the boss, taking you around the arc MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS Armada Declivity 92 Ti £559 ❄ Lengths 172, 180, 188 131-92-117 @ 172 ❄ Weight per ski 1,725g @ 172 Modern resort-based skiing demands high-speed stability and nimble maneuverability along with tenacious edge hold and effortless float in Built off platform that excels in any condition, the Declivity 92 Ti screams versatility from ripping high-speed groomers to charging chopped-up powder. From turning and burning on hardpack to sliding “Strong all-mountain performance from Armada’s Declivity series”, was contention for the win for its mix of liveliness and grip. Dickie adds, “The 92 the ski most folk will go for and they’re not wrong. But take look at the 102 too it’s very nearly as nimble because has more easy. There’s an 88 non-metal version, which is poppier and even easier to bounce around on. Heavier or chargier skiers will want the metal The Declivity takes over from the old Armada Invictus 89Ti but comes with more tapered overall shape. The 92 gets karuba core and Banding that’s metal layer with an elastic layer that compresses to add spring on the way out of the turn. A full sidewall delivers more grip on hardpack than the previous cap construction ski. Lively, lots of feedback, equal performance scores short and longer turns, great feeling on the edge the Declivity 92 Ti proper allright. Goldilocks ski, you will.” Torsional control exceptional, really rails those turns and scored highly on-piste. Lee was impressed: “The new construction allows you to easily power the ski and allows for Andy, who’s the lightest of this test group, reckoned, “Lighter and more forgiving than many models this category, brings typical Armadastyle fun to the mainstream.” This could be the most accessible of the all-mountain skis in this group, so we’d widen our recommendations to any decent intermediate and Völkl Kendo 88 £620 ❄ Lengths 163, 170, 177, 184 ❄ Weight per ski 1,898g @ 177 An all-mountain freerider, the Kendo 88 comes with revised geometry and one-metre shorter radius variability. This ski encourages sporty, intuitive style on groomed slopes with the manoeuvrability you need to get through WE SAY what she seeks in great ski, “almost perfectly transition from side to side, piste to crud, high to than the previous iteration, though you’ll still prefer long, high-speed turns. Carbon Tips and Tailored Titanal Frame. This is the same tech as the Mantra, including the 3D reduced swing weight to improve the flickability of tighter turns than before but still tracks accurately over chopped terrain. Dickie uses the Kendo as one of his benchmark skis: “Skied the 184 the foul black slope and you are planted. Great feedback, great response into the turns. Grip relentless and predictable. The new tip is the moment you press the ‘go’ button the Kendo locks in and rockets off.” Andy liked the “easy GS feel”, adding, “Excellent edge grip on hard snow an edge and let of the leash. Lock and load baby, this ballistic weapon and needs to be skied Andy captures rather neatly, in typical irreverent style: “For Dads justifying new skis to teach their secretly riding around in a sports car).” your all-mountain skiing is resort-based, the Kendo is one of the best bets out there. Blizzard Brahma 88 £550 Lengths 165, 171, 177, 183, 189 128-88-110 @ 177 Weight per ski 2,100g @ 177 Blizzard are the most poetic of manufacturers: “We define all-mountain as skier who doesn’t colour in the give you the ability to seize the snowpack throughout the most frigid temperatures and firm conditions. As the day’s smooth terrain gets eaten up by hungry skiers, the chopped-up crud, which means you’ll be skiing longer (and stronger) than everyone else. Enjoy the day – all day, ski the Brahma. The class really shows when you wind up the speed and ignore the surface below. This is damp, superfrom previous seasons hold good. remains punchy number needing muscle to do your bidding.” We’d add that the core has been updated for this needed to turn what has always been a sturdy ‘ol ski. Quick word here – it’s still powerful, hard charger of ski designed to carry you quickly through almost any The blended wood core is the USP here. has poplar/ control and damping. The laminate taper different from the previous model to reduce tip and tail weight. type skis. You choose path, the goods are delivered, you look back to see there’s no way that the terrain as long as you play your part. Piste condition not an issue, whatever the conditions. Andy said: “The top sheet surprisingly playful. Holding an edge on hardpack longer radius turns and pleasantly well balanced under invest but the dividends are considerably more than the You guessed strong skiers who want to take one pair of skis away and ski them everywhere. If you’re heading into to the season fit and ready, the revised Brahma 88 is It’s not as serious or as crazy as the others – a Goldilocks ski, if you will Dickie MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS Armada Declivity 92 Ti £559 ❄ Lengths 172, 131-92-117 @ 172 ❄ Weight per ski 1,725g @ 172 Modern resort-based skiing demands high-speed stability and nimble maneuverability along with tenacious edge hold effortless float in Built off platform that excels in any condition, the Declivity 92 Ti screams versatility from ripping high-speed groomers to charging chopped-up powder. From turning and burning on hardpack to sliding “Strong all-mountain performance from Armada’s Declivity series”, was contention for the win for its mix of liveliness and grip. Dickie adds, “The 92 the ski most folk will go for and they’re not wrong. But take look at the 102 too it’s very nearly as nimble because has more easy. There’s an 88 non-metal version, which is poppier and even easier to bounce around on. Heavier or chargier skiers will want the metal The Declivity takes over from the old Armada Invictus 89Ti but comes with more tapered overall shape. The 92 gets a karuba core Banding that’s metal layer with an elastic layer that compresses to add spring on the way out of the turn. A full sidewall delivers more grip on hardpack than the previous cap construction ski. Lively, lots of feedback, equal performance scores short and longer turns, great feeling on the edge the Declivity 92 Ti proper allright. Goldilocks ski, you will.” Torsional control exceptional, really rails those turns and scored highly on-piste. Lee was impressed: “The new construction allows you to easily power the ski and allows for Andy, who’s the lightest of this test group, reckoned, “Lighter and more forgiving than many models this category, brings typical Armadastyle fun to the mainstream.” This could be the most accessible of the all-mountain skis in this group, so we’d widen our recommendations to any decent intermediate and Völkl Kendo 88 £620 ❄ Lengths 163, 177, ❄ Weight per ski 1,898g @ 177 An all-mountain freerider, the Kendo 88 comes with revised geometry and one-metre shorter radius variability. This ski encourages sporty, intuitive style on groomed slopes with the manoeuvrability you need to get through WE SAY what she seeks in great ski, “almost perfectly transition from to side, piste to crud, to than the previous iteration, though you’ll still prefer long, high-speed turns. Carbon Tips and Tailored Titanal Frame. This is the same tech as the Mantra, including the 3D reduced swing weight to improve the flickability of tighter turns before but still tracks accurately over chopped terrain. Dickie uses the Kendo as one of his benchmark skis: “Skied the 184 the foul black slope and you are planted. Great feedback, great response into the turns. Grip relentless and predictable. The new tip is the moment you press the ‘go’ button the Kendo locks in and rockets off.” Andy liked the “easy GS feel”, adding, “Excellent edge grip on hard snow an edge and let of the leash. Lock and load baby, this ballistic weapon and needs to be skied Andy captures rather neatly, in typical irreverent style: “For justifying new to teach their secretly riding around in a sports car).” your all-mountain skiing is resort-based, the Kendo is one of the best out there. Blizzard Brahma 88 £550 Lengths 165, 177, 183, 189 128-88-110 @ 177 Weight per ski 2,100g @ 177 Blizzard are the most poetic of manufacturers: “We define all-mountain as skier doesn’t colour in the give you the ability to seize the snowpack throughout the most frigid temperatures and firm conditions. As the day’s smooth terrain gets eaten up by hungry skiers, the chopped-up crud, which means you’ll be skiing longer (and stronger) than everyone else. Enjoy the day – all day, ski the Brahma. The class really shows when you up the speed and ignore the surface below. This is damp, superfrom previous seasons hold good. remains punchy number needing muscle to do your bidding.” We’d add that the core been updated for this needed to turn what has always been a sturdy ‘ol ski. Quick word here – it’s still powerful, hard charger of ski designed to carry you quickly through almost any The blended wood core is the USP here. has poplar/ control and damping. The laminate taper different from the previous model to reduce tip and tail weight. type choose path, the goods are delivered, you look back to see there’s no way that the terrain as long as you play Piste condition not an issue, whatever the conditions. Andy “The top sheet surprisingly playful. Holding an edge on hardpack longer radius turns and pleasantly well balanced under invest but the dividends are considerably more than the You guessed strong skiers who to take one of skis away and ski them everywhere. If you’re heading into to the season fit and ready, the revised Brahma 88 is It’s not as serious or as crazy as the others – a Goldilocks ski, if you will Dickie IN SEARCH OF POWDER With the snow-dumping La Niña phenomenon forecasted to sweep through North America for the third winter running, now is the time to plan that pow-hunting road trip. Matt Carr did just that in British Columbia last season… JEOPARDY
T he premise was straightforward enough we would chase the snow and gorge ourselves on the finest skiing Interior BC had to offer. No agenda, no itinerary, just the eight of us for week on the the weather charts. Simple. We’d been cooped up for what felt like decades, since Covid had arrived on the scene two years prior and prevented us from having even seen snowflake, let alone slide on it. We’d saved up and saved up and frugality. We would splurge, if necessary, because – –The planning gods did not, would seem, get our had even seen an ABS pack) nor the heart attack-inducing re-routing of our ski bags from Vancouver to our starting point in Revelstoke, via different domestic airport and eventual (miraculous) 600km courier, exactly fitted the brief of pure, unadulterated, cathartic powder-piggery. All’s well that ends well however, and was with great joy that we eventually took delivery of our kit at around of fresh white fluff on the ground in town. Suffice to say, between the drama, the excitement and the jetlag, not much sleep was had, and we arrived at the lift almost farcically early. say almost, because we were not North America, is we soon learned – absolutely brimming with powderhounds of every persuasion. In most resorts in the Alps, arriving on the scene at 8.30am is normally plenty eager the crowds dispersed quickly. In ski guide Chipie Windross – an old friend of mine from Tignes – we had a secret weapon with local knowledge aplenty. sample cold smoke with Stellar Heli
High
Print opportunities Competitions
❅ Got some gear or a trip to give away? We run regular competitions across print and digital. A comp or giveaway gives great exposure, high feel-good factor and a chance to plug a specific item or trip.
❅ From high-value print competitions to #WinItWednesday style social media competitions, we have an option to suit all budgets.
Young brands
❅ We love supporting new brands If you aren’t yet a household name but want to shout about your product, Fall Line is the place to do it.
❅ While you may not be able afford full colour or a lot of space we have affordable packages using our newsletter and social media channels to help you get your message out.
❅ Our Emerging Brands feature gives you the opportunity to build brand awareness with an interview-style feature. You answer some questions and tell us all about your company and then leave it to us! You’ll have the opportunity to approve the content and images before it’s published.
Fast and light with Bene Böhm
Rossignol has partnered with Fall Line for several years, helping us reach the core winter sports enthusiasts. The friendly and helpful team support our strategic goals and messages with their quality magazine content and online activity. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend working with them ROB BIRRELL, ROSSIGNOL
Page 8 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
COMPETITION I you’re looking to earn your turns and protect the planet then this unisex touring-specific outfit from Halti will help you do both in super-sustainable style. We’ve teamed up with the fab Finnish folks to give one of you lucky lot the opportunity to layer up for the season in full set of backcountry-specific clothing, worth over £900. First up – the outerwear. New this winter, Halti’s unisex Alpine 3L DrymaxX Shell Jacket and Pants (Jacket £400, Pants £280) are super breathable, mega durable and totally weatherproof. Made from recycled materials with zero nasty PFCs, this outfit treads lightly on the planet and comes with high-impact features, including underarm venting holes and an insulated chest pocket on the jacket that will help preserve your smartphone battery. Next up – the Crust Mid-Layer Jacket (£150). This light, super-packable, breathable hybrid layer has windproof fabric on the front and shoulders for stormy days in the backcountry. Warm and stretchy, it’s been designed to work perfectly with the Alpine Jacket and Pants and has similarly impressive sustainability creds. Last but not least – those all important first layers. Halti’s Free Recy Seamless Baselayers (£80) are soft, moisturewicking layers that will work for a range of heart-pumping activities. Made from recycled polyester, they’re comfy, quick to dry, and super stretchy. Enter to win this sustainable gear and get layered up to explore the big mountains! 14 www.fall-line.co.uk HOW TO ENTER: FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS HALTI TOURING KIT HEAD TO FALL-LINE.CO.UK BY 5 JANUARY, 2023 WORTH OVER £900 SUPERSUSTAINABLE TOURING KIT FROM HALTI Dynafit’s CEO has chalked up several oxygen-free, speed ski ascents on the world’s tallest summits. Amy Marwick caught up with him to discuss his latest expedition
light
Amy Marwick: So Bene, you’ve been home for about one month since your the Himlung Himal (7,126m) in Nepal. Did all go to plan? there were couple of hiccups at the beginning… had big bike crash just before and my whole face got totally messed up. finally got on the plane, was hauled off again by the police explosion experts. was holding this hard-case satellite modem for the After that all went smoothly. was there with Prakash Sherpa, Nepalese professional climber we had such good time together. would get, to scope out the route and the conditions. There were few parts that we the summit. A couple of days later we did the speed ascent in less than 10 hours. BB: For the skiing – it’s always the first thing I’m looking for in an expedition. biggest adventure? I’d be lying if said Mount Everest wasn’t something I’d consider, but you could be at basecamp with 1,000 other totally alone we were the first people to go route for ourselves and make mistakes along the way. The first time it was perfect conditions for skiing. Grippy, firm snow with powder on Himalayas. Although, when we did the speed ascent the conditions were horrible. There had been lot of wind, so there was breakable more side slipping… What draws you to such big mountains and how do you rationalise the risk? expeditions are so remote. That real adventure and knowing you are by yourself there’s no although I’ve been challenged in the Alps just as much. try to be disciplined and my risk-taking has gone down over the years. requirements, I’ve learned to have confidence just to say, “I’m not doing today”. AM: What is about speed ascents that You can’t really enjoy anything up there with minus 70% oxygen, so why not move sports, competing from the age of 11 in crosscountry ski races, so it’s always been about speed for me. also makes sense to move It’s also a spiritual experience speed is an art. You have to allow yourself to be fast. Our time here short, so for me it’s all about how also means to simplify things, to reduce complexity. You have to be so detailed to be able to move this fast. Our total weight for skis, boots, equipment, gear, drinks, food and everything was just 6kg each. What’s the most important factor when it comes to designing gear for these fast-moving ascents? about being fast, it’s about being well prepared so there’s no need to stop. You can’t run at 7,000m, but how often do you need to stop? We don’t want to interrupt the flow by taking finding that perfect state of flow and the gear has to help with that. We want our gear to facilitate the user, whatever their objective. Ski touring not an easy sport, it’s complex. You need knowledge, this clothing and equipment. There are lot of variables, but we want to reduce the complexity of the kit wherever we can to quick access to equipment when you’re up against the clock. My favourite is the speed-touring range. We took inspiration from ski mountaineering of the Dynafit experience and our contribution to more sustainable future gear that lasts. The most sustainable product the one you How do you balance the training, planning and executing these huge expeditions alongside your work, and I’m not always on top of everything! know I’ll regret not spending enough time with the kids, but this is who am. If you unhappy. have to get up at two or three in the morning to train for an expedition, will. It’s the biggest luxury and gift that my body and mind are still working so that GEAR READ DYNAFIT www.fall-line.co.uk Dynafit’s CEO has chalked up several oxygen-free, speed ski ascents on the world’s tallest summits. Amy Marwick caught up with him to discuss his latest expedition
Fast and
with Bene Böhm
You can’t really enjoy anything up there with minus 70% oxygen, so why not move fast? Amy Marwick: So Bene, you’ve been home for about one month since your the Himlung Himal (7,126m) in Nepal. Did all go to plan? there were couple of hiccups at the beginning… had big bike crash just before and my whole face got totally messed up. finally got on the plane, was hauled off again by the police explosion experts. was holding this hard-case satellite modem for the After that all went smoothly. was there with Prakash Sherpa, Nepalese professional climber we had such good time together. would get, to scope out the route and the conditions. There were few parts that we the summit. A couple of days later we did the speed ascent in less than 10 hours. BB: For the skiing – it’s always the first thing I’m looking for in an expedition. biggest adventure? I’d be lying if said Mount Everest wasn’t something I’d consider, but you could be at basecamp with 1,000 other totally alone we were the first people to go route for ourselves and make mistakes along the way. The first time it was perfect conditions for skiing. Grippy, firm snow with powder on Himalayas. Although, when we did the speed ascent the conditions were horrible. There had been lot of wind, so there was breakable more side slipping… What draws you to such big mountains and how do you rationalise the risk? expeditions are so remote. That real adventure and knowing you are by yourself there’s no although I’ve been challenged in the Alps just as much. try to be disciplined and my risk-taking has gone down over the years. requirements, I’ve learned to have confidence just to say, “I’m not doing today”. AM: What is about speed ascents that You can’t really enjoy anything up there with minus 70% oxygen, so why not move sports, competing from the age of 11 in crosscountry ski races, so it’s always been about speed for me. also makes sense to move It’s also spiritual experience speed is an art. You have to allow yourself to be fast. Our time here short, so for me it’s all about how also means to simplify things, to reduce complexity. You have to be so detailed to be able to move this fast. Our total weight for skis, boots, equipment, gear, drinks, food and everything was just 6kg each. What’s the most important factor when it comes to designing gear for these fast-moving ascents? about being fast, it’s about being well prepared so there’s no need to stop. You can’t run at 7,000m, but how often do you need to stop? We don’t want to interrupt the flow by taking finding that perfect state of flow and the gear has to help with that. We want our gear to facilitate the user, whatever their objective. Ski touring not an easy sport, it’s complex. You need knowledge, this clothing and equipment. There are lot of variables, but we want to reduce the complexity of the kit wherever we can to quick access to equipment when you’re up against the clock. My favourite is the speed-touring range. We took inspiration from ski mountaineering of the Dynafit experience and our contribution to more sustainable future gear that lasts. The most sustainable product the one you How do you balance the training, planning and executing these huge expeditions alongside your work, and I’m not always on top of everything! know I’ll regret not spending enough time with the kids, but is who If you unhappy. have to get up at two or three in the morning to train for an will. It’s the biggest luxury and gift that my body and mind are still working so that GEAR READ DYNAFIT Skiing is the first thing Bene looks for in an expedition Sophie Nicholson chats to Amber Heath – Product Designer at Rab – about the British brand’s ski-specific Khroma collection Sophie Nicholson: After decades of making top-quality climbing and mountaineering apparel, Rab persuaded you guys to expand in this new snowy direction? hardwearing clothes for mountain people; and mountain people not only climb mountains, they ski them extension of our existing range. With so much expertise in our team, with excellent technologies already understanding of the mountain people as our core users, felt right to develop ski-specific range with a focus on ski SN: Every winter the Khroma collection grows and expands both in terms of popularity and series. Can you tell us what’s new in terms of apparel for winter 2023? Khroma range for winter 22/23. We are constantly learning and evolving to meet the demands of our everincorporate new technologies. So, we felt was time for an update. We have updated the fabrics used technologies have improved their most breathable range to be super durable but more lightweight, which has really fit of the whole range to tailor more accurately for the items’ end purpose. We’re also excited about the our Khroma Latok GTX jacket and pants as sustainabilty is always on our agenda. designed for ski touring. The breathability and added comfort of these shell styles make them perfect for long days touring in the mountains. These have also had an upgrade touring-specific fit. We have completed extensive consumer and user research around the fit of our ski thoroughly to provide the best freedom of movement for touring and ski mountaineering. Another addition to to offer more protection, with extra ventilation in the legs for the up, and an extra pocket on the chest large down. The women’s and men’s styles have been designed with drop-seat function to enable an easy pee solution SN: The split of male/female
THE BRAND…
when a brand is developing new range. Presumably this means the female ski touring There is a 50/50 gender split for our Khroma range. There is nothing in most, if not all of our ranges, only handful of items being unisex. We designed this range specifically with the women’s range as important as the men’s. We believe that women go wherever men go and they should and fit of kit as men do, so you’ll find each piece in the Khroma collection available in both male and female touring gloves in the range and a new Khroma pack to look The revamped Khroma range comes with new People – and that includes skiers too Ski Pack… designed for ski touring and mountaineering with snowaccess, large front avalanche pocket for your snow-safety kit, and easy-release buckle on the hip belt. diagonal carry using the base strap and the concealed top strap, or in an A-Frame using the reinforced an ice axe and helmet when using the A-Frame setup making it ideal for the ascent as well as the decent. pack is its ultra-tough Spectra fabric. Spectra fibres are 15 times stronger than steel for their relative weight, and create the highly abrasion-resistant and incredibly tough fabric. partnership with Glenmore Lodge, the Scottish National Outdoor Training Centre based in The partnership with Glenmore Lodge is such simple one because we just fit together. Our kit team are out in every day and gives professionals to work with from Us designers had the privilege to go up to Glenmore last year at the start our relationship to spend time with the guys about their kit, what they need, and the demands not only themselves but also their clients need to enable The Cairngorms great testing ground for our products as often the freezing temps are low. They have often been compared to arctic conditions and we see why! It allowed SN: How closely do you work with your sponsored athletes when comes to design and The great thing about our athlete team is the fact that they are out there testing the gear and putting it through gather information quicker on what is working and what we could improve on. Once we begin this process we stay in contact throughout the season, and asking them their thoughts on certain aspects of the design or fit. We are constantly learning through they don’t always use kit in the same way you or would as they are often adventuring in such extreme environments. AMI and Glenmore Lodge plus consumer research to support the development of our products in really well-rounded feedback process. The design and development process has to be right because at SN: And finally, what advice would you give to any talented Drop us line and tell us about yourself! We try to support our athlete team and enable them to push look for people who are not only doing this but share our values and passion for the mountains too. If you hearing from you. rab.equipment/uk 160 www.fall-line.co.uk Sophie Nicholson chats to Amber Heath – Product Designer at Rab – about the British brand’s ski-specific Khroma collection Sophie Nicholson: After decades and mountaineering apparel, Rab finally bit the ski bullet back in 2020 with the launch of the persuaded you guys to expand in this new snowy direction? AH: At our core, we make people; and mountain people not only climb mountains, they ski them too. So, Khroma was natural With so much expertise in our team, with excellent technologies already present in our range, and with true ski-specific range with focus on ski touring and big mountain days. collection grows and expands both in terms of popularity and the number of products in the AH: We have revamped the whole are constantly learning and evolving changing environment and to We have updated the fabrics used for the Latok series, as Gore-Tex technologies have improved their most but more lightweight, which has really given us the opportunity to enhance these styles. We have also updated the accurately for the items’ end purpose. introduction of recycled face fabrics to pants as sustainabilty is always on our agenda. Our new Khroma Kinetic pieces are for long days touring in the mountains. These have also had an upgrade with a new aesthetic and enhanced ski touring-specific fit. We have touring pants and have tested them thoroughly to provide the best freedom mountaineering. Another addition to the Kinetic range are the new Khroma Kinetic Bib Pants. These are designed ventilation in the legs for the up, and an extra pocket on the chest large enough to hold transceiver for the have been designed with drop-seat function to enable an easy pee solution without having to de-layer in alpine environments! SN: The split of male/female product is fairly even across the collection, which can be rare BEHIND THE BRAND…
when a brand is developing means the female ski touring market is a priority for Rab? our Khroma range. There is nothing that we make for men that we do not make for women too. You’ll also see handful of items being unisex. We designed this range specifically for ski touring and ski mountaineering go wherever men go and they should be able to do that in the same quality versions with the fit tailored to each. touring gloves in the range and a new Khroma pack to look forward to this season. Tell us With so much expertise in our team it felt right to develop a ski touring-specific range The revamped Khroma range high-tech fabrics and features People – AH: Our new Khroma pack comes in two volumes, a 22 and 30L, and is mountaineering with snowshedding Tri-Flex carry system and back panel entry to the pack for easy for your snow-safety kit, and easy-release buckle on the hip belt. The pack can be set up for the concealed top strap, or in an A-Frame using the reinforced compression straps. You can also carry One of the coolest things about the pack is its ultra-tough Spectra fabric. than steel for their relative weight, and on the Khroma pack are woven into ripstop grid with Cordura Nylon to incredibly tough fabric. SN: You recently signed a partnership with Glenmore Outdoor Training Centre based in the Cairngorms. Tell us a bit more about this… we just fit together. Our kit designed for exactly the weather the team are out in every day and gives professionals to work with from design and development perspective, which incredible. up to Glenmore last year at the start our relationship to spend time with the guides and partners. We spoke the and the demands not only themselves them to perform their best in the ground for our products as often the wind chill and precipitation is high and freezing temps are low. They have conditions and we see why! It allowed us to gain really in-depth research. with your sponsored athletes when comes to design and development of product ranges? team is the fact that they are out there testing the gear and putting it through its paces every day, which helps us on. Once we begin this process we stay in contact throughout the season, often getting them to test prototypes and asking them their thoughts on We are constantly learning through them, but it needs to be balance, as they don’t always use kit in the same adventuring in such extreme We also use our test teams the consumer research to support the development of our products in addition to the athletes this allows for process. The design and development process has to be right because at times our products can be lifeline. would you give to any talented young ski mountaineers looking for a spot on your athlete team? yourself! We try to support our athlete team and enable them to push the boundaries of their sport and we doing this but share our values and passion for the mountains too. If you tick these boxes we’re always open to WINA FULLY CATERED CHALET BREAK TO AVORIAZ, FRANCE HOW TO ENTER: FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CHALET BREAK WITH SKI WEEKENDS HEAD TO FALL-LINE.CO.UK BY 5 JANUARY, 2023 WORTH £2,340 W e’ve teamed up with the number one chalet operator in Avoriaz – aka the wicked crew at Ski Weekends – to give away four-night fully catered chalet break for two in this awesomely snowy haven in the Portes du Soleil. Why four nights? Because it maximises your time on the slopes, with limited time off work. Ski Weekends are experts in organising short break ski trips to the Alps – they’ve been doing it for over 30 years! All their trips are designed to ensure you get the most time possible on the slopes you ski on the day you arrive, and the day you depart. So, what’s included? ❆ Return shared transfers from Geneva airport ❆ Four nights’ accommodation at Ski Weekends chalet in Avoriaz ❆ A scrummy breakfast each day ❆ Afternoon tea and homemade cake after your day on the slopes ❆ Three-course evening meal with unlimited wine (served on three nights) ❆ Friendly chalet host on hand to ensure you make the most of your ski break ❆ Bag storage and changing rooms available so you can ski on your arrival and departure day. Sound pretty spesh? You need to be in it to win it folks, so pop on over to our website and enter now! COMPETITION
BEHIND
RAB
RAB
Dates and issues
ISSUE 189 − OCTOBER 2023
Let’s Go Skiing − Season Planner
Inspiring skiers to buy kit and book holidays. Including: ski season planner, epic ski challenges, ski fitness, and must-have gear for 2024.
On sale: 12 October Artwork by: 21 September
ISSUE 190 − NOVEMBER 2023
2023 Gear Guide
Our bumper annual ski geeks’ bible, showcasing handpicked, tried-and-tested products, from skis and boots, to helmets and avi bags. Plus expert buying advice and interviews with key industry players.
On sale: 9 November Artwork by: 19 October
ISSUE 191 − DECEMBER 2023
Resort Travel Issue
Covering everything in-resort, from the best high-mileage resorts in the Alps, to piste and park technique tips. Gear: the hottest piste, all-mountain and freestyle kit for 2024.
On sale: 14 December Artwork by: 23 November
ISSUE 192 – FEBRUARY 2024
Powder & Backcountry Issue
All things off-piste, from lift-accessed powder to hut-to-hut touring trips, including expert safety advice from our Backcountry Editor. Gear: the hottest freeride and backcountry kit for 2024.
On sale: 1 February Artwork by: 11 January
ISSUE 193 – SPRING 2024
Summer Adventure Issue
Inspiring skiers to hit the mountains in the summer, featuring hiking, wild swimming, trail running, mountain biking, SUP, climbing and camping.
On sale: 9 May Artwork by: 20 April
2023/24
PRINT ADVERTISING RATES
Full colour page £1,450
Double-page spread £2,450
Half page £750
Quarter page £450
Eighth page £275
Outside back cover £3,300
Inside front DPS £3,300
Inside back cover £2,200
Sponsorship/advertorials £poa
Inserts £poa
AD SPACE SPECIFICATIONS
DPS Please supply as two single pages
SINGLE
Trim 210(w) x 297(h)mm Bleed 216(w) x 303(h)mm
HORIZONTAL HALF
Trim 210(w) x 143(h)mm Bleed 216(w) x 149(h)mm
VERTICAL HALF
Trim 100(w) x 297(h)mm Bleed 106(w) x 303(h)mm
QUARTER 93(w) x 133(h)mm
EIGHTH 93(w) x 64(h)mm
We will tailor a package to deliver your campaign. Series discounts available!
Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024 | Page 9
SIZE OF ADVERT RATE
Brands and manufacturers Brands and manufacturers
GOT THE KIT? LET US HELP TO SELL IT
FATMAP
Simply put, we love skiing and we take gear seriously. All of it.
From the highest end jingly jangly ski mountaineering bits to affordable jackets that will actually keep your kids warm and dry, we understand that having the right gear for your particular mission, goal and budget makes all the difference out on the mountain.
We also know that it’s not just about the skis… every issue of Fall Line is laden with info on the latest boots, bindings, backcountry accessories, snow safety kit, splitboards, telemark gear, goggles, helmets, poles, packs, avy bags, kick-ass clothing, kids gear and much, much more.
Dual purpose
If you want to have your kit featured there’s plenty of opportunity for coverage in the magazine, online and across social media including group tests, tried and tested reviews, ‘on the mountain’ live social media video reviews by our team of industry experts, Behind the Brands features, and kit lists from the pros.
When it comes to gear, our readers are just as geeky as we are!
78% of them take two or more holidays per year and they buy kit – 98% have their own boots and 92% own skis.
They know the importance of good gear and they trust our opinion.
Page 10 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
Advertorial and editorial options are available ❅ Tried & Tested ❅ Reviews ❅ Group Tests ❅ Adverts ❅ Competitions ❅ Behind the Brand ❅ Rig for the Gig ❅ Spotlight On…
Sophie Nicholson chats to Misha Gopaul – CEO and co-founder of FATMAP – the world’s leading app for mountain sports Sophie Nicholson: What is FATMAP and what makes it unique? Describing what FATMAP is to people in words is something we’ve always struggled much clearer when you just see it. FATMAP combines map, local guidebook, community and club to help you through the full experience of discovering, planning, navigating and sharing adventures. From finding the best lines on the mountain and checking live snow conditions to navigating safely without mobile connection and re-living your day, our goal is to help people have better, safer adventures in the outdoors. What makes FATMAP unique is our 3D map. We designed from the ground up specifically for the mountains. It brings together all the information you need to make your next adventure great, and presents it in way that’s really easy to understand. SN: Where are you guys based? MG: We’re team of around 50 with offices in Chamonix, Berlin, Vilnius and also working remotely all over North America and Europe. The team is made up of engineers, product experts, designers, cartographers, community managers and operations to support our fast growing community, which is now active in over 100 countries around the world. What unites us is a passion for adventure, nature and mountains. In our offices, you’ll find skis and muddy bikes instead of pingpong tables and fuzzball. We believe in living and breathing what we do to build the best experience for our community. Every year we have an annual company retreat somewhere special in the mountains and some of the best ideas have come out of our time together away from the office. SN: Tell us a bit more about the vision behind the app… One of my favourite quotes is by John Muir. He said: “Going to the mountains is going is a necessity.” think it encompasses the ambition we’ve had from the beginning. We saw that more and more people wanted to explore nature and the outdoors, but were being held back by a lack of information. In our urban lives, Google, Apple, HERE, Bing and others had built dynamic, contextual, real-time maps of the whole world in our pocket that help us find our way and make decisions every day. But in the outdoors our maps had not kept pace. They were still very technical tools needing expertise, and the best information was still very localised, fragmented and analog. Where lot of other apps were performance, we wanted to build something that put discovery and experience first. To give people confidence to explore and go on their own adventure – big or small. SN: How’s the journey been? MG: grew up in London and my background is in systems and network engineering, but was far from an expert in mapping when we started. When look back, think if knew back then what know now, we would have probably never started. We’ve been building FATMAP for nine years and most of that has been spent developing the underlying technology. We thought it would take 18 months to build the map platform, but it took around six years to get it working!
THE BRAND…
BEHIND
SN: As a non-techie kinda person, find the app easy and intuitive to use, but can’t help thinking that it must be super complex to build, integrate and update all this information 24/7 – and make it all available for offline use? Thank you. That’s great to hear! We’ve tried really hard to reduce all the complexity and build really simple experience – but it’s hard balance to strike and we still don’t always get right. There were huge challenges getting access to the right data from major satellite companies and hundreds of different sources, as well as developing the technology to combine it all into a single experience in a way that could answer the thousands of different questions people have when they’re exploring. Until we got the map working it was really more of prototype than a product, and only at this point could we properly start building the rest of the app’s functionality. I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say we’re only here because of the grit belief we held about what we were FATMAP strives inspire users The app is super easy to navigate Misha is a man on mountainous mission to make adventuring safer building and the experiences that would be possible for people when became reality. We have a Slack channel that the whole company sees that shows every piece of community feedback we get. That has been crucial, both for keeping us going when the going gets tough, and also helping us understand what people need. Somehow, in late 2019, everything finally clicked into place and the map, content and app all started working together. think we’re finally getting to the point where we can say we have a single global map for the outdoors with the very best local data. After all this time, I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about where we’re going next. planning expeditions and adventures, but can non-gnarly folk benefit from it too? This is really at the very core of our mission and a big part of our focus today. FATMAP first got known for helping people push the limits of what’s possible and go further more safely but things have come long way since then. We’ve added lots of content and functionality for casual hiking, trail running, skiing and even family adventures. Today we have people using it to find local walks or runs away from roads with the green paths on the map, cruise around their local ski resort and check the lifts, or plan their next hiking trip with the family with our ‘local expert’ guidebooks. FATMAP is really a canvas for exploration and discovery and it’s up to you to make it whatever you want Our mission is to make the outdoors more accessible to more people – to give people the confidence to explore. We want to enable anyone to way, even exploring the nature around their own backyard. SN: Making the outdoors more accessible and building a community is super important to you guys. Tell us a bit more about what you’re hoping to achieve in terms of a FATMAP community… Instead of building FATMAP as its own distinct community, we want it to be place where the different communities in our outdoor ecosystem can come together, and new ones form. The most important information is still localised and hard to find. It’s out there in the community, but there aren’t the right ways to share it efficiently and effectively in way that preserves trust and privacy. That’s partly because most of the existing digital community platforms out there are built as social networks, and that doesn’t reflect how work. They are much more orientated around location and activity preferences rather than friendships. For example, someone in my local area has probably been on a particular route or peak recently, and knowing the conditions would help me decide whether I’ll head out to do or not. the ‘community’ aspects of FATMAP, we think first about what will help reduce the friction from wanting to go outdoors to being there. To get out and keep fit, people need to find motivation, but nature usually provides all the motivation we need; instead it’s usually lack of information that holds us back. In that regard, every stakeholder in our community plays a role in helping us get out there, whether it’s to know the latest conditions, get the gear or guide us on the route. Our long-term community ambition is focused on helping people, brands, guides, stores and resorts connect seamlessly with each other. SN: The relationship between 136 www.fall-line.co.uk www.fall-line.co.uk 137 Sophie Nicholson talks to Maurizio Priano Head of Marketing at Blizzard-Tecnica, about the new freetouring Hustle collection and sustainable boots
The new Hustle collection is dedicated To find the best playgrounds, freeriders are increasingly moving away from resorts and into the backcountry Sophie Nicholson: Head of Marketing for two massive ski brands! That’s a big job more about your role and what it’s like balancing the needs of two brands simultaneously. Maurizio Priano: Marketing Manager I’m quite lucky. I’m working with one of my passions skiing – and I’m doing that with two of the most innovative brands on the market. My job is quite easy – don’t need to invent any marketing stories to make our products attractive: their quality and performance, and the testimonials of mountain professionals, tell our consumers all they need to know. Finding the strategy to make Blizzard and Tecnica coexist together, respecting their different heritage and personality, has been an interesting challenge. But, ultimately, being two specialists of their own segment, skis and ski boots, Blizzard and Tecnica are designed to work together so it’s a natural partnership. SN: Founded in Austria by a carpenter after the second world war, Blizzard now runs the fourth largest ski factory in the world. Can you tell us which other companies you guys produce skis for? MP: Our Blizzard home is something we are really proud off. It’s in Mittersill, a small village in the Austrian Alps, at the footsteps of one of the most impressive downhill runs, the Streif in Kitzbühel. Here, skiing is not a sport, it’s religion, and the art of wisely combining the best technologies with innovative designs is something that is taught advantage from this incredible knowhow. SN: From a Blizzard point of view, the biggest story for winter 2023 is the launch of the backcountry/freeride Hustle series. Tell us more about the new collection and how it came The search for untouched, perfect snow is endless. To find the best playgrounds, freeriders are increasingly moving away from resorts and into the backcountry. With no lifts, accessing this terrain is dependent on human power. Freeride skis are often too heavy to skin up for long periods, while lightweight ski touring skis often lack the playful performance that freeriders seek for The name of the new ski family says it all: Hustle. Dedicated to those diehard freeskiers drawn to big mountain terrain, who will do whatever it takes – and tour however far – to get out there and enjoy perfect ski days series combines our most innovative and light Trueblend wood core construction with Carbon D.T.R. (Dynamic Release Technology) in the centre section of the ski, to reduce weight without compromising downhill performance so that they can access to the backcountry with less effort and still have full confidence when charging. SN: The Hustle is a unisex collection –do you have any plans to bring any female-specific backcountry-freeride MP: We conducted an extensive investigation together with our Women Women (W2W) community into whether we needed to build women’s-specific version of the Hustle and freeride-backcountry skier, you have high level of skiing ability. Because of this, we felt that the needs of men and women in this bracket are already embedded in all the model sizes. For this reason, Hustle will probably be an exception within Blizzard ski collection. On the subject of the sisterhood of shred, you guys created the W2W programme back in 2015 to connect and collaborate with the global female ski community, build better products and help empower women to take control of their ski experience. How’s it all going seven years on? MP: The W2W program is stronger than ever. Our products for women – especially the Black Pearl, which has been bestseller for seven years straight – continue to be successful and more importantly are addressing the needs of women with their equipment. We are engaging on many levels with various groups of women within the skiing community with our events, content –which is both inspiring and educational – and our Scholarship Program, which aims to bring more women confidently onto the ski hill and into leadership roles. models, they don’t come more inspirational than the late Hilaree Nelson – the world’s greatest ski mountaineer who tragically died on Manaslu on the 26 September 2022. Can you share any personal memories of Hilaree? MP Hilaree Nelson was a pioneer. An inspiration and leader for women in the accomplishments are amazing and yet she was so down to earth, so approachable. She constantly worked to encourage other women up in a super-open and positive way. love this quote of hers: “It’s much easier to be something when you see a path put down by women before you.” And she has laid an incredible path for future generations SN: As skiers and ski mountaineers, we regularly see firsthand the devastating effects of climate change on the mountain environment. Can you tell us about Blizzard-Tecnica’s approach to sustainability and any significant new As father I’m terrified by the destruction of climate change we’ve seen in the last few years. The changes in the eco system are now evident everywhere. Reducing waste, energy consumption and pollution is race we cannot afford to lose so we all need to do our very best. In 2021, Tecnica launched Recycle Your Boots, with the goal to collect back and recycle old ski boots from any brand and use those regenerated raw materials to create new products, reducing plastic waste, energy consumption and CO2 emissions. As ski boot makers, we are not just responsible for designing, producing and distributing new ski boots, we’re GEAR READ BLIZZARD-TECNICA The full-gas Cochise 130 comes with Tecnica’s T-Drive technology Reduce your impact and Recycle Your Boots also responsible for keeping them in play. RYB also helps skiers become more than just consumers. It represents our commitment to do our part – and it’s a call to action to the entire ski industry. collected back and recycled 4,200 old ski boots a quantity that make us happy and optimistic for the future, especially considering that we have achieved those results with only 54 stores in the seven countries where we launched the project. By the end of the first three years of the project, we aim to fully recycle 20,000 pairs reach this quantity thanks to new territories, like the UK, and growing interest from retailers who are indispensable partners to SN: Innovation lies at the heart of both brands and we journalists are always raving about technology, such as in Tecnica’s boots. Could you briefly explain the properties of both and why they are so beneficial to skiers? MP: The Trueblend is a new type of wood woods to perfectly control the flex and the behaviour of the ski. Stringers of harder woods are more numerous in the centre of the ski, below the bindings, where you want to have more support, stability and grip; this is then gradually reduced out towards the tip and tail of the ski. This construction concept is specific for each type of ski; for example highperformance on-piste ski will have a dedicated blend of woods and a higher number of stringers compared with an all-mountain ski, and even more so than touring ski. The T-Drive is an engineered carbon connector between the cuff and the shell of the ski boot, which provides two main benefits; firstly, it eliminates undesired deformation and compression of the shell plastic, keeping the same comfort and performance independently from the temperature (softer flex plastics tend to deform under pressure when they are warmer and that can create pain points and hinder performance). Secondly, promotes more efficient transfer of power from the skier to the skis, resulting in more acceleration through the turns with less effort. SN: You work with some of the best freeriders on the planet in Leo Slemett, Marcus Caston and Elyse Saugstad. How closely do you work with these guys when comes to developing innovative new products and technologies? MP: Our athletes are always an important inspiration for us – not only the designers, but the entire team. They redefine the sport and from their gear. We work very closely with them, to understand in which direction we need to evolve our skis and boots, and to also access whether the final products meets their expectation and initial briefing. 1. Black Diamond Cirque 78 skis £700 blackdiamondequipment.com The Cirque 78 is an ultra-lightweight mountaineering ski designed for long approaches, speedy ascents and technical descents in the high alpine. Precise, damp, incredibly light and torsionally stiff, was the ideal ski for this mission. 2. Scarpa Alien 1.0 Boots £850 scarpa.co.uk Scarpa’s Aliens are a series of super-lightweight performance-oriented ski mountaineering boots. opted for the Alien 1.0 because it weighs just 785g and has a super-comfortable rubber 3. Black Diamond Vision down parka £400 blackdiamondequipment.com We knew it would get really cold during nighttime descents at high altitude, so as soon as the sun went down, threw this jacket on. Light, warm and robust, knew could rely on it in an emergency situation. 4. Julbo Fury sunglasses From £83 julbo.com With their wide cylindrical lens, these super-light sunglasses provide maximum coverage from glacial glare. They’re highly vented so they won’t fog up on sweaty ascents and are designed to fit under any helmet. 5. Black Diamond Vision helmet £90 Comfortable, breathable and durable, the Vision is a foam helmet with an ABS shell. It may not be the absolute lightest helmet around, but it’s super robust, which made ideal for this mission where would be both skiing and moving in 6.Black Diamond Stance mitts £60 blackdiamondequipment.com never leave home in winter without my Stance mitts. Perfect for chilly descents, speedy transitions and any unexpected ‘oh sh*t’ moments, they’re incredibly light and warm and do a good job keeping my Reynaud’s syndrome at bay. 7. Tingerlaat SPF 50 suncream From £12 tingerlaat.com This non-greasy sunscreen is made in the Haute-Savoie in France and provides excellent UVB and UVA protection in the high mountains. Easy to slip into pocket, it’s ideal for athletes as offers long-lasting sweat-resistant protection, doesn’t sting your eyes or leave a white layer behind after application. 8. Black Diamond Couloir harness £75 blackdiamondequipment.com This lightweight packable harness weighs just 215g but it’s still super comfortable to wear, even when rapelling. It’s easy to put on and remove while wearing skis or crampons, and has two webbing loops for storing ice screws, slings and all the other kit you need when operating in glaciated terrain. 9. Food £various Arguably the most important element of any endurance mission! used a combination of energy and ‘real’ food – aka Moon Valley bars, Trail Butter, Clif Shot Bloks and then pizza, potatoes, sweet potatoes and chips. Basically as many calories as could possibly consume. 10. Black Diamond Icon 700 headlamp £95 blackdiamondequipment.com With a brilliant 700 lumens of power, this superbright headlamp is ideal for nighttime glacier navigation. comes with a host of features for multi-day adventures, not least the removable battery pack, which you can stow in your jacket to keep warm and help preserve power. bentibbetts.com/the-traverse-film TRIED & TRUSTED GEAR FOR THE SPEEDIEST OF MOUNTAIN MISSIONS www.fall-line.co.uk www.fall-line.co.uk 83 1 2 3 9 10 5 6 7 8 “The Haute Route is classic ski traverse from Chamonix in France (at the foot of Mont Blanc) to Zermatt in Switzerland, at the foot of the Matterhorn. The route crosses nearly 110km, with about 8,100m of vertical gain. While a men’s record on the route had been established, beaten, re-set and re-beaten, no women had ever done the traverse in one go. “My ski partner, Valentine Fabre, and I had both been drawn to the route for several years and teamed up for a first women’s attempt in March 2021. We were unsure if we would make it, but hoped our attempt would inspire other women to push their own limits in the mountains. Our gear would have big bearing on our chances of success, so we went for the fastest, lightest and most reliable kit possible.” 1. Black Diamond Cirque 78 skis £700 blackdiamondequipment.com The Cirque 78 is an ultra-lightweight mountaineering ski designed for long approaches, speedy ascents and technical descents in the high alpine. Precise, damp, incredibly light and torsionally stiff, it was the ideal ski for this mission. 2. Scarpa Alien 1.0 Boots £850 scarpa.co.uk Scarpa’s Aliens are a series of super-lightweight performance-oriented ski mountaineering boots. opted for the Alien 1.0 because weighs just 785g and has super-comfortable rubber 3. Black Diamond Vision down parka £400 blackdiamondequipment.com We knew would get really cold during nighttime descents at high altitude, so soon as the sun went down, threw this jacket on. Light, warm and robust, knew could rely on in an emergency situation. 4. Julbo Fury sunglasses From £83 julbo.com With their wide cylindrical lens, these super-light sunglasses provide maximum coverage from glacial glare. They’re highly vented so they won’t fog up sweaty ascents and are designed to under any helmet. 5. Black Diamond Vision helmet £90 Comfortable, breathable and durable, the Vision is a foam helmet with an ABS shell. It may not be the absolute lightest helmet around, but it’s super robust, which made it ideal for this mission where would be both skiing and moving in 6.Black Diamond Stance mitts £60 blackdiamondequipment.com never leave home in winter without my Stance mitts. Perfect for chilly descents, speedy transitions and any unexpected ‘oh sh*t’ moments, they’re incredibly light and warm and do good job keeping my Reynaud’s syndrome at bay. 7. Tingerlaat SPF 50 suncream From £12 tingerlaat.com This non-greasy sunscreen is made in the Haute-Savoie in France and provides excellent UVB and UVA protection in the high mountains. Easy to slip into a pocket, it’s ideal for athletes as it offers long-lasting sweat-resistant protection, doesn’t sting your eyes or leave a white layer behind after application. 8. Black Diamond Couloir harness £75 blackdiamondequipment.com This lightweight packable harness weighs just 215g but it’s still super comfortable to wear, even when rapelling. It’s easy to put on and remove while wearing skis or crampons, and has two webbing loops for storing ice screws, slings and all the other kit you need when operating in glaciated terrain. 9. Food £various Arguably the most important element of any endurance mission! used combination of energy and ‘real’ food – aka Moon Valley bars, Trail Butter, Clif Shot Bloks and then pizza, potatoes, sweet potatoes and chips. Basically as many calories as could possibly consume. 10. Black Diamond Icon 700 headlamp £95 blackdiamondequipment.com With a brilliant 700 lumens of power, this superbright headlamp is ideal for nighttime glacier navigation. It comes with host of features for multi-day adventures, not least the removable battery pack, which you can stow in your jacket to keep warm and help preserve power. bentibbetts.com/the-traverse-film HILLARY GERARDI Born in the US, but resident in the Chamonix valley, Hillary is mountain endurance athlete and environmental activist specialising in ski mountaineering and technical mountain running. She blasted Dr Valentine Fabre she established a women’s speed record on the Haute Route with time of 26 hours and 21 minutes. TRIED & TRUSTED GEAR FOR THE SPEEDIEST OF MOUNTAIN MISSIONS When you’re on a speedy endurance mission, only the fastest, lightest gear will do Our gear would have a big bearing, so we went for the fastest, lightest and most reliable kit possible www.fall-line.co.uk www.fall-line.co.uk 83 This month: Mountain endurance athlete Hillary Gerardi outlines her gear of choice for her record-breaking Haute Route traverse RIG GIG FOR THE Speed demon 1 2 3 9 10 4 5 6 7 8
business,
tailor our promotional opportunities to suit.
following pages include details about how we work with: ❆ Brands and manufacturers ❆ Retail outlets ❆ The travel and tourism industry
Whatever your line of
we can
The
If your business doesn’t fit into one of these categories then please get in touch, we’d love to tailor a specific package for you.
SELLING STUFF IN STORE? WE’LL HELP GET SKIERS THROUGH THE DOOR
Who we reach and how you benefit…
Whether you are a large chain of stores with good brand awareness or a small retail outlet keeping your locals well kitted out we can help promote your shop both in the magazine and online. If you sell online as well as in store then it’s even more important to achieve front of mind awareness amongst skiers who are ready to spend.
Fall Line readers are keen and with 98% owning their own ski boots and 92% their own skis they are already fully aware of the advantages of owning their own kit, ready to be sold on the benefits of buying from you next time.
We promote a Buy British policy and list all UK Snowsports retailers in our directory, both in the magazine and online. This is a free listing and for a small charge each season we will enhance your listing to include your logo and a sales message and link online to stand out when skiers are looking for a retailer to visit in person or online.
Advertorial and editorial options are available.
Perfect setups
Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024 | Page 11
162 www.fall-line.co.uk ACTIVE SNOWSPORTS activesnowsports.com 01473 487474 Suffolk Ski Centre, Ipswich ABSOLUTE SNOW absolute-snow.co.uk 01442 232154 Watford, Herts ALPINE ROOM alpineroom.co.uk 01245 223563 Danbury, Essex ANYTHING TECHNICAL skiequipmentuk.co.uk 01539 734701 Kendal, Cumbria ATTWOOLLS attwoolls.co.uk 01452 742233 Gloucester BAC OUTDOORS LEISURE bac-e.com 01422 371146 Elland, West Yorkshire BACKCOUNTRY UK backcountryuk.com 01943 816011 Ilkley, West Yorkshire banksofperth.co.uk 01738 624928 Perth, Scotland Being dedicated skiers we pride ourselves in our specialist ski boot fitting, full shell adaptation, liner moulding and custom insoles. Wide range of skis, boots and clothing all widely tried and tested. Full ski workshop in store, on site servicing. BIG DICK’S BOARDSTORE B dicksboardstore.co.uk 0114 279 7909 Sheffield, South Yorkshire BLUES THE SKI SHOP tiso.com/blues 0131 554 9101 Scotland (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness & Perth) BOARDWISE boardwise.com 0131 229 5887 Cannock & Edinburgh braemar@braemarmountainsports. com 01339 741242 Braemar, Scotland With three shops in the Cairngorms National Park, our Aviemore & Braemar stores specialise in telemark, alpine and nordic touring equipment, while Aviemore has a wide selection of specialist climbing equipment and ice tools. Our shops provide a relaxed and welcoming environment in which customers can browse around whilst dreaming of their next adventure. Then check out all of our products online at braemarmountainsports.com cairngorm@ braemarmountainsports.com 01479 810 903 Aviemore, Scotland CARTERS carters360.com 0118 959 9022 Reading, Berkshire COYOTI SKI & SNOWBOARD coyoti.com 01446 775778 Vale of Glamorgan, Wales countryside.co.uk 01438 353086 Stevenage, Herts As one of the oldest independent ski shops in the UK, Countryside Ski & Climb are dedicated to bringing you the best gear with unmatched customer service. Offering expert fitting and advice on all things ski, with gear from leading brands such as Patagonia, Salomon, Hestra and Helly Hansen. Prepare for your next adventure with Countryside Ski & Climb. craigdonmountainsports.com 01467 625855/0131 445 7711/ 01224 62433/01463 248600/ 01738 631006 Inverurie, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Perth Scotland’s largest independent ski retailer with five locations throughout Scotland. We pride ourselves on our friendly service and expertise, offering a wide range of ski equipment and clothing, including custom boot fitting and ski touring departments. DEVON SKI CENTRE devonski.co.uk 01626 833356 Newton Abbot, Devon DEVINE RIDE devineride.co.uk 0121 4231160 Halesowen, West Midlands ellis-brigham.com 0800 035 6483 mail.order@ellis-brigham.com Nationwide The UK’s largest and most established ski retailer with 27 stores nationwide. Stockists of the largest range of men’s and women’s ski and boot brands, including Atomic, Salomon and Rossignol. Try before you buy today at finchesemporium.com 020 8699 6768 Forest Hill, London Finches are the only independent ski & snowboard store in London run by the same family since 1947. Our vast store is packed with huge range of equipment, clothing & accessories & backed up by experts who will help you with your selection FLUID LINES fluid-lines.co.uk 01206 545533 Colchester FREEZE PRO SHOP freezeproshop.com 0131 2609677 Edinburgh, Scotland hikeandride.co.uk 07719 315301 info@hikeandride.co.uk London Bringing the ski shop to your doorstep, anywhere in the UK. Specialising in custom ski boot fitting, with simple, old fashioned, one to one customer service. We’re totally mobile business, stocking the best kit, from the biggest brands in the industry, all backed by our Comfort Fit Guarantee. HORACE BARTON & SON horacebarton.co.uk 01242 516772 Cheltenham, Glos LD MOUNTAIN CENTRE ldmountaincentre.com Newcastle, Tyne & Wear LOCKWOODS lockwoods.com 01926 339388 Leamington Spa, Warks LOVE & PISTE loveandpiste.co.uk 01509 853944 Loughborough, Leics MAGIC TOAST B magictoast.com 0116 2124262 Leicester, Leics NEVISPORT nevisport.com Nationwide PROFEET profeet.co.uk 0207 736 0046 London ROUTE ONE routeone.co.uk Nationwide rivingtonalpine.co.uk 01257 483999 Adlington, Lancs Specialising in service and knowledge for ski hardware. We’re Masterfit graduate fitters, and have a fully equipped boot lab with fit guarantee. We have ski tested extensively and can provide you with excellent, first hand advice for ski purchasing and on-site servicing. Hardware is our thing. Oh and Jägermeister, don’t forget the Jägermeister! B Snowboard stockist RETAILERS’ DIRECTORY 162 FL176 SIGB hm ni nl ni2 NL.indd 162 15/10/2020 15:56 FOR A FULL LIST OF SIGB RETAIL MEMBERS HEAD TO SIGB.ORG.UK SAIL AND SKI sailandski.co.uk 01244 401449 Chester, Cheshire SCOOTER & SKI scooterandski.co.uk 0117 970 1356 Bristol SKEE-TEX skee-tex.co.uk 01268 768282 Essex skibartlett.com 0208 848 0040 info@skibartlett.com Uxbridge, West London Bringing you the most comprehensive range of skis and boots in the UK, combined with over 50 years of specialist expertise and friendly, helpful advice. Our goal is to help you choose the correct equipment to improve your skiing. We are custom boot fitting specialists, and Ski Industries of Great Britain official ski testers. We are also a World Snow Awards winner. SKI EXCHANGE skiexchange.co.uk 01954 210984 Cambridge, Cambs THE SKI SHOP theski-shop.co.uk 01732 464463 Sevenoaks, Kent snowandrock.com 0845 100 1000 Nationwide We offer huge range of ski, snow and climbing clothing and equipment from the world’s best brands. snowlab.co.uk 01323 848410 Hailsham, East Sussex Snow Lab is an independent specialist winter sports store based in East Sussex. We are committed to bringing you the best products available to the winter sports industry. We offer a comprehensive custom boot fitting service, only using experienced and knowledgeable fitters to maximise your comfort and performance. Snow Lab has an onsite workshop for all your servicing needs. We also hire quality ski and snowboard equipment. Please see our website for more details. SNOW TOGS skishops.co.uk 023 807 73925 Southampton, Hants SNOWEAR snowear.co.uk 01892 517807 Tunbridge Wells, Kent snowfit.co.uk 01603 716655 info@snowfit.co.uk Norwich, Norfolk Snowfit/Revolutionz, looking after skiers and snowboarders since 1998. Our dedicated staff have wide range of expertise. Our huge choice of skis, snowboards and boots includes a specialist Ski and Snowboard Touring Department. On-site boot fitting, Physio Clinic and ski/snowboard servicing workshops make Snowfit/Revolutionz your one-stop wintersports specialists. SNOWTRAX snowtraxstore.co.uk 01202 499155 Christchurch, Dorset SOLUTIONS 4 FEET solutions4feet.com 01869 244424 Bicester, Oxfordshire SUBVERT subvertboardstore.com 0161 7476066 Castleford & Manchester SUFFOLK SKI CENTRE suffolkskicentre.co.uk 01473 487474 Ipswich, Suffolk thebootbus.co.uk 07792 199099 thebootbus@outlook.com Kent The Boot Bus is a one-stop ski shop, providing all you need from an alpine stockist at a time and location that suits you best. With our mobile service we visit you to service skis, fit boots and everything in between. Covering the South-East UK & more! THE OUTDOOR STORE braemarmountainsports.com 01339 753878 Ballater, Scotland THE SNOWBOARD ASYLUM B ellis-brigham.com 01827 59047 Tamworth, Staffs (The Snowdome) TRESPASS trespass.com Nationwide tallingtonlakesproshop.com 01778 347000 sales@tallington.com Tallington, Lincolnshire Est 1975. An independent ski and snowboard retailer, with years of experience. Large selection of quality products in store and online. Expert boot fitting service. On-site dry ski slope and equipment servicing workshop. Advertise your business here and be seen by the kind of folk who view shopping for skis, boots, helmets and kit as serious stuff. Fall-Line’s esteemed ad manager Rich is the guy who can make the magic happen. For details email him on sales@fall-line.co.uk VENTURA venturaski.co.uk 01942 717971 St Helens, Merseyside WHITE STONE white-stone.co.uk Harrogate, North Yorkshire 162 FL176 SIGB hm ni nl ni2 NL.indd 163 15/10/2020 15:56 Retail outlets Fall Line represents the aspirations of the UK snowsports scene. The inspirational content and immersive imagery ensure it is as relevant today as when the first copy came out 30 years ago MARK BRIGHAM, ELLIS BRIGHAM www.fall-line.co.uk 21 GEAR READ SET UP FOR SUCCESS Freeride is the meeting of the alpine and backcountry categories, a fluid transition between fixed bindings, powerful skis and heavier boots into equipment built for going up as well as down with releasable heels, walk modes and different flex patterns. Where you sit within this mix affects the exact gear you need. More power, more lifts used, and faster downhill speeds means heavier kit; more time spent exploring away from lifts requires lighter equipment and more versatility. Thankfully there is something for everyone, but compatibility is crucial, especially between ski and binding to make sure they function safely. ❄ COMMON MISTAKES If you want a freeride ski then it’s time to think of it as a second pair (or possibly more). Don’t buy something for epic conditions but try to also make it an everyday piste option –that’s what all-mountain models are for. Freeride is about pushing the boundary a bit further; yes, they can still rip on groomed runs, but focus on models that shine in soft and deeper snow. At the same time, do be realistic about where you’re going to use the kit and think about your own specific requirements. It’s all too easy to dream of bottomless, feather-light powder and want that 120mm+ waist ski when actually the right gear is more rounded (aka not quite as wide), and the likely conditions are boot or knee-deep when you do find it. ❄ EXPERT ADVICE Think hard about what the right binding will be for what you’re doing now and what you aim to achieve. If the reality is mainly lift-served skiing, then you don’t need pin binding – maybe an alpine or hybrid model will be what you want. Speak to an expert to go through the options and get it right, because isn’t straightforward. ❄ DON’T BE TEMPTED TO… Buy boots based solely on what is written and talked about as the ‘new, exciting gear’. Do your research and understand the features you need, compatibility and rough weight, but do also work with your boot fitter, listen to your feet, and ignore your eyes. ❄ MAKE SURE YOU… Buy some skins if you’re getting a binding with a tour function. If you don’t then you have either wasted the potential or just bought the wrong item in the first place. Factor them into your budget as well as a compatible ski crampon. FREERIDE Alpine is easily the biggest category and is often split further into Race, Piste and All-Mountain, with All-Mountain itself being bit of a monster selection that covers a range of products. What binds all this together is fixed bindings, the use of lifts and plenty of pistes, although this doesn’t mean skiing only groomed snow, as plenty of alpine skiers spend a lot of time off-piste too. Generally, the boots will be fixed, though walk mode options are making something of a return – this gives them stiffer spines for better support and energy transmission. The bindings will not have tour modes, so power transfer is more direct and, as there are less parts, they’ll be significantly cheaper. The skis will be narrower for faster edge changes, and generally stiffer compared to similar ability skis in other categories, as this provides more response and control. ❄ COMMON MISTAKES Probably the biggest mistake people make when buying alpine gear is overestimating their abilities or use expectations i.e. saying they ski black runs, when in fact they might have skied one run black run and they actually have much more fun cruising blues and reds. The key to happy gear purchasing is selecting the right shape and flex of boot and choosing skis that match your ability, size, skiing style, terrain preference and aspirations. Somewhat contrary to the above, don’t be afraid to get equipment that is pitched slightly better than you think you currently are. Having your own gear will help you improve faster than you expect, and having something to push you a little will also last longer. The only exception to this if you are truly content at the level you ski. ❄ DON’T BE TEMPTED TO… Buy your boots online – as the cliché goes, the internet can not fit your ski boots. Visit a shop with a proper selection of fits and trained boot fitters – will make selecting the correct model so much easier, which in turn will make you ski better and more comfortably, and ultimately have more fun. Having bought from a shop you can also get any adjustments done, either during fitting or even after skiing in them. ❄ MAKE SURE YOU… Think about how and where you ski and match your ski gear to that. Buy once, buy right. Dream Setup Nordica Belle DC 72 Salomon S/PRO ALPINE www.fall-line.co.uk 21 Happy gear purchases are all about compatibility, say the ski hardware pros and expert buyers at Ellis Brigham Here they explain how to avoid mistakes when pairing gear to ensure you have your dream setup for ripping this winter
GEAR READ SET UP FOR SUCCESS Do your research, consult the experts and you’ll land on your feet Freeride is the meeting of the alpine and backcountry categories, a fluid transition between fixed bindings, powerful skis and heavier boots into equipment built for going up as well as down with releasable heels, walk modes and different flex patterns. Where you sit within this mix affects the exact gear you need. More power, more lifts used, and faster downhill speeds means heavier kit; more time spent exploring away from lifts requires lighter equipment and more versatility. Thankfully there is something for everyone, but compatibility is crucial, especially between ski and binding to make sure they function safely. ❄ COMMON MISTAKES If you want a freeride ski then it’s time to think of it as a second pair (or possibly more). Don’t buy something for epic conditions but try to also make it an everyday piste option –that’s what all-mountain models are for. Freeride is about pushing the boundary a bit further; yes, they can still rip on groomed runs, but focus on models that shine in soft and deeper snow. At the same time, do be realistic about where you’re going to use the kit and think about your own specific requirements. It’s all too easy to dream of bottomless, feather-light powder and want that 120mm+ waist ski when actually the right gear is more rounded (aka not quite as wide), and the likely conditions are boot or knee-deep when you do find it. ❄ EXPERT ADVICE Think hard about what the right binding will be for what you’re doing now and what you aim to achieve. the reality is mainly lift-served skiing, then you don’t need a pin binding – maybe an alpine or hybrid model will be what you want. Speak to an expert to go through the options and get it right, because it isn’t straightforward. ❄ DON’T BE TEMPTED TO… Buy boots based solely on what is written and talked about as the ‘new, exciting gear’. Do your research and understand the features you need, compatibility and rough weight, but do also work with your boot fitter, listen to your feet, and ignore your eyes. Buy some skins if you’re getting a binding with a tour function. If you don’t then you have either wasted the potential or just bought the wrong item in the first place. Factor them into your budget as well as a compatible ski crampon. FREERIDE Alpine is easily the biggest category and is often split further into Race, Piste and All-Mountain, with All-Mountain itself being a bit of a monster selection that covers range of products. What binds all this together is fixed bindings, the use of lifts and plenty of pistes, although this doesn’t mean skiing only groomed snow, as plenty of alpine skiers spend a lot of time off-piste too. Generally, the boots will be fixed, though walk mode options are making something of a return – this gives them stiffer spines for better support and energy transmission. The bindings will not have tour modes, so power transfer is more direct and, as there are less parts, they’ll be significantly cheaper. The skis will be narrower for faster edge changes, and generally stiffer compared to similar ability skis in other categories, as this provides more response and control. ❄ COMMON MISTAKES Probably the biggest mistake people make when buying alpine gear is overestimating their abilities or use expectations i.e. saying they ski black runs, when in fact they might have skied one run black run and they actually have much more fun cruising blues and reds. The key to happy gear purchasing is selecting the right shape and flex of boot and choosing skis that match your ability, size, skiing style, terrain preference and aspirations. ❄ EXPERT ADVICE Somewhat contrary to the above, don’t be afraid to get equipment that is pitched slightly better than you think you currently are. Having your own gear will help you improve faster than you expect, and having something to push you a little will also last longer. The only exception to this if you are truly content at the level you ski. ❄ DON’T BE TEMPTED TO… Buy your boots online – as the cliché goes, the internet can not fit your ski boots. Visit a shop with a proper selection of fits and trained boot fitters – it will make selecting the correct model so much easier, which in turn will make you ski better and more comfortably, and ultimately have more fun. Having bought from a shop you can also get any adjustments done, either during fitting or even after skiing in them. Think about how and where you ski and match your ski gear to that. Buy once, buy right. Dream Setup ALPINE
Travel and Tourism industry
ARE YOU TAKING PEOPLE PLACES? WE’LL PUSH THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION PROMOTE YOUR DESTINATION
Fall Line readers are known for seeking out new resorts and mountains. 78% of Fall Line readers take two or more trips each season and as well as returning to tried-and-trusted favourites, they love to explore. A recent industry survey (see below) showed that magazines are a highly trusted source of inspiration for ski holidays. Our own annual surveys have consistently found that Fall Line readers are inspired to visit new destinations by what they read and see in our pages.
We can offer imaginative campaigns across both print and digital platforms to promote your destination, accommodation and/or form of transport to our readers.
As well as traditional branded ads we can target skiers through our carefully thought-out destinationfocused features – such as In Search of Powder, Ski Journal and Sluff.
If you have a particular athlete or personality with links to your brand then more opportunities exist with interview features such as 15 minutes with or My Mountain. These will showcase your destination in a very positive style.
Competitions are always very popular and particularly those with holiday prizes. If you can provide accommodation, transport or an all expenses paid holiday then this would receive plenty of attention while building awareness of your resort or your brand (see page 8 for more details).
LISTEX.CO.UK SURVEY RESULTS, WINTER 2020
Overall, 33% of respondents noted magazines as a source of ideas and inspiration for ski holidays. This compared to 21% for email, 20% for newspapers, 16% for Facebook, 15% for Ski Shows and 14% for Instagram.
Overall, 49% of respondents noted magazines as being an important source of advice and ideas for ski holidays
This compared to 37% for email, 27% for newspapers, 24% for Facebook, 32% for Ski Shows and 21% for Instagram.
Overall, 35% of respondents noted magazines as being a highly trusted source of information and advice about ski holidays. This compared to 20% for email, 25% for newspapers, 10% for Facebook, 36% for Ski Shows and 10% for Instagram and 5% for Twitter.
IN SEARCH OF POWDER
AND
WELCOME TO THE
GONDOLA
Page 12 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
16 www.fall-line.co.uk SLUFF IN DEEP There’ll always be tips and tricks, strategies and plans, getting up earlier and earlier. But wouldn’t it be nice to saunter out, sans competition, and effortlessly ski powder all day without care in the world? No queues, no rushing, no stress. Here’s how. AMIHARI ONSEN, JAPAN BEST FOR: SOUL SKIING The north of Japan is studded with options for big snow and small crowds; with Iwate prefecture’s Amihari hard to beat if you’re seeking the ultimate in no-one-around soul skiing. Think under dozen marked runs and just four chairlifts clunking away above a usually deserted car park. Yes, only couple of the faces exceed 35 degrees, but the trees and sidecountry are sufficiently good to ensure this is place that stays with you. And in my case haunts me whenever I’m in some mega-resort not getting nearly as much powder or enjoyment as should. The single, excellent hotel at the base (the Amihari Onsen, obviously!) makes things easy too. Think traditional tatami rooms, communal bathing in the volcanic springs, superb seafood and homemade ice cream (with the Japanese almost as obsessed with gelato as they are with the healing properties of geothermal water). WARTH-SCHRÖCKEN, AUSTRIA BEST FOR: AMOUNT OF SNOW Where?! But how can you resist two tiny, linked villages in upper Bregenzerwald (that’s western Austria to you and me) that number just over 500 permanent inhabitants, yet claim over 10.5m of powder every year? Yes, you did read that right, making it the snowiest place in the Alps. While just as promising is the fact that ski numbers are kept down (versus busy neighbours like St Anton) simply because despite being connected to the mighty Ski Arlberg (77 lifts and 302km of piste) Warth-Schrocken is only joined to Lech, and even then it’s by a single not-that-easy to reach gondola, the Auenfeldjet. Yes, on the negative side the vert’s fine rather than majestic (with most of the runs under lifts like the Jageralp Express and Salober Jet offering only 500m or so of fall) but given the mega snowfall stats, who cares? STEAMBOAT, USA BEST FOR: TERRAIN A leftfield choice you might think, but while toyed with including less-celebrated Colorado bangers like Monarch and Wolf Creek, couldn’t quite get beyond all the brilliant days and sheer number of storms I’ve enjoyed on this 300-inches-of-snow-per-season mountain. And scrolling through the memory banks realise it’s never let me down. Not once. No monster queues, no hellish elbow sharpening for the best lines, just pow-pow-pow, smile-smile-smile. Yes, the 2,965-acre, 17-lift area is miles from being secret spot (and who knows what changes their latest expansion plan will bring), but for now it remains impossible to beat. SARIKAMIS, TURKEY BEST FOR: VALUE This may seem another strange option, largely because it’s Turkey. But the infrastructure is excellent and modern, there’s plenty of decent accommodation at the base, and lift passes are absurdly cheap (at under £15 a day). Contrary to what most skiers assume, Anatolia beats plenty of Europe for snowfall too. You just need to head to the right place at the right time – with Sarikamis in February the smart pick. The light, open trees that pepper the mountain echo the best of Hokkaido – while, well, how to put this? There are not many decent skiers around. So you will have anything even vaguely advanced to yourselves. And during our visit early last year, we saw precisely no one off-piste or in the sidecountry. Nada. Just us. For hours. MADESIMO, ITALY BEST FOR: SCENERY It’s a mystery why this spot in the Valchiavenna region, tight to the Swiss border, is not more known, and skied. And it’s long been favourite of Fall Line publisher Dickie, thanks to its pretty village, good value (welcome to Italy) and decent snow record (which can push 4m season). Crucially, many of the wealthy Milanese who own apartments here keep them for weekend use, rather than renting them out to visiting hoi-polloi, meaning mid-week can be joyously quiet. We say, wait for the powder klaxon to sound, make an Easyjet dash for Milan Linate (two hours by car) and fill your boots via the numerous off-piste (and glorious, sweeping pistes) that flow from the top cable car station, the 2,948m Pizzo Groppera. There are no-hiking, no-hassle couloirs from here too, with slots like Fiammifero – the matchstick – just waiting to be conquered. CAUTERETS, FRANCE BEST FOR: QUALITY OF SNOW The reason this Pyrenean spa town makes the list is that when it’s good here, it’s really good – thanks to the area being notorious for the sort of cold, dry pow you usually only get in Utah. Think storm-nothing-storm (very US), rather than regular top-ups, so it’s one to book late after following the weather. But with so many skiers out-of-hand dismissing the area (versus the Alps), you have that flex, while town to slopes could not be easier. Hop in the gondola for 12-minute ride above the trees to the north-east facing Cirque du Lys, with its 36km of piste and two-dozen runs. The highest chair is not very high, topping out below the Soum de Grum, at shade over 2,400m. But before shaking your head, just think of all that cold smoke. Because when it’s on here, it’s pure can’t-feel-the-bottom velvet. CASTLE MOUNTAIN, CANADA BEST FOR: AUTHENTICITY ‘We believe in dry powder’ shouts Alberta’s snowiest spot (354in per annum). ‘Not run by accountants working for some mega-corporation’ the mountain’s workmanlike website confirms. Best support them then, we say! And having been, it really is just as you may have gleaned from that far from subtle introduction. A little raw, but when things are pumping… it’s nothing less than exceptional. And who needs chi-chi restaurants when you’ve got eight linked bowls and a handful of solid chairs and T-bars to take you there. At 3,500 acres it feels big enough, packed with epic fall lines and double-diamonds below the Skyline ski lodge to ensure first dibs on powder days. Italy = ace. Markus Eder, opposite, on There’s no better recipe than plenty of snow, and few skiers trying to grab it. Jonny Richards picks his favourite spots for getting deep without the crowds
Wait for the powder klaxon to sound, make an EasyJet dash to Milan Linate, and fill your boots www.fall-line.co.uk 17 Paddles and powder in the Finnmark Alps on Norway’s northernmost shores
EASY POW!
FACESHOTS Land ahoy: let the ski adventures begin W slipped across a dead-calm fjord like a tiny fleet of benign torpedos streaking across mirror. The silence was punctured only by our paddles and the occasional chuckle as we reflected on the surreal serenity of our adopted mode of transport – surely the most unlikely any of us had ever deployed en route to skiing. We were in kayaks barely wider than our bums, wearing an extra layer of Gore-Tex over our ski clothes: dry suits in case we capsized with excitement. As far as the eye could see in every direction, steep mountains streaked with couloirs pierced the sky, their upside-down twins reflected on the water like dreamy ski kaleidoscope. We were in the Finnmark Alps on Norway’s northernmost shores. Well inside the Arctic Circle but, thanks to the tail of the Gulf Stream, in mid-May the temperatures were akin to the Alps in March. Just to the south-west lie the Lyngen Alps whose popularity as ski touring destination has sky rocketed in the past decade, with over 50 ‘sail and ski’ boats operating out of Troms and luxury lodges proliferating on land. But Finnmark a little harder to get to but no less spectacular – remains almost entirely undiscovered by outsiders. Almost. We were here, and we were discovering, thanks to Fred Buttard, the founder of Upguides, a collective of French and Scandinavian mountain guides working together on various projects here in Norway and across the globe, with whom I’d had great skiing in France’s little-known Maurienne Valley some years prior. Fred’s approach to ski adventures can best be described as immersive. And so in 2008, while the boat charters and luxury lodges went left, jostling for space in Lyngen, he instead went right – to Finnmark – and set about crafting authentic ski adventures in partnership with the local FJORDS
20 www.fall-line.co.uk I ’m not sure whether I should be peering out of the window at the impressive Eiger that seems within touching distance, or marvelling at the lift itself. I’m trying to get my head around the fact that Grindelwald’s Eiger Express is the world’s most modern tricable gondola. It means it can run across large distances with only a small number of support towers (it only has seven over its entire length of 6,483m) while still being stable in strong winds. Which is both mind-blowing and, for me who has a not-insignificant fear of heights, a little nerve-wracking (yes, those are my gloved hands gripping the seat like a vice). But it does mean that far less damage is done to the land underneath it and so the landscape is mostly preserved. And that landscape itself looks incredible from here, with the Eiger on one side and views back over Grindelwald on the other. So, to start at the beginning, or rather the bottom, I need to rewind a little. You can reach the lift base station, or the ‘Terminal’ as it’s called, directly by train from Zürich in just over two hours. When you arrive it’s like walking into an airport terminal rather than a ski lift station: people milling between the restaurants, supermarket, ski shops and obligatory Swiss watch and chocolate shops, the only difference being that they are clad in Gore-Tex and carrying skis rather than suitcases. As for the lift, which fully opened last season, it speeds skiers up to the Eiger Glacier at 2,330m in just 15 minutes – a journey that previously took an hour by train. The cabins are super luxurious, seating 26 people comfortably, even with everyone’s skis inside (which are handily slotted in the floor so you don’t need to worry about them falling into someone else). The lift can carry 2,400 skiers an hour – hence the near empty cabins. Where is the dripping roof? The draughty windows and rattling doors? This is not like any gondola I’ve ever ridden. can feel my grip ease. I could get used to this. So different is this experience that need to remember the reason I’m here – to ski! There are several different routes down from the top. Following Blue 22, cruise the open terrain, descending through the trees and even pass a train station or two, Swiss mountain trains trundling up alongside me. Sticking to the piste from the glacier summit to Grindelwald Terminal, the run is 11km long – that will keep the legs burning as you lap round. almost wish the lift was a bit slower… just to enjoy the view of course… my legs are definitely fit enough to cope with several of these back to back. Once your thighs are suitably warm, there are some more challenging reds that take in similar scenery. If the snow is good there’s not much that beats skiing off-piste on the lower flanks of the Eiger. Feeling it towering above you as you enjoy (hopefully epic bottomless) powder – or the fabulous spring snow conditions that I experienced – is one for the memory bank. Venture further afield and you have the Jungfrau area to explore, with 211km of pistes spread across three mountain ranges. If at some point you feel a craving for some rösti and glühwein, there are a handful of bars and restaurants scattered down the pistes, from smart new modern buildings to rustic old huts. For skiers who have cash to splash they can also rehydrate on champagne in the Eiger Express’ VIP gondola (lucky number 888) – think red carpet, floor lighting, a starlit sky effect on the ceiling with hundreds of lights, swivel leather chairs and a champagne bar to boot. No swivel leather chairs and Bollinger for me – I’m down at the Terminal in search of the ventilated, heated lockers where skiers can store their kit overnight. Nice touch, Grindelwald. jungfrau.ch THE STATS ❄ 44 cable cars transport 2,200 people per hour ❄ Operates with four electric motors, with an output of 500kW each ❄ Travels almost 6.5km and 1,385m in altitude in just 15 minutes ❄ The project cost £396m ❄ Travel is included with a Jungfrau ski pass; 75CHF per adult per day
to wonder at first: the views, the engineering, or the huge Jungfrau area spread out before you? WORDS RICH EVANS SLUFF ALL ABOARD RESORT MAPPING BY FAT MAP: Grindelwald
NEW-AGE
What
DESTINATION AND INTERVIEW FEATURES
We can offer imaginative campaigns across both print and digital platforms to promote your destination to our readers.
According to your level of spend, we can guarantee a spot in one of our regular editorial features, tailored for you by our expert editorial team. Coverage and angle will depend on your focus, be it off-piste, touring, family, snow record and so on, and how this fits into our regular editorial running order and issue themes (see box).
DESTINATION FEATURES
1. In Search of Powder
Length: minimum 4 pages
Type of article: photo-led destination feature
Requirements: fully hosted individual press trip (minimum 3 days’ skiing). Guide and/or instructor needed for at least two days if the focus is off-piste. Plus rights-free images of resort and slopes.
2. Ski Journal
Length: minimum 4 pages
Type of article: diary-style, first-person account of a visit to a resort; can focus on piste or off-piste action. If applicable can also incorporate apres-ski and other local activities.
Requirements: fully hosted individual press trip (minimum 3 days’ skiing). Guide and/or instructor needed for at least two days if the focus is off-piste. Plus rights-free images of resort and slopes.
3. Backcountry
Length: minimum 3 pages
Type of article: first-person account of a backcountry adventure, which usually includes some skinning and can include mountain hut stays.
Requirements: fully hosted individual press trip (at least 3 days’ skiing) with a mountain guide + relevant professionally taken rights-free high-res photos.
4. Sluff
Length: minimum 2 pages
Type of article: has your resort recently put in an amazing new snowpark, or opened a section of backcountry or a freeride area that’s worth reporting on? We can tell your story.
Requirements: fully hosted individual press trip (at least 2 days’ skiing) + relevant professionally taken rights-free high-res photos.
INTERVIEW FEATURES
1. My Mountain Length: 2 pages
Type of article: interview with a professional ski or snowboard athlete or an acclaimed instructor or personality from your resort about their ‘home’ hill
Requirements: high-res rights-free images of the athlete and of the resort (needed in advance) + contact details for interviewee (must speak English).
2. A Day in the Life of...
Length: 2 pages
Type of article: profile of somebody who does an interesting job in your resort (recent subjects have included a mountain guide and snowpark-shaper).
Requirements: contact details for interviewee + professionally taken, rights-free high-res portrait and action photos at work and in ‘winter mode’
3. 15 Minutes With...
Length: 3 pages
Type of article: interview with athlete or well-known personality from your resort.
Requirements: contact details for interviewee + rights-free, high-res professionally taken portrait and action photos in ski or competition or work mode.
ADVERTORIALS
If you decide an advertorial is what you’re after, our expert team will happily work with you to create a bespoke article.
Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024 | Page 13
he climb. The incessant, monotonous, one stinking foot after the other, seemingly endless climb. Will it ever bloody end? The conjuring of shy energy resources, before we stepped up onto the ridge – a monstrous vista of mountains beyond mountains, our target now in view: the Kees and Claire Hut. A sight for weary minds and aching bones. We had made it. Lugging in heavy gear, it’s a four-hour-plus push from early lifts, but the access is incredible. With lesser load, reaching the hut would be a breezy few hours’ jaunt. Direct from village to Whistler Peak, ski around to Symphony and skins on for the Musical Bumps: up Flute, before leaving resort boundary down Oboe, to the final schlepp up Cowboy Ridge. Later, we'd look back and coo over distant trail lights from busy piste bashers, awestruck at Whistler’s spectacular backyard, the sprawling Spearhead and Fitzsimmons Range, distant glaciers and mighty peaks of the Garibaldi National Park. It was then I was sure: the climb was worth every step. Earlier in the day I had been less certain. had cursed not the journey, but the farcical weight upon shoulders. Sleeping bag. Sleeping mat. Meals for three days. Snacks. All stuffed in among the usual safety kit and ski gear. Oh… and camera equipment. What wrestled with throughout the slog was the eternal question: did I really need the beer? Upon arrival at the hut, we had time and replenished vigour for an evening tour – a short scoot up Russet Ridge to a nice vantage point. There we witnessed one of the finest sunsets of our lives, accompanied by a can each of Whistler Brewery’s Bear Paw Honey. Divine. The six-pack haul was worth every muttered obscenity. The mountains, the tiredness, the spectacle, now the beer... this was giddy magic of a different realm. One I had often studied from afar with notions of ‘one day’. Myself and a good pal – local ski instructor Chris Momy – were finally embarking on our Covid-cancelled pilgrimage to the relatively new Kees and Claire Hut, located on a ridgeline in the Fitzsimmons Range, above Russet Lake, at the foot of giants like Fissile, Whirlwind and Overlord. Unfortunately, the snow Gods had conspired against us on this occasion. No new snow in aeons. Things were going to be icy and spicy! But sipping my honey lager in front of such natural wizardry, couldn’t care less. Sometimes simply being in the mountains is all you need. HUT OF DREAMS The Kees and Claire Hut eventually opened in September 2019 after vigorous efforts from the local community and ongoing crowdfunding. Operated by the Spearhead Huts Society, a non-profit charity, the hut is the first of three to be established along Whistler’s legendary Spearhead Traverse, a classic 20-25 mile ski route that follows glaciated terrain in a horseshoe traverse high in the Spearhead and Fitzsimmons Ranges, usually taking three to four days to complete. Many consider the traverse a North American version of Europe’s famous Haute Route. Without huts in place, most people camp or build snow caves along the way. The society now has funding in place for the second of the three huts, which will be located at Mt. Macbeth, and they hope to start construction next summer. To call Kees and Claire simply a ‘hut’ feels a little harsh. This is not some wooden shack we’re talking about here. Not like the Himmelsbach Hut that stands at the base of Russet Lake (now a toilet). No, K&C is a two-storey, 2,500 square-foot delight. Accommodating 38 guests, it hits the sweet spot between Alpine shelter and lavish Euro hut. With a long deck down one side, and waist-to-ceiling windows on the other, you’re never short of spectacle.
The freeskier, climber and alpinist is finally centre stage. Amy Marwick caught up with Sam to find out about life at the sharp end on his latest ski, climb and fly Alpine adventure SAM ANTHAMATTEN Amy Marwick: Firstly, we loved your latest movie, Nevia It was great to hear you, Markus Eder and Jérémie Heitz opening up about why you do extreme sports – was that always the goal for the film? It all happened really organically, it’s often the way that the story comes with the project. You go with the flow and see what comes naturally and this was such a last-minute project. Danny Scheissl (from Legs of Steel) got in touch and said that we should do a film about me. I told him wanted to do it differently and show all the different sports that do. It was really good timing with The North Face as they have just brought the Steep Series snow collection into the Summit Series range. They’ve recognised the fact that people are taking multidisciplinary approach to moving in the mountains, combining sports (like climbing and skiing) in one adventure. So, flying to the Obergabelhorn (4,063m), climbing and skiing it, all from your home in Zermatt, seemed like the perfect project? SA: The Obergabelhorn has been on my mind since didn’t get to ride it with Jérémie when we were filming for La Liste I was sick that day, so ended up behind the camera instead. I came back from Alaska last year and went up the mountain straight away with my glider and realised this is like my signature, to combine my favourite sports. The funny thing was, when I came up with the plan that day I thought would be easy, but in the end the project didn’t work out how imagined. AM: Was that because the conditions didn’t line up? We had really dry season, but in the end came down to safety. It was skiable for maybe one day, but it wasn’t in good way. only wanted to ski in the way that Jérémie did in La Liste showing strong skiing. Not just sliding down and surviving it. Train harder, climb higher, and have fun A combined love of climbing and skiing has fuelled Sam’s latest project with What’s your idea of the perfect mountain day? SA: have it every second day. don’t like to commit myself to only skiing or only climbing – you adapt to the daily conditions, play with and have fun. Later today, I’m going running and if the conditions are good, I’m going to fly down on my glider and land in front of my house. AM: How much coffee do you drink to have gotten so proficient at so many different mountain sports at just 36 years old? SA: I do like coffee! But think it’s partly down to easy access to the mountain – can just go out of my house and run up 1,000 vertical metres daily. like to move, to be outside, and to really progress in sports. Usually when start something want to be really good at it. AM: Do you think you’re a competitive person? I always thought that I’m not a competitive guy, but in the end I’ve done climbing competitions, ice climbing competitions and freeride competitions. They pushed me to the next level. had goal to win the Freeride World Tour and that made me train much harder and forced me to be more precise. AM: Do you have a mentor, or coach, or someone who helps you train? I’ve always had friends who, in a way, became my mentors. My brother, Jérémie, and other The North Face athletes like Victor and Xavier De Le Rue, and Markus, got me to the level am today. I’m always searching for people who can come with me, who can learn the most from. My flying progressed thanks to really good friend. wanted to soak up his experience and understand how he made decisions, so was always calling him up to go out. Who would you like to team up with next? SA: Right now, I’m chatting with The North Face athlete Christina Lusti, from Canada. She is awesome, one of the most well-rounded mountain people. hope to ski with her this winter and then we will see if we can put a project together. AM: You wrote on your Instagram that, ‘The art of our sports is to make something difficult look easy’. How much is that on your mind when you’re filming? SA: It’s often on my mind because want to film something that’s aesthetic. If something looks good, really inspires people. If you do crazy line that is super exposed, calmly and instinctively, it’s almost art. That’s part of the reason why we do it – in the end we have beautiful movie, something we can share with other people. AM: In Nevia you talk about ‘being born at just the right time’ – what do you mean by that? SA: It’s all about the gear we have now it’s making so many more things possible. When started ice climbing was using these heavy plastic boots, but nowadays we can go ice climbing in basically running shoes. The evolution of this PHOTO MARC DAVIET The BC resort is famous for its big freeride lines and copious powder, but there is another side to Whistler, says Ryan Crisp PHOTOS RYAN CRISP
Prepare to gawp in awe at Whistler’s spectacular backyard T he climb. The incessant, monotonous, one stinking foot after the other, seemingly endless climb. Will it ever bloody end? The conjuring of shy energy resources, before we stepped up onto the ridge – a monstrous vista of mountains beyond mountains, our target now in view: the Kees and Claire Hut. A sight for weary minds and aching bones. We had made it. Lugging in heavy gear, it’s a four-hour-plus push from early lifts, but the access is incredible. With lesser load, reaching the hut would be breezy few hours’ jaunt. Direct from village to Whistler Peak, ski around to Symphony and skins for the Musical Bumps: up Flute, before leaving resort boundary down Oboe, to the final schlepp up Cowboy Ridge. Later, we'd look back and coo over distant trail lights from busy piste bashers, awestruck at Whistler’s spectacular backyard, the sprawling Spearhead and Fitzsimmons Range, distant glaciers and mighty peaks of the Garibaldi National Park. It was then was sure: the climb was worth every step. Earlier in the day I had been less certain. I had cursed not the journey, but the farcical weight upon shoulders. Sleeping bag. Sleeping mat. Meals for three days. Snacks. All stuffed in among the usual safety kit and ski gear. Oh… and camera equipment. What wrestled with throughout the slog was the eternal question: did really need the beer? Upon arrival at the hut, we had time and replenished vigour for an evening tour – a short scoot up Russet Ridge to a nice vantage point. There we witnessed one of the finest sunsets of our lives, accompanied by a can each of Whistler Brewery’s Bear Paw Honey. Divine. The six-pack haul was worth every muttered obscenity. The mountains, the tiredness, the spectacle, now the beer... this was giddy magic of a different realm. One I had often studied from afar with notions of ‘one day’. Myself and good pal – local ski instructor Chris Momy – were finally embarking on our Covid-cancelled pilgrimage to the relatively new Kees and Claire Hut, located on a ridgeline in the Fitzsimmons Range, above Russet Lake, at the foot of giants like Fissile, Whirlwind and Overlord. Unfortunately, the snow Gods had conspired against us on this occasion. No new snow in aeons. Things were going to icy and spicy! But sipping my honey lager in front of such natural wizardry, couldn’t care less. Sometimes simply being in the mountains is all you need. HUT OF DREAMS The Kees and Claire Hut eventually opened in September 2019 after vigorous efforts from the local community and ongoing crowdfunding. Operated by the Spearhead Huts Society, a non-profit charity, the hut is the first of three to be established along Whistler’s legendary Spearhead Traverse, a classic 20-25 mile ski route that follows glaciated terrain in a horseshoe traverse high in the Spearhead and Fitzsimmons Ranges, usually taking three to four days to complete. Many consider the traverse a North American version of Europe’s famous Haute Route. Without huts in place, most people camp or build snow caves along the way. The society now has funding in place for the second of the three huts, which will be located at Mt. Macbeth, and they hope to start construction next summer. To call Kees and Claire simply a ‘hut’ feels a little harsh. This is not some wooden shack we’re talking about here. Not like the Himmelsbach Hut that stands at the base of Russet Lake (now a toilet). No, K&C is a two-storey, 2,500 square-foot delight. Accommodating 38 guests, it hits the sweet spot between Alpine shelter and lavish Euro hut. With a long deck down one side, and waist-to-ceiling windows on the other, you’re never short of spectacle.
T
15 MINS WITH...
THE OTHER WHISTLER BACKCOUNTRY
Digital opportunities
CUSTOMISED MEDIA PACKAGES
Use our lively website, newsletter and social channels to mix and match – we’ll create a package to suit your budget and aims.
Packages can include… page sponsorships, run of site banners, newsletter stories or branded ads, social media campaigns and sharing, videos, star athlete updates, competitions, giveaways and promos. And more!
We promote our advertisers to our audience via our website, newsletter and social media channels, liking and sharing where relevant.
FALL-LINE.CO.UK
❅ Up to 16,000 sessions a day in peak periods
❅ Contains everything from destinations and gear reviews to interviews and the latest ski movie trailers
❅ Advertising options include featured articles, MPUs, page/section sponsorships and magazinestyle flick-through stories
BY NEWSLETTER
❅ Newsletters to 19,000+ opted-in subscribers
❅ Weekly, plus extras in season as needed
❅ Competitions, stories and product stories can be featured in newsletters
❅ Also available: Solus newsletter (branded as Fall Line) dedicated to you and your brand
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
❅ Our 26,000 social media followers are highly engaged
❅ They share, like, and comment frequently – drastically increasing post reach
❅ Our record video post stands at organic (nonboosted) 1.2 million reach and 465K views
❅ Our most popular Facebook post of winter 2023 had over 32k reach (previous winters up to 400k reach)
DEEP ENGAGEMENT
❅ Our web audience loves disappearing into the world of skiing
❅ We deliver long-form stories as well as quick , because we know that specialist media browsers want to soak up knowledge
Page 14 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
DIGITAL RATES & PACKAGES 23/24
SAMPLE PACKAGES
Chose a package or ask for more information and we can tailor something that suits you.
GREEN – £500
❅ Emerging Brands profile in newsletter, shout-out on socials, review on website.
BLUE – FROM £1,000
❅ High-impact ROS display (a banner that can appear anywhere on our site), newsletter sponsorship and ads, reader giveaway and promos. Across all channels.
RED – FROM £4,000
❅ High-impact display media, targeted category media (ads are specifically placed on pages agreed with the advertiser, such as backcountry, family, powder, eco etc), newsletter sponsorship and ads, reader giveaway and promos, sponsored content series, and more.
❅ Fall Line Live – 10-20min live feed: answer questions, review of products, brand interviews.
BLACK – FROM £10,000
❅ As above with the ability to bolt on a custom package outlined below.
CUSTOM PACKAGES
Sponsor a section such as…
❅ The British Beat – all things UK snowsport-related from conditions to athletes to new products
❅ Emerging Brands section
❅ The Weekly High-Mountain Conditions Report
❅ Fast and Light – Martin Chester’s Backcountry Video How-Tos
These multi-series packages can be video and/or content and will feature on our site like micro sites.
2023/24 DIGITAL ADVERTISING RATES
TYPE OF ADVERT RATE
E-newsletter story/ advertisement £400
Solus E-newsletter £1,200
Website story
EXAMPLE OF A BESPOKE COLLABORATION
PROJECT: ‘HOW TO SKI THE SCOTTISH STEEPS’ VIDEO SERIES
This series is an example of Fall Line successfully bringing together some of the biggest names and players in the UK ski industry to collaborate on a project with much-needed educational value.
Concept: Educational video series in response to the huge increase in popularity of Scottish gully skiing.
Details: Filmed on Ben Nevis in spring 2021 showcasing the necessary skills required to access steeper lines safely.
Featuring skiers:
❅ Andy Townsend (IFMGA mountain guide and Head of Snowsports at Glenmore Lodge)
❅ Iain Innes (Scottish steep skiing’s latest star)
Filmed by: renowned ski and adventure filmmakers/photographers Hamish Frost and Brodie Hood
Sponsored by:
❅ Black Diamond
❅ Glenmore Lodge
❅ FATMAP
❅ Atomic
❅ Windswept Brewing
Outputs:
❅ Live behind the scenes social media coverage via Instagram and Facebook stories
❅ A multi-episode video series to be distributed via Fall Line, partners and sponsors
❅ Premiere to take place at the Winter Opener event held annually in Edinburgh in November
❅ Bespoke ski/adventure imagery featuring real skiers on a real adventure created for brands for marketing/promotional use
From £180
MPU website advertising £poa
Run of site package £500 per month
Section/page sponsorships £poa
AD SPECIFICATIONS
Website Banner 250(h) x 300(w) pixels
Newsletter Please supply your logo, two images and approx 200 words.
Deadlines We need digital artwork and copy at least seven days before going live.
Further details on reach and exposure available on request
Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024 | Page 15
Readers are ready to buy into your brand
We have many loyal readers who like, know and trust us
I will continue to subscribe, I love the magazine and it’s been a great source of info on kit I’ve collected over the years and places to go.
Love your magazine, it keeps me sane.
I look forward to reading Fall Line and this year more than ever I’m in need of a lift in spirits!
This is simply to say thank you and wish you and the team good luck with keeping your excellent work going through these demanding times.
My subscription’s going nowhere but to you. Very best of luck with your future; your mag offers me something I can’t get elsewhere. So, for as long as you publish, I will buy.
Fall Line takes me skiing, even when I’m not skiing. It keeps me warm at night thinking about where I’m going to make powder turns next!
Thanks for all you do to keep us skiers happy!
Awesome Magazine. Vin chaud: Done. Sit Back: Done. Roll on next season.
I look forward to receiving each issue!
Page 16 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
Fall Line –the numbers at a glance
PRINT
❅ 5 printed magazines for 2023-24
❅ 100% actively purchased
❅ 8,600 circulation
❅ 21,500 readership
DIGITAL – FALL-LINE.CO.UK
❅ Up to 16,000 sessions a day in peak periods
NEWSLETTER
❅ E-newsletters to 19,000+ opted-in subscribers
❅ 27% open rate
❅ 4.5% click-through rate
SOCIAL MEDIA
❅ 26,000 followers
❅ Our most popular Facebook post of winter 2023 had over 32k reach (previous winters up to 400k reach)
MORE ABOUT FALL LINE
Fall Line was born in Chamonix, France, 30 years ago and started as a means of displaying the fantastic photos from the world of skiing. It has evolved over the years from a backcountry magazine to include more mainstream skiing as kid free readers who were touring 30 years ago now introduce the next generation to the slopes. Dickie Fincher took over the magazine 21 years ago – to find out more listen to him being interviewed on the Legends of the Brand podcast.
Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024 | Page 17
Want to know what our magazines look like? LEGENDS OF THE BRAND PODCAST Dickie Fincher interview by Phil Gordon on the Legends of the Brand podcast. Listen to him talk about his background and find out more about Fall Line’s history. Nail your plans for the season now! The complete skier CARVE THE TURKEY: EPIC SKIING… IN THE MIDDLE EAST ❆ 15 MINUTES WITH SAM KUCH ADVENTURES ❆ LESLEY MCKENNA’S CAIRNGORMS ❆ THE MAN WHO MADE SNOWBOARDING FAMOUS NEW GEAR FOR 2023 WIN WITHATOMIC, NORDICAGLENMOREAND LODGE Ready to ROCK? GET PREPPED Cody Townsend, Michelle we're planning for winter 9 EVERY PIECE OF SKI KIT WORTH KNOWING ABOUT INSIDE GEAR OF THE YEAR 2023 Award-winning skis, splitboards, boots, bindings, clothing and more The complete skier WHY THE ORIGINAL SKI PUNK’S PRO MODEL IS OUR 2023 SKI OF THE YEAR WIN SIX EPIC PRIZES... EACH WORTH THOUSANDS FALL LINE GETS ITS PISTE ON The complete skier PISTE PICS THAT WILL GET YOUR HEAD SPINNING ❆ PADDY GRAHAM ON THE EVOLUTION OF FREESTYLE GOOD DECISION-MAKING ❆ IN FOCUS: NAILING THE PERFECT PISTE SHOT IN CORTINA D'AMPEZZO GREAT GEAR + GREAT VALUE = SHREDTASTIC SEASON WINBIGPRIZESWITHSKIHALTI,K2,WEEKENDS ANDSPYDER WE'VE ONLY GONE AND GOT DAVE RYDING AND WOODSY! ON HOW TO CARVE LIKE A BOSS, AND NAIL THREE FREESTYLE TRICKS, IN A DAY (YES, IT IS POSSIBLE) EPIC SLOPES The world’s most remarkable runs, from the steepest to the most controversial THE DARK SIDE Night skiing like you’ve never seen before 772048 122037 9 86> NO POWDER NEEDED Powder and Backcountry Special The complete skier SAM ANTHAMATTEN ON TAKING CENTRE STAGE ❆ BACKCOUNTRY HUT SLEEPS IN WHISTLER ❆ THE LIFE OF A SKI PATROLLER ❆ POWDER PHOTO GALLERY ❆ FIND YOUR FIRST... HUT TRIP THE BEST FREERIDE AND TOURING GEAR FOR 2023 WIN KIT WORTH THOUSANDS FROM DYNASTAR, MAMMUT,ORTOVOX,RAB AND ROSSIGNOL 772048 122037 9 87> WHYENGELBERG ISTHEFREERIDING CAPITALOFTHEALPS “I SURVIVED AN AVALANCHE” First-hand tales from people who experienced every skier’s worst nightmare EASY POW Resorts where big snow + zero crowds = pow pow heaven Issue 184 October 2022 Issue 185 November 2022 Issue 186 December 2022 Issue 187 February 2023
Fall Line Adventure works with resorts, brands, events, athletes and activity operators to create a comprehensive, entertaining and inspirational one-stop information resource for all things ‘Summer in the Mountains’.
The audience is the outdoorsy adventure type who is attracted to several different sports. Featured activities include biking, trail running, hiking, wild swimming, climbing, van life, camping and more.
Fall Line Adventure is packed full of inspiration and information to help readers at different levels of the sports or activities. Epic destinations, route suggestions, events, skills and advice – Fall Line Adventure exists to facilitate those vertical summer kicks.
If you’re looking to reach the vast number of skiers who participate in summer sports then Fall Line Adventure can help spread the word. Let’s inspire them together.
BIKING
Life on two wheels is about the simple, soul-food type stuff that keeps you occupied and moving forward. Slowly but surely.
Whether you’re keen to spread the word about an epic new gravel bike itinerary, looking to gear adventurous families with e-bikes, or wanting to promote your destination as a two-wheeled adventure heaven, this is the place to do it.
TRAIL & MOUNTAIN
RUNNING
Whether you’re looking to reach newbie trail runners or seasoned ultra-endurance athletes, Fall Line Adventure will be packed full of inspiration and information to help all levels of mountain runners. Epic destinations, guides, gear, events, skills and comps - it exists to facilitate those vertical summer kicks.
HIKING & SCRAMBLING
If you’re looking to reach the growing numbers of skiers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to maintaining their year-round mountain fitness, then it’s time we had a chat. Fall Line Adventure works with the best brands, destinations and adventure operators on the planet to bring our readers the inspiration and advice they need to get geared for top adventures in high places.
WATERSPORTS
Wild swimming, lake SUPing, river kayaking… aqua adventures are one of the best things about summer in the mountains. Whatever activity you are looking to promote we can help put together inspirational articles on where to go, how to do it and the gear to get.
CLIMBING & MOUNTAINEERING
If you’re looking to reach the vast number of skiers who climb in the summer then we can help spread the word. Gear, route suggestions, destinations, skills and advice, comps - our audience are big-time fans of the mountains.
VAN LIFE, OUTDOOR & CAMPING
Covid-19 has inspired a new generation to venture off-grid and explore those local hidden spots. More and more of us are seeking out freedom in new ways, buying or converting campervans, investing in family camping gear or getting geared for wilderness bivi adventures.
If you’re looking to make your destination, campervan company, camping gear, or information resource get noticed in an increasingly crowded landscape, we can help you stand out and hone in on our big-style adventure-loving audience.
Page 18 | Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024
Caption The next few months are looking up… WORDS ABIGAIL BUTCHER SLUFF RESORTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT RESORTS FOR SUMMER ADVENTURE CHAMONIX Why go? Chamonix is as much home for extreme mountain activities in the summer as it is the winter, from cragging, bouldering and mountaineering to e-biking, paragliding and white-water rafting on the Grade II Arve river running through the town centre. There are two dedicated mountain bike zones, Le Tour and Les Houches, with biking restricted in some other areas. While hiking, climbing and mountaineering here is second-to-none, with summer glaciers to practice alpine skills, Chamonix is also trail runner’s paradise; has hundreds of kilometres of singletrack trails, lofty climbs and cosy mountain huts, with a specially designed map and app (valleedutrail.com) and some of Europe’s top trail running races (see below). For families there are easier walks, bike trails along the l’Arve river, a via ferrata, horse riding and several leisure parks, including the Accro Park in Les Gaillands and the Planards Area with its 1,300m-long luge. The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a week-long trail running festival where some 10,000 elite and amateur trail runners from all over the world converge on Chamonix every August to take part in seven races over the course of the week, supported by thousands of MORZINE Why go? The Portes du Soleil lift network runs all summer long for trail runners, hikers and climbers – and of course mountain bikers. The mecca of France’s mountain biking scene, the PDS is home to one of the biggest bike parks in Europe, with more than 600km of trails and 19 bike-modified chairs. From enduro and cross-country bike trails, to World Cup-level downhill bike trails, to family mountain bike trails, there is something for everyone. The road biking is excellent around here too (hence why it’s stop on this year’s Tour de France). Morzine village is also well set up for summer family adventures. There’s an aquatic centre with outdoor pools, summer luge run from the top of the La Crusaz chairlift down the Pleney slopes, a high-rope adventure park among the treetops, and horse riding. Dérêches that runs along the beautiful River Dranse which is itself a huge draw, with numerous companies offering white-water rafting and hydrospeeding excursions throughout the summer (ed Nicola recommends Frogs Rafting!). Alternatively, you want to take to the skies, around half a dozen schools teach paragliding or offer tandem flights, or you can even take a hot air balloon or helicopter flight Lake Montriond, close to Morzine, is wonderful place for stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking and wild swimming. Set at 1,072m, this 79-acre lake is great spot for families and groups, with splash pool for children, a walking track around the edge and nearby restaurants and BBQ pits. RATINGS: Summer skiing: 0/10 Trail running: 8/10 Hiking: 8/10 Mountain biking: Road biking: Mountaineering: 5/10 Rock climbing: 7/10 Watersports: 10/10 Family fun: FOUR OF THE BEST... MOUNTAIN RUNNERS TRIED & TESTED LA SPORTIVA BUSHIDO II £130 lasportiva.com Tested by Sophie Weight: 300g per shoe (42) Drop: Stack height (heel, forefoot): 19mm, 13mm Best suited to narrow-footed trail runners with a penchant for technical terrain, the second generation of the Bushido is a legit mountain goat. It may be a hardier soul than its predecessor (the ‘II’ comes with a compression-moulded EVA midsole, burlier upper and upgraded rubber toe cap), but its DNA remains unchanged SALOMON S/LAB PULSAR £170 salmon.com Tested by Sophie SPEC: Weight: 170g per shoe Drop: 6mm Stack height (heel, forefoot): 24.5mm, 18.5mm This über-fast and light speed demon was designed by the legendary Kilian Jornet before he departed Salomon HQ for pastures new. Weighing in at 170g it’s an unfathomably light shoe aimed at FKTchasing mountain athletes and the featheriest featured this line-up by over 100g. Narrow-fitting, precise and agile, it comes with a sock-like upper that’s annoyingly difficult to pull on but immediately comes into its own once you’ve wiggled your foot into the shoe. Ideal for runners seeking minimalist ride that encourages and facilitates good form, the S/Lab Pulsar may be stripped-back rapido racer yet it feels surprisingly cushioned and springy on the trail. As an injury-prone runner with sub-optimal bio-mechanics, I’m always bit wary when it comes to minimalist shoes, as they can be pretty unforgiving and that hesistancy was further heightened when saw the fixed insole that meant any chance of popping in my custom inners was off the cards. Despite my initial misgivings, the S/Lab Pulsar felt immediately reassuring as soon as hit the trail. Lively and bouncy in the forefoot, the cushion-to-weight ratio is second to none and the rocker delivered really propulsive ride. With minimal heel cushioning it certainly favours mid/forefoot strike but if you can adjust your form accordingly, you’re in for a really rapid ride. Other features include the breathable mesh upper that keeps things cool when you’re working up sweat and the quick lace system that’s easy to adjust and keeps things in SCOTT SUPERTRAC 3 £130 OR £150 (GORE-TEX VERSION) scott-sports.com Tested by Martin Weight: 320g per shoe Drop: Stack height (heel, forefoot): 29mm, 21mm The Supertrac is back and the third edition is better than ever. found the sole on previous models too chunky compared to many other fell-specific shoes, which meant they felt a tad unstable in the ankle area in rough terrain. No longer. The latest Supertrac comes with AeroFoam+, which provides greater stability, as well as an upgraded heel cup and secure tongue that ensures the shoe stays in place, no matter how challenging the conditions underfoot. The new rip-stop upper is lighter, more supple and provides better fit than previous models. also have wide hobbit feet, so the Scott last (in both ski boots and trail shoes) suits me well out of the box, giving plenty of wiggle room for those hairy toes, yet still grips the heel. love the new sole – it has aggressive enough lugs to provide grip on the muddiest of hillsides, yet the shape of the lugs sheds excess mud and dirt, so the sole stays clean and clog free when you transition to rocky sections. There’s always a balance to strike between ‘hard’ rubber that cuts into turf, yet fails to grip on rock – but this seems like an ideal compound for the compromise and works well over both. The sole shape gives an aggressive outside edge, to hold on vegetated traverses, yet provides flat enough platform to run smoothly on graded tracks and prepared trails. And let’s be honest, even the most passionate hill runner will spend time on pathways and flatter ground getting to and from the good stuff. Happy on all types of terrain: one-shoe quiver to take you from your front door to the highest peaks. ARC’TERXY NORVAN LD 3 GTX £180 arcteryx.com Tested by Martin SPEC: Weight: 275g per shoe (42) Drop: 6mm Stack height (heel, forefoot): 29mm, 23mm The supremely light Norvan LD GTX is the latest addition to Arc’teryx’s trail running-specific Norvan family. A highly cushioned, comfortable and stable shoe built for long distance (LD) adventures in the mountains, it’s great option for runners who appreciate a soft yet protected ride underfoot. The generous InFuse midsole with anti-fatigue insert may be lightweight, but it provides the type of cushioning that only those whose bodies have suffered the penalties of long distance running will truly appreciate. On the subject of comfort, the new last shape of the Norvan LD GTX offers way more room for toe splay on impact, which goes a long way to keeping things blister-free over long distances when your feet get hot and can swell up a whole size. Throw in a breathable yet durable Cordura upper and you’re looking at shoe that’s built to go the distance. The 4mm lugs are not the deepest, but the aggressive cut provides good grip in variety of conditions. Altogether, the sole provides a smooth flat profile and substantial rocker to roll over tracks and graded pathways. The Vibram Megagrip rubber outsoles ensures ‘as good as it gets’ grip over rocky terrain. For fast lap of the Snowdon horseshoe over the rocky pinnacles of Crib Goch and back along the well-travelled paths, it is ideal. Those travelling in consistently boggy terrain, however, may want to look elsewhere… VERDICT: Weatherproof, with a super-grippy Vibram tread and masses of shock absorption. Comfy as all heck. 94 www.fall-line.co.uk www.fall-line.co.uk 95 From rocks to roots, dusty trails to technical terrain – these mountain running shoes are built for peak performance one-shoe quiver that will take you As-good-as-it-gets grip and comfy too! – aka a rapid and confidence-inspiring shoe for rugged and challenging terrain. The balance of cushioning vs on-trail feel is bang on for experienced runners who like to feel connected to the terrain; aka there’s just enough cushioning for pain-free long days in the mountains, but not so much that you lose that all-important on-trail feel. Every time pull on pair of Bushidos am immediately impressed, both by how well they fit my narrow, low-volume foot, and how brilliantly they adapt to changes in angles, rocks and Grip-wise, the lugs are deep enough to provide solid traction on dusty trails and loose gravel, and the FriXion Red rubber sole really shines on slabs and rocks, making this an ideal shoe for skyrunning comps and scrambling. If you’re planning on running in deep bogs and mud you will want to scale up to something with deeper lugs. Likewise, if you mostly find yourself running on fire roads and smooth flat trails, then the reasonably stiff Bushido is likely to be overkill. But if you’re looking for a technical shoe for long days at altitude in the Alps and/or dry summer mountain routes back in the UK, this may well be the vertical warrior you seek. VERDICT: Light, stable and supportive – a technical shoe that will work well for experienced and competitive place for the duration of your run, with no faffing and tightening required. While elite runners will no doubt be able to run super-long distances in the S/Lab Pulsar, mere mountain mortals may find it a little too low-profile for bone-jarring ultras with mega elevation. Super-muddy terrain is also off the cards due to the S/Lab Pulsar’s relatively short lugs and there are certainly questions surrounding its durability due to its spectacularly feathery nature… That said, the combined fit and feel of the S/Lab Pulsar is genuinely superlative – placing it very firmly at the front of the light trail racing and vertical KM chasing pack. VERDICT: The ultimate racing machine for fire roads, dry trails, light mud and rocky sections. Injury-prone runners should make a gradual transition. Put your best foot (and paddle) forward The next few months are looking up… WORDS ABIGAIL BUTCHER SLUFF RESORTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT RESORTS FOR SUMMER ADVENTURE CHAMONIX Why go? Chamonix is as much home for extreme mountain activities in the summer as it is the winter, from cragging, bouldering and mountaineering to e-biking, paragliding and white-water rafting on the Grade II Arve river running through the town centre. There are two dedicated mountain bike zones, Le Tour and Les Houches, with biking restricted in some other areas. While hiking, climbing and mountaineering here is second-to-none, with summer glaciers to practice alpine skills, Chamonix is also trail runner’s paradise; has hundreds of kilometres of singletrack trails, lofty climbs and cosy mountain huts, with a specially designed map and app (valleedutrail.com) and some of Europe’s top trail running races (see below). For families there are easier walks, bike trails along the l’Arve river, a via ferrata, horse riding and several leisure parks, including the Accro Park in Les Gaillands and the Planards Area with its 1,300m-long luge. The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a week-long trail running festival where some 10,000 elite and amateur trail runners from all over the world converge on Chamonix every August to take part in seven races over the course of the week, supported by thousands of volunteers and watched by an incredible 50,000 spectators. RATINGS: Summer skiing: Trail running: 10/10 Hiking: 10/10 Mountain biking: Road biking: Mountaineering: 10/10 Rock climbing: 10/10 Watersports: Family fun: MORZINE Why go? The Portes du Soleil lift network runs all summer long for trail runners, hikers and climbers – and of course mountain bikers. The mecca of France’s mountain biking scene, the PDS is home to one of the biggest bike parks in Europe, with more 600km of trails and 19 bike-modified chairs. From enduro and cross-country bike trails, to World Cup-level downhill bike trails, to family mountain bike trails, there is something for everyone. The road biking is excellent around here too (hence why it’s stop on this year’s Tour de France). Morzine village is also well set up for summer family adventures. There’s an aquatic centre with outdoor pools, summer luge run from the top of the La Crusaz chairlift down the Pleney slopes, a high-rope adventure park among the treetops, and horse riding. Dérêches that runs along the beautiful River Dranse which is itself a huge with numerous companies offering white-water rafting and hydrospeeding excursions throughout the summer (ed Nicola recommends Frogs Rafting!). Alternatively, you want to take to the skies, around half a dozen schools teach paragliding or offer tandem flights, or you can even a hot air balloon or helicopter flight Lake Montriond, close to Morzine, is wonderful place for stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking and wild swimming. Set at 1,072m, this 79-acre lake is great spot for families and groups, with splash pool for children, a walking track around the edge and nearby restaurants and BBQ pits. RATINGS: Summer skiing: 0/10 Trail running: 8/10 Hiking: 8/10 Mountain biking: Road biking: Mountaineering: 5/10 Rock climbing: 7/10 Watersports: 10/10 Family fun: Morzine is a With hundreds singletrack trails, Chamonix is trailrunner’s paradise Happy days at Lake Montriond FOUR OF THE BEST... MOUNTAIN RUNNERS TRIED & TESTED LA SPORTIVA BUSHIDO £130 lasportiva.com Tested by Sophie Weight: 300g per shoe (42) Drop: Stack height (heel, forefoot): 19mm, 13mm Best suited to narrow-footed trail runners with penchant for technical terrain, the second generation of the Bushido is a legit mountain goat. It may be hardier soul than its predecessor (the ‘II’ comes with compression-moulded EVA midsole, burlier upper and upgraded rubber toe cap), but its DNA remains unchanged SALOMON S/LAB PULSAR £170 salmon.com Tested by Sophie SPEC: Weight: 170g per shoe Drop: 6mm Stack height (heel, forefoot): 24.5mm, 18.5mm This über-fast and light speed demon was designed by the legendary Kilian Jornet before he departed Salomon HQ for pastures new. Weighing in at 170g it’s an unfathomably light shoe aimed at FKTchasing mountain athletes and the featheriest featured this line-up by over 100g. Narrow-fitting, precise and agile, it comes with sock-like upper that’s annoyingly difficult to pull on but immediately comes into its own once you’ve wiggled your foot into the shoe. Ideal for runners seeking a minimalist ride that encourages and facilitates good form, the S/Lab Pulsar may be stripped-back rapido racer yet it feels surprisingly cushioned and springy on the trail. As an injury-prone runner with sub-optimal bio-mechanics, I’m always a bit wary when comes to minimalist shoes, as they can be pretty unforgiving and that hesistancy was further heightened when saw the fixed insole that meant any chance of popping in my custom inners was off the cards. Despite my initial misgivings, the S/Lab Pulsar felt immediately reassuring as soon as hit the trail. Lively and bouncy in the forefoot, the cushion-to-weight ratio is second to none and the rocker delivered a really propulsive ride. With minimal heel cushioning it certainly favours a mid/forefoot strike but if you can adjust your form accordingly, you’re in for really rapid ride. Other features include the breathable mesh upper that keeps things cool when you’re working up a sweat and the quick lace system that’s easy to adjust and keeps things in SCOTT SUPERTRAC 3 £130 OR £150 (GORE-TEX VERSION) scott-sports.com Tested by Martin Weight: 320g per shoe Drop: Stack height (heel, forefoot): 29mm, 21mm The Supertrac is back and the third edition is better than ever. found the sole on previous models too chunky compared to many other fell-specific shoes, which meant they felt tad unstable in the ankle area in rough terrain. No longer. The latest Supertrac comes with AeroFoam+, which provides greater stability, as well as an upgraded heel cup and secure tongue that ensures the shoe stays in place, no matter how challenging the conditions underfoot. The new rip-stop upper is lighter, more supple and provides a better fit than previous models. also have wide hobbit feet, so the Scott last (in both ski boots and trail shoes) suits me well out of the box, giving plenty of wiggle room for those hairy toes, yet still grips the heel. love the new sole – it has aggressive enough lugs to provide grip on the muddiest of hillsides, yet the shape of the lugs sheds excess mud and dirt, so the sole stays clean and clog free when you transition to rocky sections. There’s always balance to strike between ‘hard’ rubber that cuts into turf, yet fails to grip on rock – but this seems like an ideal compound for the compromise and works well over both. The sole shape gives an aggressive outside edge, to hold on vegetated traverses, yet provides a flat enough platform to run smoothly on graded tracks and prepared trails. And let’s be honest, even the most passionate hill runner will spend time on pathways and flatter ground getting to and from the good stuff. Happy on all types of terrain: a one-shoe quiver to take you from your front door to the highest peaks. ARC’TERXY NORVAN LD 3 GTX £180 arcteryx.com Tested by Martin SPEC: Weight: 275g per shoe (42) Drop: 6mm Stack height (heel, forefoot): 29mm, 23mm The supremely light Norvan LD GTX is the latest addition to Arc’teryx’s trail running-specific Norvan family. A highly cushioned, comfortable and stable shoe built for long distance (LD) adventures in the mountains, it’s a great option for runners who appreciate a soft yet protected ride underfoot. The generous InFuse midsole with anti-fatigue insert may be lightweight, but it provides the type of cushioning that only those whose bodies have suffered the penalties of long distance running will truly appreciate. On the subject of comfort, the new last shape of the Norvan LD 3 GTX offers way more room for toe splay on impact, which goes long way to keeping things blister-free over long distances when your feet get hot and can swell up whole size. Throw in a breathable yet durable Cordura upper and you’re looking at a shoe that’s built to go the distance. The 4mm lugs are not the deepest, but the aggressive cut provides good grip in a variety of conditions. Altogether, the sole provides a smooth flat profile and substantial rocker to roll over tracks and graded pathways. The Vibram Megagrip rubber outsoles ensures ‘as good as it gets’ grip over rocky terrain. For a fast lap of the Snowdon horseshoe over the rocky pinnacles of Crib Goch and back along the well-travelled paths, is ideal. Those travelling in consistently boggy terrain, however, may want to look elsewhere… VERDICT: Weatherproof, with a super-grippy Vibram tread and masses of shock absorption. Comfy as all heck. 94 www.fall-line.co.uk www.fall-line.co.uk 95 From rocks to roots, dusty trails to technical terrain – these mountain running shoes are built for peak performance A one-shoe quiver that will take you from trail to peak As-good-as-it-gets grip and comfy too! – aka a rapid and confidence-inspiring shoe for rugged and challenging terrain. The balance of cushioning vs on-trail feel is bang on for experienced runners who like to feel connected to the terrain; aka there’s just enough cushioning for pain-free long days in the mountains, but not so much that you lose that all-important on-trail feel. Every time pull on a pair of Bushidos am immediately impressed, both by how well they fit my narrow, low-volume foot, and how brilliantly they adapt to changes in angles, rocks and Grip-wise, the lugs are deep enough to provide solid traction on dusty trails and loose gravel, and the FriXion Red rubber sole really shines on slabs and rocks, making this an ideal shoe for skyrunning comps and scrambling. If you’re planning on running in deep bogs and mud you will want to scale up to something with deeper lugs. Likewise, if you mostly find yourself running on fire roads and smooth flat trails, then the reasonably stiff Bushido is likely to be overkill. But if you’re looking for technical shoe for long days at altitude in the Alps and/or dry summer mountain routes back in the UK, this may well be the vertical warrior you seek. VERDICT: Light, stable and supportive – a technical shoe that will work well for experienced and competitive place for the duration of your run, with no faffing and tightening required. While elite runners will no doubt be able to run super-long distances in the S/Lab Pulsar, mere mountain mortals may find it little too low-profile for bone-jarring ultras with mega elevation. Super-muddy terrain is also off the cards due to the S/Lab Pulsar’s relatively short lugs and there are certainly questions surrounding its durability due to its spectacularly feathery nature… That said, the combined fit and feel of the S/Lab Pulsar is genuinely superlative – placing very firmly at the front of the light trail racing and vertical KM chasing pack. VERDICT: The ultimate racing machine for fire roads, dry trails, light mud and rocky sections. Injury-prone runners should make a gradual transition.
Key contacts
COMMERCIAL TEAM
RICH EVANS, SALES MANAGER sales@fall-line.co.uk
Rich’s parents met in Austria in 1966 and he made his own first turns on a family trip to Wangs, a tiny Swiss resort which even FL hasn’t yet visited. The bug firmly caught on those family trips, Rich has spent seasons between ‘real jobs’ working as a ski instructor, chalet host and ski host. He now lives in Sussex and plans as much skiing as he can. Rich loves a road trip and really, really wants to ski in Japan. Mainly because powder days are his favourites – whether under blue skies or in a blizzard!
DICKIE FINCHER, PUBLISHER richard@fall-line.co.uk
After leaving the Navy, Dickie found himself in the Middle East studying Arabic before he naturally progressed to testing motorbikes and editing the UK’s biggest bike magazine. He invested in Fall Line in the 2000s and since then has been on 17 ski tests, written at least 2000 ski reviews, made skis and skied across sand, grass, water and even snow. As owner and publisher he signs the cheques that send others to the places he wants to go. He’s married with three daughters.
EDITORIAL TEAM
NICOLA ISEARD, EDITOR nicola@fall-line.co.uk
Nicola first took to the snow aged four. An all-in-one from C&A and lessons from her (also novice) parents set her on a path that would dominate her life, seeing her race as a teenager, teach in Switzerland, ski in destinations from Russia to Revelstoke and ultimately move to the Portes du Soleil, where she lives with her ski-mad husband and their sons. As well as editing Fall Line Nicola writes for publications including The Guardian and Wired magazine. Unofficial motto: “The steeper, the better”.
SOPHIE NICHOLSON, GEAR EDITOR
sophie@fall-line.co.uk
Sophie’s earliest ski memories involve being blown back up a Scottish hill aged four. Having subsequently been introduced to ski touring by her mountain-mad father, she has skied and lived all over the globe, including eight years in the Alps, and carved out a career in storytelling first as a sports television producer and latterly as an outdoor writer and gear editor. Now based near Inverness, she enjoys earning her turns and escaping to the Alps/North America/Arctic when conditions are lean in the homeland.
KATIE BAMBER, ONLINE EDITOR
katie@fall-line.co.uk
Long coach journeys to the Alps on school trips and forever finding herself lost from the group make up Katie’s first memories of skiing. But ski fever was caught, with many more winters spent driving around the mountains. Between seasons teaching (in Bariloche and Zell am See) and full-time ski writing a decade later, Katie spent a few years off-topic as a journalist in Istanbul, thankfully with snowy mountains near enough by. More recent winters in Sun Valley and Hakuba have resulted in a new found joy of travelling upwards on skis. A knack for getting lost remains.
Fall Line Skiing – Media Pack 2023/2024 | Page 19
