InTheSnow Issue 43 - March 2015

INTHE SNOW ISSUE43 | MAR2015

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IN THIS MONTH NIRA MONTANA

FEATURES

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La Thuile in Italy is a resort the many of us have skied over the border to from La La Rosière in France; now a great new hotel means we might

022

want to stay there instead.

SPRING CALENDAR  PLAN YOUR CLIMAX TO SEASON

INTHESNOW

@INTHESNOWMAG INTHESNOW

The sun is shining, the days are long and its festival time in the Alps as the World Cup season winds up to its climax too. Fear not; there are still a couple of months of the season left!

ABTA No. V4138

If you... #loveski...then ski more often.

Ski Weekends is the home of short break packages & tailor-made ski holidays to Europe's best ski resorts.

With more choice of catered chalets, hotels & self-catering apartments, flying from 17 UK airports why only ski once a year?

014

LA THUILE  GREAT SINCE ROMAN TIMES

SKI STUNNING SLOVENIA  DISCOVER A HIDDEN GEM Not the best known ski destination for many of us, but despite being on the far side of the Alps, its skis areas are so close to the airport they’re actually among the quickest to reach from Blighty.

029

REGULARS

GEAR

NEW

046 10 MINUTES WITH  JIMMY PETTERSON

EXTENDED BOOT ROOM 031–036 

Jimmy describes himself as a “ski bum”, but if so, he’s the greatest ski bum of all time, moonlighting as one of the world’s greatest ski photo journalists having almost certainly skied in more countries than anyone else.

This issue we’ve got an extended boot room section with

patrick@inthesnow.com

FREERIDE 010

a bumper selection of the latest kit, along with features on why buying is better than renting, and top tips on storing

It’s hard to believe I’m writing the editorial for our

ELEVEN EXPERIENCE 016

your kit through the summer.

last issue of the season already, especially as with its slow start, it seems like winter 14–15 is only just

5 REASONS 040

getting fully underway!

Let’s hope that all the February snowfall means that the supposition in our first news feature this issue –

020

TEAM

that the season having started a month late, should run on a month later into spring, with good conditions through to May – proves to be true.

But even if it’s a “normal” end of the season (whatever

MARTINSODERQVIST.COM

one of those is), I always enjoy spring in the mountains.

SUB EDITORS

© Copyright 2014

dom@inthesnow.com

NICK JONES MARION ADAMS

Printed in the UK.

Indeed the number of festivals, fun competitions and

No part of this publication

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

CONTRIBUTORS

themed weeks capitalising on this laid-back state of

MATT NICHOLSON matt@inthesnow.com EDITOR

PATRICK THORNE patrick@inthesnow.com

BLOW THE BONUS  ZAI SKIS

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

DEBBIE GABRIEL debbie@inthesnow.com SALES MANAGER

As with many things in life, there are skis … and then there are skis, and Zai produce the bespoke pairs we all drool over (or would do if drooling over skis was acceptable behaviour & didn’t cause potential edge rust issues).

The days are longer, the lifts run later and the

PUBLISHER

DOMINIC KILLINGER

GIANCARLO GAMBARDELLA giancarlo@inthesnow.com PICTURE EDITOR

ROSS WOODHALL

SAM THORNE OLIVIA PARRY-JONES ANDY BLEAKLEY ANDY TAYLOR GABRIELLA LE BRETON

may be copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a

SALLY BARTLETT COLUMNISTS

JON WEST PHIL SMITH LORNA MCGACHIE HEMEL SNOW CENTRE

mind on spring slopes just continues to grow. As you’ll

retrieval system or transmitted,

see from our diary page and several news stories, top

in any way or means, either by

music acts, comedians and various other celebrities

recording or otherwise, without permission of the publishers

EQUIPMENT EDITOR

atmosphere is relaxed.

in writing.

are in the mountains over the coming few months for the sun, fun and snow. If you’re in Mayrhofen this month, keep an eye out for Bill Bailey and Sean Lock

INTHESNOW LTD

on the Tirolean slopes, or at least streets.

THE SNOW STUDIO

March also sees the culmination of the 2014–15 ski

KINGS LANE, BUCKS HP16 0QY

season for many of the world’s top sports stars, with the World Cup Finals, where the overall winners are

DESIGN BY

+44 (0)1494 862 423

ROCKET BASE

DOM@INTHESNOW.COM

rocketbase.co.uk

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due to be crowned, taking place in Méribel this month.

Then there’s Easter coming up, traditionally the last hurrah of the ski season. For many schools, the holidays start on the last weekend of March, with Easter itself on 5 April, one of the three earliest dates of the past seven years, and the ski industry likes an early Easter.

For the latest deals and best prices www.skiweekends.com or call

023 8020 6971 again & again with Skiweekends.com

If that snow has continued to fall through March, it could be a particularly good one, so if you’ve not planned a trip yet, or went at Christmas and were disappointed and still want to feel you’ve had a proper ski trip this season, this could be the time to go (again).

Although, now I think about it, any time is good for a ski trip.

003 // MAR15

CAMARA PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

CAN 2015 BRING US A ...

BUMPER SPRING SKI SEASON?

W

WORDS: PATRICK THORNE

little new snow, although there have been

thaw, we should have a very good season.”

seems to suggest that if anyone decided not

recent improvements here too, and end-of-

The big question of course is whether the

to go skiing because of the poor early season

season snow cover looks much more promising.

snow will indeed keep falling or whether the

weather, it has just led to more pent-up demand

So with winter kicking into gear late this

season will end quickly after all.

for next winter, for which holidays have already

season, does that mean we’re set for a bumper

Even with long-range forecasting, that’s

been on sale for some months.

spring 2015?

difficult to know for sure, but, at the time of

“It has been a crazy winter but it is looking like

writing at least, things are looking good for

a strong finish currently,” said Richard Sinclair of

a snowy end to the season.

ski holiday travel agency SNO.co.uk. “The big

“All the current forecast models are

story this year has been the huge mid-season

indicating that widespread and significant

SPRING SKIING STALWARTS

snow, which laid down a great base to make

snows will continue across the Alps and

inter 2014–15 didn’t really get started until New

everyone feel confident about great snow to

Pyrenees into the next week, and there

Year in the Alps. This was bad news for people

the end of the winter. March and April are more

is now a possibility that the effects of a

Arapahoe Basin (USA):

who had booked Christmas ski trips, but it also

popular than ever, with the prospect of a bit of

forecast move in the jet stream will bring

arapahoebasin.com (to June).

fits with a pattern observed by many who have

T-shirt skiing on decent snow. I’m taking the

further cold and snow in from the East

Banff (Canada):

been in the ski business for decades – the ski

family out for the second week in April.”

in 10 days’ time. In other words, there’s

skibig3.com (to 17 May).

season is starting later, and continuing longer

Low fuel prices and a feeling, for some people at

no sign of the snow stopping yet, and

Hintertux (Austria):

into the spring.

least, that the six-year recession is finally over, is

late-season prospects are looking good

hintertuxergletscher.at (year round).

Things took a turn for the better in the last

also being credited as reasons why more people

at this point,” confirmed Dave Pellat, boss

Levi (Finland): levi.fi (to 10 May).

few days of 2014 when heavy snow meant

are considering booking ski holidays again.

of long-established ski resort and snow

Passo Tonale (Italy):

January was at least “average” at most resorts;

Marion Telsnig, a spokesperson for the UK’s

information portal J2ski.com, who added:

adamelloski.com (to June).

then by the end of January waves of heavier

largest ski holiday tour operator Crystal, also

“A quick review of current snow depths

Riksgränsen (Sweden):

snow began, meaning February half-term and

thinks that, despite the lows, on balance it

against the last two seasons (all available

en.riksgransen.se (to 22 June).

subsequent weeks have been good to excellent.

looks like the season overall will be good.

on J2Ski’s snow history pages) shows after

Tignes (France): tignes.net (to 10 May).

Elsewhere in the world the Dolomites seem

“It was a bit of an odd pattern with no snow

a poor start some areas now have more

Zermatt (Switzerland):

(so far) to have had below-average but still OK

at the beginning of December and it was dire.

snow than last season, particularly in the

Zermatt.ch (year round).

snow cover, it’s been a good winter in Scotland,

But then the snow came and it’s been good

Pyrenees, while the French and Swiss Alps

Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and the

ever since,” said Marion. “Bookings in March

have comparable snow levels at altitude.”

Pyrenees have had an epic winter with good

are really holding up well and we’ve nearly

However, with British ski travel industry stats

cover all season and now the world’s deepest

sold out. I think this is partly due to resorts

not appearing until later and later each year,

“Whilst we’re super busy booking late deals,

snow base at over 5m. Western North America

organising events attracting skiers these

we’re unlikely to know until next autumn whether

our biggest surprise is how many people

has had a fairly dismal winter with little of the

traditional low-season dates. All in all, unless

the turbulent 2014–15 snow season has seen a

are bagging their fave spots for next winter

famed powder and instead warm weather and

something drastic happens like a very bad

return to greater growth, but anecdotal evidence

already,” added Richard Sinclair.

005 // MAR15

FREE SKIING Crans-Montana in Switzerland is offering free skiing to visitors at the end of the season. “The principle is simple: spending 1 night in one of the partner hotels entitles the hotel guest to 1 day of skiing,” said Christine Schmidt, Head of Communications. This offer, intended to boost the end of the winter season 2015, runs to 19 April 2015 (crans-montana.ch/hiver/en/skiforfree).

MONARCH SELL 2015/16 SKI FLIGHTS Monarch (monarch.co.uk) have released its first swathe of destinations and 60,000 tickets for its ski routes for winter 2015–16 for those who like to book early. The route options include two new routes from London Gatwick to Geneva and Innsbruck. Also available to book now are Birmingham to Grenoble or Salzburg, Manchester to Grenoble or Innsbruck, and Gatwick to Grenoble.

LA SCARA The annual La Scara children’s ski racing championships in Val d’Isère each April was once for French children only but now have over 300 foreign skiers joining in for a nail-biting 3 days of world-class downhill which the season runs from 7 to 10 April 2015. VIP SKI offer luxury catered chalet accommodation from £1639pp based on two sharing, departing 5 April (vip-chalets.com).

FIFTH OF INJURIES AREN’T ON SLOPES A survey of 1200 people on behalf of law firm Irwin Mitchell has found that 18% of injuries take place off the slopes,

FULL MOON IN THE SWISS ENGADINE

S

year, as – weather permitting – a full

com) “Full Moon in the Engadine”

moon will be illuminating the slopes.

package from 2–6 April includes

On Saturday 4 April, the night of the

3 nights’ accommodation, daily

full moon, guests of the Grand Hotel

breakfast, two dinners in the Grand

Kronenhof in Pontresina and its sister

Restaurant, Full Moon amenities in

property, the Kulm Hotel St Moritz,

the room, a new interpretation from

will have the slopes of Corvatsch

the Kronenhof Bar of the mystical

In a new twist on the infamous “elevator pitch”

exclusively to themselves from

Soma drink that was traditionally

idea, entrepreneurs are being given the luxury

6.30pm. As well as moonlit skiing,

drunk at the time of the Full Moon,

of 15 minutes to pitch their ideas to investors as

guests can enjoy the slopeside

a Full Moon Ritual in the Kronenhof

they ride up a new chairlift at Taos ski area in

entertainment at the Hossa Bar,

Spa and a Full Moon gift upon

New Mexico.

everal luxury hotels in the Swiss

where a traditional fondue, mulled

departure. Rates start from CHF1005

The resort’s new Kachina Lift opened last

Engadine region will be making the

wine and a DJ will be on offer.

(approx. £650) pp, ski pass CHF35

month, accessing previously hike-to-only

most of the first weekend of April this

The Kronenhof’s (kronenhof.

(approx. £22) pp per day extra.

terrain. The idea of allowing local entrepreneurs to pitch to investors on a lift ride up was conceived by a local business development

while the respondents were on the

organisation ABQid, who said it was a way of

street, at a restaurant or bar, or at their accommodation. 20% said they were injured on lifts and 14% when they were in the terrain park – less than half were

DRAGONS’-DEN-STYLE PITCH IN SKI LIFT

TOP MODELS ARE COWS!

attracting investors into New Mexico with the chance to experience a great ski holiday, with spectacular scenery, and also to let local start-

a popular chocolate bar brand, is

ups share their ideas with them.

in fact the spotted Simmental cow

Twelve entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a

inhabiting the Gstaad region.

dozen investors from six states, with each

Speaking about the decision to

entrepreneur allowed three rides up with a

use cows in their marketing,

potential investor. The investors then vote

a spokesperson for Gstaad

for the four best pitch ideas with a prize

The Skidôme at Rucphen in the Netherlands

Tourism commented:

of $10,000 offered to the pitch ultimately

is set to stage a new type of sledging event

“Following a successful casting

deemed the best.

this month – wok racing. In partnership

audition and a dignified photo

“Unlike traditional pitch competitions, the

injured on regular ski slopes.

WOK RACING ON INDOOR SNOW

with Oriental cuisine company Go-Tan, the

With the Next Top Model TV

promotional literature.

shoot, their images are now

ski lift venue allows participants to spend

indoor snow centre will stage wok races on

franchise proving popular around

Tessa, Alpenrose and Sina are

helping to present the Gstaad

more quality time together, hopefully

its snow slope on 20 March. As the name

the world, the Swiss resort of

three local cows who are part of a

region’s key messages to the

offering greater chances for bonding

suggests, it is a race in a sleigh in the form

Gstaad, which has a rather staid

7000-strong bovine team (there’s

world. As cover girls, they feature

among entrepreneurs and investors,” ABQid

of a large wok. The fastest will be crowned

reputation, surprised everybody

one cow per person in the Gstaad

prominently in the new brochures

Chairman Bill Bice told the Albuquerque

by deciding three local girls would

valley). The cows have many claims

with which we want to awaken the

Journal. “It’s a unique experience that can

become their top models and are

to fame including the fact that the

desire of people all over the world

create much deeper relationships than what

now using their images on their

purple cow of legend, now used as

to holiday in Gstaad.”

happens at a typical cocktail party.”

Dutch Wokslee Champion 2015.

006 // MAR15 // INTHESNOW.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

FREDDY PLANINSCHEK

Heavenly Skiing At Down To Earth Prices

ALTA BADIA’S RETRO WEEKEND

INCREASE HAPPINESS & PRODUCTIVITY

Alta Badia in the Dolomites is to stage a “vintage party” on Saturday

Studies have shown that you get a “happiness boost” from planning and

11/Sunday 12. The South Tirolean centre expects the snow will still

anticipating a holiday and that happiness also leads to greater productivity

be good and the sun shining for the festivities which will begin with

in the workplace, benefitting employers as well as employees.

participating restaurants selecting a vintage period of their choice and

When you are happy your body produces more serotonin. Getting

recreating it with their music and decor.

progressively better at skiing produces a “feedback loop” that builds

On the Sunday, skiers can take part in a vintage skiing competition

self-esteem and creates an upward spiral of more serotonin making

with bamboo poles on the La Para slope, where one of the last of

you even happier.

the old “J-bar” lifts is still operational. Everyone can take part in the

“By booking several short breaks you increase your anticipation

competition, but only old skis are permitted, not modern carving skis.

levels and therefore increase your happiness levels,” said Dan Fox of

You can pre-register by e-mailing lavilla@altabadia.org, or sign up for

Skiweekends.com. “The French call it a ‘Bonne Fatigue’, that feeling

the race on the day of the event.

you have you’ve been on the slopes all day and have exercised then

Awards will be handed out at after-skiing retreat L’Murin, where a

returned to the catered chalet or hotel to indulge in an après-ski treat.

“style contest” (NOT a modern slopestyle contest) will also take place

It’s bound to make you feel happy,” he added.

to celebrate the most original vintage clothing. All participants will be

“Getting a regular fix of mountain fresh air, activity and hopefully sunshine

asked to wear retro skiing clothing and use retro skiing equipment for

is bound to make you feel better! At Ski Weekends we have many return

the entire weekend with the aim of creating a “vintage” environment.

customers and some take up to five holidays a season with us.”

“EVERYTHING ELSE IS A COPY,” SAYS SWISS TOURISM BOSS ZERMATT TOURIST OFFICE

“If you want the original winter tourism country, you have to come to Switzerland. Everything else is a copy,” said Mr Eberhard. “We are a premium destination and we have to differentiate ourselves not on price but on the highest ski

High Quality Catered + Self Catered Accommodation

areas, snow guarantee, authentic villages, short distances, excellent public transportation system and last but not least in being the original winter tourism destination.”

Mr Eberhard added, “Recent developments in the Swiss currency market show that Switzerland has to work even more on delivering the best service and quality, more convenience, seamless Urs Eberhard, Vice Director and Head

2015. The country suddenly became more

travel and a premium experience.”

of Markets at Switzerland Tourism, has

expensive not only against the euro, but also

Mr Eberhard was speaking ahead of the second

acknowledged that Switzerland needs to work

in relation to the US dollar, British pound and

annual International Ski Travel Market (ISTM)

even harder following a jump in costs for skiers

other currencies.

organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, which

arriving from almost everywhere else following

But Mr Eberhard says Switzerland is a “premium

takes place in the InterContinental Davos hotel

the Swiss Central Bank’s decision to abolish

destination” and can distinguish itself on other

over 23 and 24 March, 2015 where he will be a

the euro minimum exchange rate on 15 January

assets, rather than price.

keynote speaker.

French and Swiss Alps Snow Sure Resorts On / Near Piste locations No Hidden Extras Financially Bonded

0151 625 1921 mountainheaven.co.uk FB.COM/INTHESNOW

007 // MAR15

BANFF LIFE IN PICS Some ski resorts close in March, most in April, but a select few have such reliable snow conditions and dedication to the cause that they soldier on later into spring. Of these few stalwarts of snow, the list of those that offer stunning scenery and a vibrant resort community is shorter still. For scenic grandeur, imaginative terrain design and sheer size, the Banff ski region is very difficult to beat.

The region’s three ski areas at Mt Norquay (the smallest hill – just a few minutes from downtown Banff), Sunshine and Lake Louise are open through to May – Sunshine right through to 17 May this year.

With slopes facing in all directions, Sunshine is one of North America’s oldest resorts, boasting Banff’s only ski-in/ski-out hotel and terrain to suit all abilities. For advanced skiers and snowboarders there’s Delirium Dive, the ultimate front country adventure with pitches of 40º and a vertical of 585m.

The stunning ski area of Lake Louise encompasses 11 square miles. Spread over four separate mountain faces interconnected by a lift and trail system that is comparable to the

ALL PICS: SHANNON MARTIN & HENRY GEORGI

European ski circuit concept, this is the largest ski area in Canada.

008 // MAR15

BANFFLAKELOUISE.COM

ISCHGL TOURIST OFFICE

ISCHGL TOPS POLL OF SKI PARTY TOWNS Tirol, a region where the ski resorts took more than

When only British votes were taken into account,

popular party resort in the Alps.

half of the total vote, was Livigno in Italy, famous for

French resorts came top, perhaps reflecting the

The Tirolean village took 24% of all votes cast

its 200+ duty-free bars, which won 8.4% of the vote.

fact that the majority of younger Brits choose to

by 4600 winter-sports enthusiasts from ten

Val Thorens in France ranked fifth with 8.1%. 56% of

ski in France.

European nations in a survey carried out this

respondents said après-ski was an important factor

Les Deux Alpes was the top choice for British

January on behalf of holiday company SnowTrex.

when choosing their holiday destination.

skiers and boarders (21.6%), followed by Val

Two other Tirolean villages – Sölden (12.1%) and

On average, the survey found, European winter-

Thorens (20.4%) in second place. Austrian

Mayrhofen (8.9%) (which will host the Altitude

sports fans will spend 3 evenings during their ski

Tirolean areas made up the remainder of the top

comedy and Snowbombing music festivals as

holiday week out partying, with Dutch travellers

five again though, with traditional party capital

usual this spring) – ranked second and third.

heading out the most – 3.6 evenings per week

of St Anton (11.7%) in third place, followed by

The highest-placed ski area outside the Austrian

for après-ski.

Mayrhofen (10.5%) and Kitzbühel (8.6%).

STEVENMCKENNA.CO.UK

Ischgl has dominated a vote on which is the most

VISITORS UP IN SCOTLAND

NEW LIFT FOR MAYRHOFEN

Largely stable weather conditions in February, with most runs open

Work will begin on an all-new, state-of-the-art, high-tech 3S gondola lift

throughout much of this year at all five northern Scottish ski areas, have

on Mayrhofen’s key route to the Penken ski area as soon as the season

led to visitor numbers being up so far this winter.

ends in April.

“We’re already well ahead of last season at the same point – in fact,

Plans for the new lift were announced in 2013, and the design for the

almost 19% ahead – and also marginally ahead of 2012–13, which was

bigger, faster lift has been confirmed for over a year, but a dispute with

itself a great season,” said Heather Negus, Chair of the joint marketing

a local landowner, now resolved, delayed the construction.

group Ski-Scotland. The snow-sports areas reported that the staggered

The new Doppelmayr-built lift, which should open in time for next

half-term in Scotland, coupled with good snow and some real bluebird

winter, will make the more than 1150m vertical ascent in just 8.2

days, has really benefited them.

minutes and have cabins each capable of seating up to 24 people for a

“We’re delighted with these results,” continued Heather. “Last year we

world-class queue-gobbling hourly uplift capacity of 3840 passengers.

had brilliant snow in huge quantities but lost many days to storms. This

Among numerous innovations will be separate entrances for ski

year, we have good snow, have had some excellent overhead weather,

schools, and the lift will feature an extra two independent back-up

but have still lost a lot of days to storms – and we’re still marginally

drives which will kick in if any technical failure occurs, to ensure the lift

ahead of 2012–13!”

keeps operating.

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

009 // MAR15

MORE WARMTH. LESS WEIGHT.

FREERIDE

E

L E S S O N N O.6 G R E AT- O F F - P I S T E - R O U T E S

Merino with a nylon core

the north face to Piesey-Nancroix.

run builds the adrenalin as the

Then onto the lift system through

Accessed from both the Italian

guide normally chooses to rope

Les Arcs and the Aiguille Rouge

and French sides, the Vallée

the group together. Once off the

cable car, where you can select

Blanche still remains an iconic

arête it’s a fairly easy descent

numerous off-piste routes back

off-piste route. The scenery

with stunning scenery, but you

down into Villaroger. A final stop

is spectacular and in the right

can get caught out – crevasses

at La Ferme for a well-earned beer

conditions even adventurous

are numerous and the weather

and a taxi back to Tignes. Three

intermediates can manage the

can turn very quickly.

incredible off-piste descents in

descent. It’s one of the longest

one day. Other than the first offNorth face of the Valluga,

piste descent to Champagny there

20km and, although used by

St Anton, Austria

are countless options of routes

thousands of skiers, it still has

One to get the heart pumping.

depending on your level of fitness.

to be high up on the list of great

The tiny Valluga cable car in St

very year, hundreds of maverick

off-piste routes that include a

Anton takes you up to 2811m.

Helidrop on the Monterosa,

off-piste skiers armed with the

number of variations for stronger

Access only permitted with

Gressoney, Italy.

latest guidebook head

qualified mountain guides

One of my favourites. Book into

off-piste in search of

and off-piste instructors.

the Jolanda Hotel in Gressoney

powder snow.

Then it’s on to the north

where Annamaria and her family

“Abiding in the midst

face and into the NFZ,

will welcome you. A superbly run

of ignorance, thinking

more commonly known

Italian hotel with the lift literally

themselves wise and

as the “No Fall Zone”,

connected to the hotel. You

learned, fools go

for about 300m; a fall at

can organise a helidrop on the

aimlessly hither and

this point is definitely not

Monterosa with the local guide’s

thither, like blind led

recommended. After the

office or book one of the many

by the blind.”

initial descent the terrain

off-piste courses that have the

Our final article

opens up and it’s all the

helidrop as an optional add-on.

on freeriding this

way down to Zürs. Experts

The helidrop on the Monterosa

only.

is followed with a stunning

winter is about those experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime, where the first rules are – know

Brushed merino traps heat

at the commencement of the

Chamonix, France

off-piste routes in the world at

unforgettable skiing Breathable

The Vallée Blanche,

where you are going, get yourself a local

PHIL SMITH SNOWORKS Phil Smith is founder of Snoworks All-Mountain Ski Courses. Snoworks run Off-Piste and Backcountry courses throughout the winter along with OffPiste Adventure trips to destinations around the world. info@snoworks.com

off-piste descent into Zermatt, Tarentaise Tour,

Switzerland. Then take the Klein

Tignes, France

Matterhorn to the top of Zermatt

A classic off-piste route

and head into the Cervinia ski

that links two of the

area. From here take the Cime

largest ski areas in the

Bianche, a further off-piste

world, the Espace Killy and

descent back to St Jacques.

Paradiski. The descent

Enjoy a late lunch in the little

Icebreaker RealFLEECE

guide or an instructor,

Merino fibre wrapped around a nylon core for strength, then brushed to maximise warmth and softness

and don’t be led into

begins at the top of Palet

restaurant at the foot of the Cime

thinking it’s easy.

(Col du Palet). ski lift in

Bianchi where the owner will

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icebreaker.com

With that in mind, here are four

skiers. Taking the ride in the

Tignes with an off-piste descent to

then cram you into his 4x4 and

of my favourite off-piste routes

Aiguille du Midi cable car to the

the resort of Champagny through

give you a lift into Champoluc

where the experience will last you

start is worth the trip alone, and

a stunning valley. From here, head

where it’s back on the lift system

a lifetime.

the Arête de l’Aiguille du Midi

up to the Bellecôte glacier and ski

into Gressoney.

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010 // MAR15

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10,000 EASTER EGGS HUNT Easter at Courchevel has been getting bigger and bigger each year. “Last year we organised a raffle and the top prize was a giant egg weighing 11 kilos,” said Aymerick Mermoz, Director of Entertainment. After a Saturday night firework show, this Easter Sunday the resort will hide 10,000 chocolate eggs dotted over the ski area. Then there’s the traditional Easter mass when everyone gets together.

THE 250M SKI JUMP A Slovenian ski jumper, Peter Prevc, has become the first person to ski jump more than 250 metres. Making his historic jump in Norway, Prevc was in the air for more than 8 seconds, travelling at more than 100kph, to

PEAK2PEAK IN GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS

and a half football pitches.

SNOW FOUNTAIN FOR DUBAI

HISTORIC LODGE TO REOPEN KEVIN SYMS

cover the distance equivalent of nearly two

Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin

recognised for being the “highest

said Doug Forseth, Vice President of

Rashid Al Maktoum, has launched a

cable car above ground” and also

Government Relations and Special

project that will see the world’s first “snow

boasting the “longest unsupported

Projects at Whistler Blackcomb.

fountain” operating in the emirate, famed

span between two cable car towers”

The lift crosses at up to 436m above

having been included in the 2015

Whistler’s valley floor, suspended

Edition of the Guinness World

between two towers at the record-

Records Book.

breaking distance of 3024m apart.

“Since the Peak2Peak gondola

Not only does the lift transport guests

was conceived we knew we were

between Whistler and Blackcomb

Want to share Marilyn Monroe’s suite or

attempting something that had

Mountains in only 11 minutes, it also

sample a Death in the Afternoon cocktail in

never been done before. Having

allows guests of all ages and levels

Ernest Hemingway’s suite? Or is his friend

ore than 6 years after it opened, the

Guinness recognise our efforts is

of mobility to access a unique alpine

suave Gary Cooper more your style? These

famous Peak2Peak gondola that links

proof of the feats we accomplished

experience. More than two million

three, plus famed skater Sonia Henie and W.

Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains

and just seals the fact the gondola

people have used the lift since it

Averell Harriman, US Ambassador to Britain,

in Canada has been officially

is a must-do experience in Whistler,”

opened in 2008.

friend of Churchill and the man who created

for its man-made wonders including Ski Dubai. The year-round snow fountain will be located in the 47-acre Zabeel Park, one of Dubai’s largest.

NEARLY HALF A $MILLION DAMAGE Partying students from Michigan University caused damage amounting to $430,000 (£275,000) over a spring break weekend

Sun Valley (itself famed as the originator of

at the state’s Treetops ski resort. Resort

chairlifts and hot tubs), all have celebrity suites

management said it had paid $230,000

featuring classic photographs in the totally

WHITE THRILL RETURNS TO ST ANTON

to contractors to repair the damage and was seeking a further $200,000 in

years, its strictest sanction.

EASTER FAMILY TIME AT SKIPLEX Skiplex Reading and Skiplex Basingstoke

TOURISMUSVERBAND ST. ANTON AM ARLBERG - MARIANNE HIESEL

an official body” by the university for four

in June 2015. Sun Valley, Ketchum, in central Idaho, was founded as North America’s first

damage to its business. The Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity will “not be recognised as

renovated Sun Valley Lodge, which will reopen

which is now the benchmark to

destination resort and is now turning 80. The

beat. Times between 11 and 18

legendary Lodge will now have 94 much larger

minutes are a good average, but for

guestrooms, plus a 20,000ft2 spa, fitness

most competitors the main thing is

centre, yoga studio, a glass-enclosed outdoor

just to get over that finishing line.

pool and totally redeveloped restaurants,

Spectators can also look forward to

lounges, lobbies and event space.

the flamboyantly attired participants,

For skiing and snowboarding, Sun Valley

who roll in around half an hour after

retains its uniquely shaped mountains, giant

the serious racers.

natural pyramids with consistent fall lines from

St Anton’s infamous “White Thrill”

descend 1300 vertical metres,

The race kicks off when the lifts

peak to base. The greatest vertical, 3400ft

free-for-all, end-of-season race

including the 150m “pain mountain”

close at 5pm with the mass start

of similar pitch from Mount Baldy to Warm

has been scheduled for 18 April

uphill section, over 9km of mostly

described as “utter carnage” by

Springs, can be lapped on the fast Challenger

(it’s usually £155). The price includes all

this year. A total of 555 skiers,

ungroomed terrain.

some previous British competitors.

lift, as long as legs can cope. This is a mountain

equipment and a fully qualified instructor for

snowboarders and telemarkers

Germany’s Florian Holzinger set

The resort is in party mood (even

resort without queues. There are gentler trails

assemble on the Valluga Ridge for

the current race record time of 7

more than usual) during the evening

elsewhere on Baldy and an excellent separate

the mass start which sees the racers

minutes and 40.6 seconds in 2012,

after the race.

mountain, Dollar, for beginners and parkies.

are offering a special deal for up to 11 family members who can all ski together on the indoor Skiplex slopes for £125 for an hour

the hour and is available until 19 April 2015 (skiplex.co.uk).

012 // MAR15 // INTHESNOW.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

GIVE YOURSELF CARTE BLANCHE

100% PASS RATE AT SNOW TEACHER SCHOOL Students studying to become ski instructors with Basecamp at Lake Louise in Canada this winter scored a 100% pass rate on CSIA (Ski) and CASI (Snowboard) Level 1 Instructor Courses. Basecamp (basecampgroup.com) provides students with a gateway into the instructor world through their new qualifications and a guaranteed post-graduation job interview with the Lake Louise Ski School. To date, Basecamp students make up 15% of all Lake Louise resort staff.

“You’ve trained in our resort, you’ve been trained by our staff; why wouldn’t we want to hire you?!” said Kevin Eaton, Ski School Director.

After successful completion of CSIA and CASI Level 1 Instructor Courses, a large proportion of students will remain in resort and train towards Level 2 qualifications.

Established in 2002, Basecamp is a leading provider of ski and snowboard instructor courses worldwide and was the first organisation

TOM BROWNOLD

to offer BASI ski and snowboard qualifications in France.

NAVAJO MAKE NEW APPEAL The Navajo Nation, the largest native American tribe, has filed a petition against an Arizona ski resort’s snowmaking system, saying that it violates their religious freedom and human rights.

The move is the latest stage in a disagreement that has rumbled on for 15 years surrounding the Arizona Snowbowl’s decision to install a snowmaking system which uses reclaimed waste water as the source for its snowmaking. Waste water uses recycled human waste as part of its constituents, although those who support its use say the water has been so cleaned and purified it is cleaner than most tap water; however, the Najavo Nation, who hold the site of Snowbowl’s ski slopes as sacred, say the snowmaking system insults their religious beliefs.

They were one of a number of groups who fought the snowmaking system for ten years before it was finally installed in 2012.

The appeal was made to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which has no legal power, but whose decisions hold symbolic significance.

TRACEZ VOTRE LÉGENDE FB.COM/INTHESNOW

013 // MAR15

WORDS: ANDY BLEAKLEY

014 // MAR15

@INTHESNOWMAG

B

giant slalom course used by professional

international racers – and it’s a World Cup

racers and get your descent electronically

venue for the exciting sport of biathlon.

timed. There’s also a good 800m-long

Located in the Triglav National Park it

terrain park complete with jumps and a

has 20km of cross-country trails plus the

selection of rails.

biathlon range to test out and enjoy.

For first-timers, Krvavec’s ski school has

The Planica ski jumping centre is

its own dedicated beginners’ area, and

perhaps even more famous, being home

there’s a children’s park complete with

to the world’s biggest ski jump, which

two slides, waves and two low jumps, set

until recently held the world record

in a fairy-tale-style woodland. The park

for the longest jump in the special “ski

can also be used for other activities such

flying” discipline at 239m (the record

as sledging, snow-biking (bikes with

was broken just last month at Vikersund

skis instead of wheels) and air-boarding

in Norway and now stands at 251.5m). A

(inflatable sledges!).

new, longer ski slope now being built at

When you’re staying in Krvavec it’s

Planica may get the record back. Each

eautiful, affordable and easy to reach,

worth making an après-ski visit to Dvor

year, around 10,000 fans gather to watch

Slovenia has a long ski history but is

Jezeršek, a restaurant where guests can

the FIS World Cup Ski Jumping Final

not well known to British skiers and

“taste Slovenia”, located just a couple of

competition here.

boarders, because we tend to either

miles from the slopes. The cuisine here

Ice climbing is another possibility,

stop too soon and ski in the Alps or

is typically Slovenian and it is ranked

offered at Mlačca Gorge, 5 minutes’

Dolomites, or fly over and land in

among the 20 best Slovenian eateries.

drive from Kranjska Gora. This artificially

Bulgaria. This could be a mistake!

Slovenia is a largely mountainous country

VOGEL

with a long history of skiing. The average

One of Slovenia’s original resorts, Vogel

welcome all ability levels from first-timers

height of land in the country is 600m

is in a beautiful location on the edge

to experts, and have all the gear you

above sea level, there are around 50 ski

of the Triglav National Park (the only

need available on site.

areas dotted around the country and the

national park in Slovenia and one of

And Slovenia isn’t just about winter

world-famous Elan skis are made there.

the oldest in Europe) with its slopes

sports. The Aquapark waterpark, linked

But from a ski holiday point of view, the

overlooking Lake Bohinj. The area just

to the Bohinj Park Eco Hotel through an

top-selling points are as follows: first, it’s

celebrated its 50th anniversary and has

underground corridor, offers indoor and

easy to reach on low-cost Wizz Air flights

had a bit of an upgrade to celebrate.

outdoor swimming pools, saunas and

which operate three times a week from

Perfect for beginners and intermediates

fitness services that are free of charge to

London (making short breaks as well

(advanced skiers can cover the whole

hotel guests. The 38,000ft2 facility also

as full-week stays an option); second,

22km of piste at the resort quite quickly),

boasts water slides and water attractions

once you land at Ljubljana Airport the

good ski rental equipment is available

for children.

ski areas are very close – in many cases

at the top station of the gondola,

The 5★ Bohinj Park Eco Hotel is the first

only 30 minutes away; and third, prices

which accesses the main slopes. For

eco-friendly hotel in Slovenia, which is

are much lower than in the Alps, and in

freestylers, Snow Park Vogel covers

powered through a combination of a

some cases lower than Bulgaria.

two hectares and is home to a variety

deep energy well and energy station,

The cherry on the top of the Slovenian

of kickers and other modules such as

and the infrastructure is designed to

snow cake is that three of the country’s

boxes and rails. Adventure seekers

recycle as much energy as possible, for

best ski areas – Krvavec, Vogel and

also have the option to try paragliding,

example through heated floors and an

Kranjska Gora – have gotten together to

airboarding and snow rafting.

air-to-water heat pump.

KRANJSKA GORA

BLED

Thanks to its World Cup races each

Slovenia’s best-known destination resort,

offer the Slovenian Alps Ski Pass which costs only around £120 for six days.

KRVAVEC

staffed by friendly, helpful staff who

winter, Kranjska Gora, which is located

on the shores of Lake Bled, popularly

Located only five miles and 15 minutes

right up on the Austrian border, is one of

regarded as one of the world’s most

transfer from Ljubljana Airport, Krvavec

the biggest and best-known Slovenian

scenic, does not really have ski slopes of

markets itself as the “closest resort to

resorts. Perfect for young families, it’s

its own other than a small beginners’ hill.

London” … and there’s some truth in that

the only one of the three ski areas which

Open evenings and weekends are not

marketing claim, as if you add the flight

has hotels located right at the foot of

included in the multi-area pass.

time and transfer time together, it is indeed

the slopes. Up above, the runs progress

It is however one of the best places to

much closer than resorts in the Alps –

from blue to black grading across the

base yourself for a holiday in Slovenia

even the closest of which involve longer

mountain face, which means that the

thanks to its extensive shopping and

transfers after marginally shorter flights!

beginners’ slopes are easy to reach and

dining opportunities, as well as the fact

The centre has over 30km of maintained

for more advanced skiers the central

that buses run the short distances from

ski slopes, served by 11 lifts, ranging from

slopes are less busy.

there to the three ski areas.

a sunny day there are some of the best

BESIDES DOWNHILL

So for a small country, Slovenia packs a

vistas in Slovenia of the Ljubljana valley

Those who follow winter sports on

lot in – and pretty much all of it is within

and the nearby Alps.

Eurosport will be aware of several

an hour of the airport, and many parts

There are snow sports for all ability levels.

famous snow-sports sites in Slovenia

only 10 or 15 minutes away.

For experienced skiers and boarders

besides the country’s Alpine centres.

Could it be time to fly over the Alps, but

Krvavec is famed for its freestyle and off-

The Pokljuka plateau is well known for

not go as far as the Balkans, for your

piste terrain when conditions are good,

its winter-sports facilities, which are

next budget snow-sports trip?

and there is the opportunity to ski on a

open to all abilities from total novices to

1450m to 1971m above sea level, and on

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

created frozen waterfall, 45m high, is

SLOVENIA INFO RESORTS: Bled: blejski-grad.si/en Kranjska Gora: kranjska-gora.si/en Krvavec: rtc-krvavec.si/en Mlačca Gorge: kranjska-gora.si/en/ attractions/natural-sights/mlacca-gorge Planica: planica.si/home Pokljuka Plateau: center-pokljuka.si Vogel: vogel.si/winter Dvor Jezeršek: jezersek.si/en/dvor-jezersek Elan Skis: elan.si

TRAVEL: Shape Sports Slovenian Ski Holidays: shapesports.co.uk Wizz Air: wizzair.com Bohinj Park Eco Hotel: bohinj-park-hotel.si/eng/ Hotel Jelka (Pokljuka): hotel-jelka.si/en Ramada Kranjska Gora: hitholidays.si/en/ hotel/ramada-hotel-suites-kranjska-gora

015 // MAR15

A

WORDS: DEBBIE GABRIEL

French resort of Saint Foy, between the Espace Killy and Paradiski (Les Arcs and la Plagne).

The first thing that makes Chalet Pelerin different is that it is run by American company Eleven, based in Crested Butte, Colorado, so this is where American high-energy enthusiasm and “no problem” attitude meets and frankly obliterates the Gallic shrug.

Eleven isn’t the bland American “have a nice day” business model either. The company has created a seriously cool portfolio of holiday properties around the world – a Patagonian lodge in South America, an Amsterdam town house and even a farm in Iceland.

They’re not just about winter sports but any outdoor activity – rafting, kayaking and kite surfing are on the agenda.

But when it comes to winter sports, helicopters are the order of the day because they’re the easiest way

and better over recent years, but that sense that the

to reach virgin slopes – because if you want to make

customer is king and nothing is too much trouble

your guests happy, well, what else would you offer?

that you can find on a North American ski holiday still

Chalet Pelerin is very comfortably furnished with four

hasn’t quite made it across the Atlantic; it’s probably a

en-suite double rooms and a bunk room for children.

cultural thing.

There’s a lot of attention to detail in the rooms with

So I was intrigued by the prospect of a visit to Chalet

the overall feel – rustic with a hint of contemporary.

Pelerin in Le Miroir, a small hamlet near the cult

Downstairs there’s an Endless Pool and hot tub, and

DAVID O. MARLOW

ccommodation options in the Alps have got better

016 // MAR15

the chalet has an ultra-high-tech media system.

La Thuile from La Rosière by ski lift, but determined

The chalet’s resident chef again does not go down

to get us and skis in a helicopter whatever Mother

the normal Alpine route but instead brings in seafood

Nature might have been thinking, Eleven did send

and other contemporary dishes that make you think

a helicopter to pick us up after we lingered too long

“That’s different.”

over lunch and missed the last lift back.

Things really start to get interesting in the boot room,

The team knew their skiing (we skied all seven of

the best equipped I’ve ever seen and complete with a

the resorts mentioned in our 4-day stay, somehow

barrel of beer on the side. Each chalet guest has their

managing to get fired off a bungee ramp above

own “open” locker choice of top-of-the-range Wagner

Tignes at one point too), and snow stashes, they also

skis, and there are backpacks complete with avalanche

know how to party. One special experience involved

safety airbags sat ready for you to hit the snow.

a 40-minute hike through the woods to the Chalet’s

But the real Eleven difference from the Alpine norm

outpost the “Alpage” (no other way to get there!)

are their people. Our group was hosted by the

where a cheese fondue and big drinks menu meant

most enthusiastic guides I’d ever met, making us

the laughs were plentiful and our hosts’ many talents

believe anything was possible and really getting your

turned out to include stand-up comedy, polished off

adrenalin pumping.

with a firework display especially for us.

Alas, because of conditions, we never did get to

The conclusion? Combining North American

heli-ski during my stay, and while heli-skiing is banned

enthusiasm and service standards with traditional

in France, it is possible to take off from there and

European skiing can work, and Eleven work very hard

pop into Italy. We did that the conventional way to

to make sure it does. It’s all about the experience.

ELEVENEXPERIENCE.COM

WORLD’S DEEPEST SNOW BASE PASSES 5M MARK Huge snowfalls in the Pyrenees in the last

times reaching 5m before the rate of thaw

Andorra reported 166cm of fresh snow in the

week of February led to a ski area on the

starts to overtake the rate of accumulation in

last week of February, but its reported base

French side of the southern European

late winter or early spring, occasionally even

remained little more than it was before all the

mountain chain reporting the first 5m+ snow

reaching 6m (20 feet). The areas that report the

snow fell, at 2.4m.

depth in the world this season.

biggest snowfall most seasons, such as Niseko

A number of resorts in the Alps, including

Piau Engaly reported its base had reached

in Japan or Mount Baker in Washington State,

Madesimo in Italy and Andermatt in Swit-

5.4m (18 feet) on 1 March. It had received over

USA, are not normally the areas that also report

zerland, have been reporting snow depths

2m of snow in the previous 5 days.

the biggest snowbases – although sizable, their

around 4.7 to 4.8m for most of this year, but

Typically the snow depth builds through the

bases do not usually pass the 5m mark.

they had not quite climbed to pass the 5m

winter at ski areas around the world, some-

Grandvalira (Pas de la Casa and Soldeu) in

mark as we went to press.

DOES YOUR EQUIPMENT PERFORM AS WELL AS IT SHOULD...?

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A pair of custom fitted boots will be more comfortable than you can possibly imagine and give better performance than your old ski boots ever could.

Skis have now become much more versatile and user friendly helping you ski in all snow conditions.

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BRITISH BRONZE IN TELEMARK WORLDS

Clothing is more waterproof and breathable and has added freedom of movement and warmth.

Safety has improved, helmets are sleeker and offer much more protection, avalanche transceivers are easier to use and airbag backpacks are becoming essential.

Jasmin Taylor, 21, has won

2:03.35 for the two runs.

Great Britain’s first FIS Telemark

“It’s great to finally ski the way

World Championship medal in

I know I can ski,” said Jasmin

Steamboat Springs, USA.

after the race. “I felt so solid

Jasmin had arrived in Colorado

on the jump and went long.

just a few days ago from her

I’m so pleased to have won a

training base in Les Houches,

significant medal at this level –

France, and was competing

feels awesome!”

against the world’s fastest

Telemark skiing originated in

Telemark ski racers at the World

Norway in the 1860s, around

Championships.

40 years before alpine skiing,

Following official training on

practised by the majority of

Monday, racing commenced

downhill skiers, came along.

yesterday with the Telemark

“I am so very proud of Jaz; she

Sprint race – the shortest of the

has given it her all since starting

three FIS Telemark disciplines

her journey with Telemark,” said

with each run typically lasting

FIS Telemark Chairman and ex-

45 seconds.

British athlete, Andrew Clarke,

Starting with bib number 7,

adding, “What a transformation

Jasmin skied into third position

from the unsteady Telemarker

after the first run, just seconds

myself and Jack Harvard Taylor

behind Argeline Tan-Bouquet of

took for a trial ski in 2010. She

France and Switzerland’s World

deserved that today! When

Cup leader Amélie Reymond.

you put it into perspective

During the second run Jasmin

considering the competition

skied well in the GS gates

and see they all come from

before storming through the

countries where skiing is almost

skating section at the bottom

second nature, it makes it all

of the course and finishing

that much sweeter.”

with a combined time of

www.jaztelemark.com

...isn’t it time you upgraded your equipment and made the most of your experience in the mountains?

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FREERIDE | FREESTYLE | TOURING | TELEMARK | RACE | RECREATIONAL FB.COM/INTHESNOW

017 // MAR15

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Weekly coach travel from the UK to the French Alps The cheapest and easiest environmentally friendly way to over 40 great French Ski resorts Departs from London & Folkestone Free on-board magazine Group discounts available

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BEGINNER’S GUIDE

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– for full list of resorts and prices

THE UK PARTNER FOR UCPA

THE UK PARTNER FOR UCPA

STUDENT STUDENT WEEKS WEEKSDEUX ALPES DEUX ALPES

N

WORDS: LORNA MCGACHIE

is a heavy tolerance to early

TOP TIPS:

dictating their skiing hours.

mornings, a strong, sturdy liver

 If you’re looking for a chalet host

It’s important to secure a flat and

and most importantly, a love for

role, it may well be worth investing

some housemates before you go.

the fluffy white pow.

in an approved cookery course to

If you need flatmates, try writing a

There are two routes to choose

improve your skills and get a feel for

forum post on natives.co.uk, and

the food you might be cooking.

email the property management

Various Various dates/resorts dates/resorts New Year weekNew Year week ––see see ourour website website for more forinfo more info 27th Dec. 201427th – 3rd Dec. Jan. 2015 2014 – 3rd Jan. 2015

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to go through a

• 7 nights accommodation • 7 nights accommodation • All meals • All meals • 6.5 days equipment hire • 6.5 days equipment hire • 6.5 days lift pass • 6.5 days lift pass • 12 hrs instruction • 12 hrs instruction

£399 £399

CHAMONIX CHAMONIX

£626

Argentiére. Various Argentiére. dates Various dates – see our website – see for more our website info for more info

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work as either

of how to ski and are well on your

rep, chef or transfer

superstar, one week a year in the

driver/

glistening pow may no longer be

maintenance

N .5

for the latest

O

a chalet host, resort

• 7 nights accommodation • 7 nights accommodation enough to satisfy you and it may • 6.5 days equipment hire • 6.5 days equipment hire – incl. transceiver, shovel, probe – incl. transceiver, shovel, probebe worth considering a move to • All meals • All meals the Alps to do your first winter • 6.5 days lift pass • 6.5 days lift pass £491 £820 £820season.

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websites asking for prices for flats.  Check out

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ow that you’ve learnt the basics

SPLITBOARD SPLITBOARD WEEK WEEKway to becoming an Olympic

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young seasonaires, is

jobs in a

BECOMING A SEASONAIRE

man. If you have a limited budget and don’t want the hassle

It’s risky arriving in resort without a job secured but restaurants quite often have glass-collecting or snow-clearing jobs to get you

variety of

started, and there are normally

resorts.

Saturday cleaning jobs, plus some

They

seasonaires will quit, leaving job

advertise

openings, but take enough money

on behalf of all the leading tour operators

including Crystal, Neilson and VIP SKI as

to tide you over if needed.

TOP TIPS:  Be careful who you choose to live with. Try to arrange a meeting with

Typically lasting from late

of finding your own work or

November to early May, moving

accommodation, then this is a

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Touring.

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to the Alps for this length of

fantastic way to do it. Seasonaires

 Most companies take

time allows you to experience

in these roles typically don’t

applications from June, so get in

 Read all contracts carefully,

• 6 Days Touring skis, boots, poles • 6 Days Touring skis, boots, poles transceiver, shovel, probe transceiver, shovel, probe • 6 Nights accommodation • 6 Nights accommodation • 6 days guiding • 6 days guiding • Full board • Full board £901 £901 • Return from Zermatt • Return from Zermatt

an entire spectrum of seasonal

earn much more than pocket

there early to secure a position.

including the small print. You don’t

conditions, from the biting

money, but tips can be good and

The early bird catches the worm.

want to be sprung with a hefty flat

December blizzards to summery

importantly your accommodation,

April. You’ll also have plenty

lift pass, meals and transport are

The second route is to find work

of time to improve your skills

all arranged and paid for by your

and accommodation yourself

company. These roles are very

which requires more effort,

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018 // MAR15

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Bargain Price: €3,300 | zai Scadin

cost of most skis. But his determination

on Disentis’ slopes testing the zai range to

has paid off: at just over a decade old, zai

select their favourite model before Jacomet

is recognised by those in the know as one

walks them through the finer details at the

of the world’s finest artisanal ski makers.

workshop: bonded cedar-wood stave or

Jacomet’s extensive (and expensive)

carbon-fibre-wrapped granite core? And what

materials list now stretches to include items like Swiss green granite, patented carbon fibre and natural rubber. His list of design and business partners includes major luxury players like Hublot, Bentley and Loro Piana.

However, he does largely remain true to his

Benedictine monastery have in common?

mantra: “A zai ski consists of everything a

In one Rhaeto-Romanic word: zai. Meaning

good ski needs – and nothing more.”

“tough” in the original Sursilvan language

To incentivise people to join the 5,000-strong

of the Swiss mountain village of Disentis,

club of loyal zai ski owners, Jacomet and

zai is a boutique ski manufacturer founded

his band of merry workmen offer free tours

by local man Simon Jacomet. After years

of their workshop in Disentis. Wedged into

spent designing skis for major global brands,

the Rhine Valley at the point where the

colour vulcanised natural rubber top surface?

Jacomet returned home in 2003 to set up

Oberalp and Lukmanier mountain passes

(One customer had zai create a green to

an artisanal ski workshop, determined to

meet, Disentis is a sleepy town that counts

match his Bentley.)

“transcend mass-produced designs in quality,

its locals at just over 2,000. While most are

Then it all gets a bit transcendental.

materials and handling.”

rather elderly, there’s a small gang of young,

Jacomet, who employs the old dears from

With a starting price of £3,000 per pair of

freeriding Swedes among them, who have

Disentis’ retirement home to knit zai’s £80

handmade and individually numbered skis,

set up a couple of hotels and bars (Lodge

woolly hats, has known the monks of the

Jacomet’s babies certainly transcend the

SAX and Nangijala) over the past few years.

town’s Benedictine Abbey (Switzerland’s

As those familiar with off-piste ski havens

largest) all his life and offers clients the

like Engelberg and Andermatt will know,

unique opportunity to enjoy supper with

the presence of Swedes is a pretty failsafe

them in the Abbey before spending the

indicator of epic freeriding and, sure enough,

night in a monastic cell. Relieved of your

Disentis is an off-piste gem, making it the

phone for total “reduction to the essential”,

perfect testing ground for ski buyers.

you can meditate on whether you’ve got a

The shopping trips generally start with

spare £4,000 or so for a cassacca ski suit,

a helicopter ride over from St Moritz, or

carbon helmet and goggles to complete the

somewhere equally glamorous, and land

zai package.

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020 // MAR15

WORDS: GABY LE BRETON

ZAI.CH

MOST SEASONAIRES ON CAREER BREAK The majority of gap-year seasonaires are

sector – 37% – are career breakers.

as an associate at a law firm in order to fit in the

increasingly mid-career breakers rather than

“The job market is becoming increasingly

ski season.

pre-university gallivanters, according to ski

flexible with individuals seeking to diversify their

Another Powder White employee, Paul Meechem

operator Powder White (powderwhite.com),

experience,” said Powder White co-founder

(60), a chalet host in Chalet Appaloosa in Val

who say the average seasonaire recruit has an

Claire Freeland. “These days the largest group

d’Isère, decided on the lifestyle change after 42

increasingly older profile, with many applicants

among our applicants are professionals seeking

years of working as a loss adjuster.

now in their thirties.

time out from their tough jobs.”

“Once our daughter went to university, it was the

Of the 98 seasonaires the company has employed

Among Powder White’s current employees is

ideal time for my partner and I to exploit our shared

for the 2014/15 season, 9% are career seasonaires,

Gretchen Lennon (29), the company’s Resort

love of skiing and cooking. Since we both had a lot

22% are pre-university gap-year students, 32% are

Manager in Verbier who managed to build in a

of experience in handling clients face to face, the

on a post-university gap year, but the largest single

six-month delay before starting a new position

position of a chalet host was the perfect fit,” he said.

SLOPE OFF THIS WINTER

HELLY HANSEN TO PROVIDE ESF UNIFORMS

BRITISH SKI TEAM SET NEW WORLD RECORD

Helly Hansen will be the official uniform provider for the instructors

A British team have set the official world record for the fastest mile

of the famous French Ecole du Ski Français (ESF), now the world’s

on roller skis by a linked team. They set their record at Hyde Park in

largest ski school with more than 2.3 million students taught each

London, coming in at 6 minutes and 28 seconds. Adam Libbey, Chris

winter, over the next two seasons. Helly Hansen will outfit more than

Brooks, Max Willcocks, Richard Gibbs and four-time Olympian Chemmy

15,000 instructors at 250 resorts across France, beginning with next

Alcott, calling themselves The Arctic V Team and sponsored by travel

winter 2015–16.

insurer Columbus Direct, were determined to achieve their first official

“Beyond the iconic red colour, the ESF teams, suited up on the

Guinness World Record title after they unofficially broke the record for

mountain, are style icons and leaders in performance and technique.

the farthest distance travelled on a static cross-country machine in 24

At Helly Hansen, we share that same concept – we call it Scandinavian

hours last November.

Design, and we adhere to the notion that we should never compromise

The Arctic Challenge takes place from March 20–22 where they will be

between style and performance,” said Erik Burbank, Helly Hansen

skiing for 3 days, covering 160km in Greenland, where temperatures

Senior Vice President. Already the official uniform partner of more

can drop to 30 degrees centigrade below freezing at night! They’re

than 70 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world,

aiming to raise over £30,000 for Ski4Cancer – a charity committed to

facebook.com/VoyagesSncf.UK

clothing 33,000 ski and mountain professionals. hellyhansen.com

cancer research and patient respite. www.ski4cancer.org

twitter.com/VoyagesSncf_UK

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

021 // MAR15

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JULIEN DESMOND

21-28 MAR

3-6 APRIL

Rock The Pistes returns to the Portes

Snowboxx, Alpe d’Huez: The affordable

Black Weekend: Wild off-piste skiing,

du Soleil with afternoon outdoor gigs

and laidback festival (accommodation,

gear testing, tartiflette or a “hot dog” (a

performed free of charge at resorts

lift pass and festival ticket from little

dual track of mogul skiing) organised by

around the huge Franco-Swiss ski region.

more than the cost of a lift pass at £229)

the brand Black Crows skis, it has to be

rockthepistes.com

moves from Andorra to the excellent

Chamonix’s infamous Black Weekend.

Alpe d’Huez this season. snowboxx.com

20 live performances and DJ sets.

16-22 MAR

23-27 MAR

World Cup Finals: The big ending

Altitude Comedy Festival: What better

celebration of the World Cup season

stage for this perfect mix of boarding,

takes place at the heart of Les 3 Vallées

comedy and music than in one of Tirol’s

this year when the most successful

leading resorts, Mayrhofen. This year’s

racers wind up the competitive season

headliners are Bill Bailey and Sean Lock.

and decide who’s top dog.

altitudefestival.com

Sprin g

21-28 MAR

The Brits, Tignes: The longest-running winter festival, staged since 1989, is back with its successful mix of worldclass freestyle competition and fun

28 MAR

Xtreme Verbier: The much anticipated

Austrian Tirol for its annual takeover of Mayrhofen, always one of the best bets for the biggest acts and parties. snowbombing.com

18 APRIL The White Thrill: This end-of-season participants race down 9km of

and extreme slopes; the Bec des

unprepared slopes, over 1300m of

Rosses is the ultimate playground

vertical, including 150m uphill.

freerideworldtour.com

SAM MELLISH PHOTOGRAPHY

biggest music festival returns to the

free-for-all spectacular sees 555

resident DJs Kommissar and Tony B.

Blues the Ski Shop – All stores – bluestheskishop.co.uk Ellis Brigham – Select stores – ellis-brigham.com Glide + Slide – Otley – glideslide.co.uk Ski Bartlett - Hillingdon, London – skibartlett.com Snowfit – Norwich – snowfit.co.uk Snow + Rock - Select stores – snowandrock.com Ultimate Outdoors – Select stores – ultimateoutdoors.com White Stone - Harrogate – white-stone.co.uk

Snowbombing, Mayrhofen: The

descend treacherous narrow passages

for the best freeriders on the planet.

FISCHER AUTHORISED VACUUM DEALERS

6-11 April

final of Freeride World. Competitors

partying. The 2015 line-up will include

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Molded to the individual shape of your foot and lower leg, the Fischer VACUUM fits so perfectly that you will never want to take it off.

ANTHONY UPTON

15-21 MAR

PAIN MCSHLONKEY BACK IN SQUAW VALLEY Modestly entitled “the greatest ski competition known to man or woman”, the “Pain McShlonkey Classic” or “PMS” race returned to Squaw Valley, California, at the weekend. Celebrated for his playful spirit, Shane McConkey was the mastermind behind the original Pain McShlonkey Open that debuted in 2003, a behind-the-scenes late-night race between competitors at the 1998 Winter X Games. The current event, with skiers competing on snowblades (mini skis), has raised over $186,000 for charity. The main snowblade race saw 30 of the world’s top winter athletes including Olympians like Daron Rahlves taking on 30 amateurs in an anything-goes Hot Dog Downhill. Amateurs earned their spot in this snowblade banzai by submitting an “Awkward Selfie” online.

“The best way to keep Shane’s legacy alive is to remember to laugh at yourself and live life to the fullest,” said Sherry McConkey. “Even if you can’t be here, you should still do something outrageously silly or show

STEFAN SCHLUMPF - SWITZERLAND

random kindness to a stranger in honour of this amazing man.”

InTheSnow House FP

PAY WHAT YOU WANT PASS While a number of resorts have been trying to outdo each other to offer the best deal on a lift pass when you book a hotel stay, Davos Klosters in Switzerland have turned the question of “How low can you go?” on its head by offering people who book a stay in a selection of resort hotels on certain low-season dates the chance to pay what they want.

FREE APP FOR ALL DEVICES

The “Pay what you want” campaign runs from Monday to Friday over the latter half of the month up to 31 March and can be booked in conjunction with selected hotel accommodation only in a double room for a minimum of 2 nights.

The offer is valid on a 2-day midweek pass – normally priced at CHF139 ( just under £100) on most of the 350km of the ski area, except the Schatzalp area. Hotel guests receive a voucher with their booking confirmation which they can use to “negotiate” the price for a 2-day lift pass when they check into their hotel.

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023 // MAR15

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WORDS: GABRIELLA LE BRETON

O 024 // MAR15

had any Euros on us and credit cards weren’t

with France’s La Rosière (the Espace San

accepted. Kicking ourselves, we apologised

Bernardo) and the fact that it’s known among

and made to leave but the bar lady casually

Italians as “little Siberia” for its frequent

waved off our lack of cash, insisting that we

snowstorms, La Thuile is quintessentially

simply return the following day and pay then.

Italian. The grand old buildings are hewn

Pouring our beers, she also dished out a vast

from great pieces of rough stone and timber

bowl of crisps for us before returning to her

with traditional Aosta Valley stone roof tiles,

conversation with her only other guests, the

the pizzas are feather light, the ski instructors

lift operators.

are nut brown and the lifts could do with

This kind of trust and hospitality is rare

updating. There are even Roman ruins to

anywhere in the world but I’ve certainly

inspect and a resident Master Chocolatier,

never experienced it in a ski resort. However,

Stefano Collomb, whose sweet creations are

La Thuile surprised me on many levels

so famous that La Thuile has been an official

n the verge of ordering a couple of beers

when I visited it earlier this winter. Despite

“City of Chocolate” since 2009.

in the local après-ski bar, La Buvette, my

its French name, its location 5 miles from

La Thuile basked briefly in 1980s ski glamour

boyfriend and I realised that neither of us

France as the crow flies, its shared ski area

when Italy’s glitterati flocked to what was

@INTHESNOWMAG

yourself to some reasonably priced heli-

Thai lady who takes up residence in the boot

skiing, with prices starting from just €50pp for

room as guests return from a day’s skiing to

one heli-drop (based on a group of four) with

bathe and massage your feet. Although the

HeliSki La Thuile.

edelweiss gin and tonics served up at the

While Ceffa concurred that the arrival

bar come a close second …

of Nira Montana is superb news for La

I have little doubt that Nira Montana is the

Thuile, he also echoed what several locals

first step in an exciting new direction for La

mentioned: that their brand spanking new

Thuile. The presence of a 5★ hotel can’t fail

5★ is disappointingly unpretentious. Built in

to encourage local properties to pull their

traditional Aosta Valley style in a residential

socks up, although I hope that it won’t result

area a 5-minute walk from the centre of

in too much jazzing up of

town, the unobtrusive three-storey timber

local restaurants like Lo Tatà, Pepita and

and stone building blends in pretty subtly.

Taverna Coppapan, which are heart-

Once inside, it’s all about low-key luxury:

warmingly rustic, authentic beauties. For

timber reclaimed from local farmhouses

the moment, however, I say just enjoy an

lines the walls, chunks of tree trunk serve as

authentic Italian town with great skiing,

tables and oversize leather armchairs lit by

inexpensive restaurants and a fabulous, 5★

hand-crafted Foscarini copper lamps beckon

hotel at 4★ prices.

by the intimate bar.

Silver birch trunks separate a cosy trattoria, which serves delicious pizzas fresh from a

FURTHER INFO

then the fabulously modern Hotel Planibel

offers some superb skiing. If you do mind

at the base of the ski slopes. As heydays go,

the weather, you can usually nip across the

it was shorter lived than neon onesies: the

border to France to find warmer conditions.

VIPs quickly migrated to the less Siberian

Together with La Rosière, La Thuile lays claim

Courmayeur, replaced by families and budget

to 150km of pistes, including two storming

travellers for whom the now faded Planibel

black pistes, numbers 2 and 3. The latter,

complex and utilitarian base village may not

which reaches a gradient of 73% in places

be glam but are convenient and inexpensive.

as it plunges 800m into town, will test the

However, thanks to MPS Puri, CEO of the

world’s best from 20 to 21 February 2016,

Nira chain, it would appear that La Thuile is

as it welcomes the Women’s World Cup

set to return to those glamorous days, having

Downhill and Super G.

welcomed its first 5★ hotel, Nira Montana, in

Skiing with the larger-than-life local ski

December. Unashamedly stubborn, Puri likes

instructor, Carlo Ceffa, I came to share his

to select off-the-beaten-track locations for

passion for the skiing off the Argillien Express

his stylish boutique hotels. Thus, Nira Alpina

chair: a web of red runs in a secluded,

in St Moritz is huddled against the base of

ruggedly beautiful valley tucked away from

Corvatsch mountain in the hamlet of Surlej –

the main slopes. Another favourite is the red

the resort’s only ski-in/ski-out hotel, it’s also a

piste 7, an 11km-long descent from the top of

10-minute drive from central St Moritz.

the resort, Chaz Dura (2579m), which winds

Happily, you stand to benefit from Puri’s

gently through the San Bernardo bowl down

stubbornness: aware that La Thuile is no St

into forests all the way into La Thuile – a stop

Moritz or Courchevel, the definitively 5★ Nira

for a drink and/or lunch on the sunny terrace

Montana is (currently) available at distinctly

of the Lo Riondet mountain hut along the

4★ prices.

way is a must. Heading across to La Rosière,

For a man who doesn’t ski, Puri has an

around the San Bernardo Pass, there are

excellent nose for great places to ski. There’s

fabulous high-Alpine powder bowls and

little doubt that Corvatsch is a better ski

couloirs to play in, and the fun of being able

hill than Corviglia, the mountain at whose

to pop over to France for lunch (go all-out

feet St Moritz’s other luxury hotels lie. And,

Savoyarde at the cute L’Ancolie at the base

if you don’t mind the odd storm, La Thuile

of Les Eucherts). Furthermore, you can treat

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025 // MAR15

height dining room. The 55 bedrooms

One night’s B&B at Nira Montana

and suites are warm and stylish, each with

(niramontana.com) costs €200 per double.

a private balcony or terrace, espresso

Travel to La Thuile by flying to Turin (160km

machines and free wi-fi. The spa features

from the resort) or Geneva (134km from the

two saunas, a heated pool with various water

resort) with airlines including BA, easyJet

massage stations, a hammam and a crack

and SWISS. From there hire a car or take a

team of therapists. Best of all, however, is the

transfer (FindTransfers.com).

ALL PICS: NIRA MOUNTAIN

wood-burning oven, from the smart, double-

Green

BY PATRICK THORNE

GREEN THINKING EMBEDDED IN SKI RESORTS It’s a decade since the saveoursnow.com website was created with the intention of trying to track what ski resorts were doing to minimise their environmental impact and publicise holiday accommodation in ski resorts that went that extra mile to help the environment.

Back then the ski industry was (rather unfairly and illogically) under attack and somehow being slated as the cause of climate change, rather than a victim of it.

How things have changed over the past decade. Ski areas have between them invested hundreds of millions of pounds in lower-energy snowmaking systems and lifts on the slopes, where there are also groomers running on biodiesel or even just clean electricity. Two-fifths of the world’s top 250 ski areas are now 100% green fuel powered, a substantial number of them generating that energy themselves on site and exporting excess to the grid.

Some of the big multi-million projects by individual resorts have included a hydro system to meet all Whistler Blackcomb’s power needs, a carbon-negative power plant using reclaimed methane gas from old mines working to meet all Aspen Snowmass’s needs and, new this year, a planned solar power plant to meet all the power needs of the Pitztal ski area in Austria.

In ski resort buildings, energy efficiency has constantly improved, so in many cases they use less electricity than summer holiday accommodation use of air conditioning.

Most of us will still be responsible for generating

POUND REGAINS LOST GROUND ON SWISS FRANC

T

the Swiss Central Bank decided to no

to buying CHF1.47 – virtually the same

the industry that British tourism to

longer tie its exchange rate to the euro,

as its value 12 months ago.

Switzerland was doomed even before

causing the franc’s value to soar against

“Exchange rates have been a pertinent

the currency fluctuations, the country

most other currencies.

subject for Switzerland Tourism since

reported a 1.7% growth in overnight stays

At that point on 15 January the pound

15 January 2015 when the National

by Brits in 2014, thanks in part to a jump

dropped from buying CHF1.55 to a low

Bank decided the discontinuation of

of 7.1% in December at the start of the ski

of buying only around CHF1.3 overnight.

the minimum exchange rate of CHF1.20

season. The UK is Switzerland’s second

Coming soon after a change to Swiss law

per euro,” said Sara Roloff, Manager of

biggest market after Germany.

had put the cost of employing chalet staff

Media and Communications UK & Ireland

in the country up dramatically for British

at Switzerland Tourism, who added,

operators, it was feared that this sudden

“The euro will remain a challenge for

increase in costs could be the death knell

tourism in Switzerland this summer, but

for mainstream ski tourism to Switzerland.

we’re happy to see that the pound has

As we went to press, however, the

recovered quickly and the exchange rate

he value of the British pound has almost

value of the pound had rapidly

CHF/£ is almost back to where it was a

recovered the value it lost against

regained lost ground and had

year ago.”

the Swiss franc 6 weeks ago when

recovered by more than 12% back up

Despite fears expressed by some in

WORLD’S SNOWIEST SKI AREA CLOSED FOR LACK OF SNOW

less CO2 on our ski holiday than in our day-to-day lives back home; therefore, the only problem with

The ski resort that regularly scores the

them Cypress Mountain near Vancouver,

Californian areas have again been hit

that is the CO2 we produce actually getting to

world’s biggest snowfall each season,

a venue at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

hard by the lack of snow, although

averaging over 19m of the stuff, Mt

The lack of snow and warm conditions

after a dry, warm January and

Baker in Washington State, in western

are down to a Pacific weather system

February, March had seen up to 3ft of

North America, has had to close

which, although most keenly felt

snowfall at Tahoe resorts, dramatically

temporarily for lack of snow.

closest to the coast, has at times led

improving conditions.

The ski area is one of a number from

to unusually warm periods and rainfall

“This winter has not gotten the best of

southern California up to British

rather than powder snow in areas

us. We remain optimistic and hopeful,”

Columbia that have been forced to close

famous for it, including Alberta, BC,

said Gwyn Howat, Operations Manager

for periods in recent months, among

Colorado and Utah.

at Mt Baker.

and from the ski resort – if that’s a concern to you, then rail, coach or full-car overland travel to your preferred resort is the best option. Thankfully these modes of transport all continue to get more efficient, and in the case of rail ever faster and more comfortable too.

026 // MAR15

@INTHESNOWMAG

THE LEGENDARY HAWX FIT. NOW WITH MEMORY FIT, 3M™ THINSULATE™ AND SOLE FLEX.

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END-OF-SEASON BARGAIN For the week commencing 11 April, Mountain Heaven (mountainheaven.co.uk; 0151 625 1921) are offering selected catered chalets in a number of French resorts for £299pp (was £399), including shared transfer from Geneva. Resorts on offer include La Plagne, La Rosière, La Tania, Les Arcs, Courchevel and Morzine. Usual high standards of food, wines and accommodation, just a great endof-season price. Please ring for availability.

SPEED DAY Les Deux Alpes will stage a “Speed Day” on Saturday, 28 March. All are welcome to TRISTAN SHU

take part and see how fast they can ski on the Fee piste (2600m) accessed from the top of the Sautet lift. It costs €5 for two runs.

The day will also see the pros take part in the Gold KL, with the current record 251kph held by Simone Origone.

ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL Sölden, in the Austrian Tirol, hosts the popular Electric Mountain Festival, which this year will be staged on 10/11 April at the Fun Zone Giggijoch. Free to enter for all lift pass holders, the event begins on the Friday with performances by Klangkarussell from Austria, Netherlands’ DJ Fedde le Grand and The Avener from France, followed by DJ Nicky Romero from the Netherlands and Canada’s DVBBS on the Saturday.

SKIERS CYCLE FOR CHARITY

1 IN 8 AVOID SKIING ON THEIR SKI HOLIDAY

A

The company asked 490 people

happy enjoying their surroundings,

about their ski holiday habits which

the culture and facilities,” said

also revealed that 50% of skiers

Myles Stephenson, CEO of my

only aim to get on the snow for 3–5

Travel Cash which organised the

hours a day and 68% would take at

research, who added:

least 36 hours out of their ski week

“Overall, snow holidays are

for activities like shopping and

currently more achievable than

sightseeing. Other findings were

previously thought. Pound sterling

that 44% of those surveyed would

has recently experienced its biggest

sacrifice a summer sun holiday in

high since 2008 against currencies

new survey has discovered that 13%

order to go skiing.

including the euro meaning holiday

of Brits who have been on a snow

“Many Brits heading to the slopes

money can stretch a lot further than

holiday avoided snow sports during

do not partake in any snow sports

people might think, especially in

A service called Piste of Mind (pisteofmind.com),

their holiday.

or activities. Instead, people are

European destinations.”

which collects your ski holiday baggage from your

BAGGAGE DELIVERY ON THE RISE

Last year, ski tour operator Zenith Holidays’

home a week before you travel and has it waiting

overseas team raised over £300 to

in resort on arrival, then reverses the process for

support the charity Matthew’s Friends

your return leg, is becoming increasingly popular

(matthewsfriends.org) by cycling up the 21

and increasingly cost-effective, the company say.

bends to Alpe d’Huez. This 7 April, they hope to raise even more by attempting the greater

PAINTBALL BIATHLON USA

Unlike airport baggage handlers, they claim a 100% successful delivery rate.

Baggage prices for cases and for skis are

challenge of cycling from Alpe D’Huez to Serre Chevalier – approximately 75kms with a vertical climb of 1.9kms, taking around 7 hours (justgiving.com/coldulosttheplot).

SKI FOR £1 The Easter Bunny is bringing gifts galore to

country skis or snowshoes.

extremely complex and vary from airline to

Unlike normal biathlon where

airline; however, they have risen dramatically

competitors shoot at walnut-sized

in recent years and are now often much higher

targets from a distance when lying

than the cost of the passenger ticket.

down in the prone position, or

The great variety of pricing makes comparisons

apple-sized targets when standing,

difficult, but Piste of Mind say a party travelling

the paintball biathlon competitors

with two ski bags weighing 20kg and three

have to aim at cartoon characters

cases weighing 15kg each could expect to pay

Waterville Valley ski resort in New

The weekend of Paintball Biathlon at

and bingo boards as well as

at best £254 in baggage fees for a return trip

of London) this Easter Sunday and Monday (5

Hampshire USA has announced

Waterville Valley Nordic Center took

traditional biathlon targets.

on Flybe, or at worst £400 with Ryanair. The

and 6 April) with 15-minute Ski or Snowboard

a new twist on the gruelling but

place last weekend (14–15 March)

The context included three loops

Piste of Mind equivalent cost was £307.50.

Taster sessions for £1 offered to first timers

addictive sport of biathlon – which

and saw biathletes aged 6 and older

with two shots after the first two

Those taking two flights from the UK region to

from 4pm to 6pm each day, including rental,

involves cross-country skiing

first go through a safety clinic before

loops, and competitors were

the Alps pay double for most airlines and have to

tuition and access. More experienced skiers

and shooting on a target range –

setting off on the biathlon course,

divided into under-18s, over-18s

collect and re-check in at London, but that hassle

Biathlon Paintball!

which could be tackled on cross-

and families of four or more.

is avoided at no extra cost using Piste of Mind.

The Snow Centre (indoor snow centre north

are offered 10% off a variety of lessons.

028 // MAR15 // INTHESNOW.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

LAND YOUR FIRST FREE STYLE TRICK!

J

ust returned from a fantastic

flat bit of the jump (before it starts to go upwards),

Nick, The Snow Centre’s Ski Coach says:

week in the mountains?

sink down, bending your knees more, and as the

If you have never tried freestyle skiing before,

Maybe you saw them as

nose of the board reaches the top of the jump,

what’s the first trick you should attempt?

you skied past the resort

pop up (slight jump) and you will take off into the

Assuming you’ve jumped off a little side hit or roller

freestyle park or as they

air! Then spot your landing, and as your board

before, I would start with a 180. If not, work on

landed a 360 spin on the

meets the snow, relax and compress the impact

getting comfortable using small jumps and rollers.

way down the piste, or

by bending your knees, before riding off.

To try a 180 spin, start by establishing the

perhaps you’ve just heard

correct speed for the jump! Practise a few times

about those skiers and

What snowboard ability do you already need to

just going straight over the jump until you feel

snowboarders whose snow-

have to try this trick?

balanced in the air. Then try a 180! The trick can

sports tricks amaze and

Before trying a straight air over a small kicker,

be broken down into four parts.

astound the rest of us!

you should be able to make little jumps while

- Approach the jump with a low, wide and centred

Known as freestyle skiers

travelling across a standard slope. Your board

stance and keep your eyes straight ahead.

or snowboarders, the trick-

posture should also be very strong!

- When you reach the lip of the jump, extend your

landing snow enthusiasts

ankles and knees and “pop” into the air.

How and where can you practise or warm up for

- Once in the air, turn your hips, shoulders and

found practising their tricks on jumps, rails and

a straight air over a kicker?

head at the same time to face back up the hill.

boxes in freestyle parks on the mountains, on

Before attempting this on a jump, try making

- When you land, absorb the impact by bending

dry slopes and at indoor real-snow centres. And

small jumps on your heel edge and toe edge on

your knees and ankles; once balanced, turn your

while their moves are inspiring, if you’d like to

the piste abroad or on a clear slope at an indoor

head to see where you’re going and raise a fist to

try freestyle tricks yourself, it’s difficult to know

snow centre. If you come across a roller on the

show how stoked you are on your new trick!

where you should start! The Snow Centre Hemel

mountain, you can try a straight air over the roller

Hempstead’s Freestyle Coaches Nick Lark and

before you try it on a jump.

among us can often be

What skiing ability do you already need to have to try a 180 spin?

Kris Amstutz gave us their top tips for landing Once you have landed a straight air, how can

You should be confident skiing on a wide range of

you make it more interesting?

terrain, happily skiing the whole mountain, as well

Kris, The Snow Centre’s Snowboard Coach says:

Try an Indy Grab! Once you have popped, simply

as being confident with speed.

If you’ve never tried freestyle snowboarding

add style to the trick by bringing your knees up

before, what’s the first trick you should attempt?

in line with your body, while reaching down with

How and where can you practise a 180 spin?

Straight air over a small kicker.

your back hand to grab the board behind you,

Try starting with sliding 180s on the snow, followed

On your snowboard, head straight down the

between your bindings. Hold then release, spot

by adding a small pop, and perfect the trick on flat

fall line towards the kicker/jump, keeping your

your landing and as your board meets the snow,

ground before you take it to a jump. You can do

shoulders in line with the board. As you reach the

compress before riding off!

this on the mountain or at a snow centre!

your first freestyle trick!

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

THESNOWCENTRE.COM

FOTOGRAF FELIX ODELL

JOIN US FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE

A NIGHT AT THE TOP OF A SKI JUMP

F

driven hospitality company,”

The temporary Airbnb listing

established and upcoming

converted a Courchevel cable car

will be decorated with Nordic

Norwegian designers, such as the

cabin into a homely hotel room for

contemporary design and will boast

Saddle Chair, the Vang dining chair

1 night only, the company is back

some of the best views of Oslo,

and the table lamp, Lune. She also

with the chance this time to win

including the fjord and the snow-

found space for a picture from 1922

1 of 2 nights’ accommodation at

capped mountains surrounding the

of the Norwegian Crown Prince Olav

the end of March, staying at the

Norwegian capital.

jumping off Holmenkollen.

top of Scandinavia’s most famous

Melissa Hegge was in charge of

“The view takes my breath away.

ski jump, the Holmenkollen, with

decorating the temporary penthouse

This is the perfect place to showcase

spectacular views over Oslo.

with contemporary pieces from

Norwegian design,” she said.

The very top of Holmenkollen, where the ski jumpers prepare for flight before their jump, will be transformed into a glass-walled

ollowing the success of their “spend

penthouse apartment with private

a night in a cable car” promotion in

rooftop terrace. The next morning,

which Airbnb, which describes itself

guests can, if they wish, check out

as “the world’s leading community-

via zip line.

FIFA

NO CLASH FOR 2022 WORLD CUP & OLYMPICS apart in the year than normal.

The IOC will decide on 31 July this year whether China or Kazakhstan will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, after Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Ukraine, Sweden and Poland pulled out of the bidding process due to lack of popular support, in some cases partially blaming excessive demands by the IOC FIFA have announced that the

will be staged in February/March

the Winter Games, citing issues

for their decisions.

2022 Football World Cup will

of that year.

with sponsors and television

This means the 2022 Winter

take place in November and

After it was decided that the

rights. This scenario now appears

Olympics will be the third in a

December 2022, at the other end

tournament would be moved to

to have been largely avoided,

row to be staged on the Asian

of the year from the 2022 Winter

the winter, the IOC expressed

with the two tournaments

continent, although Sochi was

Olympics and Paralympics which

concerns of a dates clash with

actually being staged further

technically in Europe, just.

030 // MAR15

@INTHESNOWMAG

SALICE / NICK WEBSTER

INTHE BOOT ROOM SNOW FREE

Sponsors of Boot Room

Sponsors of Boot Room

 MAMMUT ALUGATOR TWIST SHOVEL

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the part and won’t let you

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 ZAINI HATS Zaini hats are still the leader of headwear when it comes to snow sports and with a whole new 2014/215 range they can’t be missed on the slopes! Like this NEW ‘Falkland’ beanie. £20.99 | ZAINI.COM

 ELLIOT BROWN CANFORD WATCH COLLECTION Rugged outdoor credentials along with honest good looks.

Designed to be worn every day, even in harsh conditions, it can cope with just about anything you throw at it on the slopes. With Swiss-made movement, incredible shock absorbency and Superluminova detailing on the hands, dial and bezel for outstanding legibility in any conditions, this really is a go-anywhere watch. Classic good looks without the smart-phone gadgetry. £325 | SNOWANDROCK.COM

032 // MAR15

@INTHESNOWMAG

 FISCHER PRODUCT NAME

 SMARTWOOL PHD® SKI LIGHT PATTERN

With a Freeski ROCKER for perfect floating, this all-rounder

The PhD® Ski Light keeps feet warm and dry without sacrificing boot

is the perfect powder friend. The new Air Tec core gives a

performance. SmartWool-placed cushioning where skiers need it

25% weight reduction yet maintains performance but with

most: on the shin for protection against the boot and on the bottom of

less weight. Confidence inspiring both on- and off-piste, the

the foot for warmth and impact protection. Made with our 4 Degree™

ladies’ Koa 84 is a joy for all mountain fun.

elite fit system for a sock that never bunches, slips, or binds. And the patented ReliaWool™ technology provides superior durability to make

£470 INCL BINDING

sure the socks are ready to go, run after run. £20.99 | 0800 0326499 | SMARTWOOL.COM

 MARKER KINGPIN The biggest game changer in binding technology. A releasable tech-pin binding. Smooth flow of movement while you’re going up, with unrivalled alpine-style response and perfomance on the descent. Combine this with its safety aspects and ease of use and you won’t want anything else!

FROM £375 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

 MAMMUT NIVA JACKET A technical fit with fashionable freeride looks.

Soft and flexible fit for comfort in action whether you’re skiing piste or floating in powder, the Niva will make sure you look and feel great. £365 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

BLACK CROWS FREEBIRD ORB SKIS A lighter-constructed version of the popular Orb ski, but still with Black Crows’ no-compromise ski performance. Whether you’re touring or all-mountain skiing, this lightweight ski will grip on hard pack and steeps, cut through the powder and carve up the pistes. £549 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

 SNOWSHEPHERD LEATHER SKI GLOVES

 SWEET IGNITER ALPINISTE Engineered to meet the demands of professional

The off-piste equipment specialists Snowshepherd

mountain guides and freeride tourers. Including 26

sell avalanche equipment, skis and specialist clothing.

vents, headlamp attachment point and one of the

They are well known as the only ski retailer to sell these

toughest impact protection constructions out there.

famous ski worker gloves as used by instructors, guides

If your adventures take you off the beaten track and

and lift workers across the French Alps. They also stock a

into steep rocky terrain, you’d be crazy to not have this

wide range of other leather ski gloves.

strong and lightweight helmet on your head!

£14.99 | SNOWSHEPHERD.CO.UK

£189 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

 SCOTT THE SKI  PERILLA SOCKS Fabulous 75% alpaca ski socks with soft cushioned sole and ribbed sides, these socks wick away moisture, repel odour and bacteria and can happily be worn for a week. Longer socks also available for those who prefer a thinner sock. £18.00 | PERILLA.CO.UK

Based on a 70s designed allmountain ski, the ultimate ski of choice in its day. Its founder Bobby Burns inspired Scott to develop “The Ski” into a modernday, one ski quiver, brought to life with original retro graphics!

Super-smooth and easy turning

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on all terrain and conditions.

With their renowned reputation for

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specialist expert advice, combined with their

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it’s no surprise that Ski Bartlett’s word-of-mouth

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ability levels, this really is “The

the UK’s most popular independent ski shop!

Ski” to have this year. £499 | SKIBARTLETT.COM INTHESNOW.COM // MAR15 // 033

 SCOTT TEAM ISSUE POLE

 LEVEL WORLD CUP MITTEN

The SCOTT Team Issue features the tried, tested, and super

Warm, comfortable with outrageous graphics - what

strong aluminum shaft that all Scott athletes believe in. New

more could you want. They’re the glove to have on

for this year is the innovative Strap Release System (SRS), that

the WorldCup circuit this year and we can see why.

releases the strap from the pole in sketchy situations, preventing

Super Fabric to give you durability. Ceramic coated

injury if you fall or get your pole caught around a tree! This is the

Pittards leather for flexibility. Custom Fit for heat

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 SALAMON QUEST AIR Auto custom air, sounds like those Nike trainers from years gone by!! The Quest helmet has integrated airbags inside the helmet that aids to the fit and comfort on your head. Put it on, move the helmet around on your head and the air escapes leaving just enough space for your head. A great fitting and superbly comfortable helmet. £135 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

LEKI  POLE HOT SHOT Lightweight aluminum shafts can be filled with drinks! What an amazing hip flask to always have with you and a great party trick on the slopes!

Not compromising performance, they also utilise the popular Trigger S Safety Release System on the wrist strap to make sure you don’t get caught in your poles! £119 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

Hardware Winner:

Software Winner:

Accessories Winner:

 K2 SHREDDITOR 102

ATOMIC BACKLAND BOOT

DARE 2B BOUNTIFUL JACKET

SCOTT ALPRIDE PRO 12 AIRBAG

Whether you’re ripping the piste or

Backland boots make touring more efficient.

Adorned by beautiful badge detailing,

The new SCOTT Air Free AP 12 Pro is the

cruising the powder, K2 have hit the

They offer an impressive range of motion

premium faux fur and metallic gold trims,

preferred airbag of professional freeskiers.

sweet spot with these. Combining

thanks to new Free/Lock 2.0 mechanism that

the womens’ Bountiful Jacket combines

A light and compact avalanche pack with

adequate width under foot and user

frees the cuff from the shell for 74° mobility.

ultimate luxe style with top performing

standalone Airbag System and integrated

friendly powder shaped tip with

Plus a Frictionless Pivot for a super-smooth

features. Its ARED V02 15,000 stretch

D3O® back protector. The pack provides

powerful sidewall construction. A

movement and a removable tongue for

fabric together with ribbed collar and

ample space for shovel, probe and extra

great ski if you want to progress into

climbing. They are super light, weighing just

cuffs will undeniably keep you protected

items, while a trail-running inspired

more powder skiing, but still want

987g but packed with our mountain boot

against cold weather conditions, keeping

harness shoulder strap system ensures a

the performance on piste.

technology like Memory Fit and a Carbon Spine.

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 HESTRA UTSJO GLOVE A gorgeously soft elk leather glove that you will not want to take off. With its pre-curved fingers, supple Nordic elk leather, warm primaloft down-like filling and fleece lining - these really are the riccardo seat version of leather gloves! £65 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

034 // MAR15

@INTHESNOWMAG

 HESTRA GLOVE HANDCUFF Attach a pair of these economical handcuffs to almost any glove and you’ll never drop them again. The elasticated cuff slides on your wrist (also keeping it warm) and the other end to the glove. Available in Unisex, Ladies and kids sizes. £4.99 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

 DRAGON APXS GOGGLE Oversized frameless goggles are where it’s at … why compromise on having such an amazing field of vision? Make sure you can see obstacles around you, and make sure you enjoy the view; that’s what the mountains are for. Now also available in APXs to suit smaller face shapes. £175 INCL SPARE LENS | DRAGONALLIANCE.COM

 NORRONA LOFOTEN ONE-PIECE SUIT Whether you’re heading to the powder of Japan, the off-piste in Chamonix or you just want to be warm when the weather closes in, this has to be the ultimate tech onesie. Gore-tex shell for uncompromised performance and a freeride fit for uncompromised movement – functional, fashionable, warm and pretty damn good looking! £999 | NORRONA.COM

STORING YOUR GEAR IN SUMMER

R emember your ski gear is for life (well,

STEP 2 SHARPEN YOUR EDGES

thick layer of wax covering both base

It may seem a bit weird to sharpen the

and edges. Don’t worry about scraping

edges of your skis or board before

the base smooth as you would on a ski

putting them away for nine months or

day: you can always scrape them to

more, but it’s a worthwhile, a five-minute

perfection just before you want to use

job with multiple benefits for you for next

them again next season.

season; chief among them being that

Again, ask your friendly local ski shop

smooth, sharp, dry edges are less likely

for advice and equipment should you

to pick up any rust.

need it.

If you don’t have sharpening or other ski maintenance equipment, they’re with advice on correct usage) from any

STEP 5 BOOTS

reputable ski shop.

Your boots need a bit of a care too. Wipe

easy and affordable to obtain (along

hopefully a few seasons at least) not just for one holiday, so it’s important to store

out A softer wax is best. Leave a good

them clean and pull out the liners to be stored, or at least dried, separately.

keep performing winter after winter.

STEP 3 CHECK YOUR BASES

So rather than just chucking it

Any deep gouges will not only affect

there are no puddles lurking under the

unceremoniously in a shed or garage,

your equipment’s performance but may

plastic footbeds! Check buckles for any

A high-performance boot with

it’s worth taking a few minutes to check

also allow water to penetrate the ski or

damage or for snowboard boots check

a user-friendly fit. With its heat-

everything’s in good shape before you

board. Whilst you can repair this yourself,

laces are in good shape, if not, now’s the

mouldable liner and new “Perfect

store it and to ensure you store it correctly.

it is time-consuming & the results are

ideal time to replace them. Do it while it’s

Fit” heat-mouldable shell, you can

So here’s that annoying ‘to do’ list:

not always perfect. Summer is the ideal

fresh in your mind!

achieve a superb fit combined with

time to get your equipment serviced at

TIP: a touch of WD40 on the buckles

comfort. Why compromise when

your local ski shop as there will be no

will keep them moving freely and help

queue and the techies can take their

avoid rust.

it correctly in the summer if you want it to

 HEAD VECTOR 115

STEP 1 CLEAN IT!

you can have a “Perfect Fit” … ? £290 | HEAD.COM

 VOLKL BMT 94

For hard boots it may be worth checking

time to do a perfect job. So if you want

You probably gave your skis or board

to save yourself a lot of effort, and be

and boots a cursory wipe before

well prepared in advance of next season,

chucking them in their bags for the flight

why not pay a few quid to have it done

STEP 6 STORAGE

home, but it’s important you don’t just

professionally?

Outbuildings are rarely ski or board

leave them in there damp and fusty all

friendly – a dry, cool place inside the

With a full carbon-fibre construction, lightweight wood

summer. Get them out and give them a

core and a full rocker shape, the BMT 94 is agile and

proper clean down then leave them in a

manoeuvrable in all snow conditions but sacrifices

warmish, dry place to totally dry out.

STEP 4 GO WAX CRAZY

nothing on edge grip or stability. It looks light, it feels

TIP: Use good old clean water as

It’s worth waxing your skis (once you’ve

is minimum pressure on your skis

light, but wow does it pack a responsive punch!

cleaning fluids can damage the

cleaned and sharpened them) to help

or board, so don’t strap skis tightly

lubricants on the bindings, in fact, try to

keep away any signs of the dreaded

together but leave them to take their

avoid getting the bindings wet at all.

rust and to prevent the base drying

natural shape.

£750 | VOKL.COM

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

Make sure everything is completely dry.

035 // MAR15

house is likely to be better. Keep your kit out of direct sunlight.

TIP: You should ensure that there

 ANON RAIDER HELMET Amazing price without any compromise on safety. This helmet conforms to high safety specifications meaning you can use it on snow, bike or skateboard. Top venting, removable ear pads and adjustable chin strap gives you all the features you need. £54.95 | SPUTNIKSNOWBOARDSHOP.COM

 BURTON WHEELIE DOUBLE DECK BAG

 K2 PINNACLE 130 One of the best-selling boots for

A bag to last a lifetime. Big enough

a reason, integrating freeride

for a week away to the mountains

 CELTEK TRIPPIN PRO MITT

and light enough not to push you

WHY BUY YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT?

I

t’s one of those battles that

and changing boots and skis mid holiday

have raged since the very

is no fun and results in yet more time off

early years of human existence

the slopes. So whether it’s skis, board,

(possibly even earlier),

boots or helmet, seeking expert advice

chicken or egg? Man U or

in the UK and having the peace of mind

Man City? Rent or buy your ski

that you’re getting the gear that’s perfect

equipment?

for you is unbeatable.

To this day, no one truly knows

Many stores offer a boot comfort

the answer to any of these

guarantee and for independent retailers

questions, but in terms of

your recommendation is essential, so

whether to rent or buy your ski

their sole purpose in life (excuse the pun)

equipment, the battle has never

is to ensure you get the right boot every

been more intense!

time. This all equates to maximum time

In recent years the rental sector has

on the slopes…land, get to resort and

raised its game, driven in part by intense

you’re ready to go, hassle free.

competition between larger rental shop

There are some that argue that the hassle

chains and aided by sky-rocketing

of carrying skis and even the cost of airline

carriage fees for skis on planes, but there

carriage outweighs the benefits, but frankly

remain very strong advantages to buying

these just don’t stack up for me. Fly some

your own equipment in Blighty, and

major airlines like BA and you can check-in

taking it with you.

a pretty hefty ski bag (with enough clothes

The number one key to a successful ski

for five days in as well as skis) as normal

holiday is skiing on skis that are right for

checked luggage, often meaning the

you and being comfortable in a fitted

combined cost is cheaper than a low cost

pair of boots. When either of those

airline like Easyjet, while skis and boots

ingredients go wrong, what should be a

are carried free of charge on many Swiss

seriously fun, cool and enjoyable holiday

over your weight allowance!! It’s

performance with touring features in one boot! Lightweight construction, great range of movement on the up,

double deck construction allows

Warm low profile mitt with trigger finger. It

pin binding compatible, hike and ski

easy access for packing and the

has an Outdry leather palm with offers great

mode, no-compromise performance

hard base offers great protection for

waterproof and breathability while keeping

on the downhill – what more could

your belongings.

comfort and dexterity.

you ask for …!

£195 | SPUTNIKSNOWBOARDSHOP.COM

£74.95 | SPUTNIKSNOWBOARDSHOP.COM

£399 | K2SKIS.COM

 YES JACKPOT SNOWBOARD Easy to ride all over the mountain due to it’s mid flex and true twin shape. Performs well in all conditions and on all terrain. The Camrock profile gives you camber between the bindings for response and pop, and rocker outside the bindings for presses and a looser board feel. £349.95 | SPUTNIKSNOWBOARDSHOP.COM

 THIRTY TWO SESSION SNOWBOARD BOOT

 LINE FRANCIS BACON

flights (be sure to check conditions in

Stiff flex all mountain snowboard

For the skier whose playground

advance of travel). And when it comes to

boot designed for an intermediate to

is the entire mountain. This is Eric

hassle, surely the majority of the carrying

advanced rider. The internal boa ankle

Pollard’s everyday ski. Trying to

is done by planes and cars? All you have

harness offers superior heel hold and

find a one ski does it all answer,

to do is drag a bag on wheels from the

flex, whilst the dual density foam liner

float, grip and of course fun, then

want to be doing is faffing around in a

car to the check-in desk…after all, we are

offer the best custom fit on the market.

these are definitely it. Their playful

shop in a queue of people who frankly

energetic life loving people, surely this

can become a bit of a nightmare.

When I land at my destination airport I feel an overwhelming sense of urgency to get on the slopes; what I really don’t

flex and floaty width will have

won’t put us off!

SPUTNIKSNOWBOARDSHOP.COM

you landing those switch powder

ski that day or not!

So why risk getting equipment that isn’t

£239.95

jumps in no time!

And that’s not all, being told ‘these are

perfect for you on that one winter blast

the only ones we have left’, or chopping

of the year?

don’t seem bothered whether they get to

036 // MAR15

£499 | SKIBARTLETT.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

PORTSMOUTH RUBBISH DUMP COULD BECOME SKI SLOPE Early-stage plans to create Britain’s seventh

city, and those who feared it would be a white

tant to make imaginative use of the limited

and most southerly indoor snow centre at

elephant and bad for the environment.

land available and that the snow centre could

Portsmouth have met with mixed reactions from

Portsmouth council is also reported to be

create work, attract leisure visitors and bring

locals. After it was announced that the city’s

looking at whether to create a less expensive

millions of pounds into the local economy.

council has had talks with Land Securities, cur-

dry ski slope on the site as an alternative

“This would be brilliant news for the area and

rent owners of the Snozone indoor snow cen-

option. Both ideas are at an early stage with

would allow us to add a practical skiing test

tres at Milton Keynes and Castleford to discuss

no details of the proposals available. A sizable

to our recruitment procedure!” said Xavier

the possibility of creating an indoor snow facility

proportion of the world’s existing indoor snow

Schouller, MD of Portsmouth-based ski com-

on part of a rubbish dump at Horsea Island, lo-

slopes and dry slopes was built on former

pany Peak Retreats. “All our staff would also

cals were divided between those who thought it

rubbish dumps and quarry or mining sites.

definitely love the opportunity to keep up their

was a great idea that would help regenerate the

Tory councillor Luke Stubbs said it was impor-

skiing during the summer months.”

WORLD’S FASTEST CHAIRLIFT FOR 2015–16 Austria’s Brixen im Thale, part

Gasthof Nieding, so the lift

of the giant Skiwelt area in the

is now more than double its

Tirol region, has announced

previous length, but thanks

it will be installing what it

to its high speed, the journey

claims will be the world’s

time is considerably less

fastest chairlift in time to

compared to the old lift.

begin operation next winter in

The lift will also incorporate

2015–16.

a solar panel farm covering

The new Jochbahn, a

180m2 (on the south side of the

detachable eight-seater chairlift,

chair garage) which will help

will operate on the resort’s

provide the energy supply for

Sonnseite (“Sunny Side”) and be

the chairlift.

nearly two and a half times faster

“With the construction of the

than the lift it replaces, travelling

extended Joch lift and the new

at a world-beating 6mps (metres

Joch piste, which has already

per second) compared with the

opened this winter, Brixen

2.5mps of the older lift.

now has a very attractive,

The Jochbahn, which comes

varied, sunny and snow-

with a €12m price tag and

assured (constantly machine

an impressive hourly uplift

snowed) piste paradise, which

capacity of 3,000 people,

appeals not just to families

deploys the very latest

and beginners, but also to

technology, as all 75 chairs

dedicated skiers,” said a

on the 2km-long lift will

SkiWelt statement.

be equipped with comfort

With 90 cable cars and lifts,

suspension, heated seats and

and 280km of ski slopes

weather-protection hoods.

to suit all abilities, SkiWelt

The route will be extended

Wilder Kaiser-Brixental is the

too with the new valley station

largest interconnected ski

situated at the same level as

area in Austria.

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037 // MAR15

+ 3 3 - ( 0 ) 4 - 7 9 - 0 0 - 6 7 - 6 7 - | - C O N TAC T @ H O T E L AV E N U E LO D G E . C O M - | - H O T E L AV E N U E LO D G E . C O M

WORDS: DEBBIE GABRIEL

I

’ve always loved the

revolutionary not so very long ago.

retrace your ski tracks, it’s equally

Italian Dolomites and

And while those 1200km of runs are

about the awe-inspiring scenery of

particularly the Alta Badia

divided between numerous valleys, at

giant granite cliffs with a pinkish hue

family-run hostelries

region – the mountains

the heart of them is the Sellaronda, an

(particularly impressive at sunrise

serving up home-cooked food at

are so spectacular and

incredible network of around 40km of

or sunset when they glow red) that

fair prices from local ingredients only

stunningly beautiful, the

pistes and lifts that circle the

adds to the experience. No

ability levels from complete

atmosphere so relaxed,

towering Sella Massif.

surprise that the whole area

beginners to experts in a relaxed

the food so good and

For me, like the Vallée

is now a UNESCO World

environment.

the prices so reasonable.

Blanche at Chamonix or the

Heritage site.

The region’s reputation for good food

What’s not to love?

Sarenne run, the world’s

Alta Badia is chock-full

is evident everywhere, from affordably

Often overlooked is how

longest black at Alpe

of all kinds of interesting

priced but perfectly homemade

extensive the terrain on

d’Huez, this circuit is one of

accommodation options

meals in the mountain restaurants

your doorstep is too.

the “must ski” (or board) trips

alongside more usual hotels

to gourmet-level Michelin-starred

Whichever ski village

to be made during anyone’s

Lagazuoi: rifugiolagazuoi.com

and apartments. I was lucky

restaurants like the St Hubertus, part of

you choose to stay in,

life on the slopes. But it’s

The Lagacio Mountain Residence: lagacio.com

enough to be staying in the

the 5 Rosa Alpina.

you’re likely to find the

less well known that as

Rosa Alpina: rosalpina.it

Lagaciò Mountain Residence,

Here Head Chef Norbert Niederkofler

local slopes covered

valleys like Badia, Gardena

San Cassiano Ski School: scuolascisancassiano.it

a boutique-style B&B hotel.

invited me into his kitchen to see

by the vast Dolomiti

and Fassa radiate off the

The hotel is located in San

it in operation, so I could witness

Superski pass which for 40 years now

Sellaronda, linked by lifts

Cassanio, one of the smaller

firsthand the quality and skill of the

has covered hundreds of lifts, and

and pistes, in total more than

but most perfectly formed of

chefs working in his team. The taste

1200km (750 miles) of piste, all on one

500km of runs are all interconnected,

makes the experience very special.

the half-dozen villages that combine to

and presentation of the food was

remarkable ticket. Indeed the area was

the second biggest ski area in the

Apparently the whole area once lay at

make up Alta Badia. The largest and best

exceptional, with local, seasonal

a pioneer of linking ski areas together

world in fact after Les 3 Vallées.

the bottom of the ocean and the pink

known in the area is Corvara.

produce at the heart of the meals.

on one computer-chip-embedded lift

But it’s not just the scale of the skiing,

hue to the rock is down to ancient

Although small, the village is home

The Lagacio describe themselves

pass – something we take for granted

nor the sense of being able to travel

corals. The fact that the slopes are

to San Cassiano Ski School where

on their website as offering,

these days but was considered

from village to village without having to

dotted with dozens of cosy, traditional,

friendly but professional instructors

“unpretentious luxury, natural comfort

038 // MAR15

MORE INFO Alta Badia: alabadia.org Dolomiti Superski: dolomitisuperski.com/en

can teach all

@INTHESNOWMAG

away from the hustle and bustle of

choice of fruit and veg available so you

groomed wide motorways – ideal for

everyday life” and this was exactly the

can create your own healthy morning

the recreational skier, but there are

towards Alta Badia round the back

experience I got from the moment I

pick-me-up ready for your day on the

also several classic descents in the

of the mountain: a wonderful long run

initially narrow

arrived at the Lagaciò.

slopes – which were easy to reach

region for more advanced skiers.

that intermediate skiers can tackle

crevasse which then widens

Tastefully furnished from materials

thanks to a private shuttle bus to the

One particularly exciting option is to

that takes you past frozen waterfalls

out for a glorious powder descent

sourced locally, the Lagacio is all

base station.

take the ski bus around to Lagazuoi,

and stunning scenery that feels a

arriving close to the village of Colfosco,

about natural living in the Dolomites.

Thanks to that great breakfast I was

a separate Dolomiti Superski sector

million miles from the rest of the world.

a neighbour of San Cassiano in Alta

Everything is catered for with excellent

fully fuelled up for the highlight of

on the far side of the Sellaronda and

As a final treat at the bottom of the

Badia. This run is accessed via lifts up

attention to detail by the team running

my trip on the slopes – skiing the

actually a separate outpost of Cortina

run, a horse-pulled drag lift will tow

from the other side of the Sellaronda

the hotel. The breakfast is truly amazing

Sellaronda – a great experience

d’Ampezzo’s ski terrain.

you across the kilometre or so of flat

near Arabba and then a traverse and

and, if you had the physical capacity,

(possibly the afternoon cakes at the

A cable car whisks you to the top

terrain to make the connection back to

should only be tackled by very good

you could comfortably eat for at least

Lagacio were the overall highlight of

(where there’s a great mountain

the Sellaronda for just a few euros.

skiers making the trip with a local guide.

an hour over breakfast enjoying all

the whole trip). I was lucky enough to

restaurant and interesting cliff-top

Another run, starting slightly closer to

I truly loved being in the magnificent

locally sourced foods – including

have perfect weather conditions to

tunnels created by solders during

home, is the Val de Mesdi, which drops

mountains of the Dolomites, feeling

wonderful local butter and honey. One

take in the stunning view, making it

World War 1 to visit. But the skiing main

down from the top of the Sella Massif

like I was able to reach out and touch it

nice touch was a juicer with a huge

one of my best ski days ever.

attraction is the amazing hidden Valley

around which the Sellaronda circuit is

when skiing. Everyone must do this at

The Italian slopes were perfectly

run which descends back

circulating and descends through an

least once. I will be going back.

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SÜDTIROL MARKETING/ALESSANDRO TROVATI

and the sincere cordiality in a place

039 // MAR15

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REASON 3 PARTY TIME

People are beginning to realise that spring skiing in April has an amazing amount to offer. The days are longer, the sun on the terraces is warmer and the ski area can be enjoyed in all its

The fun continues at après-ski parties throughout the

glory by experts and beginners alike. Après-ski has a really happy vibe with

village where concerts, pre-dinner drinks and DJs go up a gear to create

a host of special events to round off this season’s adventure. The spring

unforgettable spring memories. For a map with the best skiing hour by hour,

skiing season in Val d’Isère this year lasts from 11

entertainment and events, special offers for

April to 3 May. It’s idyllic.

accommodation, lift passes and ski instructors, go to: valdisere-hotice.com.

REASON 1 RELAXED SKIING In April, you will be grinning from ear to ear in

REASON 4 TAKE IN A MOVIE

Val d’Isère! In the morning, feel the thrill of skiing

From 20 to 23 April, some remarkable men and

on perfect morning snow down to your favourite

women will be staying in Val d’Isère: their films

sunny terrace. Dress code for lunch: T-shirt and sunglasses. It’s time for maximum relaxation

FURTHER INFO

and really enjoyable skiing! The “Derby du Signal” opens spring skiing on 11 April in the idyllic valley of Le Fornet where people aged 13 to 100 come together to celebrate snow sports from morning until night. Skis, snowboards, telemark skis, skwals and monoskis, everyone comes together to enjoy a special itinerary in a wonderful atmosphere.

REASON 2 2016 GEAR TESTING

Main site: valdisere.com Spring site: valdisere-hotice.com 11 April: 13-30 April: 20-23 April:

1-3 May:

Derby du Signal 2016 Ski Testing Adventure & Discovery Film Festival Yoga Festival

can also get a head start on next season!

La La Plagne Plagne • • Les Les Arcs Arcs • • Tignes Tignes

truly inspirational. Welcome to the International Adventure and Discovery Film Festival, attracting

Spring Snow Sports & Fun: 11 April – 3 May 2015

While relaxing at the end of this season, you

0800 0664 996 0800 0664 996

explain everything, but meeting with them is

9000 spectators over 4 evenings and featuring a film competition celebrating amazing accounts of human and sporting adventures – this is extraordinary entertainment.

REASON 5 STAY ZEN To bring the season to a close, why not enjoy 3 days of complete relaxation at the Congress Centre: 40 yoga sessions, discussions, an Om Market and an organic bistro alongside other relaxing activities. From 1 to 3 May, the

That’s because from 13 to 30 April you can try out next year’s kit at the

Val d’Isère Yoga Festival will include more than 35 yoga, pilates and

Val d’Isère 2016 ski tests taking place on the snowfront where you can

wellness classes, some of them staged outside yoga classes with the

pick up next season’s equipment to head up onto the slopes and test

fabulous backdrop of the mountains, as well an Om Market with organic,

out. Some of the biggest and best ski and snowboard manufacturers in

eco products including clothing, pendants and meditation cushions. It will

the world will be in town showcasing their 2016 equipment.

ensure you leave the resort feeling wonderfully calm.

www.snowchateaux.co.uk www.snowchateaux.co.uk 040 // MAR15

VALDISERE.COM

FUN, BRIGHT AND ETHICALLY MADE IN NEW ZEALAND

SKI IN COLOUR AT LES GETS Who hasn’t wanted to ski down a slope and be

The unique new concept took place on the

were 100% natural and environmentally friendly.

blasted with coloured powder, turning you into a

slopes of Mont Chéry and saw skiers and

“What’s not to love … the contrast of brightly

skiing work of art (not that you’re not already …)?

boarders wearing protective white ski suits while

coloured powder against the pure white snow,

That was what happened in Les Gets in France

“literally diving through an explosion of colour,”

a thrilling atmosphere with organised children’s

recently when the French resort organised its

said a resort spokesperson.

activities and live DJ, and the breathtaking

first Ski Colour festival – it proved to be such a

Ever-aware of its environmental footprint and true to

backdrop of the Mont Blanc mountain chain?”

huge success it seems set to be back next winter.

its “eco village” values, the coloured powders used

said a resort spokesperson.

COLORADO SKI TRAIN RUNS AGAIN

30 YEARS OF SNOWBOARDING

Rail access to ski resorts in the early years was often only really possible

Breckenridge in Colorado, one of the first major resorts in the world

by train, as roads were blocked and in any case many people couldn’t

to adopt the then cool new sport of snowboarding, is to celebrate 30

afford cars. This was the heyday of the “ski train” service to many of

years of staging boarding competitions later this month.

the world’s leading ski areas, particularly those which were within a

The Breck Throwback half pipe competition on 28 March will showcase

reasonable commute of major cities.

just how far boarding has come over the last three decades by asking

One of the most famous was the Winter Park ski train service which

30 pro-boarders to compete both on a specially constructed six-foot

allowed the population of Denver to reach the famous ski resort (which

mini-pipe that is an exact replica of the first one built at Breck in 1985,

was actually owned by the city) via a spectacular 56 mile route.

and on the resort’s current state-of-the-art 22ft superpipe.

The service ran for almost 70 years until finally ending in 2009 due to

In homage to the 30-year anniversary, tricks with no more than 540

rising operating costs and falling demand.

degrees of rotation will be allowed, so each rider, competing for a

But Amtrak decided to run the train again, for one Saturday only, earlier

$17,000 prize purse, will have to get creative with straight airs, alley-

this month to commemorate Winter Park’s 75th anniversary. Around 400

oops, huge slow spins, and handplants.

people quickly bought tickets at $75 return and a second train had to be

Breck was one of the first major resorts to allow snowboarding in

laid on, which also quickly sold out.

the 1984–85 season and to host one of the initial major snowboard

Winter Park Resort President Gary DeFrange was quoted in the Denver

competitions in the industry, The World Snowboarding Championships,

Post as saying he hoped the one-day train could show the potential of a

or “The World’s,” in 1986, and then became the first-ever resort to have

return to a regular rail service between the city and the ski area.

a permanent half pipe.

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041 // MAR15

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LESSON #06 SKI OFF-PISTE INTRODUCTION

TECHNICAL TIPS

FRESH TRACKS

POSTURE & POSITION

Learning to ski off-piste can seem quite

If it’s your first time off-piste you should

Unlike on the groomed runs where we

It is a common misconception that in

daunting; however, there has probably

expect to be taken by your instructor on

have a solid piste to work against, the off-

powder you sit back to get your skis out

never been an easier time to learn to ski

some nice gentle slopes and perhaps

piste snow under your skis will be soft and

of the snow.

off-piste. The latest fat skis, comfy boots,

just the sides of the pistes. These

moving. To start your turn in fresh snow try

There are times when we may need to

easy-to-use avalanche equipment, and

areas are relatively safe and not prone

extending your legs, as this will put some

sit back (such as when we’re straight

experienced and skilled off-piste coaches

to avalanches; however, it’s still very

force on the skis and, combined with some

running along a flat in heavy powder),

mean that your first off-piste adventure

important to understand how to use your

active leg steering, will help the skis to

but in general don’t do it; it’s much

should be a very enjoyable experience.

equipment. In case of an emergency you

turn. Start by linking some turns together

better to have a centred position, on top

The best time to learn to ski powder is

will need to know the number of whom

on a gentle slope and when confident try

of your skis and in control.

on a piste directly after a fresh snowfall.

to call for help, and also how to search in

to increase the tempo and make some

If you do sit back it puts you in a tiring

Choose a coach who will take you to

the snow and locate any people caught

shorter turns. The lines you create in the

position, and from here it is difficult to

some gentle beginner off-piste terrain,

in the avalanche.

snow should look like a series of linked

control and turn the skis.

and this expert advice, combined with the

semi-circles or “C” turns in the snow.

latest skis, should help to make your first

Tip – Make sure your insurance

time skiing powder fun and memorable.

covers skiing off-piste as well as

Tip – Try to avoid long traverses or

helicopter rescue.

dead spots between the turns.

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Tip – Narrow your stance width a little compared to skiing on the piste.

learning, and the Polar Bears

better body position.

back many “polar bears” to ski

can walk up and ski down which

Everyone was a complete

with them year on year. Their

makes learning much easier.

beginner at the start of the

instructors love teaching the

In the group today we had two

week, so there’s been fantastic

same children and seeing their

different focuses. Some children

progress made by all of the

skiing progress each year.

were working on stopping

children, and we’re only halfway

For Polar Bears (aged 3–5), it is

independently, and some were

through. Half of the group can

often their first time on snow, and

starting to move onto turning.

now stop independently, and the

the beginning of their journey

The lesson was lots of fun and

others are close. Some will be

as a budding skier. Recently

we did some runs where we

linking turns by Friday.

we caught up with one of their

were jumping on our skis, trying

For me the highlight of teaching

Jon holds the top qualifications from

specialist team, Chris, to see how

to pick up lots of speed, going

this age/level is the speed of

enthusiastic pole plant. The pole plant

France, Switzerland and Britain, and

some of their novice skiers have

faster and then stopping. The

improvement and the satisfaction

helps you to maintain the rhythm of the

we can say firsthand that he is an

been getting on this week.

lesson taking place in the Kids’

that it gives the children. It’s

turns down the whole descent and leads

inspirational coach. His ski school Altitude

“Today was our fourth day with

Garden is lots of fun, as we can

also great for the parents, who

to a more flowing performance.

is known worldwide for employing a team

the Polar Bears, which started

high-five the reindeers and the

often ski with their children

Remember to keep your hands away from

of fantastic ski and snowboard instructors

by meeting at 9am, jumping on

penguins as we zoom past!

in the afternoon and can see

the body and out in front. When planting

who are very passionate about helping

our private coach with our skis

Using different games and

improvements.

the pole (as when on the piste), there

people improve. Each month Jon or one

stashed underneath, and once

exercises can also really help

There are also lots of funny

should be no elaborate arm movements

of his team will provide us with a few tips

everyone had their seatbelt

improve the children’s technique.

moments enjoyed by both

that are likely to throw you off balance.

and words of wisdom to help improve

fastened we were off!

For instance, Mia was really

instructors and children. Today,

The action of the pole plant should come

your understanding of how to ski.

We spent the morning skiing

good at stopping, but when

Birdy skied the entire length of

in Altitude’s Kids’ Garden. The

going a bit faster she always fell

the nursery slope backwards

info@altitude-verbier.com

garden is put together on an

over backwards, so jumping on

– completely by accident and

+41(0)27 771 6006.

area of the slope perfect for

her skis really helped her get a

without falling over!

TIMING/POLE PLANT It’s very important to make a strong and

JON (AKA WESTY) AT ALTITUDE

from the wrist and not the whole arm.

Tip – Practise your pole plant on the groomed run to build consistency, and try using a pole with a powder basket.

+33 (0)4 79 06 18 88 RESERVATION@HOTELAIGLEDESNEIGES.COM EN.HOTELAIGLEDESNEIGES.COM

BOTH PICS: PAUL KEPPEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Altitude Ski School welcomes

THE OMNIA ZERMATT

HOTEL AVENUE LODGE VAL D’ISÈRE





HOTEL PLEIN SUD SERRE CHEVALIER



The Omnia is perfectly situated in the centre of Zermatt just off on a hidden back street, giving you the bustle of beautiful Zermatt right on your doorstep, but the peace and quiet you would expect from an escape to the mountains. The warm and friendly welcome is simply hard to beat.

The Hotel Plein Sud is situated close to the Écrins National Park, the mythical Cols du Lauteret Galibier and Izoard made famous by the Tour de France, and very close to the old town of Briançon, which now boasts UNESCO World Heritage status.

+41 (0)27 966 7171 // INFO@THE-OMNIA.COM THE-OMNIA.COM

+33 (0) 492 24 17 01 // LYNNE@HOTELPLEINSUD.COM HOTELPLEINSUD.COM

HOTEL FIREFLY ZERMATT



CHALET SASKIA VAUJANY

The luxurious Hotel Avenue Lodge is a superb base in one the world’s great ski areas, the exceptional Espace Killy. You’ll feel welcome from the minute you arrive with valet parking and the concierge service taking care of your luggage. The Hotel Avenue Lodge’s entire team is at your service to make your holiday in our resort an unforgettable stay.

The Hotel Firefly is the first address in Zermatt for travellers who expect luxury and lifestyle of the highest level. In the midst of the breathtaking scenery of the famous glacier ski area, the hotel is only 3 minutes from the Klein Matterhorn cable car and from the centre of Zermatt. Each suite is individual, spacious and luxuriously furnished.

Perfectly located on the slopes of Vaujany, Chalet Saskia features two separate large lounges with log fires, two sun terraces, a big TV and games room, 10 en-suite bedrooms all with balconies and a hot tub.

The cuisine is simply inspiring and complemented by the impeccable service and excellent wine selection.

+33 (0)47 900 6767 // CONTACT@HOTELAVENUELODGE.COM HOTELAVENUELODGE.COM

+41 (0)27 967 7676 FIREFLY-ZERMATT.COM

01428 608070 // INFO@SKIPEAK.NET SKIPEAK.NET

RESIDENCE & SPA VALLORCINE CHAMONIX 

CHALET DES ALPES CRANS-MONTANA

HÔTEL L’HÉLIOPIC CHAMONIX

Nesteld in the charming village of Vallorcine, in the Chamonix MontBlanc valley, Vallorcine Mont-Blanc offers a relaxing atmosphere.

The 5 Residence gives guests a choice of 50 cosy apartments with services. Facilities include an indoor heated pool, two saunas, a SPA, a tea-room, a ski shop and a private ice-rink. Less than 10 minutes from your breakfast to the ski slopes !

Quality B&B accommodation offered at great value. Evening meals available most nights. Prices from CHF72 per room. All rooms en-suite, free wi-fi, parking, heated ski room, full UK TV channels.

2 hours from Geneva. 10 min drive to Crans-Montana ski lifts with 140km of pistes. Situated in the small picturesque village of Lens, owned and run by British couple.

4 hotel with spa in central Chamonix, by the Aiguille du Midi lift, offering a new level of comfort including a 500m2 spa (with pool, onsen, hammam, banya, ice cave and tepidarium), restaurant, bar, ski shop, four conference rooms, take-away shop, free wi-fi and a covered car park.

+33 (0)4 5054 7520 // CONTACT@CHAMONIX-VACANCES.COM CHAMONIX-VACANCES.COM

+41 (0)27 483 23 09 // INFO@CHALETDESALPES.CH CHALETDESALPES.CH

+33 (0)4 50 54 55 56 // RESERVATION@HELIOPIC.COM HELIOPIC-HOTEL-SPA.COM

044 // MAR15



@INTHESNOWMAG

GRAB A LLAMA AT VALLOIRE Children’s Week is coming up at Valloire from

Champion Jean-Baptiste Grange.

Wednesday) and a walk with a llama!

11 to 17 April, the final week of the French

Families can also enjoy free entertainment,

Mountain guide Gilles takes children and

resort’s season.

shows and complimentary ski hire this

adults for a walk in the snow with llamas Tio

It’s the Easter holiday week in France (the second

Easter. Valloire also offers some fun and

and Tchupango and their friends the alpacas.

week of the Easter fortnight for many UK schools)

unusual children’s activities such as a free

Children from 4 years old can have fun running

and children under 16 years old will be able to ski

ride in a horse-drawn carriage around the

with the llamas, observing the local flora and

for free at the resort (normally children pay from

village, tobogganing down the Combe St

fauna, and sliding in the snow, before enjoying a

age 5), which is also home to 2015 Slalom World

Pierre (organised by the Tourist Office every

yummy afternoon snack. It costs €20pp.

WOUNDED EX-SERVICEMAN AT IPC ALPINE SKI CHAMPS

SIX SKI HOTELS RECEIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

A wounded ex-serviceman, who is supported by Help for Heroes’ Sports

Last year two ski hotels received the first gold awards from the

Recovery programme, represented Great Britain at the IPC Alpine Skiing

Travelife organisation, and now four more hotels have been presented

World Championships, which took place earlier this month at Panorama,

with this highly regarded environmental and social accolade.

Canada, attracting competitors from 30 countries. Former Staff Sergeant

The hotels in question are the Hotel Banyan in St Anton, the Hotel

Mick Brennan from Doncaster was injured in a suicide bomb attack in 2004

New Solarium in Courchevel, Hotel Cachette in Les Arcs, Hotel Diva in

while serving in Iraq with the Royal Signals. Hurled 25ft by the force of the

Tignes, Hotel Terra Nova in La Plagne and Hotel Viking in Morzine. All

explosion, Mick lost both legs above the knee and suffered a serious brain

are offered by Crystal Ski Holidays.

injury. With the support of Help for Heroes, Mick took part in Exercise Snow

To gain Travelife Gold certification the hotels must meet 150 different

Warrior, an annual military ski training exercise involving adaptive sports,

sustainability criteria. This includes environmental issues, and taking

which is where he got hooked on skiing in 2008 and went on to represent

positive action on social issues, including employee welfare and

Britain at two Olympics.InTheSnow went to press with half of the nearly 50

working with the local community. They must also demonstrate support

events completed in the World Championships, with Millie Knight, guided

of local businesses and protection of local traditions.

by Jen Kehoe, having won silver in the Women’s Giant Slalom for Visually

“We have a carbon management strategy in place to reduce greenhouse

Impaired Athletes. The remainder of the GB team at the championships

gas emissions, covering aviation, major premises, ground transport and

were sit-skiers Ben Sneesby and Benji Millard and “Standing Class” racers

flagship hotel properties. Congratulations to the hotels for this huge

James Whitley and Chris Lloyd. helpforheroes.org.uk/sports-recovery

success,” said Gordon Ritter, Purchasing Director of Crystal Ski Holidays.

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045 // MAR15

 PROMOTION

JIMMY PETTERSON Ski journalist and photographer Jimmy

What are your skiing greatest achievements?

has skied in 71 countries on all seven

JP: I have won various awards in snow-

continents, probably more than any

sports journalism, and I am proud of my

other person, having visited more than

book and the sequel, as well as having

550 resorts and posted more than 500

skied in so many different countries. When

articles, many included in his 2005

I began my career as a ski journalist in

book, Skiing Around the World. Jimmy is

1985 I was one of the first to focus on

currently hard at work on volume 2 of this

skiing in unusual locations, which is more

seminal work.

common nowadays, so perhaps I have helped others to expand their horizons.

When did you first start skiing?

JP: My Austrian-born mother was the

Have you any favourite destinations?

first woman to qualify as a ski instructor

JP: Saalbach has been my winter base

in California, and she and Dad put me on

for many years and has always been one

skis when I was two. After university in

of my favourite resorts. As a photographer,

1973 I went to Hinterglemm to work as an

I enjoy skiing in areas that are scenically

instructor, planning on then finding a job

beautiful, and the Dolomites of Italy,

as a history teacher, but that’s where it

Zermatt in Switzerland, and the small

all went awry. Compared with my native

ski centres of Narvik and Stranda in the

America, the resorts in the Alps were

fjordlands of Norway are also favourites.

bigger and better, the powder lasted longer and the European girls were much

What have you enjoyed the most?

more sensuous. I never looked back.

JP: It is great fun to ski in small, noncommercial ski areas, where skiing is still

How have things changed over the years?

a pastime rather than a faceless industry,

JP: Safety equipment is better,

and I get nostalgic when I am riding a

particularly bindings and avalanche

rickety old T-bar in the likes of Dragobrat

transceivers. I am also happy that they

in Ukraine or Kashka-Suu in Kyrgyzstan.

flatten moguls with piste machines, as

I’ve also experienced some excellent deep

even when I was young with strong knees I

powder in these uncrowded locations

never liked bumps.

and enjoyed meeting friendly people and

There are more resorts today, but

learning about different cultures.

unfortunately there are also more skiers and way too many powder hounds.

Where’s left?

Snowboards and wider skis have made

JP: Most of the countries that I have left on

it easier for people to ski powder. Hence

my list are Muslim countries that have been

many pistes are too crowded and the

rather hostile toward Westerners in recent

powder is gone by 11am.

years for understandable reasons. I would

I am also unhappy with some resorts

however like to ski in Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria

that are actually real-estate developments

and Pakistan when I can, and I do plan to visit

in disguise, creating ugly, generic places

North Korea next. I hope to ski on the Lewis

with no charm. Fortunately, there

Glacier high on Mt Kenya, but there is often

are many small and atmospheric ski

no snow on the glacier as a result of climate

resorts remaining.

change, so that’s currently uncertain too.

046 // MAR15

SKIINGAROUNDTHEWORLDBOOK.COM

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