InTheSnow | Issue 63 | Oct 2019

HANS BEZARD / AGENCE ZOOM / GETTY IMAGES

INTHE SNOW ISSUE 63 | OCT ‘19

SKI LEGEND SVINDAL CONTEMPLATES LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT

SKI NEWS

SNAPSHOT

POWER PLANT SKI SLOPE OPENING October sees the opening of a year-round dry ski slope down the sides of the Amager Bakke

In A Hurry? Here Are Some of Ski’s Current Top Stories ...

power plant in Copenhagen after delays due to

JAMES NORTH

MIRJAGEH.COM

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

technical issues.

NEW BIGGEST AUSTRIAN SKI AREA

LONDON SKI SHOW IS GO

The FIS 2019/20 Alpine Skiing World Cup gets

A piste and lift connection between Saalbach’s

The last remaining ski show in the UK, The Ski

underway at the end of October at Sölden in

and Zell am See’s ski areas opens this winter

& Snowboard Festival, is back at Battersea Park

the Austrian Tirol. Women race first on Saturday

giving the most combined piste in Austria, but

during the kid’s half-term week, Thursday 24 to

26 October, men on Sunday.

so far it’s one way with a bus back.

Sunday 27 October.

KAPRUN KONNECTS

CORTINA TO HOST THE BIGGEST COMPETITIONS

FIRST MAN TO SKI EVEREST DIES

A long-standing dream to connect Kaprun’s two ski

The 2020s will see a renaissance for Italy’s

Davo Karničar, the first man to ski down Everest

areas, Kitzsteinhorn and Maiskogel, will be realised next

Cortina d’Ampezzo. It will host this season’s finale

from the top, back in the year 2000, and the first to

month. The K-onnection gondola removes the need for

World Cup Finals, then the Alpine Skiing World

ski complete descents from the highest peaks on

a 6km drive and climb of 2,261m.

Championships in 2021 and the Olympics in 2026.

seven continents, has died in a tree-felling accident.

PAOLA DANDREA

WORLD CUP SEASON STARTING

PETER-LINTNER

YEAR-ROUND SKIING COMING TO AMERICA

About a dozen glacier ski areas are open already

An indoor ski centre built in 2008 is set to finally

at the start of autumn, about half of them in Austria

open this month in New Jersey, USA, the first in

for ski Oktoberfests, but more open this month

North America. Unusually indoor snow centres

including Finland’s Ruka and Austria’s Kitzbühel.

opened first in South America and Africa.

THE NORTH FACE / NIC ALEGRE

SKI AREAS OPENING EARLY

THE FUTURE OF SKIWEAR?

LEGO LAUNCH NEW SKI SET

The North Face launch gear this month with

Lego have just launched its first ski resort set.

their new patented fabric, years in the making.

Part of the Lego City range and retailing at

Nanotech-manufactured FUTURELIGHT™ allows a

about £70 it features ski resort base buildings

soft shell to be waterproof as well as breathable.

and vehicles, but no lifts.

INTHESNOW @INTHESNOWMAG INTHESNOW INTHESNOW_MAGAZINE PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTORS

Dominic Killinger

Megan Hughes Sega Fairweather Fiona Liddell Bruce Pope

dom@inthesnow.com

2019 SEASON ENDS IN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

EDITOR

Patrick Thorne patrick@inthesnow.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Debbie Gabriel

MAGAZINE & BRAND DESIGN BY

Tom Showler Rocket Base tom@rocketbase.co.uk

debbie@inthesnow.com

Most ski areas south of the equator have closed, or will do shortly, at the end of the 2019 season.

WEB & DIGITAL DESIGNER SOCIAL DIGITAL & CONTENT EDITOR

Max Spooner-Blind

Megan Hughes

EQUIPMENT BY

It’s been a good one for snow in Australia, mixed

SUB EDITORS

in Argentina and New Zealand, poor in Chile.

Nick Jones Marion Adams

Ski Bartlett Sputnik

© Copyright 2019 Printed in the UK. No part of this publication may be copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any way or means, either by recording or otherwise, without permission of the publishers in writing.

InTheSnow Ltd Broombarn Lane, Great Missenden, Bucks, HP16 9JD +44 (0)1494 862 423 dom@inthesnow.com inthesnow.com

The snow has already started falling in the Alps, ski resorts are inundating us with their news for the new season and tour operators are sending in ever more holiday discount deals – it seems like the 2019/20 ski season is imminent! With everything starting to kick off, InTheSnow is back in print for autumn and winter, on top of our year-round online presence.

In fact, as you can read in our main news story at the front of the magazine, more than a dozen ski areas are already open and by the end of October that number will have tripled. Why worry about the ski-high prices to take the family skiing in the February half-term when you could go to empty slopes for a fraction of the price in the October holidays instead!

This year we’ve introduced our ski news matrix at the front of the magazine where you’ll find a quick information fix on some of the season’s big news, mixed in with some of the big events of the coming month, so you’re instantly prepared if you need a quick bit of après-ski banter to prove you’re on top of your skiing game.

In this issue we’ve got our usual mix of the big news stories, our regular columns and some great features.

You can read all about the incredible Audi Nines competition, find out what one of our writers made of skiing in Georgia, a new destination choice for 2020, and get the lowdown on the best dates to travel to the slopes this winter from travel industry experts.

We post new stories daily year-round on the InTheSnow.com website and if you’re looking for inspiration for your next ski holiday) check out our constantly updated ski deals pages online too where we publish the latest offers as they come in from the tour operators.

patrick@inthesnow.com

CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC

EARLY BOOKING OFFER Lift pass & Accommodation from 80€ pp / night

www.booking.chamonix.com

CHRISTOPH NOESIG

EARLY AUTUMN SNOWFALLS OPENS GLACIER SKI AREAS It may still be early autumn, but the 2019/20 ski season is starting to take shape with a dozen ski areas open in the Alps and Scandinavia for the start of October, and at least as many again planning to open through the coming month.

and the majority had already opened by

Switzerland, Val Senales and Passo Stelvio

re-opening is a big media event and draws

the start of October, making up half of all

in Italy and, as well as the areas already

several thousand skiers and boarders.

the areas open in the resort of the northern

mentioned, the Pitztal and Kaunertal

There have been some good early autumn

hemisphere so far. Year-round Hintertux

glaciers in Austria.

snowfalls in Western North America too,

was joined by Stubai and Sölden (where

October also sees the first non-glacier ski

and here at least half a dozen ski areas

the 2019/20 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup

areas opening in both Europe and North

in Colorado, California and Oregon in the

kicks off at the end of October) after a mid-

America. Ruka in Lapland is the first, using

West, as well as (thanks to snowmaking if it’s

September snowfall brought 50cm of snow.

snow-farming techniques to save snow

cold enough) Maine, New Hampshire and

It was very welcome after Europe’s glaciers

from last winter to spread back out on the

Vermont in the East, will all do battle to claim

There have been plenty of excited social

had endured one of the hottest summers

slopes as the temperatures cool in the

the prestigious “First in the US to open” title.

media posts from ski resorts and tour

on record, with all-time highs recorded

autumn, then opening three runs for early-

This year Vail Resorts are hoping their high-

operators over the last few weeks as

above 3,000m in the French Alps earlier

snow fans, white ribbons on the landscape

altitude keystone ski area in Colorado will

the first snowfalls of autumn have been

in July. Summer skiing had ended early as

against an otherwise autumnal backdrop.

be first, having invested in snowmaking with

spotted on ski mountains across the

a result at a number of areas, and Tignes

After Ruka, Kitzbühel kicks off its 200+

the aim of making that possible and being

northern hemisphere, with some of the

decided to delay its autumn re-opening

day ski season through to May 2020, the

able to offer their Epic Pass season pass

biggest to date in the Alps and Western

planned for the end of September as it

longest of a non-glacier ski area in the Alps,

holders at least an eight-month season, with

North America.

felt it needed more snowfall first. But you

when it opens, also using snow-farming

Breckenridge now open to late May. But

Austria has the most glacier ski areas open

can already ski at Saas-Fee and Zermatt in

techniques, from mid-October. Their

other resorts may have other ideas.

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OCT19 // 005

LEADING MAGAZINE SHUTS DOWN One of the world’s leading snowboarding magazines has announced that it is ceasing publication. TransWorld

SNOWboarding launched in 1987 ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

when snowboarding was a very new sport to the mainstream and banned in many US resorts, including Park City, which would later host Olympic snowboarding competition in the 2002 Games.

FUNICULAR REPAIRS TO START NEXT MAY Work to repair the Cairngorm funicular railway, which some have said will cost £10 million, may get underway next May 2020, nearly two years after problems with the lift’s structure were made

MIKAELA SHIFFRIN SETS ALL-TIME RECORDS

public, if the process involved in reaching the stage where work

American ski racer Mikaela

The previous record of 14 wins was set

the third time.

can begin goes smoothly over the

Shiffrin, who turned 24 last

by Switzerland’s Vreni Schneider three

She also became the youngest skier – male

season, set several records last

decades earlier in winter 1988/89.

or female – to win 50 World Cup races (at

winter including becoming the first

Shiffrin, who was the youngest slalom

the age of 23 years and 9 months), and she

person to win more than 15 races in

champion in Olympic alpine skiing history

has now won 60 World Cup races, the fifth

one season, eventually topping the

at 18 years, back in Sochi in 2014, also

most of all time, with the four racers with

podium 18 times.

won the ladies’ overall World Cup title for

more wins than her all now having retired.

intervening months.

SKI FLIGHT FREE CAMPAIGN A new not-for-profit independent campaign, skiflightfree.org, has been launched by digital marketing consultant Iain Martin, with the goal of encouraging skiers to reduce their CO2 emissions when travelling to ski resorts. The website includes advice on how to book train travel, as well as information about sustainability projects by tour operators and resorts.

TOMORROWLAND

FREE SKIING FOR FAIR-SKIN REDHEADS When temperatures hit 27°C in Manchester in the summer, the city’s indoor snow centre, Chill Factore, decided to give those with

TOMORROWLAND WINTER BACK IN 2020

red hair and fair skins who are particularly susceptible to strong

The huge “Tomorrowland Winter” electro

much taken over the resort for the festival,

impressive line-up with acts performing on

sunshine the chance to escape

music festival will return to the French

which is the first winter outing for the

eight separate stages, including three on

indoors away from the heat,

resort of Alpe d’Huez next spring after

Belgian summer extravaganza established

the slopes.

free of charge. They could enjoy

organisers of the inaugural event last

in 2004, which attracts half a million to its

The largest of these, measuring 65m wide

skiing and boarding or tubing,

March declared it a huge success.

summer version down closer to sea level.

and 22m high, is believed to be the largest

tobogganing or the ice slide.

Around 25,000 festival-goers from 113

Tomorrowland Winter 2020 will take place

stage of its kind to ever have been erected

countries were reported to have pretty

from 14 to 21 March and promises another

at such an altitude! tomorrowland.com

006 // OCT19

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SKI SHOP CLOSING AFTER 30 YEARS

CHARITY AIMS AT VERBIER FOR ALL

One of the owners of an independent ski and

A new charitable association has been founded

snowboard shop located near Chichester that is to

with the aim of enabling anyone, regardless of

close after nearly three decades has blamed online-

physical or visual deficit, to access Verbier’s

only retailers as the primary issue that has forced it out

mountains all year round.

of business.

Verbier4All has already received the backing of

Steve Filary, who has owned ski shop Rinskis for

Téléverbier, which is now actively planning to

29 years, told the Chichester Observer he felt

make its infrastructures more user-friendly for

5%

“bitter” that his shop had to close but thanked loyal

people with a physical or visual deficit, and is also

QUOTE CODE 'ITS'

customers and said:

working closely with the resort’s tourist office and

“I don’t want to thank the people who came into the

local businesses. The association aims to provide

shop, tried clothes on for half an hour, and then left

the necessary equipment to facilitate the creation

after saying they had found it cheaper online. It is bad

of a pool of qualified “buddies” to provide anyone

taste, cheeky and rude.”

with the assistance they need.

Mr Filary said the shop could not compete against

It is also the aim of Verbier4All’s founders that

online retailers and that Brexit uncertainty was a further

the association be staffed entirely by volunteers

factor. He is now planning on using his 30 years’

and all funds raised go directly to support the

experience to set up a ski boot fitting, ski/snowboard

association’s activities. The next few months

servicing unit along with e-bike sales, servicing and

will see Verbier4All fundraising to purchase

tours on the South Downs.

equipment for this coming winter. verbier4all.ch

Heavenly Skiing At Down To Earth Prices

DISCOUNT

JPNOISILLIER-NUTS.FR

High Quality Catered + Self Catered Accommodation French and Swiss Alps Snow Sure Resorts

NEW SIX-SEATER CHAIR FOR MEGEVE A new six-seat chairlift will

Kinnear, whose family-run Stanford

Blanc and finishes winding through

open up a previously little

Skiing company (stanfordskiing.co.uk)

the trees to Chattrix,” says John,

skied area of Megève, according

has specialised in Megève for more

adding: “It was only spoilt by the slow

to a long-established ski

than 30 years and has permanent

lift back and an exposed corner near

holiday company in the famous

staff in the resort.

the bottom, which faces west, making

French resort.

“The Epaule run from Mont Joly is in

the snow heavy at the end of season.

The new chairlift will replace a rickety

my view the best piste in Megève.

The corner is being redesigned and

old one at the small village of Chattrix,

It’s about 7km starting on a ridge

the new express lift will make it even

near St Nicholas de Véroce, says John

with stunning close-up views of Mont

more enjoyable.”

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OCT19 // 007

On / Near Piste locations No Hidden Extras Financially Bonded

0151 625 1921 mountainheaven.co.uk

© VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION - DAVID CARLIER

For The Adventure Seekers

LE PAS DE CHAVANETTE (AKA THE SWISS WALL)

to the world-famous resort of Zermatt

the gradient and enjoy developing their

offers some of the most stunning views

skills, while advanced to expert skiers

in the Valais region. At an altitude of

will relish the opportunity to crank up

3,883m, this is one of the highest cable

their carving turns.

Perhaps the most famous run in the

car stations in Europe, giving skiers an

Portes du Soleil ski area, this is on

incredible panorama of the surrounding

many skiers’ bucket list. After heavy

mountains. From here, you can see the

snowfall, moguls of up to 2m have been

mountain peaks not just of Switzerland

known to form on the upper section,

but of France and Italy too.

For On-Slope Refreshment

MITTELALLALIN TO SAAS-FEE

Starting at 3,500m, this high-altitude

For Picture-Perfect Scenery

9km run is dotted with mountain restaurants offering food, drink and

making this run a rite of passage for

RIPAILLE TO GRAND-PARADIS

keen mogul skiers. It covers a descent

This beautifully varied run is sure to

you pass through a steep dramatic

remind all skiers why they absolutely love

glacier landscape of crevasses and

LES ATTELAS | VERBIER

the mountains. A 10km trail down from

mountain peaks down to the slopes

1,820m to 1,055m, this slope provides

of Spielboden. Once you arrive in

One of the most picture-perfect in

exceptional views of the dramatic Dents

Spielboden you can then choose

the area, hit this run first thing in the

du Midi and Dents Blanches peaks, before

between two further descents – the

morning and you will find yourself with

winding through enchanting pine forests

off-piste, often mogul-filled Weisse

MATTERHORN GLACIER PARADISE

perfectly prepared, wide-open pistes

and snowy wonderlands. With twisting

Perle, or the gentler option of the

all to yourselves! With 10km of gentle

trails, straight schusses and some steeper

groomed descent.

sunny slopes, this is a piste that skiers of

sections, this run is a lot of fun. We’d

This 25km run from the cable car

all abilities can enjoy. Upper beginners

definitely forgive you for getting the lift

station of the Matterhorn glacier down

to intermediate skiers will appreciate

straight back up to do it again!

of 400m despite being just 1km long, so it is recommended for only the most experienced skiers.

For The Best Views

008 // OCT19  PROMO

For All Early Birds

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a place to rest your legs! The more challenging upper section sees

For more information visit: visitvalais.ch/dream-descents

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Pristine powder...

...and relaxing onsens

Exciting local cuisine...

...and friendly locals

Modern marvels...

...and sacred temples

Discover Japan with Ski Safari The UK’s #1 Japan Ski Specialist

With world-famous powder, fun and varied terrain and unique resorts, Japan is a ski and snowboard destination like no other. However, there is so much more to a Japan ski holiday than the slopes.

Call 01273 224060 or visit skisafari.com/japan to find out more.

THE PERFECT SKI HOLIDAY IS POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE WINTER IN SALZBURGERLAND & FIND OUT WHY

010 // OCT19  PROMO

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ALL IMAGES: © SALZBURGERLAND TOURISMUS

With incredible snow-covered landscapes, charming Austrian resorts and pristine ski slopes, winter in the Austrian district of SalzburgerLand is a truly magical experience.

But a winter holiday in SalzburgerLand isn’t just about life on your skis. It’s about all the experiences that come alongside it, those unique and varied experiences that make up the perfect winter holiday. To enjoy the best of winter in the mountains, SalzburgerLand is the place to be, with regular flights direct to Salzburg airport.

of Neukirchen am Großvenediger and Werfenweng. Much of SalzburgerLand’s accommodation remains family-run, so you can enjoy that famous Austrian hospitality too!

Off The Slopes Often lively, loud and continuing way after the lifts close, energetic après-ski is a staple of many Austrian resorts, and this is no different in SalzburgerLand. What is different, though, is that you can easily swap an afternoon’s skiing or an evening dancing in your ski boots for a host of other unique and equally entertaining activities.

You may have seen Segway tours in busy cities, but have you ever driven one through a snowy winter landscape? How about orbing

World-Class Skiing Yes, I know we just said that winter in SalzburgerLand isn’t just about the skiing – but if it were, you would be in for a treat. As the birthplace of legendary ski racer Marcel Hirscher, it’s no surprise that SalzburgerLand’s slopes are some of the best in the world.

SalzburgerLand has a rich history of skiing, with the first glacial ski area in Austria opened here in 1965 on the Kitzsteinhorn. Now, 70 resorts are dotted across 22 ski areas in SalzburgerLand, with a grand total of 2,000km of ski slopes.

across a ski slope or ice climbing to keep those adrenaline levels topped up? In SalzburgerLand you can take on all these activities, and more! Why not try laser biathlon, an entertaining Olympic-style challenge that combines cross-country skiing with laser shooting (particularly fun for those with a competitive streak!).

Or, if your idea of a perfect ski holiday is more about calm relaxation than competition, SalzburgerLand offers many ways to wind down and enjoy the unique sense of peace that only the mountains can offer.

Escape the excitement of the pistes by enjoying picturesque hikes in the Rauriser Forest, accompanied by National Park Rangers showing you all the best sights. Or take a romantic horse-drawn carriage

Perfect For Ski Touring Not just a great destination for downhill skiing, SalzburgerLand is also an ideal place to head up the slope!

Head off the beaten track and find some of the area’s best powder runs, or take on your first ski touring adventure with one of SalzburgerLand’s highly experienced guides.

Across SalzburgerLand, a number of ski touring trails and touring training routes are available in resorts such as Kitzsteinhorn and Obertauern, and keen skiers can even visit the first ski touring mountain in SalzburgerLand at Zell am See-Kaprun.

ride through a winter wonderland, where you might even get the opportunity to feed some wild mountain animals!

Muscles aching after a day on the slopes? Head to one of SalzburgerLand’s many relaxing spa facilities, or to one of the six thermal baths and wellness centres that provide welcome tranquillity after a day’s activity.

Fantastic For Foodies We all know that delicious Alpine food is an important part of any perfect holiday, and SalzburgerLand does not disappoint in this respect. Exceptional culinary offerings available both on and off

Modern Skiing With A Traditional Feel

the mountain are the result of centuries-old traditions and focus on fresh, local ingredients.

What’s more, SalzburgerLand has even created a dedicated “Via

At the forefront of advances in lift systems and on-slope facilities,

Culinaria” for ski hut fans. This taste trail running through the

SalzburgerLand is a destination where skiing gets bigger

area’s winter regions allows you to combine a day on the slopes

and better each year. Whether it’s the cable-car companies

with some of the area’s best culinary delights. Delicious!

implementing new technologies or the expansion of the ski resorts,

So whether your idea of the perfect ski holiday includes carving

this is a destination showcasing skiing at its 21st-Century best.

down perfect pistes from dawn to dusk, hurtling across the

However, though SalzburgerLand is well and truly a state-of-the-

snow in an inflatable orb, relaxing in a spa under the stars or

art ski destination, it has lost none of that traditional Alpine charm

sampling the best of Austrian cuisine, winter in SalzburgerLand

that so many skiers adore, particularly in the “Alpine Pearl” towns

is sure to deliver.

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RESORT:INSIDER

ARINSAL

Arinsal is one of Andorra’s best-loved ski resorts. It has a mid-sized, familyfriendly ski area that is linked by lifts and ski runs to neighbouring Pal in the ski area known as Vallnord.

resort has the longest on-piste run in

of teaching for which the principality is

Argentinian Food?

Andorra: over 900m from Pic Alt de la

famed, with a lot of English-speaking

Although Arinsal’s 40 or so eateries

Capa all the way down to Cota 1550,

instructors from all over the world. Pal

tend to specialise in Mediterranean

where the chairlift departs from.

Arinsal Ski School is the only school in

and Spanish dishes as you’d

Andorra to have successfully achieved

expect, Argentinian cuisine is also

Best Bar?

accreditation under the British

offered in half a dozen locations.

It’s a close call, but Hunters tops the

Association of Snowsport Instructors

One of these, Ruta 40 (facebook.

chart. For sports fans, there are big

(BASI) Ski School Quality Assurance

com/Ruta40arinsal), is rated the

screens to watch the latest events; for

Programme. They were first certified in

best restaurant in the resort by

foodies, the team of Peruvian chefs

2014 and renewed in 2017 – it’s every

TripAdvisor reviewers.

Although Vallnord is a little smaller

do great cuisine, including veggie and

three years, so next up 2020.

than Andorra’s other ski region,

vegan options; and one punter was

Grandvalira, the lift ticket costs a little

delighted you could text in your drinks

How Snowy?

less. Like all of Andorra’s ski centres,

order from the terrace. Happy hour

Although Vallnord doesn’t have a

blues; there’s a huge 40,000m2

it’s famous for well-priced food and

in Arinsal generally starts at 4pm and

reputation for deep powder, the stats

terrain park that’s divided into

drink compared to the Alps.

ends around 7pm.

show that in every year for the past

three zones containing, between

decade, at least one winter month has

them, a permanent boardercross

Fab For Freestyle?

Yes, it’s not all easy reds and

Off Piste?

British Instructors?

seen more than a metre of snowfall.

run, a large halfpipe and an area

Although perhaps best known for its

One of the big upsides of learning to

There are 400 snow cannons standing

with jumps, rails, spins and fun

easy intermediate slopes, Arinsal ski

ski in Arinsal is the very high standard

by in case nature doesn’t cooperate.

boxes.

012 // OCT19

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JIMMY CHIN

WORDS: PATRICK THORNE

014 // OCT19

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NICK KALISZ

JIMMY CHIN

MAREK OGIEŃ / RED BULL CONTENT POOL

There are lots of feats in skiing that at one time were considered impossible. Almost every ski resort has some couloir or cliff jump skiers have looked up at for decades and thought, “At some point, someone will ski that.” Often, finally, they have.

The First Descents

skied from the top of the same seven summits, although unlike Karničar she did not accomplish complete

Probably the first descent of an 8,000m peak (and you

descents of Everest and Denali.

can argue about what constitutes a full descent) was

K2 (8,614m), the second-highest peak, has proved an

made by Swiss skier Sylvain Saudan. Regarded as one of

even tougher nut to crack, and it was not finally skied

the fathers of extreme skiing, Saudan hop-turned down

until last summer, when the Polish skier Andrzej Bargiel

the face of the world’s 11th-highest peak, Gasherbrum I

made the first full descent on skis on 22 July 2018. It

(8,080m), in 1982. He skied 3,000m of vertical.

had previously claimed the life of Swedish skier Fredrik

Not many people have seen firsthand the tops of the

Three years before Saudan, Frenchman Yves Morin

Ericsson during his attempt in 2010. Bargiel is back

world’s 14 mountains in the Himalayas, which have

skied all the sections of the 10th-highest peak,

in the Himalayas this autumn attempting to become

peaks above 8,000m, and even fewer have probably

Annapurna (8,093m), but did so in stages, not in one

the first to summit and then ski down Everest without

considered that one day someone would ski all of them.

descent. Sadly, Morin died at 6,600m while making a

supplemental oxygen.

As of today, 12 of the 14 have been conquered by skiers,

descent from the summit.

The world’s third- and fifth-highest peaks, Kangchenjunga

although for a couple of the 12 there’s some debate

More than a decade before him, Japanese skier Yuichiro

(8,586m) and Makalu (8,485m), both in Nepal, remain

about whether they have, as yet, truly been skied from

Miura was the first man to actually make turns above

unskied, but after a partial descent of the fourth highest,

the top.

8,000m, on Everest no less. He didn’t go from the top all

Lhotse (8,516m), in 2007, Americans Hilaree Nelson and

The most that any one person has skied is three,

the way down, although he did separately ski down the

Jim Morrison skied the famous “Dream Line” – a very

although several people have now skied the highest

mountain’s South Col, an incredible feat in its own right.

long, very steep couloir giving almost 2000m of vertical

points on all seven continents. Nevertheless, as each

A film, The Man Who Skied Down Everest, was made

from the top of Lhotse – in September 2018.

spring-to-autumn ski season passes in the Himalayas,

about his adventure.

Cho-Oyu (8,188m), the world’s sixth-highest peak, has

news comes of more incredible achievements at the

It’s worth pointing out that thanks to advances in

almost seen more ski descents than the other 13 over-

very extreme of skiing, and more of the planet’s 8,000m

technology, 21st-century skiers are likely to be a

8,000m peaks combined – at the last count there had

peaks being conquered.

good 10kg or more lighter than their 20th-century

been 46. These include the 1988 descent by France’s

Of course, in these days of amazing images and videos

predecessors, and both their clothing and that lighter

Véronique Périllat, who became the first woman to ski

thrown at us endlessly via social media, we almost

skiwear are likely to perform better too.

from the top of an 8,000er and the first person to do so

certainly take these achievements too lightly. The few dozen extreme ski mountaineers who are making these

on a monoski.

From The Top

incredible descents are supremely skilled, incredibly

Of the remaining eight peaks, all have been skied, most from the top to the highest camps below without

fit individuals, usually with decades of experience

After many partial ski descents of Everest, the first full

dispute, with a couple still being disputed.

of climbing to high altitudes and skiing the most

descent from the top of the mountain down to base

So, the only questions remaining now are when will all

challenging of terrain and conditions.

camp was made by Slovenia’s Davo Karničar on 7

14 have been skied and who will be the first person to

They will also be aware of the number of people who

October 2000. Over the next six years, he conquered

ski them all? Despite all our advances in technology, kit

have died, either on the climb up to these great heights

the highest peaks of each of the world’s continents,

and technique, that may have to wait for an edition of

or as they descend.

finishing in Antarctica a month after Kit DesLauriers

the famous Guinness book some decades in the future.

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24-26 JAN 20 GEPA PICTURES/RED BULL

SAMO VIDIC/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

I9 JAN 20

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL

4-5 JAN 20

Slalom World Cup

Lauberhorn Men’s World Cup Downhill

Hahnenkamm Men’s World Cup

Zagreb, Croatia

Wengen, Switzerland

Kitzbühel, Austria

The event is held in its customary location close to

The men’s tour ramps up with the 90th staging of the

With no Olympics or World Championships this year, the

the Croatian capital and near the Adriatic Coast.

Wengen classic, the Lauberhorn, known among other

Hahnenkamm title will be even more sought after this

Slalom races take place for women on Saturday and

things for seeing the highest speeds achieved on the

winter. The schedule is Super G Friday, downhill Saturday

men on Sunday. There’s €120,000 in prize money.

circuit: up to 162kph if the full 4.4km course is run.

and slalom Sunday. Dave Ryding will be hoping to better

snowqueentrophy.com

lauberhorn.ch/en

the silver he won three years ago. hahnenkamm.com/en

I-2 FEB 20

I5 FEB 20

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL

28 JAN 20

Men’s Night Slalom

Women’s Downhill

Men’s Downhill

Schladming, Austria

Rosa Khutor, Russia

Yanqing, China

There are 12 World Cup slalom races scheduled for

February is the busiest month of the season for downhill

February 2020 marks two years since the last

the 2019/20 season, and half of them take place in

racing, with three competitions for the ladies. Germany

Winter Olympics in South Korea and the start of

January. No other month has more than two events, but

and Switzerland are later in the month, but it all kicks

the two-year countdown to the next, centred on

in January there are six, including three night slaloms

off at the venue used for the 2014 “tropical Olympics” in

Beijing. So it’s time to start testing the brand-

under the floodlights, of which this is the biggest.

Sochi, Russia. fgssr.ru

new venues.

THE BIG RACE CALENDAR FOR 2020 I3-I4 MAR 20

I8-22 MAR 20

Freestyle World Cup

Ladies’ World Cup Slalom

World Cup Finals

Tbilisi, Georgia

Åre, Sweden

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Georgia has never staged a World Cup snowsports

After lots of Scandinavian action in recent seasons,

Things were already going Cortina’s way a year ago,

competition but won the bidding to host the 2023

including last year’s World Championships, the focus

after winning the right to host these finals in 2020

Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships

seems to be heading south, with Cortina hosting the

and with the World Championships coming up in

and has announced ambitions to ultimately host a

next championships and beating Stockholm in the

2021, but now its importance has grown again with its

winter Games. First up though is this freestyle contest

2026 Olympics final knock-out. But there’s still a night

recently announced successful bid to host the 2026

in the country’s capital.

slalom coming up in the Swedish capital, and then this.

Winter Olympics. skiworldcupfinalscortina2020.com

FRODE SANDBECH/RED BULL

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL

I5 FEB 20

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TIROLWERBUNG / NEUSSER PETER

THE TIROL

Easy to reach from the UK, the Austrian Tirol region is home to dozens and dozens of authentic ski resorts and includes destinations that are part of some of Europe’s largest ski areas, as well as some of the most snowsure ski resorts on the planet.

fact, at the end of September this

world-famous Kitzbühel or the

stay in a famous party town like

with wooded hillsides and

year there were just 10 ski areas

glacier resort of Sölden where

Ischgl or make it a ski-and-city

white mountain peaks.

open in the northern hemisphere

the International Ski Federation

break at Igls, perhaps?

and half of them were in Tirol!

(FIS) kicks off the annual World

One Tirol area, Hintertux, is one

Cup tour for the best ski racers

of only two in the world open for

on the planet each October.

Easy access Ski areas in Tirol are some of

Whichever resort type you

the quickest and easiest to

A Big Choice

choose, you’ll find they all

reach from the UK, with many

share some core values –

located less than an hour from

Besides the famous resorts

including the importance

Innsbruck Airport and almost

Famous Resorts

mentioned above, you’ll find

of traditional chalet-style

all within a two-hour transfer

ski village choices of all shapes

buildings and there being no

window. Many resorts are

Several of the most famous

and sizes to base yourself in

concrete rectangles to be

actually less than an hour from

A Longer Snow-sure Season

ski resorts in the world are in

during your stay in Tirol. Perhaps

seen. Authentic wood-lined

Innsbruck, including most of the

Tirol, though you may not have

one of the utterly picturesque

bars and restaurants serving

dozen or so ski villages included

known it. Along with the famous

villages in Ski Juwel Alpbhachtal

hearty local fare is the norm

on the Innsbruck lift pass.

Tirol is home to five glacier ski

ski city of Innsbruck, and the

Wildschönau, or Europe’s

across the region, and almost

Alternative airports including

areas which are open from early

cradle of alpine skiing, St Anton

highest traditional village, snow-

all of Tirol’s villages are located

Munich and Salzburg provide

autumn through to late spring. In

am Arlberg, you can opt for the

sure Obergurgl. You could even

in picturesque valley scenery

fast access to North Tirol.

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 PROMO

skiing all year round. You can’t

Authentic

get a longer or more snow-sure season than that.

VISITTIROL.CO.UK

VISITING THE VALAIS

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SWITZERLAND’S MOST VERSATILE SKI REGION If you love winter, you will absolutely adore the Swiss region of Valais. Here, 4,000m peaks watch over the highest-altitude ski regions in Switzerland, where great snow is guaranteed and activity options are endless.

An incredibly family-focused area, here you will find kids’

and with access to the same world-class ski area,

playgrounds, children’s entertainment and ski schools

Nendaz is the perfect base from which to access Les 4

that can familiarise children with the slopes from as

Vallées’ 400km of high-altitude pistes.

young as two and a half years old! It’s the perfect place

However, where Nendaz really shines is off the groomed

to nurture the growing talent of your child.

runs. Nowhere else can you find as much secure

Plus, carrying your skis in Aletsch Arena is a thing of

freeride terrain as here, with seven legendary routes

the past, with all accommodation ski-in/ski-out in this

that draw athletes from around the world to the area.

Fly to Geneva or Zurich and a direct train to Valais from

For Non-Skiers?

Snowshoeing, winter hiking and sun-drenched terraces

both airports will whisk you off to the mountains in two to

In the Aletsch Arena, you can easily enjoy the beauty of

also await those who don’t fancy hitting the slopes in

three hours. If you’ve never experienced the beautiful vistas

an Alpine winter away from the heights of the ski slopes.

Nendaz, and we know where we’ll be resting our post-

of a Swiss train journey (not to mention the efficiency!), this

With 75km of marked winter hiking trails, snowshoeing

walk legs! The 2,200m2 Spa des Bisses has both indoor

is the perfect way to kick off your winter holiday.

trails, lakeside cross-country runs, natural ice rink and a

and outdoor pools, saunas, hammams and treatment

With over 2,000km of pistes available at an impressive

13km sledding run, the active travellers among you have

rooms with a team of qualified therapists to boot.

altitude, the ski areas of Valais offer some of the most

a huge array of choice if you fancy a day off your skis.

Once sufficiently relaxed, taste local produce

exceptional snow-sure skiing we’ve ever experienced,

Or, you can pamper yourself in the only thermal brine

and experience the friendly local hospitality that

with fantastic local wine and unique gastronomy

bath in the Swiss Alps at Breiten, where 33°C water

radiates from this charming resort at the 30 fantastic

awaiting you off the slopes. There’s no surprise that

loaded with mineral salts is sure to be the perfect end

restaurants and bars.

this area is home to some world-famous resorts, with

to a day on the mountain.

Don’t miss the snowshoe hike and raclette in the

big names such as Zermatt and Verbier attracting

Don’t miss the route from Moosfluh to Riederfurka

woods. Experience the magical landscapes of the

skiers from across the globe.

along the Aletsch Glacier – known as one of the most

mountains as the sun sets, before enjoying delicious

However, some of Valais’ best ski areas are those

beautiful high-altitude hiking trails in the Alps.

melted raclette and local wine.

Top Winter Deals

Top Winter Deal

Ski For Free: Children and teenagers up to the age

Dare To Ski: The perfect way to try skiing for the first time

of 20 (year 2000–2013) can ski or snowboard for free

or simply refresh your skills! Equipment rental, one-day ski

every Saturday at the Aletsch Arena.

pass and two-hour lesson all for CHF111 (around £90).

beautiful car-free resort.

For Non-Skiers?

slightly off the beaten track, where incredible skiing meets small traditional Swiss resorts.

visitvalais.ch/ski

ALL PHOTOS: © VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION - DAVID CARLIER

Aletsch Arena

Aletsch Winter Hiking Pass: The ideal cableway ticket

A True Ski-In/Ski-Out Winter Wonderland

for all winter hikers and snowshoers.

Events

The Aletsch Arena, encompassing the resorts of

aletscharena.ch

Mud Day Winter: Think “Tough Mudder” on snow! 28 March 2020.

Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiesch-Eggishorn, is one

Nendaz Freeride: This event from 13 to 21 March includes

such destination, with 104km of pistes including beginners’ slopes, snow parks, halfpipes and floodlit

Nendaz

four competitions: Nendaz Freeride Junior, Nendaz

night runs. With an altitude between 1,845m and

The Hidden Gem Of

Freeride 2*, Nendaz Freeride 3* and the Nendaz Freeride

2,869m, the area also boasts exceptional off-piste

Switzerland’s Largest Ski Area

Elite 4* on the 21st of March on the Mont-Gond.

opportunities, with three dedicated freeride pistes in

In the heart of Les 4 Vallées, Switzerland’s largest ski

Nendaz Spring Break: Celebrate the arrival of spring with

Fiescheralp as well as a number of entertaining routes

area, lies the traditional resort of Nendaz. Quieter and

waterslide contests and tropical dance floors!

from the Eggishorn.

arguably more charming than its bigger brother Verbier

nendaz.ch

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COLORADO “SNOW HUGGERS CLUB” Arapahoe Basin ski resort in Colorado has launched the “Snow Huggers Club” as an add-on to any season pass. For an additional $30 (around £25 on the season pass price), skiers and boarders can make their trips to A Basin’s slopes more sustainable by helping to offset carbon emissions from travelling to and from the ski area.

VICAR RIDES UK SNOW CENTRES IN A DAY A “snowboarding vicar” who set himself the challenge of boarding at all six UK indoor snow centres in one day in a charity fundraiser hit his target. The Reverend Steven Young, Vicar of St Michael and All Angels in London, completed his 769km odyssey earlier this year, raising

COUPLE FIND OUT BABY’S GENDER

BY SKIING THROUGH PINK CLOUDS

funds for the North London Hospice.

A first-time father-to-be has skied

were expecting their first child, but when

and provided the canisters that let off the pink

BC SKI RESORT TO RE-OPEN

down a slope letting off clouds of

the doctor knew what gender the child

smoke across the snow. Greg realised he was

pink smoke from canisters attached

was going to be, they asked him not to tell

going to be the father of a baby girl when he

to his ski poles to reveal to his

them. Instead the information was provided

set off the canister at the top of the slope; his

A ski area in British Columbia,

pregnant wife, and himself, that

in a sealed envelope.

wife Amanda stood at the bottom saw it too.

they were expecting a girl.

The envelope was passed to filmmaker Dustin

“It’s a girl!” everyone cheered, raising their

Colorado-couple Amanda and Greg Day

Farrenkopf, who organised the special ski day

poles in the air.

which last operated in 2014, may re-open but with a new name.

Crystal Mountain Ski Resort, located in West Kelowna, closed after a chairlift accident led to three people being injured.

OMAN INDOOR SNOW CENTRE FOR 2021 The Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim group, which has given us Ski Dubai, Africa’s first indoor snow centre, Ski Egypt, and is working on a third mall with indoor snow centre in Saudi Arabia, has said a fourth complex with indoor snow facility is progressing in Oman. The €650 million (around £570 million) centre is due to open in March 2021.

COLORADO SKI TRAIN SETS RECORD

SKI SLOPE ON POWER PLANT FINALLY OPENING

The reinstated ski train from Denver

A new dry ski slope that runs down the

licence it needed to operate on top of,

The centre’s operators say that the

to Winter Park in Colorado set a new

roof of a giant waste-to-energy “green”

essentially, a giant boiler, according to

Amager Bakke power plant “has become

record for the number of passengers

power plant near Copenhagen in

Danish media reports.

part of the city” and that they plan a

carried last winter, since the service

Denmark is due to finally open at the start

It has just opened on occasional days over

three-day party with sports activities,

was reinstated in 2017. An amazing

of October.

the past year when the power plant was

competitions, celebrations and concerts

The facility was built a year ago but did

shut down, but the issue now appears to

all with “a focus on showing what the city’s

not have the necessary health and safety

have been resolved.

new mountain sports Mecca offers.”

19,200 tickets were sold through the season, up 7% on last year.

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APRES-SKI TREAT FUN FOR DOGS

DRY SLOPE MAY NOT BE DESTROYED

Given the growth in dog-friendly accommodation in the

Exeter City Council may be reining back on

Alps, it is perhaps inevitable that après-ski fun for dogs

plans announced earlier this year to sell off land,

would be next. Chalet-company Consensio, which sells

including the area where its dry ski slope is

holidays with dog-friendly chalets and self-catering

located, for housing.

apartments, has announced that they will be offering

The council voted to sell a sports complex and

the first après-ski for dogs, in partnership with pet drinks

the adjacent land where the ski slope is located

company WOOF&BREW.

to a housing developer in February, against the

“It’s non-stop for Fido when lapping up the life of luxury

advice of its own officials and despite a petition

in one of Consensio’s chalets, from early morning snow

against closing the slope signed by more than

runs, being chauffeured to meet the humans off the

2,600 people.

slopes to enjoying exquisite, homecooked meals,” a

The volunteer-run slope has operated more

company spokesperson said.

than 50 years and over the decades had taught

Dogs can sample “the world’s first doggy herbal

tens of thousands of people to ski or board,

teabags” in the shape of a cup of LapDog Souchong,

with a particular focus on teaching children and

Earl GreyHound or Barkjeeling. Alternatively those

disabled people.

in need of the hair of the dog can opt for a bowl

The new council leader is said to be “reviewing

of CHAM:PAWS, described as “a light, crisp, non-

the decision” and has been quoted as saying, “I

carbonated drink made using 100% natural herbs,

would like to keep this space as it is, without …

developed with leading veterinary experts.”

the redevelopment of the … ski slope.”

Learn French & Learn French +Ski/Snowboard Adventure Activities WILL A 3,000-PIECE LEGO SNOW GROOMER GO INTO PRODUCTION? Although Lego are selling a Lego City

will agree to produce it.

Lego giving a six-month extension, but

model, the jury is still out on whether

So far the plan to build a fully working

the 10,000 must be reached by the end

they’ll create a high-spec 3,000-piece

model Leitwolf, Prinoth’s top-of-the-

of October. Anyone can register free of

replica of a piste-basher that has been

range snow-groomer, is halfway there,

charge on the site to vote.

proposed by Tirolian firm Prinoth.

but time is running out.

The model is fully remote-controlled,

Anyone can put forward a Lego set

The project, first announced in February

and all the functionalities of the

plan on the company’s “Ideas” forum,

last year, would normally be allowed 12

real model are working thanks to it

but proposals need to get 10,000

months to get enough support, but the

incorporating nine motors, four remote

registered “Likes” before the company

popularity of the proposal so far led to

control units and two battery packs.

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OCT19 // 021

Ski/Snowboard Ski/Snowboard every every day day 10h 10h or or 20h 20h Interactive Interactive French French per per week week Morzine-Avoriaz, Morzine-Avoriaz, French French Alps Alps

WORDS: MEGAN HUGHES

HERE COME THE GIRLS

DAVID MALACRIDA

The Audi Nines Introduce The First Ever Women’s Setup Running Simultaneously To The Men’s Event

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© THE DISTILLERY / FLORIAN BREITENBERGER

DAVID MALACRIDA

If there’s one thing you can be sure to expect from the Audi Nines, it’s freestyle skiing and snowboarding like you’ve never seen it before.

And last winter, for its 11th edition, the 2019 Audi Nines by Falken continued to up its game, with two separate event setups running concurrently for the first time in its history.

the athletes at its heart, from

by the all-female Diamond Girls Crew.

10m-high ramp which launched

conception to completion. Now,

The 2019 edition saw a space age

riders over a wild 32m gap. The

the introduction of a second

theme hit the slopes of Obergurgl,

lower section showcased the Audi

resort, with a setup designed and

with a setup that featured a huge

Nines’ signature creativity with

created by women, for women, has

23m Big Air jump, a cannon rail,

spectacular transition features

provided a welcome opportunity for

and the main centrepiece, the

that saw top skiing names such

female riders to shine in their own,

“UFO” feature. A combination of

as Freeride World Tour Champion

bespoke setting.

a rainbow rail with a wallride and

Markus Eder and British freeski

From the initial planning phase,

some impressive extraterrestrial

legend James “Woodsy” Woods

female athletes were involved as

design inspiration, it set the scene

seemingly defy the laws of physics.

collaborators, brought on board to

for some incredible imagery.

The week was rounded off with a

share their ideas with the course

Luckily, throughout the week, world-

Big Air contest, on the women’s

shapers and Audi Nines team. This

class female photographers were

side won by Johanne Killi (freeski)

resulted in a course which allowed

on hand to capture all the action,

and Yuka Fujimori (snowboard). On

riders to take on features they had

as international heavyweights such

the men’s side, Elias Syrjä took the

While the men’s course returned

always dreamed of.

as Sarah Hoefflin (Women’s Ski)

freeski title while Mons Røisland

to Sölden, Austria, for the first time,

“It’s so special to be involved

and Anna Gasser (Women’s SNB)

topped the snowboard podium.

the women of the Audi Nines were

in the planning of one of my

providing the goods on the course.

Awards were also given for Ruler of

busy creating a totally different

favourite sessions,” says Canadian

In an industry that is notoriously

the Week and Best Style.

setup up the road in Obergurgl.

snowboarder and 2013 Olympic

male-dominated, this is something

The Audi Nines is a week of epic

Blasting onto the scene back in 2010,

gold medallist Spencer O’Brien.

we seriously love to see.

photography, video shoots and an

the Nine Knights and Nine Queens

“It’s a dream come true to work

Having two separate courses

exhilarating contest or two. However,

contests have seen the world’s best

together with the other girls and

running concurrently ultimately

as the 2019 event has shown, it’s

freestyle skiers and snowboarders

the organisers to bring the perfect

meant double the action for the

also so much more than this. It’s

take to the slopes across a series of

setup to life.”

2019 Audi Nines.

an opportunity for riders to enjoy,

epic locations and setups growing in

To create this perfect course, a

Epic tricks, jaw-dropping air

experiment and entertain, taking

both size and stature.

dedicated team of eight shapers,

and a few impressive wipeouts

their sports to previously inaccessible

Since becoming the Audi Nines in

two snowcats, and one excavator

were standard order for both

levels. For both men and women, the

2018, the event has continued to

were called into action, with the

resorts, though perhaps the most

2019 Audi Nines has firmly cemented

push boundaries in ways we didn’t

experts at Schneestern helped

entertaining moment was two-time

the event’s place as one committed

even think possible – 2018’s insane

out by the talented shapers of the

Olympic gold medallist David

to progression and promotion of

“SlopeX” course (think snow cross

Diamond Girls Crew.

Wise’s record-breaking quarterpipe

these world-class athletes and their

meets slopestyle but much, much

Using over 35,000 cubic metres of

highest air – a staggering 11.7m!

amazing sport.

bigger…) demonstrating this is an

snow, they created a course sure

The men’s setup saw two huge

event that truly takes no prisoners.

to challenge not only the athletes’

avalanche barriers converted into a

One of the unique elements of

ability, but also their imaginations

serious freestyle playground, with

the Audi Nines as an event is

and, in an Audi Nines first, the setup

big air jumps, giant quarterpipes,

that this is a setup that truly has

was maintained throughout the week

and the notorious “Launch Pad” – a

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OCT19 // 023

THE AUSTRIAN TIROL

TIROLWERBUNG / HEINZLMEIER BERT

YOUR NEW FAVOURITE SKI HOLIDAY CHOICE

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WILDSCHOENAU-TOURISMUS / THOMAS TRINKL

Having a great ski holiday shouldn’t be a game of Russian roulette, battling through big airports and taking long transfers to end up just in a large , soulless ski centre. It’s so much better to take a short flight to a smaller airport, just an hour or so from a charming ski village that’s a true year-round community and famous for its warm hospitality.

Zillertal

ski areas in Tirol, naming it Ski Juwel.

Seventeen modern lifts provide fast,

The Alpbachtal and Wildschönau ski

comfortable access to all slopes, but if you

valleys were connected after 50 years

do want a bigger area, a regional pass

of separate operations on either side of

costing just a few euros more provides

The wide Zillertal Valley, close to

a mountain ridge. The region now offers

access to hundreds of kilometres of more

Innsbruck, is one of the most-loved

something for all tastes and abilities from

slopes just a little way away. The beautiful

Tirolean ski destinations and home

family-friendly terrain to some highly

countryside surrounding the resort is also

to multiple ski villages boasting more

challenging black runs as well as exciting

popular for winter hiking, cross-country

than 500km of ski slopes between

freeride terrain which a local guide will

skiing and snowshoeing with well-marked

them, some of which are open 365

be delighted to help you discover, with

trails to follow.

days a year. One of the world’s most

expert access to the best of the powder.

famous ski resort towns, Mayrhofen, is

The difficulty though is choosing which

reached first as you enter the valley,

charming village to base yourself in, as they all now provide access to the same

The SkiWelt

before you move on to the ski resorts of Hochzillertal-Hochfügen, Zell-Gerlos and Mayrhofen to Fügen. There is also

great ski area. Alpbach has been voted the most beautiful in all of Austria, but the

If you like your skiing on a really grand

the high valley of Tuxertal, crowned

Whether you’re an avid skier or

villages of the Wildschönau Valley are

scale but don’t want to have to hop on

by the Hintertux glacier with its year-

snowboarder, a beginner or you’re looking

extremely enticing too. Auffach, Oberau

a ski bus to go from one area to the

round glacier ski slopes, the only one in

for a family-oriented holiday, and whether

and Niederau here also have picture-book

next, you can’t do much better than the

Austria and one of only two in the world

your preference is relaxing après-ski or

wooden chalets and lots of enticing shops

SkiWelt region, one of the Tirol’s (and

that’s open every day of the year for

more of a party resort, you can be sure

and restaurants as well. They also each

indeed Austria and the world’s!) largest

skiing and boarding.

to find your gem in the Austrian Tirol this

boast their own great local ski school and

ski areas. It features 284km of wide,

winter.

plenty of après-ski activities to enjoy once

well-groomed piste served by 90 fast,

There are dozens of ski resorts here to

you’re off the slopes. At least, whichever

modern and comfortable ski lifts and a

choose from, all with perfectly prepared

you pick to stay in, you can easily ski over

mighty snowmaking arsenal covering

pistes and some of the most comfortable

to visit the others.

more than 95% of the slopes. There are

Zugspitz Arena

and quick ski lifts you’ll find anywhere –

four great terrain parks if you like to get

The Tiroler Zugspitz Arena is located

the perfect setup in fact to make your ski

some air and Austria’s biggest night-skiing

up in the north of the region, close to

operation if you want to hit the slopes

Germany’s famous Zugspitze mountain,

after dark as well. Of course, just because

just over the invisible border. The

there are nearly 300km of inter-connected

area is made up of seven picturesque

St Johann has a great mid-sized ski area

slopes, you don’t need to rush around

villages, each of classic traditional

based above a historic ski town with its old

them. The SkiWelt (or the SkiWelt Wilder

Tirolean style and atmosphere, ideal

pedestrianised centre lined with enticing

Kaiser - Brixental to give it its full title) has

for a wonderful family holiday you’ll

shops and restaurants, many run by the

77 mountain huts to choose from – and

never forget. The ski region has 139km

same local families for generations. There

with mouth-watering home-made cuisine

of ski slopes, most of them delightful

are 43km of varied runs that are perfect for

available at each it can be hard to ski past.

cruises between the wooded hillsides

If you do know your Tirolean ski villages

anyone looking for a relaxed ski holiday

It’s also hard to decide which of the nine

and through beautiful mountain scenery.

but don’t think you know the Ski Juwel

destination as well as beginners seeking

villages at the base of the slopes to stay

Despite this benign image there are

area, you may be forgiven. A few years

the best place to start. Those who are

in, each with many of its own attractions .

more challenging slopes here too,

ago, two of the best-loved and most

looking for some challenges won’t be

Wherever you choose, though, you’ll find

though, if you wish to push your limits,

beautiful ski valleys in the Alps created a

disappointed either with some wonderful

access from Innsbruck or Salzburg quick

and some great freeride terrain.

state-of-the-art lift link between them and

long blacks and local guides happy to

and easy, and Munich Airport too just an

in so doing made one of the 10 biggest

lead you to the area’s powder stashes.

hour away.

holidays here the best you’ve ever had.

St Johann in Tirol

Here are some hidden gems to discover this season:

Ski Juwel

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TH E YEAR IN SKI ING

BY PATRICK THORNE

100 YEARS AGO ©2019 ANTHONY UPTON

In 1919, soon after World War I, Hannes Schneider from St Anton, Austria, popularly regarded as the father of alpine skiing, said, “If everyone skied, there would be no wars.” Two decades later, he escaped religious persecution from the Nazis and fled to the US, helping establish Mt Cranmore in New Hampshire.

50 YEARS AGO

ALTITUDE COMEDY FESTIVAL RETURNING IN 2020

The Sundance ski area in Utah was established by actor Robert Redford

The Altitude Comedy Festival has

Friday 3 April.

Both Maxwell and Brigstocke are very

in 1969. Rather ahead of its time, as

announced it’s back next spring 2020

For those unfamiliar with the Altitude

much involved with the festival which

concrete accommodation was going

and tickets are already on sale.

festival, it essentially comprises a week

Maxwell continues to compere. Over the

up in the Alps and the Rockies, the

Although only a few of the acts have been

of evening gigs in various formats and

years most of the great and good of British

area’s emphasis was on maintaining a

announced this far in advance, we do know

lots of daytime fun on and off the slopes.

comedy have turned up at Altitude with

natural environment, including working

the festival will kick off at 5pm on Monday

Wristbands get you access to all, but you’ll

names including John Bishop, Tim Minchin,

30 March 2020 and run to the following

need to book a holiday to be there too.

Sean Locke and Eddie Izzard all performing.

with local Native Americans and serving organic cuisine grown on local Sundance farms.

25 YEARS AGO Although shaped or carving skis had been around, mostly as test and prototype models, for some time, the breakthrough year, led by Slovenian manufacturer Elan, is considered to be 1994, when the term “parabolic skis” was first coined and skiing began to reclaim ground lost over the previous decade to the success of snowboarding.

10 YEARS AGO Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal won the super combined race at the 2009

ABERDEEN’S SKI CENTRE GETS A CONVEYOR LIFT

Alpine Skiing World Championships at Val d’Isère and took the overall World

A new lift has been installed at Aberdeen’s

areas at many ski resorts now, but less so

primary schools who were among the first

Cup title for the year. Lindsey Vonn

Snowsports Centre at Garthdee in Scotland.

at dry ski slopes – will allow children and

to use the new lift.

took gold in the downhill and Super G

Operators Sport Aberdeen have invested

adults with additional support needs to

Mr Taylor said that he hoped the new easy-

at the World Championships and was

£100,000 in the facility, which incorporates

access the slopes.

to-use lift would encourage more people of

a Snowflex dry slope and facilities for

The new facility was opened with a ribbon-

all ability levels to use the slope.

skiing, boarding and tubing.

cutting ceremony by Sport Aberdeen’s boss

A free tubing taster session was also

The conveyor lift – common in beginner

Colin Taylor along with children from local

organised.

the overall Ladies’ World Cup champion.

Both athletes retired after the World Championships in Åre, Sweden, earlier this year.

026 // OCT19

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Drei Zinnen

The UK’s biggest ski holiday company, Crystal, is adding a new resort in the Italian Dolomites, just south of the Austrian border, for the coming winter.

Drei Zinnen, which is German for “Three Peaks” and which is also known by its Italian name of “Tre Cime di Lavaredo”, is situated in the east of South Tyrol, to the north of Cortina and Venice.

It is a high valley in the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage park. The Three Peaks are among the most famous peaks in the Alpine region and constitute a major part of Alpine history.

Although as yet largely undiscovered by the UK market, the area can be easily reached from both Verona and Innsbruck, and its uniqueness comes from the fusion of Austrian and Italian cultures, which influences the design, architecture, cuisine and language of the region.

The region has 100km of slopes and a strong family-friendly reputation. It is also one of Italy’s leading cross-country ski destinations, with 200km of groomed tracks.

The local ski area can be more than doubled to around 210km of downhill piste thanks to a direct rail connection, inaugurated in 2014, which runs from the bottom of the Monte Elmo cable car station in the Three Peaks to the neighbouring ski area of San Candido and Val Pusteria every 30 minutes. The entire region is also part of the huge Dolomiti Superski pass, with its 1,200km of piste.

The area has five main resort villages, known by both Italian and German names in this bilingual region: Sesto (Sexten), San Candido (Innichen), Dobbiaco (Toblach), Villabassa (Niederdorf) and Braies (Prags). Most of Crystal’s accommodation is in San Candido.

The resort can be accessed with Crystal from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London Gatwick and Manchester airports.

“Our 2019/20 ski holidays are now on sale and we are already counting down the days to the slopes reopening,” said Chris Logan, Managing Director at Crystal Ski Holidays.

“We have already announced new flight routes, new childcare clubs, a new resort and a revamped chalet product, so we are really looking forward to the coming season.”

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s è r p A t s i w T A H

T I W

ss gla a th e, e wi e Douc on r fi i g lin La Fol a day èsk c a r to t a cr les a ment eir ap ng y b i b th an ta ng ini axi n the accomp pping terta n. l e u o r n i t’s ncing timate sorts more e ounta i r e ul ir he m r da the now Whe wine o is the any sk e are y on t of -ski ith m ther ff a da W o ès y, apr opes. centl to top sl re r the game an eve i h sk ys t wa

028 // OCT19

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SHANNON MARTIN

EKUSHENKO IVAN IVANDAN.RU

Ice Diving in Tignes

Pet the Elk in Jackson Hole

Try E-Fat Biking in Samoëns

Go Stargazing in Banff

The natural frozen lake at Tignes 2100

Top off a day’s spectacular skiing in

Exhilarating, entertaining and a whole

Choose from an array of ways to admire

offers the perfect place to try ice diving,

Jackson Hole with a visit to the National

new way to view the mountains at night,

the spectacular night’s sky in Banff, from

with ice up to 2m thick creating a magical

Elk Refuge, where you can view

it’s no surprise that e-fat biking is taking

night skiing, snowshoeing and ice-walking

environment of ice shapes and shadows.

thousands of elk in their natural winter

off in ski resorts across the world. In

to relaxing in the Banff Upper outdoor hot

A thick drysuit will keep you from feeling

habitat, as well as bison, wolves, bighorn

Samoëns, take on the Bostan slope,

springs. At 2,900m high, Banff Gondola’s

the chill, and highly experienced divers

sheep and bald eagles. The perfect

where you can climb 1,100m in elevation

evening stargazing sessions combine

will be on hand to show you the ropes.

après-ski adventure for animal lovers!

and enjoy an epic downhill descent on

telescopes and interactive exhibits with

the way back down!

tips from professional photographers and

Available in daytime and at night with

warm drinks!

JESSIE UNRUH/BRECKENRIDGE DISTILLERY

Evolution 2.

Wine Ski Safari in Alta Badia

Visit Snow Monkeys in Japan

Sample Local Spirits

Slopeside Distillery

With a unique location in the heart of the

The skiing in Japan is unlike any in the

Experience a ski-in/ski-out whisky distillery

Over in Colorado, the Breckenridge

Dolomites, Alta Badia is home to some

world and so too is our favourite off-slope

in Park City, Utah! The High West Saloon is

Distillery blends water from the melted snow

of the best wines you can get on the

activity here, a visit to the Jigokudani

only a stone’s throw from the slopes and

of the Rocky Mountains to create delicious

slopes. Ski between mountain huts and

Snow Monkey Park. Wild Japanese

allows skiers to sample locally made spirits

spirits, from award-winning whiskies to

sample some of the area’s most delicious

macaque monkeys bathing in the

in a truly unique setting.

flavoured vodka. The highest distillery in the

offerings in one afternoon!

snowy hot springs? That’s certainly not

world, it’s truly après with a twist.

BANFF GONDOLA BY PURSUIT

something you see in the Alps!

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OCT19 // 029

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

C R O AT I A

Croatia is of course famous for its beautiful coastline along the Adriatic, which the vast majority of its 20 million visitors each year are heading for. But the country does have mountains in the form of the Dinaric Alps, the highest point of which is Mt Dinara (1,831m), located down near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the south.

For a country with a population of four

the tour heads to what seems a rather

The skiing takes place at Croatia’s mountain

million – which is less than Scotland – it

unusual location by the Adriatic.

sports centre, which is currently undergoing

does remarkably well at sport. Croatia

In fact, World Championships and

an upgrade, with a new chairlift among

might be most famous for football, but the

Olympics aside, it’s quite unusual for

improvements in the works. The lifts and

Kostelić siblings are among the all-time-

Alpine racers to be in the same resort at

runs are situated on the northern slopes of

great names in skiing. Janica is the only

the same time, but the first weekend of

Medvednica and located only about 19km

woman to win four gold medals in alpine

the New Year (4–5 January) has for more

from Zagreb, beginning at the Sljeme peak

skiing at the Winter Olympics (in 2002

than a decade now become the Snow

with about 300m of vertical. The total slope

and 2006) and three alpine skiing gold

Queen Championship weekend in Croatia,

length is about 4,500m, with three lifts: two

medals at one Olympics (2002), while her

partly in honour of Janica and Ivica. Part

drags serving the White and the Green

brother Ivica won a total of 26 World Cup

of the popularity of the two slalom races

slopes, and a chairlift to the World Cup run,

races during his career, taking the slalom

is that the contest has one of the biggest

the so-called Red slope, which is equipped

World Cup title in 2002 and 2011 and the

combined prize purses on the circuit:

with snowmaking and night illumination.

And although it’s warm and sunny much

combined World Cup title in 2011 and 2012.

€120,000. The snow is, however, often

Croatia has another eight or nine small ski

of the year, January and February often

But what of Croatia’s own skiing? Well,

of a rather sugary consistency, and there

hills dotted around the country too, most

see sub-zero temperatures, especially up

avid followers of the Alpine Skiing World

are SnowFactory all-weather snowmaking

with less than 100m of vertical and served

in the hills.

Cup will have noted that every January

machines on site if needed.

by single drag lifts.

030 // OCT19

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INGHAMS OFFERING NEW LAPLAND 5★

NEW GRINDELWALD GONDOLA OPENING

SKI CENTRE TO GET £13.8M CASH INJECTION

Inghams will be one of the first British tour operators

The first stage of a massive overhaul and upgrade

One of the world’s leading dry ski centres is to get a major

to offer ski holidays based in a brand new 5★ hotel in

of ski lifts above Grindelwald and Wengen in

cash injection from the local council to transform it into a

Finland’s largest resort, Levi.

Switzerland’s stunning Jungfrau Ski region is due

multi-sport outdoor activity centre.

The new Design Hotel Levi is set to open on 1

to begin operations this December.

The Hillend dry ski centre above Edinburgh, also known as

November this year and is part of the same large

A new gondola lift with a new terminal in Grindelwald

the Midlothian Snowsports Centre, located in a prominent

complex as the existing 4★ Levi Hotel Spa, and guests

will open on 14 December providing much-improved

position on hillside above the Scottish capital, has been

at the Design Hotel will have access to some of the

access to the Männlichen ski sector. The state-of-

one of the world’s biggest year-round ski centres for

existing hotel’s facilities, including its huge complex of

the-art aerial gondola, with 111 ten-passenger cabins,

around five decades.

themed swimming pools, while also having their Design-

replaces a more than 40-year-old lift, which at the

Its ski slopes were overhauled and expanded several

Hotel-only space and amenities.

time of its installation back in 1978 was the longest ski

years ago with investment from the council and Scottish

The boutique hotel will feature 77 deluxe rooms,

lift of its kind in the world with a total length of 6.2km.

government; however, this new £13.8 million council spend

which will combine traditional Lappish style with a chic

The new lift will double the transport capacity from

on “Destination Hillend” will go on widening the centre’s

design: materials sourced from Finland will include grey

900 to 1,800 guests per hour and cut the journey

appeal including building the highest zip line and longest

pinewood, natural stone, and black and copper finishes.

time from 30 to 19 minutes.

Alpine coaster in the UK, an activity dome with high ropes

In a separate development, Inghams have also launched

The lift is the first of several in a huge CHF420

and soft play as well as a food court and shops. There are

a “Big Three” excursion bundle to Lapland, including a

million (around £345 million) multi-year upgrade

also plans for a hotel and glamping-style accommodation.

shared snowmobile safari, a husky safari and a reindeer

known as the V-Cableway project, which from

The ski facilities will get a new reception building, and the

safari and farm visit for £112 per adult, and for children

December 2020 will see a second new lift installed

fun slope will be upgraded for the Snowsports Centre.

aged 13 and over, a saving of £85pp. For children aged

to transport skiers from the same new terminal to

The upgrades will be phased over three financial years

four to 12 years, the price is £85, down from £113.

Eigergletscher station.

between 2019 and 2022.

WORDS: BRUCE POPE

032 // OCT19

@INTHESNOWMAG

When it comes to skiing, Georgia (the country, not the US state) seems to be hiding in plain sight, off the radar of most snow-seeking Brits, despite being less than a five-hour direct flight away and bordered by the towering mountain peaks of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus.

road in place within three years, but at the moment it’s slightly surreal to come bouncing up an ancient track to find this toddler of a ski resort taking its first steps 1,700m up in the Lesser Caucasus.

There are only two lifts in Goderdzi, with the top station at 2,300m servicing just a few pistes, so this is more a destination for experienced freeriders seeking fresh lines and a little adventure.

The snowy slopes of those two mountain ranges are home

Cat-skiing is available for GEL1,000 around £285) per day

to a handful of fast-improving and expanding ski resorts,

– that’s for group use of one piste groomer with an open

where daily lift passes cost as little as 50 Georgian lari

carrying platform at the rear, not per person.

(GEL), roughly £15.

The higher slopes of Goderdzi are dotted with huts and

Accommodation and meals are also a fraction of the price of

small houses, and they were the backdrop (and occasional

ski resorts in the West. It is a place where the cultures, ideas

playthings) as we made fresh tracks through creamy mid-

and flavours of Europe and Asia have flowed and intermingled

March corn snow.

for millennia to produce something pretty special.

There was one hiccup when our piste-basher didn’t have

Landing blearily from an overnight flight to Tbilisi, I was soon

the clearance to get under a telephone cable in our

wide awake at the sights of Georgia’s fascinating capital

path. This was swiftly solved as the offending wire was

city, the starting point of a whistle-stop tour of the country’s

unhooked and shoved further up its pole.

skiing areas that proved to be no less eye-opening.

That cleared the way ahead but perhaps left some

Our group’s first destination was Mestia, a base within

muddled lines of communication behind us. But that’s

striking distance of two ski areas: Tetnuldi and Hatsvali.

Goderdzi: rough, ready and a little bit bonkers.

Mestia would have been worth the trip by itself, with

In contrast, Gudauri, the country’s largest resort, ticks the

its distinctive medieval-period defensive house-towers

boxes for all levels of skier.

providing a stunning backdrop to our stay, but we were

Situated less than two hours’ drive from Tbilisi along one

here to ski, and we weren’t disappointed, as we were

of the main goods roads into Russia, Gudauri was begun in

treated to a fresh dump of snow at Tetnuldi.

the 1980s under the guidance of a group of Austrians.

Tetnuldi’s lifts climb to 3,160m, and although the area has

From its purpose-built base at 2,100m up to the top station

only a handful of marked pistes, there is a huge amount of

at 3,276m, Gudauri has everything you would expect from

easily accessed off-piste terrain.

a “proper” ski resort: dedicated learner areas, long cruisey

We spent most of the day lapping the Jumber Kakhiani

blues, a couple of testing reds and blacks, plus a good

chair midway up the mountain, finding fresh lines through

choice of mountain restaurants and après-ski bars.

wide open bowls before darting through copses of well-

For expert skiers there is a huge choice of off-piste, while

spaced trees and jinking through gullies.

there are three heli-skiing companies in operation.

The freeride possibilities in Tetnuldi are exciting, and as

A year on from the accident and a €90m (around £80m)

it costs around £200 to hire an internationally qualified

investment has added new lifts to expand Gudauri, with

mountain guide for the day, even a small group of

the government planning further improvements that can

freeriders will get tremendous value from a trip here.

only increase the country’s lure.

Neighbouring Hatsvali offers more tree skiing, while its

Georgia is puzzlingly under-explored and ignored, but with

handful of mostly red runs are brilliant swooping pistes dotted

all it has to offer, it is unlikely to stay that way for much longer.

with rollers to set the stomach fluttering at high speed.

Hatsvali’s main advantage is that it can be accessed by a chairlift on the very edge of Mestia while Tetnuldi is a 15km drive, although there is a plan to cut out the tricky last 6km

Ski Georgia in 2020

by lift-linking the nearby village of Mulakhi.

British ski holiday company Mountain Heaven

Difficult access is the Achilles heel of much of the skiing

(mountainheaven.co.uk), who are best known for their

in Georgia, and although the government is forging ahead

apartment and chalet holidays in the Alps but also have

with improvements to infrastructure, hiring a 4x4 vehicle

experience of organising ski trips to Iran, will organise

and driver is the best option on mountain roads that are

a trip to Georgia in 2020. The trip will combine skiing

often little more than dirt, stone and potholes.

with experiencing some of the culture, food and wine of

Nowhere was the variable state of the roads better

Georgia. The trip, from 13 to 22 March, will include a stay

demonstrated than when approaching our next

in the country’s capital, Tbilisi – fast becoming a hot-spot

destination, Goderdzi, with our rugged Mitsubishi Delica

destination for foodie city breaks, with its hipster bars

van taking an hour to inch its way up the last 25km.

and great-value restaurants – before hitting the slopes

Goderdzi resort was only created in 2012, but it is growing

of Gudauri. Price was to be confirmed at time of going to

rapidly, with hotels and chalet-style cottages being thrown

print but was expected to be around £1,500pp, including

up to take the accommodation from 100 beds to 2,000.

five days’ skiing and three days’ sightseeing. Return flights

I was told the government has promised to have a new

cost extra, at around £300pp.

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DASBILD.CH | JUDITH STADLER && ANDRÉ USTER

Last winter the first European Hard Rock Hotel was unveiled, and being one of the coolest leisure groups in the world, Hard Rock didn’t mess about knocking up a new place but instead took over a historic building, complete with chapel, in central Davos.

benefit from private parking and card access to the ski room.

The hotel’s exclusive 1000m2 Rock Spa®, the world’s first fully immersive music-centric spa, is a particularly unique facility. Utilising amplified vibrations, pressures and patterns as the foundation of its treatments, the groundbreaking experience takes guests on a rhythmic massage journey. Bass vibrations

Your Own Swiss Apartment In The Hard Rock Hotel From: CHF800K to CHF2m (AROUND £665k to £1.6m)

034 // OCT19

Ideally located just off the resort’s main street

ripple through the massage table as treble

and midway between the ski lifts and the

beats come from above, sending pulses

various sectors of the huge Davos Klosters ski

through the body and leaving guests feeling

area, the Hard Rock Hotel oozes the kind of

energised and invigorated.

cool rock-star credibility for which the company

Designed by world-renowned architect Woods

is famous, perfectly blended with high-class

Bagot, the spacious one- and two-bedroom

Swiss quality. So essentially you can feel both

residences are sleek and contemporary,

rock-star cool and very, very comfortable at the

combining Swiss quality and design with a

same time. And then go skiing.

Hard Rock twist, and range in size from 60m2

What’s unusual for Switzerland is that foreign

to 128m2. Residents can also enjoy a variety

buyers can actually purchase one of the

of exclusive perks and events – providing a

hotel’s serviced apartments. The residences

modern-day opportunity to “live like a rock star”.

at the Hard Rock Hotel in Davos are a

When you are not in residence, your

collection of 31 high-specification, one- and

apartment can be rented out via the hotel,

two-bedroom apartments, with the service

providing a rental return estimated at around

levels and convenience of hotel living.

5%. You may also be able to claim that

Buyers are able to benefit from VIP access to

some billionaire, prince or perhaps a lesser

a suite of first-class amenities within the Hard

president has stayed at your place, as the

Rock Hotel, from a spa, pool and gymnasium,

residences commend a premium rental

to private dining or drinks at The 5th – the

during the annual meeting of the world’s

only rooftop bar and terrace in Davos with

movers and shakers at the Davos World

360-degree views. Apartment owners also

Economic Forum each January.

+41 79 5396782 | RESIDENCESATHRHDAVOS.COM

ESF OPENS IN CHINA The Ecole du Ski Français (ESF) has opened a ski academy in Chins in partnership with Club Med at Beijing’s Star Mountain ski resort. Club Méditerranée SA is known as an iconic French brand, although it was actually founded by a Belgian in 1950. Although headquartered in Paris, it was bought by the Chinese Fosun corporation in 2015.

SNOWBOARDING PIONEER DIES One of the biggest names in the development of snowboarding has died at the age of 89. Back in 1965, while living in Michigan, Sherman R. Poppen decided to nail his daughter’s

EUROPE’S GLACIERS WILL MELT FAST EVEN IF CLIMATE CHANGE STOPPED

skis together to create what he named a “Snurfer,” the forerunner to the snowboard, and the inspiration behind Jake Burton’s invention.

NEPAL’S FIRST SKI AREA OPEN

A new report from scientists at

The study found that two-thirds of the

Even if urgent action is taken, the study found

Delft University of Technology has

continent’s remaining formerly permanent

that around half of all glaciers will be gone by

calculated that most of Europe’s

ice will be gone by the turn of the century

2050 due to “locked in” climate change.

The Guardian has reported that the

remaining glacier ice will have

if people act urgently now to slow climate

Dr Harry Zekollari, who led the study, told

first ski area in Nepal has opened at

gone by 2100, even if mankind

change. If they don’t, the scientists believe

The Independent website that over the last

manages to suddenly stop climate

that all 4,000 glaciers in the Alps will have

30 years glaciers have been “… massively

change emissions very soon.

disappeared by then.

losing mass.”

the village of Kuri. The newspaper reports that the ski area currently has one gentle ski run and one homemade ski lift; however, unfortunately it had stopped working because it is too cold.

VAL D’ISERE TRIAL HORSE-POWER Val d’Isère have tested out what they believe is the first horse-powered gritter used to spread salt on pavements to break up the ice. A team led by Xavier Mattis have developed the machine which rotates automatically to spread salt on pavements around the resort with the speed of spin determined by the pace of Odyssée, the 13-year-old Comtois mare pulling it.

£75 SEASON PASS FOR TEACHERS

DELAYED SNOW CENTRE TO OPEN The world’s longest-delayed indoor snow centre will open on 25 October, its operators say. The “BIG SNOW Ski and

Angel Fire resort in the USA put a season

use it then too.

adding: “The game-changing pass is a first

pass on sale at a very low price for

“The Teacher Pass is designed to thank

of its kind in the industry as it is the first

Snowboard Park” in New Jersey, the first

teachers, just $99 (approximately £75).

educators for the work they do with

discounted season pass that has been

indoor snow ski and boarding centre to

It is valid all season with no blackout

students and to make skiing easier and

offered exclusively for today’s educators.”

be built in North America back in 2008,

dates so teachers who are usually

offer more value for teachers and their

The resort has launched the 2019/20

is part of a huge $5 billion+ (around £4

restricted to travel at the most expensive

families during the ski season,” said Angel

Teacher Pass during “Teacher

million+) mall, the construction of which

school holiday periods of the season can

Fire Resort Marketing Director Greg Ralph,

Appreciation Week” in the USA.

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broke several big corporations.

OCT19 // 035

THE Season Break down 2019/2020

With the new ski season coming up fast, InTheSnow consulted with tour operators and travel agents to talk through the key periods and find out what to be aware of when considering your holiday dates.

December 2019 The consensus is that December is continuing the rebound in popularity we saw last winter. Prior to that, early-season bookings had dipped after a series of poor-snow early seasons, but nerves have been soothed in that regard the past few years with much more snowy Decembers.

Of course, no one really knows what the start of the season is going to be like, and it remains wise to book somewhere with a good snowfall record for early season in case 2019 isn’t great (though fingers crossed it will be!).

The good news for Christmas and New Year ski holidaymakers is that they each fall on a Wednesday – midweek – meaning those booked on the standard weekend changeover get to their resort for the Christmas/New Year build-up and then get a few recovery days before the trip home.

In terms of school holidays, the whole of Europe is on holiday for the two weeks from 21 December, so that puts price-rising pressure on space.

“Many private schools are on holiday the week commencing 14 December and no other European country has holidays that week, so prices are extremely low and it could be a good way to be the first ones on the slopes while being back for Christmas at home,” suggests Xavier Schouller of French ski specialists Peak Retreats.

Of course, if you don’t have school-aged children and book somewhere as snow-sure as you can find, that works too.

036 // OCT19

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January 2020 January was traditionally one of the quietest and most affordable months of the season, and we seem to be reverting to type now that the years in which Russians filled resorts and celebrated their Orthodox New Year a week after everyone else, thus pushing prices up, are behind us.

Even in the bad-early-snow seasons, the snow has started to arrive in abundance by the start of January, so the month is a relatively safe bet, although this is also the time that has seen too much snow some years, bringing parts of Austria to a standstill a year ago and affecting France and Western Switzerland in the same way the year before that.

Not that that implies anything similar has to happen in 2020.

February 2020 February half-term is going to be “one of those” again, with many properties and flights already fully booked and prices for remaining holidays eye-wateringly high (and then some).

That’s because the main week for the UK is again from 15 February, which is also a holiday week for some of the largest European ski markets, including Holland and Belgium.

The French stagger their holidays over four weeks from 8 February to 8 March, but the second week, which clashes with the main week for the rest of Europe, covers the huge Paris area and another third of France, so it adds to the huge demand over what is the half-term holiday week for most British schools.

The message, therefore, is this: if you’ve not got school-aged children and have a choice, avoid the week from 15 February. If you do have school-aged children and aren’t tied to that week, you’re very fortunate.

One piece of advice for those finding February skiing unaffordable is to avoid the most common ski airports, like Geneva, Salzburg and Innsbruck, as you may find something less exorbitant elsewhere. For example, flights to Munich will open up all of Austria and even the Dolomites, which tend to be a little less booked up in half-term week.

March 2020 After the French holidays end on 8 March, the last two-thirds of the month should bring some good deals. With the longer, warmer days and hopefully good bases built up by now, resorts tend to offer lift ticket deals, and this is when many of the big snow and music festivals take place. Easter isn’t until well into April, so there are not going to be many schoolchildren around.

April 2020 After a late Easter last year (21 April), this year Easter Sunday is a little earlier (12 April) and falls in the middle of the holiday fortnight for many schools, with holidays running from 4 April (although some private schools do break up the week before).

French school holidays also run from 4 April with Paris divided over the two weeks, and as Belgium and most of Germany also have that school holiday fortnight, you can draw your own conclusions.

“Availability for Easter may disappear a little earlier than last season, but for the moment there is still decent availability, although bookings are very strong from the UK for that period,” concludes Xavier.

Whenever you decide to hit the slopes this winter, have a great holiday!

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NEW RUNS & LIFT AT HEMSEDAL The new Totteskogsheisen lift will link the accommodation area at Totteskogen, where a new hotel is being built in addition to existing cabins, making it easier to access the slopes. In addition, two new ski runs ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

are being added to further expand the already large run choice at Hemsedal.

ELECTRICITY THIEVES GET 40 HOURS A duo who hid away in an indoor snow centre until staff had gone home, then played on the slopes for several hours, were sentenced to 40 hours’ community service for stealing electricity. The pair were originally charged with stealing “hot beverages” during their unauthorised stay at Snozone in Milton Keynes.

BURTON: 50 YEARS OF LED ZEPPELIN Snowboard company Burton have released a snowboard with a shape and graphics inspired by rock band Led Zeppelin’s first album. Burton’s “Misty Mountain Hop” snowboard

MARCEL HIRSCHER CONFIRMS RETIREMENT AT THE AGE OF 30 Following Lindsey Vonn and Aksel

from 2012 through to 2019, winning more

the world for downhill skiing behind only

Lund Svindal earlier this year,

Crystal Globes than anyone else in history.

Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark (86) and

Austrian ski racer Marcel Hirscher

However, following his marriage and then

America’s Lindsey Vonn (82).

confirmed his retirement from the

the birth of his son last year, he says his

He also has two Winter Olympic and seven

sport at the age of 30 last month.

priorities have changed.

World Championship gold medals as well

Hirscher is the current overall World Cup

Among his many achievements Hirscher

as being voted five-time Austrian “athlete

champion, a title he has won eight times

has won 67 World Cup races, the third in

of the year” (another record).

has been released, the company says, as part of the celebration of 50 years of Led Zep this year.

ROSSIGNOL DITCH FUR The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation says ski company Rossignol will no longer source fur for use in their clothing. Rossignol owns 12 brands that are sold in over 6,000 outlets around the world and distributed in 51 countries and joins a PICMONKEY

growing list of companies that have recently taken a stand against fur.

UPGRADES FOR SKI AREA IN MOROCCO One of the few ski areas in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa

PARK CITY AIMS TO RECLAIM SHOT SKI CROWN Park City has announced plans to try

laws, both now with their local ski

1,299 shot ski drinkers.

could be about to receive a major

to retake the world record for the most

mountains owned by Vail resorts, have

Park City is coming back with, they hope,

upgrade. A 204-million Moroccan

people drinking a shot from a very, very

been outdoing each other to take and

1,310 simultaneous drinkers on Saturday,

dirham (around £44.6 million) spend

long “shot ski”, which it formerly held,

retake the title for several years now, and

12 October, thanks to the local High West

by the Wilaya of Marrakech-Safi

before the record was taken from it by

the skis keep getting longer.

Distillery and the city’s Rotary Club, who

on upgrading Oukaïmeden ski

Breckenridge.

In 2018, Park City took the title back when

hope to raise $40,000 (around £32,000) for

The famous ski towns, the Utah one once

1,275 people tipped back an 840m-long

good causes from the stunt, coming mostly

having had strict alcohol consumption

ski, only to see Breckenridge line up

from a $25 (around £20) participation fee.

centre, located about 80km from Marrakech, is being planned.

038 // OCT19

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FIRST MAN TO SKI EVEREST DIES Davo Karničar, the first man to ski down Mt Everest and the first person to record complete descents of

BRAND NEW SKI SHOW WATCH NOW

all seven highest summits on every continent, has been killed in an accident at his home in Jezersko in northern Slovenia according to news agency reports.

Karničar, aged 56, was reported to have died while felling a tree at his home.

Karničar was a member of the Yugoslavian national ski team between 1975 and 1982 and began climbing in the Himalayas in 1989, climbing K2 in 1993. He made his first ski descent from Annapurna in Nepal in 1995.

Karničar made world headlines when he completed the first complete ski descent of Mt Everest on 7 October 2000 and went on to make complete descents from each of the highest peaks of the world’s six other continents by 2006.

NEW GONDOLA TO CUT CO2 EMISSIONS A new gondola has opened in the French Pyrenees which will lead to reduced road traffic from the Louron Valley up to the ski area of Peyragudes this season.

The new Skyvall gondola, with a price tag of €10 million (around £8.8 million), has its base station located north of Loudenvielle near Balnéa and its upper station on the snow front in the heart of the resort. The 3kmlong lift has 32 cabins, each holding up to 10 people, climbs 650 vertical metres and is the first stage of a €30 million (around £26.5 million), 10-year project to

SKI NEWS GEAR REVIEWS WORLD SNOW REPORTS & EVERYTHING YOU LOVE ABOUT SKIING

transform Peyragudes into a year-round resort. The new lift is expected to result in a sharp reduction in car traffic on the Peyresourde pass road up to the ski area, and the resort has calculated it will significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the valley (estimated reduction to 274 tonnes of CO2 or 89,072 car trips/year less).

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OCT19 // 039

WORDS: FIONA LIDDELL

040 // OCT19

@INTHESNOWMAG

I feel I should start with a minor confession – my first skiing experience was actually when I was a toddler, rather than an adult.

My parents took me to the Scottish ski area of Glencoe for the day and attempted to put long sticks on the feet of a very confused child.

night off, we were supplied with a delicious three-

nothing says “fun” like four adults screaming in

course meal along with a constant flow of wine

terror while racing down an ice slide at 80kph!

and conversation with our fellow guests and our

After a few days I was starting to feel the aches and

knowledgeable hosts.

pains familiar to most experienced skiers. Fortunately,

First things first – rentals. We used the services of

Massage Me was there to help, providing skiers with a

Skiset’s Boudu Ski Hire where we tried out the latest

wide range of massages to help relax those affected

thing in ski footwear technology – a foot scanner!

muscles. I can also highly recommend the resort’s

On my last two ski trips, I found my boots to be too

Superluge experience (in essence tobogganing down

narrow for my wide feet, leading to painful arches.

a blue run with a guide), which I swear I was much

Ultimately, the experience culminated in tears and

With this scanner, the assistant was able to give me

better at than I will ever be at skiing!

being run over by an overly enthusiastic boy in a

boots that were perfectly fitted.

When I think back to that trampled, red-faced child

toboggan. After this disaster, I was understandably

We began our trip by going on a guided tour of

on skis, I would never have imagined her whizzing

uninterested in repeating the affair with future ski trips.

the resort with Sylvain from Oxygene Ski School.

down a red confidently. Despite being nowhere

Years later as an adult, my fiancé, Sam, took me to

Luckily my vague intermediate standard wasn’t a

near 2020 Olympics standard, I found I was able to

Austria for a few days with the intention of teaching

problem for Sylvain, who was happy to adjust the

see as much of La Plagne as anyone else. Even if I

me how to ski and convincing me that, contrary

runs included in the tour to match my ability and

had been a complete beginner, there were so many

to my toddler trauma, it can actually be a fun and

still provide challenging sections for those with

options for easy runs all over the resort and plenty

rewarding activity. After a couple more of these

more experience.

of après-ski activities to keep non-skiers happy. For

trips, I was starting to feel fairly confident with my

Four hours of skiing is no small feat for a relative

learning or improving skiers like me, La Plagne is a

ability and – shock, horror – to really enjoy myself.

novice, but with Sylvain’s help I was able to conquer

perfect playground to perfect your skills.

I’m not amazing, but I can tottle down blue runs

a few red runs along the way. I was sceptical about

without losing control completely. So, when the

getting La Plagne’s Paradiski pass that includes all

chance came to spend a week at La Plagne with

the lifts at Les Arcs too, but I found that the vast

Ski Beat, I was excited at having the opportunity to

number of blue runs and easier reds available in La

hone what I had already learnt with a longer period

Plagne meant I could ski everywhere really.

A week’s fully hosted ski holiday to the vast La

of skiing.

As my confidence grew in the coming days, we took

Plagne ski area, part of the 425km of pistes that

We arrived at our chalet in the middle of a blizzard

our trip out to Les Arcs with the aim of getting to the

make up the Paradiski region, costs from £549pp.

and were greeted by our friendly Ski Beat chalet

highest point in the resort. The waiting time for chairlifts

The price includes return Gatwick flights (Manchester

hosts, Sam and Jenna. Chalet Bartavelle is exactly

and gondolas was minimal and we were able to find

+ £20), transfers, seven nights’ accommodation in

what I imagine when I think of a classic winter

our goal with the help of La Plagne’s app, YUGE.

a homely, hosted chalet, with cooked breakfast,

wonderland homestead – open log fire, a sauna,

Off the slopes there’s a plethora of exciting

homemade afternoon cakes and tea, three-course

incredible views and everything being made of

activities to be enjoyed after a hard day’s skiing at

evening meals with wine (six nights) and the services

wood. Each room has its own en suite bathroom

La Plagne. We were lucky enough to be able to try

of a friendly chalet host. A week’s stay at the Chalet

and balcony, and every night bar the staff’s one

out the resort’s famous Olympic Bobsleigh Track;

Bartavelle costs from £659pp.

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Travelled To La Plagne With Ski Beat

01273 855100 | SKIBEAT.CO.UK

BY PATRICK THORNE

MORE AUTUMN SKIERS FOR SHRINKING GLACIERS Although the number of ski areas remaining where you can ski or board in summer is dropping, and the summer season is getting shorter at those that do still run their lifts up on the glaciers in the warmer months of the year, the number of people wanting to ski or board in summer is growing fast – at least that’s the experience reported by Saas Fee in Switzerland and particularly with race teams looking for summer training.

“Saas-Fee is now regarded as a global snowsports resort for young and top athletes during the training phases in summer and autumn. Expressed in numbers, over 330 teams from

GO SNOWBOARDING WITH BILLY MORGAN & JENNY JONES Club Med has spent €85 million

Jenny, slopestyle Olympic medallist from

with stretching and meditation classes to

(around £75 million) renovating

Sochi, and Billy, the men’s big air Olympic

relax both the mind and muscles,” a Club

and extending its village in Alpe

medallist from Pyeongchang last year.

Med spokesperson said.

d’Huez ahead of this winter, and as

“The pair will be offering riding sessions

Prices for the week start from £2,099pp,

part of the celebrations British

on how to glide down the mountain like

which includes flights from London,

Olympic medallists Jenny Jones and

a professional, through to technique

transfers, premium accommodation,

Billy Morgan are set to host a week

top tips to ensure guests have the

gourmet food and open bar, ski pass,

of snow-filled activities.

opportunity to discover their inner

lessons and guides, exclusive activities and

Taking place from 22 March 2020, British

champion. Away from the slopes, both

riding sessions and tips from Jenny and Billy.

customers will have the opportunity to join

ambassadors will help guests unwind

clubmed.co.uk/masters-of-the-mountain.

19 different countries train on more than 50 race tracks of Saas-Fee,” a statement from the resort’s lift company reads, continuing, “This is increasingly leading to capacity bottlenecks at the Allalin 5 glacier ski lift, with waiting times of up to 45 minutes per trip.”

But while summer skier numbers are increasing, Saas Fee’s glacier, like most others, is shrinking due to climate change, so the solution this year has ROCK THE PISTES

been both additional uplift capacity to cope with the numbers, and a realignment of lifts to cope with the changing terrain as the ice melts.

“For years, global warming has also been noticeable in Saas-Fee. At the exit point of the Allalin 5 glacier ski lift, the glacier has melted, making the descent steeper and shorter. When the number of incidents increased at the exit point last summer/autumn, the supervisory authority together with the Saastal Bergbahnen AG analysed the situation.

Consequently, the mountain station had to be lowered,” the statement concludes.

042 // OCT19

ROCK THE PISTES BACK FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY 2020 dates have been announced for the

region from 15 to 21 March 2020.

performance to the next, and with entry

10th edition of Rock the Pistes in the huge

The festival will comprise five live

to the concerts free to lift-pass holders,

Portes du Soleil region on the French/

concerts on the ski slopes and more than

revellers can enjoy the freedom to rock out

Swiss border.

30 après-ski concerts across multiple

where they please. The 2020 line-up has

Rock the Pistes is one of the largest music

resorts on both the French and Swiss side

not yet been announced but past acts have

festivals in the Alps, with more than 28,000

of the Portes du Soleil.

included Rag’n’Bone Man, the Klaxons and

music fans expected set to descend on the

Festival-goers can literally ski from one

Pete Doherty.

@INTHESNOWMAG

importance of choosing the correct

you see online, but this is more than

equipment, particularly for anyone still

compensated for by their expertise

learning the sport.

and advice, which could save you

I was quietly confident and managed to

money later. Above all else, be sure

get up to ride the wave on the first try.

to honour that guidance by buying

Buoyed by confidence on the second

from the store, rather than taking the

trip, I chose to ride their carving board

counsel and buying online. That isn’t

instead of the beginner-friendly one.

fair to the independent shops, whose

Each attempt ended similarly, after a

passion and knowledge is not to be

few seconds, with a dive, a crash or a

undervalued.

slam into the lake. More than my ego

Underestimating to what extent

took a bruising, leaving me frustrated,

equipment can hold someone back –

disheartened and wanting to call it a

even making them want to quit – has

day. I sheepishly took the white board

given me a renewed appreciation of

next and was comfortably riding the

the importance of seeking the correct

wave in a matter of seconds, proving

advice when it comes to equipment.

that my inability was entirely due to

It reminded me of the importance of

the equipment choice.

the SIGB ski test and particularly that

you should be feeling! Interestingly,

Slopeside, it is difficult to rectify

our team has the experience to be

a few skiers on the SIGB ski test

equipment choices within the limited

able to describe exactly how a ski

last year struggled to differentiate

time of a lesson. Having suggested

rides and to know who to recommend

between two similar sets of skis. This

adjustments, many clients are reluctant

them to. This will ensure that not only

can lead to all reviews reading “this is

to change their bought equipment, and

our clients but also many readers

a great ski” regardless of its intended

sometimes rental shops can be hit or

continue to enjoy being on the slopes

user and conditions.

miss having never seen the client ride.

using the right equipment!

Compared to many sports, where

Personally, I have always told my

The key is to get the right equipment

You can find our unbiased video

the equipment looks very similar to

young athletes that the most important

from the beginning. If you are renting,

reviews of 2019/20 skis on

1990, the snowsports industry has

thing is the skier and that the ski

research where has good reviews; often

InTheSnow’s YouTube channel,

seen huge technological advances

shouldn’t matter, especially if they

ski schools have affiliated partners they

InTheSnow.TV, while videos on how

that have even increased popularity

can’t tell the difference between

trust. Ski schools like ours may offer

to find your skier level appear on

in certain sectors of the sport, such

skis. On a surprise powder day, I

to meet at the shop to ensure that the

AlpineMojoskischool.com.

as the prominence of freeride skiing,

used to scoff at the athletes who

equipment is really the best option.

born out of powder boards.

would ask, “Could we please go back

If you are unsure what you should be

For most people, fine differences

to get powder skis?” I saw it as a

buying, head to a British shop. They

between two similar sets of skis are

learning opportunity in balance and

may not offer the

difficult to notice, especially when

coordination (and didn’t want to miss

exact deal

they’re focused on their body’s

the powder!).

that

movements. This makes it even harder

This summer I was lucky enough to

to choose which is the best ski for your

try wake surfing for the first time.

ability, body composition and goals,

This experience caused me

when you might not even know what

to reappreciate the

WORDS: SEGA FAIRWEATHER

The advancement in snowsports technology over the past two decades is nothing short of amazing.

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THE SEASON AHEAD What’s New From Tour Operators This Season

044 // OCT19

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It’s that time of year again when travel companies, airlines and everybody else hoping to grab your business during those four months of the main ski season from mid-December to mid-April announce their new ski destinations, new chalet and hotel choices, new flight routes, and anything else they can think of to get you to book.

flagship property in the resort this winter after, they

the Arctic Circle and is one of the most northerly

say, five years of planning and two decades after their

towns in the world. A new Porsche-designed gondola

first Aspen house. They have unveiled the all-new

was unveiled there earlier this year.

Aspen Lodge, which features their trademark smart

Nozawa Onsen, Japan – Inghams have added this

contemporary mountain design, snugly wrapped in

classic ski resort in Japan, which has associations with

local timber and generously filled with impeccable

the early years of skiing in the Austrian Arlberg and

interior design delivered with aplomb.

the famous hot-springs snow monkeys.

Sierra Nevada, Spain – Sierra Nevada is already offered by a number of tour operators, who are joined

The Brexit Eternity

this season by Ski Solutions. “It’s a resort that is well known for its great snow record and sunny climate,

Of course, the Brexit process continues (or at least it

and it is also really close to Granada, making it the

The list of new options is always too long to squeeze

was doing when we wrote this), and there’s concern

perfect city and ski combination break,” said Craig

into a double-page feature, which is one of the

that a hard Brexit will cause issues for British workers

Burton, CEO Active Travel Group.

reasons why we publish hundreds of news stories

hoping to be in the Alps, Dolomites, Pyrenees and

in print and online through the autumn, but here are

elsewhere at the start of the season, although many

some key points to be aware of this winter.

people now seem beyond caring.

New Ideas?

“Interest in ski holiday booking is still very high, and it would seem that 31 October is having less of an effect

Along with lots of new destinations, some tour

Less Austerity, More Flexibility

than the previous March deadline. I think most people

operators have some nice new ideas too.

got used to the idea one way or another and just

Ski Weekends are launching a new fully flexible

want to get on with it in a kind of ‘whatever happens,

door-to-door pick-up and return service for their

More than a decade after the age of austerity ushered

happens’ way,” said Xavier Schouller of Peak Retreats

guests. Manager Dan Fox explains that skiers can, for

in a boom in all-inclusive fixed-price ski holidays, we’re

in early September.

example, be collected and driven to the airport from

seeing far fewer tour operators talking about that this

work and be in resort effortlessly that evening. For the

season. Instead, the onus is more on affordable luxury

return trip, they can be picked up from their UK arrival

and flexible travel options and trip durations. That

New Destinations

matches with what various industry reports have been

airport and driven home.

Sociable singles specialist Friendship Travel has

telling us has been the trend for the past few years.

Vars, France – Erna Low have resumed offering ski

introduced Chalet Pregentil in Alpe d’Huez to its line-

One example is the new Premium range from Ski

holidays to the underrated “White Forest” ski region in

up of ski holidays for the coming season. The seven-

Collection, which features 11 properties in top resorts

the southern Alps, which Vars shares with Risoul on a

bedroom traditional chalet will operate as a house

in the French Alps.

well-priced lift ticket.

party exclusively for single travellers on six departure

“All have an undoubtedly luxurious feel with

The specialists in smaller French ski resorts linked in

dates, including Christmas.

exquisite interiors and quality facilities,” a company

to big ski areas also have new choices. Villard de Lans

Finally, Clarian Chalets are planning a Ladies’ Ski

spokesperson enthused.

is a lively village with a large market centre and a dairy

Week staying in their La Grange au Merle Chalet in the

cooperative that has been producing blue cheese for

French resort of Châtel in March. The special week

over 600 years, while Les Sept Laux, another typically

will include women-only instruction and plenty of

Fewer Chalets (From Some Companies)

French resort in the Belledonne mountains, is made

pampering, with an all-day resort driver, a concierge

up of three lift-linked villages that have access to

service, a professional chef, gourmet food with wine

120km of piste, as well as being home to one of the

during the evenings, and aperitifs with Crémant

“This season, as a result of Brexit, some chalet

best-rated snow parks in France.

(French sparkling wine) on demand. Nice.

companies have reduced their offering, resulting

Drei Zinnen, Italy – Crystal have announced a number

in fewer chalet holidays being available overall for

of new destinations, and Drei Zinnen, with 110km of

2019–20,” said Craig Burton, CEO Active Travel

piste near the Austrian border in the northern Italian

Group. “It’s therefore vital that families and groups

Dolomites, isn’t offered by any other big operator.

keen to book the traditional week-long chalet break

Rather further afield, Mountain Heaven, who have

Clarian Chalets: clarianchalets.com

get booking soon.”

previously broken away from their norm of apartments

Crystal: crystalski.co.uk

However, one leading operator at least doesn’t

and chalets in the Alps to offer ski trips to Iran, are to

Friendship Travel: friendshiptravel.com

seem to have got that memo. Neilson, one of the

organise a trip to Georgia in 2020 – see our separate

Inghams: inghams.co.uk

UK’s biggest ski companies, has announced it will

Georgia feature.

Jet2: jet2.com/en/ski

be significantly expanding its Mountain Collection

Italian ski holidays have been added to Skiworld’s

Mountain Heaven: mountainheaven.co.uk

portfolio for winter 2019/20 with the addition of a new

portfolio for the 2019/20 season, with self-catered

Neilson: neilson.co.uk

flagship hotel, two chalet hotels and 12 chalets in Val

apartments and hotels in Arabba, Corvara and Colfosco;

Peak Retreats: peakretreats.co.uk

d’Isère. This brings the overall number of exclusive

Madonna di Campiglio; and Selva Val Gardena.

Ryanair: Ryanair.com

Neilson-run properties offering the free “Mountain

Ski Safari have their usual long list of enticing ski

SAS: flysas.com

Experts” professional ski guiding and coaching service

trips around the world, including Canada and Japan,

Ski Solutions: skisolutions.co.uk

across France, Andorra, Austria and Italy to 44.

but seem to have an ever-growing Scandinavian

Ski Weekends: skiweekends.com

VIP SKI, which already has 11 chalets and one CLUB

focus. This season, they’ve got a trip to Narvik on the

Ski World: skiworld.co.uk

Chalet in Val d’Isère, are also unveiling their own new

northern Norwegian coast, which sits 225km within

VIP Ski: vip-chalets.com

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Tour Operators

OCT19 // 045

THE VIVIENNE BRINGS PRIDE TO INDOOR SNOW

NEW LIFTS AT “EVER GREENER” SERRE CHE

SKI RESORT TRANSFERS

BY DOG SLED

The UK’s longest indoor snow slope, Chill Factore,

The southern French ski area of Serre Chevalier

It will be possible to get to your ski resort

celebrated Manchester’s Pride by inviting one of the

Briançon, known as “Serre Che” for short, sees big

accommodation from the new Scandinavian Mountains

UK’s most famous drag queens, The Vivienne, to ski

spends on infrastructure improvements each year

Airport by dog sled when it opens this winter.

down the slope in full regalia.

and 2019/20 is no exception with two major new

The new airport, which will be served by direct SAS

The Vivienne has been performing around the world

lifts due to be installed.

Airlines flights from London Heathrow, is located 10

for the past 11 years and since 2015 has been the UK

However, the resort is also building on its

minutes from Sweden’s Sälen ski area, with Norway’s

ambassador for the global hit TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race.

commitment to be increasingly renewable-energy

Trysil 40 minutes away just over the border.

She donned her famous blue sequin dress, swapped her

powered and producing 30% of its electricity

The trip to Sälen by dog sled towed by a team of 10 Alaskan

pink stilettos for ski boots and let her blonde locks loose

needs on-site by 2021, with hydroelectricity

huskies does take longer than the 10-minute trip by private

on the snow. The Vivienne sashayed down the 180-m

generated through its snowmaking network,

transfer or a shared shuttle bus and costs more at 4,995

snow slope complete with a free-flowing Pride flag trailing

photovoltaics with 1,420 solar panels, some of

Swedish krona (about £420 at time of writing) per sled, which

behind her, showcasing its array of mesmerising colours.

which were designed in Serre Chevalier, and

is also likely to be a lot more than the flight, but it is different.

“This is the best I’ve ever felt in drag. If I can walk in 10-

micro-wind turbines with two wind energy devices.

“We’re excited to offer the unique experience so

inch heels, I can walk in skis! I’ve always been a fan of

For the coming winter, a second wind turbine

guests can immerse themselves in the magical winter

skiing; it really is an activity for anyone and everyone,

is to be added along with four new sites of

landscape as soon as they’ve stepped off the plane,”

regardless of ability,” said The Vivienne, adding: “It

photovoltaics and the resort’s first production unit

said Mathias Lindström, Sales and Marketing Director at

has been such an honour being asked to represent

for hydroelectricity.

SkiStar, which runs the resorts.

the LGBTQ+ community at Chill Factore and be the first

Serre Chevalier will open for the weekends of 30

The fee includes overalls, safety clothing, hat and warm

drag queen on the slope; it’s the perfect way to glide

November and 1 December and 7 and 8 December

shoes provided and flights from Heathrow commence

into Pride.”

then non-stop 14 December to 19 April 2020.

on 28 December.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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 Lange RX Heritage

 Mons Royale Bella Tech

Ski Boot

Flex Women’s Baselayer

 Norrona Lyngen Down850 women’s hood jacket

The pink panther is back.

Originally developed in 1988, the iconic XRi has been brought back to life but with modern performance and fit. Those of you that remember the original version will definitely appreciate the historic good looks, bringing back amazing memories from your past. Who wouldn’t want a pair? £499 | skibartlett.com

The Bella Tech looks flattering and performs impressively well whether you’re hot or cold. A merino wool drop back, long sleeves and high neck mean no gaps to let in the biting cold.

Strategically placed mesh panels allow excess heat to escape where it needs to.

Super-soft, comfortable and odour-resistant. £89.95 | skibartlett.com

If you’re looking for a very packable down jacket that feels like you’ve just snuggled into a sleeping bag, then the Lyngen Down850 Jacket is the ultimate.

An ideal accompaniment to every backcountry tour, easily fitting into your backpack with its small and light pack size and ready to throw on at the top of the mountain to keep you warm.

You’ll get loads of use out of this jacket, as it will be the first thing you reach for on cold days in the mountains and the streets. £319 | skibartlett.com

 Lange Podium Shoe

Originally designed for World Cup athletes to be able to represent their sponsors, Lange, when they went up onto the podium, these are now available in a very limited quantity for you. Comfortable and warm, you can wear them to the slopes, onto the podium or for everyday use around town. These truly are an iconic Lange product that definitely stands out in the crowd. £85 | skibartlett.com

 Scott Scrapper 105 Ski

A lighter-weight and playful-feeling all-mountain ski that will be just at home floating in powder, carving clean turns on piste, agilely playing on any terrain you throw at it and light enough for touring into the backcountry to find a hidden gem. This is one of those all-round skis that really can be your quiver of one for on-piste, off-piste and touring, and what’s more they’re great fun with a feel-good factor of 10! £524 | skibartlett.com

 Faction Prodigy 2.0 Ski

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

The ultimate all-mountain ski with a cheeky freestyle-inspired touch. Its poppy wood core and directional twin shape give you the inspiration to pop, stomp and surf all over the mountain. And don’t be fooled by its freestyle looks; these will rip down the pistes and at 98mm underfoot they will happily cruise through powder and crud. A great ski if you want a one-ski-does-everything tool to have loads of fun on. £468 | skibartlett.com

 Anon Define Junior Helmet

 Dakine Racoon Scrambler Mitt

Who wouldn’t want raccoons on their hands, including all you parents? These adorable little characters will keep your loved ones warm and dry, and with their long gauntlet-style cuff and cute good looks there will be fewer battles to get them on your little cherubs! £19.95 | skibartlett.com

With an integrated goggle helmet combination, your kids will have no chance of losing their goggles and there’ll be no more wrestling with your little ones every time you need to put their goggles on! What’s more, your ‘little Miss Independent’ will want to do it all on their own. £114.95 | skibartlett.com

 Volkl Mantra 102 Ski

A completely redesigned Mantra ski. Lighter carbon tip and tail and a titanal frame give you more stability, dampening and a livelier feel. A rockered tip and tail make it easier to initiate the start of turns. Add to this a new 3D radius concept, which gives you a much more versatile feel to the ski, allowing you to play much more with the shape and length of your turns. All in all, a great all-mountain freeride ski that will never let you down! £649 | skibartlett.com

More at skibartlett.com With their renowned reputation for specialist expert advice, combined with their carefully selected and tested range of products, it’s no surprise that Ski Bartlett’s word-of-mouth reputation over the last 50 years has made them the UK’s most popular independent ski shop!

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 Arc’teryx

 Patagonia Powder

Sidewinder Jacket

Bowl Jacket

If you’re looking for a fully waterproof and extremely durable jacket that’s also lightweight, the Sidewinder is a great choice. With its cleverly designed offset zip and 3D articulated fit, this jacket has been created to give you uninhibited movement for every activity. £579 | skibartlett.com

If you are an ecoconscious consumer then why compromise when it comes to purchasing your ski equipment? Built with a 100% recycled polyester Gore-Tex face fabric and carefully thought-out mountain design, it gives you waterproof, windproof and breathable protection against the winter elements. Combine this durable outer shell with its wicking mesh liner and you have a comfortable jacket for all the rigours of mountain activities and daily winter life. £339.95 skibartlett.com

 Arva Evo5 Avalanche Transceiver

Fed up of bulky, heavy transceivers digging into your ribs? Prefer to wear your transceiver in your pocket? The compact Evo5 transceiver is not much bigger than an iPhone but doesn’t lack performance features – an easyto-use, large 50m search area, interference management for electronic devices, secondary avalanche activation and much more. A small but powerful device that should be in everyone’s pocket! £319.95 | skibartlett.com

 Patagonia Descensionist Backpack

Durable CORDURA nylon fabric makes the Descensionist extremely lightweight, but the fabric is tough enough to help prevent damage and wear. After extensively being put through its paces by the likes of designers, athletes and mountain guides, the result is a host of impressive backcountry touring features and truly reliable performance when you really need it. £139.95 | skibartlett.com

 Arcade Santa Cruz Rambler Belt

A lightweight elasticated belt with new limited edition Santa Cruz screaming hand graphic.

No metal buckles to freeze up in the cold.

Elasticated for comfort while moving, whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding or just wearing this every day – because once you appreciate the comfort of an Arcade belt you will not want to wear anything else! £19.95 | skibartlett.com

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Scott Alpride E1 Electric Airbag 22L

After the big hit last winter of Scott’s E1 Electric airbag, the range has now been extended to three backpack size options for this year. A new smaller 22L backpack has now been added to the award-winning E1 electric airbag range, a great size if you’re the kind of person who wants to wear an avalanche airbag all the time for everyday resort-accessed off-piste. The airbag system is removable so you can transfer it to different size E1 electric airbag packs, making this a great future proof option. £799 | skibartlett.com

 Dalbello

 Full Tilt Dropkick

 Black Diamond

Lupo Air 130 Ski Boot

Junior Ski Boot

Spark Glove

A truly lightweight freeride touring boot that doesn’t compromise on its performance. Its revolutionary new tongueless construction and cable closure give you a feather-light feel with good performance hold around your foot. At 1,300g, why would you want anything else? £624 | skibartlett.com

Finally a Full Tilt ski boot for junior freestyle-inspired skiers. Based on the original Full Tilt design but with a shorter cuff and softer progressive flex for smaller, lighter skiers. Watch your kids’ progression soar whether hitting the park, carving up the piste or playing in endless pow. There’ll be no stopping them! £224 | skibartlett.com

These gloves combine supertough goat leather with a BD.dry waterproof insert to stand up to the rigours of many days on the mountain. Combine this with Primaloft insulation for warmth and dexterity and you have a very comfortable glove for all conditions. £69.95 | skibartlett.com

OCT19 // 049

 Union Strata

 Burton AK Gore Swash Jacket

Snowboard Bindings

The Swash Jacket’s PrimaLoft® insulation is like a built-in vest, focusing warmth around your core while leaving your arms light and free to move about.

High-tech in every respect, the Swash is fully sealed against wind and water with the added reinforcement of GORE-SEAM tape. It is equipped with a lightweight lining for ramped-up wicking and breathability. £419.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

The Strata is a crossperformance wrecking ball, featuring a Stage 6 Direct Injected base, which incorporates an “industry first” Fused Vaporlite Bushing System that sets new standards for how a snowboard binding should function and perform. £239.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Volcom Nya TDS GoreTex Women’s Jacket

The Nya TDS® Gore-Tex Jacket features all of Volcom’s top proprietary technology. The GORE-TEX outer ensures you stay dry and the insulated panels use Responsible Duck Down keeping you warmer for longer tours and endeavours.

It has a Split Tail back, which keeps the silhouette slim while keeping manoeuvrability. £599.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Capita The Outsiders Snowboard

A perfect board for any rider who wants to progress in the park without having to sacrifice performance on the rest of the mountain. The lovely mix of triax/ biax fibreglass means you can still turn with heaps of response, but pop enough to throw it at any kicker and not get chucked off a rail if you land too hard. £459.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Capita Defenders Of Awesome DOA Snowboard

The Capita DOA has a camber mid-flex twin profile, which allows it to be poppy in the park, and carbon-fibre beams with a poplar/beech core that makes it stable and responsive for charging the whole mountain.

This is a board best suited for intermediate and advanced riders that really want to push their limits in the park, hit side hits and charge on piste. £419.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

 Anon Insight Sonar Goggle

 Burton Moto

Featuring a low-profile design that’s packed with performance, the Anon Insight Goggle offers a women-specific design for the best possible fit and comfort. Cylindrical Lens Technology provides maximum field of vision and comes with a SONAR lens by ZEISS installed in the frame to enhance contrast for the best possible definition and terrain recognition. £79.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

Top-tier comfort and ease of use at a price that’s hard to beat. The hasslefree Speed Zone lacing lets you set a blistering pace to the lift line and the Total Comfort construction offers the perfect, broken-in feeling straight out of the box. To further dial in the fit, the new Imprint 1+ liner can be heat moulded for extra comfort. £169.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

Men’s Snowboard Boot

 Capita Paradise Women’s Snowboard

A perfect board for carving, jibbing and powder runs. Built for a girl who wants a stable, poppy yet forgiving ride that’s not going to leave you exhausted at the end of the day. Holds a perfect edge while feeling really light through powder, thanks to its resort V3 profile. £369.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

050 // OCT19

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 Jones

 Ortovox Route 32L

Mercury Snowboard Binding

Backpack (Night Blue)

The Jones Mercury binding has been designed for the all-mountain rider who needs supreme edge control and comfort balanced with a more manoeuvrable, medium flex. The asymmetrical Highback shape with Flex Hinge technology dampens chatter and follows the contours of your leg for comfort and to eliminate calf-bite. £264.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

The Haute Route 32 is perfect for ski excursions lasting several days.

Unlike the smaller models, the main compartment of the Haute Route 32 can be accessed from both the top and the back so important items are always close at hand!

A separate safety compartment guarantees immediate access to emergency equipment. £150 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton AK Gore-Tex Guide Glove

Featuring Gore-Tex 2-layer fabric. You’ll dig the GORE-TEX membrane + Gore grip technology that keeps the liner locked inside the shell. Screen Grab® thumb and index fingertips give you gloves-on touchscreen control, and the PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation will keep you warm in the coldest of conditions. £119.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Volcom Stone Stud Stomp

Give confidence to yourself getting off the lift with the Stone Studs Stomp. Discrete and subtle, the stones keep your free boot in place without giving up too much real estate on your board. £14.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Smith I/O Mag Goggles Austin Smith x THE NORTH FACE

The I/O MAG™, utilising the Smith MAG™ lens change system, is designed for optimised performance and perfected fit: two locking mechanisms for lens security, AirEvac ventilation for fogfree integration with Smith helmets and a frame designed around one of Smith’s largest spherical lenses, providing a maximised field of view and 5X anti-fog technology. £254.99 | RX Sport

 Volcom Travelin Hood Thingy

If your face needs protection from the elements, the Travelin Hood Thingy helps to keep the wind from nipping you. The Bonded Woven with Sherpa Backing material helps keep you insulated from winter conditions allowing you to spend hours outside when everyone else runs for cover. £29.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Capita The Equalizer

By Jess Kimura Women’s Snowboard

 Burton AK Gore Swash Pant

Tough as nails and fully taped, the Burton [ak] GORE-TEX 2L Swash Pant features bomber waterproofing and breathability thanks to GORE-TEX two-layer fabric. Built for those who operate at a higher level, it also features a performance-oriented articulated fit and Test-I-Cool venting, which zips open knee to knee, for maximum cooling. £329.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

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This snowboard’s mid flex allows a nice relaxed ride, while Capita’s new technology, Technora + Flax boosters, really allow you to boost in and out of turns, making the board feel really nimble underfoot. This board really picks up speed on piste and in powder with its new quantum drive base, a strong, fast base that really lets you fly down the mountain as fast as you choose! £439.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Anon Highwire Helmet

The Anon Highwire Helmet features Endura-Shell construction for long-lasting durability and strength. The sleek, low-profile design with a classic brimmed look incorporates venting throughout to keep goggles clear and maintain comfort all day long. The Auto-Adjust Fit System makes it easy to find the perfect fit. £84.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Volcom Swift Bib Overall Women’s Pant

The Swift Bib Overall has a stretch slim fit, which assists with your mobility. It also has slight contouring and a narrow articulated knee, which gives the right look.

Versatile on the mountain, throw a jacket over these on those cold days to help keep you warm or layer with a hoodie underneath the suspenders on warmer spring days. These are overalls with options! £199.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

More at sputniksnowboardshop.com Sputnik is one of the UK’s largest independent snowboard shops. We offer great choice and service to all our customers. Whether you are beginner or expert, we can kit you out to ensure you have a great day on the mountains.

CHOOSING AN AVALANCHE AIRBAG BACKPACK

 Union Trilogy Women’s Snowboard Binding

Along with your transceiver, shovel and probe, avalanche airbag backpacks are rapidly becoming a firm fixture of essential off-piste equipment.

The Union Trilogy binding is the strongest women’s binding in the industry, and a favourite for many pro riders. The Trilogy is bombproof and can handle any condition or terrain with ease. The femalespecific design comes backed with the safety, security and confidence of a lifetime warranty base. £209.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Dynafit Hoji Free Ski Touring Boot

Utilising the same characteristics as last year’s award-winning Hoji Pro Tour boot, you can now forget worrying if your touring boots have enough range of movement for the uphill, or enough performance for the down. With the new Hoji Free you will have uncompromised performance of both. With the ‘HojiLock System’ you’ll get solid lockdown for skiing and instant free-flowing movement for skinning up – these truly are a game changer in performance and ease of use in every aspect. £584 | skibartlett.com

In the last few years, a variety of new battery-powered electric airbags have come onto the market, but what are the advantages of these vs. the traditional pressurised canister systems?

Electric vs. Canister Airbags Weight – Canister-style airbags are generally lighter than their new electric counterparts, which can be important on a tour where light weight is key.

Ease of use – Electric airbags utilise a rechargeable battery and are usually charged by a simple USB cable.

Pressurised canisters need to be returned to a shop to refill. An electric airbag can also be activated multiple times at home, allowing you to practise using it.

Maintenance – Pressurised canisters need to be weighed every year to make sure they haven’t lost pressure and gas. Batteries need to be charged every so often.

Inflation time – Both electric and canister airbags claim to inflate in seconds and nowadays both are very quick.

Inflation Power – Inflation power is generally better with pressurised canister airbag systems – meaning if you have weight on the airbag, it will still inflate.

Multiple use – Electric airbags can be activated a second time on one charge, meaning you can continue skiing off-piste. Canisters have to be refilled at once.

Air Travel – Flying is not an issue with electric airbags but with pressurised canisters, you do have to declare them to the airline, which can be awkward and time-consuming.

So, whether your main priorities are lighter weight, ease for travelling or power of inflation, there is always a suitable avalanche airbag.

052 // OCT19

 Full Tilt Après Bootie

From the house to the slopes, these après booties will keep you warm and dry. Fleece-lined for cosiness, DWR water-resistant coated outer fabric, gripper soles for treacherous après assaults, and they’ve even got Intuition insoles that mould to your feet! These amazing booties will protect your lovely feet from all the elements – if you’re fast enough to get a pair! £49 | skibartlett.com



 FISCHER Ranger One 82 GT Twin Multiflex set

The great all-rounder! The 82 GT gives that sought-after one-ski-for-allmountains appeal. Packed with new technology, smooth and incredibly stable. Capable of handling the odd diversion into the rough or crud, but just as at home on the smooth piste. For intermediate skiers to experts, the 82 GT is truly a great all-mountains choice. £560 inc Binding Ellis Brigham | SnowFit | Blues | Anything Technical | skibartlett.com

Ortovox 280+ Carbon PFA Probe

This lightweight carbon probe is 280cm long and has all the features of a true professional probe. It is extendible, making it the first choice probe for many rescue organisations and mountain guides. The 13mm diameter and carbon material make it incredibly rigid, break-proof and accurate. It also has a steel-cable tensioning system, guaranteeing maximum rigidity. £84.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com



Ortovox BEAST Shovel

Lightweight, compact, efficient and weighing only 580 grams, the new BEAST is a lightweight, cleverly designed avalanche shovel that is perfect for beginners as well as for more demanding users. Thanks to its 83cm working length and 2.3l scoop volume, the BEAST is the ideal size for efficient work after an avalanche. £49.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

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Wherever Your Passions & Dreams Take You...

Wherever Your Passions & Dreams Take You...

 Dakine Team Poacher RAS 26L Backpack

Not only is the Grateful Dead graphic epic, so is this avalanche airbag backpack. Chris Benchetler skis in the most challenging, off-thebeaten-track places and as a result knows the need to stay safe. Not willing to compromise on safety, the RAS avalanche airbag gives him the reassurance that it will have his back if he needs to deploy it! With these brilliant graphics you can not only stay safe in the mountains but also look good at the same time! £184.95 | skibartlett.com



Anon M4 Toric Goggle

The Anon M4 Toric Sonar Goggle offers the most precise helmet-to-goggle fit with maximum field of vision, SONAR by ZEISS clarity, powerful magnetic lens retention, and the unprecedented versatility to switch between toric and cylindrical lenses. £259.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

We’ve Got The Equipment & We’ve Got The Equipment & Expertise YouThere!

There!

Expertise To To Get Get You Bringing you UK’s the UK’s largest rangeofofspecialist specialist skis skis &&boots advice andand expertise sincesince 1965.1965.

Bringing you the largest range bootsand and advice expertise always here helpand and advise advise you correct equipment We’llWe’ll always bebe here totohelp youon onthe the correct equipment for wherever your passions and dreams take you. for wherever your passions and dreams take you.

Custom Ski Boot Fitting Specialists

Custom Ski Boot Fitting Specialists Ski Industries Of Great Britain Official Ski Testers Ski Industries Of Snow GreatAwards Britain- Official Ski Testers Winner of the World Best Speciailst Retailer Winner of the World Snow Awards - Best Speciailst Retailer

 Burton Riders Pack 25L

The Burton Rider’s Pack is pre-loaded with board and shovel carry and probe storage; it also features a side water bottle pocket, ample storage, and a plush ergonomic shoulder harness and back panel. £84.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

OCT19 // 053

FREERIDE | FREESTYLE | TOURING | TELEMARK | RACE | RECREATIONAL

FREERIDE | FREESTYLE | TOURING | TELEMARK | RACE | RECREATIONAL Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon, West London, UB10 0NP 020 8848 0040 www.SkiBartlett.com Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon, West London, UB10 0NP

020 8848 0040 www.SkiBartlett.com

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL

M

I

N

U

T

E

S

AKSEL LUND SVINDAL Popular Norwegian ski racer Aksel Lund Svindal retired after the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Åre, Sweden, last February, at the age of 36.

Svindal is widely regarded as one of the greatest ski racers of all time with four Olympic medals, two of them gold, including the 2010 Downhill at the Vancouver Games.

How did you motivate yourself for a big race?

If I was not motivated enough I might ask my coach at the start who is leading the race and then I’d get the name and really focus on that one person and beating him personally and think “I’m going to kick his ass!” Sometimes you need that.

Other times it might be best not to know anything and you really just need to calm down. So my ritual is knowing what I feel like inside and what’s best for that

He also has nine World Championship

particular situation.

medals, five of them gold, and 80 World Cup podiums, 36 of which were

How did you recover from your

on the top spot. With his victory in the

infamous Kitzbühel crash?

Downhill in 2013, Svindal became the

Well, Kitzbühel was complicated as

first male alpine racer to win titles in

mostly I felt fine, but there was the one

four consecutive World Championships.

knee that did not want to go skiing. It’s kind of ironic that skiing is the worst thing

What will you miss most about being a

I can do for that knee. It’s the one sport

professional ski racer?

that puts stress on the exact spot in the

This is the one thing I will miss the most

knee that has the worst injury.

and I could talk for hours about it. It’s the one part I can never experience again

How does It feel being retired?

on that scale anywhere in the world.

I haven’t really thought about what I’m

You’re with people you can truly say

going to do next winter. I don’t know if that’s

are your best friends. You’re fighting for

a good sign or a bad sign. I like to hope it’s

the biggest titles you can win against

a good sign. I think it means it’s the right

nations with athletes who are amazing.

decision and I haven’t been thinking about

You’re fighting for this dynamic that’s so

it over and over and over again.

visible as it comes down to hundredths

054 // OCT19

of seconds. I think there’s nothing else

Any regrets?

I’m going to do in my life where this

No, I have no regrets, which maybe

feeling is going to be the same. I don’t

sounds bad and like I don’t care maybe,

know what else I’m going to do, it could

because things will never be perfect.

be a lot of cool things, but being part of

Like if things come up to 99% you

a group that’s really close friends but

should be really happy, you can think

still competitors fighting for the same

about that 1% and do it slightly better

titles, I think that’s the part I’m going to

next time. But there’s no need to look

search for but I’m going to have a hard

back and think I should have done this

time finding it.

or that. It’s all history.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON INTHESNOW.COM

24-27 OCTOBER 2019 BAT T E R SE A EVOLU T ION 24-27 OCTOBER 2019 BAT T E R SE A EVOLU T ION

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03/09/2019 13:13:15

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