InTheSnow | Issue 65 | December 2019

NOAHWETZEL

INTHE ISSUE 65 | DEC 2019

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

SKI NEWS

SNAPSHOT

KIWI SURPRISE WINNER OF WORLD CUP OPENER A 17-year-old New Zealand schoolgirl was the surprise winner of the opening race of the 2019/20

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

FIS Alpine World Cup. Alice Robinson had to go home the same week to complete her studies.

DAVE SILVER

CORTINA MARKETING

DOLOMITES SKI SEASON STARTS 20 DAYS EARLY

EPIC WORLD SKI TOUR GOES ON SALE

A massive €180m (around £154m) expansion of

Cortina d’Ampezzo opened for snowsports 20 days

A nearly five-week-long luxury ski holiday has been put

Europe’s most southerly major resort, Sierra Nevada in

ahead of schedule. It will host the World Cup Finals later

on sale by upmarket tour operator Scott Dunn. Priced

Spain, has been proposed. If approved, there could be

this winter, the Alpine Skiing World Championships next

“from £39K”, the package takes skiers to leading

10 new lifts and 700 hectares more ski slopes.

winter and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

resorts in five countries across three continents.

THE END OF SKI WAX?

NORTH AMERICA’S FIRST INDOOR SNOW CENTRE

SCOTTISH SKI AREA ROLLS BACK PRICES

A new, waxless base treatment product called

The first indoor snow centre in North America, built in

December marks 30 years since Scotland’s youngest

Phantom claims to eliminate the need to ever wax your

2008 as part of a $5billion mega-mall but mothballed

ski area, Nevis Range, first began operations, and

boards again, for their lifetime. It has been trialled for a

after the crash, finally opens this month. There are now

the centre plans to charge lift tickets prices from 30

year by Aspen ski resort, who say they like the results.

over 100 indoor snow centres on six continents.

years ago on its birthday and throw a big party.

STEVIE MCKENNA / SKI SCOTLAND

MAJOR EXPANSION OF SPANISH SKI RESORT

ROSS WOODHALL

2020/21 SKI SEASON HOLIDAYS NOW ON SALE

HUGE NOVEMBER SNOWFALLS

Crystal Ski Holidays have put their ski holidays on sale

The start of the 2019/20 season got a boost in

for the winter earlier than ever before. You can now

November with some record-breaking snowfalls (for

book ski holidays departing from 12 December 2020

the time of year) in the Alps and heavy snow too in

until 17 April 2021 to 120 resorts across 13 countries.

the Dolomites and Pyrenees.

RECORD EARLY SEASON SNOW IN COLORADO

K-ONNECTION SKI AREA OPENS

Colorado got record snowfall in October, leading to

A long-planned link between the two ski areas at Kaprun

seven ski areas opening there by the start of November.

in SalzburgerLand, the Maiskogel and the Kitzsteinhorn,

The snowpack was 160% the norm, and Steamboat

has finally opened. The ultra-modern gondola is called

reported more than 1.5m of October snowfall.

the 3K Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn-K‑onnection.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Dominic Killinger

Megan Hughes Sega Fairweather Debbie Gabriel Daniel Elkan

dom@inthesnow.com

35 YEARS SINCE ‘LAST CHRISTMAS’

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

December 2019 marks 35 years since Wham! filmed their iconic Last Christmas video in Saas-Fee.

WEB & DIGITAL DESIGNER SOCIAL DIGITAL & CONTENT EDITOR

Max Spooner-Blind

Megan Hughes

EQUIPMENT BY

The famously picturesque, car-free Swiss resort

SUB EDITORS

regularly celebrates and recreates the video shoot.

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

Winter is here at last. After writing about the build-up to winter for the past six months, it’s hard to believe it’s actually here. We’ve been covering the news for the new season – new lifts, hotels, holiday options, flight and rail routes, as it has been announced since last spring, then the early opening of resorts through the autumn, all the time worrying whether Brexit would happen or not, and if so what impact it might have on our ski holidays and the British workers in the mountains supporting our holidays.

But now we’re finally here and the big question of the past few months is, what’s the snow going to be like? Well, that’s the eternal million-dollar question in skiing, and however hard we try to predict, however much we look at stats from past years and calculate the likelihood of deep powder based on the altitude or latitude of our chosen ski destination, no one really knows for sure.

The good news, though, or at least it was at the time we went to press, was that it was looking good in the Alps and the Rockies in particular.

As we detail in our main story at the front of the magazine, the US Rockies saw record snowfall in October, allowing several resorts to open historically early in late October or early November. Then on 1 November the snow arrived in the Alps and for the first half of the month at least it dumped down to make the month one of the snowiest Novembers in recent memories.

Several high-altitude areas received over a metre of snow in the first 10 days of the month alone, then as much again in the next 10 days.

So now we just need temperatures to stay low, some more snow to fall and no “blips” of warm, thawing temperatures and winter 2019/20 will be just perfect! Fingers crossed…

Wherever you’re heading off skiing or boarding this season, all of us at InTheSnow wish you a great trip – and if you haven’t booked yet, it’s never too late (hint: check out the “deals” section on our website).

patrick@inthesnow.com

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S R O E A H A S

SKI RESORTS OPEN EARLY AFTER HUGE AUTUMN SNOWFALL A number of the world’s leading ski resorts have opened early for the 2019/20 ski season following some huge snowfalls in some of the world’s leading ski regions. The Rocky Mountains of North America were the first to see record snowfalls, in October, leading to a number of areas opening early.

Steamboat reported more than 1.5m of snowfall in October, the most ever in that month of the year, and decided to open in mid-November as a result, its earliest opening in more than 50 years.

Free Smartwool socks were given to the first 100 snow enthusiasts on the mountain along with delicious breakfast burritos.

Keystone, which opened in early November, also reported record October

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snowfall, around 125cm in its case, and Winter Park was another to make its earliest-ever opening, earlier this month, because of all the snow there.

North of the border, Nakista in Alberta, Canada, made its earliest-ever opening at the end of October.

By contrast, the Alps had had a fairly dry and sometimes warm first half of the autumn, but that all changed on 1 November when it started snowing, and it has hardly stopped since. By mid-November some already-open high resorts had had over 1.5m of snowfall and it just kept coming.

Although there were no record early openings here, a number of big resorts decided to open in the first few weeks of November, including Livigno in Italy and Andermatt, Crans-Montana, Davos and Verbier in Switzerland, all reporting superb conditions. By mid-November around 30

areas were open in Western Europe.

The good news was that the snowfall wasn’t just in the Alps. The Dolomites and Pyrenees (and most other mountainous regions in Europe) were getting dumped on.

In the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo, which is set to be the biggest name in skiing competition in the 2020s, hosting the World Cup Finals next spring, the Alpine World Ski Championships in winter 2021 and then the Winter Olympics five years later, decided to open 20 days earlier than planned on 10 November.

The season start in the Pyrenees came three days later with the Spanish ski area of Alp 2500 shared by the resorts of La Molina and Masella opening on the 13th after heavy snow there brought more than 1.2m of snow to the region in just seven days. French resort Porte Puymorens opened on the French side

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a few days later.

Up in Scandinavia, for the first time ever, the gondola opened at the region’s biggest resort, Åre in Sweden, from day one, 15 November, with skiing in the high area available from the very start of the season. Optimal snowmaking conditions, snowfall and the investment made to Åre’s snowmaking system ahead of last February’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships meant the upper downhill race piste was open to skiers eager to get out on the slopes.

“We have had optimal conditions to allow us to open,” says Niclas Sjögren Berg, Resort Manager at SkiStar Åre. “Winter and the ski season are here in Åre and we look forward to 170 days of skiing.”

While it is still too early to be confident the winter 2019-20 is going to be a snowy one, the early signs in most areas are certainly promising.

DEC19 // 005

SHORT SEASON IN WESTERN USA A study carried out by scientists from the University of Wisconsin has found that the average annual snowpack in the western USA has progressively, and on average, arrived later and melted sooner over the past near four decades compared to the 1980s, shortening ROSS WOODHALL

the snow season by 34 days.

NEW SKI RESORTS FOR NW IRAN Three ski resorts with a combined cost of 930 billion Iranian rials (around £17 million) are reported to be under construction in the country’s northwestern Ardebil Province. Ardebil is a high,

FREERIDE WEEK IN OFF-PISTE FAVOURITE LA GRAVE

windswept plateau, home to several PFD Skis (Pure Freeride Design)

and uncontrolled terrain. In recent years,

memorable lines of your life,” said PFD Skis

has launched a brand-new dedicated

the resort’s fans have battled to ensure the

Founder, Rupert Gammond.

freeride week in the legendary ski

future of the area in its “unspoilt” state, but

Designed for like-minded skiers with

area of La Grave, France, which

that now appears secure.

previous off-piste experience that want to

will run in the last week of the

“The objective each day will be to ski the

further improve their skills, participating

The New South Wales provincial

coming wintertime, from 14-21

best lines possible; so we’ll have transport

costs €1,895pp (around £1,620pp), which

government in Australia has said

March, when snow conditions are

on hand, ready to chase storms and make

includes accommodation, breakfast, dinner,

it will invest AU$5 million in a

expected to be at their best.

the most of the huge variety of terrain in

lift passes, guiding, safety equipment, PFD

new year-round freestyle training

La Grave is known as “The Freeride

the surrounding areas. In one week you

test skis and local transport but excludes

centre, complete with year-round

Mountain” with its reputation for big lines

could easily ski some of the best and most

travel. connect@pfdskis.com

UNESCO registered locations.

NSW COMMIT AU$5M TO SNOWSPORTS

dry slopes, ramps and a modern slope-hugging big air bag.

SAUNAS IN GONDOLA CABINS One of Japan’s leading ski resorts, Hakuba’s Happo-one, has opened a “beach” 1,400m up on the mountain with one of the highlights being several “Gondola Saunas” – saunas constructed within gondola cabins.

Skiers can get out of their skiwear and into the gondola sauna then out of the saunas to roll in the snow.

NEW SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM LIFT

ITALIAN RESORT PEJO GOES PLASTIC FREE

Saalbach Hinterglemm in

Italian ski centre Pejo, a ski and thermal

State University along with the Milan

recycling centres in the resort rather than

Austria has upgraded its

spa resort in Trentino’s Stelvio National

Bicocca organisation studied the air in the

leaving them on the mountain.

Park, is claiming to be the first in the world

valley and discovered between 131 and

Pejo already had strong eco credentials

Hinterglemm for this winter with

to ban the use of single-use plastics.

162 million plastic particles in the area’s

with homes, hotels and public buildings

the new Kogel lift. The new lift

That means no plastic cutlery, plates,

Forni Glacier.

in the valley heated by a communal

straws, glasses, bottles or even sachets of

Skiers who bring single-use plastic items

wood-chip heating system, fed with

ketchup are permitted in the valley.

with them are being asked to take them

left-over timber from local forestry

The move came after experts from Milan’s

away with them or dispose of them at

operations.

Zwölferkogelbahn gondola above

has 10-seat cabins and increases passenger carrying capacity on the route by almost 50%.

006 // DEC19

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TVB WILDER KAISER SÖLL

FOURTH SKI AREA FOR NORTH KOREA

SKI AND ROCK IN AUSTRIA

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said that he’d

Austrian ski resort Söll has come up with a new

like to see more ski resorts developed in the country.

idea to make “getting back to skiing” more fun

Speaking at the Hot Spring Tourist Area in Yangdok

for those returning to the slopes after a break.

County, Kim said, “The Yangdok region has natural

The “Söll Ski and Rock” festival from 15 to 18

and geological conditions that are well-suited for the

January 2020 will see the resort offer “back-to-

construction of a ski resort.”

ski” courses on the slopes during the day and

He went on to call for an “all-inclusive physical and

live music performances in the mountain huts of

cultural leisure spot where visitors can both soak in the

the region.

hot springs and go skiing.”

Then in the evening the centre will host DJs

Samjiyon is actually already home to what is believed

and rock concerts with British rock bands The

to have been North Korea’s first ski slope, created on

Academic and The Blizzards already signed

Mount Paektu using a chairlift reputed to have been

up to perform along with local musicians

donated by a Swiss resort before the nuclear tests

Gordon and the Bravehearts, with all gigs free

and sanctions regime as a friendship gesture before

of charge.

Masikryong Ski Resort gained worldwide attention

Along with “back-to-ski” sessions there’ll be

when it opened in 2013. A third ski area, Kanggye Ski

guided ski safaris around the huge SkiWelt

Resort, opened in North Korea in early 2018 complete

region of which Söll’s slopes are a part, one of

with a drag lift and conveyor lift.

the biggest ski areas in Austria and the Alps.

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SKIWELT SPENDS (ANOTHER) €73 MILLION Austria’s huge SkiWelt region

this will be one of the most expensive

In addition, a new gondola with cabins

has announced that it will be

chairlifts yet built with a price tag of

seating 10 people, the Kombibahn, will

spending another €73 million

€15.5 million (around £13.3 million).

be completed from winter 2020/21

(around £62.5 million) on new

The lift will feature “comfort

after a further €15.5 million (around

lifts over the next few years.

suspension” (so presumably no rattling

£13.3 million) spend. The new lift will

After completing 12 million rides, the

as it passes support towers), heated

replace the old Zinsbergbahn quad in

Fleidingbahn lift, built in 1983, is finally

seats and bubble hoods to protect

Brixen im Thale. The Hexenwasser in

being retired and replaced with a new

against the weather, and the top station

Söll and Salvistabahn in Itter will also

high-speed eight-seater chairlift this

will have a panoramic terrace with a

be replaced, with new lifts running

season. Still called the Fleidingbahn,

360° view of the surrounding peaks.

from December 2020.

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DEC19 // 007

Snow Sure Resorts On / Near Piste locations No Hidden Extras Financially Bonded

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CRANS-MONTANA

Family Fun

Sunny & Snow-Sure

Happy Stomachs

Non-Skier? No Problem!

Try Out Ski Touring

Having been awarded the Family Destination Label from the Swiss Tourism Federation, Crans-Montana is well recognised as a fantastic resort for adults and children alike. This season, they are taking family fun up a notch, with a brand-new winter family festival.

From 6 December to 5 January, the Etoile Bella Lui festival will take to the heart of Crans-Montana, helping the whole family rediscover the magic of winter, with an enchanting lantern path, craft market and a large wheel in the town centre.

At 1,500m above sea level, with slopes going up to 3,000m, Crans-Montana is a high-altitude destination, meaning it enjoys an exceptional snow record year after year. With a wide range of runs to suit all levels of skier and snowboarder, as well as plentiful off-piste opportunities, Crans-Montana is sure to keep everyone entertained on the slopes.

Many slopes here are southfacing and so benefit from awesome Alpine sunshine throughout the day, perfect for those that like to lunch on sunny restaurant terraces or work on that goggle tan!

With over 90 restaurants in Crans-Montana, you have a lot of choice when it comes to refuelling after a day on the slopes! A wide variety of international cuisines range from Lebanese and Japanese to classic Valais specialities.

No matter your budget, whether your perfect post-ski meal involves a Michelinstarred restaurant, a traditional fondue or a popular local burger joint, Crans-Montana will happily oblige.

For those who may prefer to spend their winter getaway off the slopes, there is a huge amount of options for nonskiers in Crans-Montana, from peaceful winter walks and relaxing hotel spas to husky sledding and outdoor ice rinks.

What’s more, incentives are available for non-skiers to eat up the mountain and soak up the incredible panoramas, with vouchers that allow the cost of your lift ticket to be taken off the bill!

Later, skiers and non-skiers alike can enjoy varied après-ski, from lively bars to sophisticated, luxury establishments.

Ski touring offers a unique way to experience the mountains and gives experienced tourers the opportunity to enjoy previously inaccessible terrain.

However, Crans-Montana is also a top destination for any first-time ski tourers, having made great investments in their touring infrastructure in recent years.

Fifteen marked ski touring trails on the “front side” of the mountain here provide skiers with a safe and controlled way to get to grips with ski touring, with entertaining routes of all different levels available.

008 // DEC19

CRANS-MONTANA.CH

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Is this the PERFECT SKI DAY? We all have our own idea of the perfect day on the slopes.

Whether your ultimate ski day involves carving up delightfully empty freshly groomed pistes, ploughing through light, fluffy powder or enjoying unique music festivals, you can usually find one or two in your favourite resort...

010 // DEC19  PROMO

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©VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION - PASCAL GERTSCHEN

But what if we told you there’s one destination where you can have it all?

This winter, in the Swiss ski region of Valais, we’ve discovered the perfect ski day. Here, thermal spas and gourmet delights go hand in hand with worldfamous ski resorts, unparalleled freeride terrain and a number of entertaining music festivals – all of which can be experienced in one amazing day. visitvalais.ch ©VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION - DAVID CARLIER

11:30 – Take on Secured Freeride Itineraries You simply can’t visit Valais without experiencing its epic freeride scene. There’s a reason that this area is home to one of the most highly anticipated stops on the Freeride World Tour each winter. In Valais, you will find some of the world’s best freeride areas, with several ski resorts boasting a number of secured freeride itineraries that offer skiers a taste of this adventure away from the groomed slopes.

In particular, the resort of Nendaz boasts seven supremely entertaining secured freeride runs, where you can enjoy for yourself the incredible freeride heritage of this area in a safe and enjoyable way.

14:30 – Try Out Ski Touring The unique draw of ski touring has seen it become an increasingly popular activity in winter resorts, and if you’ve never tried ski touring before, Valais is the perfect place for your first foray into this sport.

Several resorts across Valais have “rando-parcs”, ski areas dedicated completely to ski touring. Here, secured “Touring Tracks” offer the perfect introduction for novices and a great place to familiarise yourself with the equipment, technique and safety procedures.

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17:30 – Relax and Rejuvenate The perfect way to unwind after an adrenaline-inducing day on the slopes? Hit the spa, of course! Valais is a true oasis of wellbeing and relaxation, with five thermal spa resorts across the region.

To enjoy the height of luxury, Loèche-les-Bains offers a huge amount of choice for wellness enthusiasts – you can even enjoy amuse-bouche and drinks in the colourfully lit thermal waters at Aqua Mystica evenings on certain dates here!

Or, for the best views in the region, head to Ovronnaz, where indoor and outdoor pools and a new Panoramic Alpine Spa overlook a spectacular backdrop of the Rhône Valley.

Or Enjoy a Music Festival If your idea of the ultimate ski evening involves more partying than pampering, Valais has a lively après-ski scene, with exciting events throughout the season.

As November ends, Polaris Festival heads to Verbier, a four-day celebration of electronic music with a sensational party atmosphere.

Later in the season, Rock the Pistes hits Valais. One of the most famous festivals in the Alps, here slopeside gigs take place in the magnificent Région Dents du Midi Portes du Soleil ski area, and the parties continue each evening down in the resorts. In April, acoustic festival Zermatt Unplugged hits Zermatt, and for fans of techno and house music, Caprices Festival in CransMontana is the ultimate mountain party. ©VALAIS/WALLIS PROMOTION - THIERRY SERMIER

07:30 – Make First Tracks on the Mountain If you’ve never experienced the quiet, peaceful beauty of sunrise in the mountains, you are in for a treat with Valais’ first tracks experience. Make your mark on the immaculately groomed snow before anyone else is even out of bed, enjoying the dreamy conditions that come with being the first on the slopes.

Top it all off with a delicious Alpine breakfast once the lifts start turning, and there’s absolutely no better way to start the perfect ski day. This deal is on offer across Valais, in Zermatt, Saas-Fee, the Aletsch Arena, CransMontana and Morgins.

With rando-parc routes ranging in difficulty and duration, whether you want a serious workout or to simply enjoy the mountains in a new way, a rando-parc is the perfect spot.

20:00 – Taste Some Valais Specialities Is there a better way to round off the perfect ski day than with a delicious traditional Alpine meal?

According to legend, Valais is the birthplace of raclette cheese – centuries ago, a wine-grower here warmed a piece of cheese over the fire on a cold day, and voilà, an Alpine favourite was born. To this day, Valais cheesemakers follow a historic raclette recipe to create the most authentic product – Raclette du Valais AOP. The best way to enjoy your Raclette du Valais AOP is alongside a glass of wine. The Valais region is the largest wine-making region in Switzerland, with 55 grape varieties cultivated across almost 5,000 hectares of vineyards. No day in Valais is complete without sampling a glass or two!

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VISITVALAIS.CH

TH E YEAR IN SKI ING

SCHILTHORN.CH

BY PATRICK THORNE

100 YEARS AGO The Ski Club of Great Britain had been around for more than 15 years when Arnold Lunn took over the editorship of its British Ski Year Book in 1919, a position he held for 55 years. This later became Ski Survey and more recently

Ski+board magazine and has remained at the very heart of everything the Ski Club is ever since. Lunn is also credited with the introduction of the Downhill and

SKI FOR SADIE A charity set up in memory of

18 and 25 January 2020. The event

ski pass, accommodation, chalet catering,

a young girl who died suddenly

challenges participants to reach

event package and a donation to the Sadie

following an anaphylactic shock

checkpoint markers located all over the

Bristow Foundation.

is organising a challenging

ski areas. A specially created app will

Sadie was just nine when she died in

Although 1969 was a big year for skiing

but fun ski event in the French

help participants record the checkpoints

August last year. At the time she was the

films with 007’s On Her Majesty’s Secret

Alps this winter with the aim of

reached, and there will be points up for

Lawn Tennis Association’s top-ranked

raising funds to support those

grabs for teams based on kilometres

tennis player in the country for her age

Redford starring in Downhill Racer, winter

with allergies and create a more

skied, time between checkpoints,

group, and she was also a keen and

sports were also making it into popular

educated environment around the

cryptic puzzle solving and more.

accomplished skier. Her parents have set

growing risk of allergies.

Six-day packages cost from £1,159 (three-

up a charity in her name to increase allergy

famous elephant take to the snow, was

Ski for Sadie will take part in two of

day option available) including return

awareness and develop athletic-based

published by Random House.

the biggest ski areas in the world –

flights from London to the French Alps

programmes to encourage more children

Les Arcs and Val Thorens – between

(other routes available), ground transport,

into sport. sadiebristowfoundation.org.uk

Slalom races to the Winter Olympics.

50 YEARS AGO

Service filmed in Mürren and Robert

fiction. Babar Goes Skiing, which saw the

25 YEARS AGO Though the International Ski Federation has had a bad press in recent years over its attitude to climate change, the organisation has a long history of aiming to do its bit for the environment.

In 1994 a “green manifesto” was unanimously approved at the 39th FIS Congress saying, “The FIS … urges national associations and international federations to take the necessary actions to protect the environment.”

10 YEARS AGO 10-20 years back a fierce debate raged over whether wearing a ski helmet

2020/21 SKI SEASON HOLIDAYS ALREADY ON SALE

should be mandatory. France and Italy were among countries passing laws to

Crystal Ski Holidays have already

earlier. In previous years it has normally

catering apartments and chalets in more than

require children to wear helmets, and in

put their ski holidays for the

been in early December, shortly before the

120 resorts across 13 countries in Europe

2009, the then North America’s largest

winter after this on sale.

current ski season begins.

and North America. Departures operate

ski resort companies – Vail and Intrawest

It’s the earliest-ever point ahead of a ski

However, you can now book ski holidays

from more than 20 regional airports and two

– extended their mandatory helmet rules

season the company has put their holidays

departing from 12 December 2020 until 17

international train stations, so customers have

to cover all employees working on snow.

on sale although the date has crept ever

April 2021 to the company’s hotels, self-

flexibility when booking their ski holiday.

012 // DEC19

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© Nico Schlosser / Skiset H20

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INNSBRU

014 // DEC19  PROMO

BLE

UCK

The beautiful city of Innsbruck, the capital of Austria’s Tirol region, is often overlooked as a ski holiday destination. But for those in the know, there’s no better choice for a rich and varied ski holiday, with a big bonus of the slopes being some of the quickest to reach from the UK, and some of the most affordable in Western Europe. It’s no surprise that Innsbruck is the only destination to have hosted a Winter Olympics three times.

The key facts to keep in mind are as follows: First, Innsbruck has its own airport, with ever more flights from the UK, so you can be checking into your accommodation only a few minutes after flying in. Second, Innsbruck is surrounded by ski areas, ranging from mid-sized centres you can reach by jumping on a funicular from the city centre to the snow-sure Stubai Glacier which is open for snowsports 10 months of the year. Third, Innsbruck is one of those few year-round destinations that, unusually for a ski destination, actually gets more visitors in summer than winter. The result is that the city’s businesses compete harder for your business during the ski season than they have to in the summer months, which drives down prices. A rare treat in the ski holiday world!

There are many more reasons to love Innsbruck however you enjoy winter. It’s a historic, beautiful city with a compact, largely pedestrianised centre, surrounded by a vista of stunning, snow-capped mountains. There are hundreds of enticing shops, cafés, restaurants and many other attractions so there’s plenty to do other than skiing. Perhaps a leisurely stroll through the fresh snow to a favourite café for coffee and cakes first thing, then jump on the shuttle up to the slopes for an afternoon’s skiing, hitting the city-centre pubs and clubs later on, or get up early for a full day on the slopes.

In short, Innsbruck combines luxury urban amenities with the world-renowned winter sports of the SKI plus CITY pass. From skiing and snowboarding to tobogganing, snowshoeing and bobsleigh, visitors here are spoilt for choice.

The great thing is that one very reasonably priced regional ski pass covers all of the local ski areas – more than a dozen of them, along with public transport to them. So you can decide each day where you want to ski, knowing your transport there and back and day on the slopes are covered. Stay for a fortnight and you could still ski a different area every single day.

In fact, for 2019/20 the options have got even better with the launch of the new SKI plus CITY pass. This one pass provides access to more than 308km of pistes, served by 111 lifts across 13 ski areas.

But what’s more, off the slopes, it includes access to

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three swimming pools and 22 more lifestyle, cultural and sightseeing opportunities, via the sightseer bus, ranging from entry to Swarovski Crystal Worlds through to an alpine zoo and the oldest museum in the world.

The 13 ski areas include a very varied choice, most between 15 and 45 minutes from the centre. The Nordkette area is the quickest to reach for most, a funicular railway ride up, and has everything from beginner terrain to exciting freeriding beloved by the local hotshots. By contrast, the Muttereralm is a long-time family favourite with great ski schools and a fabulous Kids’ Ski Zone complete with conveyor lifts, ski-merry-go-round and tepee. Igls, above the city with great views out across it, is home to the Men’s Olympic downhill and the bobsleigh run which visitors can take a ride down if they dare. Axamer Lizum, a little further out, is home to the women’s Olympic downhill course and Kühtai and Glungezer have a reputation for their great intermediate skiing with some wonderful long runs.

In terms of après-ski, there are few, if any, destinations that can offer more choice than Innsbruck. You can, of course, enjoy traditional slopeside après at your ‘ski area of the day’ before heading back to the city centre; and the city, which is also a university town, has a huge range of bars and nightspots.

But there’s so much more besides – endless shopping of course, as well as museums, galleries, concerts, sports centres, bowling, spas; the list goes on, and you’re essentially spoilt for choice.

Innsbruck with Crystal Ski Holidays Whether you’re going with family, friends or setting off solo, Crystal Ski Holidays will get you mountainready in no time. Stay in the historic 4 Hotel Schwarzer Adler, located just outside Innsbruck’s old town and a short walk away from the Nordkette furnicular lift. Once a haven to emperors, kings and aristocrats, the hotel retains many of its traditional features and is known for its gourmet cuisine and charming bar. Ski bus services to all the ski areas stop close by each morning to take you to the slopes, or you can use public bus services later in the day to reach the slopes if you wish.

All of Crystal’s holidays include flights, transfers and accommodation. Plus, you can add lift passes, equipment hire and ski school too, so everything’s ready for when you arrive.

You’ll get expert service every step of the way, and Crystal’s free Ski Explorer app has snow reports, resort info and more. And of course, Crystal have you covered with ABTA and ATOL protection.

First-timer or a seasoned pro, there’s no one way to winter. But however you do it, do it with Crystal. crystalski.co.uk/ski-resorts/austria-ski-holidays/innsbruck/

CRYSTALSKI.CO.UK

MAJOR UPGRADE FOR CROATIA Croatia’s Platak ski area has begun major upgrading work in a twoyear project intended to ensure a sustainable snowy future for the ADAM KLINGETEG / RED BULL CONTENT POOL

centre. Located close to the Adriatic Sea, Platak is a major stop on the FIS World Tour around New Year each season but often has to contend with temperatures well above freezing.

2025 OPENING FOR HUGE SKI AREA A giant $3.5 billion (around £2.72 billion) ski resort project on the west coast of Canada hopes to be open from 2025, its developers have said.

Currently known temporarily as the “Garibaldi at Squamish” ski resort, the

UNRAILISTIC 2.0

complex is to be located in an area

Swedish freestyle skiing star

innovators, thanks to a series of mind-

Every trick took days to plan and execute,

known as Brohm Ridge just north of

Jesper Tjäder has released his

blowing tricks on traditional park obstacles

with some taking well over 100 attempts to

follow-up to his remarkable

and original ones like a trampoline and a

complete, including one on a rail that is the

Unrailistic ski film. Unrailistic

trapeze swing.

highest park rail ever built.

2.0 has been filmed on the slopes of

Tjäder is reported to be a true perfectionist,

Freeskiing filmmaker Matt Pain added,

Åre with Red Bull sponsorship.

which is why it took him nearly four years to

“What Jesper has done in this edit is light

The Unrailistic video edit established

unveil the stunning sequel in order to push

years ahead of the scene. This edit will still

Tjäder as one of freestyle skiing’s greatest

the envelope of progressive freeskiing again.

be relevant in 10 years’ time.”

the coastal town of Squamish.

SKI UP, FLY DOWN The growing popularity of ski touring has reached such a level that you no longer need to actually ski down.

After the fun of skinning up the mountain, Courchevel offers the chance to paraglide back down. “Just ski off into the air. Fantastic fun!” a resort spokesperson enthused.

NEW 7.2KM-LONG TOBOGGAN RUN VAL GARDENA-GRODEN

Austrian ski resort Sölden will open another flash new gondola this winter, but some guests may be more excited by a new 7.2kmlong toboggan route that’s also opening from Gaislachkogel mid station at 2,174m and runs down to Sölden at 1,377m.

ON-TRAIN SKI FITTING SERVICE Train company Thalys is running a

THE LONGEST GIANT SLALOM RACE IN THE WORLD RETURNS Val Gardena in the Italian Dolomites

must negotiate 115 slalom gates.

certificate of suitability.

direct ski service from Belgian capital

will once again stage its famous

The race involves hundreds of people,

This season the race starts on Saturday

Brussels to leading French ski resorts

Gardenissima downhill ski race over the

including a mix of professional athletes

4 April at 8am and continues through

this winter. The company will provide

first weekend of April.

and enthusiast amateurs who compete

much of the day with up to the maximum

a special on-train “Ski host” service

Billed as the longest giant slalom race in

together. However, all competitors must

680 participants racing with timed starts.

with agents in red uniforms helping

the world, the course is more than 6km

be registered with either the International

On Sunday 5th the race is repeated but

skiers and boarders rent their ski

long, descending from the Seceda Peak

Ski Federation or Italian Winter Sports

on a shorter 2km track for children aged

equipment in the train.

down to Col Raiser. Along the way, racers

Federation (FIS or FISI) and have a medical

under 14.

016 // DEC19

@INTHESNOWMAG

JIMMY PETTERSON

NASA

“SNOW CANNON” ON SATURN’S MOON

ENJOY A SKI HOLIDAY WITH EDDIE THE EAGLE

Saturn’s moon Enceladus seems to be acting like a “snow

After the success of last winter’s holidays, Eddie the

Way back in 2005, Jimmy Petterson published Skiing

cannon”, pumping water into Saturn’s orbit and covering its

Eagle will be joining SkiWeekends holidays again in

Around the World, an account of his ski adventures in

neighbouring moons in snow, which has made them highly

January so that anyone booking a trip can ski and

47 countries. Now, after 14 years in the making, Skiing

reflective, new research suggests.

hang out with him, and £25pp from every booking

Around the World Volume II, with all new material, has

A team of researchers looked at 60 radar observations

with Eddie will be donated to the charity Ski 4 Cancer.

been published.

of Saturn’s inner moons — Mimas, Enceladus and Tethys

“Eddie stayed with us for the first time last winter,

The books are both mighty works in size as well as content,

— made by NASA’s spacecraft Cassini, and found that

and guests absolutely loved spending time with

with more than 1,000 pages, and over 1,600 full-colour

the radar brightness of these moons is double that than

him. He happens to be a fantastic skier and just

photos in a large format. They are not dry guidebooks

previously thought. The researchers determined the

enjoys spending time with people on the slopes,”

but detail Jimmy’s experiences in hundreds of ski resorts

extreme brightness is a result of ice and snow falling

said SkiWeekends’ Managing Director, Dan Fox.

around the world, from the planet’s best-known destinations

and coating their surfaces, after it has been ejected by

Ski 4 Cancer was set up by a group of skiers and

to obscure little Alpine havens that are still undiscovered

powerful geysers on Enceladus, in a process described in

snowboarders who have all lost someone and

by the ever-growing numbers of freeriders. There are also

the report as being like a “giant snow cannon”.

wanted to offer something to help those facing up

many ski adventures away from regular resorts, including

The researchers believe that on Enceladus, the material

to cancer. The Ski With Eddie holidays are being

hiking for days carrying skis to find snow on high peaks in

would fall back as water-ice particles but on Mimas and

offered in two chalets in Courchevel and Avoriaz in

Uganda in Africa or Venezuela in South America, with each

Tethys it falls as snow. In earlier research, scientists have

January 2020.

section also rich in cultural and historical information.

calculated the snow falling on Enceladus is so fine it takes

“I had a great time with SkiWeekends last winter and

Volume I, which completely sold out more than 10 years

30,000 years to get 30cm of it. The good news, though,

even felt like I was on a proper ski holiday. It’s just not

ago, has also been reprinted. The two-volume set

is that it has been falling non-stop for millions of years,

something that I normally get the chance to do. I’m

includes Jimmy’s personal tales about all 75 countries

so anyone arriving there to ski in the future will probably

really looking forward to it,” said Eddie “the Eagle”

where he has skied so far – believed to be more than

need a snorkel. facebook.com/snowinspace

Edwards. ski4cancer.org | SkiWeekends.com

anyone else ever has. skiingaroundtheworldbook.com

5 star Aparthotel

SEQUEL PUBLISHED TO GREAT SKI BOOK

Chamonix Mont-Blanc - France

RÉSIDENCE & SPA VALLORCINE MONT-BLANC 5 minutes from your breakfast to the ski slopes !

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I8 JAN 20

I8 JAN 20

The Witches Race

The White Ring 2020

Les 2 Alpes Night Snow Trail

Belalp | Switzerland Individuals and teams dressed in witches’ costumes (and perhaps some actual witches – it’s the perfect cover) have been racing each other down the slopes of Belalp for nearly four decades, and 2020 sees the 38th running of the race on the 18th, with a mini race a week before. belalphexe.ch

Lech Zürs | Austria The White Ring circuit is skiable all winter, taking you around the slopes of Lech and Zürs in the Arlberg.

But on one day each January the route becomes a racetrack with first pro racers then amateurs, in groups of 20 with timed departures, tackling the 22km route with 5,500m of vert. derweissering.at

Les 2 Alpes | France The idea with this trail-running event, which is back for its eighth edition in 2020, is that instead of skiing down snow-covered slopes, you run up them, at night, hopefully by the light of the moon. Last year, over 500 people took part with a choice of 5, 10, 15 or 20km routes. les2alpes.com

SPORTOGRAF

© LUKA LEROY / LES DEUX ALPES

II-I8 JAN 20

25 JAN 20

2I-28 MAR 20

Ski Touring Week

Inferno Race

European Gay Ski Week

La Clusaz | France If you’re already into ski touring or just a beginner wanting to give it a try, this is the event for you. The organisers promise there’s something for all ability levels here with different workshops and guided tours around the resort. en.laclusaz.com

Mürren | Switzerland The famous Inferno Race, first run in 1928, and now descending from the Schilthorn at 2,970m above Mürren down to the valley floor at Laurterbrunnen 2,170 vertical metres and 14.9km away is the longest downhill ski race in the world. Up to 1,850 people take part and 2020 is the 77th race.

Les Arcs | France European Gay Ski week is a full-on festival of all things LGBTQ+ … on snow. Getting bigger and better every year, the ski week organised from the UK now attracts up to 1,000 participants with a week of events on and off the snow. The fun ranges from Europe’s only gay ski school to DJ sets and pool parties. europeangayskiweek.com

CHRIS GEARY

CLÉMENT-HUDRY

20-25 JAN 20

SKI RESORT EVENTS YOU CAN JOIN IN 25 APR 20

27-28 APR 20

The White Thrill

Allalin Races

St Anton | Austria Lech has its White Ring in January, but neighbouring St Anton has the end-of-season White Thrill, a mass start race when competitors run to their skis before starting the 9km long, 1,300m vert “anything goes” race to the bottom. stantonamarlberg.com

Saas-Fee | Switzerland Dubbed the highest-starting glacier downhill races in the world, the Allalin are also among the longest, with a 9km-long racecourse descending 1,700 vertical metres from the start line 3,500m up. First run in 1946, it’s not for novices as racers can hit up to 140kph. saas-fee.ch

SEBASTIEN ANEX

LES 3 VALLÈES / C. ARNAL

5 APR 20

Les 3 Vallées Enduro France Billed as the event of the season, for one day only, Les 3 Vallées is swamped with skiers in teams of three, turning into a huge playground for sport, skiing and all-round fun. The aim is simple: starting out from the region’s main resorts, teams aim to complete multiple challenges. les3vallees.com/en

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FUNERAL HELD FOR DEAD GLACIER In the summer, 250 mourners gathered in the Glarus Alps of northeastern Switzerland to lament the demise of the country’s Pizol Glacier with what was described as a funeral march. Local people and environmental campaigners attended the event with only a few lumps of “dead” ice left of the glacier, which lost CLINT HELANDER

80% of its volume in the past 13 years.

9TH LARGEST SKI AREA IN N. AMERICA

NEW FILM OF FIRST-EVER FULL SKI DESCENT OF LHOTSE

Red Mountain in BC Canada is adding a new triple chairlift to access 121.4 hectares of terrain, extending its existing boundary. This new area will increase the resort’s skiable terrain to 1,554 hectares, placing it fourth in

On 30 September last year, with

line. Being only truly visible from Everest

YouTube), made using the company’s new

the mighty Everest to their right,

gives it this mythical quality, and it stoked

FUTURELIGHT fabric.

and the famed Lhoste “Dream Line”

this fire in me, in both of us – we just had

“To make even two or three turns at that

below them, Hilaree Nelson and

to see if it could be done, but we knew we

altitude is almost unbearably hard, and so

Jim Morrison clipped into their

would need not just the right conditions but

you have to be wearing gear that gives

bindings and prepared to drop

the right team, and we had it,” said Hilaree.

you the best chance to not only succeed,

in from the 8,516m summit of the

Their sponsors, The North Face, have

but allows you to be comfortable enough

A long-standing plan to build an

world’s fourth highest peak.

now released a 23-minute film of their

to take in that special moment, to savour it

indoor snow centre near Paris has

“The Lhotse Couloir is just such a perfect

achievement (search North Face Lhoste on

and never let it go,” added Hilaree.

Canada behind Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Peaks and Lake Louise.

PARIS SNOWDOME PLAN CANCELLED

been dropped. The centre’s backers said, “In the context where climate change has become a reality, the project to build a ski trail in SaintPaul might not be understood and accepted by our fellow citizens.”

OLYMPICS BACK IN ST MORITZ The Third Winter Youth Olympic Games is being hosted by ARTHUR BERTRAND

Switzerland from 9 to 22 January.

The speed skating, luge, monobob and skeleton events will take place in the twice Olympic host destination of St Moritz.

FREERIDE UPGRADE AT COURCHEVEL

NEW CHAIRLIFTS FOR GEORGIA

Courchevel in Les 3 Valleés has been

With a world-wide reputation for off-piste

the Col du Pas du Lac.

investing in new facilities for all abilities

skiing, the area has been upgraded for winter

And underlining it all, Courchevel’s lift

Georgia’s Bakuriani ski area is to

ahead of the coming winter, and expert

2019/20, adding a pure “freeride” dimension.

company has announced its commitment

few years as the resort prepares to

skiers have not been forgotten!

This includes a new 350m-long button lift

to make the three runs as safe as possible,

host the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski and

Les Creux Noirs has a reputation as one of

for quicker, easier access to the top of the

while leaving them ungroomed so that

Snowboard World Championships.

the most “hard core” zones in Les 3 Vallées,

terrain with the old chairlift taken down.

freeriders can make the most of the

The three new chairlifts, with a total

with one black and two red runs.

There’s also a whole new run down from

powder snow.

get new chairlifts over the next

combined length of 5km, will be installed in the resort’s Didveli area.

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DEC19 // 019

SHUTTERSTOCK

020 // DEC19

@INTHESNOWMAG

Every year here at InTheSnow we receive “horror stories” from skiers who had expensive, and in some cases life-changing, injuries on the slopes. They usually want to publicise their experience to warn others.

Thankfully such incidents are rare, but what strikes us is that more often than not, while these skiers did have ski holiday insurance, they didn’t have the right cover for the incident they suffered on their trip so their insurer either didn’t pay out, or didn’t pay out enough.

The advice the insurance industry always gives is, “Check you have the cover you need in your policy,” but that simple get-out statement leads to two thoughts: first, who has the time to read all the small print, and second, even if you do have time, do you know what you’re looking for?

So far we’ve not managed to find a travel insurance provider who can give us a clear answer to that one.

But there are some general rules that at least increase your chances of being adequately insured.

Does Your Travel Insurance Include Winter-Sports Cover?

It may seem obvious, but if you have an annual travel insurance policy, doublecheck it does actually include you going on a ski holiday, and to the country you’re heading to. Most do but some require a supplement paying up front.

Tom Bishop, Head of Travel Insurance at Direct Line, confirmed, “Those heading off for adventure on the slopes this ski season should be sure to check whether their travel insurance includes winter-sports cover, or whether they need to purchase this as an extension to their policy.”

“Make sure you have ski cover under your travel insurance policy – it is a specific insurable activity; just obtaining travel insurance doesn’t automatically include cover for skiing,” advises Catherine Lowe of MPI Brokers. “Don’t use comparison websites, they compare the premiums and sum insured, available to that site and not the cover – it’s the cover that matters and also take note that many bank account travel insurances policies exclude personal liability while skiing (skiing into others).”

Does Your Cover Include Heading Off-Piste/Freeriding?

One much more common exclusion on winter-sports policies is skiing

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off-piste (now more commonly called “freeriding”). As freeriding and ski touring get ever-more popular and ski areas themselves blur the lines between what’s a piste and what’s an ungroomed slope, this is a contentious area. Some policies do cover you and some may if you are part of a guided group with a qualified and authorised mountain guide or ski school, but others don’t or only do if a supplement has been paid.

Do I Need To Wear A Helmet?

Most skiers do wear helmets these days, but those who don’t should be aware that this can be a requirement with some policies specifying no helmet, no cover.

How Much Medical Cover Do I Need Anyway?

That’s a tricky one and can vary considerably, with costs in North America, if you’re going skiing there, likely to be much higher.

“A good winter-sports policy will include generous medical cover. This is important because piste rescue, treatment in foreign hospitals and getting patients back home to the UK can be extremely expensive. For example, a piste rescue by helicopter could cost upwards of £2,000, and an air ambulance from the Alps to the UK will exceed £10,000,” says Tim Bishop.

What About My Other Adventures In Resort?

Winter-sports holidays these days can include lots of other activities besides skiing or boarding, and we often excitedly sign up to them when we get to resort without checking if our insurance actually covers us to do them. Paragliding, ice climbing, bobsleigh, dog sledding, skijoring, ice-driving, zip-wiring and 101 other activities are now waiting for you to enjoy in the mountains. Often your policy will cover you should the worst happen, particularly if you’re part of a properly supervised group, but quite often they won’t…

Can I Claim If I Was Drunk?

Maybe, but it can also be a factor that leads to payouts being refused.

It’s something to keep in mind as you order your third glühwein at the bottom of the slopes. Drinking alcohol after more physical exertion

than many of us are used to can be a factor, but apparently it’s an urban myth that altitude makes the effects of alcohol more potent. We should perhaps regard drunk skiing as little different to drunk driving, and many insurers do.

The Rest?

It is important to check that wintersports equipment is covered for loss, damage and theft. It is also useful to look out for helpful extras such as cover for unused, lost or stolen ski passes, as well as payment to travel to another resort should your planned destination be close. If you see issues like that covered by your policy, it’s hopefully a good sign that the insurer knows what they need to cover.

“Most insurers are not aware of the concept of leaving your skis outside a mountain restaurant – they consider this being left unattended, however you have no choice but to do this.

Insurance matters aside, it is always a good idea to mix your skis up,” says Catherine Lowe of MPI Brokers (whose policies do cover ski theft).

Is My Free European Health Insurance Certificate (EHIC) Enough?

The jury is still out on whether the EHIC (formerly E111) will still work after Brexit. The best guess is if there’s eventually a “negotiated Brexit”, it may be, but if it’s a “hard Brexit”, it won’t be. However, even though an EHIC is well worth having while we remain in the EU, it’s important to note it does not always cover all medical expenses, or things like piste rescue or the cost of getting patients back to the UK. So it’s something to have alongside comprehensive winter-sports travel insurance, not instead of.

Is that any clearer? Perhaps not. One rule of thumb can be that as with so many things in life, the cheaper and more “too good to be true” the cost of a policy you see online is, the less likely it is to provide the full cover you need.

That is not always the case, of course, and we all hope that whatever the price we pay, we won’t need to use the insurance anyway.

It would just be nice if, when we did need it, it provided the cover we expected it to.

DEC19 // 0021

(It’s not as much as you might think ) The past decade has seen a real transformation in the quality of accommodation that we can afford on our ski holidays. The good news is that while the quality has increased dramatically, the cost has not.

The result is that while you can still, if you want, find a fairly basic, bargain apartment in the French Alps more cheaply than staying pretty well anywhere else, for just a little bit more you can now get a

spacious, modern, luxury self-catered apartment, in a complex that will also have lots of amenities you’d never have got on-site before. A swimming pool, or indeed a full spa, for example.

This new generation of high-quality accommodation shares the key benefits of those early apartments – slopeside locations, for example, and all the amenities to make getting on the slopes as quick and easy as possible.

They’re just far more comfortable and are an ideal base too if someone in your party doesn’t want to be on the

slopes all day and fancies taking time out for some other activities.

CGH Résidences & Spas, as featured by Peak Retreats, has mastered the art of beautiful accommodation in great French resorts like Sainte Foy, Montgenèvre or Les Houches, giving you the option of heading to the pool or enjoying a sauna, steam room visit or dip in the hot tub when you come in off the slopes too.

They’re also a great fit for families, providing plenty of space to relax together and enjoy your holiday on your own timetable. The self-catering option means you can all eat breakfast in your pyjamas before heading off to the slopes, taking snacks or picnics along if you wish. Then in the afternoon as the lifts close, decide whether to have a quick swim then a simple dinner in when you’re back, or get a pizza delivery or perhaps head out to eat. Most residences also have their own comfy lounges to stretch out and socialise in, often with a welcoming open fire.

Sainte Foy Sainte Foy, located between giant ski areas like La Plagne/Les Arcs and Val d’Isère/Tignes, has developed a unique offer combining a great intimate, uncrowded ski area for beginners and intermediates with some fantastic offpiste powder for the pros.

The 4★ CGH Résidence & Spa Le Ruitor has stunning views and great facilities including an indoor heated pool, saunas, steam room and fitness room and an Ô des Cîmes spa.

Montgenèvre Located in one of the world’s biggest ski regions, the Milky Way, with 400km of ski runs, Montgenèvre gives skiers the chance to cross over the border into Italy following the same route Hannibal did, only on skis or board, not elephants. There’s a 1.4km mountain coaster providing more fun for all the family.

The 4★ CGH Résidence & Spa Le Chalet des Dolines at the foot of the slopes has an indoor pool, hot tub, saunas and steam room, as well as a fitness room and an Ô des Cîmes spa.

The snow kindergarten and ESF ski school meeting points for children are next door.

Les Houches Les Houches is a key resort in the Chamonix Valley. It has a great familyfriendly ski area as well as the valley’s downhill World Cup racetrack, with all the area’s other skiing available on a joint pass.

Off-slope options include dog sledding.

The CGH Résidence & Spa Le Hameau de Pierre Blanche near the Prarion cable car also has an indoor pool with hot tub, sauna, steam room and fitness room, as well as an Ô des Cîmes spa.

Peak Retreats, the award-winning French Alps specialist, has a wide selection of 4★ self-catered apartments, including all the above properties. The team has a wealth of experience to share and is passionate about finding you your perfect ski holiday.

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022 // DEC19  PROMO

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A BRAND NEW SKI SHOW TAYLOR MICHAEL BURK TRAVEL ALBERTA

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LAKE LOUISE TO FIRST SHRINK & THEN GROW Lake Louise Ski Resort has struck a deal with

In exchange, the area previously included in the resort’s

the Canadian government’s Parks Canada body

leasehold area is also being reduced by about a third,

that will see it give up the rights to a large

or 669 hectares, and summer hiking operations will be

chunk of land within its current leasehold,

moved to a higher elevation to protect prime grizzly

but in exchange be allowed to upgrade some

bear habitat.

existing lifts and expand the developed part

“It’s not an expansion of any sorts; we are just going

of its ski area.

to be improving what we had in our leasehold,” Dan

Parks Canada approved what is a long-range plan for

Markham from Lake Louise Ski Resort told local media,

Lake Louise Ski Resort which will allow the ski area to

but added that it will mean the ski area will be able to

build two new lodges and up to six new lifts in coming

increase the number of people who can visit by about

years as well as access the newly acquired West Bowl.

half, up from 6,000 to 9,000 on a busy day.

BASKETBALL STAR BUYS FRENCH SKI RESORT A basketball star from the American NBA league has bought a long-established French ski resort, even though he doesn’t ski.

Tony Parker, who is of Franco-American descent, has bought a

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

controlling stake in the company which runs the ski area above Villard-de-Lans and Corrençon-en-Vercors.

Mr Parker is reported to have spent over a year discussing his then potential purchase with the local authorities of the resort villages concerned before finally going ahead and buying a 76.9% stake.

Mr Parker says he has no plans to make any major change of direction for the ski area, but he wants to “give back” to France.

The lift company was formerly run by two brothers, now reported to be aged 89 and 91.

Mr Parker, who has been an NBA star since 2001, has been unable to ski because of contractual constraints from his basketball career 2018 NBAE

but says that his wife and family love skiing.

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DEC19 // 023

LORENZO BELFROND AIACE BAZZANA LORENZO BELFROND

While we all love visiting different resorts each season, to try out the different slopes, there are just a few destinations where people stop and say, “OK, this is my perfect ski resort, I want to stop looking now, I just want to keep coming back here.”

For that type of destination just a few names keep coming up and one of those is Courmayeur Mont Blanc.

What captivates its visitors? Well, the skiing is fantastic, of course, the heart of the resort a pure, authentic place that somehow successfully blends its traditional feel with an elegant, cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Then there’s the scenery, the food, the people – really it all boils down to Courmayeur’s true mountain soul.

Italy at its peak.

Amazing Skiing Courmayeur has a fantastic range of terrain from perfectly groomed runs to endless freeride opportunities.

Good skiers who enjoy a challenge will be pleased to hear that this winter there’s a new red run, descending from Arp down to Youla, which provides access to a very challenging black piste, one of the steepest in the Alps with a gradient of 70%. With north-

 PROMO

facing slopes there’s exceptional snow here all season. It’s part of a €20m+ project to add runs and replace lifts in the sector, due for completion by 2021.

There are two world-renowned ski schools to choose from here, while the Società delle Guide Alpine di Courmayeur can guide you on many routes including the worldfamous Vallée Blanche or even heliskiing in the Aosta Valley. Many world-famous routes, including the Vallée Blanche, can be accessed from Punta Helbronner (3,466m), which can easily be reached by the spectacular new Skyway Monte Bianco cable car that opened a few years ago after a three-year regeneration programme, replacing the old lifts with new state-of-the-art models costing in excess of €100m in total.

Not Just Skiing Of course, there are lots of other activities on offer in and around Courmayeur, on and off the snow.

First there was fat biking (cycling on snow with a bike with oversized tyres); now there is even e-fat biking (your riding is boosted with battery power), or snow biking (fat tyres replaced with skis). At a slower pace, snowshoeing is popular in Val Ferret, or you can try ice skating or dog sledding through the unspoiled natural wonderland. Whatever you

do, don’t miss a visit to the warm thermal waters of Pré-Saint-Didier.

Fab For Foodies Besides its fantastic freeriding, Courmayeur has a world-beating reputation for its winter food too that goes back a century or more.

The secret: truly locally produced ingredients, traditional recipes passed down, sometimes given a modern twist by talented chefs, and some wonderful places in which to eat it all.

Exquisite local dishes include polenta served with local cheeses and carbonada, marvellous soups followed by Courmayeur’s signature desert, a Mont Blanc ice cream with chestnuts, cocoa and whipped cream!

These can be paired with a glass of the Valley’s local Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle (the DOC white wine made at the highest altitude in Europe), or perhaps with a unique brew from the Microbirrificio Courmayeur Mont Blanc, a small craft brewery whose star ingredient is water from a spring in Courmayeur.

All can be enjoyed in the Valley’s restaurants, in resort or up in the mountains, during the day or under the stars.

Fantastic food to complete your Courmayeur holiday and ensure that you join those skiers who keep coming back.

COURMAYEURMONTBLANC.IT

VAIL TO EXPAND SKI AREA Vail in Colorado, already one of the biggest ski areas in the USA, is expanding its terrain slightly with the addition of 27.5 hectares of new ski runs in the Golden Peak area. Vail is currently the fourth biggest in North America behind Whistler and Park City (both of which it owns) and Big Sky in Montana.

JAPANESE AREA SHUT AFTER TYPHOON A small Japanese ski area won’t open this winter following

VONN SIGNS WITH HEAD

major storm damage. The small Banshogahara ski hill in Ueda city has two chairlifts, 200m of vertical and five runs but was badly damaged by the 12–13 October typhoon and

Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn,

She will also actively participate in

partnership with the ski clothing division has

the most successful female skier

HEAD product design and, starting

opened up an entirely new challenge for me

of all time, and HEAD Sportswear,

from the 2020/21 season, the Lindsey

in my life and career after ski racing.”

the global skiwear specialist, are

Vonn x Legacy line will round out HEAD

Vonn added, “I’m excited about the look of

joining forces.

Sportswear’s skiwear collection.

the Legacy line, since it fulfils my vision of

Vonn, who began her alpine equipment

Looking forward to the upcoming

fashionable yet technical skiwear. I’m looking

partnership with the brand HEAD in 2009,

collaboration, Vonn commented, “HEAD has

forward to applying my ski racing know-how

Austrian resort of Hopfgarten to its

has become an official HEAD Sportswear

been with me professionally since 2009, and

and passion to really make a difference in ski

programme for winter 2019/20. Part

brand ambassador for the skiwear sector.

I really appreciate the company’s values. The

apparel style and performance.”

repairs can’t be completed quickly.

CRYSTAL ADD HOPFGARTEN Crystal Ski Holidays has added the

of the huge SkiWelt area, one of Austria’s three biggest ski regions with more than 285km of piste, this traditional Austrian village is just over an hour’s transfer from Innsbruck.

RESORT TARGETS IRAQIS & IRANIANS A small ski centre in Hakkâri, southeastern Turkey, will build a slopeside hotel in a bid to attract more skiers from Iran and Iraq.

Improvements have already included the extension of the main ski slope to 3.2km and a chairlift project reported to be “95% complete”.

SOFIA STOPOVER OPTION ON BULGARIAN SKI HOLIDAYS

THREAT OF DRY SLOPE CLOSURE

Balkan Holidays are increasing a

optional extra this winter,” said the

paid for in resort, from £9 per child and

programme which allows guests flying

company’s Head of Marketing, Louise

from £12.50 per adult. The excursion

home to Bristol, East Midlands, Manchester

Newton. She added, “Sofia is a bustling,

departs from Bansko and Borovets but

at Gosling Sports Park is the latest

and Newcastle airports to spend their final

cosmopolitan, compact and characterful

isn’t available from Pamporovo. The

in a line of English dry slopes which

day in Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia.

place. It is young, lively and appealing,

guided tour includes free time to do some

“We are delighted to offer the chance

with numerous bars and cafés as well as

last-minute shopping, before the coach

closure in order to sell the land

to soak up some Bulgarian history and

churches, treasure-filled museums, art

returns, after which guests are reunited

they’re on for housing to raise funds

culture after a week on the slopes and

galleries and leafy parks.”

with their luggage and the return flight

to cover costs.

expect this to be an ever-more popular

The “Sofia See-Off Tour” is booked and

home takes off. balkanholidays.co.uk

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Welwyn Garden City’s dry ski slope

local councils have earmarked for

DEC19 // 025

POLE POSITION ON THE PISTES

026 // DEC19  PROMO

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In the Austrian resort of Obertauern, the morning sun rises over one of the snowiest resorts in the Alps. Here, a unique position in the Tauern Mountains means you’re all but guaranteed fantastic snow, while a wide variety of pistes and state-of-the-art ski lifts will put a smile on your face from first tracks to last.

And this winter in Obertauern, it’s all about making these first tracks the most spectacular you’ve ever experienced.

Let’s face it, there are few better feelings than cutting through freshly prepared pistes before anyone else.

Unfortunately, for most of us, the only way to ever achieve this is to battle our way to the front of the lift queue and hope that no one overtakes us on our way to the fresh stuff.

However, in Obertauern, fighting over first tracks is now a thing of the past.

Here, you can enjoy the perfectly groomed slopes all to yourself, with only the sunrise for company. Exclusive first access to the mountain, guaranteed empty slopes to enjoy all to yourself and a delicious Alpine breakfast to finish it all off? We can’t think of any better way to start a day …

All sounds good but you’re worrying about having to wake at an absurd hour? Never fear! The First.Track experience meets at the very respectable time of 7.30am and still guarantees you at least a full hour of morning skiing on what can only be described as your own private mountain.

This is a morning truly unlike any other you will have had on the ski slopes – the intense, peaceful silence, the magnificent panoramic views, gloriously lit by the day’s first rays of sun. That smile on your face? It just gets bigger and bigger.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better spot for such an experience. Obertauern is one of the most reliable spots in the Alps for snow-sure winters, with a reputation for deep powder and pristine pistes. A high-altitude location

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and unique weather systems allow the season to run longer in Obertauern than in most other ski resorts, with the final First.Track experience taking place on 23 April 2020! If you truly want to enjoy as much time on the slopes as possible this winter, Obertauern is the place to be!

During the morning, you’ll be accompanied by experienced locals who will help you find the best runs to explore, as well as (on certain occasions) by a skiing celebrity or two!

You will also receive a seriously skierfriendly goodie bag, an Ortovox Trad 18 backpack with an Ortovox Wonderwool Beanie and an Obertauern SIGG bottle to aid your adventures.

As the lifts begin to open fully for the day and the slopes start to fill with keen skiers looking to get their very own first tracks (little do they know you got there first!), it’s the perfect time for you to enjoy a little respite.

You’ll be served an exclusive Almdudler breakfast experience at one of Obertauern’s best on-slope eateries, traditional mountain huts that will serve up a delicious breakfast of Salzburg specialties. The cosy warmth, hot coffee and sweet pastries will be the perfect way to top off the best morning’s skiing and will provide you with ample opportunity to discuss your experiences and adventures with your fellow skiers.

Or you can share your favourite pictures with your friends back home, who are sure to be filled with envy before even getting out of bed!

MARKUS ROHRBACHER

Whether you’re an early riser or a natural night owl, there’s something about mornings in the mountains that is truly special.

First.Track events run on select dates throughout the season: X-Mas.Track | 12 December 2019 Powder.Track | 16 January 2020 Valentine.Track | 14 February 2020 Family.Track | 20 February 2020 Spring.Track | 19 March 2020 Legends.Track | 23 April 2020 A limited number of tickets for the First.Track events are available as a package deal starting at €99 (around £83.50) at obertauern-shop.at. This is where you will also find the respective meeting points and breakfast spots.

OBERTAUERN.COM

CHRIS KAMMAN

RESORT:INSIDER

BIG SKY

Many of the best-known ski resorts in the USA in Colorado, California, Wyoming and Utah are getting so developed with plush hotels and condos at their bases that the whole “Wild West” feel seems a bit “Disneyfied”. But some resorts still remain largely “unspoilt”.

Big Sky in Montana is one, boasting one of the biggest ski areas in North America but with one of the lowest visitor numbers, which means incredibly wide, open slopes to enjoy, with the bonus that the scenery is particularly spectacular too.

Best burgers and beer?

The Lone Peak Brewery micro-brews its own beer on site as its name suggests, gradually expanding over nearly three decades to now offer 14 varieties on tap. The accompanying burger selection is popularly rated as the best in resort.

028 // DEC19

North America’s smallest cable car?

Longest run?

The installation of the Lone Peak Tram in 1995 briefly gave Big Sky the title of “biggest lift-served vertical in the USA” – a title long held by Jackson Hole. Then Snowmass in Colorado built a higher lift. However, the “Lone Mountain Tram” may still be the smallest cable car built in the last 25 years.

Carrying just 15 passengers in each cabin, it climbs 433 vertical metres to access the highest and most difficult terrain at the resort.

Due to its big area, which before Vail got control of both Park City and The Canyons ski areas in Utah and merged them into one, was the biggest in the USA, there are lots of magnificent long cruisers at Big Sky. The longest descent of all reaches from Liberty Bowl back down to the Mountain Mall over 9.65km.

Bill Gates spotting?

If you want to see how the other half live, follow the Deep South trail which leads you past massive mountain homes on your right just on the boundary of the Yellowstone Club, a private ski area that has an 8km border with Big Sky but which mere mortals are not allowed to ski into. Multi-millionaire status (at least) is required to own property and thus to be allowed to ski there. Bill Gates and Justin Timberlake are among those who can, because they do.

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Cheap booze?

The Hungry Moose Market & Deli is definitely not your typical ski resort convenience store – although it does seem a little like it as you walk in the door. Look closer though and you’ll see $1,000 (around £775) bottles of wine on the higher shelves above the usual cheap plonk and the finest gourmet cuisine in the fridge next to the frozen burritos. That’s because the store serves the billionaires heading to the neighbouring Yellowstone Club as much as the normal ski folks of Big Sky.

BIGSKYRESORT.COM

STEVIE MCKENNA / SKI SCOTLAND

SAMO VIDIC/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

FIRST-EVER “AUGMENTED” WORLD SKIING CHAMPS

KITZBÜHEL TO PAY €100K PER RACE PRIZE

ALL-WEATHER SNOWMAKING SYSTEMS FOR SCOTLAND

The first-ever “World Championships” of assisted skiing

Kitzbühel has announced it will pay record prize

All five Scottish Highland ski areas will have all-weather

is taking place this winter in the French ski resort of

money of €100,000 (around £85,570) to the

snowmaking systems after the remaining two that

Alpe d’Huez.

winners of the Hahnenkamm downhill and slalom

didn’t have the systems last year announced they’re

Otherwise known as the Augmented World Skiing

races in January.

adding their own.

Championships, the event is designed for skiers who are

The prize for winners is more than double the

The Lecht, Glencoe and CairnGorm all operate

assisted with exoskeleton devices such as Ski~Mojo.

average €45,000 (around £38,500) prize offered in

TechnoAlpin all-weather snowmaking machines, and

A giant slalom race and a ski trail tournament make up

most World Cup races. The money will come from

Glenshee announced it had secured £1 million to add a

the competitive elements of a weekend that includes

a prize fund of €725,000 (around £620,400), 25%

fourth machine. Now the remaining area, Nevis Range,

socialising and meeting like-minded skiers who all

bigger than the 2019 prize purse.

say they’re spending £1 million too on their own system

use exoskeleton devices when skiing. The founder

The races in Kitzbühel are the biggest sporting

and other upgrades.

and organiser of the event, Ophélie David, is a former

event in Austria, attracting 50–60,000 visitors and

However, Nevis Range are working with a different

member of the French Alpine Ski Team.

a global TV audience of many millions.

company, Recom Ice Systems, a Dutch manufacturer of

“Ski~Mojo users can’t enter official ski competitions so

Races will take place from 24 to 26 January 2020

flake ice plants for the fishing industry, manufactured in

the idea to create a special event, which is designed

and also include a Super-G race for which the

China. Their system, they say, is capable of producing up

to be fun as well as competitive, for exoskeleton

winner will be awarded €68,500 (around £58,620).

to 157 tonnes of flake ice “snow” in a 24-hour period and

users, seems like a great idea. This event is open to

Men and women have always been paid the same

enough snow to cover an area of 150m by 50m to a depth

anyone who uses a device such as a Ski~Mojo, at all

prize money in the 50+ year history of Alpine

of 300cm in 14 days. Money will also go on an expanded

levels from intermediate skiers upwards,” said Martin

World Cup racing, with Mikaela Shiffrin last season

beginners’ ski area serviced by a new travellator

Hannaford, Managing Director of Ski~Mojo, an official

the first person to win more than CHF1,000,000

conveyor lift and improved snow fencing over the whole

partner of the event.

(around £779,250) in prize money from the World

mountain. Chris O’Brien, CEO at Nevis Range, said: “We

The championships take place from Friday 24 January

Cup and World Championships.

have invested heavily into snowsports at Nevis Range

to Sunday 26 January 2020.

Britain’s Dave Ryding took silver in the 2017

in order to guarantee excellent conditions for skiers and

en.augmented-skiing.com

Hahnenkamm slalom.

snowboarders in our beginners’ area all season long.”

MORE CHINESE SKIERS IN THE ALPS A report by Chinanews.com has found the number of Chinese winter visitors to Austria has grown almost fivefold from 64,000 in 2005 to 322,000 last year. The report noted St Anton am Arlberg has been hosting the Chinese DAVE SILVER PHOTOGRAPHY

national ski team.

NEW GONDOLA RECEIVES BLESSING It’s common for major new ski lifts in the Alps to be blessed by a priest wishing them safe operations in the years to come. In Colorado the opening of the new gondola at Steamboat was blessed with a ceremony by the Northern Ute Tribe,

EPIC ROUND-THE-WORLD SKI TOUR GOES ON SALE

who have been in the area a lot A nearly five-week-long around-

kicks off in Zermatt for four nights before

of heli-skiing BC powder. Next comes

the-world luxury ski holiday has

continuing with a flight from Zurich to

five nights in Aspen, before ending up

been put on sale by upmarket tour

Japan’s northerly island of Hokkaido and

in Iceland for a final four nights of heli-

operator Scott Dunn. Priced “from

five days in Niseko.

skiing on the Troll Peninsula.

£39,000 low season” (flying economy,

The lucky skiers then head south for a

The holiday includes stays at iconic 5★

£123,000 first class), it takes

couple of days’ break in Tokyo before

hotels throughout (on a room-only or B&B

skiers to leading resorts in five

continuing east, crossing the Pacific

basis), and extra activities including a

countries across three continents.

to arrive in Whistler for another five-

glacier helicopter tour, an igloo village visit,

Aviemore in Scotland is yet to be

Available from January to March, the

night stay. There’s another two-day

paragliding and snowmobiling adventures

made, and the lift is out of action

34-day “Epic Round the World Ski Tour”

break in Vancouver before four days

are included.

longer than the skiers.

FUNICULAR FUTURE STILL UNDECIDED A decision on whether to repair or replace the key funicular railway at CairnGorm ski area above

for a second winter, but there is an official price now of £10 million to repair the £26 million lift, or £13.3 million to remove it.

NEW GONDOLA FOR JAPAN A rare new ski gondola lift has been announced for Japan. The country’s historic Nozawa Onsen ski area is to see a replacement of the existing Nagasaka Gondola, which runs up from the resort’s Nagasaka Base to Yamabiko, in time for winter 2020/21.

NEW GONDOLA FOR SÖLDEN The former Rotkoglbahn lift in

JACKSON HOLE SWITCHES TO 100% WIND POWER Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in

energy source directly tied to Lower

According to SaveOurSnow.com, more

Hochsölden has been replaced by

Wyoming, USA, has switched to 100%

Valley’s grid.

than 60 ski areas worldwide now run on

a new, modern 10-seater gondola.

wind-generated electricity, for its year-

The energy used will power all of Jackson

100% renewable energy, and the number

The top station of this new gondola

round operations. The resort has signed

Hole’s on-mountain lifts, facilities and base

is currently rapidly expanding. The site also

will move to the same altitude as the

up to Lower Valley Energy’s (LVE) 100%

area operations. Jackson Hole is one of

recommends that skiers who are concerned

Green Power programme, sourcing wind

the world’s most iconic ski areas, attracting

about their environmental impact try to “ski

down (from the top) will be widened

power from Horse Butte Wind Farm in

skiers from across the planet who fly in

local” and travel to resort overland, usually

to improve the former bottleneck.

neighbouring Idaho, the closest wind

from around the world.

by rail, to minimise their carbon footprint.

Giggijoch restaurant, and the piste

030 // DEC19

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TVB PAZNAUN-ISCHGL

NEW POOL COMPLEX UNDERWAY IN ISCHGL Work is reported to have begun on a major new swimming pool and wellness complex for the Austrian Tirol resort of Ischgl, although it will take

A BRAND NEW SKI SHOW WATCH NOW

three years to complete.

The new €60 million (around £51.4 million) Silvretta Therme project, scheduled to open for winter 2022/2023, will feature 900m2 of water surface, 1,300m2 of sauna and wellness facilities, and a further 400m2 for fitness.

The complex will also incorporate a bowling centre, and there’ll be an ice skating rink located around the outside of the spa.

The complex is being designed so that both noisy families and those seeking a tranquil spa experience can coexist within simultaneously and contentedly,

PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY (PPA)

according to the centre’s planners.

OLYMPIAN LAUNCHES NEW INDIE SKI STORE British Olympian Charlie Guest has officially launched the new store of Perthshire’s largest independently owned outdoor clothing, equipment and accessories retailer, Craigdon Mountain Sports, in Perth.

Charlie, who originally comes from Perth, is a Scottish World Cup alpine ski racer specialising in slalom, has competed in the World Ski Championships and was also part of Team GB in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The new store is the latest for the group, which has been trading in Scotland for 25 years and also has stores in Inverurie, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh.

“We are proud to be Perthshire’s largest independently

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

owned outdoor clothing and equipment store and as a local girl herself, it seemed fitting that Charlie should be involved in the launch, particularly with our range of specialist ski equipment and clothing on offer,” said store owner Karla Mason.

4 NEW EPISODES THIS SEASON

craigdonmountainsportsperth.com

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DEC19 // 031

We spend all year working hard to get to the slopes, so the last thing we want to do when our ski holiday is finally here is to spend a frustratingly long time getting to those slopes. If we’re going to get there fast, we want to fly from our closest UK airport to the nearest airport to our destination ski resort, and we want that resort to be just a short hop away.

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@INTHESNOWMAG

specialises in getting people on the slopes fast.

He adds, “Whereas, if you go to Avoriaz in 85 minutes say, or Flaine in 75 minutes, you can genuinely stay within two to three minutes of putting your skis on, which is far less hassle and saves you loads of time.”

Eight Resorts You Can Reach Fast La Clusaz | France 70 MINUTES FROM GENEVA

All in all, it would be nice to be opening the door on our ski holiday bedroom somewhere between five and six hours after checking our bags in at our UK departure airport.

Still largely undiscovered by the UK market, La Clusaz is a historic resort oozing ambience with a great, varied ski area of its own plus the regional Aravis pass that allows you to ski neighbouring areas to double the piste kilometres.

Engelberg | Switzerland

Common Pitfalls Alas, though, it’s not always as simple as finding a convenient flight and seeking out a resort that is, on paper, just an hour away or even less.

Anyone who has tried to travel to a French resort from Geneva on a busy Saturday will know the transfer time multiplies exponentially with the traffic caused by the tens of thousands of people trying to do the same.

If you travel with some tour operators, you can also find yourself booked on a transfer bus that doesn’t leave the airport for a while until other flights have arrived then goes around the houses before dropping you off. Again one hour on Google Maps can quickly become three or four in reality.

Then there’s the resort you choose to stay in. True, you may be able to get to your accommodation in an hour, but if it’s a daily halfhour battle to reach the slopes from there, is it really worth that quick transfer?

“Chamonix is barely an hour from Geneva, but once you are there, you are looking at 20+ minutes to get to and from the lift from most accommodations; plus you can’t really ski back into town at the end of the day, so when you add in lift queues, etc., from your door to putting your skis on is easily 40 mins. That’s over an hour every day, and that really adds up over a holiday,” says Dan Fox, boss of SkiWeekends, which

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90 MINUTES FROM ZURICH Boasting one of the world’s biggest lift-served verticals, accessed by some state-of-the-art highspeed lifts so you’re whisked to the top in no time, Engelberg also lays claim to one of the best powder snow records in the Alps and a season that lasts from October to June. In short, it’s a perfect choice for a fast snow fix. Zurich’s status as a major business airport means a great choice of flights from early morning to late night too.

Innsbruck | Austria 15 MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT Innsbruck is a great airport for fast access to dozens of ski areas in the Tirol, most of the big names between 60 and 90 minutes away. But you can have a city break in or near Innsbruck itself and bag the city’s regional lift pass, which has been expanded this year to cover no fewer than 13 resorts in the area and public transport services to them.

Oslo Winter Park 45 MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT After flying into Oslo’s main airport, a fast train whisks you to the city centre where you can hop on a tram up the mountain, passing the famous Holmenkollen ski jump to arrive on the slopes in less than an hour after going through security. It’s a

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great little ski area, beloved by the locals who often head up after work to ski there under the lights.

Sierra Nevada | Spain 45 MINUTES FROM GRANADA AIRPORT Europe’s southernmost major ski resort sits high above the ancient Moorish city of Granada, so close to the Med you can see Morocco from the top of the slopes on a clear day. It’s also a very short hop up from the city’s airport, and with plenty of accommodation next to the slopes you can be skiing in the Spanish sun in next to no time.

Sälen | Sweden 10 MINUTES FROM SCANDINAVIAN MOUNTAINS AIRPORT An all-new airport opens on the Norwegian– Swedish border this winter with one of the big selling points being its proximity to one of Scandinavia’s biggest resorts, Sälen. The only downside is you’ll need to be at Heathrow about 5am on Saturday to get the weekly direct SAS flight there, although on the upside you’ll miss the London traffic and be in resort by 10am local time ready to ski. If you can afford 45 minutes and about £400 there’s the option of a dog-sled transfer from the airport too.

CairnGorm, Aviemore | Scotland 45 MINUTES FROM INVERNESS We would really recommend flying to Scotland when the rail journey through the Highlands is so spectacular, and there’s the option of an overnight sleeper up the West Coast Mainline from Euston that gets you into Aviemore just before the lifts open, but you can fly to Inverness from half a dozen cities in the UK and three London airports. The Lecht and Nevis Ranges are only a little further away than CairnGorm.

Chamonix | France 70 MINUTES FROM GENEVA While Dan Fox does argue against the logistics of getting to and from the slopes quickly once you’ve got to Chamonix, there’s no denying you can get there faster than almost any of the world’s top-flight resorts.

“I’d still include it in my list of great resorts for short transfers just because it’s amazing,” says Dan.

DEC19 // 033

The Ultimate Family Ski Resort?

Nestled in the heart of the French Savoie, the resort of ArêchesBeaufort is one of skiing’s best – kept secrets, combining the two massively underrated ski areas of Planay and Cuvy. Here, beautiful, wide, sun-drenched slopes offer panoramic views across Mont Blanc, and lengthy lift queues are a thing of the past.

so large that one accidental wrong turn can

it’s got all you could ask for.

like ours that might not want to face the

see you miles away across the mountain!

We chose to stay at La Clé des Cîmes, a

stress of a busy airport, or the limits of

For younger children, the often empty

collection of brand-new modern apartments

luggage restrictions, Arêches-Beaufort is

slopes mean less worrying for parents

just two minutes’ walk out of town (but with

only 933km from Calais, making it easy to

about would-be racers flying over lips or

a handy ski bus stop right outside if you

reach by car via the Eurotunnel.

around corners. Meanwhile, for any older

don’t fancy a stroll in your ski boots!). The

children wanting to take their first few runs

quiet location allowed a great night’s sleep

without Mum and Dad keeping watch right

for all, while the spa, pool and kids’ club

Fact Box

behind them, the smaller area size is ideal.

kept us all entertained each evening.

Dom and his family stayed with Peak

The lift pass is also one of the cheapest

As a family, the self-catering element of

Retreats in the 4★ self-catered apartments

we’ve come across in recent years, offering

these apartments was particularly important

at La Clé des Cîmes in Arêches-Beaufort.

And, for our family of four, it was the

exceptional value, especially for a family.

to us. A high-quality kitchen area meant

Seven nights’ self-catered in a two-bedroom

perfect choice for a winter break – a

The resort itself is a charming French

we could be flexible with mealtimes, any

Confort apartment from £206pp* includes

time to unwind, reconnect and enjoy

village with a quiet, traditional feel. Granted,

dietary requirements could be met and

a return Eurotunnel crossing with a free

being together.

it’s not the place to be if you’re looking to

we could venture out to enjoy the resort’s

upgrade to FlexiPlus.

With 50km of slopes across 1,300m of

party into the early hours, but for a wide

culinary offerings whenever we fancied.

*Above price based on five people sharing a

altitude, Arêches-Beaufort offers a wide

range of great-value, quality restaurants

Just 121km from Geneva, Arêches-Beaufort

two-bedroom apartment (sleeps six) for low

variety for skiers of all abilities, without being

and cosy spots for a post-ski drink or two,

is easily accessible by plane. Or, for families

season. Fully ABTA bonded.

034 // DEC19

PEAKRETREATS.CO.UK | 023 9283 9310

CHARGE STATION FOR NORWEGIAN SKI AREA An electric car charging station at Norwegian ski centre Hovden has one of the most extensive quantities and variety of charging points of any ski area in the world.

The centre has 12 Tesla charging points (Superchargers) in addition to a further six rapid charging points and six Type 2.

NEW SKI RECORDS SET AT MARATHON Not one but two new snowsports records were set at the London

YEAR-ROUND ARTIFICIAL SURFACE SKI AREA MOVES FORWARD IN COLORADO A year-round dry-ski slope

ago and first announced in late 2017, is at

years and continues to grow rapidly.

centre in Colorado is reported

the heart of a $300 million (around £233

Located on a site at the northwest

to be moving forward after its

million) 26-hectare redevelopment in the

corner of the Interstate 25 and Plum

developers got permission to start

fast-growing community of Castle Rock,

Creek Parkway, the Snowsports 365,

work on a former waste site and

population 70,000.

a year-round snow sport complex, will

convert it into a ski area.

Located 48km due south of state capital

have a British-made Snowflex slope

The ski slope project, reported to have

Denver, Castle Rock’s population has

and be able to accommodate up to 400

been conceived more than five years

jumped more than 25% in the past five

skiers an hour.

Marathon earlier this year. James Williams of Lymm Runners broke the record for running in snowboard gear, and orthopaedic surgeon Paul Harnett broke the world record for running a marathon in ski boots.

MORE LIFTS GET DIGITAL ADVERTISING A company that supplies small digital information and advertising screens on chairlift safety bars is expanding its operation in Colorado.

Alpine Media Technology has fitted the panels, rather like a line of fixed iPads, to all 104 chairlifts of the Super Gauge Express lift at Winter Park.

A NEW LIFT FOR SUN PEAKS Sun Peaks in BC, Canada, which claims to operate the second-largest ski area in Canada, is building a new quad chairlift, due to open the season after next. The new Doppelmayr fixed grip quad will be an upgrade for the resort’s Crystal chairlift that will increase uphill capacity by 20%.

REBIRTH OF SHEFFIELD SKI VILLAGE EDGES CLOSER

DRY SKI SLOPE MACHINE FOR DEVON

The plans to reopen Sheffield Ski Village

The site at Parkwood Springs would also

are reported to be edging forward with

host other sport activities including cycling,

to local newspaper the Sheffield Star.

the council moving to lease the land at

canoeing and indoor skydiving, and it

Extreme Destinations was chosen to build

sports centre has been unveiled for

the 25-hectare site where the slopes

would feature a hotel, sky bar and luxury

the new ski and outdoor sports centre two

Barnstaple in Devon, with the list of

are located to the developer Extreme

restaurant overlooking the city, according

years ago, in November 2017. At the time,

Destinations with a 150-year lease. The past

to initial proposals.

it was hoped the slopes, closed by an

conveyor ski slope. The new complex

few months have seen them going through

Extreme is expected to submit a planning

arson attack in 2012, might have reopened

at Barnstaple’s Seven Brethren is due

the public notification stage of this process.

application by spring 2020, and work

by this year.

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could start later in the year, according A new multi-million-pound indoor

facilities it will contain including a

to open in autumn 2022.

DEC19 // 035

ALL IMAGES: TREINREISWINKEL

A new overnight sleeper-train route to Austrian ski resorts means that you can now travel further – sustainably – and get extra time on the slopes.

Daniel Elkan reports.

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Ever stood bleary eyed in a packed airport queue at 4.30am and wondered whether there might be a better way to get to the slopes? When I began snowboarding 21 years ago, I mistakenly thought that it wouldn’t take long to get to the slopes by plane. By my second trip the reality was beginning to dawn on me: there is no quick way to get to the slopes.

Added together, the airport queues, cramped flights and long transfers form quite a tedious schlepp.

The train has six-, five- and three-berth couchette compartments, so you can get a proper sleep lying down. There’s a disco-bar carriage – and breakfast served in your compartment, once you’ve woken up to a vista of mountains going by — and not an airport queue in sight.

Back then, concerns about the impact of flying upon the slopes didn’t seem to feature on most skiers’ radar. But as the environmental crisis facing the planet becomes more apparent, skiers are increasingly thinking about more sustainable modes of travel.

The best thing that a skier can do to minimise the impact of their ski holiday is to ditch planes and cars and travel by train. Transport to a ski resort accounts for around 60% of the carbon footprint of a ski holiday. Where a one-way journey to a ski resort from the UK by plane creates around 110kg of CO2 per person and a journey by car about 225kg CO2 (per car), going by train means you’ll generate only 12kg of CO2. It’s a huge difference.

One of the most exciting things for the traintravelling skier or snowboarder is the discovery of a new route to the slopes. And this year I discovered the Alpen Express, a dedicated ski sleeper train that goes from the Netherlands and Germany to a huge array of ski resorts in Austria.

You can take a Eurostar from London to Amsterdam and board the Alpen Express there; or go travel by Eurostar to Brussels and then ICE train to Cologne, to start your overnight journey on the Alpen Express from there.

Alpbach has been a magnet for British skiers for many years, in no small part because of its picture-postcard village. The resort has 109km of linked slopes – and great powder areas off the Wiedersbergerhorn. There are also great toboggan runs from the Lanerköpfl and the Schatzberg.

Example rail journey: Depart from London St Pancras on the 11:04 Eurostar to Amsterdam, arriving 16:11; then take the 18:59 Alpen Express to Jenbach, arriving 08:15; from there it’s 20 minutes by bus or taxi.

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Slopes by train Here are five fantastic ski resorts — accessed by the Alpen Express route or other trains.

Alpbach, Austria

St Anton, Switzerland With its train station located right by the village, and tantalising scenery in the Arlberg Valley on the way to the resort, St Anton is one of Austria’s finest resorts to reach by train. Once there, the immense ski area and the proliferation of buzzing aprèsski bars on the slopes will mean you’ll be very reluctant to leave.

Example rail journey: Depart from London St Pancras on the 11:04 Eurostar to Amsterdam, arriving 16:11; then take the 18:59 Alpen Express to St Anton, arriving 10:43.

Sauze d’Oulx, Italy Located in the 400km Milky Way ski area, Sauze’s treelined slopes are dotted with mountain huts, such as the cute Ciao Pais, which serves wonderful homemade cakes to skiers who pause here between piste runs. The cobbled centre of the village has a lovely ambience too.

Example rail journey: Depart from London St Pancras on the 09:22 Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14:41 TGV to Oulx, arriving at 19:23. From there it’s 15 minutes by bus or taxi.

Les Gets, France Part of the huge 600km Portes du Soleil, Les Gets has its own mountain area in Mont Chéry, where the slopes always stay blissfully quiet and the vistas over the valley are quite spectacular. A new 1,000m2 wellness and spa centre, “Les Sources du Chéry”, is located right at the foot of the eponymous mountain.

Example rail journey: Depart from London St Pancras on the 07:31 Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 12:11 TGV, changing at Bellegarde, to arrive at Cluses at 16:35; from there it’s 25 minutes by bus or taxi.

Zell am See, Austria It would be difficult to dream up a more picturesque lakeside setting if you tried. Zell’s beautiful traffic-free village has access to some incredible ski terrain, shared with neighbouring village Kaprun, including the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.

Pop into the igloo ice bar on the slopes there, too.

Example rail journey: Depart from London St Pancras on the 11:04 Eurostar to Amsterdam, arriving 16:11; then take the 18:59 Alpen Express to Zell am See, arriving 09:55.

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Adventure

Awaits

© SALZBURGERLAND TOURISMUS

In

Salzburgerland

Whatever your age or experience, winter in SalzburgerLand is a truly magical experience. Glistening snow blankets the valleys as far as the eye can see, birds soar among the mountain peaks, the sounds of children laughing as they fly past on wooden sledges breaks the silence. It may seem like a dream, or a scene from a Christmas movie, but no. This is winter in SalzburgerLand.

As soon as the days shorten and the very first snowflakes fall from the sky and settle over the mountains, you just know that wonderful wintertime has arrived here. The excitement this brings is palpable as the area awaits the first visitors to its freshly prepared pistes.

But winter here is not just about the fun on the slopes. Indeed, in recent years, ski holidays have evolved and so too has winter in SalzburgerLand.

Gone are the days of skiing relentlessly, all day, every day. Winter holidaymakers are increasingly

038 // DEC19

looking for more unique and memorable ways to spend their time in the mountains, often happy to sacrifice a few hours on their skis to try something a little different. And with direct flights from the UK to Salzburg, SalzburgerLand is the perfect place to find your new favourite winter adventure.

Sledging One of the oldest and most cherished winter sports in the Alps, sledging has never failed to entertain those of all ages. Historically, sledges were used by residents of SalzburgerLand to reach the bottom of the valley or to transport heavy goods. Nowadays, tobogganing remains a popular entertainment here, with a wide variety of sledging runs, including the world’s longest floodlit toboggan run (14km!) in the Wildkogel-Arena.

Snowshoeing For unrivalled romance and quiet tranquillity, take a snowshoe walk through a frozen winter wonderland. Guided torchlight hikes or excursions with National Park Rangers in the Rauriser Forest are particularly special, with wild animal feeding

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and lonely walks or romantic horse-drawn carriage rides also available. We can certainly think of worse ways to spend an hour or two.

Ice Climbing & Diving Hungry for more adrenaline than you’ve been getting on the slopes? Get an ice-cold adrenaline kick with ice climbing or ice diving! Scale the dizzying heights of thickly iced waterfalls, feeling like a true mountaineer with your crampons and ice pick – all under the eye of an experienced guide, of course! Or experience the incredible depths of the crystal-clear winter water in the Salzburg lakes. A truly breathtaking environment that you are sure to remember for the rest of your life.

Curling If you’re travelling in a larger group, there’s no better way to spend an evening than curling. Not only does this unique sport stem from a centuriesold tradition, but it is a whole lot of fun. Head to a frozen pond or lake or a custom-made lane to take on your friends in a great social setting.

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WORDS: PATRICK THORNE

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Christmas in the UK is normally a grey, wet and warm time, probably spent with relatives you don’t particularly want to see, following months of heightened sales pressure, and with the added joy of a polarised Christmas election this year, could there be a more magical time to escape to the safety and sanity of the snowy slopes?

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DEC19 // 0039

What could be better than spending the final days before Christmas in a beautiful white wonderland, then waking Christmas morning able to spend the day on the slopes, hopefully with someone else making Christmas lunch and clearing up afterwards?

This year we detail some of the best countries to consider for your Christmas ski holiday, including the option to choose depending on your favourite food, and we also list 12 ski resorts that manage to combine a snow-sure altitude with a festive (rather than moon-based) feel.

Favourite Xmas Destinations

Norway

It may be dark and hopefully cold in Norway in December, but that’s all the more reason to mix some skiing with a cosy Christmas. The very word “Yule” comes from the Norwegian word “Jul” and of course it’s from here that the big Christmas tree on Trafalgar Square is delivered each year.

But where to ski in Norway? Well, it’s hard to go wrong as all of the country’s resorts should feel nice and Christmassy, but the 1994 Olympic destination of Lillehammer is a particularly good choice, with a host of Yuletide festivities laid on and a big Christmas market with more than 100 stands.

This being Norway, there are a few quirky Christmas traditions to be aware of too. First, there was once a law in Norway to ensure that enough beer was

040 // DEC19

brewed by each Norwegian and stocked in their house to be able to treat visiting neighbours at Christmas. That law is no more, alas, but the tradition of “Juleøl” or Christmas beer lives on.

Another tradition is a kind of Christmas “trick or treat” – it takes some explaining but in short don’t be too surprised if you see a Julebukk or “Christmas Goat” leading children in an evening of “Julebukking”.

Austria Austrian ski resorts are usually a wonderful choice for your Christmas ski holiday.

The country has tightly controlled the development of ski villages, insisting that traditional woodenchalet-style buildings are built with no high rises and no concrete, so once these are buried in snow with Christmas lights twinkling on top, the feeling gets very jolly and festive indeed.

Christmas is timeless and traditional in Austria, and many houses are decorated with an Advent wreath (the proper version of that hideous thing we used to make with coat hangers from Blue Peter), and many ski resorts have a “Christkindlmarkt” (Christmas market) selling Christmas decorations, food (like gingerbread) and Glühwein (sweet, warm mulled wine).

Every town will also have a large Christmas tree in the town square, and carol singing is popular, with Silent Night (“Stille Nacht”), which was written in Austria two centuries ago in 1818, still the favourite.

Finland Having laid claim to being the home of Santa Claus, it’s hard to find anywhere much more Christmassy than Finland.

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JUHO KUVA / INGHAMS / LAPLAND

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DEC19 // 0041

042 // DEC19

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It’s almost 24-hour darkness up in Lapland over Christmas, a few days after the shortest day (and by short we’re talking just a few hours!), but with everywhere – villages and ski slopes alike – lit up with Christmas lights and floodlights respectively, and often light snow falling, there’s often a kind of ethereal magic to the atmosphere.

Santa is, of course, available to visit, but be careful where you choose to meet him. He has several different houses and villages welcoming visitors, some very traditional where you can make gingerbread cookies and sing traditional carols with the big man, others rather more “Disneyfied” experiences.

Even without Santa, Finland would be a great Christmas ski choice. The whole country gets into full festive mode at lunchtime on Christmas Eve when the “Christmas peace” is broadcast on national TV and radio – a wonderful idea.

Favourite Xmas Lunch Destination Of course, what you eat for your Christmas lunch is up to you, and what’s considered the “usual meal” in many countries is changing too. It’s also not difficult to find a vegetarian or even vegan Christmas meal option in most resorts (in fact, in Bulgaria, it is traditional to have a big vegetarian Christmas Eve meal, apparently). But here, for a bit of fun, is what you could look forward to depending on which ski destination you pick. Keep in mind that many of these meals are served on Christmas Eve.

Italy

Christmas Day

Italy is home to lots of wonderful atmospheric resorts like Courmayeur and Alagna, which make great choices for a Christmas holiday. There are all the usual Christmas attractions in the country’s ski areas as well as a few extras less common elsewhere.

One is the Nativity crib scene, which has been a big Christmas feature in the country since the Christmas story was made popular here by St Francis of Assisi nearly eight centuries ago in 1223, although the first crib scenes are believed to date back nearly 1,000 years to 1025.

One old Italian custom is that children go out carol singing and playing songs on shepherds’ pipes, wearing shepherds’ sandals and hats.

Italy also gave us its own Christmas cake, which fills the shelves of German discount supermarkets in the UK each autumn. “Panettone” is a dry, fruity sponge cake, and, when eaten fresh with a cup of hot chocolate on an Italian ski slope on Christmas Day, it tastes much better.

Carp Austrians traditionally enjoy “Gebackener Karpfen” (fried carp) on Christmas Eve, although turkey and goose are increasingly popular here.

:

The USA may be derided as the country responsible for our pre-Christmas shopping excesses and obsessive consumerism a million miles away from any Christmas cheer, but it (or at least Coca-Cola) can take credit for giving us Santa Claus in his modern guise, and it’s certainly a good choice if you want to supercharge your Christmas, and Christmas meal. The great Christmas movies It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and, of course, A Chipmunk Christmas were all filmed in the USA. Actually, the Christmas holidays still play second fiddle to Thanksgiving in the USA about a month earlier, but driving from the airport to your ski resort you’ll see some incredible home illuminations and decorations, and

Chicken Sadly perhaps, what must be one of the most successful advertising campaigns of all time by KFC back in the 1970s has seen fried chicken become Japan’s Christmas dish. You can eat sensational fresh, healthy cuisine the other 364 days of the year.

Goose The big Christmas meal in France is traditionally eaten after Mass on Christmas Eve and is most commonly goose, although duck and turkey are also increasingly popular alternatives.

Lamb Although most Norwegians go for roast pork on Christmas Eve, a sheep’s head is considered a delicacy at some households for Christmas dinner.

Pork Swedish resorts serve Christmas ham and the same meal is popular in Switzerland, although here you could also partake in a festive fondue.

Salmon Reported to be increasingly popular for Christmas lunch in Finland, replacing the long-time favourite, a leg of pork.

Turkey US Christmas dinners tend to involve turkey or ham in a rerun of Thanksgiving four weeks earlier. In the Spanish Pyrenees, the main Christmas meal was “Pavo Trufado de Navidad”, which is turkey stuffed with truffles, although it’s harder to find these days.

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USA

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while many big US resorts are rather soulless affairs, there are plenty of smaller resorts, particularly in areas like New England, that have a lovely Christmas mood.

DEC19 // 0043

The Ski Resorts of Xmas Although snow is to be expected at Christmas in ski resorts and the early signs for Christmas 2019 are looking good, touch wood, as detailed in our main story this issue, you never can be too sure.

Those in search of a white Christmas for their skiing as much as for atmosphere are advised to aim high and book a high-altitude (or northerly latitude) resort to up their chances of good cover.

But a lot of those high-altitude ski areas are a bit lacking in festive cheer, so we’ve tried to select 12 areas that have both a snow-sure altitude and bags of character for a festive atmosphere – the best of both worlds.

Andermatt | Switzerland

Arc 1950 Le Village | France

This traditional mountain village has one of the best snow records in the Alps. It opened in early November this year and last winter had snow lying 6m deep up top for most of the winter. Along with Christmas spirit, the ski area has just expanded to an impressive 180km.

Although a newly built resort only two decades old, Arc 1950 has been cunningly designed to appear like it has been there forever. The car-free snowy main street/ski slope through the village is lined with enticing shops and cafes, and Santa’s village moves in from the 21–27 December this year.

Yllas | Finland High in latitude, rather than altitude, Yllas in northern Finland lives in almost 24-hour darkness over Christmas week but should have a great atmosphere with its many log cabin buildings hopefully buried in snow and lit up with festive lights.

Saas-Fee | Switzerland Mürren | Switzerland Mürren is a magical location at any time of year, but at Christmas it has a particular appeal. It’s high enough to mean the traditional wooden chalet buildings and pedestrianised streets usually lie deep in snow with lights twinkling all around.

Val d’Isère | France Although it has the feel of a traditional resort, Val d’Isère sits very high up in the French Alps above 1,800m, and is snow-sure from early December.

The old heart of the resort and the streets around the church have a particularly special atmosphere at Christmas.

044 // DEC19

It is no surprise that Wham! chose Saas-Fee as the filming location for their Last Christmas video, which was filmed more than three and a half decades ago (but is still shown countless times each festive season). Car-free, picture-postcard perfect and so snow-sure it is open from July to the following spring.

Obergurgl | Austria Although not the prettiest of Austrian resorts, Obergurgl is one of the snowiest and is full of festive cheer when Christmas rolls around. One of the first in the Alps to open in early November each year, there’s a Christmas market in the village square open at weekends in the run-up to Christmas.

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Crans-Montana, Switzerland Open since mid-November and with glacier skiing above, this December Crans-Montana will debut its enchanted lantern-lit forest path, as part of the new month-long Etoile Bella Lui festival, which also includes a Christmas craft market and big wheel.

Aspen, USA If you’re looking for a Christmassy American resort, Aspen ticks all the boxes. The local Chamber of Commerce organises “12 Days of Aspen” from 20 December through to the start of 2020 with dozens of fun and often free events, and many resort businesses have their own Xmas specials too.

Avoriaz, France A modern resort above 1800m but one without cars and built to a cool, unique architectural style that still feels special, Avoriaz also pulls out all the stops for Christmas with lots of events including a workshop where Christmas soup is served. Kids under 12 ski free at Xmas too.

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NEW QUAD FOR ALPINE MEADOWS Alpine Meadows ski area in California has replaced their Hot Wheels lift with a new high-speed quad with an extended second leg to the ridge, granting skiers and riders quicker access to the Alpine and Sherwood areas next winter.

BOARDER TO BE FINED FOR MOOSE CHASE? CHRIS GEARY

A snowboarder who chased a moose down a ski run in Quebec may be fined. The boarder, who initially posted the video on social

LGBT TRAVELLERS DESERVE QUEER-SPECIFIC MOUNTAIN HOLIDAYS SAYS ORGANISER

media, but later removed the post, is heard screaming at the moose as he chases it down the slope.

PROGRESS ON “LARGEST SNOWPARK”

Kevin Millins, the head of Pure

that have developed over the past 14

leisure experience,” said Mr Millins.

Organisation, which operates

years that we have been running this

Some surveys report one third of LGBT

Abu Dhabi’s upcoming $1.2 billion

European Gay Ski Week which

event, it has prompted many people to

holidaymakers feel they are treated

(around £0.93 billion) Reem Mall,

this season takes place in Les

question the need for LGBT-specific leisure

differently (negatively) due to their sexuality

Arcs from 21 to 28 March, has

spaces, be that gay-only bars and clubs

when on vacation, 45% of transgender

world’s largest indoor snowpark,

called for a greater awareness

or LGBT-specific tourism. But for LGBT

travellers have reported fearing physical or

is on track for a 2020 opening, its

of the homophobia faced by LGBT

holidaymakers, knowing the laws of the

verbal abuse/harassment while travelling and

developer Al Farwaniya Property

travellers, and the importance of

land can be critical to actual or perceived

99% of lesbians state LGBTQ discrimination

queer-specific holidays.

safety, making holidays another source of

as their greatest concern when travelling

“With the LGBT protections and rights

worry rather than a relaxing, rejuvenating

overseas. europeangayskiweek.com

which claims it will feature the

has announced. The precise dimensions of the “new world’s largest indoor snowpark” have not been announced.

LES MENUIRES GETS ARTY

GREEN KEY FOR ARC 1950 PROPERTIES Arc 1950’s Pierre & Vacances and Radisson Blu 5★ Residences have been awarded the Green Key label.

This symbol of environmentally

Visitors to Les Menuires in Les 3 Valleés this season will find the resort chock-full of work by artist Lucas Beaufort.

“Creations by the visionary artist and painter will be on show all over the resort this season, revealing small and tall stories about Les Menuires,” a resort spokesperson said.

An increasing number of ski resorts are featuring public art, and at 35, artist Lucas Beaufort has built a reputation for his

responsible tourism rewards the village’s commitment to sustainable development.

HALF-CENTURYOLD CABLE CAR REPLACED

unique work, paying homage to skating culture through it.

Visitors will find both friendly and mischievous characters as

Cortina d’Ampezzo and Col Drusciè

humorous and warm backdrop to photos, and all relating to

in the Tofana sector is being replaced

the story and evolution of the local area.

after 50 years. The cable car, installed

D.ANDRE–S.MOLESTI

“Everyone is encouraged to learn, swap ideas, reflect, smile

in 1969, is being replaced by a new

and have a laugh!” the Les Menuires spokesperson added.

10-seater gondola, nearly tripling

This original exhibition will take over the whole of the resort and

capacity on the route from 675 to

can be enjoyed every single day, whether you’re on skis or on foot.

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The iconic cable car that ran between

well as monsters around Les Menuires, all adding a quirky,

1,800 people per hour.

DEC19 // 045

Christmas in

It’s your chance to rediscover the true sense of Christmas without the hustle and bustle of shopping malls, tinsel and hectic schedules. Oh, and enjoy some great skiing too!

specials in the restaurants. An unusual attraction in the SkiWelt – one of Austria’s biggest ski regions, of which Söll is a part – is Ellmi’s Christmas Market on the Mountain, billed as Europe’s highest Christmas market at 1,555m. Known as “Ellmi’s Zauberwelt”, it’s open from 4.30pm to 10pm during Advent. Accessed via a winter pathway through the snow-covered forest, there are many different traditional stands waiting to be discovered by the visitors. This is where to find gingerbread, roasted apples, hot chestnuts, homemade punch, mulled wine and much more. Yum!

046 // DEC19  PROMO

Mayrhofen goes big on Christmas with its Scheuling Forest area designed to offer an old-fashioned festive holiday mood. A giant, handmade Advent wreath with a diameter of 3.5m

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Söll’s beautiful village centre is an even more enticing place in the run-up to Christmas with the resort bedecked in festive lights and Christmas

Ötztal Christmas is a magical time in the famous Ötztal valley too, with twinkling lights and snowy streets in the region’s villages.

The Ötztal is a great choice for an early season ski holiday (and Christmas is quite early in the ski season!) as the ski slopes climb above 3,000m here, some of the highest in Europe. Sölden’s glacier

Mayrhofen

Söll

illuminates the area, which is home to an Advent Market with quaint stalls selling mouthwatering Christmas specialities, such as tasty “Zillertaler Krapfen”, a local staple, and spicy mulled wine. Kröll’s Advent Bakery offers the opportunity to make your own Mayrhofen Advent Gingerbread Angel, and a special Christkindl Parade will take place on 21 December. For little ones, there’s cookie baking, a petting zoo and an atmospheric Christkindl post office at the Forest Festivity Area.

slopes are open from September and host the opening races of the annual World Cup calendar in October – almost two months before Christmas! Another Ötztal resort, Obergurgl, one of Europe’s highest villages, opens in mid-November and is one of the earliest traditional villages in Europe to start its ski season and another good snow-sure choice for Christmas.

Innsbruck Innsbruck leads the world when it comes to Christmas markets with no fewer than six to choose from with a total of 200 stalls. There’s a 14m-tall Christmas tree full of sparkling and glittering crystals plus lights, which continue from the famous Golden Roof in the centre to 300m above town at Hungerburg. There are lots of Christmas events too, and it all runs right through to the start of January 2020.

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The traditional villages of Austria’s Tirol region, with their snowy streets filled with twinkling lights, are a wonderful place to spend the perfect white Christmas. Here you’ll find peaceful mountain charm sprinkled with excitement for the season’s most anticipated holiday, but deeply rooted in tradition.

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$29M BASE LODGE BEING BUILT Work has got underway on a complete replacement of Killington’s main K-1 base lodge with a price tag for the new building put at $29 million (around £22.4 million) and completion planned by November 2020. The new building will be more than half as big again as its predecessor and purpose-designed for the skier and boarder of the 21st century.

NEW SELF-FILMING SKI RUN AT ZELL AM SEE The new Audi Ski Run on the

GET SKI FIT IN SIX WEEKS WITH YOGATONIC

Schmittenhöhe at Zell am See in Austria’s SalzburgerLand is a giant slalom course (16 gates/200m) that’s free to use for all skiers. Automatic systems record your course time to the nearest 100th of a second, and your filmed run can be downloaded.

There’s a new way to get fit for

homegrown YogaTonic UK HQ based in

Each weekly 60-minute session includes

the slopes this winter. Get Ski

Cookham, Berkshire. Based on their mutual

30 minutes of cardio conditioning work and

Fit with YogaTonic UK is a six-

love for skiing, the yogi duo (Tim is a gym

30 minutes of yoga, finishing with a five- to

week programme offering streamed

instructor and both are yoga instructors)

10-minute meditation session. There are

For the past 15 years, Aspen

videos including yoga, cardio

have developed their new method to help

three separate sessions each week and

Snowmass ski area in USA has

conditioning and meditation.

prevent injury on the slopes this winter.

18 videos in total. You can purchase the

partnered with an acclaimed artist

The programme has been developed

“We believe that it’s the combination of cardio

six-week course for £39.99, or individual

to design their lift tickets. This

by Tim and Shannon Phillis, who run

conditioning, yoga and meditation that makes

videos can be purchased for £2.99 each.

winter, New Zealand native Susan

regular fitness and yoga classes at the

the package new and unique,” said Tim.

yogatonicuk.com

ARTY LIFT TICKETS

Te Kahurangi King has won the commission.

A FONDUE UNDER THE STARS A rather special evening activity on offer this winter in Les Menuires on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings sees holidaymakers board a snow groomer for a ride up to 2,300m to enjoy the sunset followed by a traditional Savoyard fondue or grilled prime rib, before heading back down to the resort in the groomer.

NEW RAIL MAP TO THE ALPS PUBLISHED A new paper map has been published,

The map details over 100 resorts that have

UK to several major Alpine cities.

“The Alps – Skiing by Train”, charting the

their own railway stations as well as bus

There’s also a 100-resort fact-file with

position of 200 resorts in seven countries

connection routes from the nearest station

detailed information on the extent and type

across the Alps from France to Slovenia

for the remainder.

of skiing available, number of lifts, altitude

(via Switzerland, Austria, Germany,

It also shows main lines, branch lines and

range, availability of glacier skiing and

Liechtenstein and Italy) to help intrepid

Eurostar routes as well as cable cars/

information on the nearest station (whether

skiers and snowboarders plan their low-

funicular railways where used to access

in resort or a bus ride away).

carbon journey to the mountains.

resort and journey times by train from the

The map costs £3.95 from 2thealps.com

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NEW YEAR-ROUND SKI SLOPE IN SPAIN Italian firm Neveplast have built their first artificial ski slope in Spain. Located close to Valencia, the 60m-long slope has the same surface type the company used on the Copenhill waste-toenergy power plant in the heart of Copenhagen.

DEC19 // 047

SPECTACULAR

KEYSTONE

There are, of course, many ski areas to choose from each winter, so what makes Saas-Fee and the surrounding Saas Valley so special?

048 // DEC19

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PPR MEDIA RELATIONS AG

There are many reasons, but perhaps the key one is this traditional village’s authenticity. When the road finally arrived in the village in 1951, the residents of Saas-Fee decided that was far enough and banned cars from the village streets.

to know that Saas-Fee is one of the most snow-sure resorts

mountain in an especially slow-moving gondola in

in the world, with glacier skiing from mid-July allowing it

which a fondue dinner is served as you ascend.

to offer one of the longest ski seasons in the world, some

For skiers, there are also special options on the slopes,

nine months through to late April each year.

including sunrise skiing sessions and hitting the slopes

The resort’s altitude of 1,800m makes it one of the highest

under the full moon.

in Europe, great for resort-level snow all season long, while lifts climb up to 3,600m, some of the highest in the Alps.

But despite its snow-sure reputation, the Saas Valley

Off The Slopes

is famed for sunny weather, lying on the same line

Saas-Fee has a good choice when it comes to après-ski,

The result is a wonderfully tranquil, unspoilt resort like no

of altitude as Ascona, around 31km to the east in

from lively venues near the bottom of the slopes to sports

other, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. In

Switzerland’s only Italian-speaking canton, southerly

bars and more refined cocktail and lounge bars in the

fact, 13 4,000m-plus peaks surround the village, towering

Ticino, where palm trees grow.

resort. Several bars are open until 1am, and there are also two nightclubs open through to the early morning if

high above, including Switzerland’s highest, the Dom,

Special Attractions & Activities

you have the energy! Dining out is easy and pleasant in

can wander its lanes without the noise and smell of

There are lots of attractions and winter events that

everything from traditional Valais regional cuisine to

petrol and diesel vehicles thundering past, you can

make Saas-Fee unique.

international gourmet dining. There’s plenty of variety

still enjoy enticing cafés, intriguing boutiques and

No visit to the village is complete without paying homage

too with lots of cafés, bars and pizzerias to choose from

some superb bars and restaurants. It’s no surprise that

to the world’s highest revolving restaurant, Allalin,

besides the more formal restaurants. A large proportion

Wham! chose it as the location to shoot their famous

3,500m up and accessible to any non-skiing members

of the eateries do serve up local Swiss mountain

Last Christmas video some 35 years ago. Remember

of your group, via the gondola and underground Metro

favourites like schnitzel, raclette and cheese fondues. But

that video shown every year, in which George Michael

Alpin funicular. From here you can enjoy incredible views

modern dietary requirements are well catered for too,

tried to find the perfect “Christmas mood” destination?

of all those 4,000m peaks as it slowly revolves. On a

and there are also restaurants serving vegan options and

Then, last but certainly not least, there’s the skiing!

clear day, you can even see Milan, 120km away.

many more serving vegetarian dishes.

Saas-Fee has a great, good-sized ski area with 100km

The restaurant’s location at Mittelallalin has other

of slopes stretching from 3,600m a.s.l. down to 1,800m

attractions too, including one of the biggest Ice Pavilions

a.s.l. An area pass also includes neighbouring Saas

in the world, full of incredible ice sculptures and carved

Valley villages and their ski areas, including Saas-

into the 1,000-year-old glacial ice, accessed via a

So when choosing your ski resort, think car-free, peaceful,

Grund and Saas-Almagell, which then adds up to

70m-long tunnel.

exceptional snow reliability yet sunny days the norm in a

150km of slope at your disposal.

Then through the winter, you can indulge in some

village with lots of unique attractions and events and a big

Snow-certainty is important in this day and age, so it’s good

very special activities, such as an evening ride up the

skiable vertical. Think Saas-Fee! saas-fee.ch

which Saas-Fee sits at the foot of.

Of course, Saas-Fee is a holiday resort, and while you

P C K D RLO A B E D: H N A T ITH ITZ E R S K II N G W MOU NTAINS IN SW

E! P O S S IB L IT S E K A EM R E E AN D SA AS - F E E D, CAR-F

H IG H E ST O F TH E

S N OW-AS

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SU R

A AS S .

IC T N E UTH

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Saas-Fee with around 100 restaurants in resort serving

Make It Saas-Fee

A company called Fjord Adventures, which specialises in ski touring adventures in Norway’s Sunnmøre Alps, has invested £500K in an “eco facelift” of the historic ship HMS Gåssten, which they use as the base for their trips.

SKI TOURING BY BOAT IN NORWAY’S SUNNMØRE ALPS

ALL PHOTOS: TAYLOR BURKE PHOTOGRAPHY

050 // DEC19

After the darkest of winters, HMS Gåssten will begin a new ski touring programme from February 2020.

There is a blanket ban on snowmobile and helicopter-assisted access to the Sunnmøre Alps, which provides those arriving by boat access to untracked powder perfection.

“The boat allowed us access to some of the most remote parts of the Sunnmøre Alp; the guides took to us to some of the best terrain I have ever skied, with fresh powder every day,” said skier Charles Ziar, who took one of the trips, and added, “One day we toured for eight hours, did not see another skier or tracks – the entire mountain was ours for a day. Simply unforgettable.”

Skiers on the tour ski up past Viking huts and trails leading through pine and birch forests, emerging onto open slopes and mountainous terrain where native guides carefully assist in reaching the summit.

The Sunnmøre Alps, located in the heart of the Western Norwegian Fjords, are home

to UNESCO World Heritage Sites Geiranger Fjord and the Seven Sisters Waterfall.

From the summit, HMS Gåssten can be seen anchored in the fjord below. An unrivalled descent of the mountain awaits with clean lines and knee-deep light powder.

HMS Gåssten was one of the last wooden navy ships ever built. She was commissioned by the Swedish Navy as a minesweeper in the early 1970s, with her hull made entirely of oak.

She has now been lovingly converted into a luxurious liveaboard adventure boat, and the recent £500,000 “eco-makeover” saw a new electric generator installed, interior low-energy lighting upgrade, new doubleglazed windows, ethically and sustainably sourced timber and 100% environmentally friendly water treatment.

Fjord Adventures won’t use single-use plastic on board and will source local sustainable food supplies.

Ski touring weeks operate from 20 February 2020 to 22 April 2020, six night stays (Thursday to Wednesday) from £3,750pp including guides; HMS Gåssten sleeps up to eight guests.

A qualified mountain guide hosts all touring trips, with two guides if the group is eight people, and Nick Parkes UIAGM is guest guiding in March.

FJORDADVENTURES.CO.UK

SOMMELIER ON THE SLOPES Alta Badia in the Italian Dolomites offers the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of guided skiing with a professional ski instructor and a sommelier, stopping at two different mountain huts to enjoy tutored tastings of some of South Tyrol’s finest wines. Tickets cost €30 (around £25.50), and the first date is 17 December 2019.

A BIGGEST INDOOR SNOW CENTRE? Plans to build Britain’s biggest

BETTER ROUTES INTO LES 4 VALLEES

indoor snow centre may still go ahead nearly 20 years after they were first announced. There had been no news of the SnOasis plans

There are big improvements for

In addition, a new eight-seater gondola

with a state-of-the-art snowmaking system

near Ipswich for years, but now

access to Switzerland’s largest

lift in Nendaz 4 Vallées ski area provides

with the aim of guaranteeing snowsports

local council officers say they’ve

ski region, Les 4 Vallées in the

a much-improved link between Plan

from November to April in the future.

been told financial backing is in

country’s Valais region, this

du Fou and Prarion, increasing the

The famous freerider Florian Bouvet-

place and that the developers aim

winter. A new ski train service

transport capacity from 800 people per

Fournier is one of those reported to be

to have the facility built and open

links the Lake Geneva region with

hour to 2,400. There is also a new direct

looking forward to the new opportunities.

the new Châble train station on Saturday

connection to Nendaz-Mont-Fort.

He is reported to have settled in Nendaz

mornings. The two-storey trains will provide a

The lift company is equipping all slopes

two years ago and has opened a photo and

direct connection to ski lifts up to the slopes.

between Combatseline and Thyon 2000

film studio.

by the end of 2023.

ONE OF WORLD’S HIGHEST CHAIRLIFTS Copper Mountain, one of the world’s highest ski areas, located

COMEDY FESTIVAL FOR LES GETS The long-running Altitude Comedy Festival that began life in Méribel but is now staged in Mayrhofen will be joined by a

in the Colorado Rockies, has installed a new chairlift to access previously only cat-accessed expert high alpine terrain on Tucker Mountain. The lift reaches 3,718m in elevation, making it one of the world’s highest.

second festival of funny this winter.

The new comedy festival will be staged in French resort Les Gets and will feature a mix of French-speaking and Englishspeaking comics. The headline shows each evening of the

CUT TRAVEL TIME TO SKI JAPAN

week will be in La Salle de la Colombière in the resort centre.

“Sometimes they’ll be sharing the same stage and sometimes they’ll be forced to do comedy in a foreign language,” a

A new flight route to Japan’s northerly island of Hokkaido will

spokesperson for the organiser says.

significantly cut travel time from the

The “Let’s Get Comédie” festival will run from the 20 to 24

UK for skiers heading to resorts like

January in the resort, which is part of the giant Portes du Soleil

Niseko this winter. The new Finnair

ski region which includes more than 600km of slopes on the

service to the 1972 Winter Olympic

French and Swiss sides of the border.

host city of Sapporo will operate

The two acts announced at the time of publication are Marcus

from 15 December 2019 to 27 March

Brigstocke, also one of the founders of Altitude, and the British

2020 and will run twice a week from

French-based comedian Paul Taylor. More are being added.

London via Helsinki.

letsgetcomedie.com

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DEC19 // 051

Norway’s Kvitfjell, which was one of the first 25 ski areas to open for winter 2019/20 in Europe last month, has been added to the UK’s leading tour operator Crystal’s choice of destination resorts for the upcoming ski season.

Kvitfjell

052 // DEC19

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The company already offered the largest selection of Norwegian ski destinations for a non-Norway specialist, with leading resorts Beitostølen, Geilo, Hemsedal and Trysil, but with the addition of Kvitfjell (and also Hafjell) now has a choice of six Norwegian options.

With six ski areas in Finland as well, and two in Sweden, it takes the company’s Scandinavian ski resorts quota up to an impressive 14.

Kvitfjell will be hosting the Ski World Cup in 2020 and is made up of three linked areas offering treelined runs and picturesque skiing. The course for the men’s downhill for the 1994 Winter Olympics was especially created here, and the super giant slalom was also staged here. There are wonderful views of the Gudbrandsdalen Valley from the slopes, and a regional ski pass is available covering neighbouring resorts.

“We are delighted to be adding these two resorts to our Norwegian programme for this season. We are always looking to find resorts that appeal to our customers, and Kvitfjell and Hafjell both offer great skiing, including slopes ideal for those new to skiing, as well as plenty of non-ski activities,” said Chris Logan, Managing Director at Crystal Ski Holidays.

The resort is particularly popular with families with young children, thanks in part to resort mascot Jokul the friendly Yeti, but all abilities are catered for from complete beginners through to experts inspired by that World Cup competition.

There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, all of which offer healthier options, and Crystal Ski Holidays is offering a range of 3★ and 4★ accommodation in the resort.

In addition to Kvitfjell, Crystal is also adding a second new Norwegian destination choice nearby, Hafjell. This also offers skiing for all abilities, with long runs and even a terrain park for skiers and snowboarders to practise their jumping. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from with a wide range of cuisine on offer here too, and again the company has a choice of 3★ or 4★ accommodation.

Located just north of 1994 Winter Olympic host city Lillehammer, both resorts are served by Crystal Ski Holidays’ London Gatwick to Oslo flights.

The resorts bring a new transfer experience to customers, who will get a rail transfer from Oslo Airport to Lillehammer and then take a shuttle bus. Crystal Ski Holidays reps are on hand to help customers at Oslo Airport.

CRYSTALSKI.CO.UK

Wherever Your Passions & Dreams Take You...

Wherever Your Passions & Dreams Take You...

LEVI WEST CHAIRLIFT UNDER CONSTRUCTION The leading Finnish resort of Levi is working on a new high-speed six-seat chairlift as it continues to build on its new West Point Village which was announced last season and is due to start opening from winter 2020/21.

The new lift will take skiers and boarders from the foot of the West Slopes all the way to the top.

This will ensure that the routes around the fell will continue to provide optimal service to the visitors also in cases where, for example, the Gondola2000 cabin lift has to be closed due to strong winds.

When completed, Levi West Point will include accommodation, restaurants and a significant amount of commercial space. The total investment in the project is approximately €30 million (around £25.7 million), which includes the €8 million (around £6.86 million) invested in the construction of the Levi West chairlift.

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

There!

Expertise To To Get Get You SEASON’S 1ST CHAIRLIFT RESERVED FOR BURTON The ski season has got underway in a number of ski and snowboard areas in Vermont, just a few days after the death of Jake Burton Carpenter, whose Burton Snowboarding business has long been headquartered in the state, right from the very start back in the 1970s.

Most of those resorts are organising tributes to the

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

great man, linked together by the #RideOnJake tag.

At Stratton, which was one of the very first resorts to allow snowboarders in the early 1980s, the very first chairlift going up the mountain on opening day, number 13, was reserved for him, and a vintage Burton Snowboard made the ascent. Thirteen is a big number for Burton as the number looks like a B and is often used in the company’s products and was one of their film titles.

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DEC19 // 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

MEXICO

Mexico is not a country you would associate with winter sports, and it’s true there are no conventional ski resorts there, but contrary to popular belief there are mountains and there is snow.

can be down to the hut in winter.

volcanic smoke from its crater) and

For those looking for less exertion, the

Ski mountaineers who have skied it

normally year-round snow cover. There

Bosques de Monterreal year-round ski

report the climb over the mountain’s

have been 15 major eruptions in the 500

centre is Mexico’s only ski resort with a lift.

Jamapa Glacier, which gets increasingly

years since the arrival of the Spanish.

Built by a British team it features two dry

steep as you ascend. It’s “hard work

Located only 70km southeast of Mexico

ski runs, the longest 230m in length with

but straightforward” with the reward the

City, the mountain can often be viewed

a 20° pitch, using the Dendix ski slope

chance to claim you have skied a thousand

from the vast city on rare clear days.

material from Gwent. Like English dry

vertical metres of Mexican slopes, with

The first recorded ski descent of

slopes, it very occasionally gets natural

The country is actually home to the third

pitches of up to 38 degrees. The best snow

Popocatépetl was made by Francisco

snow cover too.

highest peak in the entire North American

lies on the northeast side of the mountain.

Gonzalez Rul and Eduardo de Maria y

Finally, there’s also an indoor freestyle

continent, Pico De Orizaba (5,636 m),

For most Mexican ski-tourers, however,

Campos in 1947 with a maximum skiable

centre, Woodward Riviera Maya, which

the top thousand vertical metres or so of

it’s not Pico De Orizaba that’s the most

vertical reported to be over 1,800m,

opened two years ago, giving the chance

which is usually snow covered and skiable

common destination but Popocatépetl,

although snow cover is gradually declining

to slide on ramps and jumps into giant

all year round – if you can face the climb

a very active volcano some 5,426m

due to climate change.

foam pits.

and the thin air at the top.

high and the country’s second highest

Mexico’s other high skiable peaks are

So, in short, Mexico has almost all ski

In fact you can reach a mountain hut at

mountain. It too is well known for its

Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba, which

and board options covered, except for a

nearly 4,300m by 4x4 car and the snowline

glaciers (as well as the constantly rising

also have glaciers.

regular ski resort.

054 // DEC19

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@INTHESNOWMAG

BY PATRICK THORNE

OLYMPICS 2022

SWISS HOTEL GROUP ANNOUNCES IT’S CLIMATE NEUTRAL The Swiss Tschuggen Hotel Group, which runs a total of five properties

ALL 2022 OLYMPIC VENUES TO BE GREEN ENERGY POWERED

including 4 and 5★ hotels in St Moritz and Arosa, has announced it has gone CO2 neutral by a combination of dramatically reducing the group’s actual CO2 output and offsetting the CO2 emissions it still makes.

In that latter part of its initiative,

China has committed to a “green,

green electricity. Zhangjiakou is known for

The resort saw a 31.6% growth in skier

inclusive and open and clean”

its rich resources in renewable energies,

numbers in 2016 after it was announced as

Olympic Winter Games and says

and much of the power consumption in the

an Olympic venue, welcoming more than

that all of the venues will be 100%

Chongli District, where all the Zhangjiakou

2.1 million tourists. Venue construction

green energy powered by the time

venues are located, will be supplied from

started in November 2016 and will be

of the Beijing 2022 Olympics.

renewable energy resources by 2021.

finished by the end of 2020 to enable the

With the help of the State Grid Corporation

Chongli will stage most of the skiing

city to hold test events.

of China, all venues will be powered by

events during the 2022 Winter Olympics.

the group has partnered with the myclimate “Cause We Care” project. Money raised is invested in the rehabilitation of a raised bog in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and a mountain gorilla project in Rwanda.

The group has many initiatives to cut CO2 emissions, but they include the use of electricity generated exclusively from Alpine hydropower, the use of heat exchangers and heat recovery systems for ventilation and wastewater, and ongoing conversion to technical systems that reduce energy consumption.

Their flagship green accommodation is the Valsana Hotel and Apartments, which saw a new building open in December 2017 using sustainable construction practices. It also features an ice battery in the cellar which means that the entire building complex can be heated without the

LINK TO CREATE NEW AUSTRIAN SKI REGION

need for fossil fuels, with the result that the hotel generates practically no CO2 emissions.

Although the Tschuggen Group

A major project to create a new giant

ski area are linked to those of St Johann

Niedere Tauern. The lift’s route leads

has taken on responsibility for all

Austrian ski area by the time-honoured

im Pongau-Alpendorf Zauchensee by a

from the mountain stations on the

emissions that originate from their

method of linking together two smaller

new Panorama Link connecting 10-seater

Grießenkareck over the mountain ridge

hotels from check-in to check-

areas has been given the go-ahead by

gondola lift between Wagrain and Kleinarl.

to the mountain station Flachauwinkl-

out with no additional costs for

planners. The Snow Space Salzburg is

The 3.1km-long cable car has been

Kleinarl. It will have a capacity of 2,400

set to expand for winter 2020/21 and

named “Panorama” due to the views it

people per hour and take eight minutes

offer more than 200km of piste when

will provide skiers using it of the unique

to make the connection between Wagrain

the slopes of the Flachauwinkl-Kleinarl

mountain panorama in the Hohe and

and Kleinarl.

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their guests, guests are given the opportunity to offset their own CO2 emissions resulting from their journeys to and from the hotels.

DEC19 // 055

MARTÍN GARDELLIANO

WORDS: DEBBIE GABRIEL

Visiting one of the world’s leading ski resorts like Switzerland’s Crans-Montana, there’s so much choice when it comes to accommodation options it can be hard to know where to begin.

As a family of four we were looking for somewhere with plenty of space but high value, and we struck lucky with the 4★ Helvetia Intergolf, located just a few steps away from the centre of town.

We found this lovely hotel beautifully combined local traditional values with modern comforts, and its central location made it very easy for walking into the village after skiing.

As one of our group was recovering from an injury and sadly could not ski, it was great for popping out to do some

056 // DEC19  PROMO

shopping or just to grab a scrummy cake in one of the many local cafés.

We found the recently refurbished rooms were of a very high standard with ample space to spread out in. We had a two-bedroom apartment with bright, sunny rooms and lots of space, so perfect for not tripping over each other. There was even a small kitchen which proved very valuable on the nights we decided to eat in.

But all of the hotel’s rooms are cosy and welcoming, and every single one has a balcony with amazing views of the mountains in different directions.

We had a wonderful, huge, south-facing balcony as all of the hotel’s family suites and king suites do.

From here we had a magnificent panoramic view of the Alps out across the Rhône Valley and could make

out many famous peaks including the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc in the distance. It was also a great spot for sunbathing in the afternoon.

If you don’t need a suite, though, the hotel has a good range of regular rooms from the low-priced economy single (12m²) through standard (18m²) or superior doubles (26m²) as well as their huge executive double room (52m²).

To reach the slopes, we made the most of Crans-Montana’s great ski bus service, which circulates the village every few minutes.

The hotel’s facilities are excellent too.

We made good use of the wellness and spa centre, which contains a steam bath, sauna and whirlpool. The hotel’s swimming pool and wellness area is free of charge and open every day exclusively for hotel guests, and you

can also book a massage treatment if you want to really relax and feel good.

Guests receive an inclusive buffet breakfast with high-quality and plentiful locally sourced ingredients.

The Carnotzet is the hotel’s traditional restaurant, where you can enjoy a delicious Swiss speciality paired with a local wine, and there’s also a chaletstyle bar where local beers and wines as well as champagnes and cocktails are served. Finally, when the weather is good, there’s also a terrace from which you can enjoy that fabulous panoramic view once more.

It’s not a view we ever got tired of taking in!

All in all, the Helvetia Intergolf was the perfect hotel for our family, and we would certainly go back.

+41 (0)27 485 88 88 | HELVETIA-INTERGOLF.CH

WINTER THEATRE FESTIVAL Savoie on Broadway! For four days from 9 to 12 March 2020, the ski slopes and restaurants in France’s Val d’Arly’s ski region will become stage sets. On the programme will be comedy, street art and music hall acts as well as theatre performances. valdarly-montblanc.com

JAMES NORTH

A FIRST GONDOLA FOR ALASKA Alaska’s Eaglecrest ski area is planning to build the state’s first gondola lift, but the target market isn’t

THE 47TH LONDON SKI SHOW IS GO The UK’s only remaining show for the

say, and tickets are already on sale!

2020, the Festival team will be introducing

general public, the long-running

The 2019 show, the 46th, saw visitor

even more exciting, experiential features.

London ski show, which is currently

numbers hold firm despite terrible weather

There will be more opportunities than ever

staged at the Battersea Evolution

including torrential rain at the start of the

before for potential sponsors to associate

centre and known as “The Telegraph

four-day event – which is partially staged

their brands with stand-out, memorable

Ski & Snowboard Festival”, will

outdoors. More than 16,000 people attended

experiences that bring their brands to life,”

be back for its 47th year next year, 29

the four-day event, a similar number to 2018.

a statement from the organisers claims.

October–1 November 2020, the organisers

“With further investment planned for

skiandsnowboard.co.uk

skiers – they’ll just benefit from it. The lift is primarily to provide an attraction for summer cruise-ship visitors, biking or using a mountain coaster, but skiers will be able to use it in winter.

SKI TOURING IN LES 2 ALPES Les 2 Alpes has created several trails where visitors can try ski touring. One purposely designed route is reserved exclusively for ski tourers. The Parcours des Vallons is well marked and features an 800m altitude difference. Two others are located in the Vallée Blanche area.

FRENCH ALPINE PROPERTY SALES Erna Low Property’s 2019-20 Report reveals that despite Brexit uncertainties there is still plenty of demand for mountain homes in the French Alps. In fact, the company says it has just posted its best-ever STEVIE MCKENNA

results for the last financial year, recording its highest total value of sales since it launched in 2003.

SCOTTISH SKI CENTRE TO RESET LIFT PRICES TO 1989

SNOW BEATS MUD IN NEW ENDUROS A number of endurance races were

Nevis Range ski area near Fort William and

the only one to operate a gondola lift to

celebrations is planned including guest

staged in indoor snow centres in the

Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis in

access its slopes will be charging £12.50

speakers and Nevis Range founders Ian

summer. The SnowStormer contests

Scotland has announced it will celebrate

for a day’s lift pass for adults and £8.50 for

Sykes and Ian Sutherland, who will share

were run over a 5km course and

its 30th birthday by resetting lift ticket

kids, the price they were 30 years ago, on

their memories from the last 30 years.

included 25 indoor and outdoor

prices back to what they were on opening

Saturday 21 December; however, you do

This will be followed by live music from

obstacles to conquer, making them feel

day in 1989.

need to book these in advance online.

local bands, and there will be a free shuttle

more like 10km expeditions. “Mud runs

The country’s youngest ski centre and

After the slopes close, an evening of

bus back to Fort William afterwards.

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are so last year,” said the organisers.

DEC19 // 057

THE COMPLETE STRESS - FREE SKI HOLIDAY The independent, award-winning ABTA travel agents Ski Line are putting their nearly 25 years of winter-sports holiday expertise behind Club Med, arguing that the company provide the best-quality and best-value ski holidays on the market.

058 // DEC19 ď ľ PROMO

@INTHESNOWMAG

Ski Line’s booking trends tie in with research

by Club Med themselves which found that while last year 17% of Brits surveyed said that they stayed in an all-inclusive resort, this year when asked the same question the number had jumped to 29% – a 70% year-on-year increase.

In fact, the Club Med research found that the allinclusive model has become the most popular accommodation type for ski and snowboard holidays. Half board and full board fall into second and third place respectively, while catered chalets represent just 8% of people’s accommodation choices.

Significantly, 61% of people said they are more likely to book an all-inclusive holiday in light of Brexit – an increase of 190% compared to the research commissioned this time last year.

Ski Line sell more Club Med holidays than any other UK travel agents and can help maximise discounts available to ensure you get your Club Med holiday at the very best possible price.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that 99.5% of their clients over the past five years have rated their service as “Excellent” or “Very good” on independent review site Feefo.

Club Med For anyone not in the know, Club Med operate their own resorts within famous ski resorts, and once you’re booked in, pretty much everything is included in the price so you know exactly where you stand, and that everything is covered, before you leave home.

So travel, accommodation and food are included as they might be on a chalet or half-board ski holiday, but then your Club Med package also includes ski passes, ski school lessons and ski carriage on the flight.

Then there are those usual unavoidable extras that pile on the euros – lunches on the mountain, snacks and soft drinks as well as alcoholic drinks and wine with your evening meal – again all included with Club Med. Even things you don’t really think about, but somehow seem to add up when you’re booking a trip, like room supplements and regional flight supplements, are all inclusive with a Club Med

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booking through Ski Line, who are Club Med’s most successful agent in Europe, selling more Club Med ski holidays than any other UK agent.

By “resort within resort” we mean that Club Meds have their own restaurants, childcare, ski school, bars and activities along with a range of accommodation options all within the one resort, so you can stay within your Club Med for your whole holiday when not on the slopes if you wish, although of course you can walk out into the resort as you can from any other accommodation if you fancy checking out the après-ski scene.

How Thy Compare Club Med

Neilson

£6,389

£4,136

Family rooms supps `

Included

£524

Flight supps

Included

£0

Ski passes adults

Included

£520

Ski passes child

Included

£420

Ski school – 5 days

Included

£590

Ski carriage

Included

£90

£198

£90

Lunches on mountain

Included

£480

Snacks and drinks

Included

£120

Alcoholic drinks

Included

£240

£633

£0

£5,954

£7,210

Basic holiday cost

Child ski kit rental

Early Booking Discount Total Holiday Cost

Ski Line compiled this table showing how the costs of a holiday for a family of four booked with one of the UK’s leading operators, Neilson, compared to booking with Club Med. It compared prices for two similar hotels, the Club Med Aime la Plagne and Neilson’s Turquoise chalet hotel, both a 3★ standard and both ski-in/ski-out. They based the pricing on a family of four with two children aged eight years travelling via London Gatwick on 28/29 March 2020 for one week.

Their study found that a Club Med holiday booked through Ski Line is £1,256 cheaper than a Neilson ski holiday.

MAUD DELAFLOTTE

“Choosing an all-inclusive holiday makes a lot of sense in a possible Brexit year,” says Ski Line’s Managing Director Angus Kinloch, explaining: “It gets round those unknown factors including currency changes and uncertainty. Our sales for 2020 ski holidays are up 22% with more clients choosing Club Med this winter.”

THE CLUB MED STORY Club Med was founded way back in 1950 and has grown over the years to offer nearly 70 premium resorts in stunning locations on five continents.

Every year the company invests hundreds of millions of euros in either an all-new Club Med resort or a huge upgrade of an existing resort.

Recent years have seen swish new Club Meds open in resorts including Les Arcs, Valmorel and

SKILINE.CO.UK/CONTENT/CLUB-MED-SKIING-HOLIDAYS

WIN

A 7-NIGHT CLUB MED SKI HOLIDAY FABIEN DELAIRON/CLUB MED

Val Thorens, with this year’s big new opening a fabulous renovated Alpe d’Huez Club Med with an €85 million investment.

HIT THE SPA

We have partnered with Club Med and Ski Line to offer our readers the chance to win a seven-night Club Med all-inclusive holiday* in one of Club Med’s ski resorts for two adults (excluding flights and transfers).

Club Med have the perfect package to help you unwind and reconnect, offering you an all-inclusive package that includes all the necessary ingredients for a dream holiday. No stress, no constraints, only moment of happiness! Embark on an unforgettable holiday!

With 65 years of experience, Club Med is a worldwide leader and pioneer in all-inclusive premium holidays, providing the most comprehensive package on the market in unbeatable locations. You can be sure that you are getting value for your money with everything being included. Look forward to the full-board gourmet cuisine, premium drinks and open bar, wide range of activities and sports with quality equipment and entertainment for the whole family. In our Ski Resort, ski lift passes and alllevel ski lessons with English-speaking expert mountain guides are included! Minimise the stress of planning that perfect break with Club Med.

To Enter, Simply Visit inthesnow.com/competitions 060 // DEC19  PROMO

Spa facilities are a big feature of Club Med resorts, and at Alpe d’Huez “La Bulle” is the name of the new well-being and meditation space there.

If they wish, guests can enjoy the 600m² spa, the indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool, the fitness area and yoga classes as an addition to their after-ski activities. Most other Club Meds have similar facilities on site.

GO LUX Club Med’s research found that almost half (44%) of people choose a resort based on value for money, 22% want to have all their amenities on site and almost one in five (18%) opt for luxurious accommodation.

Club Med is capitalising on this opportunity by offering the best of both worlds, and also, new for the 2019/20 winter season, will be the luxury Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon chalets-apartments in the Grand Massif ski region, the latest addition to the brand’s Exclusive Collection.

THEY’VE THOUGHT ABOUT THE SNOW TOO

are located in ski domains which offer skiing above 2,000m, with some of their most popular resorts including Alpe d’Huez, Les Arcs Panorama and Val Thorens Sensations. Of those surveyed by the company, almost three in five (59%) also ensure they book a resort which offers glacier skiing.

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Club Med now operate 22 resorts across the best ski domains in France, Italy and Switzerland, and if you fancy somewhere a little more exotic, they also run ski resorts in China and Japan.

The company continues to go from strength to strength, and more than 14 new Club Med resorts will be opening within the next three years. These include upcoming villages for La Rosière in France, Québec Charlevoix in Canada and Thaiwoo in China at the heart of the 2022 Olympic Village.

Ski Line are a multi-award-winning agency and have a reputation for providing a firstclass service. They’re Club Med’s most successful agent in Europe for a reason, selling more Club Med ski holidays than any other UK agent, as they can help maximise discounts available including the early booking discounts of up to 15% in addition to further discounts for recommending a friend or discounts for larger groups.

With the likelihood of good snow cover another big factor playing on our minds when we book our ski holidays, the good news is that all European Club Med mountain resorts

SKILINE.CO.UK/CONTENT/CLUB-MED-SKIING-HOLIDAYS

NEW SKI HOLIDAY BY PRIVATE JET FOR £1,550pp A brand-new ski holiday concept has been

hotel, rocksresort Design HotelTM, which was voted

created by the two Swiss ski resorts of

the World’s Best Green Ski Hotel 2018, and in Davos

Laax and Davos. This week-long ski trip

the brand new for 2019/020 ski-in Parsenn Resort in the

incorporates a private British Airways

heart of the village.

charter flight from London City to the small

In keeping with both destinations’ dedication to

Alpine airport of Altenrhein, followed

sustainable travel (Laax Greenstyle initiative), the CO2

by seven nights in the two resorts,

generated per skier by the trip will be carbon offset in

accommodation, seven-day ski passes and

partnership with myclimate.

transfers for £1,550pp.

“The main aim of the two resorts is to provide high comfort and convenience in a unique offer,” a

“The Ski Getaway. Reinvented” promises to get skiers to

spokesperson for The Ski Getaway. Reinvented said,

the slopes with no airport queues or lengthy transfers,

adding, “Many travellers experience exhausting journeys

and its creators say that after jumping onboard a BA-

to their mountain destinations or fail to book the right

operated 32-seater jet at London City Airport they could

services. With this offer, a comfortable solution should be

be on the slopes just under two and a half hours later.

created that makes ski travel unique and simple again!”

In Laax, skiers will be based in the self-catered apart-

theskigetaway.co.uk

THE KOOKS TO ROCK THE PISTES English indie rock band The Kooks from Brighton have been announced as one of the main acts playing at the tenth edition of Rock the Pistes. The original music festival staged in the mountains of the giant cross-French–Swiss-border Rock The Pistes region is the only event of its kind with concerts on the slopes, featuring performances at an altitude of between 1,600m and 1,950m.

The Kooks, Skip the Use, Naïve New Beaters, Deluxe and IAM are already confirmed to play, with more than 28,000 music fans expected to descend on Morzine and its neighbouring villages from 15 to 21 March 2020.

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DEC19 // 061

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW

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WORDS: SEGA FAIRWEATHER

Lean forward...

No, like this Get forward. Move your hips forwards, lean forwards. No matter which way you have been told, it can be a confusing piece of feedback.

What does it actually mean?

As well as being really heavy, ski boots are shaped in such a way that stops the ankle joint from making them notoriously difficult to walk in.

However, they are designed in this way so that when the body is in the correct position, it takes only a small amount of energy to initiate a turn.

062 // DEC19

The ski boot model as we know it has been around since the 1970s, and this is because it is the most effective design for transferring energy from the skier to the snow.

The cuff of the boot (the top) is angled forwards and naturally puts you in a position with bent knees. It is made from rigid plastic, and this means it should be able to support your body weight if you trust yourself enough to relax into the front of the boot.

Having the correct boot is important for making a good position easy: too stiff and you can’t flex your ankles, and too soft will make you almost fold forwards over the boot, which will not inspire the confidence or trust needed

to lean against the front of it.

A common error occurs when people are nervous and they lean back, as they then feel the support of the back of the boot, and it instils a bit of confidence. However, this only activates the tail of the ski, making it much harder to control their speed and line.

Another misapprehension is when people’s shoulders/arms are forwards, they feel that their weight must be, but in reality their hips (therefore the centre of mass) drops back. Try it now – stand up with slightly bent knees and try to get your shoulders as far forward as possible.

I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to change your starting position to “ski ready” or be “more forwards”.

You should stand exactly as you did in boots that morning waiting for the bus, or in the lift line waiting to go on to the mountain. Your brain is super clever and will adapt your body position to the one that takes the least amount of energy, and therefore the least amount of effort from your muscles.

If you take a look at the picture, you can see that all the skiers are comfortably leaning against the front of the boot. They’re in a relaxed

position as they are standing still and not actually thinking about their position. Their hips are above the ball of their foot, and they have contact between their shins and the boots, and this should not change as soon as they start moving.

If you have this contact between the shins and the boots, then all of that energy from your body weight goes through to the tip of the ski where it has contact with the snow, and this will help you to start each turn. As the terrain gets steeper it will take more effort to stay in this position; everything must match the degree of the slope, from skis to shins to hips, but the shape of the skier stays the same (think of an elongated lightning bolt). If the shins have contact and pressure with the front of the boot, the hips will be over the front of your feet, and therefore your hips will be “forward”.

To see the amount of difference it can make, you can do this simple exercise with a friend next holiday.

Stand on the flat and get someone to hold the tips of your skis. Now get them to shake and move them while you have contact with the front of the boot and also when you don’t.

You will see a huge difference in the control that you can have over your skis.

TIGNES Ticks all the Boxes Tignes: a resort with many great qualities. Snow-sure, convenient, sporty and cosmopolitan to name a few.

The list could go on as this high-altitude resort offers something for all tastes and abilities. Individuals can truly experience the mountains their own way.

Tignes lies within the stunning Vanoise National Park, which stretches across much of the Tarentaise region. Wildlife (marmots, chamois, ibex) thrive in this park, and the scenery is out of this world.

Lake Tignes and Grande Motte Glacier add to the beauty and adventure of Tignes, showcasing why this resort is so popular among outdoor enthusiasts.

The Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area offers 300km of marked piste, suitable for all levels. For beginners, there are a few lifts (three chairlifts, magic carpets and

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drag lifts) accessible for free. For more experienced skiers, there are plenty of red and black slopes to keep you occupied and challenged. The lack of trees presents plenty of open powder fields between the runs, and there are multiple off-piste itineraries to sample.

For those looking to practise their freestyle skills, Tignes features “Turn N’ Run” pistes, which are fun slopes, perfect for beginners and the whole family. The snow park is sponsored by the famous streetwear brand, DC Shoes and is known as “DC Park”. Challenge your friends and hit up the Palet Boardercross.

For many people, the après-ski is just as important as the skiing. Tignes has legendary après spots, including the Underground Bar, Avant-Garde and Loop Bar, which is very popular among British holidaymakers.

Off the mountain, the fun doesn’t stop.

Try ice diving in the lake, heli-skiing, ice

 PROMO | *Subject to availability

driving or the Bun J Ride – all fun activities to get the adrenaline flowing. New Year is one of the best times to visit Tignes as they organise the “Pop-Rock Party”, thrilling those who love quality live music.

Christmas in Tignes is also a magical experience. The atmosphere in resort is buzzing with live music and markets.

Skiworld, the largest independent ski specialist in the UK, has been taking customers to Tignes for over 36 years.

With 12 catered chalets, two selfcatered chalets, 10 apartments, Hotel Le Taos and Ski Lodge Aigle, guests have a varied choice of accommodation .

Whether you’re after ski-in/ski-out, budget, luxury, catered or self-catered, Skiworld has it. Skiworld also has fantastic lastminute deals on at the moment for Tignes, even on the most popular dates, so it is worth checking these out – seven night holidays starting from under £400pp* .

An example of a ski-in/ski-out catered chalet is Chalet Annapurna II. Ideal

for ski convenience and access to the lively bars and restaurants of Tignes Le Lac, Chalet Annapurna II is a popular choice among Skiworld guests. Not forgetting the stunning balcony views, wood-burning stove, hot tub, sauna and heated boot dryers too.

Self-catered Chalet Carmen is a spacious, modern chalet with its own sauna and heated boot dryers. This is a great option due to the remarkable location as well as offering you the flexibility to do as you please, while still having the home-from-home feel.

If a ski holiday in Tignes appeals to you, book online or contact Skiworld’s ski specialists via the details below.

0330 102 8004 | SKIWORLD.CO.UK

MARKUS ZIMMERMANN | INTERLAKEN SWITZERLAND

A NEW PARTY IN THE PEAKS OF ANDORRA

YOGA OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PYRENEES

HUGE LIFT UPGRADES PLANNED AT MÜRREN

With mountain music festivals popping up across the Alps,

Yoga in the mountains continues to grow in

The Doppelmayr/Garaventa lift company has won the

it seems the penchant for a ski holiday with an added party

popularity, and this winter there are a number of

contract to build five major new lifts in a large overhaul

atmosphere has now hit the Pyrenees, with new event

chances to give it a try in the French Pyrenees.

of the historic Schilthorn ski area above Mürren in

‘Arinsal Icebreaker’ planned for this winter. Described as

Special yoga and snowshoeing breaks are being

Switzerland at a cost of CHF45 million (around £35

“the biggest party in the Pyrenees this winter”, Icebreaker

organised in St Lary from 24 to 26 January and 13

million).

will feature 12 DJs and four live bands, as well as après-ski

to 15 March 2020. Christine, a mountain guide, and

Work will start on the project, originally dubbed

on the slopes and Mountain Lodge BBQs.

Stephanie, a yoga teacher, will lead small groups

“SCHILTHORN 20XX” in two years’ time and will see

Part of the Vallnord ski area, with 63km of marked runs,

with a maximum of eight people. In the morning

the company install one of the world’s steepest cable

Arinsal has a great reputation for exceptional snow and

there will be relaxation sessions and yoga, to

cars as well as four funifor lifts. The project is due to be

varied skiing, with Icebreaker now planning to add a

recharge your batteries before going snowshoeing.

completed by 2026.

unique party atmosphere to the mix.

Guests stay in the 4★ Hauts de Saint-Lary, which

Funifors are a type of lift design that is unique to

Enjoy some entertaining St Patrick’s Day celebrations

has its own wellness facilities, and are served local

Doppelmayr/Garaventa and appear similar to cable cars,

with live Irish bands, and party into the night with a range

organic cuisine in the evening. In addition, on 8 and 9

typically holding up to 60 people in each cabin, but they

of evening events. You can ski, party or enjoy the best

February, there’s a Yoga and Ride Weekend at another

have a wider space between the supporting cables, and

of both, with sets from some of the world’s top DJ’s, who

ski area in the French Pyrenees, Cauterets. Organised

are held up closer to them, giving greater stability in

have played some of the biggest clubs the UK, Mallorca

in partnership with Roxy, the programme will include

strong wind conditions. Thanks to the system’s design,

and Ibiza.

a morning yoga session led by a professional coach

the cabins can also operate independently of each

Icebreaker is working with alongside very special partners

followed by skiing on the slopes of Cirque du Lys and

other, unlike a traditional cable car.

to ensure that the week’s events come at a very affordable

relaxation in the waters at the Bains du Rocher.

Referring to the filming of the 007 film On Her Majesty’s

price, with additional discounts and deals at participating

Finally, on 21 and 22 March, a Snow and Yoga

Secret Service on the Schilthorn in the late 1960s, a

venues with your Icebreaker wristband.

Weekend at the Pic du Midi (pictured) and Grand

Doppelmayr spokesperson said, “If these had been in

Choose from flexible three- to seven-night stays, with your

Tourmalet will include snowboard lessons and

place 50 years ago, James Bond would have reached

Arinsal Icebreaker wristband included in your package.

Ashtanga yoga sessions.

his destination a whole lot faster.”

WATCH HUNDREDS OF VIDEO REVIEWS YOUTUBE.COM/INTHESNOWMAG

www.ultrasporteu.com

01332 813 150

info@ultrasporteu.com

 Atomic

 Norrona Falketind

 FISCHER

 Ortovox

Redster STI 130 Ski Boot

Down Hood Jacket

Ranger One 82 GT

Tour Rider 30L Backpack

Fed up of never being able to get a good hold around your foot? These are designed for those of you who need a slimmer fit across the width, over the instep and around the heel.

Used by World Cup skier Mikaela Shiffrin, these are superb for lighter-weight and smaller-footed racers, instructors and advanced performance skiers £480 | skibartlett.com

Whether you need a warm mid layer, a packable down jacket for the top of a ski tour, or just a standalone warm jacket for after skiing – the Falketind Down will do all three.

Lightweight and easy to compress, warm certified down makes this a great multi-use jacket for all year round. £249 | skibartlett.com

Twin Multiflex set

Designed for longer day tours and hut-to-hut adventures.

Loaded up with all the features you would want in a specific ski touring pack – separate avalanche safety compartment, ski and snowboard attachments, easy access to all your gear through the front and the back, and the body-hugging foam back gives you more comfort when carrying heavy loads. £125 | skibartlett.com

The great all-rounder! The 82 GT gives that sought-after oneski-for-all-mountains 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 | skibartlett.com

 Volkl Revolt 121

A jib-inspired playful freeride ski, designed for those of you that are young at heart and want the ability to hit a kicker or venture off to play in the powder. Rider designed to be as versatile as possible – shaped to turn with ease, carbon tip construction to reduce the swing weight and make it extremely easy to spin off any feature. £599 | skibartlett.com

 Level Bliss Coral Women’s Mitt

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Style, warmth and functionality are blended here to give you a very comfortable mitten that will provide all the warmth you need all winter long.

This classic alpine graphic will stand out and look good against every outfit in your wardrobe. £54.95 | skibartlett.com

 Bollé MADDOX with Phantom Fire Red Lens

Featuring Bollé’s high-end lens technology, Phantom, its NXT® lens material delivers excellent clarity and high-impact resistance. With highperformance photochromic technology constantly adapting to light conditions and its Low Temperature Sensitivity (LTS) guaranteeing the photochromic performance whatever the temperature, you’ll always be wearing the right lens. £139 | snowandrock.com

 Salomon Force 9 Ski

As a slightly wider piste ski, these have a very stable, secure feeling whether charging around the piste at high speed, or playing in the softer snow. A smaller turn radius makes them nimble and easy to start the turn. If you’re a confident piste skier looking to progress to the next level with the ability to explore some more terrain, then these are your ideal skis. £559.95 incl bindings | skibartlett.com

 HEAD R-SERIES HELMETS

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!

The “visor” helmet that doesn’t look like you’ve just walked off the set of Top Gun. R-Series helmets come with a lens rather than a visor, giving you an unrestricted field of vision with the comfort of a goggle. The patent-pending SphereFit system wraps around the head like a beanie and is adjusted with the Boa® system. Different category lenses (available separately) can be quickly swapped with the “Rapid Lens Exchange System”. Radar = Male, Rachel = Female. The perfect helmet/goggle solution for prescription glasses wearers. £180 (Polarised version: £220) | Absolute Snow & Ski Bartlett

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DEC19 // 0067

 Burton

 Burton

Scribe EST Women’s

Gore Radial Jacket

Loyle Women’s Anorak

Snowboard Binding 2020

When weather rolls in, there is no substitute for GORE-TEX performance.

That’s why the Burton GORE-TEX Radial Jacket is made with fully taped seams and GORE-TEX twolayer fabric. THERMOLITE® insulation and thermoregulating Living Lining® give the ultimate in adaptable warmth and consistent comfort. £269.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

No need to compromise fashion or function with the women’s Burton Loyle Anorak Jacket. Unconventional design, clean cut lines, and a creative print blocking put a satisfying twist on the traditional pullover. Waterproof/breathable DRYRIDE 2L fabric joins forces with an exclusive thermo-regulating Living Lining® for the ultimate in adaptable warmth and consistent comfort. £209.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

Offering a multi-talented package for all-terrain fun, the women’s Burton Scribe remains soft, flexible and responsive no matter what your riding style. Sitting at the sweet spot between power and playfulness, a canted Living Hinge hi-back dials in response, while the comfort-centric Reactstrap and cushioned baseplate ensure that the ride is smooth and surefooted. £199.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton

 Burton Stylus Women’s Snowboard 2020

The Burton Stylus is perfect for aspiring riders looking to build a foundation before moving on to a more performance-oriented option.

Easy bevel combines a soft, mellow flex with a convex base for a virtually catch-free riding experience, while Flat Top™ and a true twin shape provide a stable platform that’s effortlessly manoeuvrable no matter which way you point it. £294.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton Limelight Boa Women’s Snowboard Boot 2020

For the ultimate in comfort and convenience, the Limelight’s Boa® Coiler™ closure system has heel hold by integrating three lacing zones around the ankle – all tightened with a single dial. Total warmth is provided by a 3M™ Thinsulate™ insulated liner and sleeping bag heat-reflective foil. An overall soft and forgiving flex brings it all together in a boot that works with you to bring more fun and freedom to every run. £249.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

 Burton Yeasayer Flying V

 Burton Free Thinker Snowboard 2020

Women’s Snowboard

The Burton Free Thinker is a true twin built for hot laps in the park, pipe, or mobbing side-hits across the mountain. The unique true twin shape opens up the possibilities for creative expression in any direction, while the control of camber keeps it quick and poppy. £499.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

This is a perfect board for someone who wants to progress on the mountain. It’s playful while allowing you to pick up speed and feel completely in control.

Its Flying V profile will allow its rider to relax and enjoy taking their riding to the next level. £394.95 | 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.

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@INTHESNOWMAG

 Eider The Rocks Print

SKI

WORK IS OVERRATED

The Rocks Jacket is part of Eider’s Crossover Series – a collection of skiwear that’s been developed for general lifestyle wear as well as the slopes. The cosy and warm Rocks Jacket features bright colours and a slender feminine cut. Made with Eider’s Defender membrane, which ensures it’s waterproof and windproof but still breathable. £275 | snowandrock.com

 Burton

TWO

Kendo Snowboard Boot 2020

ONE

From steep chutes to untracked glades, the Kendo Boot is designed for a responsive feel that still knows how to cut loose.

Medium flex and a firm tongue respond to your every move while maintaining a forgiving ride. A soft, heat-mouldable liner lets you find the perfect fit. Reflective foil beneath the foot bounces heat back at your foot for warm feet on the coldest days. £259.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton Kilroy 3D Snowboard 2020

The Burton Kilroy 3D’s contours in the nose and tail remove material where it’s least needed, putting a new focus on flex, and opening doors to catch-free buttery exploration. It is a park/freestyle board and its pure pop camber profile means as well as easy-going butters and presses, you can lap the park no matter what is in your way. £419.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton

Insulated Women’s Jacket

Covert Pant Worn Camo

With the combination of GORE-TEX and Octa Loft “breathable” insulation, you can now stay warm and dry in any weather and in lots of different activities. Super light and very soft, you’ll barely know you’re wearing this jacket, making the multi-use options of this piece endless. £499 | skibartlett.com

Get the most for your well-earned coin with the all-out performance and premium finishes of the Burton Covert Pant. Rider-driven features include reinforced cuffs with elevators to prevent trouser scuffs, and waterproof/breathable fabrics for a fresh feel and rugged performance. £194.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton Genesis EST Snowboard Binding 2020

 Killtec ENOSH SKI PANTS

Functional pants with detachable straps, edge protection and snowcatcher. Enosh are made of breathable material, and due to the taped seams and 8,000mm water column also 100% waterproof. The edge protection on the legs makes the pants suitable for the slopes, while the practical detachable straps promise a comfortable fit. £99.99 | killtec.de

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The Burton Genesis Snowboard Binding was built to meet the comfort, strength and power demands of the Burton team.

Featuring a slightly softer flex and advanced anatomical design, it combines the plush cushioning with straps and hi-back that cradle and wrap your boots in ultimate comfort. £334.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

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KORE K1 + KORE 93

 Arc’teryx Shashka

FRESH POWDER, CREW. A solid but lightweight ski teamed with an equally light, high-performance boot. Putting the free in freeride.

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AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS

HOW DO THEY WORK?

 ROCKET JACK

The perfect home decor for any snow lover. Our bestselling mountain range includes individual and gallery wall prints for skiers and boarders alike. Made to order on premium quality paper and available with customisation, they make ideal gifts for the wintersports enthusiast.

From £19 | rocketjack.co.uk

Avalanche transceivers are electronic beacons that send and receive signals to and from other transceivers, using builtin aerials. It’s essential to carry one if you are skiing off piste (freeriding), and equally essential to know how to use it!

 Burton Flight Attendant Snowboard

If you are buried in an avalanche, wearing a transceiver will help people find you quicker. It will not save you from being buried in the first place! Caution and decisions on the terrain you ski are paramount and it’s essential to train in off-piste safety before you head off piste, and that you go with a local guide.

Most transceivers are now digital, making them quick and easy to use and giving you a direction arrow to follow and an estimated distance to the victim when in search mode.

All modern avalanche transceivers are crosscompatible. They all work on the same 457MHz frequency, so all transceivers can send and receive each other’s signals.

Many transceivers have features you might not even think you need. Many will tell you how far from another buried transceiver you are, they will also be able to manage interference from other electronic devices that might have been on when the avalanche hit, and some will automatically switch to transmit if they were in search mode after a first avalanche when another avalanche hits.

Keep in mind that carrying a transceiver is useless unless you know how to use it and also carry a shovel and probe to dig someone out of the snow.

For a more detailed look into transceivers visit skibartlett.com

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 Dakine Team Excursion Gore-Tex® Glove

 Dakine Team Mission 25L

The Team Mission pack channels team-rider Kazu Kokubo’s iconic style. Kokubo inspired the heritage Japanese graphic and contrasting colour palette. The pack’s 25-litre panel loading design is sized for quick-hit backcountry missions.

There’s a dedicated pocket for your shovel and probe, plus room in the main compartment for skins and essential backcountry gear. It’s well equipped with a fleece-lined pocket for your eyewear and a padded laptop sleeve for travel days or when you’re stuck in town. £75 | dakine.com

The Team Excursion gloves offer the storm protection, warmth and breathability that Kazu Kokubo demands for deep-snow backcountry missions. The gloves feature a waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX liner and Gore Active technology for the added breathability and storm protection that backcountry riding demands.

A combination of Primaloft® Gold insulation and a soft wool lining delivers the all-conditions warmth you need to explore and ride hard. Durable leather palms maintain the dexterity to manage your gear on the fly. £85 | dakine.com

The Burton Flight Attendant is a fastpaced, hard-hitting ride, which always delivers a stable and responsive feeling on- and off-piste. A staple in the Burton line-up with a set-back stance, this board allows you to ride the whole mountain with ease and with less back-leg burn in powder. £479.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton Stiletto Women’s Snowboard Binding 2020

 Patagonia

One of our most popular bindings, boasting women’sspecific features throughout for lightweight, feel-good support.

Canted hi-backs cradle the natural contours of your legs, while a bed of cushioning lays the foundation for consistent board control and softer landings. £174.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

Arbor Market Backpack 15L

An everyday, everywhere backpack with built-in laptop sleeve, zipped front compartment, easily openup zip top, and it’s made from all recycled fabrics. Whether you’re travelling to the Alps, to work, or to school, the Arbor backpack will fit into your lifestyle and look. £44.95 | skibartlett.com

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P R OT E S T. E U

 Atomic Backland Carbon Touring Ski Boot

A new Boa adjustment system gives you an extremely quick way to get a good wrapped hold for your forefoot and heel. The combination of the rigid rear ski/ walk lever and carbon-infused shell gives you a very positive downhill performance. Lift up the lever to walk and these have a huge amount of uninhibited ankle movement, feeling like you’re skinning up in a pair of hiking boots. Comfortable, lightweight, precise fit, epic performance up and down. £649.95 | skibartlett.com

 SCHÖFFEL KEYSTONE3 JACKET

Schöffel’s impressive design is showcased in this stunning UK exclusive colour option, meaning you’ll stand out from the crowd in more ways than one!

The high-performing four-way stretch fabric, combined with features including detachable hood with detachable faux fur, adjustable sleeves, pockets galore and underarm vents, results in a jacket that is uber comfortable, stylish and functional. £570 | snowandrock.com

 Dakine Gearhart Gore-Tex® 3L Jacket

The Gearhart jacket is loaded with cuttingedge tech to keep you dry and comfortable on the mountain. The three-layer GORE-TEX shell features GORE® C-KNIT backer and fully taped seams. The result is Dakine’s lightest-weight waterproof-breathable jacket and a soft interior that slides easily over layers. Zip vents and vent-through pockets enhance breathability, and there are plenty of pockets to keep musthave items within reach including a dedicated mesh goggles pocket. £420 | dakine.com

 Burton Prowess Women’s Jacket Port Royal

The Burton Prowess Jacket marries fashion-forward fabrics and design with rider-driven features to create a jacket that’s easy on the eyes – on-hill or around town. An exaggerated drop tail adds style and seals out cold, while waterproof/breathable DRYRIDE fabric outperforms everything in your closet. £229.95 | sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Dakine Team Poacher R.A.S. 26L

The Team Poacher R.A.S. 26L is part of the Benchetler x Grateful Dead signature series. It has the technical features and fit Chris Benchetler demands for riding steep lines and features a rendering of his original artwork on the back panel.

The contoured straps and back create a snug fit for aggressive skiing. The panel loader design includes full-zip back entry and separate avalanche tool storage. The pack is compatible with the Mammut® Removable Airbag System 3.0 and features Dakine’s exclusive RollTop closure. £185 | dakine.com

 Dakine Team Baron Gore-Tex® Mitt

The iconic steal-your-face graphic on the Team Baron mitts marks the Benchetler x Grateful Dead Signature Series. The collaboration blends the vibe of one of music’s most eclectic road shows with that of one of skiing’s most influential riders, Chris Benchetler. The mitts feature waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX liners and Gore Grip technology for all-day storm protection and maximum dexterity. A combination of Primaloft® Gold insulation and soft wool lining delivers the allconditions warmth you need to ride hard. £95 | dakine.com

 Burton Gloria Pant

Slimmed up and tailored to fit like your favourite pair of low-rider jeans, the bestselling Burton Gloria Insulated Pant is a waterproof wonder that also includes a touch of stretch so there’s no compromise in coverage or comfort. The silky soft stretch-taffeta lining wicks away heat-robbing moisture and slides smoothly against your skin or base layers. £249.95 sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Douchebag Big Bastard 90L EVA

Designed by riders, airline baggage handlers and equipment engineers to bring you luggage that is tough, modular and functions when put to the test. This roomy bag has enough space for everything you’d need on a winter trip, and with its huge zip opening you don’t even need to unpack!

Don’t forget its pull-out handle and smooth wheels and ability to hook on smaller backpacks to the front – now there’s no need for any airport baggage hassles £244.95 | skibartlett.com

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The original neckwarmer base layer brand™

Never ending adventures through multiFUNctional clothing New 4-way stretch non see-through Oeko-Tex™ certified UPF50 fabric eivyclothing.com | instagram.com/eivy #eivy #unboredonboard Get the goods at Ultra Sport Europe | ultrasporteu.com | info@ultrasporteu.com

 Planks

 Komperdell

Good Times

Air Vest Men’s Back Protector

Insulated Jacket

Winner of multiple safety and design awards and certified to the highest level of protection.

The Air Vest is lightweight and designed to be as comfortable as it is protective. Multiple layers of foam move over each other for comfort and freedom of movement, and when the need arises, the layers dissipate impact in a crash. £169.95 | skibartlett.com

Worn by skiers like James “Woodsy” Woods, this lightly insulated jacket will look and feel good on the slopes or on the streets. Insulated enough to keep you warm when the weather drops, but not too cumbersome to enjoy wearing all day. As it’s made from recycled bottles, you’ll be doing your bit for the planet at the same time! £249.95 | skibartlett.com

 POC Obex BC Spin Helmet

Featuring an NFC Medical ID chip, loadable with all your medical information, making it instantly scannable to rescuers at the scene of an injury. Combine this with “SPIN” technology helping dissipate impact and rotational force, add in a RECCO rescue reflector, loads of ventilation and a slightly thicker shell than the standard Obex SPIN, and you have the ultimate backcountry helmet. £229.95 | skibartlett.com

 KJUS Men’s Formula Jacket

Engineered to perfection. A classic design that is never dull, the Formula contains the best that KJUS has to offer when it comes to insulated ski jackets: four-way ultra-stretch fabric to help you carve up the pistes, KJUS’ trademarked AC-Vent™ ventilation technology for enhanced breathability, an easy-touse adjustable drawstring to draw the jacket tight around your body and a removable hood that fits over your helmet. Available in various colour-ways. £699 kjus.com | snowandrock.com

 Tecnica Mach 1 LV 105

 Black Crows Orb

Women’s Boot

A superb lively fun ski, whether you’re making high-speed turns on an edge or playing through some softer snow at the sides of the piste. These have the ability to easily rotate under your feet for quick manoeuvres, but as soon as you roll them onto their edges they have amazing grip.

Let these skis do the work and they are so easy to ski. A superb fun and very versatile ski to play on all over the mountain. £599.95 | skibartlett.com

 Dakine Signature Poacher 32L

 SMITH 4D MAG™

Black with ChromaPop™ Sun Green Mirror.

You can now see more than ever before.

The new 4D Mag™ raises the bar for lens innovation with the introduction of the BirdsEye Vision™. This state-of-the-art lens technology has a 25% increase of overall field of view compared to the I/O Mag™. £259.99 | ultrasporteu.com

Part of the EP Artist Series, the Signature Poacher pack shares Eric Pollard’s inspired artwork and a backcountry-savvy panel-loader design for pursuing untracked lines. The 32L pack is big enough for full-day tours and refined enough for quick missions beyond the gates. A dedicated pocket for avalanche tools keeps safety gear accessible, while a zip back panel yields wide access to the pack body.

Small details like waist belt pockets and a fleece-lined goggles pocket help keep your ski touring kit organised. £155 | dakine.com

 Dakine Signature Phantom Gore-Tex® Glove

The Signature Phantom gloves are part of Dakine’s EP Artist Series and were developed with skiing GOAT Eric Pollard.

The full leather build features a GORE-TEX membrane and Gore Grip technology. The result is storm-ready performance and enhanced dexterity to manage your gear without removing your gloves. The leather is durable and supple, while a fleece lining and PrimaLoft® Gold insulation keep you warm. The design shares Pollard’s handdrawn art inspired by the natural elements of the ocean and mountains. £95 | dakine.com

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A ski boot that fits superbly, performs like you want it to and will keep you warm on the coldest of days. Includes cuff adapt system to mould to your individual leg shape.

CAS customisable liner – giving ski boot fitters the ability to mould, grind and push out anywhere they need to get you the best fit around your foot. The liners now include unique heatretaining materials, which transfer your body heat into infrared energy, penetrating deep into your body to keep you warm! £349 | skibartlett.com

 Killtec SOLA SKI TROUSERS

Functional with detachable straps, edge protection and snowcatcher, Sola trousers are ideal for the ski slope. Thanks to the 10,000mm water column and welded seams, they are 100% waterproof, and the straps can be removed if necessary. In addition, especially stressed areas of the functional pants are strengthened with an edge protection, and the stretch material ensures optimum freedom of movement. £129.99 | killtec.de

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Eider M Jacket 

The M Jacket has been designed for the sporty athlete who desires adventure in the mountains. With motion inserts at the back, this jacket is designed to move with the body, giving more freedom of motion while increasing breathability at the same time. It meets your every need, with refined style. £499.99 | ellis-brigham.com

 Dakine Team Baron Gore-Tex® Mitt (Elias Elhardt)

The mitts, designed in collaboration with pro snowboarder Elias Elhardt, feature waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX liners and Gore Grip technology for all-day storm protection and maximum dexterity.

A combination of Primaloft® Gold insulation and soft wool lining delivers the all-conditions warmth you need to ride hard. £85 | dakine.com

 Dakine

 Patagonia

Team Poacher 22L

Cap Air Hoodie

(Elias Elhardt)

One of the most techy base layers you can find – impressive warmth and comfort, insulates even when wet, dries quickly, very lightweight and odour resistant for multiple days on the go. All these tech features make the “Cap Air” range extremely functional whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, hiking, travelling or just for everyday use. Tech definitely meets style and comfort with this multi-use top. £124.95 | skibartlett.com

Dakine team rider Elias Elhardt’s appreciation for the natural world comes alive in the Team Poacher 22l pack. Featuring muted tones and an old-school canvas look, this pack has the space you need for in-bounds and through-the-gate missions.

The panel load design has a dedicated pocket for your shovel and probe plus a main compartment for skins and essential backcountry gear. A fleece-lined pocket protects goggles or sunglasses. £155 | dakine.com

 Atomic X9i Widebody

A wider underfoot piste ski that gives you more allmountain piste performance and a more stable and controllable feel. The combination of its built-in Servotec arm and lightweight caruba wood core gives you an agile feel with a lively kick out of the turn. A great performance piste ski that performs when you want to! £729 incl bindings | skibartlett.com

schoeffel.de For stockists information call:

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DEC19 // 0075

01572 770900

 Black Crows Corpus 3 Layer GORE-TEX Jacket

If it wasn’t already a bestseller, the new Corpus has been tweaked and improved to give you even more of a technical freeride performance jacket with timeless good looks – maintaining its classic parka styling but increasing its functional freedom-of-movement fit.

This jacket will definitely look as good on the mountain as it will in the town. £609.95 | skibartlett.com

 Head Kore 2 Ski Boot

 Rossignol

Don’t compromise on your desire for a lightweight boot over hard charging performance. With the Kore you can have both.

A lightweight touring-friendly graphene-infused shell is combined with all the fully customisable fit options you can think of and solid lockeddown power and performance. £459.95 | skibartlett.com

Pure Elite 90 Women’s Ski Boot

A very comfortable low-volume boot with clever varying flex. Merino wool insulation in the liner keeps you warm, multiple bolt configurations in the back allow you to tailor the boot’s performance up and down as you progress and the low-volume fit will keep your feet held snugly in position. £334.95 | skibartlett.com

 Reactor 32

 Black Crows

Pro Avalanche Airbag Backpack

Corpus Three-Layer Bib Pant

Designed for mountain professionals and those of you who are looking for a bomber-proof avalanche airbag to last you for years. Its tough Cordura fabric is three times more abrasionresistant than other similar fabrics. Its built-in Arva Reactor airbag system is one of the fastest and most powerful inflation systems you can get. And at 32L capacity it’s a size that will hold everything for longer adventures or everyday use. £579.95 | skibartlett.com

These technical GORE-TEX bib pants have been made with a breathable stretch fabric in the bib, which is also detachable. Cut for function and ultimate freedom of movement, these should be your go-to freeride pant to pair with the new Corpus jacket. £519.95 | skibartlett.com

 SMITH I/O MAG XL™

Cloudgrey with ChromaPop™ Sun Platinum Mirror. We took the Smith MAG™ interchangeable system and integrated it with a more expansive window to the mountains. The I/O MAG™ XL’s extra-large spherical ChromaPop™ lens enhances clarity and amplifies your experience. £219.99 | ultrasporteu.com

OOSC JAMIE NICHOLLS RANGE

Jamie is a double Olympian, Team GB snowboarder and has designed his own range of jackets, bib pants and base layers with OOSC for this season all made from recycled plastic bottles, 10k breathable and 10k waterproof, as well as having loads of pockets, waterproof zips and taped seams and all the features you expect from a top ski jacket at a price that won’t break the bank!

Jacket: £185 | Bib Pants: £185 | Base Layer set: £80 | oosc-clothing.com

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JAZ TAYLOR Jasmin “Jaz” Taylor is one of Britain’s most successful wintersports athletes of all time, competing on the World Cup circuit, where she has so far achieved 29 podiums including five gold medals as well as in the World Championships, where she’s twice placed third overall, and in the British Championships, where she’s a five-time winner. Jaz’s discipline?

Telemark skiing, the original form of downhill skiing invented in Scandinavia more than 150 years ago and back in vogue now.

So, how did you get into Telemark skiing?

I was originally an alpine skier. I started on the dry slopes and soon went on snow with the British Ski Academy where we eventually had a trial day in Telemark. The season before, I trained for ski cross, but once I tried Telemark I was hooked.

OK, sell us Telemark skiing!

Telemark equipment is capable of alpine skiing, ski touring and Telemark skiing. The movement is much more forgiving through the joints as everything remains in alignment.

There is more freedom of movement, which means impact from higher forces and bumps in the snow are absorbed into the equipment rather than the knees or back, plus the boots are much more comfortable!

Any advice for people wanting to give it a try?

Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get it straight away; most people don’t, but once it clicks, it feels amazing. It’s also great for improving alpine technique and general

078 // DEC19

fitness. If you’re tired or afraid, you can always alpine anyway.

What are your main goals for 2019/20?

At the moment I’m focusing on rectifying points that were not optimal last season, so I suppose the main goals are to resolve those issues. Although, as always I want to improve on my results from last season.

And in the longer term?

I’m currently in my final year studying Sport and Exercise Science part-time at the University of Suffolk. I’m really proud of this as when I started out, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to study alongside, but with the support of my university, they have made this possible.

Is funding a problem?

Telemark doesn’t qualify for UK Sport funding as we are not an Olympic sport, but I have also been very lucky and have private sponsorship. We also have GB Telemark sponsors who support the team and include Leggett Immobilier, Dare 2 B, VOLA, Point6 and Aquatronic Group Management.

You were campaigning for Telemark to be included in the Winter Olympics – any joy?

Telemark was voted through at the International Skiing Federation (FIS) level and put forward as an Olympic sport to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) where it was unfortunately declined at the final stage. However, this is the furthest the sport has ever been. In the future there will be further attempts, and a lot of work is happening behind the scenes to raise the profile and standards. jaztelemark.com

EXPERIENCE THE MOUNTAINS YOUR WAY

THE LARGEST MARKED SKI TOURING PARK IN THE ALPS. CRANS-MONTANA.CH/SKITOURING