InTheSnow – Issue 53 (January 2017)

Page 18

N ALBIN

SMART CAMERAS IN SCANDINAVIAN SNOW PARKS

ZERMATT APP NOW “FUSES REALITY WITH VIRTUALITY”

ISCHGL BANS NIGHT-TIME PARTYING IN SKI BOOTS

A new generation of smart cameras have been set up ready to film

Zermatt Bergbahnen, the famous Swiss resort’s lift company, has

Ischgl, which is known as one of the top après-ski destinations in

your every move when you enter the terrain parks at one of five of

announced improvements to its Skiguide Zermatt app. New for 2017

world skiing, has taken steps to curb overenthusiastic revelry through

Scandinavia’s largest ski areas in Norway and Sweden.

is “User Perspective BETA”, which the company says is a mixed-reality

the evening, or at least make it safer.

The new video service at SkiStar Snow Parks in Åre, Sälen, Vemdalen,

feature that:

The issue the Austrian Tirolean resort is seeking to tackle is the

Hemsedal and Trysil means that the skier’s SkiPass in their pocket is

“…fuses reality and virtuality, allowing users to immerse themselves

wearing of ski boots through the evening and into the night.

all that’s needed for the cameras to track them as soon as they enter

completely in the 3D map and experience their surroundings as a ‘low-

The problem is that thousands of people finish their days on the

the park.

poly world’, generated specially for the app.”

slopes by heading in to one of Ischgl’s famous slopeside après-ski

A smart camera films the run and within minutes, the film has been

This approach offers improved navigation and is a more convenient way

bars. Many, it seems, don’t even attempt to return to their hotels to

uploaded on the skier’s MySkiStar profile online. Here they can view

of providing information about the immediate surroundings, Zermatt

change later, but instead just continue on through the evening in their

their run, save the video and share tricks with friends via social media.

Bergbahnen says.

ski gear and boots.

In addition, for younger children at SkiStar’s resorts, the company has

The intuitive route finder shows users how to reach their favourite

Some apparently remember they’ve left their skis at the base of

launched mascot Valle’s very own ski school, which the company says

mountain restaurant from any location in the ski area and how long they

the slopes late in the evening and clatter off to get it, swaying back

is a really fun way for children aged between three and nine years to

will need to get there using the lifts and pistes currently open, taking into

through the resort centre late in the evening, swinging their gear.

learn how to ski confidently and safely.

account the level of ability entered.

In a new ‘Guest Information’ letter this season, signed by the resort’s

Children who want to begin training in early autumn can try out Valle’s

All map content, such as lifts, pistes and restaurants is interactive,

mayor as well as the head of the tourist board and the head of the ski

Ski Rules Game, a new feature on the Valle app that is now also

and the app also has an online ticketing facility, a personalised graph

lift company, the resort says a new policy to offer a new “high quality

available in English.

showing elevation change, current webcam views and weather outlook

après-ski offer” is the focus this season. To that end, a fine of up to

“We want to help children and young people to discover how great

as well as detailed avalanche hazard levels and other safety alerts.

€2,000 (£1,800) may be levied on anyone caught in ski boots in public

it is to get out and have fun in the outdoors,” said Linda Morell, PR

The app.matterhornparadise.ch website offers a full overview of the

after 8pm until 6am the next morning. They note that in the past

Manager at SkiStar. “It should be simple and fun to go on an active ski

range of built-in functions and a link to the App Store and Google Play

those in ski gear after 8pm have sometimes proved to be “a danger to

holiday with the whole family.”

where it is available free of charge for iOS and Android devices.

themselves and to others.”

PLAN. BOOK. SKI. ANDORRA. arinsal.co.uk pasdelacasa.com soldeu.com andorraresorts.com


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InTheSnow – Issue 53 (January 2017) by InTheSnow - Issuu