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HISTORY IN THE MAKING
We look back at how literature, pop culture and war played a part in the evolution of skiing
Welcome
As a new season dawns we take a look back at events that shaped the history of skiing and its resorts, from the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix and how war saw Ski Cooper nurture the state’s early ski industry, to literary links that helped bring Davos to the world’s attention and The Beatles’ impact on Obertauern – as well as seeing what the resorts have to offer for this season’s skiers.
We also have features on alternative activities to enjoy in the mountains while on your skiing holiday – such as paragliding on skis in Meribel and tackling high ropes in CrestVoland – and meet Italian ski champion Florian Eisath to find out about running a “boutiquestyle” ski resort in the Dolomites.
Meanwhile, you can find out all about what’s going on this season in the news and holiday news pages. Plus we check out new skiwear on the market – and the chance to win an OOSC ski suit – the latest news from the UK clubs and slopes scene and make sure to enter Interski’s holiday competition!
And don’t forget you can always keep up to date with the latest news and special offers on our website at skierandsnowboarder.com
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We have teamed up with Ski Beat to offer the chance for one lucky reader to win a ski holiday for two to France worth over £2,000. To enter, simply sign up to receive our newsletter – giving you the latest news and offers throughout the season and beyond – by heading to our website (skierandsnowboarder.com) and filling in the online form by 11pm on 30 November 2024. Plus that’s not all, a second lucky winner will receive a pair of 3D ski poles and gloves worth £240 from Leki.
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Editorial
Email: skierandsnowboardermag@gmail.com
Tel: 01892 677 740
Advertisement Manager SHARON MASLEN
Email: sharon.maslen@spacemarketing.co.uk Tel: 01892 677 742
Front Cover Photo: Courtesy of Finches, your independent specialist Ski & Snowboard Store in SE London. 0208 699 6768, Sales@finchesemporium.com finchesemporium.com
Warren Miller #75 tickets on sale
Warren Miller is going big for 75 years! And here at Skier & Snowboarder we are excited to be their official UK media partner for the events! Get ready for a stacked line-up featuring snowboarders Shaun White, Zeb Powell, Toby Miller, Danny Davis, and 15-year-old phenom LJ Henriquez, plus skiers Max Hitzig, Lexi duPont, Caite Zeliff, Aaron Blunck, and many more. Explore powder stashes and chutes around the world, from Canada, Colorado, California, and Utah to Finland, Japan, Austria, and New Jersey. (Yes, even New Jersey.)
Featuring 10 all-new, original segments, Warren Miller’s 75 hits theatres this autumn –and you won’t want to miss it!
Premiering in Glasgow, London, Canterbury, Belfast, Chester and Edinburgh, it is hosted by athletes from Disability Snowsport UK and great prizing on the night. For tickets, visit warrenmiller.co.uk/tickets/uk
Try out the world exclusive Aérolive
La Plagne has introduced a world-first experience with two unique cabins that have been added to the Glaciers gondola, carrying passengers to the resort’s new high point, Live 3000, at 3,080 metres above sea level.
These minimalist, open-air cabins offer an unobstructed view of the stunning Alpine landscape, allowing riders to feel the elements in a fully immersive experience. In both summer and winter, the main highlight is the panoramic rooftop view from the terrace at the summit of the ski area. Passengers are safely harnessed, with slatted floors allowing them to see below, and no glass barriers to hinder their connection to the environment.
Upon reaching the top, they step into snow-blanketed world in winter, with the chance to relax at the Sixième Ciel café. From there, they can either ski down
challenging red or black runs or return via the gondola in its classic cabin mode.
This ambitious project, which took two years to complete, was a collaboration between La Plagne’s ski operator, Société d’Aménagement de La Plagne (SAP), the Compagnie des Alpes’ Development division, and ski lift manufacturer POMA.
While maintaining the key principles of a traditional cabin, this unique design emphasises safety and a thrilling sense of exposure, offering passengers a one-of-akind adventure.
A ride in the Aérolive is priced from €49/£41 pp and lasts 30 minutes. en.la-plagne.com
Ride the four seasons Alpine coaster in Les Gets this winter
Located in the Perrières sector at the entrance of the Les Gets village, the Alpine coaster attraction has become a year-round favourite since its launch last winter. With a journey time of nearly six minutes, the ride includes a 380-metre ascent followed by a 714-metre descent, with an exhilarating 105-metre elevation drop.
Suitable for the whole family (minimum age three, accompanied by an adult, or eight to ride solo). The four seasons Alpine coaster is priced from €8 / £7 per descent (one or two people per luge) or €35 / £30 for five descents. portesdusoleil.com
Expanded
programme of holidays for young people
Action Outdoors, the UK arm of not for profit UCPA, has launched an expanded programme of ski and snowboard holidays for young people for the 2024-25 winter season.
Like all of its holidays, the emphasis is on all-inclusive value for money in UCPA centres in some of the top French ski resorts including Val d’Isère, Val Thorens and Les Arcs. There’s now more than 300 holidays across the winter that are specifically for the 18-30 age group, with 18-25s benefiting from even further discounting on price. All 18-30 Club Exclusive holidays mean the centres are blocked off exclusively for that age group.
Prices start at £541pp (18-25s) and £551pp (18-30 Exclusive weeks), including 7 nights full-board accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner, full area ski pass for 6 days, ski or snowboard rental and instruction.
There’s also ski and snowboard
holidays with instruction for all levels with a particularly strong focus on beginners, but intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders can join groups at their level – the UCPA is the second largest ski school in France (after the ESF).
The full list of resorts where holidays for 18-30 year olds are available includes: Argentiere, Chamonix, Flaine, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Les Contamines, Les Deux Alpes, Serre Chevalier, Tignes, Val d’Isère and Val Thorens.
AnnaMai McDermott, Action Outdoors marketing manager, said: “When we launched holidays last winter exclusively for the 18-30 age group we had a fantastic response and now we have expanded the programme so that young people have a choice of dates across the winter including college and university holiday times.”
Book at action-outdoors.co.uk
Carbon neutral airport transfers
Ben’s Bus Airport Ski Transfers, who sell low cost shared transfers from Geneva Airport, Grenoble Airport and Lyon Airport to many French ski resorts, are now carbon neutral – as if you travel on any of their transfers you will now have your carbon footprint offset via their new environmental scheme.
A company that cares about climate change, they’ve found a way for their monetary contributions to make a real difference by donating a large sum at the end of the season to SolarAid.
Already an environmentally friendly way
to get to your ski resort – shared transfers on a large vehicle with lots of other passengers, mean shared carbon emissions – Ben’s Bus have gone a step further and will now, at the end of the season, calculate their total carbon emissions and convert that to money and donate it to SolarAid.
Ben’s Bus have also written a guide with some top tips on how to get your carbon footprint even lower, including ways to reduce your luggage weight on the plane.
To find out more, visit bensbus.co.uk /2024/06/bens-bus-goes-carbon-neutral/
Deer Valley Resort has been named as an official venue for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the announcement, confirming that the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 bid has been successful.
Deer Valley will host the freestyle skiing events, including moguls and aerials, marking a continuation of its long-standing tradition of commitment to winter sports development. The resort previously hosted the freestyle events during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and has since been the site of numerous international competitions, including the 2003, 2011, and 2019 World Championships and 21 FIS World Cups.
The selection of Deer Valley as a venue for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games coincides with the resort’s Expanded Excellence™ initiative. This collection of projects aims to evolve and elevate the Deer Valley experience for future generations and will be ready to showcase to the world in 2034.
Highlights include more than doubling the existing skiable terrain, the development of the new Deer Valley East Village, a transformation of the Snow Park base area, and revitalisation of existing on-mountain facilities. expandedexcellence.deervalley.com
OOSC Clothing, the innovative British ski and outerwear brand, has been honoured with the esteemed King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its exceptional achievements in international trade and sustainable development.
Established in 2015, OOSC Clothing has quickly made a name for itself by infusing the vibrant energy of 80s fashion into contemporary ski wear. Its unique approach has captivated audiences worldwide, leading to remarkable growth and sales in over 110 countries.
Central to OOSC Clothing’s ethos is its dedication to sustainability. By utilising recycled nylon and polyester sourced from sea waste like fishing nets and plastic bottles, the brand is not only fashion-forward but also environmentally conscious.
Co-founder Nick Marsden said: “This award is a testament to our hard work, determination, and vision to showcase OOSC to a global audience.” oosc-clothing.com
History in the making
In the first of our two-part article on Colorado’s fabulous winter landscape, MARK NICHOLLS discovers a true hidden gem of a resort in Ski Cooper
In the dark days of 1942, when America had only recently entered World War
Two after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, an elite group of troops were being trained on a mountainside in Colorado.
They were the 10th Mountain Division. Their goal: to be equipped to fight in the snowy landscapes of Europe.
That saw a ski lift installed on a slope a few
miles from the town of Leadville and in the shadow of Mount Elbert, Colorado’s highest peak at 14,433 feet.
Over the months that followed, more and more troops arrived by rail from nearby Camp Hale – which still exists – to prepare for winter warfare thousands of miles from home.
As troops left for Europe’s battlefields, the ski hill and lift was used by locals during lulls
in training. After the war it was gifted to Lake County as a leisure facility.
It became Ski Cooper.
What is arguably the cradle of skiing in central Colorado, the resort has expanded over the years into a 480-acre ski area with 64 runs.
Yet it’s incredible legacy is even more far-reaching. The necessities of warfare ultimately spawned the ski landscape we see today in Colorado as returning soldiers of the 10th began to visualise, finance and build resorts, having seen how the ski and hospitality industry was evolving in Europe.
Vail and Arapahoe Basin are prime examples of resorts established by wartime comrades.
Some may now overshadow Ski Cooper (SkiCooper.com) in terms of fame, scale and even opulence, but this small scale resort remains a “hidden gem”. Its lift system is somewhat quaint but has a character in fitting with the variety of terrain: a large beginners area of sweet greens; sweeping, steeper blues that thrill and exhilarate; and tricky blacks that test the most experienced of skiers.
With some of the best tree-lined runs in Colorado, the trails are quiet, peaceful and thoroughly enjoyable and in tune with the natural landscape.
Ski Cooper, which is still run as a non-profit organisation, also pays homage to the gold, silver and lead miners of Irish descent who
worked in this region. You can ski Leprechaun Lane (pictured above) between the trees and spot hidden figures; there is Katie O’Rourke’s bar where dark ale drips from beer pumps and a delicious stew (the $12 Johnny McMulley Irish Pot Pie) is served. You’ll hear the strains of Thin Lizzy’s Whiskey In the Jar playing over speakers and maybe the music of Van Morrison too.
Runs include Molly Mayfield, the beautiful Homestake, Trail’s End, and Upper Shamrock, plus steepish blues such as Ambush and the black diamonds of Nightmare and Kamikaze. Take the Piney Basin Triple Chair and enjoy an exhilarating run down Nightmare but don’t be put off by the name – it’s a dream. This, however, isn’t just a beginners or intermediate resort. Over the 11,750-foot summit is Tennessee Creek Basin and a whole
gamut of double black diamond trails.
The resort’s Dana Johnson, a former TV meteorologist, explained how the hill came to be selected as a suitable winter warfare training area because of its rugged terrain and heavy snowfalls, and then transitioned into a public ski facility that has evolved over the post-war decades.
“It was where soldiers learned how to conduct warfare on skis,” she said, “but was gifted to the county when it was no longer needed by the military. People still view it as a local hill but others come from all over the world to enjoy it. It is a relaxing super chill skiing area, with wide open spaces.”
With ample parking and accommodation about nine miles away in Leadville, it punches above its weight in terms of ski terrain, facilities and ambience.
Today, Ski Cooper may not be among Colorado’s best known ski resorts and often sits in the shadow of larger and wealthier destinations such as Vail, Aspen, Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte and Telluride, to name but a few.
But it will forever be the place that nurtured the state’s early ski industry –arguably the location where downhill skiing began in Colorado.
Part two of Mark’s article will be in our Spring issue.
TRAVEL FACTS
FLIGHTS: United Airlines (united.com) flies direct from London Heathrow to Denver (nine hours approx.).
ACCOMMODATION: Mark Nicholls stayed at The Hythe (thehythevail.com) in Vail, about 30 miles from Ski Cooper.
SKI PASS: A lift pass on the day is $95 but can be bought online for $65 and there are $30 Thursdays in January and February at Ski Cooper. There is also a children’s rate and under-5s go free. Check prices locally and always book in advance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit colorado.com & SkiCooper.com
In the footsteps of the first Winter Olympians
IAIN MARTIN celebrates 100 years since Chamonix hosted the Olympics
In the century since Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympics, the depth of the Mer de Glace has shrunk by more than 100 metres. The change is so great that in February 2024, a new gondola was opened from the glacier back to Montenvers to save skiers who have taken on the famous Vallée Blanche off-piste run from having to tackle the 580 steps that now exist back to the top.
Yet while the snow and ice of the surrounding mountains have seen marked changes since Chamonix first hosted the Winter Olympics in 1924, much of the town itself remains the same as when the first athletes walked those very streets.
300 competitors from 17 countries as they started their parade towards the ice rink where the opening ceremony took place.”
As we walked past tourists eyeing expensive puffer jackets in Moncler, Bernadette pointed to the balcony just above the shop window: “One hundred years ago, guests of Hotel Le Metropole, as it was then, stood there, waving and cheering as the procession passed.”
Bernadette Tsuda is a passionate Chamoniarde, who loves taking visitors back to follow the steps of those first Olympians on her guided heritage tours. I met Bernadette outside the town hall, where she set the scene: “On the 25th of January 1924, the mayor, Jean Lavelle, welcomed
And what a sight they would have seen, as the participants carried with them their equipment to indicate their area of sporting expertise.
“The skaters carried their skates in their hands, the curlers had their brushes, the skiers had their skis,” said Bernadette. “Thanks to snow in the streets, even the bobsleigh teams dragged their sleds behind them.”
If taking part was enough for some, winning was still important. Some things don’t change: Norway topped the table, as they did at the most recent Games in Beijing.
Guide Bernadette Tsuda
Great Britain won four medals, including a gold in curling. Possibly more medals could have been won by Team GB had Alpine ski racing been included, rather than just Nordic skiing.
While still in its infancy, Briton Sir Arnold Lunn had already organised the first downhill race in Crans Montana in 1911. He would go on to organise the first timed slalom race in Murren in 1922, but ‘downhill’ racing wouldn’t be introduced to the Olympics until 1936.
The delay was driven by politics. As a concession to the Scandinavian nations, who already held an annual ‘Northern Games’ winter event, much to the disappointment of Lunn, it had been agreed that Alpine racing would not be included.
FRANCE
The truth is that in 1924, none of the competitors even realised they would be competing in the first Winter Olympics. The original idea had been to stage a winter celebration of sport in France as a companion piece to the Paris 1924 summer Olympics.
The games were originally simply “Sport d’Hiver Concours” (Winter Sports Competitions) to be held “on the occasion of the VIII Olympiad”, but Bernadette pointed out that, deliberately or not, it was destined to become an official Olympic event.
“Firstly, there was an opening ceremony, at which the athletes swore the Olympic oath. This is vital. Then as well, we see the Olympic flag flown at the three main venues: the ice rink, the bobsleigh and the ski jump.”
These days, the use of the iconic Olympic rings symbol is restricted. Try and use this trademark without permission and the IOC will slap you down with legal action immediately. One hundred years ago, however, in simpler times with no official sponsors, evidently homemade Olympic flags were acceptable.
“We will never know if the organisers had the stamp of approval to use the rings,” Bernadette told me. “But we do know that the photos do not lie. And they show the Olympic emblem again and again in use at the event.”
She believes it was this ‘proof’ that allowed the IOC to retroactively designate the competition as the ‘first Winter Olympic Games’ in May 1926, putting in motion a four-year cycle that would include both the Summer and Winter Games.
It is a moot point whether winter sports will still be possible in Chamonix in another hundred years’ time.
To Bernadette it is the principles of decency behind the Olympics that we will decide our future. “To me the Olympic spirit is everything,” she told me as we gazed up at Mont Blanc from the site of the opening ceremony, now a modern multi-purpose ice rink. “Keep your values simple; do your best; and uphold those fundamental Olympic ideals.”
TRAVEL FACTS
• Iain travelled to and from Chamonix by train (from £194 return) and booked accommodation via Chamonix All Year (chamonixallyear.com).
• Bernadette Tsuda offers guided heritage tours of Chamonix, bookable at the Tourist Office. The exhibition “Chamonix 1924: The Invention of the Winter Olympic Games” continues at the Maison de la Mémoire et du Patrimoine until 15 March 2025.
• Iain Martin is the presenter of The Ski Podcast. Catch up with over 220 episodes at theskipodcast.com, including Episode 200 which includes audio interviews with Bernadette Tsuda.
PHOTO:
Marking 60 years of
MARK NICHOLLS visits the snowiest ski resort in Austria and follows in the tracks of The
Almost 60 years ago, The Beatles created memorable comic moments aboard snow bikes in the Austrian ski resort of Obertauern while making their second film Help! Today, those images from a few short days in March 1965 continue to shape the resort – which claims to be the snowiest in Austria – and its pop-cult appeal.
So, what better place for me to take a few hours away from skiing, give snow biking a go,
Beatles
and follow in the tracks of The Beatles?
With short skis on my boots and a front and back ski on the bike, I placed myself under the guidance of expert instructor Hermann Koch. He conveyed the refinements of steering, such as using accentuated head movements to shift the balance for a turn, lifting a ski for emphasis or taking an arm or even fingers off the handlebars to subtly move the body weight. And off we set.
What I soon discovered is that he’s no
ordinary tutor. Hermann is a world record holder with no less than seven entries in the Guinness Book of Records for endurance, stunts such as the most 360-degree turns in a minute, and longest descents on a snow bike.
He’s also got a top speed of 138kmh out of the snow bike, which weighs a mere 6kg and has been significantly updated from those used by John, Paul, George and Ringo in 1965.
Hermann, who also has years of experience as a ski school boss, explained that snow biking can help with ski technique for beginners. “But often,” he continued, “some people just want to take a day off from skiing and have fun snow biking on the mountain; others want to play at being The Beatles!”
Snow biking is one aspect of the resort’s inextricable link with the Fab Four which seemingly gets stronger as the years pass.
However, while John, Paul, George and Ringo also had fun curling and tobogganing during their stay, they did draft in body doubles for the skiing scenes.
Lukas Eisl from Obertauern tourism said: “So many people still come here and ask about The Beatles, even though it was nearly 60 years ago. In 2025 it will be the 60th anniversary and we are looking at how we can mark that occasion.”
Obertauern was chosen as the location for Help! as the producers thought few people would recognise The Beatles when they turned
Mark Nicholls snow biking in Obertauern
pop appeal
up for those few days of filming in March 1965.
Nowadays, it is chosen by winter sports enthusiasts because of the amount of snow it receives due to its geographical location and the point where weather systems converge over the Hohe Tauern mountains.
Data shows an average annual snow depth of 264cm for a ski area stretching from the village at 1740m above sea level up to 2313m.
Obertauern has 100km of mainly blue and red runs making it ideal for intermediate skiers and families. But there are 4km of black slopes including the legendary Gamsleiten 2, one of the steepest runs in the Alps, as well as off-piste options.
Another major appeal of snow-sure Obertauern is the linear layout of the resort
with 11 entry points into the ski area, which effectively offers ski-inski-out for many hotels throughout a season which runs from late November to 1 May.
You can also enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides, snow shoeing, hiking, snow kiting, tobogganing, or crosscountry skiing. Additionally, the 12km Tauernrunde circuit is skiable in each direction around the mountains, with other interesting reds and blues accessible from the Panoramabahn and Zehnerkarbahn and near the Grunwaldkophbahn lift, where you’ll see a replica grand piano as a reminder of a scene from the film.
In fact, Beatles memorabilia, statues and photos are everywhere and in 1965 the SalzburgerLand resort inadvertently became the only location where any of The Beatles actually performed in Austria when Paul McCartney and John Lennon joined in an impromptu jam with Berlin-based band Jacky and the Strangers. That ‘gig’ was at a party at the Marietta Hotel (now Places Hotel) where the film crew were staying.
Today, Obertauern is an attractive and varied ski area with great hotels, lively apres-ski bars and restaurants, as well as retaining a unique link to an iconic moment in pop history.
TRAVEL FACTS
ACCOMMODATION: Mark Nicholls stayed at the Sporthotel Snowwhite, instantly recognisable as it is painted vivid blue with a bar, spa, restaurant and comfortable rooms with easy access to the slopes. For more information and rates, visit snowwhite-obertauern.at
DINING: Try the rustic Gnadenalm ( gnadenalm.com) and the local dish of Holzhackernocken (bacon, onion, noodles and mushrooms) at €17.50 or beef fillet or rack of ribs at mountain eateries such as Treff 2000 or the Kringsalm (kringsalm.at ). The latter was opened by Gerhard Krings, who was George Harrison’s body double for the film, while Restaurant Herzenslust (herzens-lust.at/de/ ) is a favourite and serves amazing venison ragout (€32.50).
SNOW BIKING: Two-hour starter lessons are €99, one-day snow bike hire is €45, visit skikoch.at
SKI PASS: six-day pass (€318), one-day pass (€59).
FLIGHTS: Several airlines fly into Salzburg (90-minute transfer) and Munich (three hours).
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit obertauern.com & salzburgerland.com
The replica grand piano on the slopes at Obertauern
The Beatles monument on the slopes in Obertauern
Members of The Beatles on skis
A bird’s eye view of Meribel
HILS EVERITT
takes to the skies for a unique experience – paragliding on skis in the French Alps
Suddenly out of the almost silence, interrupted by the gentle whistling of the wind, came my pilot’s voice:
“Are you OK; don’t feel sick?! Most people do. Just tell me when to stop if you need,” followed by a cheeky giggle.
“No, I’m fine,” I bellowed back, “it’s glorious, although just one or two more sharp turns will do!”
I was having a ball wafting above the resort
wallowing in the superb views and enjoying the peace, 1,000ft up in the air. I was strapped to a lovely chap from the Ludosky company, tandem paragliding on skis and getting a bird’s eye view of the mountains.
I was even allowed to take the reins for a good five minutes. It felt incredible gliding over the glorious French resort of Meribel, in Les Trois Vallées, turning when I felt like it, taking care to avoid the power lines and chairlifts. All too soon the 20-minute flight was up, and my pilot took control again to guide us back to the empty field on the side of the benign green piste that leads back to Meribel Centre.
It’s so sedate and glorious up in the air, but as you approach land you realise you are travelling at quite a lick, and we hit the snowy field with an inglorious bump in a tangle of legs, skis and lines. “Don’t move,” was the shout as I fell with a bang on my bum. Unfortunately, the wind had caught the canopy, which subsequently dragged us through the deep, heavy snow. “Keep your skis and legs still,” came the warning shout as we were dragged another few metres. We both burst out laughing, although I was now feeling quite uncomfortable and needed to move my tangled pile of skis and legs.
“Wait a minute while I get you out and we can sort ourselves!” Although no sooner had he uttered this, the ‘chute caught the wind again and we set off through the snow once more.
Finally, we came to a halt and I was quickly released from my harness. I managed to get my skis off while lying in the snow, still pumping with adrenaline. We were soon upright, the canopy packed away and trudging through the deep snow to the piste with an easy ski back to Meribel Centre.
These amazing flights start on a ledge, a short ski down from Ludosky’s HQ below the Saulire Express lift. If you can, take a flight, it is incredible and worth every penny.
Pierre de Monvallier
I hope you have a better touchdown than me, however. It was quite frustrating not to have achieved the perfect landing.
Once back on piste it was time to resume my ski instruction with Oxygene, an independent ski school which now operates in 15 resorts throughout the French Alps. It was started in 1992 by brothers Bertrand, Pierre and Julien de Monvallier.
I had the pleasure of skiing with Pierre who has been an instructor for 40 years. He started with the Ecole de Ski Francaise (ESF) when he was 17 years old but found he was not keen on the school’s rigid instruction methods. He and his brothers decided they wanted to approach
instruction in a different way, and as a result, Oxygene Ski School was born. The business has become highly successful, and all profits are invested back into it.
“I live in the mountains; it’s a great life, I don’t need lots of money!” says Pierre with a smile on his face. His school’s 200-plus instructors come from all corners of the globe.
He adds: “We adapt our ski instructors to the client, not the other way round and limit groups to 6-8 people, managing classes to cater for the least capable. The better skiers/ riders have to adapt to make sure everybody enjoys the experience.”
I certainly had first-hand experience of this approach during my lesson with Pierre. I have been skiing many years, but it is the first time anyone has told me that my ski poles are too long, which is making me lean back slightly. I have been aware I am doing it but wasn’t sure why.
He also took me and the others in my class through some drills to improve stance. I am so excited for my next trip to Whistler in Canada where I will test out shorter poles – Pierre says they should be at least 10 if not 15cm shorter. My skiing could be totally revitalised!
There was also a whiff of excitement in the Meribel villages as, at the time of my visit, the French Alps were in the running to host the 2030 Winter Olympics across several regions. It is now known that Meribel will be the venue for some of the women’s Alpine events, with the men’s in neighbouring Courchevel.
The village is also known for playing host to the ice hockey matches in the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics at the amazing Meribel Ice Palace, built in 1991. I took a peek into the centre, which also offers a gym and swimming pool – it looks fantastic for an après ski workout, as well as ice skating, but, be warned, strictly no budgie smugglers allowed chaps…
Meribel is rather good at hosting major events with many World Cup downhills and
slaloms held here and is a perfect location for the Olympics.
Now that would be a great sight from above, drifting and swaying below a canopy high in the sky. I am booking my ticket…
TRAVEL FACTS
• Hils stayed at the four-star Hotel Alpen Ruitor (alpenruitor.com, double rooms from £360) and three-star Hotel le Mottaret (hotellemottaret.com, double rooms from £273) in Meribel Mottaret village.
• She dined at Le Rastro (lerastro.com), La Folie Douce (lafoliedouce.com, pictured left) and Le 80 restaurant (chaudanne.com/fr/restaurant-barmeribel-le-80).
• Oxygene ski school (oxygene.ski ) is based in Moutiers, operating in 15 French resorts. It also offers ski touring, electric mountain biking on snow, tandem skiing, snowkiting, paragliding on skis and Moon bikes. It has partnerships with Ski Hut, MoonBike and French clothing company Planks.
• For the Oxygene ski school in Meribel, email meribel@oxygene.ski; call +33 (0)4 79 08 53 36.
• Ludosky Paragliding (ludosky.com, parapente@ludosky.com, +33 (0)6 63 33 64 84).
• To find out more about Meribel, visit meribel.net/en/
PHOTO: Sylvain Aymoz
PHOTO: Meribel Tourist Office
PHOTO: Sylvain Aymoz
from £30pp
An alternative ski trip
From tackling high ropes and evening walks with a trapper, SHARON MASLEN takes a look at what activities Val D’Arly and Peisey-Vallandry have to offer
Dining alongside cows, views of Mont Blanc, a high ropes course in the middle of winter and lovely friendly people – what more could you ask for?
Just down the road from Megeve, CrestVoland in Val D’Arly, is the perfect place to have fun on a skibob, give ski touring a go or explore the fabulous Val D’Arly on
snowshoes. The area is also filled with quality restaurants keen to promote Savoyarde fare – some even with cows in the garden!
On my trip to the region I stayed in Hotel Le Mont Bisanne in the heart of Crest-Voland. With the slopes opposite, it is the ideal place for beginners, or as a starting point for ski touring – skinning up the mountain on ski touring skis at the end of the day to see the
sunset is a great way to round off a day. And if you are the last group to ski down, you can enjoy the sunset in peace and quiet.
If you’re looking for a day snowshoeing in the mountains, then head to Les Saisies. With over 85km of marked trails for the walker or snowshoer, you can escape the noise and bustle of the downhill slopes and enjoy the natural surroundings at your own pace. The routes are clear and there are special separate routes for cross country skiers.
Bergerie La Palette is a hidden hostelry which offers very reasonable French fare and enormous croque monsieurs! With fabulous views to Mont Blanc you can relax for a while and enjoy the mountain scenery.
If you need a bit of adrenalin, try out the high ropes course – Escaladventure du Nant Rouge is the only such course open in the winter. Not for the faint-hearted, this complex course traverses a stream down the mountainside and offers a great alternative to skiing if you want to get your heart racing in a different way.
Restaurants in the area are plentiful and in Notre Dame de Bellecombe, the view from La Ferme de Victorine restaurant offers you
fabulous starry skies – and the chance to dine at the same time as the neighbouring cows! At this traditional restaurant, which is also a farm, you can watch as the animals enjoy their own feast in an illuminated barn alongside the restaurant while you are enjoying your traditional Savoyarde food – probably not your average view while having a spot of supper!
Peisey-Vallandry, just up the road, is all about serious skiing. As part of the Paradiski ski area, it offers you access to over 425km of ski slopes. However, there are other options on offer for the day’s activities. An electric scooter ride can provide fun and entertainment – but be careful not to kangaroo up the path! It is a great way to travel up into the woods without too much effort.
Paradiski has so much to offer. In addition
to the traditional runs there is a snowpark, a museum of stuffed mountain animals – some real and some not so real – people kite skiing and a massive zip wire for those who still require an additional adrenaline burst!
Evening entertainment includes a walk with a trapper into the woods, where he shows you how to make fire and then light a burning torch, which guides your way as you walk back down to the resort. If you prefer, you can stay up in the mountain for supper and then ski down just using a head torch.
Or you could seek out a high quality restaurant such as La Table d’Emma, which offers stunning, tasty food prepared entirely at the restaurant from local products.
In addition to it’s exhaustive downhill skiing opportunities, Peisey Vallandry also
offers the site Centre Nordique de PeiseyVallandry. Open from 20 December through to the beginning of April, it gives you an opportunity to try cross country skiing and even target shooting as it is done in the biathlon. A pleasant change from careering downhill, but let’s be honest we all love to career downhill too!
TRAVEL FACTS
• Thanks to Frances Montagnes for organising the trip.
• Sharon Maslen was hosted by Val D’Arly and Peisey-Vallandry.
• Sharon flew from Gatwick to Geneva and then back from Geneva to Heathrow. There are regular flights to Geneva with different airlines throughout the winter.
• Sharon stayed at Hotel Le Mont Bisanne, Crest-Voland and Hotel L’Émeraude, Peisey-Vallandry.
• The treetop adventure course was at Escaladventure du Nant Rouge.
• E-trottinettes: You can get electric scooters from Evolution 2.
• For a trapper experience contact Steeve Delbray (email bistoumontagne@gmail.com or visit bistoumontagne.com)
• Visit valdarly-montblanc.com/en, peisey-vallandry.com & france-montagnes.com
Champion’s race to success
MARK NICHOLLS meets Italian ski champion Florian Eisath to talk about racing and running a “boutique-style” ski resort in the Dolomites
The Carezza Ski Area sits between Cortina and Bolzano in the Rosengarten mountain range where the stunning Dolomites glow a warm red at dawn and dusk.
It may be small with 40km of piste and affectionately labelled a “boutique-style ski resort”, but it hosts a mix of easy blues, steep reds and blacks down from the highest point at 2314m above sea level.
Carezza also has a racing pedigree and is now run by Florian Eisath, a three-time Italian champion and Giant Slalom specialist who represented Italy at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang.
“The area is one of the most historic for winter activities,” he tells me over a light lunch in the Laurin’s Lounge restaurant at the top of the slope. “At the end of the 19th century it was connected with the route from Bolzano
to Cortina and known as one of the most beautiful places along the road.”
After World War Two the shift towards tourism continued; the first lifts were built in the 1950s and expanded in the 1960s with new hotels added, creating a ski area for people from Bolzano and beyond.
However, with separate companies running the lifts and slopes with little cohesion, there were “missed investment opportunities” and by the 2000s the resort was struggling. It was at this point that his family took a major interest.
His mother Monika was born in nearby Moseralm and his father George had strong alpine connections through the snow-making systems business TechnoAlpin. From the sale of shares in that company, the family invested in the ski area and a hotel.
Eisath explained how they now run most of the lifts, which have been renewed
improved snowmaking facilities “to deliver a good skier experience”.
“We do rely on snowmaking,” he said, “but the season starts at the end of November and runs until late March or into April.
with resort
“Carezza, for me, is one of the most beautiful resorts in the world. The Dolomites are special because you ski close to the mountains but you also have an open view across the valley. We are a boutique-style ski resort. We are not too big but once people are here they realise there is more to ski than they think. It is perfect for children and families and across the whole resort there is a variety of different slopes.”
As a racer, Eisath reflects on the “disappointing” 2014 season as a turning point when he began to look towards his future and an increased role in the resort.
Yet he bounced back in 2015 for his most successful season with good form peaking with selection for Italy at the Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018.
In GS, his best performance was 3rd place on his home slope of Alta Badia in 2016 – a career high point – and from 2015-2018 he was in the world top 10 and a leading Italian GS skier for several seasons.
He stepped down from racing after the
Olympics, having been Italian Champion three times in 2006, 2011 and 2015, won European Cup races and competed at World Cup level and in the Lauberhorn and Hahnenkamm races.
He is now focussed on running the ski area in the Rosengarten mountain range between the Tires, Eggental and Fassa valleys. It is also close to other resorts in the Dolomites for skiers who seek a change of scene.
I stayed at the five-star Cyprianerhof hotel, which is a short walk from the lift access to the Carezza Ski Area.
The 85-room hotel offers a whole range of energetic and active programmes from guided snow-shoeing across remote terrain, winter hiking and alpine and cross country skiing to climbing, hiking and mountain biking in the summer.
Located near the village of Tires, a few miles from Bolzano, the family-run hotel encourages guests to enjoy invigorating activities and then return to the comfort of sumptuous rooms, marvellous dining experiences and a spa and pool as well
as four different sauna and steam room experiences.
Co-owner Michael Damian explained: “It is a combination of going outside, having exercise and fresh air, and then coming back to relax in the hotel. Our guests love it and see how healthy it is for the mind and for the body.”
Sounds like a perfect combination.
TRAVEL FACTS
ACCOMMODATION: The Cyprianerhof hotel in Tires is around 30 minutes from Bolzano. For more information, breaks and rates, visit cyprianerhof.com
CAREZZA SKI AREA: Lift passes are 58-63 euro a day. For more information, visit carezza.it
FLIGHTS: Mark Nicholls flew from Bolzano direct to the UK with Sky Alps, visit skyalps.com
Florian Eisath
Cyprianerhof hotel
Where to stay in Carezza...
The holiday resort, which gives its name to the famously colourful Lake Carezza, nestles right below the Rosengarten and Latemar massifs in the Dolomites. Skiing in the midst of the snowy natural world of the Dolomites, under high peaks, close to dense forests, in the blazing sunshine… what more could a skier want? Perfectly prepared pistes of all levels of difficulty, of course! Welcome to the ski resort of Carezza in the Eggental valley!
Forty is the golden number here: there are in fact that many kilometres of pistes, divided up into 15% black pistes, 30% reds and 55% blues. The higher the altitude, the greater the difficulty level, allowing you to ski alongside others of similar attitudes and skills. The 13 lift systems can bring each skier right up to where they want to be.
Zoom, carve or weave down the pistes directly under the Dolomite slopes of the
Sporthotel Passo Carezza
Passo Carezza is the easybreezy sports hotel in Trentino South Tyrol. Opened in December 2021, it is the newest hotel on the Passo Carezza, right on the border between South Tyrol (Val d’Ega) and Trentino (Val di Fassa). Located in the middle of the ski slope from Carezza Dolomites it enjoys direct access to the Pra di Tori piste.
The traditional sports hotel has 18 simple yet bright rooms, Skier bar, Red Ski Room, Rose Cinema and Blue Spa with two saunas.
Get your day off to the right start with a hearty breakfast, top up with snacks in the bar in the day and evening, or take a wander to the nearby pizzeria, steak house or traditional restaurant in the evening. passocarezza.com
Rosengarten massif, opposite the Latemar range, with spectacular views of the mountain scenery of South Tyrol and Trentino.
For beginners and junior visitors the ski resort also offers ski schools and kids’ parks; there are ski rental shops for spurof-the-moment skiers; a snowpark for wild freestylers and trick specialists – and the Carezza mountain huts for culinary delights. carezza.it
Dolomit Resort Cyprianerhof
Discover winter luxury at Cyprianerhof, beneath the starry Dolomites. Unwind in alpine elegance, with top-tier wellness, gourmet dining and thrilling ski adventures.
The Cyprianerhof stands as a beacon of luxury and nature combined, perfectly encapsulating the essence of a 5-star Dolomite resort. Here, the blend of Tyrolean hospitality and the breathtaking beauty of the Dolomites creates an unparalleled holiday experience. Embrace the luxury of the Cyprianerhof, where every moment is infused with the awe-inspiring beauty of South Tyrol, and discover a place where luxury meets the pristine wilderness. cyprianerhof.com/en
Hotel Moseralm
At Hotel Moseralm you can ski in, ski out in the Dolomites –starting directly from the hotel onto the slopes of Carezza. Beyond skiing, you can enjoy a diverse weekly program with guided ski days, wine tastings and snowshoe hikes in the untouched Dolomite landscape.
After an active day, relax in the Dolomiti Mountain Spa with panoramic saunas and the Enrosadira Sky Pool. When it’s time to refuel after all your adventures the culinary team offers local and seasonal South Tyrolean and Mediterranean specialties.
Hotel Moseralm offers the chance to stay in a serene setting in a true home-away-from-home with its special brand of hospitality and warmth
moseralm.com
PHOTO: © Fabian Dalpiaz
WIN a ski holiday for 4 people to Pila worth over £1,600
We’re doing it again... at Interski we’re giving away an incredible ski holiday for up to four people! This year’s prize is for a short break to ski in Pila in Italy’s incredible Aosta Valley. This amazing ski holiday includes:
• 3 nights’ bed and breakfast hotel accommodation at the 4* Hotel Omama in the town of Aosta, the regional capital
• 2-day lift-pass covering the Pila ski resort
• Ski and boot hire included
• Ski clothing rental included
• Arrival on either Tuesday 11th or Tuesday 18th March 2025
• Airport transfers (from Turin, Milan Malpensa or Geneva)
• In-resort support and assistance from your Interski rep
Pila is not one of the best known resorts on the ski circuit, but that’s just how we like it. It’s
a true hidden gem, with great skiing, incredible views and it’s often so quiet you have the mountain to yourself. We know you’ll love it. Even better, the hotel we are using for this holiday is in the town of Aosta, which makes it feel like you’re combining a ski holiday with a city break. No purchase is necessary, simply enter by
visiting interskiholidays.co.uk/competition and completing the form. The winner will be announced through our email newsletters so we strongly recommend you agree to sign up when you enter the competition.
The closing date is 21st February 2025. For terms and conditions see the website.
A resort with quite the story to tell
HILS EVERITT
discovers Davos’ literary links of the past, as well as its place in hosting discussions to combat climate change for the future
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is famous for writing the Sherlock Holmes books, but did you know that he introduced Davos as a ski destination to the world? He, therefore, unconsciously helped in creating an iconic resort that is now known to millions all over the world – even non skiers, as the glamorous World Economic Forum venue.
That event is now closely associated with the important and relevant issue of climate change. This, of course, is a topic very much in the minds of many ski resorts these days as they try to improve their environmental impact, as well as deal with the consequences of warmer temperatures and erratic weather.
This was impressively illustrated on my visit to Davos and neighbouring Klosters in late
March. We’d skied in the extremes, from total whiteout and blizzards in deep snow on tricky steep blacks in Klosters, to buzzing around the fast, wide, red Davos pistes in blistering hot, glorious sunshine. As well as tackling these extremes, I was also admiring the, at present, redundant snow cannon, with their moreenvironmentally-friendly technology.
When the lifts finally shut it was time to discover more about the resort‘s fascinating history and its literary connections. And Davos is full of them.
My first stop was to be whisked up a funicular train to the Hotel Schatzalp, formerly the town’s famous sanatorium at Weissfluhgipfel. This place put Davos and, subsequently, close neighbour, the more rustic Klosters, on the Alpine map. In those days the thinking was that fresh mountain air was highly beneficial, so the Schatzalp sanatorium had been built to establish the town as a centre for restorative health.
The view from the terrace is stunning and that alone would improve anyone’s well-being in an instant. It’s a beautiful old building that is now a smart hotel, but does also cater for the more budget conscious with rooms available from SWFR80. Yes, Davos can be done without pots of cash.
This hotel has anther major, notable connection in that it is the inspiration for a famous novel, ‘The Magic Mountain’ by German author Thomas Mann. The story takes place in an exclusive tuberculosis sanatorium in the Swiss Alps just before the First World War – providing another famous literary connection.
Our own Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s love of Davos started in 1896 when his wife Louisa fell ill with tuberculosis. Conan Doyle had heard
of the sanatorium so took Louisa there and subsequently his sisters. By then Davos had become a popular ski resort for the Swiss, and, as a keen skier, Doyle fell in love with the place. He wrote about it in an Alpine newspaper and that article led to the Brits embracing the resort. Sir Arthur was also a keen golfer and was the first person to play golf here; he also tackled the famous, but difficult, off piste route to Arosa guided by the Bengen brothers (still a great challenge today); played ice hockey; started toboggan and bobsleigh in Davos; and became great friends with Dr Carl Spengler who built the first hotel, the Curhouse, now Hotel Europe.
World’s first T-bar
There are a number of other notable firsts. Davos was home to the ski jumper Andreas Dascher who first adopted the drop/fish style where the arms are stretched out behind you, and the first T-bar ski lift in the world was built here opening on Christmas Eve 1934. The Bolgen lift was designed and built by Swiss engineer Ernst Constam Gustav to save skiers hiking up the hill and eating into their lesson time. Davos was also where the modern toboggan was first designed and mass-produced.
Conan Doyle’s friend Spengler is honoured by the town by giving his name to the famous Ice Hockey competition. The Spengler Cup celebrated its 100th anniversary in the 2024
season. I was treated to a brilliant night at the ice hockey stadium to watch Davos play in the National play-offs against Lausanne. It was a cracking match – so fast and exciting and you can follow the puck at all times, unlike on TV. I highly recommend it for anyone skiing in Davos during the hockey season.
Climate change has affected the ice hockey team, too. The original ice rink was outdoors, but it had to close in 2016 due to the temperature increasing. This meant it couldn’t be maintained at the correct temperature to be viable. The new indoor facility is superb, but it is sad that there is yet another aspect of this global issue that has significant consequences.
Davos and Klosters are taking this issue incredibly seriously. Davos has a particular need to show its commitment as the host of the World Economic Forum since 1971. The 2024 event, held in January, naturally, included climate change on its agenda.
January is a quieter month on the slopes generally, but the Davos slopes are particularly empty due to the Forum’s presence. That means it is a great time to ski here – if you can book a hotel room early enough, that is. With 50 Heads of State, political/religious leaders and various leading academics, industrialists and the media, plus their entourages descending on the town, I suggest you book early…
TRAVEL FACTS
• Hils travelled to Davos Klosters courtesy of Switzerland Tourism, via Zurich Airport (Swiss Airlines) then train (approximately 2 ½ hours) direct to Davos.
• To book/plan your journey, visit myswitzerland.com
• Destination Davos Klosters: davos.ch
• A wide variety of accommodation is available in both Davos and Klosters, visit davos.ch & klosters.ch
• Hils stayed at the four-star Grischa –DAS Hotel Davos, visit hotelgrischa.ch
• She also visited the highly recommended and fascinating Wintersport Museum, visit wintersportmuseum.ch
• For more information about the first ski lift, visit davos.ch/en/information/ portrait-image/storybook/first-t-bar-lift
View from Schatzalp
AUSTRIA: Hochgurgl
HOLIDAY NEWS FOR
In November 2024, the picturesque Hochgurgl in the Ötztal Valley, Austrian Tirol, will once again host the FIS Ski World Cup, featuring both ladies’ and men’s slalom events. This marks the second time the resort has welcomed such prestigious competitions. Following the season opener in nearby Sölden, the world’s top alpine skiers will face the challenging Kirchenkarpiste course in Hochgurgl. The women’s slalom will take place on Saturday 23 November, followed by the men’s slalom on Sunday 24 November. Spectators can enjoy the thrilling races and support their favourite skiers from the finish area at Top Mountain Crosspoint. tyrol.com
AUSTRIA: SkiWelt
This year, the SkiWelt mountain railway companies are investing over 27 million euros to make the ski area even more modern and sustainable and to offer new services. The new 8-seater Eibergbahn is being built on the same route as the previous and, with a dynamic transport capacity of up to 4,570 passengers per hour, will be the world’s most powerful detachable chairlift. A centrepiece of the new Eibergbahn will be the new 140kWP PV system on the roof of the valley station of the Eibergbahn. This will enable around 50% of the annual energy required to be generated by the cable car itself.
skiwelt.at/neuerungen
FRANCE
This year Ski France has added three new premium Contactless Catered Chalets to its portfolio. Introduced as a new concept in 2021, Ski France’s contactless catering has been a hit, with bookings up 25% over the last six months compared to the same period last year. Ski France now offers a range of contactless catered chalets across the French Alps in popular resorts such as Val d’Isère, Méribel, La Tania, and Alpe d’Huez. These chalets include quality food and drink, afternoon tea, snacks, delicious dinners, a selection of drinks with unlimited wine and a generous supply of beer. All delivered with contactless service. skifrance.co.uk
FRANCE: Chamonix
Launched in 2021, La Trace des Grands is a ski mountaineering race taking place on the Grands-Montets site. A choice of three races allows the expression of all forms of ski touring. This season it will be taking place on 8 and 9 March 2025. latracedesgrands.com
FRANCE: La Plagne
A brand new event is promising to shake things up at La Plagne from 14-19 April 2025. La Mega
Bell Course is a race series designed to thrill skiers of all ages. This unique competition combines fun, creativity, and challenge across five wacky races that will test the skills of even the most seasoned skiers. Competitors have two strategies to choose from: embrace the chaos with total improvisation on Saturday or take a more tactical approach by practicing on the timed courses available from Monday to Friday, each one unveiled day by day. en.la-plagne.com
FRANCE: Les Gets
If you are looking for an unusual experience then why not spend a night under the stars at the Chéry Dôme? Comfortably equipped with electricity, wifi, en-suite facilities and an outdoor brazier to warm your hands while gazing at the stars, it is set in the middle of a snow-covered field, and can accommodate between 2 and 7 members of the same group or family. In the kitchen, you can enjoy dishes prepared using summer crops from the garden and locally-grown produce. Cherydome.com
FRANCE: Meribel
Fast Tracks, the early risers’ offer, providing the chance to make the first run of the day, is back in Meribel after a two-year break. This season, First Tracks will take place in the Saulire area of the resort, starting with a nutrient-packed
breakfast at La Folie Douce. These sessions offer a great way to beat the crowds, starting the day on untracked pistes in the fresh mountain air while the rest of the resort sleeps. meribel.net/en
FRANCE: Tignes
The 4th edition of Mountain shaker will be taking place from 8-16 March 2025.
The event will be showcasing the best of freestyle and board culture including a stage of Big Air Ski World Cup, Slopestyle Ski World Cup and Freeride World Tour Qualifiers. The entertainment will be ongoing throughout the week, featuring live music, prominent DJs and the best of street art in the mountains. en.tignes.net
FRANCE: Val d’Isère, Courchevel, Méribel and Megève
September saw the launch of Peak Retreat’s sister company Ski Collection, a new, curated collection of chalets that represent the ultimate in alpine luxury. Ski Collection has assembled the very best chalets in a small, hand-picked selection of illustrious, worldclass, French resorts, that its team know intimately. Ski Collection can curate all aspects of guests’ holidays, from travel by private jet and helicopter transfers, to individualised ski tuition, guided ski adventures, après and dining experiences. skicollection.com
SWITZERLAND: Davos
From 13-15 December 2024, the FIS CrossCountry World Cup will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Davos – expect surprises and experience world-class cross-country skiing at the heart of the town. davosnordic.ch/en
SWITZERLAND: Saas-Fee
The Metro Alpin in Saas-Fee, the highest underground funicular in the world, leading to the world’s highest revolving restaurant, has just been extensively modernised, guaranteeing a swift and comfortable transit between the Felskinn and Mittelallalin stations in just 4.5 minutes. The new carriages accommodate up to 95 people, and the stations now boast new platform doors to make boarding and disembarking easier and reduce waiting times. saas-fee.ch/en
SWITZERLAND: Verbier
In their 32nd year, Mountain Beds continue to find great Verbier properties for their
clients. As well as high-end properties, the vast network of their connections means they can find surprisingly affordable options too. Mountain Beds are also increasing their portfolio in connected resorts such as La Tzoumaz, Le Chable, Nendaz and Les Collons. They have lots of properties available for a Christmas break, including Sabrina, a fabulous 3-bedroom family home beside the Medran lift in Verbier (21-28 December, sleeps up to 6 people); Skye, with 5 bedrooms in Verbier (21-28 December, sleeps up to 10 people); and Skyfall with 5 bedrooms in La Tzoumaz (20-27 December, sleeps up to 12 people). mountainbeds.com
USA: Aspen Snowmass
Aspen Snowmass has secured three premier events in park and halfpipe snowsports for the 2024-25 season: X Games, Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and the all-new Snow League – all of which will be hosted at Buttermilk Mountain this winter. Hosting these three worldclass events signifies the biggest season of slopestyle, park and pipe competitions Aspen Snowmass has ever seen. aspensnowmass.com/visit/events
USA: Ikon Pass
Sierra-at-Tahoe in California is joining Ikon Pass for winter 24/25. The closest mountain destination to Sacramento and the Bay Area, Sierra-at-Tahoe is located just 12 miles from South Lake Tahoe. Known for its welcoming vibe, sculpted learning terrain, and amphitheater-style terrain parks, and South Lake Tahoe’s only Halfpipe, Sierra-at-Tahoe averages 400+ inches of snowfall a year. Also new for winter 24/25, Taos Ski Area in New Mexico will now be available on the Ikon Base Pass. ikonpass.com/en/shop-passes
Sunrise in Meribel
DIRECTORY
CUMBRIA
Anything Technical Ltd
Sand Aire House, New Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 4AY
Tel: 01539 734701
Email:
info@skiequipmentuk.co.uk
Web: www.skiequipmentuk.co.uk
Ski boot fitting and ski/ board servicing experts. Ski boot spare parts specialists. Technician training courses.
DORSET
Snowtrax Limited
Matchams Lane, Hurn, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6AW
Tel: 01202 499155 ext 5
Email: andy@snowtraxstore.co.uk
Web: www.snowtrax.eu
Snowtrax Ski and Snowboard Store in Dorset, is your trusted Ski and Snowboard Equipment Specialist Est. 1989. At Snowtrax we rigorously test all equipment to ensure quality #wetestweknow. Shop top brands like Salomon, Burton, Dakine, Hestra, Atomic, Black Crows, Capita, and Union. Our onsite workshop services skis and snowboards ready for your next trip. Step into performance and comfort in The Boot Lab, where our experts craft the perfect ski boot fit.
EAST SUSSEX
Snowlab UK Ltd
Knockhatch Ski Centre, Hailsham Bypass, Hailsham, BN27 3GD
Tel: 01323 848410
Email: shop@snowlab.co.uk
Web: www.snowlab.co.uk
Specialist winter sports retailer. Custom boot fitting service available. All major brands stocked.
ESSEX
Skee Tex
The Old Mill, Battlebridge, Essex, SS11 8TR
Tel: 01268 768282
Email: info@skee-tex.co.uk
Web: www.skee-tex.co.uk
Specialist snowsports shop, established over 70 years. Experienced boot fitters, full service workshop. Main dealers for K2, Lange, Goldbergh, CMP, Dahu, Salomon, Head, Picture, Hestra, Scott, Olang, Spyder, Henri Duvillard and Protest to name a few.
HAMPSHIRE
Snowtogs
429/431 Millbrook Road, Southampton, SO15 0HX
Tel: 02380 773925
Email: info@snowtogs.co.uk
Web: www.skishops.co.uk
Snowtogs Southampton. One of the oldest family run ski shops in the country, established in 1969. Well known for our custom ski boot fitting with boots from the worlds best brands. We have a full ski workshop on site providing servicing and binding fitting. We also stock a massive range of helmets and goggles and loads of other essential accessories. We now have an onsite booking system for custom boot fitting appointments. Please see our website for more details.
Captains Cabin Sevenoaks 113/115 St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3PE Tel: 01732 464463
Email:
sales@theski-shop.co.uk
Web: www.theski-shop.co.uk
Fantastic choice of ski clothing and equipment. All major brands stocked. Professional boot fitting service, hire and workshop repair.
LANCASHIRE
Rivington Alpine
The Old Methodist Church, Market Street, Adlington, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 4HE
Tel: 01257 483999
Email:
sales@rivingtonalpine.co.uk
Web: www.rivingtonalpine.co.uk
Specialist ski boot fitting, modification and footbed manufacture. All major brands stocked and all levels of skier welcome. Free parking outside. Call for an appointment.
LEICESTERSHIRE
Love & Piste
Alberts Barn, 33 Costock Rd, East Leake, Loughborough, LE12 6LY
Tel: 01509 853944
Email: sales@loveandpiste.co.uk
Web: www.loveandpiste.co.uk
Independent Local Skiwear Specialist for 20 years catering for the whole family; clothing, helmets, goggles, sunglasses & luggage. Brands include; BUFF, CMP, Coolcasc, CRAFT, Hestra, Killtec, Manbi, Oakley, Protest, Reusch, Rossignol, Salice, Snokart, Steiner, Uvex, Weedo. Shop online or in our East Leake store where we have an inhouse Coffee Shop and large free parking area. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @loveandpiste.
LINCOLNSHIRE
Tallington Lakes Pro Shop
Barholm Road, Tallington, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 4RJ
Tel: 01778 347000
Email:
sales@tallingtonlakesproshop.com
Web: www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com
Est 1975. An independent ski and snowboard retailer, with years of experience, including custom ski boot fitting service. Large selection of quality clothing and hardware from quality brands. On-site dry ski slope and equipment servicing workshop. Free delivery with online orders over £100.
LONDON
Finches Emporium
25-27 Perry Vale, Forest Hill, London, SE23 2NE
Tel: 0208 699 6768
Web: www.finchesemporium.com
Finches Emporium is a family run business established since 1947. Our main departments are ski, snowboard, cycle and skateboard with everything you might need for your sport as well as experienced workshops in each discipline.
NORFOLK
Snowfit
Unit C & D, Yarefield Park, Old Hall Road, Norwich, NR4 6FF
Tel: 01603 716655
Email: info@snowfit.co.uk
Web: www.snowfit.co.uk
Norfolk’s premier ski and snowboard store. 25 years’ experience, advice, specialist fitting and servicing workshop. Equipment and accessories from the brands you would expect to find in a proper winter sports specialist – instore or online.
SUFFOLK
Active Snowsports
Suffolk Ski Centre, Bourne Hill, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8NQ Tel: 01473 487474
Email: info@activesnowsports.com
Web: www.activesnowsports.com
Custom boot fitting, service and repair, skis, snowboards, boots, clothing and much more.
WEST SUSSEX
The Skiers Lounge
The Ski Barn, Worthing Road (A24 Northbound), Nr Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 8LG
Tel: 01403 915655
Email: support@theskierslounge.co.uk
Web: www.theskierslounge.co.uk
Experienced ski boot fitters carrying a range of boots for all feet from first time buyers to seasonnaires. Our FREE by appointment fitting in our specialist showroom ensures the best possible ski boot fit whether you require comfort and/or performance. Our advanced workshop repairs and services skis and is a training centre for technicians across the globe.
OOSC Clothing
Whittington Hall, Whittington Lane, Whittington, Worcestershire, WR5 2ZX
Email: hello@oosc-clothing.com
Web: www.oosc-clothing.com
OOSC bring fun and colour back to the mountains, in an ecofriendly, sustainable way. Epic designs fused with recycled and technical fabrics provide a contemporary alternative ski and snowboard attire.
KENT
New exclusive collection out
Japanese skiwear brand Descente is now available in the UK exclusively at Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports. Embodying everything that’s good about Japanese innovation and attention to detail, Descente’s collection features elegant women’s skiwear in a neutral palate, while the men’s skiwear is race-inspired, using fully saturated alpine brights across the collection. Ellis Brigham’s ski clothing buyer Dave Whitlow had had his eye on Descente skiwear for years, having been constantly impressed by their sharp styling and fabrication. He said: “When I eventually got the chance to meet up with Descente’s designers and management team last year in Tokyo, everything fell into place very quickly, and we’re very excited to be able to showcase this incredible luxury skiwear brand exclusively at Ellis Brigham stores this winter.” ellis-brigham.com
WIN AN OOSC SKI SUIT!
Brand’s first UK store opens in Covent Garden
Peak Performance opened it first UK store in Covent Garden in September. It joins a range of international shop openings in Berlin, Vancouver, Innsbruck, Beijing, Yokohama and Shanghai.
Founded in 1986, the Scandinavian brand is renowned for its premium technical ski and outdoor wear as well as its bold and progressive design aesthetics. Earlier this year, its Vertical Pro range was worn by athlete Hedvig Wessel as she became Freeride World Tour champion 2024.
Peak Performance’s new London address is 49 Long Acre, Covent Garden (WC2E 9LS), open 10am-7pm Monday-Saturday, and 11am-5pm Sunday. peakperformance.com
Recyclable ski helmet
Showcase your style for this season with OOSC! One lucky winner will get their hands on a ski suit of their choice from their brand new range! Look good and feel good from head to toe with eye-catching designs and functional features. Make your statement and enter this epic competition by scanning the QR code by 31 October 2024. (T&Cs apply). OOSC Clothing www.oosc-clothing.com
The Salomon Brigade Index helmet is the first fully recyclable ski and snowboard helmet on the market. Made with at least 96% of materials from the same origin, it can be fully recycled once you’re done using it, but there is no compromise on safety or style. Features include Salomon’s EPP4D safety technology; the Maxifit construction offers V-shaped ear pad construction, for better comfort and hearing; and it has built-in channels allowing an even temperature and constant airflow between your head, helmet and goggles. £110, salomon.com
& CLUB
DSUK’s 10k for £10k campaign
Earlier this summer Disability Snowsport UK launched their #TeamDSUK 10k for £10k campaign, encouraging people to take on a 10k sporting challenge and help raise funds for adaptive snowsports.
Dozens of people have taken part across the country, from swimming and running to skiing and hiking, with the total monies raised for the charity currently standing at 79% of their £10,000 fundraising goal.
With donations still coming through, DSUK are optimistic of reaching the overall target with gift aid included, with all donations welcomed via their Just Giving page at justgiving.com/campaign/10kfor10k
All monies raised will help empower more disabled people through snowsports.
CEO or DSUK, Virginia Anderson said: “Adaptive snowsports provides an incredible sense of freedom to people living with disabilities and injuries. The skills and confidence that can be developed on the slopes are hugely transferable into everyday life.”
Adaptive skier, model and striker for the England Amputee Football Association women’s team Annabel Kiki, 16, from Cannock, supported the campaign. Annabel, who was diagnosed with a bone tumour in her left leg at the age of 13 said: “Skiing was my biggest passion growing up. I love the thrill, freedom and fun of being out in the mountains. In 2022, one of the worst things in the world happened to me. I started the year with two legs and ended it with one.
“I can’t control what’s happened, I can only
control my reaction to it and by practising skiing again, I’ve learned to do every single other sport and it’s pushed me to be better than I was before. It’s helped me achieve so much more in my everyday life – like helping with my balance and being able to walk better on my prosthetic, along with surfing and football. It’s with thanks to DSUK I’ve got my confidence back.”
Ellie Henry, 23, best known for her roleplaying Freya Calder on long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, also backed the campaign. Ellie was diagnosed with Ehlers-
Danlos syndrome at 15-years-old, leading her to become an ambulatory wheelchair user.
Ellie recently discovered sit skiing after taking lessons with Disability Snowsport UK at the Chill Factore in Manchester. She says: “I grew up being very sporty, daring and never stopped moving. I had dreams of becoming an Olympic gymnast and then one day I suffered an injury taking a dance class. It was only when I received treatment that I learned I had a rare inherited connective tissue disorder, which meant my life was about to change forever.”
She added: “Sit skiing has been a massive deal for me; finding adrenaline and adventure in a way I didn’t think I’d be able to has really unlocked something in my mind. Throwing myself down a slope and hoping for the best is my new form of therapy. I’ve always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie but didn’t think skiing would be accessible for me. When I discovered it was possible, I haven’t looked back!”
An exciting new chapter with reopening
Polmonthill Snowsports Centre in Scotland is set to reopen on 19 October 2024 as Polmonthill Community Snowsports Centre after the trustees of the newly formed SCIO charity assume day-to-day management on 1 October 2024.
The trustees are dedicated to maintaining a “high-quality, accessible, and affordable snowsports centre” and
the group is “committed to the ongoing maintenance of the slope, enhancing the facilities available for snowsports as well as offering ski and snowsports coaching”.
Classes will range from total beginner ski and boarding lessons to race coaching for some of the more experienced skiers and tubing will also feature. polmonthill.co.uk
Sports centre trust enters administration
The Folkestone Sports Centre Trust, which had a 60m dry slope in Kent, entered administration on 1 August 2024.
In a public announcement it said: “It is with deep regret that the Trustees of Folkestone Sports Centre Trust, must advise
that the Charity can no longer afford to remain operational. The current national and indeed world-wide situation has seen a dramatic increase in the Trust’s costs.
“It is with much sadness that we must say Goodbye.”
PHOTOS: © Cameron Ross Hall
#TeamDSUK 10k for £10k
Ellie Henry
