N° 33 – Winter 2010

THIRTY DEGREES ISSUE 33 WINTER 2 0 1 0 -2011

DESIGN

Nature makes a grand entrance

SOCIETY

Lilypad, the floating “Ecopolis” Urban machines; what the future holds SPORT

Aurélien Ducroz; a short biography SPEED RIDING

Adventure snowshoeing 2011 Diablerets 3D; one contest, three disciplines MUSIC/CINEMA

The Script’s Celtic soul Lindsay Lohan TRAVEL

T H I RT Y D E G R E E S I S S U E 3 3 W I N T E R 2 0 1 0 -2011

The islands of southern Thailand Hawai’i is the best

‘I fear winter because it is the season of comfort’ was a statement made by the famous poet Arthur Rimbaud. Which goes to show that he didn’t know anything about freeriding or speedriding (skiing with a wing to take you into the air). He had surely never experienced the thrill of ice-climbing either, letting your life hang on a Pterodactyl and the spikes of your crampons. Despite his passion for adventure, I doubt he ever imagined climbing to an altitude of 4000m in Switzerland - something we can all do today, as long as you chose the right peak to climb. And even if you find you’re out of breath – which can happen to anyone – you have no fear of suffocation. It’s the natural effect that the surrounding views have on us when we reach the top and conquer the mountain, with nothing left above you but the endless sky stretching out far into the horizon.

,

In Quebec there’s another saying that tackles an even more serious question: What’s the point of trying to conquer the Universe if you don’t have what you need to get you through the winter? That gives us something to think about: what is the best way of enjoying this magnificent season? With one ski in Switzerland and the other in Italy, in the mountains over Zermatt or under the watchful eye of the Matterhorn? Wearing snowshoes… or spending the night in an igloo for your base camp, so that you get a better taste for the dizzying ice-cold air? Some of you might feel like a tropical break, in Hawaii or Thailand, a time to discover your own treasure island. Others might already be thinking about the coming spring, what the future has in hold. Just like the architect Vincent Callebaut. He’s dreaming about a certain Lilypad… a gigantic concrete water lily, with the environment right at the heart of the concept – a water city - and what a city it is. Maybe the Lilypad might see the light of day and help deal with the climatic changes that our world is currently facing.

An incredible line-up for the coming New Year then, full of challenges, ambition and stunning dreams and moments of sheer delight of an unimaginable intensity, yet so short-lived. That’s where we are hoping to take you with this latest issue of 30 degrees. Dreading the winter?

I’m not…

Christian Bugnon / Publication Director THIRTY DEGREES | 03

www.manor.ch

CONTENTS ISSUE 33 WINTER 2010-2011

SPORT

A word from the editor

003

Speed riding, taking off in style Keystone winter portfolio The GiantXtour continues its expansion Aurélien Ducroz – A winner on the waves and the slopes Free Ride World Tour 2011; it’s big, very big The thrills and chills of ice climbing Diablerets 3D, One event, three disciplines Zermatt, the pinnacle of freeriding ‘Raquette Aventure’ brings us closer to life’s simple pleasures Snowshoeing, on paths of glory Mountaineering: If we can make it up a 4000 metre peak, so can you!

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LIFESTYLE News

Woman’s review: Winter wardrobe worries Movie feature: Lindsay Lohan, Hollywood’s enfant terrible Cinema: Something for everyone Music: The Script’s Celtic soul Bear Grylls, a man of extremes Travel: The treasure islands of southern Thailand

SOCIETY

Lilypad, the floating “Ecopolis” Design, Nature makes a grand entrance Getting around: Urban machines; what the future holds It’s raining tablets Miniature cameras to capture your exploits Trends 30 degree’s address book

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Quiksilver/Steve Sherman

AUTO — A COMPRESSED-AIR CAR, À LA SUISSE It’s a plane! It’s a train! It’s a ... compressed-air car! Its name is AirPod, and will be making its first sortie from the factory in Reconvilier (Jura) next March. The baby of the Catecar SA family will cost between 12,500 and 13,500 francs, and will have a range of 150 km to 400 km with an (optional) dual-energy engine that takes you 100 km on less than two litres of fuel.

While the AirPod maxes out at 70 km/h, an “intercity” version, capable of hitting 110 km/h, is already in development. As for the cost of that 100 km trip? Two francs! Who can top that? www.catecar.ch

FREERIDE – GLEN PLAKE ON THE RUN… AND WHAT A RUN! What could be more logical than to find the freestyle ski legend Glen Plake in the West Alps - considered as being the Mecca for freeride. Organised by Salewa, and accompanied by a few friends, the Californian punk let his skis rip in a corridor on the glacier de la Noire. This is one of the most outstanding runs in the whole Mont-Blanc area, with the slope hitting 50 degrees at places! A hair-raising experience for anyone, even if you’re called Glen Plake… www.salewa.com RR

KELLY SLATER – MAKING HISTORY By becoming 10x ASP World Champion, Kelly Slater has earned his place in the book of records. He is the first ever surfer to have clinched 10 ASP World titles. This title is the fruit of an extraordinary career spanning over two decades, during which he has dominated professional surfing. He can now not only claim to be the youngest ever ASP World Champion, but also the oldest. His previous World Champion titles were earned in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006 and 2008. He also has 45 WCT victories under his belt, and is a two-time gold medal winner at theESPN X Games. www.aspworldtour.com

ADVENTURE — JETMAN MAKES HIS FIRST LOOP On November 5, 2010, Yves Rossy, aka Jetman, flew his first loop over Bercher (VD), two years after having crossed the English Channel. The flying man took off from a hot air balloon piloted by British balloonist Brian Jones. To achieve his latest feat, Yves used a new wing. Equipped with four reactors and measuring 2 meters in diameter, it’s 0.5 meters smaller than the previous one, providing Yves with the increased stability needed to make his first acrobatic flight. It certainly won’t be his last! www.jetman.com

RR

ENVIRONMENT — DEATH GOES GREEN IN AUSTRALIA Even six feet under, we continue to pollute the planet. Starting last summer, Sydneysiders seeking to reduce their environmental footprint have a unique option: Kemps Creek cemetery. The entire funeral process is environmentfriendly: the burial grant only lasts ten years, the dead are laid to rest wearing biodegradable clothes; bodies are prepared for burial without the use of any chemicals or disinfectants, coffins are made of untreated pine or wicker, and headstones or commemorative plaques are a no-go. Once buried, the spot can be found with a GPS.

RR

CONTEMPORARY ART — LEGO— ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH Jan Vormann likes to patch up damaged buildings that he passes on his urban walks. But instead of brick and mortar, his tools are tiny, colourful, and made of plastic. The German artist uses Lego— the favourite building blocks of children everywhere—to seal holes and cracks in walls, destructive vestiges of wars past.

Passers-by may also lend a hand in his restoration efforts to add some touches of colour and gaiety to these historical edifices. Jan has “repaired” numerous cities, such as Amsterdam, St. Petersburg, Tel Aviv, Berlin and Zurich. www.janvormann.com

TRAVEL — EXPERIENCE POLYNESIA AS A LOCAL In recent years, a new form of tourism has been emerging in Polynesia: holidays in small family-run guest houses. Over 250 establishments—classified in four categories according to their offerings and with a three “tiare” rating system— offer holiday-makers the opportunity to experience Polynesia at the pace of its local populace. Go spearfishing with the family’s son, learn how to prepare the local cuisine, discover secret coves, or simply relax and chat with your friendly host. These small family inns, collectively named “IA ORA, at the heart of tradition,” deliver a genuine immersive experience in Polynesian culture. Lovers of authenticity, visit www.tahiti-pensions.com

André Bonnet

RR

TECH — WIRED EVEREST Technology hits the peaks. Everest (8848 m) is now wired. Ncell Nepal, a Nepalese telecommunications company, announced last October that climbers can now video chat and surf the web from Everest’s base camp, and shortly from the peak itself. Thus far, mountaineers have had to settle for unreliable and costly telephone communication via satellite, with no video. What’s next?

08 | THIRTY DEGREES

Salewa Chamonix

BIODIVERSITY — A NEW SPECIES FOUND EVERY THREE DAYS IN THE AMAZON Despite the perils facing our planet’s biodiversity, each year new species are still being discovered around the world. In biological terms, the Amazon forest is one of the richest places on earth. According to a WWF report, 1200 new animal and plant species have been discovered there between 1999 and 2009. That’s one every three days! The discoveries include 637 plants, 257 fish, 55 reptiles, 16 birds, 39 mammals and 216 amphibians— such as this cute little wildly-coloured frog. The ongoing challenge will be to preserve their natural habitat.

More animal pictures at www.divshare.com/folder/781479-8a6

THIRTY DEGREES | 09

Quiksilver/Steve Sherman

AUTO — A COMPRESSED-AIR CAR, À LA SUISSE It’s a plane! It’s a train! It’s a ... compressed-air car! Its name is AirPod, and will be making its first sortie from the factory in Reconvilier (Jura) next March. The baby of the Catecar SA family will cost between 12,500 and 13,500 francs, and will have a range of 150 km to 400 km with an (optional) dual-energy engine that takes you 100 km on less than two litres of fuel.

While the AirPod maxes out at 70 km/h, an “intercity” version, capable of hitting 110 km/h, is already in development. As for the cost of that 100 km trip? Two francs! Who can top that? www.catecar.ch

FREERIDE – GLEN PLAKE ON THE RUN… AND WHAT A RUN! What could be more logical than to find the freestyle ski legend Glen Plake in the West Alps - considered as being the Mecca for freeride. Organised by Salewa, and accompanied by a few friends, the Californian punk let his skis rip in a corridor on the glacier de la Noire. This is one of the most outstanding runs in the whole Mont-Blanc area, with the slope hitting 50 degrees at places! A hair-raising experience for anyone, even if you’re called Glen Plake… www.salewa.com RR

KELLY SLATER – MAKING HISTORY By becoming 10x ASP World Champion, Kelly Slater has earned his place in the book of records. He is the first ever surfer to have clinched 10 ASP World titles. This title is the fruit of an extraordinary career spanning over two decades, during which he has dominated professional surfing. He can now not only claim to be the youngest ever ASP World Champion, but also the oldest. His previous World Champion titles were earned in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006 and 2008. He also has 45 WCT victories under his belt, and is a two-time gold medal winner at theESPN X Games. www.aspworldtour.com

ADVENTURE — JETMAN MAKES HIS FIRST LOOP On November 5, 2010, Yves Rossy, aka Jetman, flew his first loop over Bercher (VD), two years after having crossed the English Channel. The flying man took off from a hot air balloon piloted by British balloonist Brian Jones. To achieve his latest feat, Yves used a new wing. Equipped with four reactors and measuring 2 meters in diameter, it’s 0.5 meters smaller than the previous one, providing Yves with the increased stability needed to make his first acrobatic flight. It certainly won’t be his last! www.jetman.com

RR

ENVIRONMENT — DEATH GOES GREEN IN AUSTRALIA Even six feet under, we continue to pollute the planet. Starting last summer, Sydneysiders seeking to reduce their environmental footprint have a unique option: Kemps Creek cemetery. The entire funeral process is environmentfriendly: the burial grant only lasts ten years, the dead are laid to rest wearing biodegradable clothes; bodies are prepared for burial without the use of any chemicals or disinfectants, coffins are made of untreated pine or wicker, and headstones or commemorative plaques are a no-go. Once buried, the spot can be found with a GPS.

RR

CONTEMPORARY ART — LEGO— ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH Jan Vormann likes to patch up damaged buildings that he passes on his urban walks. But instead of brick and mortar, his tools are tiny, colourful, and made of plastic. The German artist uses Lego— the favourite building blocks of children everywhere—to seal holes and cracks in walls, destructive vestiges of wars past.

Passers-by may also lend a hand in his restoration efforts to add some touches of colour and gaiety to these historical edifices. Jan has “repaired” numerous cities, such as Amsterdam, St. Petersburg, Tel Aviv, Berlin and Zurich. www.janvormann.com

TRAVEL — EXPERIENCE POLYNESIA AS A LOCAL In recent years, a new form of tourism has been emerging in Polynesia: holidays in small family-run guest houses. Over 250 establishments—classified in four categories according to their offerings and with a three “tiare” rating system— offer holiday-makers the opportunity to experience Polynesia at the pace of its local populace. Go spearfishing with the family’s son, learn how to prepare the local cuisine, discover secret coves, or simply relax and chat with your friendly host. These small family inns, collectively named “IA ORA, at the heart of tradition,” deliver a genuine immersive experience in Polynesian culture. Lovers of authenticity, visit www.tahiti-pensions.com

André Bonnet

RR

TECH — WIRED EVEREST Technology hits the peaks. Everest (8848 m) is now wired. Ncell Nepal, a Nepalese telecommunications company, announced last October that climbers can now video chat and surf the web from Everest’s base camp, and shortly from the peak itself. Thus far, mountaineers have had to settle for unreliable and costly telephone communication via satellite, with no video. What’s next?

08 | THIRTY DEGREES

Salewa Chamonix

BIODIVERSITY — A NEW SPECIES FOUND EVERY THREE DAYS IN THE AMAZON Despite the perils facing our planet’s biodiversity, each year new species are still being discovered around the world. In biological terms, the Amazon forest is one of the richest places on earth. According to a WWF report, 1200 new animal and plant species have been discovered there between 1999 and 2009. That’s one every three days! The discoveries include 637 plants, 257 fish, 55 reptiles, 16 birds, 39 mammals and 216 amphibians— such as this cute little wildly-coloured frog. The ongoing challenge will be to preserve their natural habitat.

More animal pictures at www.divshare.com/folder/781479-8a6

THIRTY DEGREES | 09

F.one / M.Morel

CHARLOTTE CONSORTI BEATS ALL WOMEN’S SPEED RECORDS A professional kitesurfer, Charlotte Consorti got a taste for speed in 2003.

Since then, she has been looking to break the records, training on the Mediterranean coast and searching for the wind that will take her ever faster over a 500m straight run. Her first world record was made in 2004, and her first World Champion title was clinched in 2007. On 28 October 2010, she made it into the history books by breaking the mythical barrier of 50 knots. The new record for women’s speed kitesurfing has been made with 50.43 knots (93.40 km/hour). Charlotte has proved that what was seemingly out of the realms of women is finally not so impossible!

NIGHTLIFE — FARM-CLUB HITS THE BIG 4-0.

Verbier’s world-famous nightclub, which first opened its doors in 1971, is celebrating its 40th birthday. And yet, time has not dimmed its allure nor its reputation as the trendiest rendezvous spot for a night out. It’s the place to be come December 11, to raise a toast to the health of this legendary establishment. To mark the occasion, a limited-edition book chronicling its remarkable longevity will also be published. After all, it’s not every night that we celebrate our 40th birthday! www.kingsverbier.ch/farmclub

INTERNET — GROUP PURCHASES SAVE YOU CASH It’s a simple idea: band together to bargain for a better price. It’s also an effective one, as evidenced by the success of sites like deindeal.ch. Several times a week, the site’s subscribers receive offers via email. If a set minimum number of shoppers agree to sign up for a particular product or service (a massage, perfume, a hotel stay, socks ...), everyone in the group gets the deal at that price. If, on the other hand, not enough people are interested, the deal is cancelled. No need to wait for those elusive half-off sales anymore—group-buy to save now! www.deindeal.ch

Giorgio Soldi

TRAVEL — SPACE TOURISM POSES A CLIMATE HAZARD Today, space tourism is restricted to a few billionaires. Tomorrow, its suborbital little brother—a short tour, lasting several minutes, jetting 1000 km high into the atmosphere and back—could become a reality for those with “only” millions. However, this new attraction could also have an important impact on climate patterns, according to an article published in Geophysical Research Letters. Airplanes leave traces of very fine soot in the stratosphere, which trap solar radiation. And if the 1000 flights per year hoped for by the industry become a reality, within a decade the negative impact on our climate will equal that of all aircraft flights today. So we might be better off consigning those space trips to our dreams instead.

FAUNA — WHATTA COW! Pépita bonita! Sporting a white hide sparingly spotted with red, pale pink udders and perfect curves, this Red Holstein has just become the latest European champion. Edging its fellow Holstein competitors from 13 participating countries, Pépita took first place at the all-European Holstein and Red Holstein championship, held in Cremona, Italy, last October.

Switzerland, represented by 30 cattle, took home the Nations Cup. So here’s a big congratulatory “moo” to all our worthy representatives! www.swissherdbook.ch

RR

FUTURE — AIRSHIPS THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS Well, not quite. But these massive airborne vessels—150 meters wide!—can transport 150-ton loads, or the weight of an entire building, over a distance of up to 2000 km.

Designed by an Australian company, the Skylifter is capable of lifting and moving a luxury resort. But its most useful application may be its ability to deliver hospitals to otherwise inaccessible disaster areas. While still in the lab today, here’s hoping that the Skylifter will soon find its place in the real world. http://skylifter.com.au

010 | THIRTY DEGREES

Sebastian Garhammer in Heli Down Jacket & Revelstoke Pant - www.peakperformance.com

SPEED

RIDING

outdoorgames.org / P.Fragnol

S P O RT

TAKING OFF IN STYLE Text°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ

This is a sport which is truly taking off, with most paragliding centres now offering the new activity. Combining the skills and sensations of skiing and flying, speedriding is a sport which provides a new way of tackling the mountains, sometimes even enabling exploration of slopes previously inaccessible on skis.

Q Surrounded by seracs in the Argentière Basin

RR

% Cyrilde Pinard attacking the ‘White Valley’: “Speedriding brings an entirely new dimension to skiing. It is not necessarily an extreme sport, and is excellent on slopes with an average difficulty.”

014 | THIRTY DEGREES

Speedriding, an increasingly popular winter sport, is not to be confused with Speed Flying, which belongs to the category of free flying. While they may seem quite similar, the disciplines are in fact quite distinct. The former is always practised with skis on feet, and involves skiing with an 8 to 13 m2 wing above your head, performing occasional jumps over rocky or fissured passages. The latter is a derivate of paragliding, and simply consists of flying along with a smaller wing (between 15 and 20 m2) at a greater speed, but for which skis are not essential, although they can assist take-off and landing.

This distinction having been made, and with winter fast approaching, it seems appropriate to take a closer look at speedriding. The activity is fast developing around skiing areas. Most free flying schools have begun to include classes in their programme. In terms of its origins, the idea began with a few avid paragliders looking for a new kind of kick. Initial experiments took place around Valfréjus (France), using standard parachutes, as pioneers sped along the slopes under their airfoils, spending half the time in the air, half on their skis. Speedriding was born. Paragliders then worked with their knowledge of canopies, and soon started designing their own special equipment.

The Fédération Française de Vol Libre (FFVL) became involved in this development, taking the discipline under its wing and laying down the rules for its practice. The sport really came into its own in 2005, when it was officially recognised by the FFVL. The first international competitions took place in 2008.

,

THIRTY DEGREES | 015

SPEED

RIDING

outdoorgames.org / P.Fragnol

S P O RT

TAKING OFF IN STYLE Text°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ

This is a sport which is truly taking off, with most paragliding centres now offering the new activity. Combining the skills and sensations of skiing and flying, speedriding is a sport which provides a new way of tackling the mountains, sometimes even enabling exploration of slopes previously inaccessible on skis.

Q Surrounded by seracs in the Argentière Basin

RR

% Cyrilde Pinard attacking the ‘White Valley’: “Speedriding brings an entirely new dimension to skiing. It is not necessarily an extreme sport, and is excellent on slopes with an average difficulty.”

014 | THIRTY DEGREES

Speedriding, an increasingly popular winter sport, is not to be confused with Speed Flying, which belongs to the category of free flying. While they may seem quite similar, the disciplines are in fact quite distinct. The former is always practised with skis on feet, and involves skiing with an 8 to 13 m2 wing above your head, performing occasional jumps over rocky or fissured passages. The latter is a derivate of paragliding, and simply consists of flying along with a smaller wing (between 15 and 20 m2) at a greater speed, but for which skis are not essential, although they can assist take-off and landing.

This distinction having been made, and with winter fast approaching, it seems appropriate to take a closer look at speedriding. The activity is fast developing around skiing areas. Most free flying schools have begun to include classes in their programme. In terms of its origins, the idea began with a few avid paragliders looking for a new kind of kick. Initial experiments took place around Valfréjus (France), using standard parachutes, as pioneers sped along the slopes under their airfoils, spending half the time in the air, half on their skis. Speedriding was born. Paragliders then worked with their knowledge of canopies, and soon started designing their own special equipment.

The Fédération Française de Vol Libre (FFVL) became involved in this development, taking the discipline under its wing and laying down the rules for its practice. The sport really came into its own in 2005, when it was officially recognised by the FFVL. The first international competitions took place in 2008.

,

THIRTY DEGREES | 015

outdoorgames.org / D.Carlier

nSpeedriding with a touch of ‘freestyle’. %Pal Takats and Ueli Kestenholz take to the skies above Samuel Anthamatten, who is climbing an icefall at the foot of Argentière glacier.

outdoorgames.org / D.Ravanel

ing champion and manager of the Verbier paragliding centre, is hopeful of seeing it develop in the medium term: “Lots of people take part in introduction days, but don’t go any further, due to all the restrictions. A paragliding licence requires several months of training, which is too much for a skier simply looking to add a new dimension to their activities”.

This discrepancy between Switzerland and France reflects the situation regarding free flying in general, since a pilot’s license is required in Switzerland to practice paragliding, whereas it is purely optional on the other side of the border, where practitioners are simply subject to a set of regulations they must understand and comply with.

A COMPULSORY LICENCE IN SWITZERLAND Development in Switzerland has been slightly different. The first practitioners did not necessarily have a background in flying sports, but were more likely to be involved in mountainbased or extreme sports. Several fatal accidents, including the well-publicised death in the Verbier region of Valais guide Sébastien Gay in 2003, quickly led to the authorities imposing strict regulations aimed at keeping the practice under control.

The Fédération Suisse de Vol Libre (FSVL) decided at the time to require participants to pass a training course, to prevent the sport disappearing from the country altogether. The situation remains unclear… but Gaël Ammann, 2009 Swiss speedrid-

016 | THIRTY DEGREES

FUN AND ACCESSIBLE All this having been said, speedriding is nevertheless great fun.

It represents, in its initial stages at least, the easiest approach to free flying. “Beginners very quickly get great satisfaction from initiation courses,” explains Cyrilde Pinard, 2010 French champion and a trainer at Les Ailes du Mont-Blanc in Chamonix. “It should not be forgotten, however, that this is a sport which requires commitment. While it is initially very accessible, it becomes increasingly complex”. And it is generally agreed that a good level of skiing is much more important as a starting point than experience in free flying.

Cyrilde Pinard regards speedriding as a sport which brings a third dimension to skiing. “Many people think of it as an extreme sport, practiced on hair-raising slopes by tearaways, but it’s not like that at all. Descents on medium slopes can be very good. It’s a new approach to skiing which is really brilliant”. With over 150 participants every year in the introductory courses at Les Ailes du Mont-Blanc, and around forty at the Verbier paragliding centre, the future of speedriding looks bright.

The 2011 Swiss championship will involve a total of six rounds, as opposed to just two in 2010.

Nouveau Monde DDB - 344 446 810 RCS ANNECY - Photos : Christoffer Sjöström et Domino.

* Le monde a besoin de vos yeux.

Enak GAVAGGIO - Freerider - Emosson

"Last run. The sun’s setting, the shadows are getting longer.

I career down instinctively, confident, light, just for a bit of fun."

PRO MODEL DARK LORD

Ventilated Zebra photochromic lens, protection category 2 to 4, matching Buff: Maximum protection under the most extreme conditions.

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Iconography째째째 CHRISTIAN BUGNON

PORTFOLIO WITH KEYSTONE

pClimber on orange-tinted glacier above Ishinca Valley at sunset, Cordillera Blanca range. sHimalayas; The Khumbu

iSled-dogs fIcicles hanging from a rooftop.

Saturday 19 December 2009, Arosa. pVal d’Anniviers mountains through cloud from St Luc. sSnow kite, at sunset.

fVent, Tyrol, Austria – at an altitude of 3606 m, the Similaun is the first big mountain of the ‘Venter Skirunde’. dSkiers, Valle Enchiausa, Piedmont, Italy. sMt Cook National Park, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand - Mt Tasman at dawn, seen from Siberhorn.

LILYPAD

THE FLOATING “ECOPOLIS”

Imagine if floating Lilypad islands were to spring to life in the bay of Monte-Carlo, to increase the territory of Monaco…

024 | THIRTY DEGREES

THIRTY DEGREES | 025

LILYPAD

THE FLOATING “ECOPOLIS”

Imagine if floating Lilypad islands were to spring to life in the bay of Monte-Carlo, to increase the territory of Monaco…

024 | THIRTY DEGREES

THIRTY DEGREES | 025

The Lilypad concept involves a semiaquatic, semi-terrestrial city floating on the water. A self-sufficient metropolis in the shape of a water lily, which could be used to house tomorrow’s climate refugees or extend the territory of existing countries.

Get on board for a look at a futuristic project brimming with good ideas and utopian ambitions…

Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN Fotos°°° VINCENT CALLEBAUT ARCHITECTURES Franco-Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has dredged the depths of his imagination to come up with his Lilypad concept, an eco-friendly floating city inspired by the leaves of the giant Amazonian water lily. Meanwhile, in Dubai, the sea beds have been trawled to harvest the millions of cubic metres of sand required to build “The World”, the artificial islands which have been such an economic and, above all, environmental disaster. While Vincent Callebaut’s visionary project is still floating on waves of optimism, the unfinished islands in the United Arab Emirates are gradually sinking into a sea of doubt. A case, so far, of fiction faring better than reality.

Importantly, the Lilypad project contains a central message of

,

026 | THIRTY DEGREES

Steadily being nibbled away by the Indian Ocean, the Maldives archipelago has nearly 80% of its land mass less than one metre above sea level. Lilypad floating islands might just be the solution to the rising seas, as shown on this satellite photo, offering housing to climate refugees of the future.

THIRTY DEGREES | 027

The Lilypad concept involves a semiaquatic, semi-terrestrial city floating on the water. A self-sufficient metropolis in the shape of a water lily, which could be used to house tomorrow’s climate refugees or extend the territory of existing countries.

Get on board for a look at a futuristic project brimming with good ideas and utopian ambitions…

Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN Fotos°°° VINCENT CALLEBAUT ARCHITECTURES Franco-Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut has dredged the depths of his imagination to come up with his Lilypad concept, an eco-friendly floating city inspired by the leaves of the giant Amazonian water lily. Meanwhile, in Dubai, the sea beds have been trawled to harvest the millions of cubic metres of sand required to build “The World”, the artificial islands which have been such an economic and, above all, environmental disaster. While Vincent Callebaut’s visionary project is still floating on waves of optimism, the unfinished islands in the United Arab Emirates are gradually sinking into a sea of doubt. A case, so far, of fiction faring better than reality.

Importantly, the Lilypad project contains a central message of

,

026 | THIRTY DEGREES

Steadily being nibbled away by the Indian Ocean, the Maldives archipelago has nearly 80% of its land mass less than one metre above sea level. Lilypad floating islands might just be the solution to the rising seas, as shown on this satellite photo, offering housing to climate refugees of the future.

THIRTY DEGREES | 027

hope, and opens up a process of reflection on a key question for the future: how will we handle the millions of climate refugees who will be driven into exile as the earth is gradually nibbled away by the sea, at a rate of between 20 and 90 cm during the 21st century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)? Where will this human flood of ecorefugees be housed? Well, why not on a floating “Ecopolis”?

HOME TO 50,000 PEOPLE Vincent Callebaut’s semi-aquatic, semi-terrestrial city, which could also be used to extend the territories of highly developed countries such as Monaco, would have room for some 50,000 residents. It would promote the development of biodiversity with a central fresh water lagoon collecting and purifying rain water. Life on the island would be based around three marinas and three mountains respectively dedicated to work, business and leisure, all covered by a level of homes planted with hanging gardens and crisscrossed by a network of streets and alleys following organic routes. This offshore city would have a double polyester-fibre shell coated in a layer of titanium dioxide, which would react with ultraviolet light to allow atmospheric pollution to be absorbed through photocatalysis (the acceleration of chemical reactions through exposure to light). By making use of all forms of renewable energy (solar, wind, hydraulics, tidal, biomass, etc.) it would create more energy than it would consume. “The basis of the project is standardised, but the aesthetic ambition is to go beyond architectural strictures; it’s important that the project is appreciated by the man on the street, and that it expresses a certain joie de vivre. My work is not austere, and I believe that the aesthetic aspect should be lavish, joyful, lyrical”, explains Vincent Callebaut. Just imagine this monument to urban ecology, capable of producing oxygen and electricity, recycling CO2 and waste, biologically treating and purifying sewage, as well integrating ecological niches, aquaculture sites and biotic corridors on and under the shell to meet its own food requirements. And imagine if an investor decided to take an interest in the fate of future climate refugees…

Sometimes it does no harm to dream a little. www.vincent.callebaut.org

In Monaco, or elsewhere for that matter, 50 000 people could live on each of these ecological floating islands, inspired by the leaves of the giant Amazonian water lily.

028 | THIRTY DEGREES

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NATURE MAKES A GRAND ENTRANCE

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DESIGN

Flora, fauna, and climate are inspiring designers more than ever before. As designers increase their use of recycled or certified organic materials, they are throwing the doors wide open to those natural objects that stimulate their imagination. A look at this state of play.

Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN Armchairs become tulips or peonies, blooming in every corner of the lounge; the sofa, cloud like, seems to almost float above the floor while vases immortalize the ephemeral morning dew. Thanks to creative furniture designs, Mother Nature makes her grand entrance into our homes and lives once again. More than ever, designers are drawing inspiration from the flora, fauna, and meteorological phenomena that surround us. As in the days when nature guided the brushes of the great painters and the pens of the master poets, so she continues to provide a fertile ground for the imaginations of some of today’s most prominent designers. Tatiana Tonizzo, from the Italian design company Cappellini, backs this up.

She says, “Design that is inspired by nature is very much the current trend, and continues to gain ground.” Other experts are also unanimous on this point.

,

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Q The Cloud sofa concept by D.K.& Wei is held in the air by a magnetic field!

030 | THIRTY DEGREES

% Emeco’s Navy Chair, made with 111 recycled Coca-Cola PET bottles.

But how does one explain nature coming back into favour?

When the Swiss magazine Le Temps put the question to him, Philip Ursprung, Professor of Art History and Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, spoke of a “reaction to a globalization that is abstract, contradictory, and difficult to understand.” A similar phenomenon emerged during the Industrial Revolution, when designers at the time wanted to put a more humane face on society. “Nature — or rather, domesticated nature — is a reassuring model,” Ursprung explains, “because its wonders evoke a sense of coherence... Nature has therefore become the canvas onto which we project both our desires and anxieties.”

A NEW ERA Changes in form often coincide with changes in substance as designers increasingly weave their own ecological threads, or those the consumer wishes to see, into their designs. This is apparent in the recycling and diverting of objects from their original intended use. Examples of this trend are the Navy Chair by Emeco, made of 111 rPET* bottles of Coca-Cola or the emblematic use of certified wood.

THIRTY DEGREES | 031

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NATURE MAKES A GRAND ENTRANCE

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DESIGN

Flora, fauna, and climate are inspiring designers more than ever before. As designers increase their use of recycled or certified organic materials, they are throwing the doors wide open to those natural objects that stimulate their imagination. A look at this state of play.

Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN Armchairs become tulips or peonies, blooming in every corner of the lounge; the sofa, cloud like, seems to almost float above the floor while vases immortalize the ephemeral morning dew. Thanks to creative furniture designs, Mother Nature makes her grand entrance into our homes and lives once again. More than ever, designers are drawing inspiration from the flora, fauna, and meteorological phenomena that surround us. As in the days when nature guided the brushes of the great painters and the pens of the master poets, so she continues to provide a fertile ground for the imaginations of some of today’s most prominent designers. Tatiana Tonizzo, from the Italian design company Cappellini, backs this up.

She says, “Design that is inspired by nature is very much the current trend, and continues to gain ground.” Other experts are also unanimous on this point.

,

RR

Q The Cloud sofa concept by D.K.& Wei is held in the air by a magnetic field!

030 | THIRTY DEGREES

% Emeco’s Navy Chair, made with 111 recycled Coca-Cola PET bottles.

But how does one explain nature coming back into favour?

When the Swiss magazine Le Temps put the question to him, Philip Ursprung, Professor of Art History and Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, spoke of a “reaction to a globalization that is abstract, contradictory, and difficult to understand.” A similar phenomenon emerged during the Industrial Revolution, when designers at the time wanted to put a more humane face on society. “Nature — or rather, domesticated nature — is a reassuring model,” Ursprung explains, “because its wonders evoke a sense of coherence... Nature has therefore become the canvas onto which we project both our desires and anxieties.”

A NEW ERA Changes in form often coincide with changes in substance as designers increasingly weave their own ecological threads, or those the consumer wishes to see, into their designs. This is apparent in the recycling and diverting of objects from their original intended use. Examples of this trend are the Navy Chair by Emeco, made of 111 rPET* bottles of Coca-Cola or the emblematic use of certified wood.

THIRTY DEGREES | 031

The overarching aim of eco-design is to establish a respectful relationship between the product and the natural environment. “What’s taking root runs far deeper than a mere trend; it’s a movement,” confides Celine Rousseau, of HoO Design in France. “An object’s degree of usefulness, its place in daily life, its innocuousness (or harmfulness) throughout its lifespan, the conditions under which it was made—these are the types of questions which now loom large in consumers’ minds. The era of the disposable, bisphenol-saturated plastic gadget, made by children in a Chinese sweatshop, is over. Consumers want something that has purpose and that represents neither a danger to themselves nor to their environment.” Some institutes estimate at 20% the extra cost that people are willing to pay for objects which, design and usefulness being equal, are ethically and ecologically sound. * Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate- recycled plastic bottles

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THE BATHMAT - FROM PLANTS! Imagine a green mat being rolled out before you as you step out of the shower (a bath being non-ecological!). A mat that allows you to rediscover that subtle feeling of bare feet on grass. Fact now is stronger than fiction. Invented by La Chanh Nguyen, an alumnus of the University of Art and Design, Lausanne (ECAL), the Larosée bathmat treats you to genuine moss from the forests of Vosges, France, affixed to recycled cuttings of latex foam. The water that drips and runs off your body is a source of life for the vegetation under your feet; in return, quasi-symbiotically, the pressure points on the arches of your soles are treated to a massage. The moss on the bathmat finds all the moisture and shade that it needs to survive right there in your bathroom. And, as its alveoli become damaged, you can replace them with refills (which, if you are feeling lazy, you can purchase). When they said that nature is taking over our homes, they meant it both figuratively and literally!

“WE ARE WITNESSING A RESURGENCE OF WOOD AND CORK.”

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The Larosée bathmat can be found on sale at www.hoodesign.fr.

Alexis Georgacopoulos, in your opinion, as head of the industrial design department at the University of Art and Design, Lausanne (ECAL), and its future director, has ecology become a priority for designers?

Maybe not a priority, but it is a point of consideration for most of them.

It’s also a response to a demand that extends beyond the framework of design itself and affects our society as a whole.

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Could you give us a concrete example of this?

In terms of recycling, I was thinking of the bollards used to moor the gondolas in Venice. As they age and become prone to damage and start to break, they are gradually being replaced. The Italian company Riva 1920 uses the discarded posts to create furniture made of raw or unfinished wood, such as tables, and the bollards are an ideal source material for them.

Moroso’s Bouquet chair, by the Japanese Designer Tokujin Yoshioka

032 | THIRTY DEGREES

So wood in particular is making a comeback?

Indeed, and especially “raw wood”.

And speaking of materials now in style, one should not forget cork, which is now being used in many fascinating projects.

DESIGN OR NOT DESIGN %N ATTENDANT UN STYLE NOUVEAU 7HILE WAITING FOR A NEW STYLE

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URBAN RR

MACHINES WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

RYNO Range: 48 km.

Maximum speed: 40 km/h.

Recharge time: 1.5 hours Price: around 3,500 dollars

The future of urban mobility is being designed today.

Spotlight on three means of electric locomotion whose small ecological footprints should guarantee a big impact in the near future.

Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN On my left, the Ryno, a sort of motorbike with its front wheel missing! On my right, the E-Scooter and the Mini Scooter E Concept, both two wheelers with a more conventional look. These are the three big newcomers where urban travel is concerned. All three are practical, fun to ride and, above all, eco-friendly. They all run on electricity and therefore do not emit any CO2. As we saw with the YikeBike - presented in the autumn edition of 30 Degrees - the future of urban mobility is currently being designed behind the scenes. Designers’ sketches are gradually taking shape, even though these three machines are not yet on the market. But in the next few months, or years, they may well bring some serenity to the world’s cluttered cities, and a breath of fresh, less polluted air.

Let’s start with the Ryno, designed by the American company Ryno Motors. This unicycle, which should be on sale in the

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,

E-SCOOTER & MINI SCOOTER E CONCEPT As these are still in the concept stage, the manufacturers have not yet provided much data. The E-Scooter will probably have a range of 100 km and reach a speed of 45 km/h. Given that the Mini Scooter E Concept works on the same principle (lithium-ion battery), it can be presumed that it will have similar performance.

034 | THIRTY DEGREES

spring 2011, keeps its balance thanks to a range of sensors and a complex electronic system. It can also pride itself on being the world’s smallest, most easy to manoeuvre motorcycle in its category.

As for the E-Scooter, it is the work of the German manufacturer Smart (MercedesBenz). It uses a lithium-ion battery and a... smartphone. When placed on its dock on the handlebars, the telephone acts as a dashboard. It becomes the ignition key, anti-theft device, speedometer, battery level indicator and satellite navigation system, not to mention the localisation feature if you forget where you left your vehicle!

Its direct competitor, the Mini Scooter E Concept, from Mini (BMW) uses the smartphone in the same way. However, it looks very different as the Mini Scooter E Concept is based on the traditional design of the brand’s four-wheeler. Each to his own...

WINTER WARDROBE WORRIES Keystone

CHRONIC

Text°°° CATHERINE COCHARD

Despite the racks full of clothes to be found in high street stores, it is difficult to dress with style and keep warm when temperatures are at their lowest.

So what’s the solution?

The top doesn’t go with the bottom. Or the jacket doesn’t match the suit. What do you do? Give up and go out and face the elements without the warmth of the many layers that make you look like the mascot of a certain tyre manufacturer? Between November and March, you may well need help in the elegance stakes. Here are five classic examples of wardrobe worries:

,

THE SHORT SKIRT This one causes more problems than it solves. Nothing can replace the comforting warmth of a pair of jeans. So you choose your skirt in a winter weight fabric, such as leather or wool - which of course adds thickness to your hips, thighs and tum. Now you need a jacket to go with it. You’re tempted to go for a long coat.

But long on short creates an optical illusion and makes the skirt look smaller than it really is. As for a short jacket, it’s only good for short distances, unless you want to catch a cold that is. When in doubt, go for a 3/4 length.

HEELS Very elegant, especially when worn with the above, but only if your tights don’t wrinkle at the ankle and if it isn’t icy underfoot.

Have you ever tried walking on ice with 10cm Louboutin heels?

Boots are not just for horse-riding you know.

036 | THIRTY DEGREES

TIGHTS Despite much effort on the part of manufacturers, women still have a problem with them. Too fine and they’re likely to ladder as soon as you put them on. Too thick, they don’t tear, but skirt linings tend to stick to them with uncontrollable determination.So it’s either cotton or wool then! Great - if you’re going skiing - or to an aerobics class.

THE BLOUSE Also known as “that draughty thing”. Let’s just say that if you wear it on its own, it might be stylish, but it certainly won’t keep you warm. You’ll need to team it with a lightweight jacket or a shawl running the risk of looking decidedly less elegant as you go.

THE COAT This is the key piece of your winter wardrobe. The one you will live in all season. So best choose it well. If possible, have several. Don’t forget, when the cold sets in, less than 70% wool just won’t cut it.

If your budget can stretch to it, a high cashmere content is good, and colour-wise go for beige, that’s what’s in this winter.Synthetic alternatives, such as puffer jackets, or other polyester coats and jackets are a practical solution to fall back on and are generally inexpensive. It’s true that fur is what keeps you warmest in winter.

It’s also true that animals are hunted and killed to make coats.So do whatever your conscience tells you... Or whatever your bank balance dictates! There’s always sheepskin too. It’s everywhere this year, from the budget ranges to the high end.It’s best to go for fitted cuts that nip in at the waist, to give a hint of that slim figure hiding under all those layers of clothing.

L I V E W E L L , F LY

FLY TO BORDEAUX NICE TOULOUSE VALENCE BOOK NOW ON GENEVA’S OWN AIRLINE

F LY B A B O O.C O M

BABOO, FLYING BLUE PARTNER

LINDSAY

LOHAN

2010 Sony Pictures Releasing GmbH

HOLLYWOOD’S ENFANT TERRIBLE After some very public scandals, the American movie star returns to the big screen in “Machete,” an action-packed movie co-produced by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis, after which she will be playing Linda Lovelace, star of X-rated movies, in “Inferno”.

Text°°° CATHERINE COCHARD There is something particularly tragic about the career of actress Lindsay Lohan. Tragic because the movie star was unable to hide from the camera lens even at an early age.

These were not only the movie cameras that shot her in her various roles, but also those that captured her off-screen activities, watching her every move, the post-adolescent waywardness and indiscretions of someone who is approaching her 25th year.This over-exposure is one to which the actress has herself contributed, by posting stills of herself on her Twitter account. So what could she still have to show or hide from her audience?

,

EVEN AT THE AGE OF THREE Lindsay Lohan is the eldest of a New York family of four children of Italian-Irish origin. Dina, her mother, was a dancer, who later featured in TV serials. As for her father, Michael, his is a familiar face on the small screen, as he made his name in the soap opera “As The World Turns”, that had a run lasting 53 years in the U.S. Lindsay’s career began as a TV toddler at the age of three when she started making commercials. Then came various parts in Disney productions. In 2004, she moved into a heavily formatted singing career, returning to the movies in 2006 when her efforts received mixed reviews, until, in the same year, she shared the screen with Meryl Streep in “The Last Show”, directed by Robert Altman.

The fashion scene has always taken an interest in her, more for her ability to mimic the teenage look than for her own style. For

038 | THIRTY DEGREES

a while, she was the muse of the Italian couture houses of Miu Miu and Fornarina, until 2008, when she created her own line of leggings. In that same year, Ungaro took her on for her artistic “influence” but – as a result of the many criticisms – fired her after the first fashion parade on which she made her mark.

At the same time, she featured heavily in scandal magazines, making the work of the paparazzi that much easier by posing with a drink in her hand, bleary-eyed and with dilated pupils.

Photographs taken at night-clubs were followed by those shot as she emerged from drug rehabilitation centres or captured in the vicinity of cosmetic surgery clinics. The starlet’s rap sheet includes driving while under the influence of drink, failure to comply with probation conditions and drug possession charges.

2011: REDEMPTION OR CONVERSION? After a short prison stay following a heavily publicized court case, the public still retains images of Lindsay Lohan in the dock.

There were her eloquent fingernails, bearing the inscription “F*** you”, her trembling lips and copious tears on hearing the verdict, the empty gaze of her lawyer who had assumed that his client’s celebrity status would make his task that much easier…

“Machete” – in which the actress plays a nun – may well enable her to rediscover her respectability and prepare the public for the imminent release of “Inferno”, a biopic in which Lohan plays the title role of Linda Lovelace, the first true star of pornographic movies.

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The old cellar built in 1397 where white wines are aged for 12 month.

MOVIES

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

In addition to amazing visual effects for its time, the original movie had many fairy godmothers. These included the designer and screenwriter Jean Giraud (better known under the pseudonym of Moebius), who also worked on “Alien”, “Abyss” and “The Fifth Element”, the set designer Syd Mears, credited with “Blade Runner”, and Wendy Carlos who composed the sound track of “A Clockwork Orange”. As far as the cast is concerned, there is nothing to cause embarrassment either in the latest magnum opus, because plenty of top names are featured, including Jeff Bridges, who resumes his role of Kevin Flynn. Daft Punk, fans of the first version, have created the soundtrack. Disney studios probably had little trouble getting them on board.

ANGRY WOMEN WORKERS The movie “Made in Dagenham” (or “We Want Sex” – the name given for the film outside of the UK) tells the true story of 183 women car workers at the Ford factory in Dagenham, on the outskirts of London, who held a three-week strike in 1968 to convince their American bosses to give them equal pay with the men.The title of the film, as released outside the UK, refers to a demonstration in which the strikers had tried to unfurl a banner demanding “Sex Equality” but unfortunately, it got folded up, until only the word “Sex” appeared. Despite this unfortunate howler and lots of pressure, the women refused to give in and eventually won their case, at least in part. This funny, yet moving, film is directed by Nigel Cole, who was also responsible for “Calendar Girls”, the story of a group of middle-aged Women’s Institute ladies from Yorkshire who posed in the nude to collect money for charity.

film Tron ©Disney

ONE FOR THE ROAD “Takers”, by John Luessenhop, is about a gang of brilliant criminals (Idris Elba, Paul Walker, T.I., Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen and Michael Ealy) who have great fun at the expense of the police and the Special Forces. These gentlemen burglars have become masters in the high art of thieving, carrying out their plans with extreme precision, leaving no clues behind, while living a seemingly perfectly respectable life at the same time so as not to arouse the slightest suspicion. When one of their former colleagues leaves prison and suggests a final shout that could bag them 20 million dollars, they all decide to go back on the job one last time, after which they could all lead the life they had always dreamed of, protected from want and, above all, never having to worry about what tomorrow might bring, or about the cops. But they haven’t counted on the relentless pursuit of a certain police officer (Matt Dillon), determined to catch them at all costs.

film Taker © 2010 Sony Pictures Releasing GmbH

Text°°° CATHERINE COCHARD

040 | THIRTY DEGREES

Beware, cult movie. After months of buzz, “Tron: Legacy” is at last going to reach the screen in Frenchspeaking Switzerland. It represents a salvation for all those fans nostalgic for the original “Tron” flick, which came out in 1982 and which – for the first time in the whole history of the movies – used computer generated imaging and played on a visual identity more familiar to the world of computing.

In order to ensure that movie-loving geeks will step up to the plate, Walt Disney came up with some shrewd publicity creating an atmosphere of suspense among its audience. Last October, twenty minutes of the blockbuster were projected into various specially selected movie theatres throughout the world, at an evening event simply entitled “Tron Night: the 3D Experience”. But those lucky ones who managed to get a place for the screening were going to have to stay on tenterhooks for nearly another four months before being able to savour the new “Tron” in its entirety.

There’s nothing that exciting about the storyline itself. Sam Flynn is trying to solve the mystery of his father’s disappearance 25 years earlier. As a technology expert, he gets sucked into a virtual world, a parallel and dangerous universe in which his father, Kevin Flynn, is managing to hang on to survival by the skin of his teeth.

,

film we want sex ©Elite Film AG.

As far as the Seventh Art is concerned, the year 2011 will be ushered in at a cracking pace. A sequel to a legend, a gangster film and a feminist revolt — let’s have a closer look at three of the feature films that are sure to mark the start of the year.

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MOVIES

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

In addition to amazing visual effects for its time, the original movie had many fairy godmothers. These included the designer and screenwriter Jean Giraud (better known under the pseudonym of Moebius), who also worked on “Alien”, “Abyss” and “The Fifth Element”, the set designer Syd Mears, credited with “Blade Runner”, and Wendy Carlos who composed the sound track of “A Clockwork Orange”. As far as the cast is concerned, there is nothing to cause embarrassment either in the latest magnum opus, because plenty of top names are featured, including Jeff Bridges, who resumes his role of Kevin Flynn. Daft Punk, fans of the first version, have created the soundtrack. Disney studios probably had little trouble getting them on board.

ANGRY WOMEN WORKERS The movie “Made in Dagenham” (or “We Want Sex” – the name given for the film outside of the UK) tells the true story of 183 women car workers at the Ford factory in Dagenham, on the outskirts of London, who held a three-week strike in 1968 to convince their American bosses to give them equal pay with the men.The title of the film, as released outside the UK, refers to a demonstration in which the strikers had tried to unfurl a banner demanding “Sex Equality” but unfortunately, it got folded up, until only the word “Sex” appeared. Despite this unfortunate howler and lots of pressure, the women refused to give in and eventually won their case, at least in part. This funny, yet moving, film is directed by Nigel Cole, who was also responsible for “Calendar Girls”, the story of a group of middle-aged Women’s Institute ladies from Yorkshire who posed in the nude to collect money for charity.

film Tron ©Disney

ONE FOR THE ROAD “Takers”, by John Luessenhop, is about a gang of brilliant criminals (Idris Elba, Paul Walker, T.I., Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen and Michael Ealy) who have great fun at the expense of the police and the Special Forces. These gentlemen burglars have become masters in the high art of thieving, carrying out their plans with extreme precision, leaving no clues behind, while living a seemingly perfectly respectable life at the same time so as not to arouse the slightest suspicion. When one of their former colleagues leaves prison and suggests a final shout that could bag them 20 million dollars, they all decide to go back on the job one last time, after which they could all lead the life they had always dreamed of, protected from want and, above all, never having to worry about what tomorrow might bring, or about the cops. But they haven’t counted on the relentless pursuit of a certain police officer (Matt Dillon), determined to catch them at all costs.

film Taker © 2010 Sony Pictures Releasing GmbH

Text°°° CATHERINE COCHARD

040 | THIRTY DEGREES

Beware, cult movie. After months of buzz, “Tron: Legacy” is at last going to reach the screen in Frenchspeaking Switzerland. It represents a salvation for all those fans nostalgic for the original “Tron” flick, which came out in 1982 and which – for the first time in the whole history of the movies – used computer generated imaging and played on a visual identity more familiar to the world of computing.

In order to ensure that movie-loving geeks will step up to the plate, Walt Disney came up with some shrewd publicity creating an atmosphere of suspense among its audience. Last October, twenty minutes of the blockbuster were projected into various specially selected movie theatres throughout the world, at an evening event simply entitled “Tron Night: the 3D Experience”. But those lucky ones who managed to get a place for the screening were going to have to stay on tenterhooks for nearly another four months before being able to savour the new “Tron” in its entirety.

There’s nothing that exciting about the storyline itself. Sam Flynn is trying to solve the mystery of his father’s disappearance 25 years earlier. As a technology expert, he gets sucked into a virtual world, a parallel and dangerous universe in which his father, Kevin Flynn, is managing to hang on to survival by the skin of his teeth.

,

film we want sex ©Elite Film AG.

As far as the Seventh Art is concerned, the year 2011 will be ushered in at a cracking pace. A sequel to a legend, a gangster film and a feminist revolt — let’s have a closer look at three of the feature films that are sure to mark the start of the year.

234 5$01(-+" 60$7)-+

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Following a hit debut album in 2008, the Irish trio have just released their second long-player, in the same vein as the previous disc, and will be playing live in Zurich in February. We take a closer look at a group who expertly combine hip hop flows with rocktinged pop.

CELTIC SOUL OF

THE SCRIPT

Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN Celtic soul! It may seem a surprising combination, but the resulting sound is quite outstanding.

Indeed, it is this blend of hip hop flows and pop-rock melodies that gives The Script their extra touch of soul. “Years ago, in Dublin, we only had MTV after midnight, at a time when the channel was mostly playing black music. Lots of people from my generation were fascinated by it”, says Mark Sheehan, the band’s shaven-headed guitarist. And it is precisely this original aspect, gleaned from late nights in front of the TV, which helped propel their first album to the top of the UK and Irish charts in 2008. As a further bonus, they won a World Music Award for best Irish artist, thanks in particular to “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved”. Total sales reached two million across the world, and the single “Breakeven” remained in the US radio play charts for an impressive 40 weeks. As the icing on the cake, in 2010 the Irish trio received a Meteor Award (Irish music prize) for best live performance, beating their mentors U2.

,

RR

WORDS AND MUSIC Now, with their second album, “Science & Faith” they are adding a few more lines to the script of their career. “The songs came quickly”, they told us. This new release, in the same vein as their previous record, speaks of the havoc which can be wrought by personal relationships, the fundamental importance of love in the universal equation, and the loss of parents. “In our songs, we look at complex emotions in a simple way”, they explain.It’s a humble and honest message, and one picked up on by Paul McCartney, who invited them on his American tour.

The music is in the image of their lives, and probably saved them from the life of delinquency if they had stayed in the deprived areas of Dublin where they grew up. Everyone can identify with something in their lyrics, even if the path these young men have followed has been marked by episodes of great sadness, including death among their friends. But there has been great success too, such as when lead singer Danny O’Donoghue and guitarist Mark Sheehan found themselves invited to the United States to collaborate with contemporary R’n’B legends such as Dallas Austin. But the two successful producers were not content to stay in the background, and after recruiting drummer Glen Power they released their first album. From now on they would work only for themselves, turning down offers from no less than artists as diverse as Beyoncé and James Blunt. The three of them still have so many scripts to write for themselves and so many new pages to turn…

042 | THIRTY DEGREES

www.thescriptmusic.com Live in concert At Komplex 457 in Zurich, 9 February 2011.

Following a hit debut album in 2008, the Irish trio have just released their second long-player, in the same vein as the previous disc, and will be playing live in Zurich in February. We take a closer look at a group who expertly combine hip hop flows with rocktinged pop.

CELTIC SOUL OF

THE SCRIPT

Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN Celtic soul! It may seem a surprising combination, but the resulting sound is quite outstanding.

Indeed, it is this blend of hip hop flows and pop-rock melodies that gives The Script their extra touch of soul. “Years ago, in Dublin, we only had MTV after midnight, at a time when the channel was mostly playing black music. Lots of people from my generation were fascinated by it”, says Mark Sheehan, the band’s shaven-headed guitarist. And it is precisely this original aspect, gleaned from late nights in front of the TV, which helped propel their first album to the top of the UK and Irish charts in 2008. As a further bonus, they won a World Music Award for best Irish artist, thanks in particular to “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved”. Total sales reached two million across the world, and the single “Breakeven” remained in the US radio play charts for an impressive 40 weeks. As the icing on the cake, in 2010 the Irish trio received a Meteor Award (Irish music prize) for best live performance, beating their mentors U2.

,

RR

WORDS AND MUSIC Now, with their second album, “Science & Faith” they are adding a few more lines to the script of their career. “The songs came quickly”, they told us. This new release, in the same vein as their previous record, speaks of the havoc which can be wrought by personal relationships, the fundamental importance of love in the universal equation, and the loss of parents. “In our songs, we look at complex emotions in a simple way”, they explain.It’s a humble and honest message, and one picked up on by Paul McCartney, who invited them on his American tour.

The music is in the image of their lives, and probably saved them from the life of delinquency if they had stayed in the deprived areas of Dublin where they grew up. Everyone can identify with something in their lyrics, even if the path these young men have followed has been marked by episodes of great sadness, including death among their friends. But there has been great success too, such as when lead singer Danny O’Donoghue and guitarist Mark Sheehan found themselves invited to the United States to collaborate with contemporary R’n’B legends such as Dallas Austin. But the two successful producers were not content to stay in the background, and after recruiting drummer Glen Power they released their first album. From now on they would work only for themselves, turning down offers from no less than artists as diverse as Beyoncé and James Blunt. The three of them still have so many scripts to write for themselves and so many new pages to turn…

042 | THIRTY DEGREES

www.thescriptmusic.com Live in concert At Komplex 457 in Zurich, 9 February 2011.

www.beargrylls.com

BEAR GRYLLS A MAN OF EXTREMES

Mountain climber, writer, adventurer and TV star, this 36-year-old daredevil has achieved worldwide success with his “Man vs. Wild” series. Portrait of an expert in survival under hostile conditions.

Text°°° WILLIAM TÜRLER Bear Grylls first entered the limelight at the age of 23, when he became the youngest British mountain climber to conquer Everest, after a 90-day climb including a fall into a crevasse which almost cost him his life. Quite amazingly, a few years earlier, during an exercise with the British special air services (SAS 21), he broke his back in three places while making a parachute jump in Africa.

He wrote a book based on this incredible experience, entitled “Facing up”, which rapidly became a global bestseller. After featuring on the small screen in a deodorant advertisement based on his Everest exploit, he made a number of TV appearances (with Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno, for example), followed by several documentaries and features, such as “Escape to the Legion”, looking at life in the French Foreign Legion.

Next, Discovery Channel offered him the chance to present “Man vs. Wild”, a programme based around a simple but wonderfully effective concept: dropped by helicopter into some of

,

the most inhospitable regions on the planet (deserts, jungles, swamps, high mountains) and equipped with little more than clothes and a knife, Bear Grylls demonstrates how to survive there.

IN REAL DANGER? Success came quickly (the series has been watched worldwide by some 1.2 billion viewers). The first criticisms did not take long either, with some arguing that the presenter – accompanied on every shoot by a team of four or five people - a cameraman, a sound engineer, a producer and a security assistant – was never actually in real danger.

But for anyone who has watched a few episodes, it seems clear that this 36-year-old daredevil and father of three does genuinely “take on nature alone” in many scenes. For example when he climbs down a rocky cliff on wet creepers in the jungles of Belize, or when he dives into a frozen lake in Siberia. Not to mention the numerous occasions when he feeds on insects, grubs and all manner of creepy-crawlies which cross his path…

One of his most memorable meals was the yak’s eye which he removed from a dead animal in Siberia and crunched between his teeth! Not apparently the most delicious part of the animal, but full of protein, explains the narrator, adding that, when you’re fighting to survive, you need a strong stomach…

“Man vs. Wild”, currently on Discovery Channel.

“Worst Case Scenario”: having previously focussed on survival in the natural environment, Bear Grylls turns his attention to the urban setting.

THIRTY DEGREES | 045

THE GIANTXTOUR CONTINUES ITS EXPANSION

GiantXtour

Text°°° SERGE GRETER

GiantXtour

This year, the national interschool snowboard and skiing competition will be continuing its development in Germanspeaking Switzerland, which should complete its expansion drive. The Open & Pro event - open to all - will also go ahead, with environmental concerns put on the agenda for the coming season.

46 | THIRTY DEGREES

“The baby has grown up, and teething troubles are a thing of the past. The road to success has been smooth, and the event is thriving and healthy. But it will never become a giant, however promising it is,” explains Philippe Wenger, father of the giantXtour, a combined snowboard (boardercross and Big Air) and ski (ski cross and Big Air) interschool competition for apprentices and secondary school students in Switzerland. As we prepare for the 14th edition, the giantXtour continues to pave out its future in German-speaking Switzerland... “We are already very well known in French-speaking Switzerland but on the other side of the river Sarine there’s still plenty of room for development, as we have only been there for 2 years. We are doing well in the Bern region, from Basel to Lucerne, but beyond that we still have a lot of work to do,” says Philippe Wenger. “Isn’t now the time to be careful and not get carried away by the success?” we ask. Like an attentive father, Philippe Wenger keeps a watchful eye: “Our aim is to add one qualification site in German-speaking Switzerland, so as to have three, like we do in the French-speaking part of the country. We’ll stop there, so as things remain manageable.” So, more competitions, but not more participants, as the number will remain at 2000, like last year. “Each canton has a correspondent who is responsible for channelling applications”, he emphasises. We are filtering more, and pushing the level upwards.

The competition is set to become a springboard for the Swiss winter sport elite: Mellie Francon (snowboard cross) and Katrin Müller (ski cross) took part in the competition and were both at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.

,

THIRTY DEGREES | 47

Nendaz Backcountry - Rider : Mirjam Jaeger - Photo: Sébastien Staub

In the heart of the 4 Vallées…

Special offer: 1 week from CHF 495.– per pers.

The offer includes : 7 nights in an apartment + 6 day ski pass «4 Vallées» + access to the sport centre.

Available from the 8th of January to 5th of February and from 12th March to 30th of April. Subject to availability.

Contacts: Nendaz Tourisme - + 41 27 289 55 89 - info@nendaz.ch - www.nendaz.ch

GiantXtour

OPEN&PRO Of course, the end to expansion does not mean that the event, whose CHF 10 registration fee makes it open to all, will not evolve in time. The Open&Pro competition, a kind of little sister to the GiantXtour, was tested last year and is now definitively part of the schedule. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This ski cross and snowboard cross competition, which will take place on a Saturday, is for young people and adults alike (age 13 and above). This is not a school event. More and more people want to take part in these sports, without necessarily being members of a federation. Federation members who want practise can take part too. The number of stages should increase in the future, as demand is highâ&#x20AC;?, say the organisers. At the same time, Summit Foundation, a specialist in environmental solutions, has been selected to find practical ways of dealing with environmental issues linked to the event.

For example, all waste will be sorted for recycling throughout the tour. You see? They have grown-up preoccupations too!

For more information see www.giantxtour.ch.

2011 SCHEDULE

Christian Bugnon

Qualifying Round in Haute-Nendaz Qualifying Round in Haute-Nendaz Qualifying Round in Grimentz Open&Pro in Grimentz Qualifying Round in Lenk Qualifying Round in Lenk Open&Pro in Lenk Qualifying Round in Melchsee-Frutt Qualifying Round in Melchsee-Frutt Qualifying Round in Leysin Qualifying Round in Leysin Final of Rivella giantXtour by DaKine in Leysin

GiantXtour

19 January 20 January 26 January 29 January 2 February 3 February 5 February 16 February 17 February 9 March 10 March 12 March

48 | THIRTY DEGREES

THIRTY DEGREES | 49

AURÉLIEN DUCROZ A WINNER ON THE

offered him. The cineaste needed someone to be the double for his star during the making of his film “Snowboarder”, filmed in the region and Aurélien seized the opportunity with open hands, even though he was not a snowboarder himself! However, his skill on the board was such that he was given a contract for the rest of the shoot, and this success woke him out of the torpor caused by his ski jumping deception and meant that he was able to turn the page and start a new chapter in his life.

S P O RT

WAVES AND THE SLOPES

RR

Dan Ferrer

Dan Ferrer

The 2009 World Freeride Champion in his kingdom of Chamonix

Text°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ

Winner of the Freeride World Tour in 2009, and 4th this year, Aurélien Ducroz has set the barrier even higher for 2011. Not satisfied with aiming to win his title back, he is also planning a solo crossing of the Atlantic; which should take him to Brazil next September. Although highly experienced in the mountains, having grown up in Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc, he is just beginning his adventures on the sea.

However, the young Chamoniard is, despite his obvious humility, confident of being able to achieve his twin goals.

050 | THIRTY DEGREES

Aurélien Ducroz fell under the spell of the mountains at a very young age. His mother is a ski instructor and his father a mountain guide, so it was almost a foregone conclusion that their son would turn naturally towards mountain sports as soon as he was able to do so. Like all children of the valley, he learnt to ski at almost the same time as he learnt to walk.His natural ability on skis meant that he was very early on competing in Giant and Super Giant downhill ski races, but his small size and light weight for his age were a handicap so he looked for something more suitable for someone of his build. He found it in ski-jumping. Using the jumps of his hometown, he showed his natural talent and, being a keen competitor, quickly excelled in his new discipline. Very early on, he was brought into the French team and was winning titles across Europe. In 2002 he managed to qualify for what should have been the highlight of his career, the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. “This was a really difficult period for me, even if it was fascinating from a purely sporting point of view”, says Aurélien today. “Ski jumping puts a lot of

,

Aurélien, aboard his Nissan 417 single-hull boat, during his qualification for the Transat 6.50 challenge. demands on the competitors, especially where putting on weight is concerned, and we spent almost all our time on diets trying to remain as light as possible. I never ate with my parents. I had to have a special diet. I weighed just 58 kg (127 lbs) for 1.8m (5’10”) and I was a hair’s breath away from giving up because the dieting was so hard to stick to.”

DECENT INTO HELL A tragic accident during a training session in Germany, just before the Games were due to start, put paid to his Olympic ambitions and hopes. Aurélien found himself stuck at home, alone, hurt physically and wounded mentally. “What was particularly difficult was that no-one from the Ski Jump Federation ever contacted me to find out how I was doing, even though I had poured my body and soul into the sport. My morale took a really big hit that year. ”Aurélien was reluctant to return to the ramps after his recovery, but he jumped instead at the opportunity thatDidier Laffont, the well-known mountain sports film maker of the 1980s,

REBIRTH AND CONSECRATION His experiences during the shoot gave him back his thirst for competition and thrills and led him to taking part in his first Freeride season, (but on skis, not his snowboard), starting with the regional events. Very shortly, the World Championships were beckoning and, after spending some time working as an employee for the Aiguille de Midi where he discovered that the a normal career was not for him, he gave in to his desire.His first competition against the World’s best freeriders was in Canada, and against all odds, he finished 3rd. Manu Gaidet, the reigning World Champion, recognised Aurélien’s talent and took him under his wing, helping him smooth his way into what was a new world.In 2004 he took another big step on his way to becoming World Champion by qualifying for the X-treme Championship in Verbier,Switzerland. He knew that this could make or break his future. “I knew that here I could really measure myself, competing against the best of the best, great skiers such as Michaud or Zackrisson.It was an incredible experience for me,” he says, still awestruck today.

More motivated than ever, the next year saw him crowned World Vice-Champion. “That was an extraordinary year for me. The birth of my son gave me a real boost. I never expected to do so well so early in my new career, but it was the fact thatI was so regular in my results that really helped.” His progress was now relentless, Champion for the first time at the Verbier X-treme Championship in 2006, and the pinnacle of his sport was finally achieved when he became the World Freeride Champion in 2009.

A MEETING WITH THE SEA When he was asked to help sponsor the trans-Atlantic sailor Adrien Hardy, who was preparing for his own crossing in the Transat 6.50-class boat, Aurélien discovered the joys of regattas and sailing for the first time. A short while after this meeting, and pushed by Yvan Bourgnon who he had recently encountered, Aurélien decided that, despite his total lack of experience, he, too, would like to take on this new challenge. And the challenge would be huge: he would be starting from zero! “I had to learn in one season what the others had spent 10 or 15 years acquiring.”

After 5 months spent in Brittany, participating in regattas, training and trying to qualify for the right to take part in theTransat 6.50 challenge, he earned his entry ticket for the adventure and in September next year he will set sail for Brazil. One more season awaits him before his departure, and he intends to get as much out of it as he can, giving himself the best chance of success.

THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR IN THE CROSSHAIRS With his boat stored away now until the spring, Aurélien is able to dedicate himself totally to the Freeride World Tour, where he hopes to do much better than his 4th place in 2010. “I don’t want people to think that I won in 2009 because I was lucky, that it was a fluke. I have to ‘convert the try’ now and show that I can be consistent at my level.” Delighted to have signed a new contract with the luxury watch maker, Alpina Genève, Aurélien cannot wait for the start of the battle which kicks off on his home turf in Chamonix on the 22nd January 2011.

THIRTY DEGREES | 051

AURÉLIEN DUCROZ A WINNER ON THE

offered him. The cineaste needed someone to be the double for his star during the making of his film “Snowboarder”, filmed in the region and Aurélien seized the opportunity with open hands, even though he was not a snowboarder himself! However, his skill on the board was such that he was given a contract for the rest of the shoot, and this success woke him out of the torpor caused by his ski jumping deception and meant that he was able to turn the page and start a new chapter in his life.

S P O RT

WAVES AND THE SLOPES

RR

Dan Ferrer

Dan Ferrer

The 2009 World Freeride Champion in his kingdom of Chamonix

Text°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ

Winner of the Freeride World Tour in 2009, and 4th this year, Aurélien Ducroz has set the barrier even higher for 2011. Not satisfied with aiming to win his title back, he is also planning a solo crossing of the Atlantic; which should take him to Brazil next September. Although highly experienced in the mountains, having grown up in Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc, he is just beginning his adventures on the sea.

However, the young Chamoniard is, despite his obvious humility, confident of being able to achieve his twin goals.

050 | THIRTY DEGREES

Aurélien Ducroz fell under the spell of the mountains at a very young age. His mother is a ski instructor and his father a mountain guide, so it was almost a foregone conclusion that their son would turn naturally towards mountain sports as soon as he was able to do so. Like all children of the valley, he learnt to ski at almost the same time as he learnt to walk.His natural ability on skis meant that he was very early on competing in Giant and Super Giant downhill ski races, but his small size and light weight for his age were a handicap so he looked for something more suitable for someone of his build. He found it in ski-jumping. Using the jumps of his hometown, he showed his natural talent and, being a keen competitor, quickly excelled in his new discipline. Very early on, he was brought into the French team and was winning titles across Europe. In 2002 he managed to qualify for what should have been the highlight of his career, the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. “This was a really difficult period for me, even if it was fascinating from a purely sporting point of view”, says Aurélien today. “Ski jumping puts a lot of

,

Aurélien, aboard his Nissan 417 single-hull boat, during his qualification for the Transat 6.50 challenge. demands on the competitors, especially where putting on weight is concerned, and we spent almost all our time on diets trying to remain as light as possible. I never ate with my parents. I had to have a special diet. I weighed just 58 kg (127 lbs) for 1.8m (5’10”) and I was a hair’s breath away from giving up because the dieting was so hard to stick to.”

DECENT INTO HELL A tragic accident during a training session in Germany, just before the Games were due to start, put paid to his Olympic ambitions and hopes. Aurélien found himself stuck at home, alone, hurt physically and wounded mentally. “What was particularly difficult was that no-one from the Ski Jump Federation ever contacted me to find out how I was doing, even though I had poured my body and soul into the sport. My morale took a really big hit that year. ”Aurélien was reluctant to return to the ramps after his recovery, but he jumped instead at the opportunity thatDidier Laffont, the well-known mountain sports film maker of the 1980s,

REBIRTH AND CONSECRATION His experiences during the shoot gave him back his thirst for competition and thrills and led him to taking part in his first Freeride season, (but on skis, not his snowboard), starting with the regional events. Very shortly, the World Championships were beckoning and, after spending some time working as an employee for the Aiguille de Midi where he discovered that the a normal career was not for him, he gave in to his desire.His first competition against the World’s best freeriders was in Canada, and against all odds, he finished 3rd. Manu Gaidet, the reigning World Champion, recognised Aurélien’s talent and took him under his wing, helping him smooth his way into what was a new world.In 2004 he took another big step on his way to becoming World Champion by qualifying for the X-treme Championship in Verbier,Switzerland. He knew that this could make or break his future. “I knew that here I could really measure myself, competing against the best of the best, great skiers such as Michaud or Zackrisson.It was an incredible experience for me,” he says, still awestruck today.

More motivated than ever, the next year saw him crowned World Vice-Champion. “That was an extraordinary year for me. The birth of my son gave me a real boost. I never expected to do so well so early in my new career, but it was the fact thatI was so regular in my results that really helped.” His progress was now relentless, Champion for the first time at the Verbier X-treme Championship in 2006, and the pinnacle of his sport was finally achieved when he became the World Freeride Champion in 2009.

A MEETING WITH THE SEA When he was asked to help sponsor the trans-Atlantic sailor Adrien Hardy, who was preparing for his own crossing in the Transat 6.50-class boat, Aurélien discovered the joys of regattas and sailing for the first time. A short while after this meeting, and pushed by Yvan Bourgnon who he had recently encountered, Aurélien decided that, despite his total lack of experience, he, too, would like to take on this new challenge. And the challenge would be huge: he would be starting from zero! “I had to learn in one season what the others had spent 10 or 15 years acquiring.”

After 5 months spent in Brittany, participating in regattas, training and trying to qualify for the right to take part in theTransat 6.50 challenge, he earned his entry ticket for the adventure and in September next year he will set sail for Brazil. One more season awaits him before his departure, and he intends to get as much out of it as he can, giving himself the best chance of success.

THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR IN THE CROSSHAIRS With his boat stored away now until the spring, Aurélien is able to dedicate himself totally to the Freeride World Tour, where he hopes to do much better than his 4th place in 2010. “I don’t want people to think that I won in 2009 because I was lucky, that it was a fluke. I have to ‘convert the try’ now and show that I can be consistent at my level.” Delighted to have signed a new contract with the luxury watch maker, Alpina Genève, Aurélien cannot wait for the start of the battle which kicks off on his home turf in Chamonix on the 22nd January 2011.

THIRTY DEGREES | 051

D.Daher

FREE RIDE WORLD TOUR 2011 IT’S BIG

VERY BIG The first of the six meetings in the Free Ride World Tour 2011 will take place in Chamonix in January. At the same time, those with an appetite for powerful sensations will be able to test the water in the thirty qualifying events of the season.

Texte°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ In the last edition of 30° we announced that the Free Ride World Tour (FWT) in 2011 would be more intense than ever. Six events will be held in France, Switzerland, Russia, the USA and Austria. As well as this exciting line up, there will be no less than 30 qualifiers, divided into four categories, scheduled for 2010/11. Competitions will take place all over the world to enable young freeriders to confront their styles and maybe obtain a ticket to the following year’s World Championships. Three competitions have already been held in the southern hemisphere, in New Zealand, over August and September this year. Others will take place between January and April 2011 in Europe and North America. La Clusaz in the Aravis massif in France, Röldal in Norway, Arcalis in the Spanish Pyrenees, Kanin in Slovakia and Elbrus in Russia are all on the riders’ schedules. The Swiss classics such as Engadinsnow in Sylvaplana, the First track in Chandolin, the Free Session in Morgins and the Nendaz Freeride all have their place in the new global set-up.

J.Hadik

,

052 | THIRTY DEGREES

The strongest competitors remain much the same as last year, although the Swede Kaj Zackrisson who was number 2 on the 2010 Tour has recently announced that he is retiring from the circuit.

The ranking of the skiers is anybody’s guess at this stage, but the snowboard rankings should not bring any surprises, especially at the top end. Xavier de Le Rue is still the top of his field and is unlikely to be toppled from his throne just yet. The winners of the 2010 qualifiers will also join the tour and some of the new arrivals could be outsiders for a good ranking. The picture will be clearer after the meeting in Chamonix and the betting will be open!

With such a vast programme for 2010/11, the FWT has become a true federation and the closer ties with the American championships announced by Nicolas Hale-Wood at the end of the summer confirm that fact. The sport is becoming more popular across the world and now has an organisation similar to that of skiing.

Nobody would be surprised if freeride became an Olympic sport one day. But let’s not jump the gun, there’s a long road ahead and the five rings are not necessarily an objective for the sport’s organisers, who don’t need to wait for the Olympics to continue developing this up and coming sport.

h «Mister Backflip» alias Seb Michaud (FRA), doing what his nickname suggests… c Phil Meier on the dizzying Bec des Rosses run.

EVENTS 2011 1. Nissan Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2011 by Swatch (FRA): 22 January.

2. Nissan Freeride Engadin St. Moritz 2011 by Swatch (CHE), 29 January 2011.

3. North American Championships Kirkwood 2011 by Swatch (USA): 26 February and The North Face Masters Kirkwood 2011 by Swatch (USA): 5 March 4. Nissan Russian Adventure Sochi 2011 (RUS): 5 March.

5. Big Mountain Fieberbrunn 2011 by Nissan (AUT): 12 March.

6. Nissan Xtreme Verbier 2011 by Swatch (CHE): 19 March.

OF ICE CLIMBING THE THRILLS AND CHILLS

S P O RT

Winter is on its way and the singing waterfalls of the summer are gradually being transformed into stalactites, crux pillars and great walls of ice tinged with blue. Glacier climbers are itching to get started, as the short ice climbing season is about to begin. Time to sharpen your crampons.

When the water running down from the mountain tops freezes under the biting cold of winter, ephemeral ice falls are formed for the greatest pleasure of climbers.

054 | THIRTY DEGREES

Texte°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ Photos°°° WWW.CHRISTOPHERACAT.COM

Ice climbing has undergone an extraordinary transformation in the last forty years. An integral part of mountain climbing until the 1970s, the practice gradually specialised and became an activity in its own right.

Scotsman Tom Patey is probably the acknowledged pioneer of ice climbing.

Patey – who also invented the first ice climbing axe, the famous Terrordactyl – began to use special techniques in some of the most esteemed spots on Ben Nevis (the highest peak in the United Kingdom). English, American, French, Italian and Swiss climbers then followed in his footsteps in the Alps, developing the

,

special nature of this sport.

The term ‘ice climbing’ takes on its true meaning when climbers, instead of digging steps into the slopes, systematically use the front spikes of their crampons to make their way. The major Alpine routes, such as the north face of Les Droites, Le Linceul on Grandes Jorasses or the north passage of Les Drus, could never have been conquered by free climbers without the emergence of these new techniques which are now taken for granted.

The fine-tuning of increasingly effective and well-adapted equipment then brought about a huge boom in the practice, and its enthusiasts slowly drifted away from other mountain climbers.

Specialists improvised new kinds of equipment: ice axes became hooks, blades were inverted, special shoes replaced mountain boots, and pitons were equipped with cranks, significantly improving safety. Veterans all remember the little “Chacal” ice axe introduced by Simond in 1975, which was truly revolutionary. This device was used by the greats, and is still regarded as a benchmark in the community.

COMPETING AT A HIGH LEVEL The first World Cup took place in the USA in 1999. Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Slovenia, Russia and Canada have since hosted international events.

And athletes from all these countries have put in strong performances, with the Russians currently being among the best in the world. Swiss guide Simon Anthamatten also regularly ranks among the leaders. Ice climbing has been recognised by the International Mountaineer-

Even if ice climbing looks relatively easy to do, it requires specific training.

ing and Climbing Federation since 2002, and has become the third discipline in mountaineering competitions, alongside traditional climbing and ski touring.

Meets often take place on artificial sites, the Saas-Fee competition being one of the most representative of the genre.

This leg of the World Cup, due to take place between 14 and 22 January 2011, is one of the sport’s unmissable events.

Since 2009, rear spikes, which had long caused something of a stir, enabling competitors to perform impressive stylistic moves, have been banned. This appendage did not necessarily improve either technique or positioning, and made the activity even more exclusive.

A SPORT CLOSE TO NATURE Despite its development in the direction of an elitist sport, ice climbing remains above all a fun activity, which is enjoyed in a natural environment. Good observational abilities are required, as the running water, which liquefies under sustained low temperatures, remains unpredictable. A wide range of factors have to be taken on board to understand it and adopt the most appropriate techniques. A fluctuation of just a few degrees can considerably alter the structure of the ice, which can be fragile or brittle, and above all dangerous, if changes in temperatures are too significant.

From December to February, the deep valleys become veritable Eldorados, with

THIRTY DEGREES | 055

OF ICE CLIMBING THE THRILLS AND CHILLS

S P O RT

Winter is on its way and the singing waterfalls of the summer are gradually being transformed into stalactites, crux pillars and great walls of ice tinged with blue. Glacier climbers are itching to get started, as the short ice climbing season is about to begin. Time to sharpen your crampons.

When the water running down from the mountain tops freezes under the biting cold of winter, ephemeral ice falls are formed for the greatest pleasure of climbers.

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Texte°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ Photos°°° WWW.CHRISTOPHERACAT.COM

Ice climbing has undergone an extraordinary transformation in the last forty years. An integral part of mountain climbing until the 1970s, the practice gradually specialised and became an activity in its own right.

Scotsman Tom Patey is probably the acknowledged pioneer of ice climbing.

Patey – who also invented the first ice climbing axe, the famous Terrordactyl – began to use special techniques in some of the most esteemed spots on Ben Nevis (the highest peak in the United Kingdom). English, American, French, Italian and Swiss climbers then followed in his footsteps in the Alps, developing the

,

special nature of this sport.

The term ‘ice climbing’ takes on its true meaning when climbers, instead of digging steps into the slopes, systematically use the front spikes of their crampons to make their way. The major Alpine routes, such as the north face of Les Droites, Le Linceul on Grandes Jorasses or the north passage of Les Drus, could never have been conquered by free climbers without the emergence of these new techniques which are now taken for granted.

The fine-tuning of increasingly effective and well-adapted equipment then brought about a huge boom in the practice, and its enthusiasts slowly drifted away from other mountain climbers.

Specialists improvised new kinds of equipment: ice axes became hooks, blades were inverted, special shoes replaced mountain boots, and pitons were equipped with cranks, significantly improving safety. Veterans all remember the little “Chacal” ice axe introduced by Simond in 1975, which was truly revolutionary. This device was used by the greats, and is still regarded as a benchmark in the community.

COMPETING AT A HIGH LEVEL The first World Cup took place in the USA in 1999. Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Slovenia, Russia and Canada have since hosted international events.

And athletes from all these countries have put in strong performances, with the Russians currently being among the best in the world. Swiss guide Simon Anthamatten also regularly ranks among the leaders. Ice climbing has been recognised by the International Mountaineer-

Even if ice climbing looks relatively easy to do, it requires specific training.

ing and Climbing Federation since 2002, and has become the third discipline in mountaineering competitions, alongside traditional climbing and ski touring.

Meets often take place on artificial sites, the Saas-Fee competition being one of the most representative of the genre.

This leg of the World Cup, due to take place between 14 and 22 January 2011, is one of the sport’s unmissable events.

Since 2009, rear spikes, which had long caused something of a stir, enabling competitors to perform impressive stylistic moves, have been banned. This appendage did not necessarily improve either technique or positioning, and made the activity even more exclusive.

A SPORT CLOSE TO NATURE Despite its development in the direction of an elitist sport, ice climbing remains above all a fun activity, which is enjoyed in a natural environment. Good observational abilities are required, as the running water, which liquefies under sustained low temperatures, remains unpredictable. A wide range of factors have to be taken on board to understand it and adopt the most appropriate techniques. A fluctuation of just a few degrees can considerably alter the structure of the ice, which can be fragile or brittle, and above all dangerous, if changes in temperatures are too significant.

From December to February, the deep valleys become veritable Eldorados, with

THIRTY DEGREES | 055

Switzerland has its fair share of magnificent ice falls. The one close to Zinal cable car is a good example.

As well as the websites of most resorts, topographical guides can be found at a few other links: www.camptocamp.org www.icyways.ch www.ice-fall.com www.grimpe-news.fr

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P. Fragnol / outdoorgames.org

their steep blue-tinged slopes, ice formations in the form of petals and cauliflowers, tubes, cigars and stalactites all sought out by climbers looking for the ideal place to employ their skills.

Most guides’ offices now offer classes providing an initial introduction. After all, while the actions involved can appear simple, they require specific training. While the famous waterfall know as “Visa pour l’Amérique”, in Oisans (France), opened by renowned expert François Damilano, remains for many enthusiasts THE waterfall responsible for popularising the sport, many other Alpine regions are well suited to the practice. Switzerland is particularly privileged. Val d’Anniviers, the valleys of Arolla or Trient, and the Kandersteg region are much prized.

Several websites offer special topographical guides (see below) for this activity. So sharpen your crampons, because the best period for ice climbing extends from just January to February…

Stalactites and ‘cigars’ are some of the formations that the waterfalls take on when they freeze. Each kind of formation needs a specific approach.

ONE EVENT THREE DISCIPLINES S P O RT

Text°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ

Diablerets 3D, a new ski-mountaineering event in the Vaud Alps taking place over three days in early February, could well become a benchmark competition in its field. This original meeting is the first to combine three separate specialities: long distance, vertical and relay.

By seeking to introduce a new event to the ski-mountaineering scene, the resort of Les Diablerets is taking on a considerable challenge. The race, designed around a particularly original format, may well eventually find itself up there with the majors, alongside the Trophée du Muveran or the Glacier Patrol (Patrouille des Glaciers). The project has been developed by the UPA 10 (Union des Patrouilleurs Alpins), already behind the Muveran contest. The management committee is chaired by Philippe Nicollier, ex-skier/mountaineer as well as former manager of Ormont-Dessus. The ideal representative, in the person of Séverine Pont-Combe, multiple winner of the Glacier Patrol, is also behind this new meeting, which is guaranteed to be a big hit with fans of uphill endurance events.

,

RR

The enchanting Diablerets massif, seen from the route des Voëttes

Christian Pittex, from la Forclaz Adrien Croisier, from les Diablerets

A CONTEST DESIGNED WITH SPECTATORS IN MIND In view of the difficulty of attracting media attention to skimountaineering, the management committee has prioritised the issue of visibility for the public, in order to make up for this shortcoming. The main event - the Diabolique - has therefore been arranged so that the key points are located in areas more easily accessible to non-mountaineers, via mechanical lifts. Ardent fans and curious newcomers alike are therefore invited to come and cheer on the competitors during the race, which is intended as a flagship event for the resort. It is also hoped that combining the competition with the ski-mountaineering expo will also draw a wide range of visitors.

Held very early in the season, Diablerets 3D represents one of the first important meetings on the calendar. “It was difficult to find the right date”, reveals Philippe Nicollier. We had to organise it outside the holidays, when the resort is already full, and we had to avoid competing with the spring or worldwide events.Early February emerged as the best choice given the various constraints.

This time of year has the advantage of promising optimal snow conditions. And the question of unstable snow during this period is easily solved, since the participants will essentially be competing in the vicinity of the main skiing area, which is entirely safe”.

058 | THIRTY DEGREES

RR

www.Christophe Racat.com

HIGHLIGHTING ALL DISCIPLINES “Just like Alpine skiing, which includes slalom and downhill races, ski-mountaineering also has its own sub-disciplines”, explains Nicollier. “There’s the Long Distance, of course, the most important category. But the Verticals, which have neither transition nor downhill sections, are more and more popular.The Relays, the latest addition, are also very popular with both competitors and the public. We wanted to create something new with an event combining all three practices”. The idea is certainly an attractive one, and undeniably innovative. The format is similar in some ways to the famous Pierra Menta, whose participants ski for four days in Beaufortain, although the world famousSavoie event only involves long-distance races.

A FRENCH-SPEAKING SPORT The fact that a project of this kind is being organised in LesDiablerets is not without significance, since the “French-speaking” Alps represent the birthplace of ski-mountaineering.The sport is, of course, widely practised by our Italian and French neighbours, but there is a particular passion for it in Valais and in the Fribourg and Vaud Alps. Swiss German speakers, for reasons which are difficult to explain, remain only marginally interested in the sport, as indeed do Austrians and Germans. By way of example, the “Glacier Patrol”, a national meeting organised by the army, only

THIRTY DEGREES | 059

ONE EVENT THREE DISCIPLINES S P O RT

Text°°° VINCENT GILLIOZ

Diablerets 3D, a new ski-mountaineering event in the Vaud Alps taking place over three days in early February, could well become a benchmark competition in its field. This original meeting is the first to combine three separate specialities: long distance, vertical and relay.

By seeking to introduce a new event to the ski-mountaineering scene, the resort of Les Diablerets is taking on a considerable challenge. The race, designed around a particularly original format, may well eventually find itself up there with the majors, alongside the Trophée du Muveran or the Glacier Patrol (Patrouille des Glaciers). The project has been developed by the UPA 10 (Union des Patrouilleurs Alpins), already behind the Muveran contest. The management committee is chaired by Philippe Nicollier, ex-skier/mountaineer as well as former manager of Ormont-Dessus. The ideal representative, in the person of Séverine Pont-Combe, multiple winner of the Glacier Patrol, is also behind this new meeting, which is guaranteed to be a big hit with fans of uphill endurance events.

,

RR

The enchanting Diablerets massif, seen from the route des Voëttes

Christian Pittex, from la Forclaz Adrien Croisier, from les Diablerets

A CONTEST DESIGNED WITH SPECTATORS IN MIND In view of the difficulty of attracting media attention to skimountaineering, the management committee has prioritised the issue of visibility for the public, in order to make up for this shortcoming. The main event - the Diabolique - has therefore been arranged so that the key points are located in areas more easily accessible to non-mountaineers, via mechanical lifts. Ardent fans and curious newcomers alike are therefore invited to come and cheer on the competitors during the race, which is intended as a flagship event for the resort. It is also hoped that combining the competition with the ski-mountaineering expo will also draw a wide range of visitors.

Held very early in the season, Diablerets 3D represents one of the first important meetings on the calendar. “It was difficult to find the right date”, reveals Philippe Nicollier. We had to organise it outside the holidays, when the resort is already full, and we had to avoid competing with the spring or worldwide events.Early February emerged as the best choice given the various constraints.

This time of year has the advantage of promising optimal snow conditions. And the question of unstable snow during this period is easily solved, since the participants will essentially be competing in the vicinity of the main skiing area, which is entirely safe”.

058 | THIRTY DEGREES

RR

www.Christophe Racat.com

HIGHLIGHTING ALL DISCIPLINES “Just like Alpine skiing, which includes slalom and downhill races, ski-mountaineering also has its own sub-disciplines”, explains Nicollier. “There’s the Long Distance, of course, the most important category. But the Verticals, which have neither transition nor downhill sections, are more and more popular.The Relays, the latest addition, are also very popular with both competitors and the public. We wanted to create something new with an event combining all three practices”. The idea is certainly an attractive one, and undeniably innovative. The format is similar in some ways to the famous Pierra Menta, whose participants ski for four days in Beaufortain, although the world famousSavoie event only involves long-distance races.

A FRENCH-SPEAKING SPORT The fact that a project of this kind is being organised in LesDiablerets is not without significance, since the “French-speaking” Alps represent the birthplace of ski-mountaineering.The sport is, of course, widely practised by our Italian and French neighbours, but there is a particular passion for it in Valais and in the Fribourg and Vaud Alps. Swiss German speakers, for reasons which are difficult to explain, remain only marginally interested in the sport, as indeed do Austrians and Germans. By way of example, the “Glacier Patrol”, a national meeting organised by the army, only

THIRTY DEGREES | 059

receives around 10% of its participants from the other side of the Sarine. With the proximity of the canton of Berne, the organisers of Diablerets 3D will perhaps manage to persuade more Germanspeaking Swiss to make to the journey across the Col du Pillon, and in this way the competition may encourage the wider development of ski-mountaineering throughout Switzerland.

Séverine Point-Combe

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MEETING THE CHALLENGE Despite all its advantages, the Diablerets 3D will still have to prove itself. In a context where the Glacier Patrol and the Trophée du Muveran have now been in existence for around sixty years, the Trophée des Gastlosen is hosting its 20th edition next year, and the Pierra Menta is celebrating its 25th anniversary, becoming established as a benchmark event represents a real challenge. Not to mention the fact that the worldwide calendar of the Federation (IFSM) contains some 320 events across the globe. Saturation in terms of competition in the majors may however serve to encourage participants to seek out a new terrain of adventure.

DIABLERETS 3D: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Date: 4 to 6 February 2011.

Format: three disciplines over three days, in teams of two.

Events: Night-time Vertical on Friday evening, a race taking participants 800 m uphill. Diabolique on Saturday: a race taking participants 3000m uphill. Super Relay on Sunday morning, 2x2 loops taking participants 150m uphill.

Registration: on the website www.diablerets3d.ch, 230 Swiss francs per person (Youngs price, 130 Swiss francs) Prize money: 6000 Swiss francs in total.

Events: for 3 days, the ski-mountaineering village, including an exhibition, organised activities and workshops.

Categories: young girls + junior girls (1996-1991), young boys + junior boys (1996-1991), ladies (1990 and earlier), hopefuls (1990 to 1988), seniors (men born 1987 and earlier).

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ZERMATT S P O RT

THE PINNACLE OF FREERIDING

At an altitude of 1620 metres, this HautValais resort has an incredible ski domain, with one foot in Switzerland and the other in Italy. To top it all, the legendary Matterhorn serves as a backdrop. Off we go!

Text°°° NICOLAS ZAMBETTI Fotos°°° PATRICE SCHREYER The Matterhorn rises above the village of Zermatt, the symbolic emblem of a country, but also of the resort, a resort with an international reputation forged around it. An emblem that towers over the surrounding ski slopes, providing skiers with a magnificent picture postcard background. However, once you’re on these slopes, (the highest in Switzerland), you’ll not only enjoy the setting but you’ll also be amazed by the fantastic ski opportunities the destination has to offer. It has to be said that this location, sitting between Switzerland and Italy, offers plenty of choice and some particularly challenging runs – proving the quality of the resort is as good as its reputation. Five different areas are within easy reach of each other: Rothorn, Gornergrat and Little Matterhorn on the Swiss side, and Cervinia and Valtournenche on the Italian side. And there’s something to suit all tastes. You can take the gentle, sunny route towards Rothorn, Riffelberg (Gornergrat) and Cervinia or opt for a sportier alternative and tease the moguls on the northern slopes of the Stockhorn (Gornergrat), or head for Furgg and Schwarzsee (Little Matterhorn).

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% A magnificent example of skiing on springtime snow over Furgg, at the foot of the Materhorn (4478m). %% The immense Monte Rosa massif - the highest in Switzerland.

In this picture we can see the Liskaam (4527m), Castor (4221m) and Pollux (4091m) peaks. .

THIRTY DEGREES | 063

ZERMATT S P O RT

THE PINNACLE OF FREERIDING

At an altitude of 1620 metres, this HautValais resort has an incredible ski domain, with one foot in Switzerland and the other in Italy. To top it all, the legendary Matterhorn serves as a backdrop. Off we go!

Text°°° NICOLAS ZAMBETTI Fotos°°° PATRICE SCHREYER The Matterhorn rises above the village of Zermatt, the symbolic emblem of a country, but also of the resort, a resort with an international reputation forged around it. An emblem that towers over the surrounding ski slopes, providing skiers with a magnificent picture postcard background. However, once you’re on these slopes, (the highest in Switzerland), you’ll not only enjoy the setting but you’ll also be amazed by the fantastic ski opportunities the destination has to offer. It has to be said that this location, sitting between Switzerland and Italy, offers plenty of choice and some particularly challenging runs – proving the quality of the resort is as good as its reputation. Five different areas are within easy reach of each other: Rothorn, Gornergrat and Little Matterhorn on the Swiss side, and Cervinia and Valtournenche on the Italian side. And there’s something to suit all tastes. You can take the gentle, sunny route towards Rothorn, Riffelberg (Gornergrat) and Cervinia or opt for a sportier alternative and tease the moguls on the northern slopes of the Stockhorn (Gornergrat), or head for Furgg and Schwarzsee (Little Matterhorn).

,

% A magnificent example of skiing on springtime snow over Furgg, at the foot of the Materhorn (4478m). %% The immense Monte Rosa massif - the highest in Switzerland.

In this picture we can see the Liskaam (4527m), Castor (4221m) and Pollux (4091m) peaks. .

THIRTY DEGREES | 063

KNOWING YOUR LIMITS Choosing a slope is not a trivial matter. It depends on the atmospheric conditions and the season. The slopes must be sufficiently stable and the snow bridges over the crevasses must be solid. What’s more, the direction of the slopes and the different altitudes mean you might have to face many different conditions within the same day. And if your luck is in, you may even get to experience the most perfect day of the season. A day where, on a cold winter’s morning, you wrap up warmly and take to the fresh powder on the black slopes of the Schwarzsee area. In the spring, you can ski down 1200 metre runs one after the other in the Stockhorn area. The sun exposure and the differences in height mean that you can go from powder to crunchy in the space of just a few metres. And as you run to catch the cable-car, you’ll be so hot you’ll have your sleeves rolled up. It’s easy to go from one area to another. If you start the day in Rothorn, you can easily cross into Cervinia and Valtournenche in Italy or go to the foot of the Matterhorn or to Schwarzsee - not to mention the magnificent Furgg-Trockener Steg. It’s up to you to find your own winning combination!

BORDERING MOUNTAIN CLIMBING After a night in the Matterhorn refuge in Testa Grigia, you just have to don your skins and the Schwarztor pass is a short climb away, across the Breithorn plateau. It will take you 2 to 3 hours.

On the way you’ll have a great view of the Breithorn and Pollux peaks. The run from there among the peaks is grandiose but requires great care due to the numerous crevasses. Next, you’ll reach the ski slopes via the Gorner glacier and its tricky gully exit. And as ever, the omnipresent, unforgettable Matterhorn provides the backdrop.

m The train linking Täsch to Zermatt. ! Skier carving on an avalanche fracture, with the Italian side of the Matterhorn in the backdrop. , Having fun with seracs at high altitude. Not recommended if you don’t know the mountain well!

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USEFUL INFORMATION Zermatt (1620 m) is in the Haut-Valais and can be reached via Viège. Leave the car in Täsch (pay car-parks) and take the train or a taxi to the resort. Of course, it is also accessible via public transport.

Accommodation wise, there’s something for everyone, from the welcoming Bahnhof hotel (+41 27 967 24 06) to the luxurious 5 star hotels of the resort. There’s also the well-known Hôtel de la Poste with its various pubs and restaurants, and Grampi’s, which is just opposite. For more information see www.zermatt.ch.

Some mountain refuges also offer accommodation for the night, such as the Matterhorn guide’s refuge in Testa Grigia (3480m), telephone: +39 0166 94 83 69.

The slopes are at altitudes of between 1600 m and 3820 m.

Zermatt, Cervinia and Valtournenche have around 70 slopes between them. A single pass gives access to the whole area.

As for off-piste, please do not leave without taking mountain gear with you: shovel, probe and avalanche transceiver, as well as a complete set of climbing gear, required for some itineraries. You can also hire a guide: advice from local guides at www.alpincenter-zermatt.ch or www.nicolaszambetti.ch.

This unique concept invites the Swiss to discover or indulge in their love for hiking with snowshoes on a local marked trail, whether it be an after-lunch promenade or before an evening fondue shared among fellow walkers and runners. A friendly atmosphere is guaranteed!

Text°°° SERGE GRETER There are those who hare after success, and there are those who take the slower path of small but cherished moments of happiness. Those participating in the “Adventure snowshoe walks” are firmly in the latter group - and not just because it’s hard to run with snowshoes on! Rather, through these events they seek to enjoy life’s simple pleasures, to share with friends and strangers alike a moment of genuine hospitality surrounded by nature’s serene beauty.

Such is the concept behind “Raquette Aventure,” which celebrates its seventh birthday by hosting 12 to 15 treks across Switzerland between December 27, 2010 and March 28, 2011. Taking place on Saturdays from 4:30 pm, but with most leaving after sunset, participants can run, walk, or just stroll at their own pace along a marked trail. The trails are between 5 km or 7.5 km long (with should take between 1,15 to 1.30 hours for the shorter course or 2.15 to 2.30 hours for the longer). The “snowshoers” can stop at any one of the many rest stops that dot the trail where welcome (and probably necessary) mulled wine and hot tea will be served.

At the end of the trail, the travellers gather around to enjoy a delicious traditional Swiss fondue.

RAQUETTE AVENTURE BRINGS US CLOSER

“It all started when I was asked to try to bring folks together after cross-country skiing competitions,” reminisces Patrick Christinat, the founder of “Raquette Aventure.” “I suggested organizing some snowshoe walks in tandem with the ski competitions.

But the response to the snowshoeing was so enthusiastic thatI decided to make it an event in its own right.” The event’s success, now tried and trusted, has proved him right.

“Raquette Aventure” has grown into the largest snowshoe walking event in the country, with an average of 500 participants per evening. Some events, such as those held in Vallée de Joux (VD), Saint-Cergue (VD) or Tête-de-Ran (NE), attract 1000 or more of the faithful. Even in German-speaking Switzerland, where Nordic

walking is more en vogue, groups of 350 to 550 people join in.

“It’s been making steady progress, as shown by one of our newest course additions in Engelberg,” Christinat explains.

A CONCEPT FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY Along the courses, pre-approved by the Swiss Alpine Club, one encounters an eclectic mix of walkers ranging from families with children (the event is free for under tens), to lovers hand in hand, retired couples and even groups of employees on company outings. At the “Raquette Aventure” village, participants are greeted with playfully worded informative signs that lend a degree of lively competition to the event, while also serving as reminders to respect the fauna and be mindful of the dangers of wandering off-trail. “Rather than instituting rules, which are often broken anyway, we prefer to focus on informing and raising awareness.

In any case, snowshoeing in deep snow is something that only a fraction of the population, maybe 4 or 5 percent, are interested in, as it’s both physically demanding and dangerous.”

Always looking for ways to innovate, this year “Raquette Aventure” will offer a brand new option, specifically tailored to families: the “Choco-Raquettes.” Starting at noon on Saturday, participants can stroll the length of (or a part of ) a short 5 km circuit. “Children as young as three can join in,” explains Patrick Christinat, referring to the young troopers and tasters who tend to number between 50 to 150 at these events. After crossing the finish line, it’s brioche, hot chocolate and tea all around.

There are those who run after success, and those, like “Raquette Aventure,” who find success running after them!

Keystone

PLEASURES

RR

TO LIFE’S SIMPLE

RR

,

More information, including pricing and signup, is available at www.raquette-aventure.ch

THIRTY DEGREES | 067

This unique concept invites the Swiss to discover or indulge in their love for hiking with snowshoes on a local marked trail, whether it be an after-lunch promenade or before an evening fondue shared among fellow walkers and runners. A friendly atmosphere is guaranteed!

Text°°° SERGE GRETER There are those who hare after success, and there are those who take the slower path of small but cherished moments of happiness. Those participating in the “Adventure snowshoe walks” are firmly in the latter group - and not just because it’s hard to run with snowshoes on! Rather, through these events they seek to enjoy life’s simple pleasures, to share with friends and strangers alike a moment of genuine hospitality surrounded by nature’s serene beauty.

Such is the concept behind “Raquette Aventure,” which celebrates its seventh birthday by hosting 12 to 15 treks across Switzerland between December 27, 2010 and March 28, 2011. Taking place on Saturdays from 4:30 pm, but with most leaving after sunset, participants can run, walk, or just stroll at their own pace along a marked trail. The trails are between 5 km or 7.5 km long (with should take between 1,15 to 1.30 hours for the shorter course or 2.15 to 2.30 hours for the longer). The “snowshoers” can stop at any one of the many rest stops that dot the trail where welcome (and probably necessary) mulled wine and hot tea will be served.

At the end of the trail, the travellers gather around to enjoy a delicious traditional Swiss fondue.

RAQUETTE AVENTURE BRINGS US CLOSER

“It all started when I was asked to try to bring folks together after cross-country skiing competitions,” reminisces Patrick Christinat, the founder of “Raquette Aventure.” “I suggested organizing some snowshoe walks in tandem with the ski competitions.

But the response to the snowshoeing was so enthusiastic thatI decided to make it an event in its own right.” The event’s success, now tried and trusted, has proved him right.

“Raquette Aventure” has grown into the largest snowshoe walking event in the country, with an average of 500 participants per evening. Some events, such as those held in Vallée de Joux (VD), Saint-Cergue (VD) or Tête-de-Ran (NE), attract 1000 or more of the faithful. Even in German-speaking Switzerland, where Nordic

walking is more en vogue, groups of 350 to 550 people join in.

“It’s been making steady progress, as shown by one of our newest course additions in Engelberg,” Christinat explains.

A CONCEPT FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY Along the courses, pre-approved by the Swiss Alpine Club, one encounters an eclectic mix of walkers ranging from families with children (the event is free for under tens), to lovers hand in hand, retired couples and even groups of employees on company outings. At the “Raquette Aventure” village, participants are greeted with playfully worded informative signs that lend a degree of lively competition to the event, while also serving as reminders to respect the fauna and be mindful of the dangers of wandering off-trail. “Rather than instituting rules, which are often broken anyway, we prefer to focus on informing and raising awareness.

In any case, snowshoeing in deep snow is something that only a fraction of the population, maybe 4 or 5 percent, are interested in, as it’s both physically demanding and dangerous.”

Always looking for ways to innovate, this year “Raquette Aventure” will offer a brand new option, specifically tailored to families: the “Choco-Raquettes.” Starting at noon on Saturday, participants can stroll the length of (or a part of ) a short 5 km circuit. “Children as young as three can join in,” explains Patrick Christinat, referring to the young troopers and tasters who tend to number between 50 to 150 at these events. After crossing the finish line, it’s brioche, hot chocolate and tea all around.

There are those who run after success, and those, like “Raquette Aventure,” who find success running after them!

Keystone

PLEASURES

RR

TO LIFE’S SIMPLE

RR

,

More information, including pricing and signup, is available at www.raquette-aventure.ch

THIRTY DEGREES | 067

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“RAQUETTE AVENTURE” – A FEW FIGURES

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“Raquette Aventure” celebrates its seventh year of existence in 2011. Over the course of its first six winters, a total of 50 events have been held, and 38 regions of Switzerland explored. Nearly 15,000 people have hiked its courses, 6,000 of those in 2010 alone! Each event is organized in collaboration with a local sports club or cultural centre, which receives two-thirds of the revenue from the event if it has a youth program. A nice way of promoting this event in the great outdoors!

068 | THIRTY DEGREES

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ON PATHS OF GLORY

SNOWSHOEING Snowshoeing has never been more popular.

The fans are multiplying, as are the trails.

Many ski resorts, sensitive to the demand, are now on board and continue to open up new trails to attract the faithful.

Keystone

The number of the faithful is nonetheless hard to calculate, with each snowshoe manufacturer conducting their own tally.

An estimated 75,000 pairs of snowshoes are sold every year in Switzerland, to which one must add the number already in use—in any case, there’s no doubt there are a lot of you out there!

DIVERSIFYING THE WINTER OFFERINGS

Text°°° SERGE GRETER A mere twelve years or so ago, snowshoeing left its first prints on the snowy paths of the Swiss Alps.

Since then, the tracks have multiplied many times over, intermingling today with a multitude of others along the routes that they borrow. They are even found on ordinary snow-covered walking paths. The number of devotees of this pastime continues to climb, as they succumb to the allure of close communion with nature’s idyllic landscapes and refined lines and curves, as well as the opportunity to practice an outdoor sport that mirrors our natural pace and movement. With easy accessibility to all, those enticed by this engaging activity range from children to seniors, from weekend athletes to their hard-core counterparts, the latter often combining the experience with ski mountaineering. The sport’s affordability also contributes to its universal appeal; the average price of a pair of snowshoes, which can be used for several years, is around 250 francs.

,

070 | THIRTY DEGREES

Perhaps the best way to get an idea of the enthusiasm surrounding this still relatively young sport is to take a tour of the ski resorts. Many already have established trails for this purpose, while others are building them. Nendaz Tourisme, like other resorts, unequivocally confirms this state of play: “On the one hand, it’s an alternative to skiing during winter holidays; but often goes beyond that to be a destination in its own right, since many people don’t ski at all. We also organize guided tours for the uninitiated.” This diversification of options for snow-bound holiday-makers is an approach likewise adopted by Ovronnaz, whose stated aim is to “meet the growing demand of guests seeking a more relaxed winter holiday experience.”

Surprisingly, snowshoeing is making its mark (literally) even more in the Swiss Pre-Alps, between Geneva and Basel, than in the mountains themselves with Fribourg meriting a special mention as the birthplace of the very first snowshoe brand.

All in all, there’s no doubt it has become very contagious!

THIRTY DEGREES | 071

NOUS VOUS OFFRONS 1000 MOYENS DE PRÉSERVER L’ENVIRONNEMENT. Nos 1000 collaborateurs agissent selon le principe de la durabilité, dans le souci de protéger au mieux notre environnement. Depuis plusieurs années, nous diminuons constamment nos émissions de CO2 et compensons les rejets inévitables avec des certificats Gold Standard de myclimate. Nous vous proposons ainsi des services d’impression climatiquement neutre. www.swissprinters.ch Swissprinters Lausanne SA – Tél. +41 58 787 48 00 – lausanne@swissprinters.ch

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Zueger Erwin

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Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN

4 000

It’s a breath-taking experience - literally speaking, since we are currently 4164 metres up, and also in the figurative sense, due to the amazing scenery. All around, as far as the eye can see, mountain peaks blend into a deep blue sky, dotted with the odd sparse cloud. Here, on the border of Switzerland and Italy, the whole world appears to be at our feet. We have done it: we have reached the top of the Breithorn! Crampons firmly attached to our feet, rope around the waist and guide leading the way, we have climbed our very own Everest. And, we have to admit, this kind of adventure is altogether new to us. Up to now, the high mountains were something we had only ever seen on TV! And since we’re speaking frankly, perhaps we should also confess that the cable car dropped us off at 3883 metres! The Breithorn is certainly the most accessible 4000 metre point in the Alps. Mind you, we still had to make our way up a slope of around 40% in little less than two hours. The pace was steady, and measured deliberately, to ensure that our climbing companions - two elderly Americans - were able to keep up. At the summit, we experienced a delicious adrenaline rush when we found ourselves on a footwide ridge surrounded by an oceanic chasm. Arriving on a small plateau, the unobstructed view was so impressive it will stay in our minds for many years to come. Then it was time for our descent (about an hour and half down to the cable car which was to take us back to Zermatt). What had appeared to be lines of ants progressively took on a human form as we drew closer to them.

Many of them were also novice mountaineers seeking a new experience. This is obviously not the place to gain an insight into what real mountain climbers go through, those whose every step is dictated by instinct. Nonetheless, this was an amazing “expedition”, and an adventure we will certainly never forget.

IF WE CAN MAKE IT UP A METRE PEAK, SO CAN YOU! There’s no need to be an expert climber to notch up a summit of this altitude among your achievements. In the company of a guide, we climbed the Breithorn, whose slopes are well suited to the crampons of beginners, in both summer and winter. Unforgettable!

THE THREE EASIEST 4000 M POINTS IN THE ALPS 1. The Breithorn, 4164 m. This is the most accessible one.

Information and bookings on 027/966.24.60 or at www. alpincenter-zermatt.ch 2. The Allalinhorn, 4027 m. The climb from the Alpine metro station of Saas-Fee takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, the descent 1 hour 30 minutes. Information and registration on 027/957.44.64.

Even if the Breithorn is the most accessible 4000 m point in the Alps, with its peak at an altitude of 4164 metres, novices should never tempt the climb without being roped together.

Kurt Müller

M O U N TA I N S

#*+*$,$-./012.3415+(56$,$76*31/$829.56

,

3. The Bishorn, 4153 m. This climb requires a sleepover in a hut in Tracuit (around 5 hours from Zinal), then 3 hours to reach the summit, followed by a 5-hour descent.

Information and bookings through the guides’ office on 027/475.12.00 or at www.anniviers-montagne.ch

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!!!"#$%&'(!$)#*"#*

34)*56)&#

Zueger Erwin

7)58*$697&5:;&%)9$6<9+;'90;5=

Text°°° FRÉDÉRIC REIN

4 000

It’s a breath-taking experience - literally speaking, since we are currently 4164 metres up, and also in the figurative sense, due to the amazing scenery. All around, as far as the eye can see, mountain peaks blend into a deep blue sky, dotted with the odd sparse cloud. Here, on the border of Switzerland and Italy, the whole world appears to be at our feet. We have done it: we have reached the top of the Breithorn! Crampons firmly attached to our feet, rope around the waist and guide leading the way, we have climbed our very own Everest. And, we have to admit, this kind of adventure is altogether new to us. Up to now, the high mountains were something we had only ever seen on TV! And since we’re speaking frankly, perhaps we should also confess that the cable car dropped us off at 3883 metres! The Breithorn is certainly the most accessible 4000 metre point in the Alps. Mind you, we still had to make our way up a slope of around 40% in little less than two hours. The pace was steady, and measured deliberately, to ensure that our climbing companions - two elderly Americans - were able to keep up. At the summit, we experienced a delicious adrenaline rush when we found ourselves on a footwide ridge surrounded by an oceanic chasm. Arriving on a small plateau, the unobstructed view was so impressive it will stay in our minds for many years to come. Then it was time for our descent (about an hour and half down to the cable car which was to take us back to Zermatt). What had appeared to be lines of ants progressively took on a human form as we drew closer to them.

Many of them were also novice mountaineers seeking a new experience. This is obviously not the place to gain an insight into what real mountain climbers go through, those whose every step is dictated by instinct. Nonetheless, this was an amazing “expedition”, and an adventure we will certainly never forget.

IF WE CAN MAKE IT UP A METRE PEAK, SO CAN YOU! There’s no need to be an expert climber to notch up a summit of this altitude among your achievements. In the company of a guide, we climbed the Breithorn, whose slopes are well suited to the crampons of beginners, in both summer and winter. Unforgettable!

THE THREE EASIEST 4000 M POINTS IN THE ALPS 1. The Breithorn, 4164 m. This is the most accessible one.

Information and bookings on 027/966.24.60 or at www. alpincenter-zermatt.ch 2. The Allalinhorn, 4027 m. The climb from the Alpine metro station of Saas-Fee takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, the descent 1 hour 30 minutes. Information and registration on 027/957.44.64.

Even if the Breithorn is the most accessible 4000 m point in the Alps, with its peak at an altitude of 4164 metres, novices should never tempt the climb without being roped together.

Kurt Müller

M O U N TA I N S

#*+*$,$-./012.3415+(56$,$76*31/$829.56

,

3. The Bishorn, 4153 m. This climb requires a sleepover in a hut in Tracuit (around 5 hours from Zinal), then 3 hours to reach the summit, followed by a 5-hour descent.

Information and bookings through the guides’ office on 027/475.12.00 or at www.anniviers-montagne.ch

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!!!"#$%&'(!$)#*"#*

THE TREASURE

ISLANDS OF SOUTHERN

THAILAND Text°°° GAVIN’S CLEMENTE RUIZ

The Andaman Sea or the Gulf of Thailand? Lazing around or a spot of climbing? Flip-flops or hiking boots? Snorkelling or scuba diving? A UNESCO heritage site or a rocky island?

Such are the dilemmas faced when taking a trip to southern Thailand, bordered by Burma to the north and Malaysia to the south.

Come with us to discover some islands that have more than enough to offer.

,Kata Noi Beach, Phuket

74 | THIRTY DEGREES

We have to admit we have a soft spot for the west coast. Phuket is the best known island in this archipelago, with its heavily tourist-oriented beaches. It is the gateway to the Thai south-west, where you can still find scenery which would not be out of place on the Mediterranean coast, with little seafood restaurants by the water’s edge, wild creeks and golden shimmers on the tide. Time to take it easy for a while!

One hour’s boat ride from there, Ko Yao Noi, an island planted with trees and hevea plants, from which the famous rubber is still produced using the “tears of the tree” and age-old machinery. The hotels here are frequented by those seeking a luxurious and tranquil setting, without ostentation. From your hammock, you can gaze out on rocky limestone outcrops, or you can wander off and spot endemic bird species amidst the wonderfully lush vegetation. And isn’t that Phang Nga bay over there, once used as a location for the famous James Bond film, “The Man with theGolden Gun”, featuring Roger Moore in the title role? The lesser known Similan islands can be found just a stone’s throw away, and are ranked by divers among the ten most beautiful underwater sites in the world. What more can we say? Whale sharks come here to spawn – at a depth of anywhere between 6 and 40 metres – in the crystal-clear waters, you can watch the manta manta rays flying through the translucent sea.You may find yourself wiping your diving mask to make sure you are not dreaming! Why not take a trip to theSurin islands, and get a glimpse of the majestic turtles? Phi Phi Li - one of the Ko Phi Phi islands - is worth a detour, with its corals, Maya Bay and a cave decorated with engraved rock. Thai “sea gypsies” go there to gather swallow’s nests for their aphrodisiac qualities. This was also the dreamlike location where Leonardo DiCaprio and the beautiful Virginie Ledoyen experienced a nightmare in paradise in the film “The Beach.Here, too, you can don flippers and snorkel and get up close and personal with clownfish, barracudas or even a few magnificent seahorses.

,

A HUT IN THE TREES How does a night spent up a tree sound to you? This is the speciality of KhaoSok, on the island of Phuket, in a tropical forest which is home to, among others, pythons, gibbons and leopards. A tree-top hut is the perfect place to observe the local flora and (especially) fauna from the vantage of the canopy, both night and day. Alternatively, you may prefer to get some exercise with a canoe trip along the Sok river, or even take a trek on the back of an elephant. Not your everyday routine! By night, plenty of revellers meet up for Full Moon Parties on Khlong Nin Beach on the island of Ko Lanta, where there’s certainly no lack of festive spirit. The world’s finest DJs come here to spin the decks. Singha, the ultimate Thai beer, flows freely. To be enjoyed in moderation, of course. A little further away, the quasi-virgin islands of Ko Muk, Ko Kradan and KoRok await you. Here you

Office National du tourisme Thailandais, Berne

T R AV E L

THIRTY DEGREES | 75

THE TREASURE

ISLANDS OF SOUTHERN

THAILAND Text°°° GAVIN’S CLEMENTE RUIZ

The Andaman Sea or the Gulf of Thailand? Lazing around or a spot of climbing? Flip-flops or hiking boots? Snorkelling or scuba diving? A UNESCO heritage site or a rocky island?

Such are the dilemmas faced when taking a trip to southern Thailand, bordered by Burma to the north and Malaysia to the south.

Come with us to discover some islands that have more than enough to offer.

,Kata Noi Beach, Phuket

74 | THIRTY DEGREES

We have to admit we have a soft spot for the west coast. Phuket is the best known island in this archipelago, with its heavily tourist-oriented beaches. It is the gateway to the Thai south-west, where you can still find scenery which would not be out of place on the Mediterranean coast, with little seafood restaurants by the water’s edge, wild creeks and golden shimmers on the tide. Time to take it easy for a while!

One hour’s boat ride from there, Ko Yao Noi, an island planted with trees and hevea plants, from which the famous rubber is still produced using the “tears of the tree” and age-old machinery. The hotels here are frequented by those seeking a luxurious and tranquil setting, without ostentation. From your hammock, you can gaze out on rocky limestone outcrops, or you can wander off and spot endemic bird species amidst the wonderfully lush vegetation. And isn’t that Phang Nga bay over there, once used as a location for the famous James Bond film, “The Man with theGolden Gun”, featuring Roger Moore in the title role? The lesser known Similan islands can be found just a stone’s throw away, and are ranked by divers among the ten most beautiful underwater sites in the world. What more can we say? Whale sharks come here to spawn – at a depth of anywhere between 6 and 40 metres – in the crystal-clear waters, you can watch the manta manta rays flying through the translucent sea.You may find yourself wiping your diving mask to make sure you are not dreaming! Why not take a trip to theSurin islands, and get a glimpse of the majestic turtles? Phi Phi Li - one of the Ko Phi Phi islands - is worth a detour, with its corals, Maya Bay and a cave decorated with engraved rock. Thai “sea gypsies” go there to gather swallow’s nests for their aphrodisiac qualities. This was also the dreamlike location where Leonardo DiCaprio and the beautiful Virginie Ledoyen experienced a nightmare in paradise in the film “The Beach.Here, too, you can don flippers and snorkel and get up close and personal with clownfish, barracudas or even a few magnificent seahorses.

,

A HUT IN THE TREES How does a night spent up a tree sound to you? This is the speciality of KhaoSok, on the island of Phuket, in a tropical forest which is home to, among others, pythons, gibbons and leopards. A tree-top hut is the perfect place to observe the local flora and (especially) fauna from the vantage of the canopy, both night and day. Alternatively, you may prefer to get some exercise with a canoe trip along the Sok river, or even take a trek on the back of an elephant. Not your everyday routine! By night, plenty of revellers meet up for Full Moon Parties on Khlong Nin Beach on the island of Ko Lanta, where there’s certainly no lack of festive spirit. The world’s finest DJs come here to spin the decks. Singha, the ultimate Thai beer, flows freely. To be enjoyed in moderation, of course. A little further away, the quasi-virgin islands of Ko Muk, Ko Kradan and KoRok await you. Here you

Office National du tourisme Thailandais, Berne

T R AV E L

THIRTY DEGREES | 75

will understand what “desert island” really means. The islands of Ko Tarutao marine park, classed as a UNESCO world heritage site, are magical places to camp overnight. Turtles come here to lay their eggs between December and February. The white sand beaches of Sone Bay stretch as far as the eye can see.

%James Bond’s Cliff !Ko Lanta

Thomas Bradford

Office National du tourisme Thailandais, Berne

TAKING IT EASY IN THE EAST Back to civilisation. On the other side of the country, along Thailand’s east coast, Ko Samui remains the best known island. A few small luxury hotels of discreet charm stand on private beaches, such as Kamalaya Koh Samui (spa resort) www.kamalaya.com, Melati Beach Resort, www.melatiresort.com, and Napasai in the north-west, the jewel in the crown of the Orient-Express hotel chain. There are a range of options for those keen on Juvenal’s idea of “a healthy mind in a healthy body”: bowing before the Big Buddha, massages in one of the many spas on the island, or classes in tai chi or Thai boxing, one of the other attractions of the destination. Perfect for keeping up (or finding) your fitness!

And rest assured, shopaholics will be able to indulge in some retail therapy at the beach-side markets (t-shirts, jewellery, and much, much more). But what many people come to Samui for is its family atmosphere, with certain beaches being reserved for children or adults, as opposed to others that are occupied by ‘ladies of pleasure’. For the thrills of the jungle, head to Ko Pha Ngan and take a motorbike trip through the island’s hinterlands, where you will find waterfalls reputed for their medical benefits, some which are held sacred. Check out the Rasananda hotel www. rasananda.com. Finish off with a visit to “Turtle Island”, Ko Tao, which, if you have any energy left, is regarded as THE place for diving here on the east coast. Or perhaps it’s one of the underwater gateways to paradise…

Office National du tourisme Thailandais, Berne

How to get there There are several direct flights per week to Bangkok from Zurich or Geneva with Swiss (www.swiss.com) and Thai Airways (www.thaiair. com). Non-direct flights operate from Zurich or Geneva via Paris with Air France (www.airfrance.com) and via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines (www.turkishairlines.com). With Etihad Airways (www.etihadairways. com) you can travel from Geneva to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi. From Bangkok, there are connections to the main islands such as Phuket or Ko Samui with Bangkok Airways (www. bangkokair.com), AirAsia (www.airasia.com) and Thai Airways. You can then take boats or ferries from there.

Everything is very well organised.

76 | THIRTY DEGREES

MINIATURE CAMERAS TO CAPTURE YOUR EXPLOITS

With the iPad, Apple has brought tablets back into style. The competition, initially dismissive, is now firing on all cylinders in an effort to catch up with its runaway success.

Recent advances in technology and miniaturization allow sports enthusiasts to double as aspiring filmmakers with amazing ease. Zooming in on a well thought out novelty.

IT ’S RAINING TABLETS

Text°°° ERIC RIVERA The “tablet PC” has in fact been around for a while. Many computer makers have tried their hand at it over the years, but so far nothing has stuck. That is, until Apple hit on the magic formula. It turns out the secret was in the software package, with an interface designed from the ground up around a purely touch-based experience. But while it may be called “magical,” a tablet can’t compete with a computer in terms of productivity and the ability to create content by the ream.

Where it does shine is as a media consumption device, serving up Internet content as well as interactivity through a host of available applications (some more practical than others).

,

2011: TABLETS AT THE GATES Everyone’s in on it now. Samsung, Toshiba, Archos and even Dell – the list of companies announcing their foray into the tablet market gets longer by the day, making the choice of which one to purchase an increasingly difficult one. Ease of use, and the quality of the app store – the means of getting all those apps onto

078 | THIRTY DEGREES

your device – make all the difference. And while the iPad is the undisputed king in both of those aspects, it lacks some technical features when stacked against its rivals. Competing devices offer a more complete web experience thanks to integrated support for Flash, USB and HDMI hardware ports for a wider range of connectivity, phone capability, or even a webcam. Google’s OS, Android, which has already captured a substantial share of the smartphone market, is equally well suited to tablets, and sports a well-stocked application marketplace to boot. It’s now powering a growing number of devices, including the Toshiba Folio 100, and the more diminutive Dell Streak and Samsung Galaxy Tab. The success of these tablets, and the hordes of copycats expected in 2011, will rise or fall on the ease of their user experience.

Only time will tell whether this tablet craze is a passing fad or a lasting market. But no one can deny the allure of touch on these responsive devices. Just run your fingers along the glass screen and you’ll be standing in line at the checkout counter...

Up until now, capturing your latest achievements on film, be they on skis, mountain bike, or behind the wheel of a kart, has been a rather difficult feat.

Between getting a friend to improvise as cameraman, using makeshift solutions with dubious results, or running the risk of losing one’s substantial investment in professional equipment with the next inevitable tumble, filming your action scenes has been neither easy nor affordable. Fortunately, thanks to the latest technological advances, daredevils and athletes alike can strap on mini-HD cameras that endow them with a third eye, with which they can easily create a permanent record of their talent. Lightweight and resistant to shocks, vibrations and splashes, they record your every move, twist, turn and jump with panache, while also doing a good job at reducing the shakes. Equipped with versatile attachments, they’re well suited to a wide range of activities. Mount them on a bike, a helmet, or a surfboard – anything goes.

,

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL Combined with consumer video editing software that is becoming more user-friendly by the day, the latest camera technology finally makes it possible to get near-professional results without breaking the bank. Two players currently vie for first place in consumer’s hearts and minds (not forgetting their pockets). Contour offers two models that shoot in 1080p HD. One of them even includes a GPS sensor that allows you to geotag your exploits. Cylindrically shaped and weighing less than 150gm, the Contour allows you to record up to 8 hours on a removable microSD card. It can even be mounted on glasses or smooth surfaces. GoPro competes with a similar product, the GoPro HD. With sharper angles and sturdy-looking casing and attachments, GoPro HD is especially well suited for surfing and motorized sports. And with both of these cameras setting you back less than 400 Swiss francs, recording your adventures has never been so tempting.

THIRTY DEGREES | 079

MINIATURE CAMERAS TO CAPTURE YOUR EXPLOITS

With the iPad, Apple has brought tablets back into style. The competition, initially dismissive, is now firing on all cylinders in an effort to catch up with its runaway success.

Recent advances in technology and miniaturization allow sports enthusiasts to double as aspiring filmmakers with amazing ease. Zooming in on a well thought out novelty.

IT ’S RAINING TABLETS

Text°°° ERIC RIVERA The “tablet PC” has in fact been around for a while. Many computer makers have tried their hand at it over the years, but so far nothing has stuck. That is, until Apple hit on the magic formula. It turns out the secret was in the software package, with an interface designed from the ground up around a purely touch-based experience. But while it may be called “magical,” a tablet can’t compete with a computer in terms of productivity and the ability to create content by the ream.

Where it does shine is as a media consumption device, serving up Internet content as well as interactivity through a host of available applications (some more practical than others).

,

2011: TABLETS AT THE GATES Everyone’s in on it now. Samsung, Toshiba, Archos and even Dell – the list of companies announcing their foray into the tablet market gets longer by the day, making the choice of which one to purchase an increasingly difficult one. Ease of use, and the quality of the app store – the means of getting all those apps onto

078 | THIRTY DEGREES

your device – make all the difference. And while the iPad is the undisputed king in both of those aspects, it lacks some technical features when stacked against its rivals. Competing devices offer a more complete web experience thanks to integrated support for Flash, USB and HDMI hardware ports for a wider range of connectivity, phone capability, or even a webcam. Google’s OS, Android, which has already captured a substantial share of the smartphone market, is equally well suited to tablets, and sports a well-stocked application marketplace to boot. It’s now powering a growing number of devices, including the Toshiba Folio 100, and the more diminutive Dell Streak and Samsung Galaxy Tab. The success of these tablets, and the hordes of copycats expected in 2011, will rise or fall on the ease of their user experience.

Only time will tell whether this tablet craze is a passing fad or a lasting market. But no one can deny the allure of touch on these responsive devices. Just run your fingers along the glass screen and you’ll be standing in line at the checkout counter...

Up until now, capturing your latest achievements on film, be they on skis, mountain bike, or behind the wheel of a kart, has been a rather difficult feat.

Between getting a friend to improvise as cameraman, using makeshift solutions with dubious results, or running the risk of losing one’s substantial investment in professional equipment with the next inevitable tumble, filming your action scenes has been neither easy nor affordable. Fortunately, thanks to the latest technological advances, daredevils and athletes alike can strap on mini-HD cameras that endow them with a third eye, with which they can easily create a permanent record of their talent. Lightweight and resistant to shocks, vibrations and splashes, they record your every move, twist, turn and jump with panache, while also doing a good job at reducing the shakes. Equipped with versatile attachments, they’re well suited to a wide range of activities. Mount them on a bike, a helmet, or a surfboard – anything goes.

,

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL Combined with consumer video editing software that is becoming more user-friendly by the day, the latest camera technology finally makes it possible to get near-professional results without breaking the bank. Two players currently vie for first place in consumer’s hearts and minds (not forgetting their pockets). Contour offers two models that shoot in 1080p HD. One of them even includes a GPS sensor that allows you to geotag your exploits. Cylindrically shaped and weighing less than 150gm, the Contour allows you to record up to 8 hours on a removable microSD card. It can even be mounted on glasses or smooth surfaces. GoPro competes with a similar product, the GoPro HD. With sharper angles and sturdy-looking casing and attachments, GoPro HD is especially well suited for surfing and motorized sports. And with both of these cameras setting you back less than 400 Swiss francs, recording your adventures has never been so tempting.

THIRTY DEGREES | 079

By CHRISTIAN BUGNON

PEAK PERFORMANCE SARA JACKET A classic for those lovely winter days; the Duffle-coat! The main features of this jacket are the heavy woollen fabric, duffle and horn buttons, leather patches, flat pockets and the hood. This straight-cut sporty coat from Peak Performance will keep you nice and warm. And with a Teflon coating you’ll be wearing it for years to come. www.peakperformance.com

JULBO SUPERSTAR Julbo goggles are developed in the mountains by the pros of the mountains. Stand out, wherever and whenever you are. The Superstar has taken design and freeride technology to even greater heights, and is perfectly compatible with all helmets in all conditions. In terms of personal safety, Julbo does us proud! Check out the whole 2010-2011 collection on www.julbo-eyewear.com

BANG & OLUFSEN – WHEN ELEGANCE IS ALSO USER-FRIENDLY… The BeoSound 8 has excellent sound quality, an elegant design and a simple user interface.

It’s the ideal solution to enjoy the digital sound quality provided by an iPod, iPhone, iPad, PC or MAC. Available in black or white. Choose amongst a range of colourful speaker covers so that it fits perfectly into your environment. www.bangolufsen.com

COLUMBIA – GENERATE YOUR OWN HEAT!

Innovation has always been at the heart of Columbia. The Omni-Heat™ Thermal Reflective technology actively manages body heat to provide optimal performance during outdoor activities. This technology, which is in the process of being patented, offers 20% more warmth on average, without increasing the weight or the volume. It enables you to control your body temperature by reflecting and stocking the heat generated by your body, while wicking away perspiration and removing excess heat for optimal comfort. www.columbia.com

DYNAFIT – THE PERFECT MATCH The Ski STOKE is incredibly lightweight, with its revolutionary technology combining a beech and bamboo core. It has the patented Dynafit insert system. It’s just as good in powder snow and for skiing in demanding conditions.

TITAN TF-X boots. The patented TBS (Triple Binding Sole) system adapts to all binding systems on the market. Lightweight boots that are perfect for climbing, with no compromise to skiing capabilities. For freeriders and touring freeriders who want a high-performance downhill ski boot, while also needing a comfortable pair of boots to walk in. www.dynafit.com

SOREL TIVOLI HIGH These snow boots signed by Sorel will protect your feet in style. They will keep your feet warm and provide optimal comfort. As usual for products from Sorel, all materials used such as the one-piece felt sock and Thinsulate insulation are of the highest quality. Perfect for wintry conditions, the rubber outsole is specially designed for walking on snow and will help avoid those unpleasant tumbles. In short: a perfect snow boot for women. www.sorel.com

CASIO - G-SHOCK GX-56 This is an XXL multi-function timepiece, running on solar power. High shock and dirt resistance. Solar cells provide autonomous power, respecting the environment. Extra solar energy is stocked in a battery. Exists in black or orange. www.casio.ch

DAKINE WITH LEANNE PELOSI The North American snowboarder presents her exclusive design for the Girls Heli Pro DLX rucksack and the Targa Gloves. The rucksack is specially designed for the women’s body and the 18-litre capacity is ideal. Features an adjustable cable for carrying skis and straps for carrying a snowboard. www.dakine.com

SODASTREAM – FUNCTIONAL AND STYLISH Even if initially the SodaStream carbonated drinks system was designed above all with functionality in mind, the look has now been placed at the forefront of preoccupations. The range now has different shapes and colours and there is something to match all styles of homes.

For example, in 2010, SodaStream has presented a limited edition in partnership with the internationally renowned designer Karim Rashid. Available from more than 3500 retail outlets throughout the whole of Switzerland. www.sodastream.ch

FREITAG REFERENCE SS 11 Life was easy when Freitag just had to worry about finding trucks, searching for more original cuts and changing them into bags. Here is the new Reference collection ‘fake snake’, with two new colours and exceptional new expertise! In stores in January 2011. www.freitag.ch

THIRTY DEGREES | 81

By CHRISTIAN BUGNON

PEAK PERFORMANCE SARA JACKET A classic for those lovely winter days; the Duffle-coat! The main features of this jacket are the heavy woollen fabric, duffle and horn buttons, leather patches, flat pockets and the hood. This straight-cut sporty coat from Peak Performance will keep you nice and warm. And with a Teflon coating you’ll be wearing it for years to come. www.peakperformance.com

JULBO SUPERSTAR Julbo goggles are developed in the mountains by the pros of the mountains. Stand out, wherever and whenever you are. The Superstar has taken design and freeride technology to even greater heights, and is perfectly compatible with all helmets in all conditions. In terms of personal safety, Julbo does us proud! Check out the whole 2010-2011 collection on www.julbo-eyewear.com

BANG & OLUFSEN – WHEN ELEGANCE IS ALSO USER-FRIENDLY… The BeoSound 8 has excellent sound quality, an elegant design and a simple user interface.

It’s the ideal solution to enjoy the digital sound quality provided by an iPod, iPhone, iPad, PC or MAC. Available in black or white. Choose amongst a range of colourful speaker covers so that it fits perfectly into your environment. www.bangolufsen.com

COLUMBIA – GENERATE YOUR OWN HEAT!

Innovation has always been at the heart of Columbia. The Omni-Heat™ Thermal Reflective technology actively manages body heat to provide optimal performance during outdoor activities. This technology, which is in the process of being patented, offers 20% more warmth on average, without increasing the weight or the volume. It enables you to control your body temperature by reflecting and stocking the heat generated by your body, while wicking away perspiration and removing excess heat for optimal comfort. www.columbia.com

DYNAFIT – THE PERFECT MATCH The Ski STOKE is incredibly lightweight, with its revolutionary technology combining a beech and bamboo core. It has the patented Dynafit insert system. It’s just as good in powder snow and for skiing in demanding conditions.

TITAN TF-X boots. The patented TBS (Triple Binding Sole) system adapts to all binding systems on the market. Lightweight boots that are perfect for climbing, with no compromise to skiing capabilities. For freeriders and touring freeriders who want a high-performance downhill ski boot, while also needing a comfortable pair of boots to walk in. www.dynafit.com

SOREL TIVOLI HIGH These snow boots signed by Sorel will protect your feet in style. They will keep your feet warm and provide optimal comfort. As usual for products from Sorel, all materials used such as the one-piece felt sock and Thinsulate insulation are of the highest quality. Perfect for wintry conditions, the rubber outsole is specially designed for walking on snow and will help avoid those unpleasant tumbles. In short: a perfect snow boot for women. www.sorel.com

CASIO - G-SHOCK GX-56 This is an XXL multi-function timepiece, running on solar power. High shock and dirt resistance. Solar cells provide autonomous power, respecting the environment. Extra solar energy is stocked in a battery. Exists in black or orange. www.casio.ch

DAKINE WITH LEANNE PELOSI The North American snowboarder presents her exclusive design for the Girls Heli Pro DLX rucksack and the Targa Gloves. The rucksack is specially designed for the women’s body and the 18-litre capacity is ideal. Features an adjustable cable for carrying skis and straps for carrying a snowboard. www.dakine.com

SODASTREAM – FUNCTIONAL AND STYLISH Even if initially the SodaStream carbonated drinks system was designed above all with functionality in mind, the look has now been placed at the forefront of preoccupations. The range now has different shapes and colours and there is something to match all styles of homes.

For example, in 2010, SodaStream has presented a limited edition in partnership with the internationally renowned designer Karim Rashid. Available from more than 3500 retail outlets throughout the whole of Switzerland. www.sodastream.ch

FREITAG REFERENCE SS 11 Life was easy when Freitag just had to worry about finding trucks, searching for more original cuts and changing them into bags. Here is the new Reference collection ‘fake snake’, with two new colours and exceptional new expertise! In stores in January 2011. www.freitag.ch

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IMPRESSUM

HAPPENING NEAR YOU

There is no shortage of creativity, originality, unique atmosphere and tasteful design around these parts. 30° opens its urban address book and shares some of its favourite spots.

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Text°°° SERGE GRETER Passe-moi le sel The style is sparse and the concept effective, with chalkboards lining the walls, long tables to sit down at, and a kitchen which you can see through a window behind the bar, and watch the chefs at work. The cuisine goes with the surroundings; simple yet inventive, using seasonal ingredients that have been organically or biodynamically grown whenever possible. You could imagine that it is your granny’s cooking – a little revamped to suit today’s tastes – with a selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and dishes of the day with a contemporary feeling. You can either eat here, or if you prefer (or space is lacking), take your food to the café le Symbole, at number 10 on place de la Riponne. You can also savour these excellent dishes delivered direct to your office, or check out their catering service.

One last thing to mention; despite the name of this establishment, you won’t have to worry about the seasoning at Passe-moi le sel!

DR

Passe-moi le sel, rue du Tunnel 16, 1005 Lausanne. Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 021/311.26.24. www.passemoilesel.ch Le bistrot de Charlotte We might be at Charlotte’s place, but we’re not going to get a glimpse of her! In fact, Charlotte is part of all of us. She’s our greedy side, which takes us back to the times when we tucked in to gorgeous meals prepared by our loving grannies. Times when we went back home with a little bag of treats. Unforgettable times, which the bistrot de Charlotte wants us to re-live, through the bistro itself and also their delicatessen. An establishment which loves and lives for bistronomy, much to our delight! With a zinc bar, red chairs and dark wooden furniture, this is the perfect place to sip a cup of coffee, have a drink after work, take a Sunday brunch, or naturally sit down for a meal at lunch or dinner. The cuisine is simple and traditional, such as a steak tartar or squid à la provencale. As Charlotte is part of all of us, we can congratulate ourselves on our good taste!

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Le bistrot de Charlotte, place des Bergues 3, 1201 Genève. Open Mon to Sat from 7.30 a.m. to midnight, and Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 022/731.81.81. www.lebistrotdecharlotte.com

The Black & White In this establishment located in Neuchâtel old town, black is set against white. Refined goes with friendly and the dishes are a harmonious blend of traditional food and seafood. Marinated duck breast with flavours of the Far East, garnished with sweet and sour vegetables. Salmon steak with bacon and king prawns, served on a bed of risotto rice with a touch of saffron. There’s also plenty for vegetarians to choose from, such as an aubergine tiramisu with tomato carpaccio, dressed with balsamic vinegar. Meals are carefully prepared and presented. There is a special table to bring together people who come alone, so that they can find themselves amongst good company. There’s no doubt that the concept of duality has been well-thought out. In this restaurant, it’s the little details that count… that way you get twice as much pleasure!

The Black & White, rue du Trésor 4, 2000 Neuchâtel. Open Tues to Sat, lunchtime (11:30 to 2 p.m.) and evening (6:30 to midnight). 032/724.31.41. www.maisondeshalles.ch/fr/black-and-white

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Photo cover : © Eric Berger/ Red Bull Illume Editor christian.bugnon@cbcommunication.com Edition & administration CB Communication sàrl Rue du Tunnel 11 – 1005 Lausanne - Switzerland Email: info@cbcommunication.com Web: www.cbcommunication.com Tel: +41 21/ 312 41 41, Fax: +41 21/ 312 41 41 Advertising for French-speaking Switzerland christian.bugnon@cbcommunication.com Advertising for German-speaking Switzerland Blueorange Media GmbH Karin Witschi 076/ 379 82 07 kw@blueorange-media.ch Sonja Kupper 062/ 772 21 56 sk@blueorange-media.ch Advertising for the English edition astrid.gester@cbcommunication.com Tel: +41 79 386 87 88 Editorial assistant info@cbcommunication.com Writers (in order of appearance) Vincent Gillioz, Frédéric Rein, Catherine Cochard, William Türler, Nicolas Zambetti, Serge Greter, Gavin’s Clemente Ruiz, Claude Hervé-Bazin, Eric Rivera, Christian Bugnon Photographers (in order of appearance) Steve Sherman, Salewa, André Bonnet, relais Mahana Polynésie, M.Morel , Giorgio Soldi outdoorgames.org / P.Fragnol / D.Carlier / D.Ravanel, Keystone portfolio, Vincent Callebaut Architectures, Sony Pictures, Disney, Elite Film, Bear Grylls, GiantXtour, Dan Ferrer, Daher, J.Hadik, Christophe Racat, Patrice Schreyer, raquette aventure, Keystone, Zueger Erwin, Kurt Müller, Office National du tourisme Thailandais Berne, Thomas Bradford, Claude Hervé-Bazin Art and layout editors Mélanie & Nicolas Zentner, Mathieu Moret German translation: Sabine Dröschel English translation: Simon Till Photo-offset printing: Images 3 SA Printing: Swissprinters Lausanne SA Distribution: It’s Time To Bienne The 30° magazine is provided free of charge to subscribers of Skippers and Mountain Report magazines If you would like to receive 30° at home: Subscription for 4 editions: CHF 23.April / June / September / December 30° is also for sale in Swiss newsagents Naville and Valora and on

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