Love The Mountains Winter 2016/17 by InTheSnow

WINTER 2016/17 | VOL. 04

2016/17

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t’s that wonderful time of

section with our photoshoot highlighting

floaty fine powder snow in the world is

year once again when the

the very best of these.

to be found you should enjoy our “Best

weather turns cold and we all

In Snow” section which takes a look at

start hoping for snow – lots

Even before the announcement that Beijing

some of the planet’s best choices for the

and lots of snow. Fortunately

would host the 2022 Winter Olympics, the

best quality of snow, which really is more

though, the thing with

Chinese were going snow crazy, and we

important than quantity.

mountains is that they look

have a major feature on all the new ski

great year round anyway.

opportunities opening there, including a

If you like your music you can check out

That’s why we love visiting

new Club Med resort opening this winter.

our guide to festivals in the mountains this

them, being on them and looking at them – in short, it’s

winter and spring, and of course these There are also lots of big new infrastructure

days there are lots of other activities

projects to report. Austria has a new

beside downhill skiing to try when you’re

“biggest ski area” for the second season

in the mountains, so we also have features

In this edition of Love The Mountains

in a row and Val d’Isère will see its biggest

on the exciting sport of speed riding or

we look at all the latest news for winter

upgrades in a decade, and they’re just for

kite skiing on a frozen Swiss lake near St

2016/17. There are new destinations to

starters.

Moritz.

in Iran?), new events coming up in the

If you’ve ever fancied skiing somewhere

Wherever you end up going and whatever

mountains this season and of course there

a little different you’ll enjoy our feature

you end up doing this winter, we hope that

is lots of great new fashion and gear to try

on skiing in Hawaii, and if you’ve ever

if you love the mountains as much as we

out, and we’ve got our regular big central

wondered where the best weightless,

do, you’ll have a wonderful time.

why we love the mountains!

consider (did you know you could ski

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OTM16 // 005

CONTENTS

FEATURES

045

010

SLOPESTYLE 2016/17  FASHION SHOOT We’re back with our superb fashion shoot of all the cool new gear that the world’s best ski fashion houses have created for winter 2016/17. Find out what’s hot for the coming winter in our special centre section.

The biggest ski area in North America and host of the last Winter Olympics in 2010 before they started moving progressively eastwards is on the “must ski” list for most skiers. Here’s the lowdown.

018

078

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB 

BEST IN SNOW  We often look to resorts that post deep snow depths as the places to aim for, but after it’s a few feet deep does depth matter? In this feature we examine resorts known for the best quality of snow.

SHORT BREAKS IN TIROL 

WHERE TO SKI NOW 020 The ski lifts are always turning somewhere and whilst there

The ski areas of Tirol have it all – atmospheric villages, beautiful

aren’t many choices in the autumn it has already started snowing

scenery, lively après ski, superb food, great ski areas and they’re

and some ski areas are already opening for their 2016/17

all short transfers from the airport. So perfect for a short break!

seasons.

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TEAM

022

SEASON CALENDAR 038 If you’re on holiday in Switzerland’s stunning Engadin region you may be happy just skiing the perfect pistes. But there are alternatives and one is letting a kite pull you across a frozen lake!

PUBLISHER

DOMINIC KILLINGER dom@inthesnow.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

DEBBIE GABRIEL debbie@inthesnow.com EDITOR

PATRICK THORNE patrick@inthesnow.com

029

SALT LAKE CITY  A new direct service from London to Salt Lake City makes reaching the ski areas of Utah much simpler this winter. But why stop there? A road trip up to Wyoming or Montana could be an option?

026 FREE SKIING 

FIRST TIME HELI-SKIER 

SALES MANAGER

GIANCARLO GAMBARDELLA giancarlo@inthesnow.com PICTURE EDITOR

ROSS WOODALL SUB-EDITORS

NICK JONES MARION ADAMS CONTRIBUTORS

PATRICK THORNE EMMANUELLE CHÂTEL SALLY BROOKES WILL NICHOLLS JIMMY PETTERSON DAVID BLACK

Heli-skiing is a dream for many but the cost can seem prohibitive if you don’t have very deep pockets. Here’s our rundown on how to get started to find out if you really are a heli-addict.

FASHION SHOOT

ELLIE LEECH HAIR AND MAKE-UP

STUDIO

042

It’s all the rage, heading off the groomed pistes and doing a little

STUDIO 88 DESIGN BY

FLOCK STUDIO flockstudio.co.uk

free skiing in the deep powder. But of course it’s good to know what No part of this publication may be

you’re doing so you’re safe and have fun. Here are our top tips.

copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any way or means, either by recording or otherwise, without

SKIING CHINESE 030 China has gone ski crazy these past few years. Not only has the country just secured the 2022 Winter Olympics, but more than

SKI HAWAII  One of the world’s most famous resorts celebrates it’s big 5-0 this winter. It's still North America's biggest and it’s still innovating…

500 new ski areas have opened, including some world class destinations to try.

KITE SKIING 036

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SKIING 2016/17 070

permission of the publishers in writing.

INTHESNOW LTD THE SNOW STUDIO KINGS LANE, BUCKS HP16 0QY +44 (0)1494 862 423 DOM@INTHESNOW.COM INTHESNOW.COM

Christmas and New Year this winter have the tour operators all If you’re on holiday in Switzerland’s stunning Engadin region

excited as the Saturday changeover day is Christmas Eve and

you may be happy just skiing the perfect pistes. But there are

New Year’s Eve. As a result lots of interesting alternatives are on

alternatives and one is letting a kite pull you across a frozen lake!

offer.

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OTM16 // 007

WHEN TO SKI IN

2017 You’re planning your annual ski trip, but,

says Xavier Schouller, boss of the award-

in the north and can be troubled to travel

“Although the whole of France outside

assuming you’re not limited to when in

winning French-ski-holiday specialists

south, you can bag a bargain that week,”

Paris will also be on holiday the week from

the winter you go, is any one week likely

Peak Retreats (peakretreats.co.uk), who

Nick adds.

18 February, it should be a little quieter

to be better than any other for snow and

adds, “Coming into January, the first week

for price?

is always quite busy at some top resorts as

For British skiers heading to French

busy. The week of 25/2 is the last week

it is the Russian holidays, but then it does

resorts in February we also have to do

of the French holidays with only one third

not actually impact that many resorts.”

battle for space with French nationals and

of France’s schools still on holiday, plus

those from other European nations (and

Belgium,” Xavier concludes.

Love the Mountains asked a couple of industry insiders, a ski travel agent and a

than the previous week, but still extremely

tour operator, about the “issues” for winter

February Half-Term Weeks 2017

that’s one of the many things Brexit won’t

2016/17:

“There are two main February half-term

alter!).

weeks for UK schools next year,” says Nick

Easter 2017 “Easter has been selling very well despite

Christmas and New Year

Edwards of snowsports holiday specialist

“February half-term starts on 4 February

it being later next year – good late season

“This coming season won’t be without its

travel agency SnowFinders.co.uk. “The

in France with the Paris area’s first week,

snow the past two years has assisted in

challenges, mostly over Christmas due

main one is the week from 11 February

but still this won’t be the busiest week of

leading to early bookings for the following

to two consecutive years of poor snow,

2017, but the following week from the 18th

February,” says Xavier. “The week from 11

Easter,” says Nick.

which is just totally unheard of. Everyone

tends to be the main one for parts of the

February is not only the UK’s main half-

in Europe is on holiday pretty much at

North and Midlands.”

term week, it is also Paris’s second week,

“The main weeks for the UK are the weeks

plus another third of France’s

from 1 and 8 April which are the same as

the same time, from 17 December to 2 January, so as usual it will still be pretty

“The second half-term week is cheaper,

first week, plus a few other countries

the French Easter holidays,” says Xavier.

busy, despite the complicating factor of

but tour operators have cottoned on and

like Denmark, so it will invariably be the

“Belgium is also on holiday the first week,

the ‘Saturday changeover day’ falling

have loaded the flight supplements from

busiest week of the whole season.”

which will be the busiest, but still nowhere

on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve,”

the Midlands up. So if you’re based

OTM16 // 008

near as busy as February half-term.”

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+33 (0)4 79 06 18 88 RESERVATION@HOTELAIGLEDESNEIGES.COM EN.HOTELAIGLEDESNEIGES.COM

Better than ever for 2016/17 After yet another snowy winter last season, which saw

you no doubt know someone who has, and they won’t

terrain on earth. To put it in numbers, there are more

North America’s biggest and most snow-sure ski area

stop going on about how great it is. But you can be

than 200 marked runs, 8,171 acres of terrain, 16 alpine

clock up Canada’s most days open for skiing, Whistler

forgiven if you are still wondering just why Whistler

bowls and three glaciers.

Blackcomb is already well prepared for the start of the

Blackcomb is repeatedly voted the number one rated

2016/17 season, just a few short months away.

ski resort in North America by visitors in polls on both

Second, there’s the snow. Whistler Blackcomb has

sides of the Atlantic, season after season.

some of the best quality powder on earth and more of

The extra good news is that whilst the pound has

it than the vast majority of ski resorts across the world.

dropped against the US dollar in the wake of the

It’s difficult to put all the attributes in the correct order,

It enables it to open early and stay open to late May,

Brexit vote, it’s still performing much better against

and some may be more important to you than they are

even June. There is also a glacier ski area open on

the Canadian dollar, currently at around 1.65 Canadian

to someone else, but essentially it comes down to the

Blackcomb Mountain’s Horstaman Glacier until July each

dollars to the pound.

fact that Whistler Blackcomb ticks all the boxes for a

year which means the resort can stay open for summer-

super-successful ski trip.

skiing and boarding each year.

booking to Whistler Blackcomb and there’s never been

So, firstly, the ski area is big. It’s the biggest by far in

Next, the uplift. Accessing all this terrain, both perfectly

a better time to secure your ski or snowboard holiday of

North America and by independent assessment one

groomed slopes and deep powder, needs to be quick.

a lifetime out West with plenty of great deals available

of the biggest in the world too. There’s terrain for all

Thankfully it is as Whistler Blackcomb has one of the

through www.whistlerblackcomb.com.

abilities from perfectly designed beginner areas where

world’s biggest and best fleets of queue-gobbling high-

especially skilled teachers for first-timers await with

speed chair and gondola lifts, all accessed by a state-

Why Whistler Blackcomb?

welcoming smiles and a “There’s no need to hurry”

of-the-art hands-free lift pass. The resort’s reputation is

You know the name and if you haven’t yet been yourself

attitude to some of the steepest, most challenging

solidified by its amazing, world-record-breaking PEAK 2

Add to this some special deals currently available for

OTM16 // 010

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PEAK Gondola which links the tops of both mountains.

The Future of Snowsports? This season, Whistler Blackcomb takes a big picture

Fourth, there’s the resort base. “Vibrant” doesn’t do justice to all that

look at the future of skiing and snowboarding in

the Whistler Municipality has to offer. There are hundreds of shops,

a four-part documentary series exploring climate

restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and other accommodation and

change, backcountry access, the state of the

businesses. Wandering the Pedestrian-only Village Stroll you can

industry, and the risks of losing kids to technology.

be forgiven for forgetting yourself and neglecting the huge ski area

The series has been created by Switchback

above. Of course parties with non-skiers in their midst have found

Entertainment and produced with the support of

the perfect destination. The resort has been beautifully designed too

Canadian telecommunications company TELUS.

so that lifts are never far from your lodging and are normally easy to

whistlerblackcomb.com/BigPicture

walk from and ski back close to. Fifth there’s the experience of just getting here. Vancouver is a great city with a well-designed, friendly airport and the drive north into the Coast Mountains of British Columbia is just a 1.5 hour drive (125 kilometres/78 miles). Then there’s that Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games legacy. Alpine and cross-country skiing events at the 2010 Games were staged here, along with events like bobsleigh and luge at the stateof-the-art sliding centre. These will now be the last Games to be staged in the Western hemisphere of the globe for at least another decade. You can visit the venues and ski the same runs that the world’s greatest did.

What’s New This Winter 2016/2017? This winter sees improvement to the on-mountain dining experience for all, and a special focus on improved facilities for beginners. As part of its continued efforts to grow the sports of skiing and snowboarding, Whistler Blackcomb has invested in improvements to the learning areas on Whistler Mountain this season. Improvements include terrain grading in the Olympic Zone to optimise learning for new skiers and snowboarders, and the installation of two new covered carpet lifts to help eliminate congestion and improve learning progression. Whistler Blackcomb has also added 32 new low-energy snow guns in the Olympic Zone to ensure the early opening of the learning area and to guarantee the best possible surface for learning throughout the season. In addition, this winter all guests will be able to enjoy upgrades to the Roundhouse Lodge patio on Whistler Mountain, including new upper and lower decks. The improvements substantially increase the total patio space and add approximately 100 new outdoor seats to the Roundhouse Lodge. The new upper patio is heated and will be open during the winter season. Steeps Grill and Wine Bar in the Roundhouse Lodge will also introduce a new heated patio this winter, offering diners the opportunity to enjoy a full-service fine-dining experience in a comfortable outdoor setting in Whistler’s alpine location. Whistler Blackcomb will also be enhancing their new WB+ online interactive platform connected to the resort’s RFID technology which was initially launched last season. WB+ offers guests the option to create a personal WB+ profile to collect stats and data about their days on the mountains simply by scanning their lift passes at the RFID chairlift access gates. This winter guests will also be able to enjoy the WB+ Groups function, which enables skiers and riders to set up leaderboards with their friends and family to compare stats, such as number of days on the mountain or total vertical skied. Whistler Blackcomb offers great value on Stay & Ski packages all year long and more information is available at whistlerblackcomb.com

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OTM16 // xx

FINDING THE BEST

MOUNTAIN GUIDES & INSTRUCTORS

new service has been launched that

Ongosa, which is taken from the Swahili word

professionals in mountaineering, heli-guiding,

is designed to pair skiers and boarders

meaning “to guide or to lead”, is the brainchild of

trekking, backcountry and climbing across Europe.

at all levels with the best ski guides in

mountain-sports addict Richard Smith, who has been

All instructors on Ongosa have been carefully

resorts across Europe.

working on setting up the service since 2014.

selected for their experience, qualifications and love of the mountains, Richard says.

Working in a similar way to other websites where

“Learning or improving your skiing, snowboarding

service providers are chosen for their excellence

or climbing shouldn’t be intimidating. It should be

Feedback from initial customers has been good.

then rated by past customers, Ongosa allows you

exciting and, most of all, completely accessible,”

Speaking about a guide he sourced through Ongosa

to find and book qualified, highly recommended

said Richard, adding, “We believe the right local and

in January, client Ben Fenby commented:

mountain guides and snowsport instructors

technical knowledge enhances the adventure-sports

to enhance the skills of the modern mountain

experience. We also think that everyone should

“We cannot recommend Denis highly enough. He’s

enthusiast at all levels.

have the opportunity to meet these elite specialists,

a great skier and a fantastic teacher who genuinely

especially as many of them make a living out of

finds passion helping others and improving their

The British-based business has access to over

guiding or teaching, but survive on reputation and

technique. It’s rare to find someone at that level

1,000 mountain-sport professionals with expert

word-of-mouth. Ongosa has set out on a mission

with the patience and ability to work with beginners.

knowledge, experience and skill located across

to make adventure sports more accessible, by

I found Ongosa simple, intuitive, responsive and

Europe with a network of 150 boutique schools and

connecting people who have shared interests in

would recommend to anyone.”

guiding agencies. During an initial soft launch earlier

learning and teaching, guiding and exploring.”

this year, Ongosa reported a 100% success rate in improving the quality of their customers’ mountain

Ongosa’s community includes instructors of all

trips.

levels in ski and snowboard, as well as specialist

OTM16//012

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mountains WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEW IN THE

FOR 2016/17

By Patrick Thorne

014 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

(collectively, in fact, billions!) on upgrades and improvements.

FRANCE: NEW GONDOLA FOR 2016/17 IS BIGGEST NEWS IN A DECADE FOR VAL D’ISERE

Work often starts as soon as the lifts close on one season,

The coming winter will see the opening of a new €16 million (about £13.6

continues through the summer and often right up to late

million) state-of-the-art Solaise gondola at Val d’Isère that will rise from the

autumn so that a new lift, mountain restaurant, luxury hotel

heart of the famous resort. It is being promoted as “the biggest innovation in

or some other attraction can be completed in yet another

France’s top resort for a decade” by the resort’s marketing staff, who say it will

very year, the world’s leading ski resorts spend millions

miracle of engineering in the mountains.

transform mountain access in Val d’Isère for all standards of skier. The lift has 10-person gondola cabins, complete with heated seats and wi-fi, and you can

The coming winter 2016/17 will be no different, it seems, with the amazing new

park your skis in exterior baskets, or bring them inside – the choice speeds up

attractions ready to test out for the first time at the start of the season.

loading time.

Here are some of the biggest projects:

ARLBERG TO BE FIRST AUSTRIAN SKI AREA WITH 300KM+ LINKED RUNS

AUSTRIA: LIFT TOWER AT ISCHGL TO CARRY THE MOST SKIERS IN THE WORLD Ischgl ski area in the Austrian Tirol is replacing an old quad chairlift ahead of

The Austrian Arlberg ski region will be the country’s first to offer more than

the coming ski season and spending €14 million (about £11.9 million) on its

300km of lift-linked runs when a huge project to physically join the two largest

replacement – a swish new eight-seater.

sectors of the region around Lech and St Anton by installing four new gondola lifts this summer is completed this winter.

But for lovers of ski statistics (and who isn’t?) one of the most remarkable aspects of the new Flimjoch lift is not its snug heated seats and weather-

The lift-linked part of the Arlberg will then total around 305km of runs,

protection bubble but the fact that it will share one of its 16 towers with

although the pass will also include another 36km of runs at the smaller, not-

another eight-seater chairlift, the Höllboden, as the two routes cross above

linked nearby areas of Sonnenkopf and Pettneu to give a total of 340km.

one another.

The area also says it has an additional 200km of marked but ungroomed “ski routes” which it does not include in its 305km/340km totals.

With both lifts able to quickly carry more than 3,000 skiers every hour (that’s very high capacity) up the mountain, this means that this one tower will support 6,900 skiers and boarders per hour – believed to be a world record.

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OTM16 // 015

FRANCE: THE TUBE AT CHAMONIX The latest attraction in a multi-million-euro ongoing upgrade of the iconic

AUSTRIA: STILL MORE BIG GONDOLAS AT SAALBACH

Aiguille du Midi visitor attraction high above Chamonix has opened to the

Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria’s Salzburgerland will further consolidate its

public. “The Tube” is a 32m-long enclosed walkway that now connects the

position as “the ski resort operating the most gondolas in the world” by adding

terraces on the building, nearly 3,800m up. Windows along the length of The

another two big new gondolas. The new Doppelmayr-built Schönleitenbahn

Tube allow visitors to look out.

and Zwölferkogel lifts will each have cabins that can each hold 10 seated skiers and boarders.

The numbers involved are impressive – 64.5 tonnes of steel and 220 cubic than 500 helicopter flights to lift it all into place, and a spend of more than

FRANCE: NEXT-GENERATION CHAIRLIFT FOR LA PLAGNE

€2.5 million (about £2.1 million).

La Plagne is set to unveil a “next-generation design” detachable six-seater

metres of concrete were required for The Tube’s construction, along with more

chairlift. The MND Group, who are behind the new lift, say they have Its opening follows the recent addition of the “Step into the Void” attraction at

“significantly improved” the detachable grip process that connects the seat (or

the Aiguille du Midi which allows visitors to step “out” of the building into an

with gondolas the cabin) to the cable, improving performance and making it

enclosed glass box thousands of metres above the valley.

easier to maintain. Perhaps more visibly, the departure and arrival stations and vehicle ergonomics have also been redesigned in consultation with operators

In winter, the Aiguille du Midi is the starting point of the world’s longest lift-

of many stations to meet their requests for change and for a reduced impact

accessed ski run over the biggest lift-served vertical, the Vallée Blanche.

on the environment, improving safety and passenger comfort.

SWITZERLAND: NEW SWISS CHAIRLIFT WILL LASERSCAN SKIERS

AUSTRIA: STUBAI BUILDING €58M 3S GONDOLA

A new CHF11m (about £9.3m) six-seat chairlift is under construction at Klosters

this autumn, a replacement for the ski area’s famous Eisgrat cable car, which

in Switzerland. The lift is part of a CHF25m (about £21.2m) five-year investment

has provided more than 40 years of service.

The Stubai glacier will unveil its new €58m (about £49.1m) Eisgrat 3S gondola

programme which will also see new mountain restaurants, snowmaking and a stadium for ski racing fans at the famous resort.

Along with the new lift, which will have a capacity of just over 3,000 skiers per hour, there’ll be a completely new base building and a dramatically expanded

The new “Schaffürggli” chairlift in the Madrisa ski area, which the resort shares

mid-station. Work on the mid-station has seen 5,000m³ concrete and 50 fixed

with neighbouring Davos, will include a feature unique in Switzerland – the

pillars with a diameter of up to one metre used. The pillars are necessary

seat height of the chair will be controlled depending on the size of the skier.

because of the difficult terrain. The new lift is expected to open on 1 October 2016.

A laser will scan passengers and determine whether they are adults or children. A hydraulic control will then adjust the seat height perfectly so that even the smallest passengers can safely get onto the chairlift.

OTM16//016

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FRANCE: NEW CHAIRLIFT AND DRAG LIFT FOR CHAMONIX Two new lifts have been announced for Chamonix’s Le Brévent ski area next winter. The Parsa chairlift is currently being upgraded to a new detachable sixseat chairlift with the former fixed-grip lift removed. The Leitner-built lift will cut the uphill ride time to under four minutes and increase capacity on the route to nearly 3,000 people per hour. The old drag lifts will also be replaced by one modern drag lift. The new lifts will mean better skier flow in the sector and better facilities for beginners.

USA: NINTH NEW CHAIR IN 10 YEARS AT VAIL Across the Atlantic, Vail have announced their latest high-speed chairlift will go into operation when next season begins on 18 November. Chair 17, the Sun Up lift, will be upgraded from a three-person fixed-grip lift to a detachable quad and is the ninth new high-speed chairlift installed there in the past decade. The Colorado resort is one of the world’s half-dozen leading operators of high-speed chairlifts now operating 15 high-speed quads and several six-seater chairlifts.

JAPAN: FOUR NEW LIFTS FOR NISEKO Further afield, Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan, will be home to two major new lifts, plus two new conveyor lifts, in one of the biggest spends on new lift infrastructure in Japan for a generation. There will also be two new conveyor lifts. The new Village Express, a combination six-person chairlift with eight passenger gondola cabins, will be the first of its kind in Japan. There’ll also be a new Upper Village pulsed gondola, another first for Japan. Shiau Wee Long, Chief Executive Officer for Niseko Village, commented, “This investment represents the next step within the master plan to develop Niseko Village into one of the world’s greatest all-season resorts.”

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Tirol SHORT BREAKS

week’s skiing this season then why not consider a shorter

ALPBACH, Ski Juwel AlpbachtalWildschönau

stay and take advantage of new direct flight routes to

Transfer time from Innsbruck Airport: 50 mins

Innsbruck and great value ski packages offered by the local

A favourite with the Brits, Alpbach has never lost sight of

tourist boards in the Austrian Tirol. Some short stay packages

its mountain heritage and continues to be one of Austria’s

offer one night free or include lift passes, which all adds to

most picturesque villages. On the slopes, there is plenty

the value and convenience. The heart of the Alps is just a ski

to keep skiers and snowboarders happy, with a combined

jump away!

total of 109km in the recently created Ski Juwel Alpbachtal-

If your budget or time constraints won’t quite stretch to a full

Wildschönau skiing area. Add to this a wide range of

From 4 December 2016 British Airways is introducing a new

non-ski activities, from snow-shoeing to sleigh rides and

direct flight route to Innsbruck from Heathrow Terminal 5.

tobogganing, and it is easy to see why this charming village

Skiers will now be able to fly to the former Winter Olympic

is a top choice for a short break.

city from two UK airports with British Airways (the airline already operates direct flights from Gatwick to the Tirolean

How much?

capital). Innsbruck is a gateway to some of the best skiing in

The Alpbachtal Tourist Board offers a ‘SKI & MORE’

the heart of the Alps with iconic ski resorts such as Alpbach,

package from €182 (£158) per person, which includes three

Sölden, St Anton and Söll a short transfer away. Picturesque

nights’ accommodation, a three-day Ski Juwel Alpbachtal

Innsbruck is also a popular city-break destination for skiers

Wildschönau ski pass and an Alpbachtal Seenland Visitor

and non-skiers alike, and the service will launch just in time

Card including access to indoor swimming pool, ski bus,

for the city’s sparkling Christmas markets. Flights will operate

free active programme and further great services. Valid from

four-times-a-week during winter and twice-per-week during

08.12.2016 – 17.04.2017.

the summer season, with return fares starting from £88 in

Visit: alpbachtal.at/en

Euro Traveller.

INNSBRUCK, Olympia SkiWorld Monarch Airlines is also launching a new direct route

Transfer time from Innsbruck Airport: 15 mins

from Birmingham to Innsbruck as part of its winter 2016/17

City skiing at its best, Tirol’s capital Innsbruck is easily

schedule. The first outbound flight will be 29 December

accessible and has slopes and snow on its doorstep. It takes

2016. The airline will now fly from Birmingham, Gatwick and

only 22 minutes to get on the slopes of the Nordekette from

Manchester to Innsbruck with flights starting from £39 per

the city centre. The Tirolean capital is surrounded by a total

person (one way) in March.

of nine ski areas and 285km of piste, making up the Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck. From the Olympic slopes of the Axamer Lizum to glacier skiing on the Stubai, all the ski areas are easily accessible using the free bus service and covered on one lift pass: the Olympia SkiWorld Pass.

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How much?

weekend breaks programme to St Anton for Winter 2016/17.

The Innsbruck Tourist Board offers packages for under €390

Using new scheduled British Airways flights from London

per person, including four nights’ accommodation in a hotel in

Heathrow, the exclusive four-night packages depart Wednesday

Innsbruck on B&B and including an OlympiaWorld Skipass for

evening and return Sunday evening. Packages start from £795

nine ski resorts and free bus service. Please see:

per person and include four nights’ accommodation on bed

www.innsbruck.info for the latest offers and to book.

and breakfast, flights and transfers. For more information on St Anton visit: www.stantonamarlberg.com

SÖLL, Wilder Kaiser Transfer time from Innsbruck Airport: 50 mins

SÖLDEN, Ötztal

Looking to pack a week into a few days? Then the resort of

Transfer time from Innsbruck Airport: 1hr 10 mins

Söll is a good choice, where you can clock up the miles and

Sölden shone on the big screen last autumn as one of the filming

burn the candle at both ends. Beneath the mighty Wilder Kaiser

locations in the new James Bond film, Spectre and the resort’s

mountain range, the resorts of Söll, Going, Ellmau and Scheffau

popularity has grown even more as result. With its snow-sure

have access to the interconnecting skiing area, SkiWelt Wilder

slopes, long, perfectly groomed pistes, welcoming ski instructors,

Kaiser-Brixental, with 261 km of slopes. After dark, try the 3.8km

vibrant après scene and ultra-modern and high-speed lift system,

moonlight toboggan run at Hochsöll or enjoy the lively après-ski

it’s easy to see why it’s such a hit with skiers. This season will

in one of the many bars in the resort.

see the introduction of another lift and even better infrastructure with the arrival of the slick new mono-rope Giggijoch Mountain

How much?

Gondola. The powerful new gondola will transport up to 4,500

The Wilder Kaiser Tourist Board offers a “Super Ski Weeks”

skiers per hour, the highest capacity of any lift in the world, and

package from €275 per person, including four nights’

will take just nine minutes to travel from bottom to top.

accommodation in a 3* hotel on half board and a three-day lift pass for the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser / Brixental. Valid for the

How much?

Wilder Kaiser region (Ellmau, Scheffau, Going, Söll) from 8-22

The Ötztal Tourist Board offers a “Winter Special” package

December 2016 and 11 March - 2 April 2017.

in Sölden from €199 per person, including two nights’

Visit: www.wilderkaiser.info

accommodation in a pension on B&B and a day Sölden ski pass. Valid on arrivals before 17 December 2016.

ST ANTON AM ARLBERG

Visit: www.oetztal.com/en-winter

Transfer time from Innsbruck Airport: 1hr 10 mins St Anton requires little introduction as one of Europe‘s top

Daily flights are available from London Gatwick and twice weekly

resorts, with its high snowfall record, improved lift systems,

from Bristol and Liverpool to Innsbruck with

challenging skiing, spectacular scenery and incredible deep

www.easyjet.com. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies five times a

powder. The resort also boasts legendary après-ski and first

week from London Gatwick and four times a week from London

class cuisine. Those heading to the slopes of St Anton am

Heathrow. Monarch (www.monarch.com) flies from Manchester,

Arlberg this winter will find themselves in the largest inter-linked

Birmingham and London Gatwick Airport. Affordable resort

ski area in Austria, with access to 305 kilometres of marked

transfers are available through www.transfer.tirol.at

ski runs. Thanks to the new Flexenbahn lift, winter sports enthusiasts will be able to explore the entire Arlberg area.

For more information on the Tirol region go to www.visittirol.co.uk or keep updated at

How much?

www.facebook.com/visittirol or @VisitTirol on twitter

Ski Solutions (www.skisolutions.com) has extended its popular

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f course, autumn is the time to start

Austria: Austria dominates autumn skiing with a choice

getting excited about the winter ahead,

of eight glacier ski areas including year-round Hintertux.

but why wait? The 2016/17 ski season is already here!

AUTUMN SKI COURSE IN TIGNES

Although most ski areas won’t be opening until

Visit the Stubai, due to reopen on 1 October, and you’ll be among the first to try out its amazing new €58m (about £49.1m) gondola (see our “What’s New?” feature). Sölden (where the last Bond movie was filmed), the

December, a few dozen are already open or will be

British ski course company Snoworks, whose

Kitzsteinhorn near Kaprun, solar-powered Pitztal with

opening soon.

instructors include Phil Smith (well-known ski instructor

Austria’s highest slopes and the Mölltal glacier are also

and presenter of Channel Four’s Ski Tips) and Emma

good choices.

OK, they won’t be fully open. Most rely on their glacier

Carrick-Anderson (four-times Olympic ski racer), is

slopes from September to November, but that’s plenty

launching a brand new course that takes all the best

Italy: Try Cervinia for cross-border autumn glacier skiing

to get a pre-season snow fix for most

elements from the autumn programme on the glacier

over to Zermatt, or there’s Val Senales.

of us! Prices will be lower, the slopes emptier,

at Tignes to produce a high-activity week designed to

most years there’s often fresh powder and you’ll steal

get ski enthusiasts ready for the winter.

a march on everyone else. You should even find low-

Rest of the world: In Scandinavia, ski areas in Lapland like Ruka can open from early October if it’s cold

priced airline tickets and hotel beds as this is low, low

Aimed at skiers who could be described as

enough, and Geilo in Norway stockpiles snow from the

season for travel – summer over and winter not yet

“adventurous intermediates” or better, it runs weekly

previous year to open a run from September.

here.

from 15 October to 19 November and costs £300. The company also offer half-board accommodation at

Across the Atlantic, there’s a competition between

So where to go? Here are some autumnal favourites.

additional cost and can arrange airport transfers.

resorts to be first to open, usually by mid-October, and

Switzerland: choose between Zermatt, with Europe’s

“Flexibility, adaptability and versatility make great

highest skiing, open year round and one of the bigger

skiers, so we decided to take the best of three

glaciers, and its neighbour Saas-Fee, which reopened in

of our courses and combine them all into one all-

You might also catch the last of the 2016 season in the

July for its nine-month ski season through to next spring.

encompassing course giving everyone the best of

southern hemisphere if you hurry. Most areas close

everything,” said Phil Smith.

by late September, but some in the Andes and New

snoworks.co.uk/autumn-ski-courses.html

Zealand stay open in to October, even “Snowvember” at

it’s normally won by a Colorado resort like Arapahoe

France: only Tignes is open in the French Alps until late November, but it boasts one of the biggest and best

Basin or Loveland.

Mt Ruapehu.

glacier ski areas in the Alps.

Where

To Ski

OTM16 // 020

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LINDSEY VONN

SAYS THREE MORE YEARS The world’s most successful-ever female ski racer says she aims to race for three more seasons and has reiterated her hope, first expressed several years ago, that she be allowed to race against male skiers. The three more seasons, if not marred by injury, also seem to make it likely that Vonn, who last season, by reaching 76 victories, overtook Annemarie Moser-Pröll of Austria’s record set in the 1970s for the most World Cup wins by a female athlete, will overtake the men’s record of 86 World Cup victories set by the famous Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark. She is already the most successful American ski racer in history. In an interview, Vonn said that in her final season she hoped to finally be able to race against men, and she said moves were already underway to make that happen. She expressed her hope that in three years a way would have been found to do this. It is not wholly unprecedented for men to downhill ski race against women. In the early years of downhill racing in the first half of the last century, there are several recorded races when men and women competed in the same race.

HIRE YOUR SKI WEAR. We’re the only company in the United Kingdom offering premium branded ski wear for hire. Browse our vast collection, select your favourite jacket and pants and we’ll deliver them to you in good time for your holiday. No fuss, no hassle. Taking the family or going with friends? No problem, we have everyone covered. And if you have any concerns over sizes, take advantage of our free ‘try before you fly’ service for complete peace of mind.

www.skismart.co.uk

new direct flight from Heathrow to Salt Lake

Solitude and Robert Redford’s famous Sundance ski

Of course, you can take internal flights to reach small

City in Utah, USA, which launched earlier this

areas, are only a little further away.

airports near to these resorts in minutes rather than

year will make access to some of America’s

hours, but it’s much more fun to see some of America on

and the world’s best-known resorts much easier for Brits

But at least as exciting as this new easy access to Utah’s

this winter.

best resorts is the chance to hit the road and visit other great resorts in the region.

The region which hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics saw

a mini road trip between them.

JACKSON HOLE Jackson Hole needs no introduction, of course; it’s on

bumper business last winter. Even though the strong

Head north from Salt Lake City as I did last spring after

the “must ski before I die” list of every serious skier

US dollar may have deterred some international guests,

a tortuous three-stage, near 24-hour trip to Salt Lake

and is one of the world’s true, great, iconic ski areas.

Utah’s trademarked reputation for having “The Greatest

City International Airport, with my usual perfect timing,

It’s most famous for its spectacular and in many places

Snow on Earth” always trumps any economic issues and

booked just BEFORE the new direct flight started, and

“extreme” terrain, of course, but over the past decade

brought in the skiers and boarders in their millions.

you quickly enter a spectacular wilderness.

or two the resort has become more and more user-

The new service, operated by Delta airlines, makes the

I spent my night after landing in a friendly motel next to

boarder with plenty for intermediate or beginner-level

connection in 11 hours, but once you land in Utah, you

the airport before setting of for legendary Jackson Hole,

skiers and families to enjoy too. There’s also a great lift

can reach some famous resorts in a matter of minutes:

an easy five-hour drive north, then continued on to the

network that whizzes you around it all. A well-equipped

Park City, home to the new largest ski area in the USA,

amazing Big Sky in Montana, a further three hours north,

base village has also grown up where once there were

as well as Deer Valley, the resort known for its high

skirting the western edge of Yellowstone National Park

only car parks, so you can stay slopeside and make trips

service standards (even by America’s normally excellent-

(largely closed in winter, but there were still some buffalo

out to the historic town of Jackson a few miles away.

anyway service standards), and the resort where Britain

grazing by the roadside). More exciting still for petrol

Whatever your ability level, you can take in the stunning

won our first-ever skiing Olympic medal at the 2002

heads, as you head north towards Idaho and Montana,

views from the top of the lifts out across the surrounding

Games, when Alain Baxter won bronze in the slalom

the speed limit on the wide, straight and pretty empty

Teton mountains.

(only to have it cruelly and unfairly taken away later).

interstate hits 80mph, and you can legally put your foot

Other famous Utah resorts, including Snowbird, Alta,

down in a way you never can in Blighty.

friendly to the less adventurous and less able skier and

Salt

Lake C ity By Pat rick Th orne

BIG SKY

Whether the new Park City Mountain is for you depends

expensive new gondola and wished I’d just chosen one

Big Sky has the second largest ski area in the USA and

on what you want from a ski holiday. Park City Resort is

side or the other in the morning and stuck with that.

holds the trademark “Biggest Skiing in America”. It feels

certainly a great ski town; packed full of quirky shops

big too – never has a ski resort been more accurately

and great bars and restaurants, it’s the ski dictionary

I liked smaller-but-big-enough-for-me Deer Valley much

named. This is the REAL America we cross the ocean to

definition of “vibrant”.

more, Park City’s other, separately owned ski area,

see and ski, with huge mountains, spectacular scenery and a great laid-back atmosphere. Fortunately, money has been spent on a convenient slopeside village and fast lifts gobbling up the big vertical, so you’re quickly at the top of wonderful long runs with one of the lowest-density rates of skiers per hectare you’ll find anywhere on earth.

THE NEW DIRECT FLIGHT TO SLC Crystal: crystalski.co.uk Delta: delta.com

Big Sky: bigskyresort.com

Deer Valley: deervalley.com

Inghams: inghams.co.uk Park City Ski Area: parkcitymountain.com Park City (the city): visitparkcity.com Jackson Hole: jacksonhole.com Ski Independence: ski-i.com

DEER VALLEY/PARK CITY

although snowboarders need not apply, as this is one of only three ski areas on earth known to ban them from the slopes. For skiers, though, this is a superb resort, with service taken up yet another level on the usual high standards of the USA – the ski runs, lift network, dining, lodging and après-ski were all excellent.

TOUR OPERATORS You can book your flight and car rental, resort stay

Park City is both a large ski town and a ski area, one of

On the mountain, though, I may have got overexcited

and other elements of your trip yourself or use a tour

two above the resort. The former Park City Mountain

by the hype, and perhaps it was because I was visiting

operator to do it all for you for a fixed price and knowing

Resort was acquired last year by the mighty Vail Resorts,

Park City after Big Sky, but I was fairly underwhelmed

you have the security of booking through them should

which long since expanded beyond its Colorado roots

by the new “biggest in the USA”. The many runs

anything go wrong.

and now owns a dozen ski resorts across the Western

felt “samey”, and the whole area was dotted with

USA and even as far away as Australia. They already

housing developments making the “City” part of Park

Crystal have announced they’re going to offer Park City

owned what was once Park City’s third area, Canyons,

City the overwhelming factor; it felt like skiing in the

ski holiday packages this winter while companies like Ski

but merged the two to create Park City Resort with a

suburbs. I spent half a day trying to negotiate runs

Independence, which already offered holidays to resorts

linking gondola last winter, making the biggest ski area

around mountain housing developments to make

in the region, will make use of the new direct flights.

in the USA in the process.

the connection between the two former areas via the

Inghams already offer holidays to Jackson Hole.

t c e r Di

IS BACK! T

he Jump will be back for its fourth

But presumably they gave the show the

around a combination of pressure and

season this winter according to

all-clear as McCall, who told the Belfast

informed consent. You can’t manage risk

Telegraph she doesn’t ski herself due to

to that level and have a show which is built

“The Jump certainly raises awareness of

fear of injury, says it’s coming back, adding

around the gladiatorial arena.”

the Tirolean resort of Kühtai, we would very

presenter Davina McCall.

focus on other winter sports on TV.

It’s a show that, right since it was first

that plans are in place to ensure that this

announced, has divided skiers and boarders

season’s competitors are “as safe as they

“Many of the contestants are obscure,

says the company’s Head of Marketing,

as to whether it’s good for the image of

can be”.

no longer famous and therefore need to

Louise Newton, who adds,

snowsports or not. Initially there were some doubts from many

much like to see fewer injuries on the show,”

promote themselves. Then there seems We asked some ski industry insiders for their

to be a culture of ‘g’won, go for it’ and a

“Our attention is more on the 2018 Winter

thoughts:

high-energy delivery that can also place

Olympics in PyeongChang. Building on

pressure on participants,” adds Chris.

our success in several disciplines in Sochi

who work in the business about the portrayal of skiing and ski holidays, but this was

“After some serious injuries last year, the

“With experienced skiers it’s possible for a

in 2014, and with additional funding, we

quickly laid to rest as the show successfully

health and safety officer’s nightmare show

participant to make an informed decision

hope that the medal tally will increase and

conveyed the sheer fun and excitement of

is back – and I can’t get enough,” says

as to the balance between their skill, the

youngsters and others be inspired by British

hitting the slopes, as well as capturing the

Richard Sinclair, boss of online ski travel

task, the risk and the balance between the

success.”

thrill of challenging yourself to do something

agency SNO.co.uk. “It does an awful job of

probability of injury and their ‘goals’ (money,

new, often outside your comfort zone.

encouraging newbies to try snowsports, but

exposure, etc.), but with someone who

we’re probably kidding ourselves if we hope

knows nothing [or very little] they cannot

Alongside Davina, some of the most famous

to convince the more timid viewers to try

make that judgement in an informed fashion.

names in British snowsports have appeared

sliding down a mountain, so I think we can

That requires their judgements to be shaped

regularly on the show since day one,

just enjoy it for what it is.”

in turn by (one assumes) show staff who

including Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards and Graham Bell.

may in turn have to balance ‘audience’ (and “The problem with The Jump is that it is built

their jobs) with participant management.

around an irreconcilable contradiction,” says

The question is whether the tasks would be

But the last series saw an unprecedented

ski industry and ski safety expert Chris Exall

appropriate for a non-celebrity of the same

string of injuries to celebrity competitors,

(www.skisafety.org). “On the one hand, to be

skill level with the cameras turned off.”

including most seriously a major back injury

attractive to an audience it needs to have a

for Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle, which

built-in degree of risk, or the perception of

For Inghams (inghams.co.uk), one of the UK’s

led to Channel 4’s bigwigs launching an

one. On the other, it has a duty to manage

largest tour operators, it is again a mixed

“urgent safety review”.

risk to its participants. My concern is one

reaction, and a view that perhaps we should

024 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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nowsports star Aimee

and a 9m drop on the

Fuller tackled an Olympic

250m course driving a Jeep

challenge of a different

Renegade Trailhawk in what

“But once I had driven into

kind when she took on an

is being promoted as a

the course and got through

Damien Dally, Head of Brand,

Olympic-standard whitewater

world-first stunt to promote

the first few rapids, the car

Jeep UK, said: “We are

course at Cardiff’s

the famous American 4x4

felt great, really in control,

always looking for unusual

International White Water

car.

and I started to relax and

ways to demonstrate how

enjoy it.

good our cars are in extreme

Centre – in a car.

old Aimee.

not something you do every day.”

“I’d never done anything like

off-road conditions, and

The Olympic snowboarder,

this before, so when I arrived

“It’s a pretty cool thing to

driving the Renegade down

who is also a Red Bull

and saw the power and

say I was the first person

a whitewater rafting course

ambassador, battled four

heard the noise of the water,

ever to drive a car down a

successfully has certainly

tonnes of water per second

I was nervous,” said 24-year-

whitewater rafting course,

showcased that.”

AIMEE FULLER

DRIVES A JEEP DOWN A WHITEWATER COURSE

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his New Year really is going to

as the famous Pummerin bells in Vienna

be something special for guests

at midnight and revellers then take their

of the leading ski tour operator

partners for a Viennese waltz before five

Inghams.

separate firework displays begin.

Not only will they receive a free extra day on

France meanwhile is one big party on

their holiday, but they’ll get to ski for free on

New Year’s Eve. Tignes Le Lac becomes

New Year’s Day too!

a huge open-air nightclub, and the centre of neighbouring Val d’Isère has live music

Inghams have considerately rescheduled

and street entertainers in the countdown to

their flights in December so you don’t need

midnight.

to travel on New Year’s Eve, which falls on a Saturday this year (or indeed Christmas Eve

Not to be left out, the Les 3 Vallées resorts

if you go the week before).

of Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens have live concerts, torch-lit ski instructors’

Instead, flights depart on Friday 30

descents and lots more.

December but return to Saturdays as soon as 2017 kicks off, so you’ll land back on

Switzerland loses its rather more

Saturday 7 January after a bonus eight-night

conservative image at New Year as things

stay.

go slightly crazy in Mürren when the oldest ski race in the world, the Scaramanga on

This gives you an extra night’s holiday so

New Year’s Day, sees two teams of skiers

you’ll get your New Year’s Eve chalet or

race each other down the mountain –

Chalet Hotel accommodation completely

somewhat bizarrely, you may think – tied

free on that night – with special gala meal

together by rope! On the same day, Klosters

included.

hosts the Hotsch Race when 10 piglets compete to bring good luck (somehow) for

But as well as a free night’s stay and gala

the year ahead.

dinner to mark the New Year, Inghams’ offer extends to free lift pass and equipment

Don’t expect too much sleep in Verbier on

rentals on 1 January too. To qualify you

New Year’s Eve, as there’s a DJ in the main

simply need to pre-book seven days’

square from 4 pm until dawn with (of course)

equipment hire and/or lift pass and will only

fireworks at midnight.

be charged for six days. Across the Atlantic, Whistler in Canada Now it’s just a matter of deciding where to

never fails to disappoint with its New Year’s

go. Here are a few suggestions:

celebrations, which include the famous Fire and Ice ski jumping display followed by

Austria is always great for après-ski, of

fireworks at the base of Whistler Mountain.

course, and St Anton’s New Year’s Eve party

There’s even an alcohol-free event for

takes it to another level with what seems to

families.

be the whole resort gathered in the village centre.

For full details of Inghams’ Christmas and New Year plans and special offers

SKIING FB.COM/INTHESNOW

Ischgl, another of Tirol’s leading party

visit inghams.co.uk/newyear or call their

towns, has an unusually sedate alternative,

reservations team on 01483 345 170.

OTM16 // 027

FREERIDING FOR BEGINNERS

CREDIT: WHISTLER

By Emmanuelle Châtel

Now, more than ever, skiers want to head

The most enjoyable and safest way to

off-piste when skiing and boarding – an

discover freeriding and gain experience is

activity now known as freeriding. You may

to sign up for a course with a guide. Firstly

have already left the boundaries of the

this will help keep you safe and also find

official ski areas yourself and headed off-

the best snow, but it will also enable you to

piste in search of powder-snow thrills.

develop the techniques that will help you adapt to powder quickly and safely.

But what exactly is freeriding? What do you need to know first to make sure you avoid

Risks

the possible dangers?

Deep snow comes with its own dangers, so risks should never be underestimated. These

Well, freeride (or ‘off-piste’) skiing refers

risks can be managed by a good terrain

to skiing any area not marked out and

analysis, always being aware of weather

maintained for use for skiers. So the surface

conditions, observing the snow cover,

isn’t groomed and rocks and cliffs may not

carrying the right equipment and being

be easy to spot. But the biggest risk for

realistic with your ski ability. Know your

freeriders is avalanches, which are forecast

limits without exceeding them. Mountains

on a level of danger from 1 to 5, depending

are an unpredictable environment, so it is

on conditions. Always keep in mind too that

highly recommended that you learn basic

these levels can change throughout the day

avalanche safety. As a minimum you should

as weather conditions can vary.

always carry a transceiver, probe and shovel and know how to use them. Helmets and

How To Freeride

backpacks with flotation airbags add an

Skiing in powder might be tricky, as it is quite

extra level of security and are definitely

different to skiing on a slope due to the fact

worth the rental cost. But carrying equipment

that you have to float above the snow. So

is not enough – always practise using it!

you have to make small changes to adapt your skiing style to this new environment.

For your first tour make sure you’re

Powder requires a different sense of

heading to a safe, not-too-steep zone with

balance, keeping a similar weight on both

experienced partners who know the terrain

skis rather than switching too much from one

and will teach you the basics. You’ll need

to the other. Another common mistake is

to get experience, but of course you’ll

to lean too far back. Keep your skis parallel

need to gain that experience. So start with

and close together. Finally, avoid using the

straightforward objectives. The more you

edges as you would do on groomed snow or

practise, the better you will be.

you’ll sink! Freeriding also comes with skis specially designed for use off-piste. Powder

One of the other risks is that people quickly

skis tend to be wider and generally longer

find they love freeriding so much they never

than piste skis in order to float through and

want to return to the groomed slopes!

manoeuvre in powder.

028 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM xxx// OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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ffirst time i heli-skier By Emmanuelle Châtel If you love wide open spaces and want to escape

expert skiers and boarders to enjoy it when a suitable

crowded mountain slopes to find exceptional powder

route is chosen. Some backcountry experience is

snow, then heli-skiing could be your answer.

definitely helpful in order to be able to maintain

Where To Heli-ski

control in any circumstances, but even this may be

Heli-skiing can only be practised in selected places.

Heli-skiing simply means you use a helicopter to

taught as you heli-ski on some trips designed for

Every location has different terrain to offer. Canada,

access remote areas of virgin powder without needing

first-time heli-skiers. The important thing is being in

and particularly BC, is renowned as the leading

to hike up to them. Heli-skiing allows you to reach

a group of people of the same skiing level as you.

heli-skiing destination in the world (British Columbia

heights where untouched snow lies in areas of

Nobody will be left behind or hold up the group, and

is fairly referred to as the finest place). But Alaska,

breathtaking scenery and untracked slopes far away

everyone will enjoy the trip at the same pace.

Argentina, New Zealand, Chile, India, the Himalayas

from the groomed pistes.

by heli-ski operators.

and parts of Russia are also popular for their This trip of a lifetime might be your best day out

consistent snow conditions.

Many of us have watched videos where pro-riders

skiing, so be sure you are fit before going on a heli-

are flown by helicopter to the top of the mountain to

skiing trip. Your muscles are more contracted when

Heli-skiing opportunities in Europe vary with the

“drop in” to the fresh powder… and dreamt of doing

skiing powder as you keep your weight back, so be

activity banned altogether in France and Germany and

the same.

ready for your legs to burn after a few runs. To get

only allowed at two locations in Austria. However, it’s

ready it is best to do some long runs in ski resorts to

popular in parts of Italy (particularly the Aosta Valley),

In fact, this dream might be more feasible than you

be physically up to it. These untracked lines have to

Sweden, Switzerland and even at resorts in Greece

think. Heli-skiing is a truly unique experience and a

be earned!

and Spain.

Do I Need Specific Equipment?

Whereas in North America you can book a week-long

To enjoy yourself and make the most of this

trip and stay in a lodge in the heart of the mountains,

Do I Have To Be Good?

exceptional snow you need to be appropriately

most European heli-skiing is based at a ski resort, and

Banish the idea that you have to be an extreme

equipped to ski ungroomed runs. Powder skis and

the norm consists of a day trip with a few ‘drops’. On

skier. Although heli-skiing demands at least a solid

freeride equipment are essential and usually provided

the upside this provides the advantage of being able

way to progress your skiing/snowboarding, but it’s not just for sponsored athletes.

to combine heli-skiing and resort skiing in one trip.

CREDIT: BellaCoolaHelisports

intermediate skiing ability, it is possible for non-

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OTM16 // 029

中国滑雪

skiing Chinese By Sally Brookes

ki in China? It may not be the first choice of

Over 500 ski Areas

destination you’ve had, but China is where it’s

While most of the world’s established ski nations have seen skier

happening in the ski world right now, and this

numbers and the number of ski areas stay the same, even

coming winter China is the big new destination

slightly decline, for about 50 years now, China has seen a meteoric

option, with Club Med opening a new resort there

rise in the number of skiers it has and the number of ski resorts.

and hoping to tempt you out to Ski Asia! A combination of government encouragement to get more Chinese

In fact, China has been quietly growing as a ski destination for

people skiing ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics and private

about 15 years. At the turn of the century, there was almost no skiing

enterprises seeking to cash in on that same booming interest in

available in the world’s most populated country, but that gradually

snowsports means the numbers are rising rapidly, with over a

started to change about a decade ago. At first, estimated growth of

hundred new ski areas opening every winter across the country at

the ski market there greatly outstripped the reality, and some of the

present.

big players that moved in don’t seem to have made the big bucks they hoped to as “early adopters”, but in the last five years, and most

By the end of last winter, a total of 550 ski areas was claimed,

markedly just in the past 12 months, things have really started to

meaning China was up there with Austria and Japan as one of the

change.

countries having the most ski areas in the world.

China’s success in winning the rights to host the 2022 Winter

Of course, these are not all mini Whistlers (in fact almost none at all

Olympics in Beijing, making it the first city in the world to host both

are) – many Chinese ski areas are just a football-pitch-size rectangle

the Summer and the Winter Games (and the Bird’s Nest stadium

of snow, often machine made, on which thousands of people descend

already hosts spectacular freestyle big air display events each winter),

usually for a two-hour lesson, once a year, to get the basics of skiing.

has ensured that current rate of growth will only accelerate.

Fortunately, most seem to have a great time.

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OTM16 // 031

That lack of development from beginner level of those millions of Chinese

east BuYs West

skiers had, until recently, meant that larger ski resorts with longer, steeper

The early years of China’s ski boom a decade ago saw Western businesses

slopes had a hard time developing; but as China’s middle class grows and

like Italy’s Dolomiti Superski move in and create high-end destination resorts

quality resorts open with international-brand hotels, European-built lifts and

perhaps a little before China was ready for them. At the same time a few

snowmaking systems, and management attracting skiers from the rest of Asia

smaller Chinese ventures attempted to create their own domestic ski areas

and the wider world, a tipping point seems to have been reached, and more

without help from experienced European and North American companies but

and more full-scale ski areas are now opening.

with limited success.

InDOOR sNOW AnD ARTIFICIAL sURFACe sLOPes

The growing group of Chinese conglomerates run by a new wave of

One problem the Chinese ski industry has is that while it has over a billion

Chinese market intimately, instead of being led by the Western-based

people, so potentially a lot of skiers, the majority of them live in the southern

companies, they’ve taken the lead and bought in the expertise themselves.

billionaires took note, however, and in the past five years, knowing the

half of the country, where a monsoon climate prevails and there isn’t much snow. The northern half of the country does get some snow (although

In some cases, they’ve gone as far as to actually buy Western businesses. The

it’s predominantly dry, so this isn’t like Western North America or Japan,

huge Chinese Fosun group, for example, has bought the formerly French Club

where deep powder is the norm), but it does get very, very cold – good for

Med and (at time of writing) was looking to take a stake in the world’s largest

snowmaking but sometimes too cold to be outside for long.

ski resort operator, Compagnie des Alpes, which runs about a dozen of the world’s most successful ski areas. Fosun is building more Club Meds in China,

Mountains are a bit of a problem too – much of China is fairly flat (they had

including the latest centre opening this winter, and is even expanding the

trouble finding a mountain with a big enough vertical to hold an Olympic

once-French group’s operations in Japan.

Downhill and like in South Korea in 2018 are being forced to create one on former national parkland especially for the Olympics). There are, of course, the

The latest trend is for partnership with some of the largest ski areas in the

world’s highest mountains, the Himalayas, in the west of the country too, but

West (in the past few months, both Kitzbühel in Austria’s Tirol and Squaw

they’re more difficult to access and quickly get too high for leisure skiers.

Valley in California have announced partnerships with leading Chinese ski areas, for example), which allows Chinese resorts to bring in expertise, and the

But there are some places with decent-sized mountains and not too far from

European and North American resorts to see an increase, they hope, in visiting

centres of population, where the destination ski areas are being created.

Chinese skiers as the incoming Russian market goes into decline.

China has also opened dozens of artificial ski surfaces and indoor snow

China’s Songhua Lake ski area – which has eight lifts, around 30km of runs

centres too, so people don’t have to travel too far to practise their snowsports.

and just over 500m of skiable vertical – has partnered with Kitzbühel.

A centre due to open in Harbin in the frozen North East of the country next

“I am very pleased with the signing of this memorandum, and I am convinced

year, which will be one of the world’s largest, will reverse the scenario of

that the mutual exchange can be mutually beneficial here,” explained Signe

escaping the desert heat in Dubai to ski indoors. Here it will actually often be

Reisch, President of Kitzbühel Tourism, who added, “China has recorded the

warmer (-5°C) to ski indoors than outdoors (-30°C).

world’s largest increase in tourism, and the Chinese love to travel. We offer different long-stay packages of five to seven days, including skiing in winter.”

OTM16 // 032

@INTHESNOWMAG

NEW ROUTES TO SKI REGIONS 2016/17

TURIN, ITALY

INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA

BARCELONA, SPAIN

(for Serre Chevalier, Sestriere, Sauze

(for Tirol resorts including Alpbach,

(for ski areas in Andorra

d’Oulx)

Obergurgl, Mayrhofen and St Anton)

and the Spanish Pyrenees)

Monarch have announced 338,000 extra

Innsbruck sees a big chunk of new flights

Inghams are offering new routes to Andorra

seats and new ski routes this winter

this winter with British Airways launching a

from Gatwick, Manchester or Edinburgh this

including flights from London Gatwick and

new service from London Heathrow from 4

winter. “The flight route is new to Inghams.

Manchester to Turin, a good choice for ski

December (adding to their existing Gatwick

Inghams used to operate into Toulouse,

areas in north western Italy and the south

route) and Monarch adding a new service

which has a resort transfer time of 3.45

eastern French Alps.

there from Birmingham starting on 29

hours to Andorra compared to 3 hours from

December 2016.

Barcelona,” said a company spokesperson.

VANCOUVER, CANADA

KITTILÄ, FINLAND

(for Whistler and other BC ski areas)

(for Levi and Ylläs in Finnish Lapland)

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (for many leading French and Swiss resorts)

hese days, airlines are forever changing

Geneva is arguably the world’s top

the routes they offer. Sometimes its good

destination airport for skiers heading to the

It’s not a new route, but Air Transat have

Kittilä may not be an airport you’re familiar

news – a ski resort that previously you

big-name resorts in the French and Swiss

announced a second weekly flight on this

with, but it’s small, friendly and efficient and

could only reach with two flights or either

Alps and is already very well served with

route with return fares from £361pp.

only a short transfer away from the leading

a long drive to the departure airport in

numerous flights from most UK airports

the UK or from the nearest destination

through the winter. But there’s always room

CHAMBERY, FRANCE

resort becomes closer overnight as a new

for more, and EasyJet are adding a route

(for many leading French resorts)

departure is announced from your local

from Aberdeen.

airport or to an airport much closer to the resort. It’s bad news when services are

VENICE, ITALY

withdrawn.

(for Cortina and Arabba)

Finnish resorts of Levi and Ylläs, which are new to the Crystal programme this winter. Thomson Airways have new flights there this winter from Gatwick whilst Monarch

Chambery is a small airport that’s closer

also have new routes there from Gatwick

to many of the big-name French resorts

as well as from Manchester.

than Geneva is (and less affected by traffic jams to and from it). It’s little used during

SALT LAKE CITY, USA

This route from Gatwick is new to Inghams,

the week but is swamped by charters at

(for resorts in Utah and Wyoming)

and the company says it will mean shorter

weekends. Flybe are launching a new

transfer times to Cortina (75 minutes

service from Norwich, making it easier to

Delta have launched a new route from

rather than the previous 2.15 hours from

reach from East Anglia this winter. Crystal

Heathrow and Amsterdam to Salt Lake City.

Innsbruck) and Arabba (down from 3 to 2.5

are among the tour ops making use of it.

The direct flight to Salt Lake is big news for

hours).

UK skiers and snowboarders travelling to Utah, famous for its light, dry powder snow.

OTM16 // 034

@INTHESNOWMAG

ALI COULD SKI Like Pope John Paul II, since his

comment himself at the time.

death it has emerged that boxer Muhammad Ali was once a skier.

had problems finding clothing big enough to cover his large size and

Ali is reported to have taken a ski

then persuading him to start on a

lesson at Mount Snow ski resort in

nursery slope rather than going

American media reporting on Ali’s

Vermont in March 1970, during a

straight to the top of the mountain.

time on snow nearly 50 years ago

period when he was banned from

have plenty of puns along the lines

boxing because he had refused to

Ali’s former instructors also say that

that the former world champion hit

join the US Army, in part due to his

when he finally persuaded them to

the deck more often falling whilst

opposition to the Vietnam War.

allow him to ski down the slope, he

learning to ski than he was floored

rapidly picked up speed and lost

in the boxing ring. One former ski

US media reports quoting Mount

control, making them fear he would

teacher said Ali made the same

Snow staff who were at the ski area

seriously injure himself, impacting his career, but he managed to fall in such a way that he did not hurt himself. Ali regained his boxing licence later that year and became the Heavyweight Champion of the World three years later in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle” fight.

when Ali visited say they initially

One of the great ways that ski holidays

The other good thing is that all these

And “effortless” is what summed up my

staged, before downhill skiing really took

have changed over the years is that it’s no

activities which seem to be so hard to

first experience of kite skiing – well, the

off, seemed fitting.

longer JUST about racing downhill (great

imagine even trying – ice climbing, skijoring

bit where you fly in comfort and connect

though that, of course, is), but there are now

(being towed behind a horse on your skis),

seamlessly into a first class train carriage

Even on day one of our kite skiing lessons

dozens and dozens of other things to try

dog sledding, scuba diving through a hole

ride up to Switzerland’s Engadine, by way of

when we were asked to carry the kites over

on the snow and ice at top resorts around

in the ice, paragliding off a mountain top,

the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site

to the lake where our lessons were to take

the world.

even descending a bobsleigh run – have

of the Rhaetian Railway, passing stunning

place, it remained easy as the backpacks

been made accessible to all of us, with

Alpine scenery en route, then checking

are quite light and very easy to carry along

Actually it’s something of a throwback to

special beginner sessions available right on

into the luxurious Grand Hotel Kronenhof

with your skis and boots (although, just to

how things were a century and more ago

your doorstep, in resort, with professional

located in the quaint village of Pontresina,

keep us from getting too impressed with

when “winter sports holidays” first started.

guides often picking you up from your hotel.

which sits at 1,900m in the Swiss Alps, only

our own strength and bravery, the locals

six miles from neighbouring St Moritz, all

called this particular lake a pond).

People were tobogganing, ice skating, snowshoeing and even whizzing down early

So it’s effortless … well, except for the

bobsleigh tracks before some bright sparks

effort of actually doing whatever it is, and

invented our modern version of downhill

sometimes conquering your fear and

Given that this region, the Engadine, was

Lake Silvaplana gathered us around for a

skiing. So perhaps this current trend isn’t as

getting started.

where winter holidays began and indeed

group instruction. This lasted for about half

the second ever Winter Olympics was

an hour during which time we were given

new as we thought!

seemed effortless. First off, the guys at Swiss Kitesurf based at

iin By

yT ay

lor

036 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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general information on how to assemble

The kites range in size, the bigger kites

Before long we all had our kites in the air

the kite, how to connect the ropes to your

giving the most power. Once the kite

and were actually kite skiing!

harness and most importantly how to bring

catches the wind and begins to rise up it

the kite down in an emergency.

is very quickly clear just how much power

It was a great feeling to learn something

that includes a private relax-floating grotto

it has, and all the while you are connected

new in just two days, and for a downhill

with underwater music as well as many

Understanding the instructions was easy

via harness to what now feels like a wild,

skier I got a real rush from the powerful

saunas and steam rooms.

enough, and my group found that most

powerful beast!

feeling of being pulled along with the wind

people can pick up the basics through a

historic attributes. These facilities include a large wellness spa

by the kite. It was a truly thrilling experience

If you get the chance, you might just want to

short lesson. But we also found that THE

Once the kites were flying above, we spent

and just as addictive as I remember when

pop out to enjoy the 350km of piste in the

most important element of kite skiing is

some time learning to manoeuvre the kites

first learning to downhill ski.

surrounding Engadine ski region too.

the wind – and that’s something we mere

from left to right, as the kite will fly from

humans cannot control.

the Power Zone (directly in front of the

The added bonus of learning to kite ski is

The hotel also has three restaurants

wind) up to 180’ left to right, thus giving the

that you are learning the skills of the kite

including the formal Grand Restaurant which

Things started slowly. It was very pleasant

opportunity to ski along with the kite. Once

which can be used to kite surf on water

dates back to 1872 and boasts painted

though, sitting on a frozen snow-covered

you mastered it, it was awesome.

in the summertime too, so I headed back

ceilings and a resident piano player. This is

home feeling I had a new sporting talent

where breakfast and half-board dinner is served daily.

lake in the Swiss Alps on a beautifully clear sunny day. There just wasn’t a huge rush of

Day two took us to the larger Lake

I could make use of year round in the

wind so we waited for the forecast breeze

Silvaplana which is located just outside of

mountains or from the beach.

to make its presence felt.

St Moritz. After meeting at the kite school,

Upon arriving at Pontresina station, guests

located on the shore, we made our way

The Grand Hotel Kronenhof is steeped in

are welcomed by staff from the Grand Hotel

Then, once we felt the wind on our face it

onto the lake. Again we waited for the wind

history, the original room of the hotel still

Kronenhof, bringing them by private car up

was a scramble to unpack and set up our

to greet us and it did just that (one of the

exists which is some 500 years old. But a

to the impressive hotel which sits atop the

kites as we were all very excited to get

reasons the Engadine is so good for kite

£24 million redevelopment has helped keep

village.

started.

skiing is the reliability of the wind, usually).

facilities up to date too, alongside its superb

a n o

n e z fro

e k la STAY AND KITE SKI The Grand Hotel Kronenhof is offering a stay and kite ski package this winter (when nearby St Moritz will also be hosting the bi-annual Alpine Skiing World Championships, the biggest event in skiing besides the Olympic Games). The package includes 3 nights half-board accommodation, two private kite skiing lessons, a 50-minute AktiVital massage treatment to ease those tired muscles and two lunches in Le Pavillon.

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OTM16 // 037

Season

Here’s the Love

The Mountains guide to some of the big ski events for the season ahead:

27–30 October THE 2016 TELEGRAPH SKI & SNOWBOARD SHOW, LONDON “The Ski Show” as it’s still known, despite its various

slopes of MontChéry, crossing explosions of

CALENDAR 2016/17

multicoloured powder. The goal is to cross the finish line looking as colourful as possible!

14–25 March WORLD WINTER GAMES, SCHLADMING, AUSTRIA

name changes over the years, returns for its second year at

The Special Olympics World

the Battersea Evolution exhibition

Winter Games is one of the

centre within Battersea Park and is

biggest events in the movement’s

moving back to its late October date

global calendar and held every four

from its early November one last year,

tribute

meaning it will be staged in the English

to Ullr (rhymes

school holidays just before Halloween.

with cooler), the Norse

years. Special Olympics GB have

6–19 February

announced a team of 21 athletes with intellectual (learning) disabilities – 11

god of snow. Grab a Viking helmet and

ALPINE WORLD SKI

alpine skiers and 10 figure skaters

10–17 December

join the town-wide snow dance which

CHAMPIONSHIPS, ST MORITZ,

– will represent their country at the

ALTITUDE FESTIVAL, MAYRHOFEN,

includes the iconic Main Street parade,

SWITZERLAND

2017 World Winter Games with Arnold

AUSTRIA

Ullr Ice Plunge, (unofficial) world’s

The bi-annual FIS Alpine World Ski

Schwarzenegger as Games President.

Marcus Brigstocke, Andrew Maxwell

longest shot ski and more.

Championships, the biggest event in

austria2017.org/en/

and pals once again present the

downhill skiing besides the Winter

“funniest show on snow” – this season

17–22 January

Olympics, are back in the spiritual

17 April

moved to an early start-of-the-season

HAHNENKAMM, KITZBÜHEL,

home of winter sports in 2017. And with

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN EASTER

date. Altitude wristbands will also get

AUSTRIA

the Olympics only a year away at that

CONCERT, ISCHGL, AUSTRIA

you one-day access to the nearby

It’s all the 7s for the Hahnenkamm this

point, there’ll be added excitement.

It’s been Kylie, Rihanna, Elton, Robbie

Hintertux Glacier (which over the last

season as the biggest downhill race of

stmoritz2017.ch

and Pink in the past along with dozens

10 years recorded 99.9% chance of

the season is staged for the 77th time

snow on our new December dates).

on the 17th. Last year’s race saw some

11 March

won’t know who for 2017 until Ischgl’s

altitudefestival.com/

horrific crashes, including a season-

SKICOLOR, LES GETS, FRANCE

five-month-long season is underway,

ending smash for the great Norwegian

The popular new hit on the slopes,

but the biggest show on the slopes

11–14 January

racer Aksel Lund Svindal, who had

SkiColor, is back where it began for its

will be happening as usual to end the

ULLR FEST, BRECKENRIDGE,

been leading the FIS World Cup up

third incarnation. All dressed in white

season with entry to the show free for

COLORADO, USA

to that point with a string of wins.

overalls provided by the organisers,

lift-pass holders.

For more than 50 years, the

Hopefully there’ll be no repeat

participants will follow a fun-packed

Breckenridge community has paid

of that in this winter’s race.

ski trail, specially developed down the

OTM16//038

of other international music stars. We

@INTHESNOWMAG

NEW SKI RESORT TO BE

WAR

THEMED

ded All intchleu price: in ation Accommod All meals Lift pass hire Equipment or guiding Instruction

BEGINNER COACHING TO GUIDED OFF PISTE & SKI TOURING Prices from

Ski resorts have been built in war

The resort is reported to have a

zones (in Syria/Israel, Iraq and

$110-million (about £85 million)

Pakistan for example), or in areas that

budget and to feature rubber

have become war zones (Bosnia), and

imitations of barbed wire and burnt-

many have been used as film sets

out army tanks – although no rubber

for war movies, but a plan to build a

replicas of the mines that had to be

“war-themed” ski resort is believed to

cleared from ski slopes in former

be a first.

Yugoslavia after the Balkan Wars of the 1990s have been mentioned in

The new Citadel resort that is

reports so far.

variously reported to be either “proposed” or “under construction”

The resort, located near Nizhny

in Russia’s Ural Mountains close to

Novgorod in the Volga region, will be

the Kazakhstan border south-east of

80% privately funded and is expected

Moscow is the brainchild of Oscar-

to open by 2020.

winning Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov.

£452

UCPA IS EUROPE’S LARGEST PROVIDER OF SKI AND SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTED AND GUIDED COURSES Based in top resorts across the French Alps, they offer an unbeatable range of opportunities for all levels of skier and snowboarder, from beginner level instruction up to specialist off piste guiding.They also offer specific breaks especially for families. In addition, the UCPA offers a vast ski touring and split boarding programme, unmatched in both size and variety. The courses vary from introductory level coaching to advanced week long expeditions, including the Haute Route. For more information and to book:

www.action-outdoors.co.uk THE UK PARTNE

R FOR

TIME TO BOOK A

ROAD TRIP!

040 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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he Western Canadian province of British Columbia is

Luxury BC Tour

one of the most spectacular on earth, with magnificent

If you’re flying to BC, it seems a shame not to make the most

scenery and some of the world’s greatest ski areas.

of all the luxuries that are available here and maybe take

It’s home to North America’s largest ski area – Whistler

in a bit of sightseeing in the universally acclaimed city of

Blackcomb, as well as the one with the biggest lift-

Vancouver too.

served vertical on the continent – Revelstoke. The Luxury BC Tour takes you to the best hotels, through The area is home to a variety of incredible ski resorts,

spectacular scenery, to the region’s very best resorts and

dramatic national parks and some of the deepest and

allows you to experience some of the best of the famous

lightest snow the continent has to offer, and despite recent

province’s wine and dining. You’ll even get to experience

currency fluctuations, the pound is still riding high against the

that famous powder in a small intimate group with a day of

Canadian dollar.

heli-skiing.

The list of superlatives goes on – the region is the world

Highlights

capital for heli-skiing, and the last Winter Olympics in the

You’ll stay in the Four Seasons Vancouver or the Fairmont

western world was staged here in 2010 (and with Korea then

Waterfront – two of Vancouver’s most revered hotels – and

China next, they’ll now be the only one in North America or

enjoy a horse drawn carriage around the city’s famed 1,000-

Europe until at least 2026!).

acre Stanley Park.

The difficulty is, with so much to choose from, choosing which

You’ll see some of the best of BC’s coastal and inland

resort to visit. The answer is: a Skiworld road trip! A multi-

scenery with a drive north along the famed Sea to Sky

destination BC ski adventure. It’s easy to combine a carefully

highway to Whistler then along the western end of Highway 1

selected choice of resorts connected by inspiring scenic

(the 7800km-long road that crosses Canada from the Pacific

drives, into one unforgettable Canadian ski experience.

to the Atlantic oceans) driving from Whistler to Sun Peaks. A highlight of the trip is sure to be a day’s heli-skiing in

Powder, steeps, trees, pillows, chutes, spectacular scenery

Panorama with dinner at the Heli Lodge.

and even heli- or cat-skiing! Very few trips are comparable, and with no lift queues in most of these resorts, you have

Cruise to Calgary Tour

unrestricted access to all of it!

If you want to really ski a sizeable number of BC’s best resorts in one trip, the Cruise To Calgary tour takes you right across BC from West To East, skiing the province’s biggest

Why take on a multi-resort ski tour?

and best. On the way you can take in all that superb scenery •

Explore multiple resorts and cities in one epic trip

and of course enjoy that perfect powder – in fact at one

•

Make the most of a trip across the pond

stop, Revelstoke, you have the choice of lift, cat, heli and/or

•

It’s not just about the skiing, it’s about the drives

backcountry skiing all from one base.

between, the landscapes, the culture, the adventure, the sense of freedom, and continuously

being inspired and exposed to something new.

Highlights Along with skiing at five amazing resorts – Whistler, Big White, Revelstoke, Panorama and Kicking Horse – you get

The only difficult thing now is choosing which tour is for you!

the chance to tackle the 2010 Olympic bobsled and check out the unique Snow Ghosts snow features on the slopes

Here are the options:

high above Big White. You’ll also get to drive along the famed

Interior BC Scenic Ski Tour

Powder Highway on the eastern side of the province.

The interior of BC contains some stunning mountain scenery

Ultimate Powder Tour

which from November to April normally receives abundant

The Ultimate Powder Tour is THE BC ski trip for the serious

falls of dry and light powder snow. This is where the world’s

skier. It’s all about the snow – that dry, light, fluffy, white stuff

best heli-ski companies are based, and although you can do

for which the province is famous. The trip takes you to five of

a little heli-skiing if you like (day trips are possible at extra

BC’s biggest and best resorts, the ski areas with reputations

cost and subject to conditions and availability for those of

for the biggest snowfalls in Canada.

intermediate standard and above) – you can ski the same powder in the ski resorts on this tour.

Highlights The Ultimate Powder Tour takes you to North America’s

Ski resorts here are world class, but not huge, and mostly

biggest ski area Whistler, and the resort with the biggest

centred on traditional mountain communities where the

vertical, Revelstoke, where you can opt to try cat or heli-

friendly locals are more than happy to share stories about

skiing. The tour also includes the famously snowy resorts of

their mountain towns over a beer and some chicken wings.

Big White, Panorama and Fernie, where you’ll enjoy a night off from the mountain and take a quick bus to town to watch

Highlights

the local ice hockey team – the perfect Canadian experience

The Interior BC Scenic Ski Tour takes in three great resorts,

to add to your holiday.

including Sun Peaks, Canada’s second largest ski resort; Big White, one of the best designed ski areas in North America, and Revelstoke with its great mountain town and huge skiable vertical providing seemingly endless descents whether on the groomed slopes or out in the deep powder. Your route takes you through the beautiful Okanagan wine region and provides jaw-dropping views of the Monashee Mountains, particularly from the Grizzly Lodge, your home in

www.skiworld.co.uk/bc-tours

Big White. FB.COM/INTHESNOW

OTM16 // 041

Polynesian

Powder ski Hawaii By Jimmy Petterson

042 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

Brian Wilson

2001, they even held a snowboarding

reached the Visitor Information Center,

words in the early 1960s, and thousands

championship here, but each year, it had

where they advise guests to stay at least

upon thousands of people followed his

to be organised in a very unique manner.

30 minutes to acclimatise. There, we saw

advice and headed to the shores of Hawaii.

When a big storm hit, making boarding

photos of days when one could have skied

Wilson never wrote a word about skiing in

possible, phone calls were made and

1,700 vertical metres. Today was clearly

Hawaii, but he could have done that too. On

everybody was given 24 hours’ notice. Be

not one of those occasions. There was still

the so-called “big island”– actually named

there or be square. Forty-nine competitors

no snow in sight. At least the lack of snow

Hawaii – the dormant volcano of Mauna Kea

entered the competition the first year,

made it more likely that we would be able to

rises 4,205m into the rarefied Hawaiian air.

including windsurfing and kitesurfing world

reach the top without a 4x4.

Every winter, at some time or another, one

champion Robbie Naish as well as extreme

can ski the Polynesian powder of the big

surfers Pete Cabrinha and Rush Randle.

penned these

Still, skiing is an iffy proposition at 20° north

lava – and various dark reddish-brown

Everybody has a bucket list. Come on. Be

of the equator if you don’t happen to be

cinder cones were beginning to appear,

honest. You might call it by a different name

on nearby Kahaluu Beach or relaxing on

giving the mountain the appearance of

– a wish list or a dream list, but you have

one of the spectacular black sand beaches

a moonscape. Around the 4,000m mark,

one, right? One item high up on my list has

which dot this volcanic island. Despite the

we saw the first traces of snow, but it was

always been to ski on the big volcano.

uncertainty of success, I just had to try to

not enough for skiing. The success of our

diminish my bucket list by one dream come

mission was in grave doubt.

On numerous occasions, I phoned local

true. I planned my trip for February, a time

ski guru, Chris Langen, who began guiding

when they say one has the best chance for

Finally, we pulled into the parking lot

people on Mauna Kea way back in 1978, to

snow.

adjacent to one of the observatories. Lo and behold, one large patch of white extended

ask him about the conditions, but the timing never was quite right. He did, however,

The big island is dominated by volcanism.

for about 35 vertical metres down the

whet my appetite even more with some

Mauna Kea, her sister mountain, Mauna

northern face from the peak. It was not my

of his statistical information. According to

Loa (4,169m), and their newer baby sister,

dream scenario, but it would be possible

Chris, you could ski a run as long as 12km

Kīlauea (1,247m), make up about 90% of the

to ski.

and 1,700 vertical metres if your timing was

island. The story of these mountains is a tale

good. In addition, he mentioned that the

of superlatives. Mauna Loa is the world’s

Erik and I hiked the short distance to the

King Kamehameha run had a grade of about

largest volcano in terms of volume and area

top, mounted our boards and made a series

40°. Wow!

covered. Kīlauea is one of the most active

of turns for posterity. The surface was good

volcanoes in the world, having spewed out

corn snow, and we repeated the procedure

The problem was that I lived too far away to

lava continuously since 3 January 1983.

a number of times. We had come a long way

make a spontaneous trip, and a spur-of-

Perhaps most impressive of all, Mauna Kea

for this and were in no hurry to get back to

the-moment visit is definitely the way to go

is not only the highest point in the Pacific but

the sand and the surf. There would be plenty

if one wants the best chance of optimal ski

also the tallest mountain in the world when

of time for that.

conditions.

measured from its underwater base, rising 10,207m from the ocean floor.

I pondered whether global warming played a role in our fate. Chris Langen thinks the

There are no ski lifts on Mauna Kea, mind you, but around the time that Brian and his

My son Erik and I had been warned that

mountain has lost its permafrost and that it

pals were leading the surfing craze, it was

the upper reaches of the access road

might indeed be a result of climate change.

discovered that Mauna Kea was literally

were steep, partly unpaved and rather

the world’s best location for astronomy,

treacherous, even if it was clear of snow,

One thing is quite sure. It is certainly easier

as a result of dark skies, low humidity,

and that we definitely needed a four-wheel

to ski Hawaii than it was prior to the building

clean air and its latitude so close to the

drive vehicle for our mission. That was not

of the road in 1964, and it is probably more

equator. By 1964, a road was completed

meant to be. The rental agencies had no

difficult to do so than it was 20 years ago.

to the summit, and eventually more than a

such car available, and we had to settle for

The window of opportunity just might be

dozen observatories housing high-powered

a convertible Mustang. If we were going

closing. So if you enjoy skiing, have a flair

telescopes became a part of the unusual

to ski, it was apparently going to be Beach

for the exotic and relish a bit of adventure,

landscape as well. Skiers had made turns on

Boys style.

put Mauna Kea on your bucket list, and don’t wait as long as I did to get there. In fact, I

the big island since way back in the 1930s,

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As we drove higher, there was no more vegetation – just vast stretches of barren

island.

but suddenly, overnight, the sport became a

Soon after arriving, we packed our skis into

might see you there. It is certainly worth a

pretty real possibility for anyone on the isle

the back seat, put down the top, inserted

second visit, and my newly revised bucket

with access to a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Brian Wilson into the CD player and headed

list includes “skiing a long run on Mauna

In 1994, and for the next few years until

toward our destination. At 2,800m, we

Kea”.

OTM16 // 043

a full parasail so it provides some lift,

To see if you’re going to enjoy the

It’s important to balance the need for

“speed riding” and wondered, “What

allowing you to make and land jumps

paragliding side of things a tandem

safety and the temptation to get more

is it?”

where you might not otherwise, play with

jump is by far the best option for

adrenaline.

the hill’s relief, but without leaving the

your first try. The next step is to try

Well, as we know, whether you consider

slopes permanently and launching too

to master paragliding yourself by

Where To Speed Ride?

them adventurous or reckless; thrill-

high into the air.

attending a paraskiing school and

Speed riding is a relatively new sport

getting acquainted with the wing. It’s

that is growing rapidly and gaining a lot

ou may have heard the name

seekers are always coming up with extreme sports combinations to create

This allows you access to unattainable

not something you can rush as the sport

of attention. There are now speed riding

an ever bigger “wow factor”. So it was

snow fields, whilst enjoying some

requires many hours of practice before

schools in many leading ski resorts

probably only a matter of time before

beautiful views. Once you’ve mastered

doing it right. Then you’re ready to put

including Les Arcs, Chamonix, Méribel,

someone thought it would be a good

your technique it’s also a fun and

your skills together and try speed riding.

Morzine, Verbier and Wengen.

idea to combine skiing with paragliding

exciting way to get down a mountain,

– essentially, that’s what speed riding is.

travelling as fast as 90mph (145kph)

Is It Dangerous?

Even if you are completely new to “air

and enjoying an amazing feeling of

Speed riding is considered an extreme

sports” qualified instructors will take you

freedom.

sport and can be dangerous because

through your initial speed riding career

of the proximity to the ground, the high

and teach you how to combine skiing

speed and the possibility of hitting some

and flying.

Speed riding is indeed one of these extreme activities which take skiing to another level! Imagine yourself skiing on

Can Anyone Do It?

a slope, skiing faster and faster, perhaps

Yes, if they can ski well, but it takes time.

on a slope normally too steep to tackle

If you’re addicted to the thrill of the

on skis, until at some point you are lifting

adrenaline rush, want to spice up your

To minimise risk speed riders need to

up from the snow. This is what speed

skiing and discover extreme sensation,

carefully examine their planned “glide

riding has to offer!

you should definitely give speed riding

path” before every descent, with the

a go! You don’t need prior experience in

chosen route incorporating sufficient

But speed riding is about skiing more

paragliding to enjoy speed riding, but

safety margins to make sure there’s no

than flying. Your parasail is not as big as

you will need to be a good skier.

danger of crashing into a rock or a tree.

044 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

object in flight. More information at: speed-flying.com

@INTHESNOWMAG

2016/17

(Woman Left

SALOMON ICEROCKET JACKET Ski Jacket £280

SALOMON X PRO 70W Boots £220

SALOMON ATLANTIS HZ M Fleece £65

SALOMON XT ONE Goggles £110

SALOMON ICEGLORY PANT W Pant £170

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SALOMON QST 99 SKIS Skis £400 (inc. Binding)

SALOMON FLAT SPIN REVERSABLE BEANIE Beanie £19

SALOMON QST LUX SKIS Skis £350 (inc. Binding)

SALOMON GEMMA SKIS & XT10 TI BINDINGS Skis £500 (inc. Binding)

SALOMON QST CHARGE GTX 3L JKT M Ski Jacket £500 SALOMON QST CHARGE GTX 3L PANT M Pant £450

SALOMON QST PRO 120 Boots £340

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SALOMON ICETOWN JACKET W Ski Jacket £300

SALOMON QST PRO 110 Boots £340

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ARC’TERYX CASSIAR JACKET Ski Jacket

ARC’TERYX SHASKA JACKET Ski Jacket

ARC’TERYX DELTA JACKET Fleece

ARC’TERYX CASSIAR JACKET Ski Jacket £600

ARC’TERYX DELTA JACKET Fleece

ARC’TERYX WORLD HEAD LONG TOQUE Hat

ARC’TERYX ROLLING STRIPE HAT Hat

ARC’TERYX CASSIAR PANT Ski Pant £440 ARC’TERYX ALPHA AR GLOVE Gloves £140 SINNER OAK MT BRN /OR CX-SINTEC® BRN MIRROR Sunglasses

ARC’TERYX LITHIC MITTENS Mittens £210 SINNER THUNDER II CAMO BLU-ICYBLU REVO Sunglasses HEAD VECTOR EVO 130 Boots £360

ARC”TERYX DELTA LT JACKET Fleece £90 ARC’TERYX WORD HEAD LONG TOQUE Hat £30 SINNER OAK MT BRN /OR CX-SINTEC® BRN MIRROR Sunglasses (Woman Above)

ARC’TERYX SHASKA JACKET Ski Jacket £520

SWEET PROTECTION IGNITER MIPS Helmet

ARC’TERYX DELTA LT JACKET Fleece £90

HEAD ADVANTEDGE 125 Boots £270

ARC’TERYX KNIT HEADBAND Headband £20 SINNER THUNDER I CAMO BLU/BLK-ICYBLU REVO Sunglasses

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OTM16 // 045

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BUFF ETHEL KNITTED HAT Knitted Hat £29

BUFF NEPER RED KNITTED HAT Knitted Hat £29

BUFF ETHEL KNITTED NECKWARMER COMFORT Knitted Neckwarmer £34

BUFF NEPER NECKWARMER Neckwarmer £29 SINNER RED FOREST SH BLK CX-SINTEC® SMK Sunglasses

OTM16 // 048

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(Woman Right)

AIRON KNITTED HAT Knitted Hat £29

AURA HAT Knitted Hat £48

AIRON KNITTED NECKWARMER Knitted Neckwarmer £29

AURA NECKWARMER Knitted Neckwarmer £48

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OTM16 // 047

 (Woman Left)

DARE2B SHADE OUT JACKET Ski Jacket £340

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DARE2B INCENTIVISE JACKET Ski Jacket £230 DARE2B REMARK PANT Ski Pant £100 (Man Right)

DARE2B SHADOW SIDE JACKET Ski Jacket £340 DARE2B SHADOW SIDE PANT Ski Pant £185

048 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM



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(Woman Above)

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DIDRIKSONS BESS FLEECE JACKET Fleece £40

DIDRIKSONS NIKI JACKET Ski Jacket £190

(Man Above)

DIDRIKSONS BESS FLEECE JACKET Fleece £40

DIDRIKSONS REED JACKET Insulator £120

DIDRIKSONS VENTURE PANTS Ski Pants £110

DIDRIKSONS CALI JACKET Fleece Hoody £50

DIDRIKSONS REVERT BEANIE Beanie £20

DIDRIKSONS JADEN BEANIE Beanie £20 BOLLE HIGHWOOD SHINY WHITE/ BLUE Polarized Sunglasses

DIDRIKSONS SETHOS GLOVES Ski Gloves £35

 (Woman Left)

DIDRIKSONS LINE PARKA Parka £220 DIDRIKSONS VENTURE PANTS Ski Pants £110 DIDRIKSONS REVERT BEANIE Beanie £20

OTM16 // 049

 (Woman Above)

050 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

EIDER MONTMARTRE JACKET Jacket £330

HEAD VALERY Helmet £70

HEAD TOTAL JOY + JOY 9 SLR BINDING Skis £500 (inc. Binding)

HEAD HORIZON FMR Goggles £75

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EIDER BROOKLYN JACKET Ski Jacket £270

EIDER SHAPER JACKET Ski Jacket £400

HEAD SUPERSHAPE TITAN + PRX12 BINDING Skis £535 (inc Binding)

EIDER PULSE ALPHA Midlayer £170

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OTM16 // 051





HEAD TOTAL JOY + JOY 9 SLR BINDING Skis £500 (inc. Binding)

(Man Below)

(Woman Below)

EIDER SHAPER JACKET Ski Jacket £400

EIDER RED SQUARE JACKET 3.0 Ski Jacket £300

HEAD VALERY Hemlet £70

EIDER AMPEZZO 1/2 ZIP Midlayer £70

HEAD HORIZON FMR Goggles £75

HEAD VICO Helmet £70

(Woman Left)

EIDER MONTMARTRE JACKET Jacket £330 EIDER GLAD 1/2 ZIP Midlayer £50 EIDER AORAKI PANT 3.0 Pant £160 HEAD JOY Poles £45

OTM15 // 054

HEAD INFINITY FMR Goggles £65

BUFF AIRON KNITTED HAT Hat £29 EIDER WONDER 1/2 ZIP Midlayer £90



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(Man Above Left)

(Man Above Right)

(Man Right)

HAGLÖFS COULOIR JACKET Ski Jacket £430

HAGLÖFS TOURING PROOF JACKET Ski Touring Jacket £300

HAGLÖFS POW HOOD Fleece Midlayer £150

HAGLÖFS WHITEOUT JACKET Windproof Insulated Ski Jacket £270

HAGLÖFS POW HOOD Fleece Midlayer £150

HAGLÖFS RANDO FLEX PANT Ski Touring Pant £180

HAGLÖFS SKRA 27 Free Ski Back Pack 27L £130

HAGLÖFS H BEANIE Beanie £35

BOLLÉ 527 SUNGLASSES Sunglasses £65

CÉBÉ DUSK HELMET Helmet £64 CÉBÉ ORIGINS PRO GOGGLES Goggles £79

BOLLÉ SHINY CRYSTAL ORANGE TEMPLE GB10 Sunglasses

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OTM16 // 053

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HELLY HANSEN W POWDERQUEEN JACKET Ski Jacket £340

HELLY HANSEN RIDGE SHELL JACKET Ski Jacket £400

HELLY HANSEN W SENSATION PANT Ski Pant £150 HELLY HANSEN W POWDERQUEEN INSULATOR JACKET Insulator Jacket £120

HELLY HANSEN ELEVATE SHELL PANT Ski Pant £320 HELLY HANSEN VERGLAS DOWN INSULATOR Insulator Jacket £185

HELLY HANSEN W CABLE KNIT Hat £20

HELLY HANSEN MOUNTAIN BEANIE FLEECE LINED Hat £22

SALOMON QST LUX SKIS Skis £350

SINNER THUNDER MATTE BLACK-BLUE REVO Sunglasses

HEAD VECTOR EVO 130 Boots £360

LEKI FINE S Poles £59.95

LEKI BLUEBIRD CARBON Poles £99.95

SALOMON QST 99 Skis £400

SINNER MOHAWK MT WH-BLU MIR VT+ OR VENT. Goggles

HEAD VECTOR EVO 130 Boots £360 (Woman Below Right)

(Man Above Right)

HELLY HANSEN CHAM JACKET Ski Jacket £240

HELLY HANSEN W AURORA SHELL JACKET Ski Jacket £400

HELLY HANSEN BACKBOWL CARGO PANT Ski Pant £220

HELLY HANSEN W AURORA SHELL PANT Ski Pant £280

HELLY HANSEN SOGN INSULATOR JACKET Insulator Jacket £120

HELLY HANSEN W POWDERQUEEN INSULATOR JACKET Insulator Jacket £120

HELLY HANSEN OUTLINE BEANIE Hat £15

HELLY HANSEN W SLOUCHY BEANIE Hat £22

BOLLÉ GRAVITY GOGGLES Goggles £84

SINNER TOXIC CLR MATTE BLU-DOUBLE BLU REVO Goggles

LEKI SPEED S Poles £39.95

SALOMON GEMMA Skis £500

SALOMON QST PRO 120 Boots £340

HEAD VECTOR EVO 110 W Boots £330

MOVEMENT APEX SKI Skis

LEKI SPEED S Poles £39.95

054 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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ODLO CHUTE ½ ZIP MIDLAYER Midlayer £65

ODLO SHARP X HARDSHELL JACKET Jacket £290

ODLO SLY X INSULATED SKI JACKET Ski Jacket £200

ODLO EVOLUTION WARM ½ ZIP BASELAYER Baselayer £60

ODLO MOVEMENT VISTA Skis

ODLO MOVEMENT APEX Skis

LEKI FINE S Poles £59.95

SINNER GALAXY OTG NEONORORMR+ OR SNC VT Goggles

ODLO REVOLUTION WARM PANTS Pant £60

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BOLLÉ HIGHWOOD SHINY WHITE/ BLUE SUNGLASSES Polarised Sunglasses

OTM16 // 055

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ORTOVOX 3L GUARDIAN SHELL Ski Jacket £579.95

ORTOVOX 2L ANDERMATT Ski Jacket £499.95

ORTOVOX PIZ CARTAS Vest £149.95

ORTOVOX ROCK N WOOL LONG SLEEVE BASE LAYER Base Layer £79.95

ORTOVOX SHEARIO BEANIE Beanie £32.95

ORTOVOX COLORWOOL BEANIE Beanie £32.95

056 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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PLANKS THE YETI-HUNTER 3L JACKET Shell Jacket £249.95

PLANKS THE WOMEN’S GOOD TIMES 2L JACKET Insulated Jacket £189.95

PLANKS THE YETI-HUNTER 3L PANTS Shell Pants £189.95 THE MOUNTAIN SUPPLY CO. CREW Crew £49.95 PLANKS THE HIGH TIMES GLOVES Gloves £29.95 PLANKS THE RAMBLER BOBBLE Beanie £22.95

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PLANKS THE WOMEN’S GOOD TIMES PANTS 2L Ski Pants £149.95 PLANKS THE DROP CLIFFS ORIGINAL Beanie £19.95

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PLANKS THE CLASSIC HOOD Hoodie £54.95

OTM16 // 057

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PICTURE APPLY JACKET Ski Jacket £219.99

PICTURE NAIKOON JACKET Ski Jacket £279.99

PICTURE ACT Gloves £59.99

PICTURE LOFTER Gloves £59.99

PICTURE SLANY PANT Snow Pant £164.99

PICTURE BASEMENT FOREST T T shirt £29.99

PICTURE HUBBER 3 Helmet £84.99

PICTURE VOIVE JACKET Down Jacket £164.99

PICTURE SPREAD Helmet £134.99

BOLLÉ Goggles

PICTURE ANNA Gloves £59.99

PICTURE MADISON Gloves £59.99

PICTURE KEENE Beanie £29.99

PICTURE RESPOST Backpack £84.99

HEAD Vector Evo 110 W Boots £330

BOLLE Goggles (Woman Above Right)

PICTURE SEEN JACKET Ski Jacket £249.99

058 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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PICTURE ENO 2 Ski Jacket £424.99 CÉBÉ S’TRACK SUNGLASSES Sunglasses £102 (Man Above Far Right)

PICTURE UNDER LUCKY JACKET Ski Jacket £229.99 PICTURE BRANDSON Hoody £129.99

PICTURE KEENE Beanie £29.99 PICTURE MURAKAMI Midlayer £144.99 SINNER OAK MT BRN/OR CX-SINTEC ® BRN MIRROR SUNGLASSES Sunglasses (Man Right)

PICTURE BRANDSON Hoody £129.99 SINNER SKAGEN BLU CRY WH-SINTEC ® BLU REVO SUNGLASSES Sunglasses

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SCHOFFEL MARSEILLE JACKET Ski Jacket £359.95

SCHOFFEL BERGAMO JACKET Ski Jacket £359.95 SCHOFFEL BERN PANT Ski Pant £179.95

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OTM16 // 061

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062 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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SCHOFFEL ZURS JACKET Ski Jacket £439.95

SCHOFFEL STRASBOURG JACKET Ski Jacket £399.95

SCHOFFEL BERN PANT Ski Pant £179.95

SCHOFFEL PINZGAU PANT Ski Pant £179.95

SCHOFFEL ARLES Base Layer £99.95

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SCHOFFEL MONTPELLIER JACKET Ski Jacket £439.95

SCHOFFEL ST ANTON JACKET Ski Jacket £489.95

SCHOFFEL AVIGNON Fleece £159.99

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SCOTTS ULTIMATE DRYO PLUS Ski Jacket £245

SCOTTS COULTER Helmet £95

SCOTTS SEEKER PLUS Helmet £110

SINNER WOLF GLOVE Gloves

SCOTTS FIX Goggles £75 SCOTTS PUNISHER Skis £330

SCOTTS PUNISHER Skis £330 SCOTTS DANA Goggles £75 (Woman Left)

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SCOTTS VERTIC 2L INS Ski Jacket £280 SCOTTS VERTIC 2L INS Ski Pants £215 SCOTTS THE SKI W’S Skis £400

SCOTTS TERRAIN DOWN Ski Jacket £225 SCOTTS ULTIMATE DRYO Ski Pant £155 SCOTTS DANA Goggles £65 (Man Left)

SCOTTS G2 100 POWERLIFT MID CUFF Boots £300 SCOTTS DANA Goggles £65 SCOTTS KOKO Poles £22.50

SCOTTS TERRAIN DOWN Ski Jacket £225 SCOTTS TERRAIN DRYO Ski Pant £140 CÉBÉ S’TRACK SUNGLASSES Sunglasses £102 (Woman Right)

SINNER Winterbreeze Mittens (Man Bottom Left)

SCOTTS ULTIMATE GTX Ski Jacket £330 SCOTTS ULTIMATE GTX Ski Pant £255

SCOTTS ULTIMATE DRYO Ski Jacket £225 SCOTTS ULTIMATE DRYO Ski Pant £155 SCOTTS DANA Goggles £65

SCOTTS G2 120 POWERLIFT Boots £330 SCOTTS 720 Poles £37.50

OTM16 TM15 // 065 067

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Alpine Success BY ROYAL ASCENT In August, while fellow teenagers were either

“I felt both Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn

he remembers the view from the top of the

winning medals in Rio or chilling at festivals,

would be a challenging and memorable way

Matterhorn as “simply extraordinary”.

Arthur Chatto, 17, the Queen’s grand-nephew

to experience Alpine mountaineering for the

Mountain Tracks founder Nick Parks asked

and twenty-third in line to the throne, was

first time.” Arthur cut his teeth on home turf,

Arthur and James what’s next for them in the

scaling the Alps.

in his words: “After doing some mixed winter

world of mountaineering. Arthur remarked: “I

climbing in Glencoe and rock climbing in

would love the next challenge to be the Eiger”

Arthur, alongside his Eton College friend

Snowdonia, I wanted to do some more peaks

whereas James, not satisfied with one ascent

James Tamlyn, successfully worked his way

at higher altitude.”

of Mont Blanc, now wishes to ski it. Watch this

up and down Mont Blanc, at 4,810m, the

space!

highest peak in the Alps and the iconic Swiss

Their winter training came in handy as they

Toblerone peak, the Matterhorn, 4,478m.

encountered tough conditions with 70kph

When asked about their most memorable

winds on Mont Blanc and fresh snowfalls on

moment, in more characteristic teenage

Arthur and James’s ascent of the Matterhorn

the Matterhorn. Gianni Dorigo, their mountain

style they replied, “The Matterhorn selfie on

was in sharp contrast to the first ascent in

guide, recalls that despite them having to hold

learning that we were the first to summit that

1865, when four of the party were tragically

their hands in front of their faces to see where

day.”

killed when the rope broke on the descent.

they were going they sang and joked all the

The event prompted Arthur’s great, great,

way up Mont Blanc, remarking that it was “like

Arthur and James travelled with Mountain

great, great grandmother Queen Victoria

Ben Nevis”!

Tracks: mountaintracks.co.uk/intro/climbingmountain-tracks

to consider banning all Britons from mountaineering. She famously said she would

The biggest difference between climbing in

never again permit English royal blood to be

the UK and the Alps is the altitude. Arthur and

wasted on the Matterhorn, so one suspects

James tackled the Cosmiques Arête on Mont

she would not have been amused by the boys’

Blanc du Tacul, followed by serious 4,000m

exploits.

acclimatisation on the Gran Paradiso (not a nightclub in Chamonix, but the highest peak

James prepared for his Alpine trip by skiing

in Italy before Mont Blanc itself), with the

the famous Haute Route from Chamonix

Matterhorn as a fitting finale. James recalls

to Zermatt. In response to being asked the

Mont Blanc as, “an amazing experience, but

perennial question: “Why do you want to climb

the strong winds made it a slog and we didn’t

these peaks?” James remarked modestly,

spend much time on the summit.” In contrast

The Southern Hemisphere’s 2016 ski season is drawing to a close now, but back in June Angelique Vinnedge from Canada was one of the keenest skiers ever for it to get started. Not content with bagging a “First on the Chair” T-shirt from Coronet Peak ski area in New Zealand when it opened for the 2016 season, Angelina made it two in a row with a “First on the Chair” T-shirt from The Remarkables ski area when it opened a week later. Her boyfriend – Queenstown local Jesse James Johnston – was alongside her to claim his The Remarkables shirt, along with friends Morgan Harteveld and Josh Martin, who queued from 3.15am. Queenstown brother and sister Jamie (10) and Hannah (12) Gaboda were there for the second year in a row, arriving at 5.30 and “hanging out near a heater” to keep warm. The first 100 waiting for the lifts to start running were treated to free breakfast baps delivered to them in the queue by ski area staff, and as the gates opened at Curvey Basin, bursts of bright green confetti added a fun element to the day. “It’s always well worth getting up for first tracks at The Remarkables; I’d rather be here than anywhere else in the world,” said Harteveld after his first run. More than 2,000 took to the slopes on opening day.

Holiday Whistler, skiing holidays a la carte offers an extended range of chalets, apartments and condos to suit every taste and budget. Beautiful log homes just metres from the piste, spacious and luxurious chalets, sumptuous apartments right in the village, expansive views of the mountains, private hot tubs on your deck or nestled in the trees. Holiday Whistler has them all. We can also take care of every aspect of your holiday. Holiday Whistler believe in service; our staff can book your restaurants, have your groceries delivered or have a chef cook all of your meals and you will always be met by a friendly member of staff at your Whistler home. Contact us at info@holidaywhistler.com www.holidaywhistler.com 1 877 697 7776

By Emmanuelle Châtel At first, about 30 years ago, terrain

snow parks now have a fun zone

beginners to learn and develop their

quality. A terrain park requires

parks were not as popular as they

for all ability levels, even beginners

skills.

consistent maintenance throughout

are nowadays. Designed only for

and families who can make their

use by experienced riders, not

first tricks and learn terrain park

Good Range Of Facilities

and shovels to ensure quality

really put at the forefront of the

etiquette.

Once the beginners are taken care

conditions and the safety of users.

of, though, the best parks should

Operating after the end of the ski

ski area and coming with massive

the day with hand work with rakes

expense to the resort to build and

Which terrain park is the best park in

also contain a decent set of features

day, groomers must be skilled

to maintain, many resorts were

the world is a question of personal

on the menu to satisfy the appetite

and experienced in their art to

a bit reluctant to get involved in

judgment; everyone has their own

of any park rat who wants to learn

maintain the park. There’s normally a

such projects. But changes in user

taste in the matter, depending on

new tricks and perfect the old ones.

dedicated team assigned only to the

requirements and the evolution of

what you’re after. There’s lots of

skiing means that today terrain parks

variety to choose from, but what do

Keep It Fresh

are democratised, fully integrated

the experts agree makes a good

The park’s plan needs to be

Chill Out

and high up on the list of essentials

terrain park?

continuously re-evaluated as

Last but not least, a good park needs

the season progresses, to stay

a nice chill-out area. As its name

for a resort’s development. They may

terrain park.

be the one reason why some guests

Something For Everyone

innovative and keep the regulars

suggests, this is somewhere you

come to visit a resort.

The park must offer different types

on their toes with new features

can rest in between two runs, hang

of terrain for all abilities – or a resort

added regularly and exciting ones

out and watch other riders in the

Media coverage, adverts and

must offer several parks pitched

enhanced. Designing a good and

park, ask the park team for any help

the advent of easy-to-use action

at different levels. Beginners and

inventive snow park is certainly not

you need, socialise or just enjoy the

video cameras have all helped

intermediate zones are needed to

an easy task, but once built the real

sun. It’s also where you can usually

a lot in making freestyle sports

allow progression with features and

challenge is to maintain it every day

enjoy a BBQ and music during spring

more popular. Sometimes a little

jumps of a modest size. Terrain parks

of the season, no matter what the

sessions!

intimidating, terrain parks are more

have gained popularity in recent

conditions are.

and more accessible with most

years and have seen an increase

Grooming can become a true

modern parks incorporating several

in traffic, primarily thanks to the

challenge, but skiers and

zones at different levels. Most

creation of areas more suitable for

snowboarders expect a high

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OTM16 // 069

CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR holiday skiing 2016/17 By Patrick Thorne

t may only just be starting to seem like late

ski fix without taking much holiday time at all and

summer, but Christmas and New Year ski trips

pay a bit less, then be home for the New Year’s Eve

are now just a few short months away.

celebrations. Well, that’s the theory anyway. There are also some bargains to be had if you choose

If you are planning a trip, then take note

a short four- or five-night holiday after New Year’s

that tour operators will be doing things a

weekend – a low point in the season for bookings.

little differently this coming festive period as

The different departure dates chosen by different

Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on

operators also mean there’s more choice than usual as

Sundays (with this year a leap year, we’ve

to when you set off.

hopped from Friday last winter to Sunday this). “Sales are actually very good as people can almost

As Christmas Eve/Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve/

pick a day rather than being forced into the Saturday/

New Year’s Day are not popular “changeover days”,

Sunday rotation. There is a reluctance, though, to

most operators are getting around this issue by

book the lower resorts, owing to the very poor start

offering four-, five- and six-day breaks over Christmas

to last season. You can get some bargain prices with

and eight- or nine-day breaks over New Year, plus

eight/nine-night durations, and the shorter breaks

some short breaks again just after New Year weekend

are actually assisting those normally priced out of

– or variants on this. And if Christmas/New Year’s Eve

the market to ski at this time of the year,” says Nick

isn’t a problem for you, you can even still get the usual

Edwards of ski holiday specialist travel agency Snow

Saturday to Saturday week.

Finders (snowfinders.co.uk).

This seems to be mostly good news – you can get

Whatever you’re planning, remember New Year in

a longer holiday in peak weeks for no extra cost

particular is THE peak week of the season at most

(apparently) and hopefully without needing to take

resorts, so booking your holiday for then as soon as

extra time off work, or you can get a quick Christmas

possible makes sense if you want to secure a place.

070 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

FOUR TO SIX NIGHTS WITH NEILSON

on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve before the

Neilson will offer standard seven-night packages

festivities kick off.

plus shorter four- to six-night breaks over the festive period. All Neilson (neilson.co.uk) resorts in Andorra

“The majority of our residences are sticking to

and Spain, plus Sauze D’Oulx and Sestrière in Italy

Saturday changeovers, although we do have the odd

and Montgenèvre and Serre Chevalier in France, are

one that will be doing something different that we can

offering six-night holidays from Monday 2 to Sunday

tell people about if they ask,” said Amelia Warner of

8 January or five-night holidays from Wednesday 28

Peak Retreats & Ski Collection (peakretreats.co.uk/

December to Monday 2 January 2017.

skicollection.co.uk).

CRYSTAL STICKS TO SATURDAYS FOR SOME

FRIDAY FLIGHTS WITH INGHAMS

Crystal Ski (crystalski.co.uk), the UK’s largest operator,

departures in December 2016 until Saturday 7 January

are changing flight dates over Christmas and New

2017 to avoid travelling on Christmas Eve and New

Year for their holidays to ski areas in Andorra, Norway

Year’s Eve. The company is offering a standard

and Finland as well as destinations in eastern France

seven-night Christmas week departing 23 December

and western Italy (flights to Turin).

2016 returning 30 December or eight nights’ skiing at

Inghams (inghams.co.uk) is introducing Friday

New Year for the price of seven departing Friday 30 “In the run-up to Christmas and New Year, we’ve switched our Sunday flights to selected resorts to

December and returning Saturday 7 January 2017.

ski holiday and the benefit of still being able to ski

NINE-NIGHT NEW YEAR FAMILY SKI SAVINGS

on Christmas Day,” a company spokesperson said.

Family snowsports holiday specialists Esprit Ski

“What’s more, for those who prefer a five-day break,

(espritski.com) are offering nine-night family holidays

we’ll be flying out on Tuesday 3 January and returning

departing on 30 December, allowing you to arrive in

Sunday 8 January. Sunday flights will resume from

resort and settle down before the festivities begin.

then. Only some resorts are affected, though, as the

Packages include return flights to Geneva, transfers,

majority of our flight programme is based on Saturday

free wi-fi and nine nights’ catered accommodation with

departures.”

a cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, children’s high tea

leave on Tuesdays, giving customers a seven-day

TUESDAY TRANSFERS WITH LE SKI

and four-course dinners with complimentary wine.

Le Ski (leski.com), who specialise in high-quality but

The offers include “buy one get one half price” on lift

affordable chalet holidays to top ski resorts in France,

passes in Tignes and Val d’lsère, a 50% discount on

report they’re very busy for next season with over half

ski hire, £200 off per couple in cashback, improved

of holidays sold by midsummer!

child discounts of up to 60% and £100 off the children’s activity club Snow Club.

Managing Director Nick Morgan says they decided the start of the season with seven-night holidays

TRAVEL ANY DAY FOR ANY DURATION WITH SKI INDEPENDENCE

on Tuesdays 13, 20 and 27 December as well as 3

“Being a completely tailor-made operator, Ski

January then reverting to their normal Sunday flights

Independence (ski-i.com) has the luxury of being

on 8 January, meaning there’s one five-night package

able to offer arrival and departure days that meet

available from 3 to 8 January.

the needs of our clients rather than being limited by

to keep it simple, running Tuesday departures from

fixed prices and packages,” says Marketing Manager “We’ve gone for what we usually do when Christmas

Victoria Lavender, adding: “That said, availability can

falls at the weekend,” says Nick. “That five-night

be a little less flexible over school holiday dates, and

January short break is already selling extremely well.”

we are limited by what we can offer for self-catering

PEAK RETREATS AND SKI COLLECTION STICK WITH SATURDAYS Tour operators that offer self-drive to the Alps are, on

accommodation in France where Saturday to Saturday tends to be the norm. Short breaks are available in selected self-catering residences, and our team can provide more information on this.”

the whole, sticking to the regular Saturday changeover day. That means you can arrive and get settled in

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OTM16 // 071

Festival Music has always played a big

Andrew

part in life in the mountains, but in

Maxwell

recent years the musicians have got

and pals

organised, and an ever-growing list

once again

of music festivals with a vast array

presenting the

of genres is on offer. Each provides

“funniest show on snow”.

PLANNER 2016/17

the chance to enjoy some great

bigger! Last year more than 25,000 arrived in the huge Portes

du Soleil region to take part. The concept: five major artists

British Snowboard and Freeski Championships was first established back in 1989. Excitement should be mounting as it’ll be the last BRITS before the 2018 Winter Olympics, where many of our best medal hopes are in freestyle.

performances as an added bonus

10–17 December

performing in free concerts on the ski

on your ski holiday. In fact, many

RISE, LES 2 ALPES, FRANCE

slopes at various locations around the

3–8 April

attract people who, unbelievably,

risefestival.co.uk

mountains – you ski or board over to

SNOWBOMBING, MAYRHOFEN,

just come for the music and festival

The first big winter music festival of

them during the day from wherever

AUSTRIA

fun and don’t even bother to ski or

2016/17 gets the season started!

you are. Lots of smaller après-ski gigs

snowbombing.com

in venues in the region’s resorts too.

The biggest of them all takes over the

board! Unforgivable. Anyway, here’s the lowdown on some of the biggest

11–16 March

events coming up in 2016/17. We

HORIZON, VENUE TBC

18–25 March

end of the season, bringing big-name

didn’t have the exact dates for some

horizonfestival.net

SNOWBOXX, AVORIAZ, FRANCE

acts and a full-on party week. This

of these as we went to press, but they

The cool Horizon Festival, which

snowboxx.com

winter there’s going to be a second

may be up online by the time you read

claimed 120 international DJs

Snowboxx is one of the newer music

festival across the Atlantic in BC.

this, as well as the names of the 2017

performed last year when it was

festivals, normally staged in late

headliners.

staged in Bansko, Bulgaria, has been

March. It’s tried different resorts over

6–7 April

selling “early bird” tickets almost since

the years but is heading to Avoriaz

ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL,

12–17 December

the last festival closed, but other than

in France for 2017. The organisers

SÖLDEN, AUSTRIA

ALTITUDE, MAYRHOFEN, AUSTRIA

talking about a change of venue,

promise five main stage nights, more

electric-mountain-festival.com/en

altitudefestival.com

hadn’t said where they’d be in 2017 as

late-night venues and a mammoth line-

Top DJs bring a club atmosphere

It turns out there will be two Altitude

we went to press.

up of world-renowned artists and DJs.

from 1.30pm each day in the Funzone

its traditional end-of-season spring

19–25 March

2-9 April

slot to a January date last winter,

ROCK THE PISTES, PORTES DU

THE BRITS, LAAX, SWITZERLAND

the famous comedy festival in the

SOLEIL, FRANCE/ SWITZERLAND

the-brits.com

mountains will be staged again before

en.rockthepistes.com

The BRITS music and winter-

Christmas, with Marcus Brigstocke,

Rock the Pistes just keeps getting

sports festival featuring the

Tirolean ski town of Mayrhofen at the

festivals in 2016 as after moving from

OTM16//072

Giggijoch up at 2,300m, and admission is free to lift-pass holders.

@INTHESNOWMAG @INTHESNOWMAG

R E A S O N S T

AROSA KITZBÜHEL

LENZERHEIDE

One of the best-known names in the ski

It’s A Freeride Paradise

can try ice skating, Alpine curling, bowling,

world, Kitzbühel’s fame is in part thanks to

Kitzbühel’s best-kept secret is the amount climbing and more. Those up for more which the region is famous, you’ll need to stop byparty-focused school included” dealenjoy where all skiofand snowboard One of Switzerland’s Biggest Best Skiin the for of the most famous 3.3km and stretch of snow accessible off-piste terrain: a whopping après-ski can plenty Regions world, the Streif. This is where the infamous every now and then at one of the appealing mountain group classes are free of charge for children born in 200km2 of hidden routes and untracked beer, oompah and Europop at Streifalm or With 225km ofHahnenkamm runs, the ski Men’s area shared by Arosa World Cup Downhill

restaurants or huts. backcountry. A local ski guide will help you

so much to choose fromfrom there’s terrain to suit every be staged 17–22 January 2017), a race

It’sthe Wonderful Just Getting There Bichlalm area and down the steeps of

initiatives include runs where you’re automatically cosmopolitan in the Alps, with a wonderful

to Chur from where a short bus connection to Kitzbühel is also it’s great for intermediate

Lenzerheide istakes one place of Switzerland’s biggest. Withrace will every January (the 77th ability and every here. include theon the bothtaste feared andNovelties revered by the best

seek out some of the best lines around

and after provided that their parents stay in one the Londoner, or 1999, for a more sophisticated of the participating hotels or Fünferl. holiday apartments for alternative try Café Bergsinn or the two or more nights. There are also snow play areas

Arosa Lenzerheide is quick and to gentle reach from Seriously for Good youngsters and much more for families besides, Ehrenbachgraben or hunt outeasy some Restaurants chance to getWorld first tracks before the lifts open to Zürich Airport, travelling through the spectacular including supervised kids’ programmes like the Arosa Cup circuit, but Kitzbühel offers much bowls in the Jochberg area. To Suit All Budgets everyone elsemore. or to With keepitsskiing to 10pm on night scenery of the Grison Alps of Eastern Switzerland. JUNIOR Club or the Globi children’s strong skiing heritage spanning Kitzbühel has many award-winning chefs programme. skiing evenings in Arosa Lenzerheide. Hi-tec The train can take you from the airport straight 120 years, the resort is also one of the most Not Just For Experts and restaurants, many holding gourmet filmed or you cobbled ski as fast you like yourawardspeed oldastown, greatand hotels,

is checked, and your lift ticket alsocosy tracks your winning restaurants, cafés and trendy

ratings State-of-the-Art and providing a mix of modern and Although Lenzerheide may be historic Lenzerheide. You can continue by rail to Arosa on a skiers, snowboarders and groups of mixed traditional cuisineArosa to suitand every budget, but resorts with over a century of winter veryskiing special, one-hour-long connection during which ability, with 179km of varied slopes all offering delicious food accompanied by sports history

each, their ski areaFrom is completely state-of-the-art. movement around thenot mountain so you can print outgentle thewith trainatmospheric passes through the streets of Chur then warm Tirolean bars. It’s just for experts, either, with mountain restaurants hospitality. great-value later where you have been. Fast, comfortable chairlifts and gondolas whizz climbs an amazing 1,000 vertical metres through the intermediate skiing aplenty. Most surprising, to pop into whenever you fancy a break. tasty pizzas at Centro and the Barrique to

around the slopes. The Hörnli-Urdenfürggli cable car mountain landscape of Schanfigg and the award-winning however, is the bountiful off-piste terrain that’s spectacular The ski area has plenty of easy-going Kupferstube restaurant is connecting the two sides of the ski area and stands across the famous Langwieser Viaduct (you’ll have slopes, some great valley runs and a quick, in the five-star Hotel Tennerhof (awarded Although Arosa and Lenzerheide are traditional seen it in films) before trundling into Arosa. for an engineering masterpiece. Its huge cabins can efficient lift system. A fun way for confident two Gault Millau toques and among the top

Fabulous Food, Fabulousfrom Snow easily accessible the pistes.

resorts, they’re blessed – inFamous terms of getting Ski The Most Ski Run Inlots Theand World lots of snow –The by being established at much Hahnenkamm downhill racehigher is the

altitudes than victory many other villages theWorld lifts Cup everyski alpine skierwith on the climbing right circuit up to 2,865m high There’s also to dreams of, butabove. it’s also accessible

intermediates to get to know the entire ski

Great areafor is toFamilies tackle the 35km ‘Elephant Ski

carryinupAustria) to 150 and people the mile-wide span restaurants the across excellent in just over three minutes and unlike normal cable Neuwirt in the chic Schwarzer Adler hotel,

Arosa Lenzerheide has very strong reputations for foodie holidaymakers cars, remarkably both cabins can travel in the same Safari’ riding from summit to summit and are spoilt for choice. its family friendliness. Lenzerheide first received the direction at the same time. utilising the 3S-Gondola.

official ‘Families Welcome!’ seal of approval more Kitzbühel arosalenzerheide.ch 6-day lift pass: €230.50 base. In orderwinter to enjoy some of the excellent cuisine, than a decade ago, and Arosa offers the amazing “Ski by most intermediate skiers, although More Than “Just” Skiing Innsbruck airport: 1.5-hour transfer lots of snowmaking to help provide an early season holidaymakers. The Streif can be tackled in

some of the steepest sections are marked as

There are loads of options in Kitzbühel

“extreme ski routes” so are better for expert

for non-skiers too, or just if you fancy a

Tirol region:

skiers. There is a “family Streif” route – “red

break from the slopes. The Mercedes-Benz

visittirol.co.uk, facebook.com/visittirol

21” – which misses out the tougher sections.

Sportpark is an exciting place where you

or @VisitTirol on Twitter

OTM16 // 073

MIND THE GAP YEAR By David Black

074 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

Gap year snowsports courses have become

Eventually, however, he ended up dropping

there, it is, primarily, seasonal employment.

increasingly popular over recent years, with ever

his university place and instead embarked on

However, there are now a multitude of colleges

more professional companies offering courses

a route to become a full-time ski instructor.

offering qualifications (often in just a few

and with a growing range of options to people

The 21-year-old is now set on a winter-sports

weeks) to be a chalet cook, chalet host or both.

wanting to get into snowsports as a profession.

career path with a top level BASI Alpine level 4

Learning to cook for house parties on a fixed

Most common are become-a-ski-instructor

professional qualification and is employed in a

budget in a fixed time is a skill that will be useful

courses, but there are plenty of other options for

well-paid job and has no debt to show for it.

whether you’re in the mountains or anywhere

entry into winter sports careers.

“Looking back on it now, it is without a doubt the

else, for the rest of your life, both professionally

best decision I have ever made. Three seasons

and personally.

Although known as ‘gap year courses’ they’re

on and I have completed the BASI system and

mostly 6–16 weeks long and participants are,

I am ready to start working as a full-time ski

Ski Instructor Internships

we’re told, increasingly people looking for a

instructor in France,” says James.

Ski instructor internships are apparently a new variation on a gap year training course.

career change later in life as much as young people between school and college.

Check The Qualification You’ll Get Will Be

You spend a full ski season working as a

But these courses can cost a good deal, with

Widely Valid

ski instructor in a resort learning on the job,

the fees often paid by doting parents, so as they

It is important though to be aware before you

but with additional training and professional

may deliver mixed results, what should a parent

start of what level of teaching you’ll be able to

qualifications at the end.

asked to pay for a gap year snowsports course

practise with the qualification you get. Different

(or indeed anyone looking to pay for a course

levels of qualification allow different levels of

Internships are always a bit of a grey area when

themselves) take into consideration before they

tuition, and the national ski teaching authorities

it comes to cold hard cash and it’s important

from different countries issue certification which

to check exactly where you stand. A 16-week

may be valid in one ski nation but not another.

course in Villars, Switzerland, with the Swiss Ski

Has Your Child Got A Plan Of Action?

After years of slowly moving closer together,

School organised by Snow Skool cost just under

“Some parents are quick to encourage a gap

the Brexit vote may or may not (no one knows

£8,500, but Snow Skool say it’s entirely possible to earn £3,500 whilst doing the course.

year; others look at taking a year out as a waste of time and costly. If you need to win your parents round, going to them with a plan of action is key!” says Beth Mepham of The Winter Sports Company, which provides gap courses across the world in Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland and offers qualifications from British,

WINTER-SPORTS GAP COURSE PROVIDERS

You also get four months based in a 4* hotel in Switzerland with four days of tuition each week for the money, plus your lift pass and exam fees thrown in–and you’re in a great swiss ski resort for four months! But you don’t get fed, equipment or travel to and from Villars, so factor

Canadian and New Zealand national awarding bodies.

Snoworks Gap: snoworksgap.co.uk

them in as extra.

The Winter Sports Company recommend young

Nonstop Ski & Snowboard:

Think About Training In The Autumn So That

adults seeking funding for their gap year course

nonstopsnow.com/ski-gap-year

You Can Teach Straight Away Some gap programmes operate in the autumn

do the research and prepare their pitch. This convincing proposal should include making their

The Winter Sports Company:

on Europe’s glaciers or in early winter meaning

case with budget solutions, details of future

wintersportscompany.com

you can have training and a qualification before Christmas and are ready to teach through the

prospects and a plan for their return. Snow Skool: snowskool.com Make Sure There’s A Proper Qualification at

main winter season – and start earning back the cost of the course. Some even guarantee you

The End

Scotland and Norway this winter:

a job, so long as you pass, at the end of your

“Snowsports instruction is no longer seen

www.gaiaadventures.co.uk

course.

as a low-paid job that’s fun but doesn’t lead Whatever You End Up Doing, It Looks Good

anywhere, far from it,” says Lee Townend who runs Snoworks GAP, which organises

yet) complicate things for British ski teachers in

On Your CV

courses based in the French Alps – Tignes

the EU.

A point parents need to read in that proposal,

and Courchevel”. He adds, “Today, there’s a

“Even if you ultimately find a career in

and which employers will want to read whether

structured professional pathway that leads to

snowsports isn’t for you after working for one

you end up in a snowsports career or not, is that

well-paid and stable employment.”

or two seasons, it can still be a rewarding

experiencing other cultures and lifestyles gives

experience that is always going to look good on

you life skills which can be applied to future job

your CV,” Lee concludes.

roles.

actual career, and dropped the one he started

Consider A Qualification You Can Take To

“Whilst you’re on a gap year, whether you work

university for. James Duffield was studying

Other Career Paths

or do a course it shows a great work ethic. Your

outdoor pursuits and environmental science at

Although ski teachers now have the option of

own personal accomplishments will set you

Stirling University whilst taking a gap year snow

working year round, pretty much, by working at

apart from the rest – employers love to see

instructor course during holiday time.

indoor snow centres, dry slopes or travelling to

candidates achieving something worthwhile

the Southern Hemisphere for the snow season

from a year out,” concludes Beth Mepham.

At least one Snoworks gap year student has ended up making his ‘gap year’ course his

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OTM16 // 075

MÜRREN’S NEW

THRILL WALK

Glass-bottomed bridges, balconies and

structured design clings to the rocks and

gondola cabins have been all the rage for

then swings under the observation deck

some time, along with flimsy high-altitude

and below the cable car station.

suspension bridges that seem to serve no purpose except to alarm, so Mürren in

The cliff path includes a variety of sections:

Switzerland has decided to roll several of

an interplay of air, glass and grating! It

these attractions into one – its new “Thrill

includes about 20m walking on a glass

Walk”, which has just opened in the famous

floor followed by 10m over cattle-grid type

Jungfrau mountain resort.

of flooring. There is also an 8m Nepal bridge and an 8m-long crawling area for

The new Thrill Walk (seen here under

children.

construction) leads from the Birg terrace down to the vertical walls of the imposing

The Thrill Walk will be open year-round,

rock massif. The 200m-long steel-

weather permitting.

OTM16//076

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World-record-holding speed rider Armin Senoner, along with extreme climber Christoph Hainz, both Italians, and the famous Austrian extreme skier Axel Naglich, one of the very few men to have completed the descent of the world’s biggest skiable vertical on the treacherous Mount St Elias in Alaska, took on a new challenge together when they tackled the Ortler North Face in the Italian Alps. The Ortler North Face, which has icy descents at up to 80° angles, is an extreme challenge even for the best climbers. The “Giant Ortler” is located in the heart of Italy’s Stelvio National Park, one of Europe’s largest parks, and at 3,905m is the highest mountain in South Tyrol. It towers above the remote village of Solda (population 400), sometimes called the “Siberia of Tyrol” because of its isolated location surrounded by many high mountains and plenty of snow. For the attempt the three extreme athletes prepared

SKI ORTLER’S NORTH FACE

with a detailed inspection, analysis of routes and an exchange of information about the snow situation. In general, the Ortler North Face is climbed in the months between May and June, so ascending in the month of April depicted an additional challenge for the three athletes. The climb and subsequent descent on skis were, nonethe-less, eventually completed successfully. Senoner was first up and while Hainz and Naglich were still ascending the longest ice wall in the Eastern Alps with its 1,200m of climbing, Senoner flew down the steep North Face. Hainz and Naglich were rewarded, after stopping to take a good look from the top of South Tyrol’s highest peak, with a breathtaking descent from the heavily glaciated Ortler through the Minnigerode couloir, a 50° steep downhill over nearly 1,400 vertical metres of

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descent.

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COURCHEVEL •

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best in

snow By Sally Brookes

078 // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

@INTHESNOWMAG

now. We skiers and boarders can never get enough of it. We spend the autumn (if we live in the northern hemisphere) waiting for it to arrive. Then after the initial thrill of those first falls each pre-season, we want more, always more.

And we’re obsessed with how deep it is. Of course, it does need to reach a certain depth so that all the natural hazards are covered over. If we’re planning a trip at Christmas or New Year, it’s reassuring to hear the snow is lying at least half a metre deep by mid-December, say. Or if we’re travelling at Easter when the thaw might have set in, it’s reassuring to know a resort is still reporting snow several metres deep at the end of winter so there’ll likely still be enough to ski to the bottom by the time we arrive. But should we be so obsessed with quantity? Isn’t it quality that matters – particularly when looking for off-piste powder, but even for a fresh snow feel on the groomed slopes? Yes, even though we can be so desperate that any old snow will do, given the choice we’d like several feet of light, fluffy powder that’s weightless on our skis or board and perfection to carve through. After all, too much snow can bring its problems – access roads may be closed, lifts buried if it’s too abundant and there’s the increasing avalanche danger of course. So which are the resorts around the world where you can cut your odds of finding high-quality snow? Which ski areas are the ones where lots of perfect powder snow falls almost every ski season, almost without fail, so that your chances of finding fresh powder in abundance are far higher than the average? (Yes, that “almost” is a legally binding excuseall in case they don’t deliver when you book to go there, and you then try to sue me …) Here are some top picks:

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OTM16 // 079

NISEKO, JAPAN

YLLÄS, LAPLAND, FINLAND

Niseko, on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, is regarded by snow fans as one of the greatest destinations on earth simply because not only does it get vast volumes of snow (averaging 17m per annum) but also the snow itself is superb powder. The air that forms it is toasted bone dry as it is travelling east over the earth’s largest land mass, then pops into the Sea of Japan to pick up the moisture before dumping down on Hokkaido.

A good bet for good snow quality is usually to head north towards the Arctic Circle. True, you may be skiing under floodlights in mid-winter; true, the verticals aren’t very big; true, the total amount of snow that falls each winter isn’t that big compared to most resorts in the Alps, let alone the Rockies; and finally, true, it can be very, very cold, but those low temperatures help the snow to fall as a very fine mist and accumulate as feather-light powder. It also helps the snow maintain that light, dry structural integrity rather than getting into the more common “freeze-thaw” cycle as temperatures move up and down above and below freezing at many other resorts at more southerly latitudes.

This means that the snow here is typically much better than at Mt Baker, across the Pacific in Washington State, USA, which holds the world record for the most snow ever in one winter (29m – or over 90ft – in 1999/2000) and for the average annual snowfall (16m), but the snow there tends to be wetter as there’s no land mass for the air to dry out over with most of the precipitation coming from the west. Is there a downside? Well, it can snow for weeks on end, so visibility isn’t always perfect, and sometimes there’s so much light fluffy snow that skiers report that they sink down so far they find it rather alarming – hence references to needing a snorkel or swimming in snow.

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UTAH, USA Ski resorts right along the Rocky Mountain massif from Canada to Colorado claim to have great powder, and often they do, but the ski resorts of Utah tend to have the edge and, with typical American modesty, have trademarked the phrase “The Greatest Snow on Earth” to underline the point. It’s a trademark that some Japanese resorts might care to challenge, but so far only Barnum’s Circus, who hold the original “Greatest Show on Earth” trademark, have done this (unsuccessfully). It’s hard to choose between which Utah ski resort has the best powder as they’re all known for abundant quantities of the stuff, which is created in a similar way to the Japanese variety, although this time the air is first scooped up from the Pacific BEFORE being carried west and toasted over the dry plains then being forced to rise rapidly as it hits the barrier of the Rockies, causing it to drop its precious white gold – an abundance of seemingly weightless fine powder snow. Names like “Powder Mountain” and “Snowbird” for some of the state’s more famous resorts give you some idea of what to expect, but those with less obvious names like “Solitude”, “Sundance” or even “Brighton” are great too.

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LA NIÑA MAY MAKE WINTER 2016/17 DRIER, OR PERHAPS SNOWIER? Weather forecasters in North America are already starting to make their predictions for conditions next winter and are looking at a “developing La Niña” in the Pacific Ocean as a key to global weather forecasts. La Niña and El Niño are the long-established names of the two prevalent ocean temperature extremes in the Pacific Ocean which, to a large extent, tend to strongly influence weather conditions in countries surrounding the Pacific. Exactly how much that influence extends westwards beyond states like California and Colorado is open to debate, although it does seem that a lot of the weather that happens in the west does eventually affect us. In any case, British tabloids tend to report each autumn that Britain is in for a catastrophic new ice-age-type winter on the basis of that Pacific climate pattern. In fact, they seem to tend to report that Britain is in for a catastrophic new ice-age-type winter regardless of whether the Pacific is likely to have a “strong El Niño” or “strong La Niña” and don’t seem to be put off their enthusiastic predictions by the fact that Britain has endured six fairly mild winters since 2010. Last winter’s “very strong El Niño” (one of the three strongest recorded in the past 60 years) broke a four-winter drought in California but also brought milder conditions to Central and Eastern North America where ski areas suffered one of their worst winters for decades. El Niño has been on the wane since last spring, however, and La Niña has been making her way back to dominance. The debate currently is just how strong this winter’s La Niña will be, with forecasters noting that a strong El Niño has only once before been directly followed the next winter by a strong La Niña in the 60 years that recordings have been kept. Like El Niño, La Niña seems to have mixed blessings. In Colorado it is reported that mild to moderate La Niña winters over the past decade or so have meant less snow and warmer temperatures, so she’s not welcome there. Other areas further north and east seem keener to have her, as very cold areas being a bit milder (but still plenty cold enough for snow) tend to get more snow from La Niña conditions. The jet stream tends to track further north again, benefiting more northerly ski regions. But as with all weather systems, chaos theory is the dominant factor to keep in mind. Colorado resorts including Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin broke their annual snowfall records during a La Niña winter in 2011.

OTM16 // 081

Seasonaire Jobs

THAT GIVE YOU THE MOST TIME ON THE SLOPES

he prospect of six months in the snow is an

but if you’re well organised you should be able to fulfil

BAR STAFF

appealing one to most of us. The friendly

all your tasks in the morning and evening and still be

Riding powder all day and working in the evening

atmosphere, the great outdoors, you may even

able to get out on the slopes most days. Your role will

sounds perfect, eh? Bar jobs are a good option to

learn a new language … and of course, all important,

most likely include cooking, cleaning, transfer driving

spend a fair amount of time up on the hill every day,

you get to ski all winter!

or a combination of these. On the bright side, living

but you’ll need stamina due to the anti-social hours and

expenses, food and accommodation, ski hire and lift

late nights. Bar work requires a good degree of fluency

The problem, though, is picking the job that offers

passes are usually covered by the employer. If you

and confidence in the local language. Experience is

the most opportunity to get on the snow. Get it wrong

have no specific hosting/cooking qualification, you can

also essential as resort bars can get extremely busy.

and frustration awaits – you’re stuck at work each and

still work in a hotel where roles such as chambermaid

every powder day. Nightmare.

involve fewer responsibilities but may keep you busier

RESORT REP

in the daytime.

As a ski rep, your job is to be a point of contact for the

The good news is that resorts offer a wide range of

guests in case they have any questions or problems.

seasonal jobs. If you are qualified for any of them, it

SKI/SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR

There are many other responsibilities involved, such

helps a lot and means you can pick where you want to

Working as an instructor means it’s your job to be on

as managing inbound and outbound guests from the

work. But let’s face it; the goal is to get on the slopes

the slopes each day. At the beginning of your career,

airport transfer, lift passes, equipment hire and ski

as often as possible.

you’ll be teaching a lot of beginners and intermediates,

lessons. A great benefit is that during the week it is

even on powder days, but still you will always be up on

likely that you will get more than enough ski time. On

So here are a few jobs to consider which should allow

the hill skiing or boarding. It’s never too late to qualify

the downside, you will need to be available at all hours

the most time on the slopes:

as a ski or snowboard instructor. It is still possible to

of the day to ensure your guests’ stay goes smoothly.

qualify in the autumn or just before the start of the

CHALET HOST

winter. But note that it can be hard to find work at first

You’re responsible for the guests’ holiday enjoyment,

due to competition from experienced instructors.

xxx// OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

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1,000 MORE THAN

SCHOOLCHILDREN TRY SNOWSPORTS

At the conclusion of the inaugural “National

snowboarder Aimee Fuller showing local

Schools Snowsport Week sponsored by Visit

children how it was done.

Andorra”, 1066 children and 149 schools got involved in the Snowsport England initiative.

The new initiative was supported by Visit Andorra as well as school tour operator Equity

Complementing the success of the national

which meant each child who took part in the

snowsports participation campaign, GO SKI

week went away with a goody bag for their

GO BOARD, which was started by Snowsport

efforts.

England in 2013, National Schools Snowsport Week sponsored by Visit Andorra gave

“2016’s National Schools Snowsport Week has

opportunities for schoolchildren across the

exceeded our expectations by a long way. By

country to try skiing or snowboarding either for

signing up 21 slopes to the initiative and getting

free or at low cost.

over a thousand children involved we have beaten all targets, and more importantly given

The campaign, which ran at 21 slopes across

the snowsports bug to hundreds of children

England, included free taster sessions at most

across the country,” said Dominic McGonigal,

slopes as well as low-cost recreational slope

Chairman of Snowsport England’s Youth

time and several events aimed at schools,

Development Committee at the conclusion of

including the ERSA Schools Race at Suffolk

the campaign. He added, “A big thanks goes

Ski Centre and the Independent Schools

out to all the schools, slopes and volunteers

Association Championships at The Snow

involved. We definitely plan to do the same

Centre.

again next year but even bigger and better!”

Kicking off the week was a launch event

The success of the inaugural week will act as

aimed at raising the profile of the project,

a springboard for future events, with plans

with National Schools Snowsport Week

already in place to run National Schools

ambassadors Stacey Solomon and GB

Snowsport Week again in April 2017.

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BRITISH TOUR OPERATOR

FIRST TO OFFER SKI HOLIDAYS TO

I R AN

M ountain Heaven, a family-run ski

business best known for organising ountain Heaven, a family-run ski apartment and chalet holidays in the business best known for organising French Alps, have decided to offer apartment and chalet holidays in the guided tours to ski areas in Iran next French Alps, have decided to offer season. guided tours to ski areas in Iran next

season. The move comes after the easing of United Nations sanctions against The move comes after the easing Iran, and a fact-finding mission to of United Nations sanctions against the country’s ski resorts by Mountain Iran, and a fact-finding mission to Heaven’s Nick Williams at the end of the country’s ski resorts by Mountain last winter. Heaven’s Nick Williams at the end of

Iran has a long history as a ski nation

passes – both of which are around

afterwards you will no longer be able

andhas is home aroundas20 Iran a longtohistory a ski ski areas nation including some of the highest in and is home to around 20 ski areas

half the–cost ofof equivalent areas passes both which areski around in the Alps. half the cost of equivalent ski areas

to take part you in the ESTA Visa Waiver afterwards will no longer be able Programme to enter the but will to take part in the ESTA US Visa Waiver

the world. It hasofathe reputation including some highest for in powder snow and warm hospitality, the world. It has a reputation for

in the Alps. Although Nick reports that Iran is

qualify for a full 10-year visa. Programme to enter the US but will

as well snow as comparatively low prices powder and warm hospitality, for visitors from Western Europe and as well as comparatively low prices

a friendly Nick and welcoming Although reports thatplace Iran is and physically getting to the ski a friendly and welcoming place

North America. for visitors from Western Europe and

centres from the UK is to relatively and physically getting the ski straightforward, with the main centres from the UK is relatively

North America. Mountain Heaven are initially planning to run two trips with up Mountain Heaven are initially to around 20 people on each trip. planning to run two trips with up Each trip will be eight full days long to around 20 people on each trip. and include three of Iran’s leading Each trip will be eight full days long ski areas – Dizin, Shemshak and and include three of Iran’s leading Darbandsar – as well as sightseeing ski areas – Dizin, Shemshak and in Tehran. Darbandsar – as well as sightseeing

in Tehran. The cost of a trip, excluding flights,

experiences I have ever had,” said “It was one of the best skiing Nick. experiences I have ever had,” said

starts from £1,100 based on two The cost of a trip, excluding flights, sharing with a £150 supplement for a starts from £1,100 based on two single room. The package includes sharing with a £150 supplement for a airport transfers, guiding throughout single room. The package includes the tour and entry to sightseeing airport transfers, guiding throughout attractions in the cities, as well as the tour and entry to sightseeing most breakfasts and dinners, but attractions in the cities, as well as does not include lunches or lift most breakfasts and dinners, but

Nick.

does not include lunches or lift

last winter. “It was one of the best skiing

OTM16 // xxx OTM16//086 xx // OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM OTM16 // xxx xxx// OTM16 // INTHESNOW.COM

resorts quite close to the capital straightforward, with the main Tehran, Mountain Heaven advise resorts quite close to the capital that travel to the Islamic Republic Tehran, Mountain Heaven advise does have certain issues that you that travel to the Islamic Republic should be aware of. does have certain issues that you

should be aware of. A visa is required (Mountain Heaven will help with this), and anyone with A visa is required (Mountain Heaven an Israel stamp in their passport will help with this), and anyone with may well be refused entry. If you are an Israel stamp in their passport admitted to Iran, having an Iranian may well be refused entry. If you are visa in your passport means that admitted to Iran, having an Iranian

visa in your passport means that

qualify for a full 10-year visa. Mountain Heaven also point out that vegetarian meals and other Mountain Heaven also point out meals for special diets are hard that vegetarian meals andvery other

to obtain, most women wearhard meals for that special diets are very head coverings in public at all times to obtain, that most women wear (although that’s not a practical issue head coverings in public at all times on the ski slopes where men do (although that’s not a practical issue likewise to keep their heads warm) on the ski slopes where men do and that après-ski is much more likewise to keep their heads warm) low-key than in the Alps. This last and that après-ski is much more point, and the alcohol ban, Mountain low key than in the Alps. This last Heaven say, make holiday costs point, and the alcohol ban, Mountain once in Iran very low! Heaven say, make holiday costs

once in Iran very low! mountainheaven.co.uk/resorts/ Iran/iranian-ski-experience mountainheaven.co.uk/resorts/

Iran/iranian-ski-experience

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/INTHESNOW

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NEW clean green hydro scheme

evis Range ski area near Fort

biomass boiler that heats the base station, this

to install access roads in advance of main

William in the Scottish Highlands

will reduce our carbon emissions – something

works commencing this week.

is working on a £4 million

that matters to a company that utilises the

“It has been a complex negotiation to raise

hydroelectric scheme this summer

weather to make its living. Secondly, electricity

money for the scheme as it involved the many

that will have the power to deliver

is one of our main costs, and this will reduce

parties who have an interest in the facilities

1,100kW of clean green electricity.

it; and finally, being the majority shareholder in

at the ski centre/visitor attraction and the

It will provide green electricity to

the hydro company means we will benefit from

surrounding land. I’m very pleased this phase

the base station at Nevis Range to power the

‘poor’ weather, something that affects our core

is over and we can progress to building it,” said

gondola, the offices and the Pinemarten café.

business negatively,” said Managing Director,

Marian Austin, a Director of Nevis Range Hydro

When there is excess power, it will be exported

Peter MacFarlane.

Company Ltd, who added:

to the grid. The scheme comprises a small dam at 580m

“We know that it will be a challenging scheme

The project is being developed by a subsidiary

in the “Back Corrie” of the ski centre, a 1.3km

to construct because of the steep terrain and

– Nevis Range Hydro Company Ltd – with

pipe for a penstock, which will be buried, and

the isolated, wild nature of the construction

advice from Green Cat Renewables Ltd, and

a turbine house with two 550kW turbines. An

site. Specialist machinery and helicopters

the necessary £4 million capital has been

electric cable will be buried through the forest

will be used to minimise damage to the

agreed, thanks to a loan from Close Brothers

to connect the powerhouse to Nevis Range

Corrie, which has various environmental and

Leasing. It is due to be up and running by

base station. Once the water has been through

landscape designations. It does snow and rain

the end of November in time for the next ski

the turbines generating electricity for Nevis

a lot – a challenge for construction – but that

season.

Range, it flows back into the Allt Choille-Rais

is why it is a great location for a hydro scheme.

burn, where it drops into Rio Tinto’s intake

I’m looking forward to seeing the project take

“This is an exciting project – to be part of a

and plays its part in generating power for the

shape. It will be visible from a distance during

company that generates its own power in an

smelter – so it gets used twice.

construction, but after the pipeline is reinstated,

environmentally friendly way ticks all the right

and the access roads restored, it is designed to

boxes for a ski area and visitor attraction in

Principal contractor George Leslie Ltd engaged

this beautiful location. Added to the existing

Highland-based specialist hill contractor Hitrak

OTM16//088

disappear back into the landscape.”

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TAKES GAMERS TO SNOWY SCENE IN CENTRAL LONDON

he Pokémon Go phenomenon

Low’s office armed with Pokeballs (a kind of

is taking gamers to a perhaps

digital snowball) and Potions (a kind of digital

unexpected location – a snowy ski

glühwein, we think).

scene in Central London. In fact this isn’t actual snow in the

“I am chuffed to say that our beautiful Jonny

early autumn sunshine but a snowy

Midnight ski mural has been chosen along with

mural created by tour operator Erna Low on the

the French Institute and Christie’s in South

outside wall of their offices at 9 Reece Mews,

Kensington!” said Erna Low’s boss Joanna

South Kensington, a year ago.

Yellowlees-Bound, who added, “We are seeing a lot of people floating by and clicking on their

It joins other London landmarks, including Big

iPhones – and the great thing is that with this

Ben, The London Eye and The Shard, which are

craze, people not only collect their Pokémon,

all either a “Pokestop” or a “Gym”.

but they really do see a live work of art at the same time, which they would not have

Erna Low’s work of art, created by renowned

seen unless they were out hunting Pokémon

ski artist Jonny Midnight, has already been

characters!”

recognised by the Kensington and Fulham Open Art Spaces Exhibition last autumn. Its

The company say they may even start dropping

new status as a Pokestop has been described

lures on their Pokestop to help Pokémon

as a “total fluke” by an Erna Low spokesperson.

trainers as they pass through (although we’re not quite sure what that means…).

Pokémon Go players are now arriving at Erna

ernalow.co.uk

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ki jumping and sporting legend Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards has announced that he will be working with Kicking Horse Powder Tours to host a holiday at Kicking Horse Mountain

Resort in British Columbia, Canada, which will also feature a tour of Eddie’s competition venue at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics just over the provincial border in Alberta. The week will include resort-based skiing, alongside privately hosted dinners, evening events, a night-time snowmobile expedition and that exclusive tour of the Canadian Olympic Park with Eddie, where he became a household name during the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games, as recently immortalised in the new film of Eddie’s Olympic exploits released earlier this year. The trip is open to skiers of intermediate level and above who are confident skiing on blue and red slopes as a minimum, with lots of options for more advanced skiers who are comfortable with black-graded runs or have off-piste experience. Throughout the week, guests will have ample opportunity to ski with Eddie in the resorts of Kicking Horse, Lake Louise and Revelstoke – all known for both their on-piste and off-piste skiing. Although famous to millions for his heroic and inspirational efforts in the ski jumping events during the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, Eddie was, in fact, initially a downhill racer. Today he is a professional skier and will be happy to share his knowledge and guidance throughout the week. He is also renowned as a great after-dinner and motivational speaker, so participants on the trip can expect to be inspired and amused. “I’m really looking forward to visiting Kicking Horse resort and experiencing the famous terrain on offer there. I’ve heard so much about it and I’ve always wanted to ski there myself,” said Eddie. “Going back to the Olympic ski jumps in Calgary is going to be really exciting too – it will certainly bring back some memories.” Besides Eddie, the Kicking Horse Powder Tours team will be on hand throughout the week, guiding in resort, hosting at the lodge and generally ensuring everything is running smoothly. The tour runs from 25 February to 4 March 2017 and costs £2,595 per person. Transfers to Kicking Horse from Calgary International Airport are included in the package, but flights to Calgary are not; however, they can be arranged through Kicking Horse Powder Tours on request. Guests will stay seven nights in Vagabond Lodge, a boutique hotel close to the main lifts and base area at Kicking Horse. Apart from accommodation and transfers, the price includes breakfast and lunch daily, five hosted evening dinners and events, six days of resort-based skiing with Eddie and your in-resort Kicking Horses Powder Tours Guide, snowmobile evening, all lift passes, all ski or snowboard hire, airport transfer from/ to Calgary Airport and all transportation for the week. There’s also the option to heli-ski with Purcell HeliSkiing at additional cost.

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OTM16 // 091

SKI AND SNOWBOARD STARS GO

L O O H C S O T K C A B through the charity Snow-Camp, which

offers a unique combination of skiing and

snowboarding to support inner-city young people.

“It was a lot of fun to come in and inspire the

“It is important that children and young

kids today at Chobham. They were all super

people realise they don’t have to live in

responsive, and it was very rewarding,” said

the Alps to get involved in snowsports,”

Charlie.

said Snow-Camp Founder and Director,

Dan Charlish. “At Snow-Camp, we provide

Youth Olympics, as well as on the North

One of Chobham Academy’s students,

different programmes based at local snow

American Cup Tour and European Cup

Kara Maloney (aged seven), commented,

centres and dry slopes, which teach young

Tours; teammate Nick Moynihan, member of

“I absolutely loved meeting Charlie, Aimee

people how to ski and snowboard while

the Delancey British Alpine Senior Squad,

and Nick. The best thing was learning about

developing new skills and gaining new

who took first in the British Championships

doing snowboard tricks. It was good to

qualifications which can support their

Three of Britain’s top ski and snowboard

GS, in Tignes (2015); and Winter Olympian

meet an actual person from the Olympics.

future.”

athletes, including Winter Olympian

Aimee Fuller, who recently claimed seventh

Everything they said was amazing.”

snowboarder Aimee Fuller, shared their

in both the South Korea and Czech Ladies

personal journey and top achievements

Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup, talked to

After each of the presentations, the athletes

development and advisory company

with hundreds of students from Chobham

children ranging from five to 11 years old in

also offered a chance for the children to

Delancey, which is the Principal Sponsor

Academy in London.

three school assemblies.

dress up in their equipment, and then

of British Ski and Snowboard, and Charity

afterwards, they gave away various prizes

Partner to Snow-Camp, it is hoped that these

Organised by real-estate investment,

Charlie Raposo, who is currently ranked

During the assembly, they presented their

during a Question and Answer session for

assemblies will not only encourage more

Britain’s best Giant Slalom skier and has

personal training videos and spoke about

those interested in finding out more.

children to work hard to pursue their dreams

competed at the World Championships,

their biggest achievements, in the hope of

World Junior Championships and European

inspiring their young audience to work hard

Students also received information

the nation for Great Britain’s snowsports

at their own goals.

about how to get involved in snowsports

athletes.

but also generate more support from

“Being Principal Sponsor of British Ski and Snowboard over the last six years has provided us with the invaluable opportunity to not only support our nation’s top athletes but also encourage the community to get involved in the sport,” said Jamie Ritblat, Founder and CEO of Delancey. “These assemblies not only raise awareness of snowsports in schools but also leave the children feeling determined and inspired to achieve their own personal goals, which is very important.”

OTM16// 092

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FOR ONLINE ADVANCE PURCHASE Anyone needing a six-to nine-day lift pass for the Chamonix Valley can save around 10% by buying their pass at least three days in advance online this winter. Lift company the Compagnie du Mont Blanc say this is the equivalent of a buy-5-days-get-one-day-free deal.

Ski-in, ski-out Owner-run 4-course evening meals Jacuzzi & Sauna Aperitifs and canapés Beautiful renovations in all of our chalets for winter 2016/17!

The discount, valid for the Chamonix Le Pass ticket (covering the Brévent-Flégère area, Grands Montets area (summit not included), Balme Tour Vallorcine area, Vormaine area, Chosalets area, Savoy area and Planards area), brings the cost of a six-day adult ticket down from €252.50 to €230, and for children aged 5–15 and seniors aged 65 to 79 down from €214.60 to €195.50. The discount is also available on the Mont Blanc Unlimited Pass which covers in addition Aiguille du Midi, Les Houches area, Courmayeur in Italy, the Verbier 4 Vallées area in Switzerland and the Evasion Mont-Blanc - St Gervais or Megève area (terms and conditions apply). A six-day adult lift pass is the most expensive in the Eurozone at €299 but reduces to €275 with advanced online purchase. A six-day child ticket is believed to be the most expensive in Europe including Switzerland as, even with the strong Franc, the Swiss tend to give generous child discounts. It costs €254.20 for children aged 5–15 and seniors aged 65 to 79, or €233.80 Euros with the online advance purchase discount.

Buy via: www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk/

CALL 0845 163 7596 info@powdernshine.com www.powdernshine.com

Katie Summerhayes

The ski slopestyle specialist from Sheffield is

What do you currently do in your training that

Laax. I was there with a load of my friends. We

one of the new influx of sportswomen stepping

are keys to your success?

had such a laugh; we skied so much and had a

up the game. Katie Summerhayes is still only

KS> I need to surround myself with people who

great time. With the same girls we also went to

21, but she has already accomplished so much.

push me and challenge me. But I always try to

Korea, the trial for the Olympics, and that was

For the record, she came in seventh place in

have fun; I learn more when I’m having fun. That’s

fun; a lot had never been there. It was sick; there

Sochi 2014 ski slopestyle and won the junior

the thing I make sure I do in everything, and it’s

were so many rails and different features. I really

slopestyle gold in Valmalenco, Italy. In 2015

the most important thing. And also I’ve got goals

enjoyed it. There was also the event in Boston,

she became the first British female ever to

that I want to achieve. Have fun but work hard. I

the Big Air competition at Fenway Park. Actually

win a Freestyle World Championship medal, in

love what I do, and I’m so lucky that I get to do it

those five weeks were just crazy!

Kreischberg, Austria.

every day.

Katie’s now training in view of her main

Your goals are to win X Games gold medals and

KS> Lots of travelling, I’ll follow the World Cup

objective: PyeongChang 2018. We caught

the 2018 Winter Olympics. What are the keys to

events, which are very fun, and also take part in

up with Katie at the British Championships

achieving these goals?

the X Games and Dew Tour again, basically just

(AKA The BRITS), staged last April in Laax,

KS> I just always try my best and always have fun

follow the competitions around.

Switzerland.

in everything I do. I’m pushing myself but at the

What’s next?

same time try to not feel the pressure. That’s my

What are your plans for the summertime?

Weather conditions were pretty hard during The

dream and I’m going to work really hard to make

KS> Intensive summer training in Australia and

BRITS. How did you get comfortable with it that

sure that it comes true. I also want to push the

New Zealand with pretty much everyone from

quick?

sport as much as possible and promote the sport

the GB Park and Pipe team going. Being with the

KS> It’s hard but everyone else has to deal with it,

to women.

snowboard programme is great because we’ve

so you just have to try to ski your best. There is a

all got friends on that team. We train together, in

different kind of temperature of wax we use. Apart

What was your best trip last winter?

from that we just deal with it!

KS> I think my best trip this winter was here in

094 // OTM16

camps, snowdomes, all year round basically.

@INTHESNOWMAG

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