InTheSnow Issue 35 - January 2014 by InTheSnow

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’m excited about this year. Not just because the pre-season snowfalls in November were some of the best, some say, for 20 years, setting us up for an epic season (I hope I’m not tempting fate!); and not just because it’s an Olympic year, with the Sochi Games in Russia only a month away, and our best hope of a British snow sports medal for over a decade; but because 2014 is the 150th anniversary of the first ever recorded winter sports holiday. That holiday took place in 1864–65 in St Moritz. The story goes that this Swiss village was already famous as a summer spa destination for Victorians on their ”grand tour”, but the owner of a humble mountain inn persuaded some visiting Brits that despite the image of the mountains in winter at the time – as a foreboding place full of demons – they’d actually find the place sunnier and healthier than smog laden London. He bet them a free stay if he was wrong. Of course, he wasn’t wrong, they had a great winter holiday (who wouldn’t?) and told their friends, and to cut a long story short word spread to the newspapers and winter snow holidays were born. Back then it would have been just winter walking, sledging, and perhaps some ice skating on the lake, but almost the same year a gentlemen in Norway was inventing the first downhill skiing technique, telemark. His brainchild reached the Alps where, about 40 years later, the Alpine style was developed in Austria. It took a while to catch on; indeed it’s hard to believe now that the first Winter Olympics in the 1920s and early-1930s didn’t feature it. But the growth in the sport we love was inexorable, and today more than 5000 ski areas exist in 80 countries around the world. Now we can ski indoors in Brazil or Dubai, and the biggest ski resort development project in skiing history is just being completed in Sochi. Yes, 2014 is quite a big anniversary year!

OLYMPICS ARE HERE! PATRICK THORNE

xpensive (the guesstimated €50bn cost dwarfs even the Beijing Summer Games), controversial (those ”antigay” laws), and almost impossible to get to (visa and Games pass required, as well as a big wallet), the Sochi Winter Olympics promises to be very different to those Games that have gone before. But they will also see some of Britain’s best medal chances since Alain Baxter won slalom bronze at the Salt Lake Games in 2002 (which was famously taken from him after a false drugs test result). Hopes are particular high in the new Olympic event of slopestyle, where the current World Champion (and Britain’s only ever snow sport World Champion in the modern era) is James ”Woodsy” Woods. In total 98 events in 15 winter sports will be held at the Sochi Games this February, with ski slopestyle, snowboard slopestyle, and the snowboard parallel special slalom all to be included in the Games’ programme for the first time. Women’s ski jumping, the banning of which was a major controversy at the Vancouver Games in 2010, has also been accepted into the official Sochi programme. Funding for British athletes has been hugely controversial in the years preceding these Olympics, with money going to athletes on the basis of results, leaving Alpine downhill skiers with a funding gap. However, two of Britain’s top winter sports athletes, from the Great Britain Freestyle Snowboard team Billy Morgan, and from the GB Freeski team Katie

Publisher

DOMINIC KILLINGER dom@inthesnow.com Production Director

MATT NICHOLSON matt@inthesnow.com

Summerhayes, received a funding topAs we went to press, ahead of the main up of £211,000 from UK Sport after their winter competition season, 17 British Ski successful 2012–13 seasons, aimed to and Snowboard athletes have already directly support medal targets at the Sochi met the Olympic Qualifying Standards 2014 Winter Olympic Games. (OQS), with several more in with a chance "It's been amazing to have such a good of reaching that standard. For those that season and I am stoked that it is having a positive effect for everyone on the Freestyle Snowboard team and GB Freeski. I'm really glad to be a part of making things better for the future," said Morgan. The funding will support conditioning, technique, and performance programmes in the UK, New Zealand and Canada. The 22nd Winter Olympic Games, 7–23 February, The total award for British Ski & and the 11th Winter Paralympic Games 7–16 March, Snowboard to such programmes also in Sochi. has now totalled £1,509,950 for the 3 years from 2011–14. Official site: sochi2014.com/en/ “The benefit of aligning our British Ski Team: goo.gl/fyjQ23 investment approach for winter British Para-Alpine Ski Team: goo.gl/beqj50 sports with that of summer at the British Paralympic Team: goo.gl/H8lHGA start of the Sochi cycle is starting BBC Olympic Coverage: goo.gl/kKHKzj to be realised; our winter sports are in better shape than ever before, and our latest Mission 2014 analysis confirms this,” said Simon Timson, who started in his post have met the OQS, some have already as Director of Performance at UK Sport in confirmed their quota place at Sochi, with January this year. others still needing to win their place by “Sochi could even present one of our performing well at the remaining pre-Sochi best ever winter Games performances, competitions. Confirmation of which skiers which would be a fantastic early legacy or snowboarders have been selected to from London 2012, where the additional compete at Sochi 2014 will not come until investment and attention given to developing 22 January – just 2 weeks before the Games. our high performance system has benefited We wish our team for the 22nd Winter summer and winter sports alike.” Olympic Games the very best at Sochi.

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LES 2 ALPES BRUNO LONGO

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No DATE Clash With French Easter Holidays ISCHGL The Austrian resort of Ischgl has opened a new cable car at a cost of €18.5m (£15.6m). The new lift – which ascends to 2811m – allows access to a 100-hectare freeride area, previously reserved only for those willing to hike. A new red slope has also been created for those more accustomed to piste skiing. The Piz Val Gronda (E5) lift is 2400m long and will whisk passengers up to the peak in about 5½ minutes from

PATRICK THORNE

lthough there’s an overlap of British and French school holiday weeks over the February halfterm – leading to greater demand, with inevitable supply-and-demand consequences to prices and availability – the French Alps specialist Peak Retreats (peakretreats.co.uk) reports that this will not be an issue at Easter, as the English school holidays will be largely

over before the French ones begin. “Take advantage of sunny skies, quieter slopes and longer days. Going in the later part of the ski season means you could avoid the crowds and enjoy some sunshine. The added bonus for 2014 being French school holidays are in late April so the main UK Easter week from 5th April, will be much quieter,” said a company spokesperson, adding, “One of the top reasons to ski this Easter will be the significant savings to be made on apartment prices. Due to the later

date, many suppliers have cut peak-date supplements, which means your ski holiday could cost you almost half the amount as going in February half-term. If you choose to stay in a lesser-known, traditional resort, with access to higher, well-known ski areas, such as Samoëns (for Flaine), Les Gets (for Avoriaz), or Tignes 1800 les Boisses (for Tignes/Val d’Isère), you can avoid big name resort pricing, yet still take advantage of the high altitude snow.

its base at Vesiltal. The resort has also announced that the existing four-seater Pardatschgratbahn gondola is to be replaced by a luxury 28-seater tri-cable gondola system for 2014–15. In just over 9 minutes skiers and boarders will be transported from the village to the top station at 2624m. The new lift will have the capacity to transport 2800 people per hour.

MORZINE This French resort at the heart of the vast Portes du Soleil has opened a new gondola, which links the village to the main ski area. The “Le Pleney” lift was installed at a cost of €12m (approx. £10m), and more than doubles the speed of uplift compared with the old bubble, which used to be a bottleneck for queues, especially in the peak season. The new lift – which is the main access point to the ski area from the village – is now able to transport 3000 passengers per hour.

GRIMENTZ The new cable linking the chocolate-box Swiss resort of Grimentz to Zinal has opened. Spanning 3.6km, and costing €26.8m (£22.7m) to construct, the two new cabins will be capable of transporting 825 passengers per hour. Between them the resorts offer 105km of piste skiing, as well as some truly fantastic off-piste and freeride routes.

New Trentino Initiative Salutes The Sunrise rentino Ski Sunrise” is a new initiative at resorts across the famous Italian ski region, which gives skiers and boarders the chance to enjoy a rich breakfast at a mountain refuge, and admire the first light of dawn before heading off to make first tracks down the slopes before everyone else, as the lifts will run a few hours before the slopes open to the general public. Running every Saturday to 22 March, ski areas taking part include Val di Fiemme, Val di Fassa, San Martino, the Val di Sole, Madonna di Campiglio, and many others. “The aim is therefore to create a connection between the world of snow and the flavours of Trentino with an increase in local products including milk, yoghurt, fresh bread, apples, honey, cold cuts, cheeses, eggs made in to traditional regional dishes at the mountain refuges,” said a statement from Trentino. More information can be found at visittrentino.it/trentinoskisunrise, or you can sign up at the local tourist office on arrival.

A Skier’s Phone Research shows that 77% of smartphone accidents are drop-related, and 60% of replacement mobiles are water-damaged. Consequently, Caterpillar (the makers of bulldozers and boots) has spotted a gap in the market for expensive phones that don’t break when you drop them. The company has launched a mid-priced (£299), highly-functional, new rugged smartphone, the B15, which it’s aiming at the outdoor adventure market with the tagline “Built Tough Made Smart”. Its robust design includes the ability to withstand a 1.8m drop, being submerged in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes, the functionality to use the 4" multi-touch screen with wet fingers, as well as being dustproof and scratch-resistant. The B15 is protected by silver anodised aluminium and shock-absorbent rubber if it slips from your icy gloves (catphones.com).

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Yeovil FC Donate Fund To Sochi Olympian DAVID BLACK

eovil Town FC receives a share from the Community Shield Fund each year, and this season, along with the ”Community Sports Trust”, has decided to support local girl, and Winter Olympic GB skeleton hopeful, Donna Creighton. One of the world’s fastest women on ice, Creighton can reach speeds of 145km/h, lying head-first and navigating a track that has more twists and turns than a helter-skelter. Since the last ice track season finished in March 2013, Creighton and her Strength and Conditioning coach Andrew Roda, who has also coached many Yeovil Town players,

have been focusing on the all-important off-season physical preparation. UK-based nutritional supplements specialist BioCare has been providing support for the British skeleton team as it prepares for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. As a thank-you for the support from Yeovil Town FC, Creighton went onto the pitch on 21 December at half-time to wave to fans before she departed for her final preparations before the Olympics. “Competing at the Winter Olympics has been my dream and I will do everything I can to get there and make my town and country proud. The support from Yeovil Town FC will go a long way to help me make that dream a reality, and I couldn’t be more thankful to you all,” said Creighton.

SKI SCOTLAND STEVE McKENNA

Potential Paralympian Receives Support From Thule ki racer Jade Etherington and her guide Caroline Powell have received support from the car winter accessory specialists Thule, who has supplied luggage, roof boxes, ski carriers, chains, and other equipment to make competing easier for Etherington and Powell. Etherington (22), a hopeful for the Paralympics GB Sochi 2014 team, rapidly lost her eyesight 5 years ago due to a genetic condition called Axenfield’s syndrome, leaving her with less than 5% vision in each eye. But this didn’t stop Etherington from skiing.

”I use my skiing as a distraction from losing my eyesight. I see it as something positive that has come from something negative,” she said. Etherington took part in the British Disabled Ski Team’s squad trials, was offered a place, and has since been competing in highly-ranked global races all over the world, achieving many podium positions. Etherington and Powell’s mission has been to get selected to compete for Great Britain at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, they will find out this month if they have made the team.

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New Way To Reach The Slopes From The Airports PATRICK THORNE

n innovative new way of getting to the slopes from the airport is set to launch across the European Alps

in 2014–15. FluidCar has been founded by a group of skiers frustrated by the existing transfer options, namely an expensive taxi, private car hire, or a transfer coach that may have to wait for multiple flights to arrive before making many stops to drop-off en-route. “After a long flight, the last thing you need is a 6-hour transfer, especially when you know the journey is only 100 miles,” said company Founder Michael Rosam. “We were tired after a transatlantic flight and I flippantly said to my wife ’why can't we just hire a car, drive to our hotel and get rid of it!’.”

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Thus the FluidCar concept is to be established – essentially you hire the perfect vehicle just for the transfer, FluidCar take it away from the resort, and at the end of your holiday they deliver it back to you for the return leg. “Our goal is to utilise technology and the collaborative consumption business model to revolutionise the transfer market,” says Rosam, whose company will be testing the concept in Les 3 Vallées with selected partners this winter. The company will use luxury 4x4 cars, which would cost over £1000 to hire for a week from traditional sources, but which FluidCar has priced to be equal or below the cost of shared transfers, regular hire cars, or private taxis, at £99 per seat. So the cost for a solo driver is less than £100, with two in the car it’s £198, rising up to £495 for the return journey with a maximum of five in the seven-seater car.

Robbie Williams To Play Ischgl obbie Williams has been named as the latest global superstar lined up to play at the famous seasonending Top of the Mountain Concert in Ischgl (ischgl.com) on 3 May. Williams is scheduled to appear, with his full big band, to perform songs from his new number one album,

Swings Both Ways, on the giant openair stage at 1pm. The set will include classics such as Minnie The Moocher, a new version of Supreme, and his latest hit Go Gentle. Williams follows in the footsteps of some major acts that have played at the venue, including Elton John, Bob

Dylan, Tina Turner, and Pink. In a departure from previous Top of the Mountain events, which are free to lift pass holders, advance sales of day ski passes for 3 May will begin on 7 April, at the higher rate of €115 (£95), and will be subject to availability. Two-day and 3-day ski passes will be available only with a TVB PaznaunIschgl or Samnaun guest card (which proves you’re staying in local accommodation), for €125 (£104) and €135 (£112)respectively. Whether Williams will take to the skis himself from the Silvretta Arena, which is located at an altitude of 2300m, remains to be seen!

South Tyrol ... Italy with a twist

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LUIS PANTOJA

>50% Charged For Excess Baggage More than 80% of skiers in the UK, who completed a survey organised by the airline Swiss, want to take their own equipment with them while on a ski holiday – but more than half say they have been charged excess baggage fees in the past. “One of the biggest gripes of those heading to the slopes is being charged excess baggage fees, with over 50% of those surveyed experiencing additional luggage expenditure,” said a statement on behalf of Swiss, which does not charge to carry ski equipment.

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New Freeride Terrain At Pic du Midi PATRICK THORNE

new 100% off-piste ski area has opened under the 2877m Pic du Midi, in the freeride mecca of the French Pyrenees (pyrenees-holiday.com). Two cable cars access this area, with the option to descend from the or from the top, with skiing on all three sides of the Pic du Midi (picdumidi.com). Skiers can finish back on the slopes of Bareges and La Mongie,

or stop at the bottom of the resort where a free shuttle carries skiers back to the cable car. A new ski pass offers unlimited skiing at the Pic du Midi for £34 per day. During peak holiday times, the last descent from the Pic du Midi is at 7.30pm, perfect for skiers wanting to watch the sunset, or perhaps enjoy the new champagne bar. There’s also the chance to stay over, with 15 bedrooms at the observatory at the top of the

mountain, which accommodates a combined capacity of up to 27 people. The rooms have been completely redecorated at the Pic du Midi in minimalist style, each with raised beds to admire the view of the Pyrenees. Guests can enjoy local specialities for dinner, and sleep amongst the stars, then enjoy breakfast at sunrise and ski first tracks. Ski Collection (skicollection. co.uk) offers a week at the 3 Tourmalet residence in La Mongie from £181pp for self-catering.

This price is based on four people sharing a two-bedroom apartment, and includes a Eurotunnel return crossing for a car and passengers.

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JANUARY 2014 | inthesnow.com

ENGELBERG TOURIST OFFICE

Toboggan Racing With Snuff, Nails & Beer IN ENGELBERG PATRICK THORNE

aving a drink of beer and then whizzing down a toboggan run may seem pretty passé as an après-ski activity, but how about if you take a sniff of snuff, and hammer some nails into a piece of wood between sledge descents and rounds of beer? Interested? Well this rather bizarre activity is

just what’s involved in the annual Carlsberg Toboggan Trophy, which takes place in Engelberg, Switzerland, each January. The combined “tobogganing, drinking, sniffing, and nailing race” is not yet an official Olympic discipline, but is nonetheless back for the tenth time on 26 January. “Our notorious toboggan race on Titlis involves a fair amount of drinking, sniffing and nailing, and is certainly not for the faint-

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hearted or the health-conscious,” said a fairly frank statement from Engelberg. To take part, competitors need to form into a team of four for the toboggan relay, and register online their intention to race before 21 January. Participation costs CHF30 (£20) per race, which includes drinks and snacks. On race day, which starts at 4pm on Engelberg’s Mount Titlis, after 90 minutes of ”drinks

and snacks” at the mountain restaurant – each competitor must individually down their Carlsberg and take a deep sniff from the snuff machine – it’s then a descent down the toboggan run, before finally whacking nails into a log. After the event, the celebrations continue with live music as part of an afterrace party, which is almost as infamous as the race itself!

Mayor Meets Paralympians Birmingham’s Ackers Adventure outdoor activity centre hosted the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, as well as GB Paralympian Anna Turney, and members of the West Midlands Special Olympics team at a Slide 2 Sochi Winter Olympic and Paralympic roadshow. As well as getting involved in activities on the slope, those attending the Slide 2 Sochi roadshow wished Britain’s winter sports athletes’ good luck for the Games by signing the giant Slide 2 Sochi snowball.

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LIFE IN PICS

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None of the Wilder Kaiser villages of Ellmau, Going, Scheffau and Söll have a population above 4000. An authentic Tirolean flair dominates these idyllic villages lying at the foot of the majestic Wilder Kaiser massif – on the church squares, in the age-old guesthouses, at the convivial village evenings, as well as along the peaceful winter paths meandering through the snow in the bordering forest.

The genuine hospitality received in the region goes a long way, and has helped sustain the authentic mountain atmosphere that awaits. The villages have developed from farming communities into fully established ski resorts, without losing sight of their true mountain heritage. On the mountain there are more than 70 rustic ski huts, most still family-run, providing plenty of variety when you stop by for a well-earned break.

Beyond the slopes there is tobogganing, snowshoeing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, Alpine curling, ice skating, and a whole lot more on offer to maximise your winter fun. With its natural and beautifully groomed toboggan runs, the Wilder Kaiser region has long been known, and loved, as a “tobogganing hotspot”, with over 16km of trails.

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Skiing at the Wilder Kaiser by no means ends when the sun goes down. The gondola runs in the evening up to SkiWelt Söll from Wednesday to Saturday, for skiers to enjoy freshly prepared runs under the stars in Tirol's largest night skiing area, with 10km of floodlit pistes. The night-time fun doesn’t end there, with the 3.8km “Moon Toboggan Run“ from the top of the Hochsöll gondola, and the chance to enjoy a special evening meal in a giant snow house within the igloo village at Hochbrixen.

All four of the Wilder Kaiser villages offer children’s ski courses, and all-day childcare facilities. Convenience is key for parents, and the exceptional Kinderkaiserland ski school in Scheffau enjoys a prime location directly at the top of the Brandstadl gondola. From the age of 4-years-old, children can take group ski school lessons, and even toddlers from the age of 2 years can attempt a 45-minute taster on skis, with full-day childcare options from 6-months-old available at the Schneepiraten Kids Club, and down in the valley at the Miniclub Ellmau.

During the Party Weeks from 8–30 March, guests can be guided through the SkiWelt for the whole day from Monday–Friday for FREE. What better way to explore Austria’s largest interconnected ski area, with 279km of pistes, than through the local guides who know the resort inside out, and will let you in on the local secrets? To end the day the ski guides will make a final stop at one of the mountain huts, where you’ll get to experience live music, from trendy tunes to traditional folk music.

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Babyshambles To Rock The Pistes Babyshambles, whose lead singer is Pete Doherty, has been announced as the headliner for this spring’s Rock The Piste festival (rockthepistes.com) in the Portes du Soleil, which had already promised more British acts would be on the bill this year. “The band’s latest ballads are more accomplished than before, with their Britpop, punk and jazz influences coming through. In short, it’s perfect music to complement the festival’s poprock spirit!” said a statement from the giant ski region.

71% Dread “Thoughtless Show-Offs” PATRICK THORNE

ad weather, melting snow, and even avalanches are reported to be less of a concern than “experienced but thoughtless skiers and boarders showing off”, according to skiers and boarders responding to an online survey. Of the respondents, 71% were more worried about other people than problems caused by Mother Nature when they’re on the

slopes in the survey by insurance provider Essential Travel. Many people complained about “idiotic people”, “people cutting too close”, “snowboarders trying inappropriate manoeuvres on the piste”, “people skiing and snowboarding beyond their capability”, “reckless skiers not being aware of others”, and “people showing off and thinking they were better than they really are”. This fear could indeed be justified, the company says, as its underwriter, White Horse, has reported recent claims including

medical expenses of over £5000 for a punctured liver and pancreas, a damaged right shoulder fracture, and lacerations on the head as a result of being crashed into by a skier. Another was for a claim of £5000 for serious bruising and airlifting off the slopes by helicopter after being hit by a snowboard. “Even those who are expert and careful on the slopes are not immune to the dangers of collisions with or being cut up by reckless boarders and skiers,” said Essential Travel’s insurance expert,

Nina Montgomery, who urged people to take out insurance cover, and be sure that their cover meets all of their possible requirements, should a worst case scenario occur on the slopes.

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Les Deux Alpes To Host Night-Time Snow Trail Run es Deux Alpes (les2alpes-evenements.com) is to stage a ”Night Snow Trail Run” at 5.15pm on Saturday 25 January, giving runners the chance to experience the resort in a completely different way. There’s a choice of two distances – a 10km course for recreational runners, and a 20km course for more regular runners. Both will start at 2189m at the top of the Jandri 1 lift and weave down to the resort centre, with the majority of both courses primarily descending (760m of altitude descent for the short course, and 1200m of altitude descent for the long course). It’s the second time the race, which costs €20 (£17) to enter, has been staged. Last year there were over 100 runners at the inaugural event.

Pierre & Vacances Open In Andorra Pierre & Vacances (P&V), the company famous for its many apartment accommodations across French ski resorts, has just opened its first holiday complex in Andorra. Located right next to the main aces lift, P&V Andorra El Tarter is located at the heart of the largest ski area in the Pyrenees, with 210km of piste, and boasts 50 holiday apartments, all with the added luxury of hotel services. The spacious apartments are fully equipped, and can comfortably accommodate 4–6 guests. Each comes with air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, balcony or terrace, and wi-fi.

Waterville Valley To Expand Waterville Valley in New Hampshire, USA has announced its first ski area expansion in over 30 years. The US Forest Service has given full approval for the addition of 24 hectares of new intermediate and beginner terrain on Green Peak, across from the existing trails of Stillness and Lower Stillness. The expansion will include the installation of a new high-speed quad chairlift to reach the summit of Green Peak, and serve eight new trails and an additional glade area, which will connect and run parallel to the existing trail network. The new area will open next winter.

Lift Ticket Prices Cut In Israel A decision by the Israeli government to cut lift ticket prices by 30% has been welcomed by the country’s snow sports fans. Mt Hermon, Israel’s only ski area, is located on land taken from Syria in the Golan Heights, and has problematic snow cover most winters. The actual price of lift tickets for 2013–14 is yet to be announced.

JANUARY 2014 | inthesnow.com

Snowbombing Voted Best Overseas Festival nowbombing (snowbombing.com) has been voted “Best Overseas Festival”, at the UK Festival Awards for the second time in 4 years. The event, which takes place in Mayrhofen, Austria, each spring, beat a shortlist that included a host of overseas festivals, such as Exit Festival (Serbia), Tomorrowland (Belgium) and Outlook (Croatia). “It’s great for our team who put so much effort into making Snowbombing the huge success that it is. They continue to push the boundaries of what we can do to keep the festival fresh for all our festival goers,” said Snowbombing Founder Gareth Cooper. The next Snowbombing runs from 7–12 April, with prices starting at £219 for accommodation and all the entertainment, the line-up includes Prodigy, superstar DJs The Chemical Brothers, and Groove Armada.

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02/09/2013

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Expertise and Advice Since 1965... Ski Free In Aspen, Or Chamonix Helly Hansen’s popular Ski Free programme is back for the 2014 ski season, providing a free lift pass to many of the world’s greatest ski resorts – including Chamonix in France, and Aspen in Colorado, USA. Quite simply when you buy Helly Hansen’s ski apparel, look for a tag that can be exchanged for a free 1-day or 2-for-1 ski pass, redeemable at 20 participating resorts. You can validate the hangtag and view a complete list of participating resorts at hellyhansen. com/skifree.

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Swedish brand Craft has delivered full wind protection in its new range of hi-tech base layer garments and accessories. The Windstopper inserts have been strategically placed using advanced body mapping research: for example, the panels for the tops reach over the shoulder for best protection in a forward-leaning position on your skis. Craft’s Active Extreme fabric is also very lightweight, and combines two fibres in a unique knitting technique: CoolMax Hexachannel Extreme fibres on the inside guarantee great moisture management; and on the outer, Craft uses ultra-fine Thermolite polyester hollow fibres, which offer excellent insulation capacity.

Speed Mountain

Les Menuires is the latest to add a downhill, year-round, roller coaster course. Sitting in a single-seat cabin, children and adults have to challenge Boutky, the resort’s mascot, on a 1200m-long track, with twists and banked turns. Each person’s speed is shown on three different parts of the track, so you can see how fast you’re going and whether it is as slow as a snail or as fast and agile as a hare.

Bright To Contend All 3 Disciplines After 13 years in the Roxy team, two X Games golds, world titles, and a 2010 Olympic gold medal, Australia’s Torah Bright is taking on her biggest challenge yet; one that has never been attempted by any snowboarder ever before at the Olympics, to line-up at the start of all three disciplines at Sochi: snowboardcross, slopestyle and half pipe. The 26-year-old got off to a good start last month, winning the Dew Tour half pipe event in Breckenridge, USA. It looks like despite training for slopestyle and snowboardcross, Bright still has a natural talent in a pipe.

The Snow Centre Friday Night Pass The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead has launched a new Friday evening adult 4-hour lift pass, available from 6–10pm for £39, or for £29 for 2 hours. That’s weekend fun at midweek prices! “Now the weekend can start early with fun Fridays for all!” said a statement from the Centre. The Centre also offers Friday evening adult après social ski or snowboard lessons from 8–10pm for £49pp, which includes a complimentary drink from The Lodge Bar and Kitchen. There’s also 10% off these prices when visitors pre-book lift passes online at thesnowcentre.com.

Chalets

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Zermatt Wins Sustainability Award For Second Year or the second year in a row, Zermatt has been voted most sustainable winter destination in Switzerland. The Verkehrsclub der Schweiz (VCS)

– the Traffic Club of Switzerland – presented Zermatt with the “Mobil & ökologisch” award (Mobile and Ecological award) for a number of reasons, chief among them the Matterhorn village’s convenient

accessibility by public transport. “This award confirms once again that the consistent efforts our car-free village puts into offering visitors a sustainable holiday destination have been successful,”

said Daniel Luggen, Director of Zermatt Tourism, adding that “the award also stands as proof that even major destinations, such as Zermatt, can offer sustainable tourism.”

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Banff Mountain Film Festival 2014 PATRICK THORNE

he Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour (banffuk.com) is back in the UK and Ireland this winter and spring with its biggest run yet, featuring 56 screenings at 40 venues from 30 January–10 May. These are just part of the global tour to some 400 venues in 40 countries. The films are not from Banff, but are the winners from 360 films

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submitted to the Festival in Banff last November, including climbing, Alpinism, mountain biking, adventure travel, skiing, kayaking, and, new this year, base jumping, surfing, and trail running. The Festival is not just film shows, and repeat visitors attend every year to sample all that is on offer, hopefully inspiring participation in the activities. Around 28,000 people are expected to attend the tour this year, up from 18,500 in 2013.

Snow Looking Good For Sochi s we went to press snow reports from Sochi have indicated that pre-season snowfall has been good, and there was 50cm of snow lying on the slopes of Olympic venues at the start of the season last month. Along with possible terrorist attacks and earthquakes, snow cover had been (and probably still remains) a concern as Sochi’s snow records have been hitand-miss over the years. The Olympic venues are in Russia’s only sub-tropical region, and tend to get either large falls of snow or none at all. Several ”test events” staged in previous seasons on the same February dates as the equivalent Olympic events have had to be been cancelled. As part of the guesstimated €50bn (£41bn) billion cost of the Games a very sophisticated snowmaking system

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has been installed, although this is not thought to include the IDE All Weather Snowmaker used on glaciers at Pitztal and Zermatt to top up snow cover in positive temperatures. Ski venues have also been closed to the public for periods at the end of last season and start of this season, and half a million cubic metres of snow is reported to have been stockpiled from last season if required for the Games.

Ski Free In Livigno This Winter!

ivigno has a Skipass Free offer this winter, which is valid to from 5 April to 1 May. During this period, skiers will get a free ski pass if they are

booked into a participating hotel for at least 4 nights, or an apartment for at least 7 nights. Livigno will also offer “Family Week – Kids Go Free” specials this season from 18–25 January; 22–29 March; and 29 March–5 April. During these weeks, a child under 12 accompanied by two paying adults is completely free of charge, while every other child under 12 years will receive a 50% reduction for everything, including accommodation, ski rental, ski passes and ski school.

HEAVENS GATE KRISTIAN SCHMIDT

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I A N O S A SE BY Lorna

OFF-PISTE SKI ADVENTURES

IN THE ALPS AND BEYOND

McGachie

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t’s true when they say that time is a healer. Contrary to the instinctual habits of our spring-awakening creatures, summer becomes the ideal hibernation period in which red raw shins regain their lost layer of skin, bruises lose their dark hue, and exercise isn’t always cut short by cramping muscles. Unfortunately, as I unpacked the skis that had been left untouched and neglected for the entire 7-month winter absence, it was pretty clear to me that time hadn’t made them look any less battered than when I packed

them. Covered in scratches, and with a large chunk missing thanks to an ill-timed landing in the park, I’m reminded of how gruelling the sport can be. I had had more than my fair share of near misses in Val Thorens. On multiple occasions I nearly sent myself flying over the cliff edge (mostly thanks to the blinding white-outs), having to dig my skis into the snow and throw myself onto the ground, to avoid an unwelcome aerial flight. I even found the slowdown safety nets to be quite useful for cutting speed,even if they were used more literally than intended. At one (very embarrassing) point early on in the season, I got hooked on a chairlift, because I’d left my bag on my back and failed to switch it to the front of my body. Instead of getting off and gliding away gracefully I was lifted off the ground, with the threat of being dropped unceremoniously into the vast emptiness below. The chairlift operator was completely useless, failing to shut off

the chairlift, and instead laughing at my stupidity (although to be fair, after spending an uneventful day cooped up in one of those little huts I’m not entirely convinced I’d help either). I managed to quickly

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unhook myself, and to this day have never worn a backpack skiing since! If anyone has ever visited La Folie Douce (in any resort) during happy hour, then I truly salute you for making it down the adjoining slope alive. I can only describe the final ski down from the bar as absolute carnage, with owner-less equipment flying down the mountain, deluded drunken beginners morphing into the next Bode Miller, and intoxicated revellers abandoning the sport altogether in favour of rolling down to the bottom. Watching the madness from the chairlift is fantastic. Watching it whilst rogue skis are flying towards you isn’t. So far I have only experienced La Folie in Val Thorens, but I’ll be sure to be paying the club in Val d’Isère a visit, you know purely for comparative purposes! This is actually my last blog from my English living room! The next time you’ll hear from me will be in Tignes itself, where the snow will hopefully be thick, and the apartment will surely be small. I still have 101 things to do in preparation for the move, but it’ll be worth it to start the winter properly with the first ski run of the season.

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PATRICK THORNE

he 22nd Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, takes place next month from 7–23 February, followed by the 11th Winter Paralympic Games from 7–16 March, also in Sochi.

Torch En Route The Olympic torch relay got underway 3 months ago, on 7 October 2013, and is the longest in the entire history of the Olympic Winter Games, travelling 65,000km, passing 90% of the Russian population, with 14,000 successive bearers carrying the torch by car, train, plane, Russian troika, and even reindeer sleigh. The torch, sponsored by Coca Cola, has become the first to space walk, as well as making it to the North Pole, and to the bottom of the world’s deepest freshwater lake, located in Siberia.

Competitions A number of snow sports are new to the Olympics for 2014, one of which – ski slopestyle – could be very good news for Britain, as its current world champion is Sheffield’s own James “Woodsy” Woods. There has been particular emphasis on investing in our freeskiing athletes, with British funding policy rewarding their success; although conversely our Alpine athletes have had to largely fund themselves. Following the success of skier cross, which is a sport developed from the snowboarding discipline of boarder cross, another ski version of a boarding contest, half pipe, will also be new at the Sochi Games. Women’s ski jumping, a controversial exclusion at the Vancouver Games, will also be staged for the first time at an Olympics.

Competitors Along with James Woods, BBC Sport has tipped 19-year-old skier Katie

Summerhayes, and Jenny Jones and Billy Morgan in the snowboarding competitions, among Britain’s best medal hopes. Inspirational Olympian Chemmy Alcott, who has battled repeated injuries to fulfil her dream of competing in Sochi, will be another Brit to back. Among the high profile international Alpine competitors, American downhill skiers Ted Ligety and Lindsey Vonn are likely to grab the most media attention (the latter battling a recurring knee injury as we went to press). Snowboarding legend Shaun White, who is rumoured to have had a private superpipe built for him in Perisher, Australia, in the autumn sponsored by GoPro, is also one to watch. Another American, 18-year-old World Champion Mikaela Shiffrin is looking good after winning the opening World Cup slalom of the season at Levi in Finland, beating Olympic champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany, with

last year's overall World Cup champion Tina Maze of Slovenia coming third. Other competitors who may get some media spotlight include the famous violinist Vanessa Mae, who is hoping to become the first snow sports competitor for her native Thailand, and at the Paralympics, the celebrity Heather Mills is aiming to compete in snow sport events for Great Britain.

Venues Sochi is a city by the Black Sea in southeastern Russia. New venues for ice sports, and the opening and closing ceremonies, have been built in the city, along with a new airport. A tunnel has been built up into the Caucasus mountains, with a new fast road and rail link, where two ski areas, built to world-class standard largely from scratch, will host the Alpine, freestyle and Nordic skiing events. There are four main Alpine skiing resorts around the original “ski town”

23 InTheSnow.com

D E E N U O Y ALL . . . W O N K TO of Krasnaya Polyana. These include Rosa Khutor, which will host the Alpine sports events; Laura/Psekhako, which will host Nordic sports, including biathlon; and Alpika (the re-developed original resort, which pre-dates the IOC decision to give the 2014 Olympics to Sochi) and Karusell ski areas, which are not Games venues themselves (although Karusell is home to the media village). See our Olympic Legacy section for more on these ski areas.

Challenges Staging an Olympic Games in Sochi is not without its challenges. The area is prone to earthquakes, and while snowfall can result in superb powder, the region also can have dry winters, which led to the cancellation of test events staged over the same dates as the Olympics in previous years. At the end of last season venues closed early and stockpiled snow for 2014, they’ve also invested in state-of-the-

art snowmaking systems. A further problem is possible terrorist attacks, generally from potential break away states in the region – security will be extremely high, and everyone attending will require a special Games pass. Sochi 2014 will also have more drug tests than any previous Winter Olympics in history, IOC President Thomas Bach has said. There will be 1296 pre-competition drug tests, and 2453 total at the Games, about a third more than at Vancouver.

The Olympic Run-Up If you can’t wait for the Games to start, you can get ready for the Olympics by following these World Cup events this month in the run-up to the Games. 10–11 January: Wengen, Switzerland Men’s Downhill 11 January: Megève, France Ski Cross 11–12 Jan: Northstar California, USA

Freestyle 12 January: Bad Gastein, Austria Snowboard Parallel Slalom 12 January: Vallnord-Arcalis, Andorra Snowboard Cross 14–19 January: Val Saint-Côme, Canada Aerials & Moguls 15–18 January: Lake Placid, USA Moguls & Aerials 17–18 Jan: Bischofswiesen, Germany Ski Cross 17–19 January: Stoneham, Canada Snowboard Multi Events 18 January: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy Ladies Downhill 18 January: Gstaad, Switzerland Freestyle 18 January: Rogla, Slovenia Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom 18 January: Zell am See, Austria Men’s Giant Slalom 18–19 January: Veysonnaz, Switzerland Snowboard Cross 19 January: Wengen, Switzerland Men’s Downhill

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23 January: Aspen, USA X Games 25–28 January: Kitzbühel, Austria Slalom & Men’s Downhill 25 January: Kreischberg, Austria Ski Cross 29–30 Jan: Crans-Montana, Switzerland Slalom 1 Feb: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Men’s Downhill

Get Involved If you can’t get to the Games (and let’s face it, it isn’t cheap or easy to do so) Slide 2 Sochi (slide2sochi.org.uk) has been set up to actively encourage people of all ages to get behind Great Britain’s winter sports athletes, and participate in skiing and snowboarding ahead of the Games. The events, being staged at slopes across the country, involve taster sessions for those wanting to give skiing or snowboarding a go, fun competitions on and off the slope, interactive games, giveaways, stalls, and refreshments.

Heat Your Boots In The Bag Having heated boot racks is marketed as the height of luxury by chalets and hotels in the Alps, but now you can warm your own boots en-route to the slopes with the new Hotdryer Boot Bag from Sidas (RRP £75), which has a Hotdryer device that plugs into a 12V car cigarette lighter. The power cable feeds through an opening in the bag, blowing warm air to gently and effectively dry and warm ski boots or gloves. It can also be used to warm them up on the way to the slopes in the morning. The drying unit also comes with a selection of mains plug adaptors for use in the chalet or hotel.

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Skiing Possible In 100 Countries PATRICK THORNE

new report on the number of ski areas, and the number of countries where you can ski, has concluded that 100 countries, across all seven continents, have reliable snow cover for all or part of the year, or artificial surface slopes, to allow snow sports. The report World Ski Centres from research body Snow24 (snow24. com), which has been collecting ski resort data since the mid-1980s, found that of the 100 countries, 91 offer downhill skiing on snow, with six of those offering indoor snow skiing, and the remaining 85 countries offering downhill skiing on snow, 77 of which have ski lifts to get you back up. The continent with most skiing countries is Europe, which also has more than two-thirds of all of its ski areas on its territory. In terms of mountain ranges, the most ski areas are located in the Alps (1551 areas, excluding the Dolomites). Forty-two European nations

offer snow sports, although Ireland only normally on a dry slope, and the Netherlands only on indoor snow (although with seven such ”snowdomes” the Dutch are better equipped for year-round skiing than any other country). Only Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City were thought not to have ski slopes in Europe. The report found that the snow cover in six countries in Africa and South America, on high mountains close to the Equator, is critically endangered. These are among a dozen or so countries where only the seriously determined have hiked up thousands of metres to the snow line, having carried their skis halfway around the world, in order to say they’ve skied the country where the snowfield exists. New countries may join the list of 100 countries offering snow sports within the next few years, as Egypt and Bahrain are both due to open indoor snow centre. Brazil opened the first indoor snow centres in the Americas in October (snowland.com.br).

Snow24 holds details of 5730 operational ski centres, of which 5491 are ”conventional” ski areas with at least one lift (the rest are mostly indoor snow – of which there are now more than 50 operating worldwide – or artificial surface centres). All except 92 of these are in the northern hemisphere. Of the areas described, 1078 are medium-large resorts – usually with at least 10 lifts, the remaining 4600+ are smaller local or regional centres. Notably, ski lifts have been installed over the past 80 years right around the world, from Antarctica in the south, to multiple locations in the Arctic Circle to the north. In addition to the 100 countries with fairly guaranteed snow sports, other countries that receive occasional snowfall could accommodate skiers and boarders if the facilities were there – in Moldova, for example, it is possible to ski if you’re there when the snow falls, take your own gear, and are prepared to walk up a slope as some are known to have done.

Follow Emily Sarsfield Down The Ski Cross Course ince the beginning of last autumn, more than 200 training groups have come to the Stubai glacier in the Austrian Tirol to train on the 1000m-long ski cross course, including British number 1

ski cross athlete Emily Sarsfield. The ski cross course at Eisjochferner features ten waves, jumps, and eight banked corners, and has recently been transformed into the Big Family Funslope for everyone to use for free with a valid ski pass.

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Heading to the Slopes?

More To Skiing in

Madesimo BEN CLATWORTHY

’m trundling up the mountain in an antiquated 35-year-old snowcat, past small stone buildings, which have certainly seen better days. But I’m not skiing in Kazakhstan or Lebanon. No, this is Italy. And nor am I going skiing. In fact, I’m off on a 5km snowshoe outing through the forests of Madesimo, one of the closest ski resorts to Milan. It’s easy to lose appreciation for the mountains when you spend your time hurtling about the place, so spending a morning at a more leisurely pace proved a welcome change. It was, in fact, a series of events conspiring against me that had prompted my Alpine wander. Urgent repairs to a bridge on the access road had forced the closure of the resort (on the grounds of health and safety), so I found myself at a loose end in a village where life – normally – revolves around skiing. I started my Alpine meander at Lago Azzurro, before striding through the forests, over rivers, and negotiating icy pistes as I went. It had been a while since the last snowfall, so the snow – crisp on top, fluffy and powdery underneath – was well tracked. Not by skiers, but by the paw prints of small mountain animals – hares, foxes, and marmottes – which prowl once darkness falls. I paused to chat, and admire the high mountain couloirs that litter the impending jagged peaks. I joked with my companions as we plodded along,

sharing tales of high-octane mountain experiences. This day was never going to be the basis of such tales, but it proved an opportunity to reconnect with the mountain, and appreciate the power they behold. Even in the quietest weeks of the season the distant whirl of pylon wheels and chairlift engines pollute the air: but not this day. Of course, it’s not all about snowshoeing in Madesimo, and when the lifts are open – and conditions permit – the resort offers 60km of skiing from 1550–2948m. Sadly, whilst the rest of the Alps were covered in snow, this small corner of Italy found itself denuded of snow by December, after hefty falls in the autumn. Locals’ told me how the resort often opens its doors in earlyNovember; however, this year the race was on to get the resort in full operation for Christmas, and as I strolled through the village, trucks laden with snow – scraped from wherever possible – negotiated the narrow streets, headed for the bereft slopes. However, all was not lost, as the limited number of open slopes – just seven – proved to be challenging and immaculately groomed. The red and black pistes from the top of the Cima Sole are both used by the Italian ski team for training, whilst the adjacent blue run offers a more gentle descent of the mountain. The resort is famous for its 3km Canalone, itinerary black piste, which descends from the top of the Groppera cable car, and begins with a narrow, steep

gully, before house is dimly lit, winding its exuding charm way down the and quirkiness in mountain face. equal measure. A Following fresh dangling washing snowfalls the up glove above the Ben Clatworthy was a guest of run is a powder door greets you, Momentum Ski (momentumski.com) skiers dream, whilst, the equally who offer a tailor-made packages, with quickly becoming peculiar downstairs prices starting from £725pp for 7 nights’ tracked, and bar is manned by a half-board accommodation at the 4★ what remains is a mannequin. Local Hotel Andossi, including return flights dramatic mogul dishes are served up from London Gatwick to Milan and car field. It’s certainly in vast quantities, hire. Six-day ski passes start at €137 per not a run for all washed down adult (£116). those uncertain with regional red of their ability on wine. Each course For more information see skis, or afraid of is complimented visitmadesimo.it. hitting ice. by a different bottle, Three lifts jut out climaxing with a of the village, and light – yet seriously most accommodations are within an easy strong – rouge, measuring in at 16%. walk of these. A number of easier nursery I staggered home, admiring the lofty slopes can be found near the Montalto peaks, lit by the moon. In the way that trips chairlift, whilst those more accustomed to go, things hadn’t exactly gone to plan, aerials and jumps are catered for by a large but it was early doors, and a lack of snow snowpark at the top of the main gondola. in December certainly doesn’t mean the Once the lifts stop turning, those seeking slopes will be suffering by January. In fact, a relaxed après-ski drink should head to as I write, on my return to England, the the stylishly appointed Bollicine bar. The forecast predicts snow in the coming days typically Italian nibbles – prosciutto ham, and plummeting temperatures. Alpine life local cheese, and pizza – all come highly is unpredictable, and that’s what makes recommended, unless, of course, you’re it so special. I could go to Venice, and the planning on having a big supper. canals would always be there. Snow is far However long you stay, dinner at the more interesting, and at least now I have Dogana restaurant is an absolute must. The an excuse to return and ski the remainder. magnificently kitsch 340-year-old converted In truth, that’s rather a fun thought.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

S ' E P O R EU NEW

S A E R A I SK PATRICK THORNE

ew ski areas? I hadn’t realised there were still new ski areas opening in Europe you might quite rightly say, and you would indeed be correct. But what does happen every now and then is that existing ski areas merge, usually with the aid of a multimillion Euro lift or two. Then the newlyconnected two (or more) former areas adopt one fresh joint identity. It’s been happening for years – Les Arcs and La Plagne, now ”Paradiski” for example; Flims and Laax, now Laax only. And Pas de la Casa and Soldeu in Andorra get quite grumpy if you don’t call them Grandvalira. Last season, Austria’s Wildschonau and Alpbachtal valleys combined to form Ski Jewel, and the season before it was Madonna di Campiglio and

Pinzolo in Italy (which seem to have stuck with their existing names), and before that came the first connection from Slovenia to Italy, where it became possible to ski from Kanin in Slovenia to Sella Nevea in Italy, with nice views of the Adriatic on the way down, thanks to a spectacular new Doppelmayr cable car. This was effectively skiing through the old Iron Curtain of the cold war. This winter there are at least four new link-ups, as ski areas see “biggeras-better” in the battle to remain economically viable for the future. For skiers and boarders it can be a lot of fun to ski between two areas that were once separate, where you once had to take your skis and board off and wait for a bus, and often spend ages going miles around, it’s exciting to just ski the link or ride a lift like any other. Here’s what’s new this winter.

The Powder Connection Grimentz and Zinal A new cable car is due to open any day now linking the neighbouring villages of Grimentz and Zinal in the Swiss Val d'Anniviers valley. Grimentz has been known as a ”hidden gem” for three or four seasons, with just a few British tour operators, including Mountain Heaven, operating there; the neighbouring ski area of Zinal is even less well known in Britain, but both have a reputation for their freeriding terrain. An off-piste ski run has existed for quite a few years between the two, which has a combined distance of around 110km of piste, but the new lift may transform the region. The locals don’t seem too sure whether they’re pleased about it or not – on the one hand more business is good for economy, but on the other the secret may be out.

The New Arlberg Probably the highest profile connection is the linking of the small ski area shared by Schrocken and Warth to their big neighbour, Lech, by means of the Arlberg Jet gondola, a project, we are told, that has been decades in the making. The greater Arlberg area has just leapt in size to 340km, from the previous 260km, although it is still not easy to ski between the St Anton side and the Lech side (a one-way off-piste route that is permitted only to good skiers or boarders making the journey with an authorised local guide). But it’s certainly an added attraction for everyone on the Lech side, or in one of the newly-linked areas.

The Arosa Lenzerheide Link A connection between the quaint, high-altitude village of Arosa, and

Arlberg

Ski Juwel

(skiarlberg.com) Innsbruck 110km; Friedrichshafen 150km; Munich 250km

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Arosa – Lenzerheide

its larger neighbour Lenzerheide, is another project that has been talked about for decades. Eventually the population of Arosa, with 60km of piste, voted in favour of the connection in a village referendum, and with a slightly smaller percentage in favour, so did the population of Lenzerheide. The resulting connection offers 225km of runs for all standards, catapulting the ”new” area straight into the big league of Swiss ski areas, with most areas in the country that claim greater total skiable kilometres being actually more fragmented, and requiring bus connections to access each of theirtotal areas in their entirety.

Ski Amade You may not have heard of it, but Ski Amade has been around for the best part of 10 years now, as a kind of Austrian equivalent to Dolomiti

Grimentz – Zinal

(grimentz.ch / zinal.ch) (arosa.ch/lenzerheide.com) Superski in Italy. of the circuit. Then Friedrichshafen 150km It has more Monarch flies to Friedrichshafen from two new six-seater than 805km of London Gatwick and Manchester; chairlifts between Kanin to Sella Nevea Austrian piste Grenoble from London Gatwick and Wagrain and St Johann (tarvisiano.org) on a single lift Leeds Bradford; Munich from London on one side of the Venice 150km pass, with its Luton and Manchester; Innsbruck link have soothed the slopes located from Manchester; and Verona from connection there too. Madonna di Campiglio – Pinzolo Manchester. The airline also flies above dozens of It’s quite an off(campigliodolomiti.it) different villages, London Gatwick to Barcelona for ski the-beaten-track Verona 160km including areas in Andorra and the Spanish destination for Brits, famous resorts Pyrenees; and Manchester to Venice and lots of fun if you’re Ski Amade like Bad Gastein for Cortina d’Ampezzo. looking for somewhere (skiamade.com) and Schladming. ”new” and different. Munich 195km Like Dolomiti For more information, latest deals It seems certain Superski, many and to book visit: monarch.co.uk/ski that in the seasons of the resorts are to come there will be not physically ever more of these linked together, interconnections. Lift but that’s Herman Maier), Wagrain and St Johann company managers gradually changing, and two sets of im Pongau. and tourism officials in those areas that new lifts have created 120km linked The main connection is a giant cable have made the leap-to-link invariably ”sector” this winter, with runs between car hanging almost horizontally across claim that it was the only way forward, as the villages of Flachau (famously the valley on each side of the small Alpine skiers vote with their skis and book their the home of the great downhill skier town to Wagrain, this joins the two halves holidays in bigger areas.

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resh from creating an urban terrain park in London in the autumn, the O’Neill brand has launched a social media contest inviting people around the world to name the place where they’d most like to ride – regardless of whether there’s usually any snow there. So far O’Neil team riders in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, and Paris have shown you don’t need a mountain or a lot of snow to start

“IT ACTIVATES YOUR BODY AND MUSCLES IN A WAY THAT NO OTHER SKI SIMULATOR TOUCHES. QUITE SIMPLY, IF YOU USE THIS YOUR SKIING WILL IMPROVE”! Gavin Kerr Hunter. Director, SnowPerformance

sliding. The company wants riders to capture their preferred location, upload it, and share the images on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr, using #RIDEMORE and the name of their city in a hashtag. O’Neill will select the best image every week, and award the winners with the latest O’Neill gear, with the ultimate prize for one of the participants of seeing their daydream come true – the company will cover their favourite spot with real snow for 1 day, making sure the winner can actually ride it.

Adopt A Curve In Arosa he Swiss resort of Arosa has hit on a novel way to raise funds for its green initiatives. It is encouraging businesses and individuals to ”adopt” one of the 360 bends in the 30km drive up to its base from Chur, 1320 vertical metres below in the valley. The resort has a very honest description of the drive on its website, with a strong onus on how much more pleasant it is to arrive by train or bus. Via the kurvensicher.ch, funds raised from sponsoring a curve will be put into what the resort believes is the first

“eco-fund” for a tourism destination, with the plan to invest in sustainable projects in Arosa. So far project ideas include: installing a solar array, a green heating system, and a “nature experience and bear park”. Curves can be bought for CHF2500– CHF5000 on the website, and so far about a third of them have been sponsored. Each sponsor receives a certificate.

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WIN Fischer

Boarder Fined For Chasing Moose

Watea skis & Attack 13 bindings nTheSnow and Fischer have teamed up to give you a great chance to WIN a pair of 2013–14 Watea skis and Attack 13 bindings, with a combined worth of £580. This is the perfect ski for an advanced skier spending some time on the piste but mostly off trail powder hunting, skiing in the trees, or charging in the bowls. The Watea 88 has Freeski Rocker that has rocker in the tip, camber underfoot, and rocker in the tail. Tip rocker will help you float in the powder and engage the ski quicker on the groomers. Camber underfoot will keep you stable on the hard pack, and give you rebound for when you hit the piste. Tail rocker releases you out of a turn effortlessly, and help you in deeper powder. Fischer have used Carbon Tech Construction in this ski with a network

of carbon fibers that have torsional power and balanced stiffness and is lighter than other materials to keep the weight down of the ski, for a lighter, but powerful feel. If you are looking for a versatile ski that excels off the trial, and can ski easily on the groomers the Fischer Watea 88 will be a great ski for you. Features include: Freeski ROCKER technology for exact control behaviour; and excellent floating. Paired with Attack 13 bindings, these will be a real buddy for cool guys!

HOW TO ENTER Visit InTheSnow.com/competition

Terms and conditions apply. Votes cast after the closing date will not be counted. One entry with the correct answer will be picked at random to win the competition. Incomplete entries will not be counted. By entering the competition you agree to receiving mailings from, or on behalf of InTheSnow Ltd,

Closing Date 21February 2014

however your email will not be sold or passed to third parties. One entry per person. Ski size available is 176, with bindings fitted at the winner’s cost. Cash alternative is not available.

A 21-year-old snowboarder has been fined $250 (£152) for “animal harassment”, after chasing a moose down a ski run at a resort in Montana, USA. Officials said the incident could have had a bad result, as the harassed moose was seen to turn and move towards the snowboarder at the end of a video that he posted on Facebook of the chase. The video was used as the evidence against the snowboarder by the authorities, after a resort employee was made aware of it.

New Slow Zone At Les Deux Alpes Although known for its huge vertical and exciting terrain for thrillseekers, as well as some of the world’s longest runs for intermediates to cruise down, Les Deux Alpes has just unveiled a new ”slow zone” this season, which has opened from 3400m down to the resort. The run is intended for skiers and boarders who want to take their time, and descend in a safe and controlled environment.

JACKSON HOLE MOUNTAIN RESORT

inthesnow.com | JANUARY 2014

Slowdown In Facebook Friends For Ski Areas PATRICK THORNE

he growth rate in Facebook Friends for leading ski areas has slowed faster this winter when compared with the previous three. This could be due in part to a maturing of the Facebook concept, and in part to the growth of other forms of social media. Most areas that were adding tens of thousands of new Friends every quarter are now only adding at 10% of the former rate. An exception includes Jackson Hole, which has added 45,000 fans in the past 3 months – knocking Breckenridge out of the top 10 and positioning it in third place as the ski area with the most Friends – and likely to overtake long-term title holder Mammoth before the end of the winter. In Europe Val Thorens has seen a 20% jump in fan number in the past 3 months.

Charming, Authentic French Village

The top 10 most popular ski areas, which two seasons ago was entirely made up of North American ski areas, now has five North American entries, one southern hemisphere entry, one indoor snow centre, and three European entries, including a small ski area (but wider year-round recreation area) in Portugal.

Facebook Friends Top 10: 177,188 163,839 159,085 158,963 157,476 154,641 141,500 137,852 129,668 123,613

Mammoth, USA Whistler, Canada Jackson Hole, USA Valle Nevado, Chile Vallnord, Andorra Vail, USA Heavenly, USA Serra da Estrella, Portugal Ski Dubai, UAE Val Thorens, France

Build Your Own Board indlip snowboards (windlipsnowboards.com), who has been custom building snowboards since 2006, has launched a new website that walks users through the design process to make their own fully customised snowboard. You can now go to the website, fill in your measurements on the “Contact – custom snowboard enquiry form”, and the company will then build your dream board. “It’s a bit like buying a tailor made suit but with lots of graphical choices and if you want to do your own artwork just ask for a template to get you started,” said the company’s Lisa Robinson. Windlip has many stock shapes on file

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Socks With Calf Size As Well As Foot Size alke’s SK Energizing Wool socks manage to offer both cold-climate warmth, with supportive muscular compression (RRP £40) – essentially you buy them not only to match your feet size, but also by the size of your calves to

ensure they’re a tight fit. Using a blend of merino wool and wicking synthetics, the gradual compression promotes greater oxygenation of the musculature, the practical application being that calf muscles will tire less easily.

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JANUARY 2014 | inthesnow.com

Test Dummies Show Ski Helmets WORK DAVID BLACK

study on helmet safety commissioned by insurance company Direct Line, and carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), has revealed that wearing a ski helmet can dramatically reduce the severity of a collision by almost four times. Crash test dummies were used to simulate collisions with a tree at 10, 20, and 30km/h, both with and without a ski helmet on. Three key areas of the body were monitored for the force of the impacts and likely injuries to the head, neck, and chest.

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The study found that skiers wearing a helmet experience at least two-thirds less force than not wearing one, as it helps to absorb the impact over a larger surface area, as well as in the lining, compared with impact to the head alone. At just 20km/h the study found that the head encounters nearly 2 tonnes of force if the skier is not wearing a helmet. The report concludes that “The evidence supports the on-going debate about skiers wearing helmets on the slopes, and as more and more of us take up the sport the benefits and research surrounding head protection are ever the more prevalent.”

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TV Choir Sings On Indoor Snow To Acclimatise For Winter hile cold weather is notoriously difficult for professional vocalists, one famous TV choir has been deliberately putting itself in sub-zero conditions to hone its winter singing routine. The Manchester Airport choir, established in spring 2012 by VIP choirmaster Gareth Malone during Series 1 of Sing While You Work, wanted all of its choristers to be acclimatised to the colder temperatures of winter during its busiest season of the year, so booked rehearsals at Chill Factore in Manchester (chillfactore.com). There is method in the choir’s apparent madness. The temperature at Chill Factore

is pegged permanently below –2°C – equivalent to the coldest average winter day temperature in the UK, and, thus, a great proving ground for these choristers who will be expected to perform outdoors in a harsh northern English winter. Cold weather is known to restrict vocal chord movement, as well as cause them to become dry. But, as long as the choristers keep scarves around their necks, and hats on their heads, to keep heat loss to a minimum, as well as taking regular drinks of water to stop their voices from drying out, then the sub-zero temperatures should have no ill-effects. “It’s our boot camp as we prepare for the busy season for choirs,” said Heather Boyd of Manchester Airport choir.

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E R è S I ' D L VA D E R E V O C N U

PATRICK THORNE

ne of a handful of resorts worldwide that can claim to have hosted World Cup, World Championship, and Olympic Alpine skiing events, Val d'Isère has long held a special attraction to the British. It’s easy to see why. One of the world's most famous ski resorts, Val d'Isère offers a vast skiing panorama, made famous by the great French skier Jean Claude Killy, after whom the ski area Espace Killy is now named. Located at a snow-sure 1850m, with its lifts climbing to open up one of the world’s biggest verticals, crowned with glacier slopes used for summer skiing, this is not a modern purpose-built resort, although it has been mostly created over the past century. “Val d'Isère may well be the ultimate ski resort – choc-box pretty at

Christmas and great snow right through ‘til Easter,” says Richard Sinclair of specialist travel agency Sno. co.uk. “For the hardcore it’s home to legendary downhill piste the Face (got to be on your “skiing bucket-list”) and intermediates can get around the vast Espace Killy on blues and easy reds. For families the childcare in resort, and in the Brit run chalet hotels is superb, and for groups and couples looking for awesome après, look no further than infamous La Folie Douce run by local character Kelly Starlight, followed by late night debauchery in Dicks Tea Bar.” Val d'Isère at the start of the 1930s was just a small hamlet at the valley head, served by a rough mule track. The farms about the area lay dormant for up to 8 months of the year because of the snow. It all changed in the early 1930s when Parisian industrialist Jacques Mouflier persuaded the local mayor to turn Val d'Isère into a ski resort. The

rest, as they say, is history. The local farmers trained as ski school instructors, a ski shop opened, the authorities brought running water and electricity to the village, and 6 years later the first ski lift was installed. Today the resort, which then had just four hotels, now has more than four hotels in the 5 category alone.

Off The Snow Not only does Val d’Isère meet the world’s best standards for those who enjoy the slopes, the resort also offers guests the opportunity to dabble in alternative activities, such as ice driving in the latest BMW, or a Michelin-starred feast. The redesigned ice driving circuit opened last month with a new and improved circuit. The ice driving school offers private lessons, short courses, and initiations with professional drivers. Guests can

choose to go behind the wheel and experience ice driving in the latest BMW, try ice karting, or any of the many other off slope options including snow grooming, huskie tours, and a new golf driving simulator. In addition, Val d’Isère’s Aqua Leisure complex at the heart of the resort has recently been refurbished, and the wellness centre now has three new treatment and massage booths for that essential après-ski pampering, as well as aqua bikes for cycling with your body underwater – in case you still need to burn off energy after a day on the slopes! Any lift pass valid from 2–15 days gives one free entry into the complex, which has extensive wellness facilities including a large swimming pool.

Bring The Family Although the resort is most famed for its tough slopes and expensive chalets,

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there’s plenty of family-friendly terrain, a pedestrianised centre, some enticing boulangeries and patisseries, and that excellent sports centre. In terms of where to stay, “I’d recommend Chalets du Jardin Alpin as it is run by the very lovely Isabelle, in a quiet location and has doorstep skiing,” says Jane Bolton, MD of Erna Low. A one-bedroom apartment for 4–6 persons costs from £1121 for the weeks commencing 11, 18 or 25 January and 1 February, this price includes a return Eurotunnel crossing with free upgrade to Flexiplus. Another option, new in the heart of the old village and a short distance from the slopes, is a chic and stylish but family-friendly hotel, Les 5 Frères. Recently opened, it is able to cater to groups of all sizes by offering single bedrooms to a whole floor. The hotel has a dining and living room, library, cellar, and games room. If there’s any

Val D'Isère: valdisere.com Erna Low: ernalow.co.uk Les 5 Frères: les5freres.com VIP Chalets: vip-chalets.com Hotel Les Barmes de l’Ours: hotellesbarmes.com

free time after skiing, guests can, if they wish, head down to the hotel's kitchen and bake together!

Book A Chalet Many Brits opt for chalet holidays in Val d’Isère, and VIP SKI is one of the resort’s specialists. Their custom-built Chalet Davos is in a quiet location within 10 minutes’ walk of the bustle of the village centre on the knoll of ”Le Cret” (although a chauffeured vehicle is on hand for this and the journey to the slopes). The chalet, built in keeping with Val d’Isere’s architecture, maintains its character through smooth stone fireplaces, rustic oak flooring, and seasoned timbers. Marble bathrooms, handmade sofas, and goose down

duvets are some of the luxurious touches, as well as the basement cinema room with Blu-ray player, iPads, and the hot tub. There are fantastic views from many rooms, including the four-poster master bedroom. The chalet has three further bedrooms enabling the property to sleep up to eight people. Prices for 2013–14 start at £869pp based on two sharing in April. Prices include return flights from London Gatwick, coach transfers, accommodation, catered chalet board of cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, three-course evening meal on 6 nights, followed by cheese board, coffee and mints, house wine, champagne, and canapés on arrival. Also included are daily newspapers, wake up drinks, ski

hosting if required, and complimentary toiletries. New for this season is also the option to take on ”lighter options” in the evening for the main course.

A New Chef In Town Val d’Isère is also famous for its gourmet cuisine, and there’s a new chef’s creations to discover this winter at the 5 Les Barmes de L’Ours hotel, located at the foot of the famed Bellevarde slope. Home to one of the two Michelin-starred restaurants in Val d’Isère, La Table de l’Ours, the hotel has announce d a new chef, Alain Lamaison, has joined the kitchen this season, sharing his passion for French gastronomy and quality, local cooking. Here you can enjoy a hearty skier’s lunch on the sunny terrace, or sit back and relax in the elegant and cosy dining room for an exquisite and memorable evening meal.

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Win A Ski Instructor For A Day PATRICK THORNE

Nevis Range Half Price Skiing 2014

he Swiss resort of Adelboden has a novel contest this winter in which the prize is a free ski instructor for the day. Actually it is not so much of

a competition, more that you pick a day you’d like to win, and email your ski instructor requirements (what you need to learn) to p.calanca@adelboden.ch, and hope your request is chosen. The prize of the ski instructor for the day is available to win 16

times from 15–30 March, and you have to be in Adelboden to make use of your ski instructor’s skills. If you win you can use the ski instructor alone or with up to three others, and a ski pass for the day is included for the winner. Winners' details will

be published on Adelboden’s Facebook page 1 week in advance, and the resort recommends anyone trying to win an instructor will have a better chance if they try for a less popular day – which means midweek rather than weekends.

Nevis Range has announced special low-priced skiing dates this winter, when full day passes will be available for less than the price of a gondola ascent, and less than half the price of a normal 1 day ski pass. On selected dates – Saturday 1 February, Sunday 2 March, and Saturday 5 April – adult day passes will be only £11.50, and for children only £6.75, compared with a normal day pass price of £30 for adults, and £18.75 for children. No pre-booking is required, just turn up, but check conditions first.

Interlaken Launch Fondue Guide Interlaken in Switzerland has launched an online fondue guide, which outlines the different types of fondue available, as well as the different venues in resort in which to find each type. The guide, found in > offers, > winter offers at Interlaken.ch, acknowledges that first there was cheese, the oldest form of the dish known as fondue, but that there’s so much more to fondue these days. As well as chocolate fondue for dessert, there’s also meat and now fish fondues cooked in oil (Fondue Bourguignonne) or stock (Fondue Chinoise).

Ski Safety Camps In Tirol ore and more resorts are offering freeride areas that have been made, hopefully, avalanche proof, and more and more people are trying freeride in preference, or in addition, to sticking to the pistes. Ever better equipment for this kind of skiing make heading off-piste even easier; but the safety issues have not changed, and it’s important to know what you’re doing and be able to recognise danger signs. St Anton in the Austrian Arlberg, famously one of the world’s leading freeride resorts, is one of the resorts offering free Snow and

Avalanche Awareness Camps (SAAC), which have been set up to encourage skiers and snowboarders to learn about the mountains. In fact, the 2-day basic camps operate throughout the season in over 20 ski resorts across Austria. With a mix of theory and practical learning, the focus is on Alpine dangers, improving awareness, and increasing an individual’s own sense of responsibility. To reserve a place on one of the (Englishspeaking) camps email office@saac.at to check availability, or visit saac.at to view this season’s dates and locations.

The Gourmet Evening Zipline Tour Whistler has a new Evening Dinner Tour by Superfly Zipline this winter, which combines a snowcat ride up Rainbow Mountain for a gourmet dinner in a backcountry yurt, then an adrenalinecharged zipline ”flight” back through the darkness. Catered by the popular Bearfoot Bistro, the dinner features a menu that includes Classic French Alsatian Onion Tart, Slow Braised Angus Beef, and Warm Date Pudding with Maple Butterscotch. After dinner guests soar through the dark under a (hopefully) starlit sky on the zipline tour, which is sure to get the heart thumping. The 4-hour round-trip tour departs at 5pm and 6pm daily, and is priced at $199pp (£121).

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90 Years Since The First Winter Olympic Games his year doesn’t just see the latest Olympics, it also marks 90 years since the first Winter Games took place in Chamonix, France. From 25 January–5 February 1924, nearly 300 participants from 16 nations became the first winter Olympians – although it was to be more than a decade until downhill skiing was to be added to the events. The events were followed by 88 journalists, along with 10,000 spectators. For those first Games, six sports were on the agenda: ice hockey, speed skating, figure skating, curling, bobsleigh, and Nordic skiing (cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, and a

demonstration of military skiing, which later gave rise to biathlon). The Chamonix valley resort of Les Houches has been twinned with Sochi for 10 years, and Chamonix itself is twinned with 1936 Olympic host Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which was also host to the first downhill ski events staged at an Olympics.

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New Thermals From Old Brand egendary skiwear company Bergans of Norway has launched a wide range of merino base layers for winter 2013–14 (Bergans was a company in the era before ”brands”). Available in a number of colours, weights, and styles, for both men and women, the clothing is made from merino wool, which has the ability to regulate body temperature, as well as eliminate odours, keeping the wearer fresh during any activity. Each base layer has flatlock seams, which stop chaffing and provide extra comfort, and comes packaged in a small stuff sac that is made of 100% recycled material. The full range, priced from £20–£70 per item, are available to buy in-store and online from leading independent outdoor retailer Stewart R. Cunningham Outdoor Centres (srcunningham.co.uk).

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Jon (AKA WESTY) AT ALTITUDE

Jon is one of a handful of instructors working in the Alps to hold the top qualifications from France, Switzerland and Britain. In his role as Ski School Director, Jon is on hand to manage the different parts of the Altitude company portfolio, including the ski and snowboard school, the instructor training programs, and the off-piste courses (+41 277 716 006).

PISTE SKIING How to Carve on Skis any skiers love to complain about snowboarders. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m never one to get involved in that debate, but we have to give our baggie brothers and sisters credit for inventing the carving board which gave us our wonderful modern carving skis. Before that we had to contend with super long and bullet straight skis which were both more difficult and less enjoyable to ski on.

1. What is a carved turn?

2. Start Small and be Patient

In a non-carved or skidded turn we rotate our skis to point in the direction we want to go. In a carved turn we do not turn our feet at all. Instead we only tip the skis on to an angle on the edges and the shape of the ski, or the side cut, does the turning for us. When we successfully carve a ski the track we form is two clean lines in the snow left by the edges of the ski.

To begin to learn to carve we start with very small movements and try to tip our skis onto the edges using only our ankles and knees. Try this on a flatish slope first and go fairly direct down the hill and just gently roll your knees from side to the other. You will go fast which is necessary and fun. Be very patient with these small movements as it will take time for the skis to change direction at first

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his month we explain the various options parents have if their child is considering a competitive career in snow sports.

3. GET BIGGER!

4. Balance To The Outside

Once you have mastered creating angles using the smaller joints it’s time to up the ante. Try to tip the skis over even further by moving your whole body into the turn. Still initiate the turn with those small movements, but once you feel the skis begin to tilt move the rest of your body in. The further you can tip those skis over the shorter the turn will be and the more exhilarating the feeling!Try seeing how far you can go before you fall. Don’t worry if you do because…

When you’ve begun to get bigger angles you may notice you’re starting to fall over to the inside of the turn. This is good; it means you’re really tipping the skis over. To stay up right you have to balance more on the “outside” ski - that is, the ski that is further to the outside of the turn. To do this we simply bend from above our belly buttons which will keep part of our body upright while the rest makes those big angles. A great drill to practice this is to try and lift up your inside ski towards the end of those carved turns. Have fun flying around the pistes!

Join A Local Club This should be your first port of call. Local race clubs can be found all over the UK, and are mostly focused around coaching children of all ages in racing technique. They are a great way for your child to mix with other children of the same age and ski ability, and you will have access to some of the most experienced ski coaches in the country for very reasonable fees. Get Racing Whilst regular coaching will build a solid base of skiing

fundamentals, experience of competition is vital to improve performance. Your local race club will be able to advise you on when your child is ready to race, and help with their registrations and race entries. Racing will teach your child great self-discipline, and the trips around the country can be great fun for both your child and you! Summer Training Camps If the thought of another holiday on the Algarve fills you with dread, then why not take advantage of the fantastic summer skiing conditions on Europe’s glaciers, and send your child on a summer training camp. Hintertux in Austria runs race camps for juniors through the summer, and there are Salomon-

sponsored freestyle camps run in the Swiss hamlet of SaasFee. There is a wealth of offsnow activities, such as tennis, football, a luge track, and thermal springs to keep both you and your child happy. Work At A Local Dry Slope Or Indoor Snowdome If your child has aspirations of becoming a ski instructor, try and see if they can get a part-time job at a local dry slope or snowdome. Most centres will require a candidate to hold a minimum of a BASI Level 1 qualification, and be aged 16 years or older. Teaching is a great way for your child to gain self-confidence and develop their interpersonal skills, and to see if they really do want a career in snow sports.

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inthesnow.com | JANUARY 2014

No Season Pass Proves Unpopular At Bansko PATRICK THORNE

decision by the Bulgarian resort of Bansko not to sell a season pass, only made clear as the season began, has gone down badly with locals and seasonaires who face a huge cost increase for their skiing and boarding. Instead of a season pass the best multiday ticket available is now a 40-day “Premium Pass” costing 1500 lev (£635) – which is 50 lev (£21) more expensive than the 2012–13 full season pass. “At these rates the full season would be over £2k, surely making Bansko the most expensive ski lift season pass in Europe if

not the world?” said one disgruntled local. “It's hard to put into words the feelings of disappointment, confusion and anger that are being felt by many people in Bansko at the moment. There are so many seasonaires who love skiing and boarding in Bansko and who take jobs here just so that they can enjoy the mountain,” said another, adding, “For seasonaires who can only ski for a few hours a day when they have time off, the 40-day ski pass becomes prohibitively expensive per hour. The late release of these rates not only takes advantage of tourists but also locals and staff working at this resort and I can only see this ultimately leading to the long [term] detriment of the resort.”

2022 Winter Olympics/Football World Cup Clash Looks Unlikely dates clash between the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar and the 2022 Winter Olympics (venue yet to be decided, but all candidates in the northern hemisphere) now seems less likely. Although FIFA is still in a consultation process with national footballing bodies, as we went to press Jérôme Valcke, the Secretary General of FIFA, had stated in a French radio interview that the World Cup would take place between November and January, rather than on the traditional summer dates when temperatures can reach 50°C in the Middle East. However, the November to January being considered for the World Cup

is for 2022–23, rather than 2021–22 as first feared, moving away from the Olympics that will take place around February 2022, some 9–11 months before. This eases concerns of a battle for TV rights and sponsor money, between the International Olympic Committee, International Ski Federation, and FIFA – all based in Switzerland.

Book Now To Ski Under The Midnight Sun f you’re worried the season is already getting away from you and you still haven’t booked a trip, or you just want more, why not head over to Riksgränsen for Sweden’s summer solstice weekend for a truly surreal skiing experience (in June!). Hit the slopes under the midnight sun, and celebrate mid-summer in style with the Swedes.

Simply Sweden (simplysweden. co.uk) offers a 3-night break from £995pp based on four adults sharing. Valid for travel on 19 June, the price includes flights from London Heathrow with SAS, transfers, accommodation on a B&B basis, lift pass and ski rental. Children under 7-years-old wearing a helmet can ski for free with no lift pass required.

JANUARY 2014 | inthesnow.com

Goggles With Prescription Lens Inserts For Less Than £70 hether seeing the slopes in crystal clear vision is a good idea if you’re trying to pluck up the courage to tackle a steep descent could be a matter to joke about, but being able to see clearly on the mountain, regardless of weather conditions and the state of your eyesight, is essential. Sportviz (sportviz.com) has made this more affordable with the launch of their stylish prescription goggles, which incorporate a unique snap-in prescription lens ”Inzert”, fitted with CR39 ophthalmic lenses to match the wearer’s exact prescription. The goggles provide clear 20/20 vision for all glasses wearers, including bifocal and varifocal, and costs start at less than £70 (plus p&p) for single-vision lenses. The high-quality, lightweight TPU Sportviz Ski Mask ensures cold temperature flexibility, and triple-layer face foam guarantees both warmth and comfortable snug fit. The double spherical lens design offers full UV protection, and incorporates decentred technology for clarity, comfort, and performance.

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Snow+Rock In Selfridges Snow+Rock has opened a 325m2 concession in the famous London Selfridges store. The store design showcases famous winter sports brands, with contemporary fixtures and fittings creating a ”house of brands” within the space. Master bootfitters and store staff who are all knowledgeable end-users, and passionate about their sports, have been employed in the new store, the company says. Snow+Rock also opened a further store at London Gatwick Airport in December.

Spectacular New Lift For Stubai Construction work on a giant gondola lift for the Stubai ski area, near Innsbruck in Austria, will take 2 years. The Leitner built lift will ascend nearly 1150 vertical metres over its 4km+ length, and each giant cabin will have floor-to-ceiling glass, and seating for more than 20 people, as well as additional standing space, giving a capacity of 3000 people per hour. The lift will operate year-round, and as Stubai is one of Austria’s eight glacier ski areas it will typically open from September to June for snow sports. The new lift is due to open on 31 October 2015.

More Ski Dubais In an interview with George Kostas, the CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties (MAF), which runs Ski Dubai, he has said the company plans to build more ”Ski Dubais” around the Middle East, as part of an estimated $5bn (£3bn) expansion plan over the next 5 years. MAF is already building Ski Egypt, as part of the Mall of Egypt in Cairo, which is due to open in 2016 – 11 years after Ski Dubai opened. “We’re looking where else we can take it,” said Kostas. “I think it would work wonderfully in Saudi Arabia and looking at whether it can work in Oman or Bahrain too.”

InTheSnow.com

Dakine POV case £20

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Atomic Waymaker Carbon 130 £364

New for this winter, the Waymaker Carbon 130 is Atomic’s high-end freeride boot, built for riders seeking the ultimate, no compromise boot. Combining the Waymaker’s hike and ski mode, with its lightweight but stiff carbon spine, these boots will allow you to seek out those powder stashes, and also deliver unrivalled downhill performance at the same time.

Go Faster Food For Kids by Kate Percy £16.99

Kate Percy uses her direct experience as an athlete, cook, and mother to provide you with the ultimate guide to what, when, and how to fuel active children on a daily basis. Includes fuss-free, easy-to-follow recipes to help them be the best they can be – not just on the sports field, but also in the classroom. The essential toolkit to unlock your child's potential.

Atomic Nomad Blackeye Ti

£499 (including binding)

After 6 successful years on the market, how could these skis be improved? A new shape makes the new version more nimble on hardpack, and with the new ARC technology you’ll get a smooth more natural feel as you take the ski from one turn to the next. The all new Atomic Nomad Blackeye Ti is the ultimate smooth and lively ski, which will be your go anywhere, do anything weapon!

Mons Royale Original LS (Mint) £65 This thermal top should be a key item in every girl’s wardrobe. Not only will this be your warm choice for out riding, but with its fitted cut and long length it’s ideal for layering at anytime ... and because it's made from super soft merino, it won't itch like traditional wool, or stink like synthetics!

POC POCito + Iris £115 + £65

This children’s helmet and goggle set utilises the same technology as POC’s adult versions, but for the helmet there is improved impact absorption at lower speeds and force. Fluorescent colours with reflective stickers maximise visibility of the helmet, which helps to avoid collisions with other skiers. Also included with the POCito is an accessory LED light and a fluorescent vest, for added visibility. The POCito Iris goggle clip has a My Info space for the parent's contact information. Adjustable sizing allows the helmet to grow with the child.

Outdoor Research Floodlight Jacket £275 We're finally able to bring you a fully waterproof downinsulated jacket. The Floodlight repels wet weather, completely blocks the wind, and traps body heat in even the most challenging conditions. An ideal layer for hiking, climbing, or ski-touring in inclement weather, throwing on the Floodlight is a surefire way to keep you warm and dry.

Natural Hero Muscle Rub £9.99 Hot Ginger Muscle Rub "sports massage in a tube" helps ease fatigued muscles, with its blend of premium grade ginger root, rosemary, starflower and sweet fennel essential oils. This 98% natural warming and soothing cream not only helps combat muscle fatigue, but the easily absorbed pH balanced formula also conditions your skin and smells incredible.

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inthesnow.com | JANUARY 2014

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If you’re reading this, it’s likely you know the Olympic Games take place in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in February. It is, however, unlikely that you’ll be there to watch next month. But, next season? Well, I would say that’s the best time to ski in Russia. There is little that can rival bombing down a former Olympic downhill piste, or riding the modern ultra-fast lifts. Then there’s the world’s most complex snowmaking system, and the legacy of the Games. By March there will be few people in the world who haven’t heard of Sochi.

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Sochi is a city sitting on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. It’s not a ski resort, but thanks to Putin’s bottomless pit of money, the Russian’s have built four resorts 40km from the city. The biggest resort is Rosa Khutor, the venue for both the men’s and women’s downhill races, as well as all the other Alpine skiing events. Krasnaya Polyana is the setting for the skeleton, bobsleigh, and luge events, whilst Gornaya Carusel (Mountain Carousel) offers 80km of skiing. The smallest of the resorts, Gazprom, is home to Putin’s holiday home, and named after the Russian energy company, which invested millions in the Games.

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The resorts are home to some of the world’s newest and most expensive ski lifts. All four areas have their own separate lift pass (an area ticket is promised post-Olympics), however, combined the resorts offer 51 lifts, most of which have been built specially for the Games. There are three giant ”3S” gondola lifts due to be completed in time for the Games – one large enough to transport cars up the mountain, and another will be the longest single lift in the world at 5383m, according to Doppelmayr.

STAY IN SOCHI Thanks to extensive building of both roads and railway, the resorts can be reached in just 25 minutes from Sochi. This means it is possible to commute to the ski area (the four resorts are located a few minutes from one another) on a daily basis, and explore the city itself in the evenings.

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JANUARY 2014 | inthesnow.com

First Ever Telemark World Cup Medal For Britain ritish telemark racer Jasmin Taylor took the silver medal in the opening World Cup Parallel Sprint race of the 2013–14 season, in Tux, Austria, in December, making her the first British athlete to reach the podium in this challenging winter sport discipline. Skiing consistently well in the morning’s heats, Taylor reached the final round of the competition, where she drew Swiss telemark veteran and reigning World Champion Amelie Reymond. “Reymond took the first run with only a couple of ski lengths in it ...” said British Team Manager and FIS Telemark Chairman Andrew Clarke. “In the second run Jasmin was relentless and skated the last 100m hard. Unfortunately it was not enough to win but it was more than enough to give Jasmin her first Senior World Cup podium and put British Telemark firmly on the map!”

No Stress Service From Ski Republic Equipment rental company Ski Republic has launched a ”No Stress” service for its customers in Val d’Isère (France) and Verbier (Switzerland). For bookings made in the Performance Plus, Privilege and Exclusive ranges, Ski Republic’s van picks up skiers from outside their accommodation and takes them to the shop. Once they are equipped, the van drives them back to their accommodation. In addition, if a customer’s accommodation has no ski room, Ski Republic can keep your equipment overnight.

Okemo Plans $200m Expansion The state of Vermont, USA, has given the go-ahead to a $200m (£121m) development plan at Okemo ski resort. The plans will see the creation of a new ”South Face Village”, which will include two new ski lifts, seven new ski runs, and homes for a new residential community expected to grow over the next 10 years to around 500 people. Work will begin this summer, and the lifts may be operational next winter. “We think the market has turned and that there is demand for this type of development at this time,” developer Ted Rossi told local media.

Over 1400 Kids Ski Free In Quebec As part of Mont Tremblant’s anniversary celebrations, throughout January students from ten primary schools will receive the gift of free skiing, thanks to the Mon Tremblant Program. Revelling in their day of on-slope discovery, which includes a free introductory ski lesson and rental equipment. At all subsequent visits until the end of the 75th season, children between the ages of 6 and 12 years can ski for as little as $7.50 (£4.30) per day.

inthesnow.com | JANUARY 2014

THE The French Alps Specialist Self-drive Packages Or Accommodation

I H C O S Y C A G LE PATRICK THORNE

he scale of the ski resort development at Sochi is becoming clear as the Olympics near. All four ski areas built for the Sochi Olympics are operated separately, and different lift tickets are currently required, although a combined ticket is promised post-Olympics. The combined facilities of the four areas are world-beating, and the budget, which has not been disclosed, appears to be in the billions of Euros. Of the 51 lifts, built or being built for the Games’ venues, 21 are highspeed detachable chairlifts, and nine of those are the largest eight-seater variety. There are three giant ”3S” gondola lifts – one large enough to transport cars up the mountain,

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another the new longest single lift in the world, at 5383m, according to manufacturer Doppelmayr. There’s no formal figure on the combined hourly uplift or piste kilometres of the four areas, but a calculated guesstimate would put the uplift at 100,000 skiers per hour or more, and perhaps 200km

of runs. That puts Sochi straight up there with the world’s biggest regions, including the Arlberg and Skiwelt in Austria; Espace Killy, Les 3 Vallées, Portes du Soleil and La Plagne in France; Italy’s Milky Way and Val Gardena; and Grandvalira in Andorra. Pretty impressive considering there were just a couple of old double chairlifts in the region a decade ago. With 19 lifts (including several gondolas and six-seater highspeed chairlifts) and more than 70km of terrain, Rosa Khutor, host of Alpine events at the Olympics, is the largest, with Nordic host resort Laura, operating 17 gondolas and high-speed chairlifts, another big resort. The original Krasnaya Polyana ski centre, which existed before the Olympics were awarded, has been re-branded Alpika, and its old double chairlifts are being replaced with five combined gondola/ chairlifts (again, more than any other ski area in the world). It boasts the biggest vertical of the four at 1688m. Although most of the lifts will be ready for the Games, the resort operators have already ordered another four to be installed post Games. For physical connection, the gondola lifts from Krasnaya Polyana to Alpika and Laura have base stations close to each other, and next to a new railway station bringing skiers and boarders up to the slopes from Sochi on the Black Sea coast below. The base

of Rosa Khutor is about 2.5km from there and linked by a shuttle

bus service, however there is a gondola connection between Rosa Khutor and Alpika already operational. The fourth ski area, Karusell, is about 10km from Rosa Khutor, and there is currently an on-going debate as to whether it too will be connected. It will be interesting to see if this huge ski resort development, and a planned roll-out of more major ski areas in the region to follow into the 2020s, stems the flow of Russian skiers heading west, and starts bringing western European

skiers east in sizeable numbers as President Putin hopes. Crystal Ski has been operating holidays to Sochi from the UK for several years.

JANUARY 2014 | inthesnow.com

US Ski Areas Close Due to Extreme Cold everal US ski areas closed for several days this month because they said it was too cold for safe snow sports. Resorts in Wisconsin had reported temperatures of −33°C with the wind chill meaning it felt as cold as −47°C. The closed ski areas included Granite Peak in Wisconsin, pictured left, where management were not just concerned about the dangers of skiing or boarding in such low temperatures on the slopes, but also that lifts might breakdown leaving people stranded in the frozen air on chairlifts. Temperatures failed to reach a high of −23°C during the cold snap, but it then got much warmer, as high as −1°C a few days later.

Grandson Of Vail’s Founder Killed Anthony Seibert, the 24-year-old grandson of Vail Founder Pete Seibert, has been killed in an avalanche in a backcountry area close to the famous Colorado resort. Media reports indicate that Mr Seibert was skiing in a gateaccessed off-piste area, known as the East Vail Chutes. Three others skiing with Mr Seibert were injured and taken to hospital, but later released. There had been a number of snow slides in the area prior to the fatal avalanche, according to the reports, due to snow conditions, and the avalanche risk was rated as ”considerable”.

New Black Run For expert skiers and boarders the Grand Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees has just opened its sixth black run (pyrenees-holiday.com). Visible from the starting point at Barèges Tournaboup, the area has now been official declared safe to ski, and the new run offers a huge 550m descent over its 1.6km length, and is accessible directly from the Caoutiere chairlift. The Grand Tourmalet ski area is located above the villages of Barèges and La Mongie.

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Ice driving circuits have long been popular in the Alps, with the French apparently particularly keen on them. This season there’s a new greener twist to ice driving, as La Clusaz has tackled the apparent incongruity between petrolheads and pristine snow, launching a new ice track that is home to a fleet of electric cars. Xavier Pompidou, World Endurance Driving Champion, and his team of instructors are on hand to perfect your ice driving technique. Sessions cost from £25 for an individual session, and the circuit is open from 10am–8pm (laclusaz-tour.com).

inthesnow.com | JANUARY 2014

Summerhayes Up For Action Woman Award BEN CLATWORTHY

o celebrate a triumphant year for women in sport, BT Sport has launched the BT Action Woman Awards, in which you can vote for one of ten women whose dynamic sporting performances have made the most impact this year. The ten nominees each receive support from a high-profile superfan from the world of sport. One of which is freestyle skier Katie Summerhayes whose superfan

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Crystal Launch 2014–15 Ski Holiday Sales s is now traditional, the UK’s largest ski tour operator, Crystal Ski Holidays (crystalski.co.uk), launched their winter programme for 2014–15 just before its 2013–14 season began last month, with holidays to over 130 resorts in 13 countries, departures from 23 UK airports, St Pancras and Ashford rails stations, as well as numerous ferry points. Three new chalets have been added to the programme: Chalet Linda in Kitzbühel, Austria; Chalet de l’Aravet in Serre Chevalier and the Chalet Favero in

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is Lawrence Dallaglio. Voting, via btsport.com, will close on the 19 January and the winner will be announced on BT Sport’s The Clare Balding Show on the 25 January, less than a fortnight before the Sochi Olympics. “Promoting women’s achievements in the sporting world is something which is extremely important to me and so I’m delighted to be able to do this and showcase the very best sporting achievements made by women on The Clare Balding Show,” said Clare Balding.

Les Deux Alpes, both in France, which can be booked for winter 2014–15, but not the current season. (Very) early booking offers for 2014–15 include: 2-for-1 ski/board hire offer with any Crystal holiday to any European ski resort accessible by charter flight – saving up to £179, or 2-for-1 ski carriage – saving up to £35. To qualify you must book before 31 March. Crystal Ski Plus packages are back, priced from £449pp (includes flights, transfers, local lift pass, ski/board hire or ski carriage, and a week's accommodation).

First-Ever British World Cup Ski Half Pipe Woman’s Win FIS

ith the Sochi Olympics a month away, Rowan Cheshire has become the first-ever British woman to win a ski half pipe FIS World Cup when she took gold earlier this month at a competition in Calgary, Canada. The 18-year-old delivered a fantastic first run scoring 80.40 points, sealing her gold. She produced huge amplitude throughout the run and, her coach, Pat Sharples, tells us, “an impressive 540 to flair to 900 trick combination.” "In training we have been working hard with Rowan on new tricks and we

knew she had the potential to podium. She is so dedicated and all the hard work has now paid off with this win," added Sharples. teambss.org.uk

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inthesnow.com | JANUARY 2014

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he Paradiski region in France celebrated 10 years since its inception, thanks to the spectacular Vanoise Express double-decker cable car, by challenging two of the world’s best highliners, Julien Millot and Tancrede Melet, to make the crossing between the two cable-car cabins. In what’s believed to be a world-first, the

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two French highliners walked on a 2.5cm wide and 60m-long slackline, suspended 380m up between the two Vanoise Express cabins, which have also had a 10th anniversary makeover by fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. The Vanoise Express is the world’s largest cable car, with each cabin capable of carrying up to 200 passengers. It links the stations of Paradiski in 4 minutes, at a speed of 45km/h, or 12.5m/s, over a distance of 1824m.

Ski-Scotland Pass Sells Out

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or the first time ever, SkiScotland’s all-area season pass has sold out. The pass gives access throughout winter 2013–14 to all five of Scotland’s mountain ski areas, as well as a free session at Scotland’s year-round indoor snow centre in Glasgow. All the funds raised from pass sales go directly to promote snow sports in Scotland. Eleven of those who managed to get their hands on the kids’ passes are junior members of Aberdeen Snowsports Club, with ages ranging from 9–14-years-old. The Club has been fundraising since April to make sure the money was in place before the tickets went on sale.

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“The kids have really worked hard for these passes, holding regular tea/ coffee and homebakes sales at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre, supermarket bag packing, taking part in a sponsored walk up Glas Maol at Glenshee June, and organising a rail jam event,” said Neil Cameron of Aberdeen Snowsports Club.

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indsey Vonn has announced she will not be competing at the Sochi Olympics, due to injury. Vonn (29), arguably the biggest name in Alpine skiing for the past 5 years, has had repeated problems with her right

knee, and is to undergo more surgery. The American skiing superstar said she was “devastated” at being forced to make the decision to pull out of the Games by her injury. Vonn became the first American woman to win gold in the Olympic downhill at Whistler 4 years ago, and prior to recent injuries has dominated her sport, even asking at one point to be allowed to compete with the men. "On a positive note, this means there will be an additional spot so that one of my teammates can go for gold. I will be cheering for all of the Olympians and especially team USA!" said Vonn.

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JANUARY 2014 | inthesnow.com

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chalet de la Cloche  VAL D'ISÈRE

The Omnia is perfectly situated in the centre of Zermatt just off on a hidden back street, giving you the bustle of beautiful Zermatt right on your doorstep, but the peace and quiet you would expect from an escape to the mountains. The warm and friendly welcome is simply hard to beat.

Chalet de la Cloche is in the heart of Les Brevieres, Espace Killy, considered to be one of the greatest ski areas in the world. The Ski-Base team has created a wonderful chalet described by Harpers Bazaar as a “haven of sensual indulgence”. It is one of Condé Nast Traveller's top ten chalets in the Alps.

+41 (0)27 966 7171 | info@the-omnia.com | the-omnia.com |

+44 (0)20 3432 8446 | info@ski-base.com | ski-base.com |

HOTEL Avenue Lodge  VAL D'ISÈRE

HOTEL FIREFLY ZERMATT

The luxurious Hotel Avenue Lodge is a superb base in one the world’s great ski areas, the exceptional Espace Killy. You’ll feel welcome from the minute you arrive with valet parking and the concierge service taking care of your luggage. The Hotel Avenue Lodge’s entire team is at your service to make your holiday in our resort an unforgettable stay.

The Hotel Firefly is the first address in Zermatt for travellers who expect luxury and lifestyle of the highest level. In the midst of the breathtaking scenery of the famous glacier ski area, the hotel is only 3 minutes from the Klein Matterhorn cable car and from the centre of Zermatt. Each suite is individual, spacious and luxuriously furnished.

Chalet Fourmiliere in Morzine is a boutique, owner-run, catered ski chalet, which is quickly gaining a reputation as a gastro-chalet. When you stay here your every need will be accommodated and no request is too small for the wonderful hosts and their staff, whose sole intention is to ensure you feel at home in their splendid abode.

+41 (0)27 967 7676 | firefly-zermatt.com

+33 (0)45 075 4625 | info@chaletfourmiliere.com | chaletfourmiliere.com |

+33 (0)47 900 6767 | contact@hotelavenuelodge.com | hotelavenuelodge.com |

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Résidence du Mont-Blanc CHAMONIX Mont-Blanc 

Chalet Zibeleine La Plagne 1800

Set in the heart of the Chamonix Mont-Blanc valley, in the French Alps, the Résidence & Spa Vallorcine Mont-Blanc offers a cosy atmosphere and a warm welcome. Surrounded by mountains and forests, this newly-opened 5 residence is an ideal place for relaxing and exploring the Mont Blanc region.

Chalet Zibeleine nestles in the trees above La Plagne 1800. The chalet is only a few minutes' walk from the centre of the village where you will find the local bars and restaurants. Another bonus is that just above the chalet on the main road you have a free bus stop (about 20m away). Sleeps eight people and is ideal for small groups.

+33 (0)45 054 7520 | chamonix-vacances.com | contact@chamonix-vacances.com |

+41 (0)151 625 1921 | info@mountainheaven.co.uk | mountainheaven.co.uk |



Chalet Fourmiliere  Morzine

 Hôtel l'Héliopic CHAMONIX Mont-Blanc

Located in the Mont-Blanc valley, in the centre of Chamonix, the 4 L'Héliopic Hotel Sweet and Spa is set at the foot of Aiguille du Midi lift. If you come as a couple, family or group for a special event, our 4hotel will take care of your well-being. Whatever the season, on an exceptional setting in the heart of Chamonix, our hotel offers a new level of comfort.

+ 33 (0)45 054 5556 | reservation@heliopic.com | heliopic-hotel-spa.com |

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

THE OMNIA Zermatt

KEVIN ROLLAND

PATRICK THORNE

ur cover boy Kevin Rolland (23) is a freestyle skier, and a former X Games World Champion in the discipline of ski half pipe. Ski half pipe will be a new sport at the Sochi Olympic Games, where Rolland will be going for gold. Rolland first won gold at aged 20 at the Freestyle Skiing World Championships in Inawashiro, Japan. Among his many other subsequent achievements, he went on to take gold for two successive years in the superpipe at the Winter X Games, in Aspen, USA, and in the Alps, closer to home at Tignes in France. Rolland calls La Plagne in the French Alps home.

How excited are you about ski half pipe being added to the Olympics at Sochi? KR: I am really happy because it has been over 6 years now since I first competed in the World Cup, and to finally reach the Olympics today is a consecration to be finally considered as an athlete.

what made you decide to take on that role? KR: I think I have a lot of experience in competition despite my young age. I am able to help the young and give them little tips on how to perform better. Are you still a Youth Olympic ambassador? KR: My mission as ambassador was for the 2012 Youth Olympics, but if they need me for the next Olympiad I'll be there. Please tell us about your relationship with La Plagne. How does this help you in your career, and what can you tell us about what La Plagne means to you? KR: La Plagne is my home. It's where I feel the best, I learned how to ski there, and it’s where I got into a half pipe for the first time. Also its backcountry is one of the best in the world. Skiing in La Plagne makes me feel good mentally.

You were an ambassador for the Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, in 2012,

Will you win gold in Sochi?! KR: YES! … Hopefully! O ALLAMAND

How young did you start on skis? KR: I started skiing at the age of 2 with my grandmother who is very passionate about the sport. I quickly knew I wanted to do freestyle skiing because it never gets boring.

How did you end up competing in ski half pipe? Were you one of the first to ski in the pipe? KR: When I was younger the half pipe in La Plagne was the best one in France. I was naturally attracted by it, and it's where I was having the most fun. The pipe can quickly become traumatic to some people, but when used properly there is no aftershock.

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Eﬃciency as beautiful as our slopes. From London to the Alps in practically no time at all. What else would you expect from the eﬃciency experts? With 160 ights per week from Heathrow, London City and now new also Gatwick, we bring you closer to the slopes than anyone.

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Price quoted per person including airport taxes and surcharges departing from London to Geneva. Price is correct at time of print and subject to change and exchange rate variations. Availability is limited. For some payment methods a charge of £ 4.50 may apply.

Next Month! Interview with Marie Martinod Winner of 2013 X-Games

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