InTheSnow | Issue 58 | Feb 2018

INTHE SNOW PHOTOGRAPHER: NOAH DAVID WETZEL | SKIER: WILLIE NELSON | LOCATION: ALTA SKI AREA

ISSUE 58 | FEB 2018

Check out the Swiss slopes.

Before you even land there.

swiss.com 1 pair of skis or 1 snowboard, 1 pair of ski poles, 1 pair of ski boots or 1 pair of snowboard boots travel free of charge, in addition to standard baggage allowance (excluding hand luggage only fares) and subject to availability.

Free ski transport

Made of Switzerland.

there are some that are just on a higher level – not just in terms of altitude but in many other respects too. Here we profile one of those greats.

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There are many great ski resorts around the world, but then

MAXIMILIANPRECHTEL

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IN THIS

VAL D'ISERE: PURE CLASS 

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE WINTER OLYMPICS  It only seems like yesterday we were in Sochi, but that was four years ago, and now we’re heading further east to South Korea with the UK’s biggest Olympic team for more than 60 years and some exciting new events we could do well in.

WORLD'S FASTEST QUEUEGOBBLING SKI LIFTS  It is incredible how technologically advanced ski lifts have

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become, with the latest models costing upwards of€10

INTHESNOW_MAGAZINE

million (around £8.75 million) a piece and travelling faster and accommodating more skiers than ever before.

FOLLOW US ON INSTA

INSTAGR

047

020 LADIES SKI: RIDER FOR REFUGEES  Freeride World Tour snowboarder Anne-Flore Marxer has spent her winter distributing hundreds of items of warm clothing to migrants and asylum seekers in Northern Italy.

BUYERS GUIDE  047–052

EDITOR

The brands and buyers are at trade shows in Europe and North America at the moment already talking about

PATRICK THORNE

2018/19's gear, but there are still plenty of exciting products in the shops and online for this season.

036

ENGADIN ST. MORITZ

030

Here is her tale.

It’s difficult now to imagine that back in the autumn tour operators were telling me that there was a marked switch in booking patterns with people opting to travel at Easter rather than Christmas as there had been three seasons in a row with rather poor snow cover in the Alps until mid-January.

We were talking after a summer which had seen record

THE GLAMOROUS ALPINE DESTINATION 

TOMMY BAUSE

high temperatures in the Alps, closing summer ski

When you think of glamour for your ski holiday destination,

glamour, or even skiing, Here’s the inside info.

were not good.

But then, in September, on high glacier slopes at least, it started snowing, and it hasn’t stopped much since. There

it’s hard to get past St Moritz, the world’s original wintersports resort. But there’s much more to the place than just

areas on glaciers for the first time. In short, the signs

have been powder days every month since the start of

EDITORIAL TEAM

autumn, the deepest snow bases in the Alps reached 5m at the start of January and in fact the snowfall after

PUBLISHER

SUB EDITORS

DESIGN BY

New Year was so heavy it caused operational difficulties

dom@inthesnow.com

Nick Jones Marion Adams

tom@rocketbase.co.uk

at times with blocked access roads and other problems

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resulting from, dare I say, too much snow.

Dominic Killinger

5 ReasONs 022 21ST CENTURY TIROL 036  ALTITUDE TUITION 044

EDITOR

Patrick Thorne

patrick@inthesnow.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Debbie Gabriel

debbie@inthesnow.com SALES & CONTENT MANAGER

Anne Powys-Keck

anne@lovethemountains.co.uk BRAND & DIGITAL MANAGER

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Emmanuelle Châtel

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Megan Hughes

CONTRIBUTORS

Emmanuelle Châtel Rob Stewart Megan Hughes Emily Sarsfield Fran McElhone Jon West EQUIPMENT BY

Ski Bartlett Sputnik

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Printed in the UK.

No part of this publication may be copied, photocopied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any way or means, either by recording or otherwise, without permission of the publishers in writing.

InTheSnow Ltd The Snow Studio, Kings Lane, Bucks, HP16 0QY +44 (0)1494 862 423 dom@inthesnow.com inthesnow.com

By late January things were beginning to look a little too much – bases had reached 6m, resorts like Cervinia, Zermatt, Saas Fee, St Anton, Andermatt, Tignes and others were cut off by the extreme avalanche danger and snowfall volumes were hitting levels not seen for nearly 40 years. Talk about feast or famine.

The good news for the rest of the ski season, though, is that all the snow that has built up should be enough in most cases to see us through to the spring even if Mother Nature finally decides to stop her snowy abundance tomorrow.

And what a “rest of the season” we have to look forward to! Starting off with high hopes of our first-ever silver or gold medal for Team GB’s snowsports team at the South Korean Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in February.

Then our Paralympic athletes will be trying to do better still than their remarkable medal haul at Sochi four years ago when they’re in PyeongChang from 9 to 18 March.

patrick@inthesnow.com

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

The Milky Way is a real star of a ski area. Not only is there 400km of piste to explore, you can also ski both Italy and France in one day. We think that’s pretty out of this world.

Get more winter at crystalski.co.uk ATOL protected. For more information please see our booking conditions.

06 // JUN17

ST MARTIN DE BELLEVILLE

SNOWIEST START TO SKI SEASON FOR 21 YEARS The world’s leading snow reporting agency Snow-Forecast. com has reported that winter 2017/18 has seen the snowiest start, overall, in the Alps, for 21 years. The company’s experts say that there have been times when parts of the Alps have had a snowier start but not the whole region.

Snow-forecast.com assessment.

risk has hovered at the upper end of the danger

The week between Christmas and New Year was

scale, 4 or 5 out of 5, for much of the past month.

exceptionally snowy with some areas including Alpe

It’s essential therefore that skiers stay on the open

d’Huez in France reporting 1.8m of snowfall over

groomed runs and only head off-piste if deemed safe

seven days.

in a particular area by a qualified local guide.

Then came Storm Eleanor at the very start of this

Although the snowfall is particularly marked in the

year, which brought snowfalls of up to a metre

Alps, most other ski regions of Europe are having

overnight on 3–4 January.

a good start to the winter too. There have been

The snowy start comes after three winters in a row

big snowfalls in the Pyrenees and large parts of

where the first few months of the season were mostly

Scandinavia, while at least some areas of Eastern

dry with very little snowfall before Christmas and New

Europe have seen good snowfalls too.

There were regular snowfalls throughout the autumn

Year. The result of that had been that some skiers and

The Dolomites are also enjoying their best start to

on higher slopes, allowing some areas to open early

boarders had decided that the seasons had changed

the winter for four years, and here the difference is

 Morillon, France, 3.45m

and meaning that most resorts opened on schedule

permanently and switched their bookings from

particularly marked as the region went right through

 St Anton, Austria, 3.35m

with healthy bases.

Christmas to Easter in order to be more sure of an

most of the past three winters with very little snow all

 Kaprun, Austria, 3.35m

By the start of 2018, bases had built up to 5m at

accumulated snow base by the time of their holiday.

season. This winter though has started very snowy, with

some resorts in Switzerland, and many leading areas

This winter seems to contradict that theory.

Arabba on the Sellaronda circuit posting 1.2m of snowfall

had 2–4m of snow lying on their slopes, meaning that

The snowfall is not just falling deep and crisp and

in 48 hours at one point a few days before New Year.

 La Plagne, France, 3.1m

they now have enough snow to last right through to

even, however. Strong winds have caused problems

Bases overall across the region are looking good though

 Les Arcs, France, 3.1m

the end of the season in most cases, even if there’s

occasionally, and during Storm Eleanor there was

at 50–200cm, compared to more commonly 20–50cm

 Avoriaz, France, 2.9m

no more snowfall all winter.

also torrential rain at times as well as big temperature

of mostly machine-made snow in recent winters.

But so far there’s no sign of the snow stopping, and if

fluctuations – a combination of factors which along

Almost all lifts are operating and ski runs are open

anything the rate of snowfall has increased since the

with all the heavy snowfall meant that the avalanche

across Europe.

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I0 Snowy Resorts aS 2018 BEGAN Upper base depths  Engelberg, Switzerland, 5m  Dachstein Glacier, Austria, 4.1m

 Flaine, France, 3.2m

007 // FEB18

AFGHANS TO COMPETE IN OLYMPIC DOWNHILL Two skiers from Afghanistan will be the first to represent their country at a Winter Olympics, competing in the giant slalom competition. Sayed Alishah Farhang (27) and Sajjad Husaini (26) learned to ski on the snow-blanketed slopes of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan six years ago, but they have spent the past four winters training in St Moritz, thanks to international donations to cover their funding requirements.

ROSS WOODHALL

JAPANESE SKI AREA IS FIRST FOR 14 YEARS What is reported to be the first new ski resort in Japan for 14 years, Mineyama Kogen White Peak Resort, has opened. The Japanese ski industry peaked two decades ago in 1998 when 18 million people took ski holidays, but the

POST-BREXIT 2019 SKI HOLIDAYS GO ON SALE

numbers declined dramatically at the start of this century. However, they have stabilised at a little over seven million over the past four years.

NEW SWISS 1,700M VERTICAL DESCENT A new piste christened simply “The Red Run” at Glacier 3000 in Switzerland opens up an 8kmlong run over 1,700m vertical. The new Red Run begins at the Scex Rouge mountain top station, 300m up, passes under the Oldenhorn and below the Cabane middle station, where it then joins the existing Martisberg Run, eventually making it down to 1,300m.

FIRST INDOOR SNOW CENTRE IN OMAN

The 2017/18 ski season had not yet begun for most tour operators but, as is traditional, the UK’s biggest tour operator, Crystal, launched sales of their 2018/19 ski season holidays in midDecember for those who like to secure their package a good way ahead.

now have their 2018/19 season

complex travel arrangements and

holidays on sale too.

additional costs for holiday providers.

In an interesting twist this time,

However, Crystal’s management

2018/19 ski holidays on sale run to

have previously said that they

April 2019 – several weeks after the

will cope with these currently

UK is due to leave the EU following

uncertain circumstances when they

Brexit on 29 March 2019.

arrive, noting that their 2018/19

Currently there are lot of unknowns

programme only runs for a few

about the UK’s relationship with EU

weeks into the start of the period

A global skiwear manufacturer that has launched

countries, which are home to the

after the UK leaves the EU.

numerous major and genuine initiatives to

majority of Crystal Ski destinations. It’s

Easter Sunday is quite late in 2019

help the environment has announced a tour of

Most other leading tour operators

unclear whether there will be more

– on 21 April.

European ski resorts through the winter, where

PATAGONIA® GOES ON TOUR TO MEND DAMAGED SKIWEAR

it will offer free-of-charge repairs to damaged skiwear, with its repair team travelling around with a purpose-designed caravan.

to open later this year. Work on the 5,600m2

Patagonia’s Worn Wear initiative, first launched

project started in 2015, but a completion date

in 2013, will again this season offer skiers and

had not previously been confirmed. The Mall

snowboarders free repairs on busted zippers,

of Muscat’s snowpark, which is located on the third level of the Mall of Muscat, will offer 21 ice- and snow-themed rides including snow bumper cars, snowmobiles, a snow carousel, snow diggers, snow slides, snow scooters, an

RAPHAEL VOEROESMARTY

The first indoor snow centre in Oman is due

rips, tears, buttons, pulls and more on any brand of clothing, as well as teaching people how to fix their own gear. For the first time, it will also offer technical repairs on GORE-TEX® garments.

“Extending the life of our garments, through proper care and repair, is the single most

ice climbing wall, snowball challenge, snowball arena, Alpine theatre and an ice skating rink.

DRY SKI SLOPE CLOSED DUE TO SNOWFALL

UBER LAUNCH HAHNENKAMM HELI SERVICE

important thing we can do to lower our impact on the planet and reduces the need to buy more over time — thereby avoiding the CO2 emissions, waste output and water usage required to build

Ride-sharing app Uber offered

requesting UberHELI, users were

“It’s as easy to book a helicopter as

it. By keeping our clothing in use just nine extra

a special service to well-heeled

collected by UberBLACK for the trip

it is a car, and payment is seamlessly

months, we can reduce related carbon, waste

An artificial surface ski slope at Telford

residents of Munich and Salzburg

from their city location to the heliport,

taken from your registered card

and water footprints by 20–30% each, according

Snowboard and Ski Centre was closed for

wishing to get to the biggest event

where the helicopter was waiting.

without the need for cash,” said an

to the UK-based group WRAP – simply because

in this year’s World Cup sporting

The helicopter could carry up to

Uber spokesperson.

we’re making and throwing away less,” a

announcement online by the local council,

calendar, the Hahnenkamm in

five people, including 10kg of hand

Users did need to ensure they had

Patagonia spokesperson said.

which runs the slope, led to some derisive

Kitzbühel, earlier this month.

luggage each. The trip took about

quite a lot of money in their bank,

For tour dates visit the Patagonia Worn Wear

comments to which a council spokesperson

Uber users in Munich and Salzburg

60 minutes (from Munich) before

however, as the service cost €2,115

website at: wornwear.patagonia.com/events.

responded, “We do appreciate the irony, but

could order the helicopter to the

landing in St Johann, near Kitzbühel.

each way from Salzburg or €3,100

Hahnenkamm race venue at the tap

Passengers then reached the

each way from Munich. t.uber.com/

of a button on the Uber app. After

Hahnenkamm race course with UberX.

kitz2018

a day in December due to snowfall. An

sometimes conditions are just against you. Ice skates might be more useful than skis.”

008 // FEB18

@INTHESNOWMAG @LTMOUNTAINS

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL

Heavenly Skiing At Down To Earth Prices Heavenly Skiing At Down To Earth Prices

NO EVENING STAFF FOR NEW GONDOLA

American ski racer Lindsey Vonn has said that she’ll be representing

A new gondola lift being built at Tignes to create a new

the US people when she races at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South

connection between the resort’s Brévières and Boisses area for

Korea, not US president Donald Trump.

winter 2018/19 will operate in the evenings without staff in its

Vonn, the most successful female racer of all time, and twice an Olympic

base station, Compagnie des Alpes have said. The new lift, part

medallist, also told CCN, “I want to represent our country well, and I

of a five-lift, €38 million order placed by the resort operator with

don’t think there are a lot of people in our government that do that.”

lift company POMA, is key to a complete overhaul planned at

She also said that if invited to the White House after the Olympics she

the foot of the slopes at Brévières and will replace three lifts.

would decline.

“Thanks to the OWA (Operation Without Attendant), this new

Lindsey Vonn has been a strong advocate of women’s rights and

gondola lift will run without staff in the bottom station from 5pm

empowerment and has also spoken up against climate change.

to midnight,” a statement from Compagnie des Alpes confirms.

Vonn has won four World Cup overall championships – one of only two

The other new lifts will be built at Val d’Isère, Méribel, La Plagne

female skiers to do so – and was the first-ever American woman to win

and Serre Chevalier ski areas with construction on all due to start

a gold medal in downhill at a Winter Olympics, in 2010. In 2016, she

this summer and with opening of all planned for December 2018.

won her 20th World Cup crystal globe title, an all-time record among

The lifts will be produced at POMA’s new industrial site spanning

both men and women, passing Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden, who

70,000m² in Gilly-sur-Isère, where POMA invested €20 million in

won 19 globes from 1975 to 1984.

2016 to develop and strengthen its industrial facilities.

BIG

RACING FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT THE PRESIDENT

COPENHAGEN POWER PLANT SKI SLOPE RUNNING LATE BUT GETS A NAME The new year-round ski centre that looks set to become the next global icon of winter sports and is set to open close to the Danish capital has been given a name, but there’s no confirmed opening date for the slopes.

The complex, a huge structure clad in glass

receive 57,000 visitors in its first year, most

and aluminium and visible from many parts

eager to see its ski slope on its 10,000m2

of the capital because of its size, will be, the

of sloping roof, as well as the world’s tallest

Danes claim, the most efficient waste-burning

artificial climbing wall (expected to be 10m wide

and energy-generating plant in the world.

by 88m high).

It will power and heat 160,000 households

“One of the biggest sports in Denmark is

across Copenhagen.

actually skiing, even though it is one of the

Christened “CopenHill”, the year-round artificial-

A hoped-for 2017 opening date appears to have

flattest countries in Europe,” architect Jesper

surface ski slopes will descend the outsides of an

passed, and mid-2018 is now being mooted as a

Boye Andersen told Quartzy. “It was

almost complete waste-to-power plant known as

completion and opening date.

obvious that we needed a ski slope, and that

Amager Bakke.

When it does open, CopenHill expects to

it was possible.”

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009 // FEB18

5% DISCOUNT

QUOTE CODE 'ITS'

High Quality Catered + Self Catered High Quality Catered Accommodation + Self Catered Accommodation French and Swiss Alps

Snow Sure French and Resorts Swiss Alps On /Snow Near Piste Sure locations Resorts Hidden Extras OnNo / Near Piste locations Financially Bonded No Hidden Extras Financially Bonded

0151 625 1921 mountainheaven.co.uk 0151 625 1921 mountainheaven.co.uk

9–25 FEB 18

14 FEB 18

9–18 MAR 18

Winter Olympic Games

Snow Rugby Tournament

Paralympic Winter Games

Pyeongchang, South Korea

Valmorel, France

Pyeongchang, South Korea

Featuring 102 events in 15 sports including new

For the sixth year in a row, Valmorel is a host to this

British hopes are high in the skiing competitions at the 12th

disciplines: big air snowboarding and mixed team

friendly sporting tournament, which includes the chance

Paralympic Winter Games coming up after the Olympics.

alpine skiing. Here’s hoping Team GB can build on our

for all comers to try snow rugby and then short 16-minute

Can Team GB improve on our impressive medal tally from

best-to-date bronzes. pyeongchang2018.com

matches for teams of pro players. valmorel.com

the Sochi Games? paralympic.org

"SOBER ENGLISHMAN" AT COLORADO RESORT A new ski run will open at Winter Park Resort in Colorado this season. The 6m-wide trail has been christened "Sober Englishman" after a public naming competition and crosses a trail named "The Drunken Frenchman." There is some debate as to where the approximately half-mile-long trail, which has an 8–10° pitch really is "new" as some local skiers posting on social media say it already existed but was known as "Do Or Die."

VOLCANIC ERUPTION CAUSES AVALANCHE Twelve skiers were injured and one killed by an unexpected eruption of Mt Kusatsu-Shirane in Japan. The dead man is reported to be a member of Japan’s civil defence forces. Of those injured none were said to have injuries more serious than broken bones. Some were reported to have been

II MAR 18

I7–24 MAR I8

I8–24 MAR I8

SkiColor

Snowboxx

Rock The Pistes

Les Gets, France

Avoriaz, France

Portes du Soleil, France/Switerland

injured by flying glass when glass in gondola cabins shattered. About 80 skiers sheltered in the gondola station at the top of the lift.

MATHIEU VITRÉ

CLUB MED OPENING IN LES ARCS Club Med has announced the opening of a new resort in Les Arcs next winter. The Club Med Les Arcs Panorama 4 Trident complex will offer 1,050 beds in 410 rooms and 24 luxury suites, with an additional luxury 5 Trident space. Les Arcs Panorama will contain three restaurants and three

SkiColor has proved a huge hit and is back in 2018. Ski

Snowboxx has clocked up five sell-out seasons already,

It’s already the eighth edition of the great ski-in/ski-out

bars along with a "Zen Lounge" and Spa. Set to

down the piste in white overalls (provided) and get pelted

growing to become one of the biggest in the Alps. This

music festival where you can ski across the huge Portes du

open on 16 December 2018 the new ski-in/ski-out

with paint – brilliant! The SkiColor Village at the base has

year’s line-up will be performing in the main, après or igloo

Soleil for an afternoon gig then ski back afterwards. Around

DJs, bar, pom-pom girls and more. skicolor.com

stages and is headed up by Fatboy Slim. snowboxx.com

22,000 festivalgoers are expected. en.rockthepistes.com

resort is already available for advance booking.

E A R LY

PRIESTS SKI IN HONOUR OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

2 0 I 8

D I A R Y

Polish priests have held their annual skiing competition in celebration of former Pope and now saint John Paul II, a keen skier. In the 800m-long slalom race in his honour, priests,

I–4 APR I8

I–8 APR I8

9–I4 APR I8

The Brits

Snowbombing

Les 3 Vallées, France

Laax, Switzerland

Mayrhofen, Tirol, Austria

Each year for the past 15 years, around 1,500

The long-running British Freestyle Ski and Board

The "biggest party on snow" returns to the

amateur skiers take part in this annual romp around

Championships mix music, fun and world-class

Tirol for a full-on week of partying, fun, music

the world's largest ski area. Open to all, some take it

snowsports competition for all comers. Hopefully it

performances and, if you like, even a bit of

seriously and race hard, while others just have fun.

will be in a celebratory mood post-Pyeongchang.

snowsports as snowbombing takes over Mayrhofen.

les3vallees.com/en/enduro

the-brits.com

Snowbombing.com

some in long traditional cassocks, tackled the course. The former pope was raised to the level

display near Nashville, is officially a holy relic.

70CM OF SNOW IN 72 HOURS FOR SCOTS Around 6,000 people took to the slopes at Scotland’s five Highland ski areas on Saturday 20 January, as they experienced some of the

DANNY NORTH

means that a ski jacket he once wore, now on

LES 3 VALLÈES / CHRISTIAN ARNAL

of sainthood by the Catholic Church in 2014. This

Les 3 Vallées Enduro

best conditions for years. Centres reported 60 to 70cm of fresh snow in the previous 72 hours followed by blue skies and no wind on the Saturday. However, the great conditions did cause major logistical problems as everyone tried to reach the slopes resulting in a 9.7km tailback.

012 // FEB18

@INTHESNOWMAG

Columbia say only 1,980 jackets in each of the

OrganaTM and Luke SkywalkerTM Echo Base jackets

three styles have been produced.

as well as the Han SoloTM Echo Base Parka.

Inspired by the costumes worn by Han Solo,

The company says the jackets are individually

Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, the collection

numbered and contain several references to Star

is named after the Rebel’s secret base on ice

Wars and the characters who wore them. They

planet Hoth.

are also constructed with Columbia’s “Tested

“In developing the Echo Base collection,

Tough” promise and deliver the brand’s industry-

Rather than take the latest movies as inspiration,

Columbia’s designers worked closely with Disney

leading technologies to ensure that they stand

though, Columbia have put their focus into

Consumer Products and Interactive Media

up to the freezing conditions on planet Hoth, or

three limited-edition jackets inspired by iconic

to ensure that every detail on the jackets is

other galaxies closer to home.

characters in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes

authentic and true to the classic film,” a Columbia

The jackets, priced at £360 each, are available

Back, which was released 37 years ago. In fact,

Sportswear spokesperson said.

in limited quantities on Columbia European

to commemorate the 1980 release of the film,

The hard-to-get collection includes the Leia

websites (if there are any left!).

LEARN TO SKI JUMP WITH EDDIE "THE EAGLE" EDWARDS Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards will be hosting “learn to ski jump” holidays in Canada this winter, right back at the venue where he found global fame at the 1988 Winter Olympics three decades ago. The holiday, which will include a week’s skiing with Eddie at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort along with the opportunity to learn ski jumping at the Calgary Olympic Park this winter, runs from 10 March 2018 and costs £3,295pp, which includes return flights, transfers, seven nights’ accommodation in a luxury lodge including breakfast, six days’ guided skiing, ski passes and numerous other extras. A day of heliskiing is also available as an optional extra.

“I’m looking forward to going back – now I’ve also got the chance to introduce some more people to ski jumping. It will be a fun-packed week full of some great skiing and a good laugh,” said Eddie.

The trip, organised by Kicking Horse Powder Tours, is open to anyone who can ski confidently on red runs, and it’s the first time members of the public have had the chance to ski jump with Eddie in Calgary. kickinghorsepowdertours.com

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013 // FEB18

POLE VERTEX S

Following the launch of classic StarWars-inspired kids’ skiwear and gear (who can forget the R2-D2 ski helmet?) as well as adult boards by Burton, Columbia Sportswear have also moved into Star-Wars-inspired clothing, launching a new selection of jackets.

Photo © Atelier Busche

STAR-WARS-INSPIRED SKI JACKETS ON SALE

GLOVE VERTEX 10S

LEKI’s Vertex Glove and Pole package marks the 10th anniversary of LEKI’s best selling Trigger S – a patented, safety release system that’s fast and comfortable with quick and easy click in and out. To celebrate LEKI is launching the Vertex Package. This Vertex S pole and Vertex S glove combination offers a 30% saving with a package price of £99.95 (a saving of £34.95 if bought separately).

Stockists: BAC Outdoor - bac-e.com Glide & Slide - glideslide.co.uk Webtogs – webtogs.com Reynolds - reynoldsoutdoorcentre.co.uk/the-shop Snow Trax - snowtraxstore.co.uk Snow + Rock - snowandrock.com WWW.LEKI.COM

OLIVIER MAIRE

Planes Trains AND Automobiles TO

WORDS: EMMANUELLE CHÂTEL

STEAMBOAT SKI && RESORT CORP/LARRY PIERCE

Last winter I was lucky enough to head to America’s famous ski state of Colorado to visit two great resorts: Winter Park and Steamboat.

Flying into Denver I was fortunate to be on one of the first of the newly revived ski train services from the state capital up into the Rocky Mountains.

hectares of terrain, 165 trails and 1,118m of vertical. Serviced by 18 lifts the terrain is spread across six peaks, providing a good variety of skiing.

As the visibility was close to nothing, we decided to experience some of the resort’s famed world-class tree skiing. European resorts are less renowned for their skiing below the tree line and we found that Steamboat was clearly at another level. It is the resort’s hallmark after all – even characterised as the “tree skiing capital of the United States”. With the help of a local guide we discovered secret spots making virgin tracks through the woods. A

This is the way that Denver locals used to reach the slopes

blessing. It required a bit more concentration than usual during the

for decades throughout the 20th century and even the early

first couple of runs, but weaving through the trees in untouched

"noughties" before the service was cut.

powder quickly became addictive! We indulged ourselves with a

Now fully relaunched, you can once again just jump onboard the

few breaks to take in the view down to Steamboat below.

Winter Park Express in your ski gear as soon as you get off the plane.

From November to mid-April you can ski beautiful groomed

The train can seat up to 550 people, but it is so popular it’s

slopes, go for the moguls or ski champagne powder in the trees

important to book your tickets for this historic train trip in advance

(which I strongly recommend). In fact, the term “champagne

– it is common for the train to be fully booked.

powder” was created by Steamboat to describe its very smooth,

“There’s no other mode of transportation needed: you can just

light, fluffy snow – a pure delight to ski. And there’s plenty of

grab your skis, hop on the lift and you’re skiing within minutes,”

it – Steamboat excels in the snow, both in quality and quantity,

says Steve Hurlbert, Winter Park’s director of communications.

the resort receiving an average snowfall of nearly 9m per season,

“You’re also steps from the rental shop if needed.”

despite it being at a lower elevation relative to other Colorado ski

In the newly renovated Union Station – one of Denver’s most

resorts (but still higher than most in Europe).

iconic historic landmarks – you can get food and drinks before

At the end of an active day, we headed to Strawberry Park Hot

heading to the resort, and if you want to stay overnight there

Spring for a relaxing soak in a natural hot springs mineral pool.

after arriving in Denver but before heading out to Winter Park in

Just what our sore muscles needed Located in a rustic mountain

the morning, the new Crawford Hotel is also located inside the

setting just outside of Steamboat Springs, the hot springs are a

120-year-old station and offers an “evolved luxury experience”.

natural treasure made of multiple rock pools with varying heat. Not

It is surreal to see people in ski gear milling around in the lobby of

to be missed!

one of the most beautiful hotels in the city, mixing with commuters early in the morning in central Denver!

My Ride on the Winter Park Express

Western Heritage For a change of pace from skiing, and looking for a sense of the Old West, we went to Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch for a scenic

And here we go, The Winter Park Express slowly rolled out of Union

horseback ride over the hills of the snowy Mt Zirkel. In the valley

Station at 7am as the pink sunrise began to overtake the sky, for its

for six generations the ranch is owned by Ray Heid, a local

90km journey – up 1,220m and through 29 tunnels – including the

personality and mythical figure of Steamboat. The former Olympic

10km-long Moffat Tunnel, which goes under the Continental Divide.

ski jumper and now cowboy still skis 100 days per season. Guided

The two-hour journey is long enough to get breakfast, relax and

by Ray and his son Perk, we had a peaceful ride. Gentle and well-

enjoy the Colorado scenery, and as we got closer, I geared up, put

trained horses took care of us while we admired the vast yet virgin

on my ski boots and got ready for the slopes!

hills around us.

Arriving in Winter Park I found I could walk straight from the train

Steamboat Springs is located in the beautiful Yampa Valley

on to the ski lift. I was staying on in resort, but if I had been going

of Northwest Colorado where the American West is well alive

back to Denver the same day, as many Denverites do, I could

if we look at all the working ranches surrounding the town.

have left shoes and belongings on the train while enjoying the

Packed with activities for every interest besides skiing, the

uncrowded slopes.

resort has, in recent years, attracted more and more people

I was lucky to be visiting in January when the resort was in

coming not only for the skiing but also for the Western heritage

its best shape of the winter so far, after big storms earlier in

of this authentic and genuine town.

the season and historic snowfalls were recorded in Colorado, meaning superb on-piste conditions. The resort is split into several ski areas offering different types of skiing and options for

Ski Colorado Info:

all. From wide-open slopes to tree-line runs and the gnarliest of moguls, it’s a great resort.

Colorado: coloradoski.com Steamboat: steamboat.com

JACK AFFLECK

Steamboat

Winter Park: winterparkresort.com Ski Train: amtrak.com/winter-park-express

After a few days of fabulous skiing in Winter Park, my Colorado trip

A number of British tour operators offer holidays to Colorado

rolled onto the Steamboat ski resort, a.k.a. “Ski Town USA”.

(although not all including Steamboat and Winter Park) including

Greeted by more fresh snow on the first day, we were eager

British Airways Holidays (BA.com); Crystal (crystalski.co.uk); Ski

to get our skis on and explore the giant ski area. Steamboat is

Independence (ski-i.com/usa); Ski Safari (skisafari.com/usa/), Scott

actually one of the largest ski resorts in Colorado with 1,200

Dunn (scottdunn.com) and Virgin (virginholidays.co.uk).

015 // FEB18

COLORADOSKI.COM

SNOW SENDS EMPLOYEES TO THE SNOW

A SWISS FONDUE IN THE SKY?

WARREN MILLER DIES AGED 93

A Swiss company that has been organising fondue dinners within

One of the great names in the global ski community, Warren Miller, has

A tech company called Snow Software brought almost its entire global

gondola cabins at the ski resort of Villars for the past few seasons is to

died at the age of 93. Miller was a pioneer of snowsports filmmaking,

workforce together for a ski trip to Engelberg in early January for four

expand its operation this winter and offer its gondola fondues to guests

eventually producing more than 500 adventure-sport films.

days to celebrate them achieving their annual sales target.

in Verbier and Crans-Montana too.

Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946 Miller bought his first 8mm movie

Established in Sweden, Snow Software has rapidly grown to employ

The “pop-up gondola restaurant” sees the entire gondola infrastructure

camera and moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, where he camped in the car

720 staff in 23 countries, and 650 of them attended the ski trip, which

transformed into dining cabins for groups of six people at a time by a

park and worked as a ski instructor, filming friends in his spare time

the company also regarded as part of its employee engagement and

company called Tête à Tête - Swiss Events.

to critique and improve their ski technique. From the 1950s onward

teambuilding strategies.

Depending on the resort, the number of gondola cabins varies between

his films toured cinemas around the world each autumn, building up

Employees were able to select what to do during the trip including

60 and 70, welcoming 360/420 diners at each event.

anticipation for the coming ski season and introducing snow-hungry

beginner ski classes, spa visits, ice sculpture classes and Engelberg

“Our fondue is specially blended for us by a renowned cheese

skiers to exotic destinations around the world in the era before the

monastery tours. The ski trip is aligned with Snow Software’s corporate

producer, while the wine, charcuterie, bread and dessert are selected

internet and digital filming made these destinations instantly available

values, a programme known internally as Snow Spirits. This includes the

from the best local artisanal establishments, distinguishing each resort’s

on a screen in your pocket. The films proved increasingly popular and

philosophy of “being all in for the win”, and during the trip the company

prided delicacies,” said joint Company Director Bart A. Kistemaker.

in 1949, Miller founded Warren Miller Entertainment and began a long-

held a celebratory presentation looking back on the successes achieved

After the success of three sold-out events in Villars, the Fondue in the

standing tradition of producing one feature-length ski film per year for

during the past year.

Sky event is to be staged for the first time in Verbier on 17 February

nearly four decades, visiting all corners of the skiing world and including

The company has run its global incentive scheme for the past nine years

2018 and Crans-Montana on 30 March 2018.

skiing legends such as Hannes Schneider and Jean-Claude Killy.

as the company has grown rapidly. It has hit its target on seven of those

Depending on the resort the full experience costs CHF85–95 for

“I really believe in my heart that that first turn you make on a pair of skis

years resulting in a ski trip each time.

adults, CHF70–80 for children aged under 16. Couples will be grouped

is your first taste of total freedom, the first time in your life that you could

A company spokesperson said that among other things the trip brought

with two other couples to fill a cabin.

go anywhere that your adrenaline would let you go,” said Miller, who also

together staff from its smaller and more remote offices to help them

Mr Kistemaker and partner Natasha Sanz de Acedo will also be back in

suggested a fitting memorial to himself by any skier would be a run down

understand how big the company they work for is, and also helped

Villars for a fourth edition on 24 February 2018.

a favourite slope in his honour. “If you don’t do it now, you’ll only be a year

create synergy by connecting the company’s name with actual snow.

older when you do.”

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35

WORDS: PATRICK THORNE

There are days on the slopes when getting on the lift is a bit of an irritation. Conditions are so beautiful you just want to ski and ski.

Giggijoch Mountain Gondola

whisks skiers and boarders from below Arcs 1950 and

Zugspitze Cable Car

Sölden, Austria

2000, is a fast six-seater chairlift that replaces an old

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

fixed-grip triple. Along with pull-down bubble covers the Austrian resorts in particular do battle to have the

lift is notable as the new joint-longest chairlift of its kind

A new cable up to Germany’s highest peak near

best lifts each winter, and having the world’s most

in France at 2.85km – another 2.85km-long lift has also

Garmisch, which went into operation in December,

successful ski lift operator, Doppelmayr, just down

opened this season in the Grand Massif.

covers the world’s greatest overall height difference

Then there are the days when you perhaps overdid

the road probably helps with that. This state-of-

it a little the night before, or you’re skiing with some

the-art gondola opened for the 2016/17 season and

obsessive racer, or perhaps you’ve met the possible

transports more people per hour in a faster time than

Jochbahn

a remarkable 3,213m – nearly two miles – between

love of your life on a chairlift speed-dating session on

any other lift system in the world. It can move an

Brixen im Thale, Skiwelt, Austria

support towers.

Valentine’s Day, when you’re quite happy to take your

incredible 4,500 people per hour from its base in the

time on a slow, old double chair.

centre of Sölden to the Giggijoch mountain, and in

Travelling at 6m per second (more than twice as

But what none of us likes to do is wait for a long time in a

a record time of eight minutes for a trip that used to

fast as the lift it replaces), the new Jochbahn, which

Flexenbahn Gondola

queue, and it tends to be the fast, high-capacity, queue-

take close to 15.

opened for the 2015/16 ski season, took the speed

St Anton, Arlberg

gobbling lifts that make that less likely to happen. Even

of 1,945 vertical metres in one section as well as the world’s longest unsupported span, measuring

record for the fastest eight-seat chairlift on earth to

on a busy day.

date. Costing €12 million to construct, the lift, which

More than 110 years after skiing got started in the

Thankfully, most of the top resorts invest millions each

PRÉ St Esprit Chairlift

has been described as “Detachable, comfortable and

Arlberg region, the €45 million project to connect the

year on ever better, ever faster lifts on key routes, and so

Les Arcs, France

unbelievably fast” by its operators, can carry up to

two halves of the ski area for winter 2016/17 required

3,000 people per hour, comfortably gobbling up any

something pretty special. Four new lifts were built

queues that once formed.

in total, but the Flexenbahn is the flagship lift of the

the list of the best lifts in the world is forever changing.

But here are some of the current best.

018 // FEB18

All new this winter, the Pré St Esprit chairlift, which

@INTHESNOWMAG

MAXIMILIANPRECHTEL

inter-connect. With its 47 10-person cabins and just a

Imperial Express SuperChair

the Doppelmayr-built lift whisks skiers and boarders up

who may well prefer to ride back down in it at the end of

six-minute travel time, the lift can transport up to 2,400

Breckenridge, Colorado, USA

to the slopes in just 9.4 minutes – much faster than the

the afternoon too.

people per hour.

previous lift.

Atop Peak 8 at Breckenridge Ski Resort, just 0.6m short of 3,962m above sea level in the Rocky Mountains of

Titlis Access Gondola and Rotair Cable Car

Colorado, the Imperial Express SuperChair is the highest

areitXpress Gondola

high-speed detachable chairlift in the world. The lift

Zell am See, Salzburger Land, Austria

Engelberg, Switzerland

begins at 3,627m and ends at 3,914m, and the ride time

Symphony 10 Gondola Val Gardena, Italy Val Gardena has splurged about €20m this winter on

is less than three minutes, much less than the 45 minutes

As mentioned above, Austria now has so many fast,

its new Symphony 10 gondola, which lifts skiers and

hikers used to spend climbing up to the same area.

comfortable lifts that it’s hard to decide which ones to

boarders up to access the famous Sellaronda circuit

that opened in December 2015 and 2016 respectively:

include, and there are usually at least a dozen new big

faster than ever.

first, an upgrade to their famous Rotair revolving cable

chairlifts or gondolas each winter there.

They’ve done it with some style, too, as lift

Engelberg made a huge investment in two new lifts

car that had opened 20 years earlier, and second, the

3-S Pardatschgrat Gondola

The new 10-seat AreitXpress, which has replaced one

manufacturer Leitner Ropeways has partnered with

new eight-seater Engelberg-Trübsee-Stand gondola,

Ischgl, Tirol, Austria

of Zell am See’s most important access lifts this winter,

Pininfarina, a design company employed by Ferrari,

though, is perhaps the biggest new Austrian queue

on the design of the 77 new cabins in black and blue

which replaced several older lifts and whisks up to 2,475 people per hour (approximately 1,000 more than

The new Pardatschgratbahn, which opened in 2014,

gobbler to open this season, able to accommodate

livery complete with leather car-style seats and LED

previously) over 4,680m (nearly three miles) over 1,425

has the biggest vertical rise of any tri-cable gondola in

up to 3,600 skiers per hour. As well as providing more

lighting to illuminate the gondola’s curves.

vertical metres up to Stand in just 16 minutes, where it

the world so far, ascending 1,251m. Travelling at 7.5m

space for uplift in the busy morning hours, it should also

connects with the Rotair to access around 2,000m of

per second with each cabin carrying up to 28 people,

come into its own at the end of the season in spring

vertical and a fantastic 12km run down.

giving a remarkable capacity of 2,800 people per hour,

when runs to resort thaw or are difficult for novice skiers

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

019 // FEB18

E R O L F E ANN R: E X R MA OR F R E D RI S E E G U F E R This winter, Freeride World Tour vice champion snowboarder Anne-Flore Marxer distributed hundreds of items of warm clothing as part of the Riders for Refugees initiative, among migrants and asylum seekers who have made it to Northern Italy.

Here is her heart-rending account. Fran McElhone reports.

gnarliest lines as well as for her advocacy

With her friend and fellow pro-snowboarder

during the day to keep warm by campfires.

winter-sports journalists Danny Burrows

for gender equality, had two goals this

Aline Bock, as well as support from other

“Often their tents leak, and they’re so

and Alexis de Tarade in 2015. Their

winter season: one was to reclaim her

volunteers, the 33-year-old drove the mass

cold,” Marxer continues. “There is a high

initiative grew from the simple premise

place on the podium at the impending

of clothing to areas including Ventimiglia,

risk of skin infections and they’re often

that snowboarders and skiers the world

Freeride World Tour, and the other was to

which, following stricter border policies, has

refused medicine because they can’t

over have surplus jackets lying around,

galvanise as many winter-sports brands

become a frontier of the humanitarian crisis.

afford to pay for it. They are forced to live

which could go towards keeping some

as possible into donating warm clothing to

Once there, they distributed the clothing,

like animals.

of the world’s displaced and desperate

the scores of people who have fled war,

bringing a smile to those who were losing

“But despite everything they were going

people warm.

persecution and hardship and made often

hope in humanity.

through, they were so welcoming and

“The day we left, it fell below freezing,” adds

perilous journeys to get to Europe.

Marxer says: “With tears in his eyes, one

friendly. They made us delicious chapatti

Marxer. “But while we could leave, back to

The industry responded in spades, and

young man told us, ‘people die here every

and chicken stew on a grill made from

our happy lives, they were stuck there.

“At our first stop in Ventimiglia we met

big-hearted brands who donated gear

day. Back home we had rituals to show

an old bike frame. I will never forget

“I am privileged to do what I do. I get to

around 150 young people living under a

include Volcom, Quiksilver, Billabong,

love and respect to those who die. Here

their kindness.”

travel the world and live my passion. But

bridge,” recalls pro-snowboarder Anne-

Vissla, BUFF, Racer Gloves, VAUDE,

we disappear in a bag. I don’t want to die

Marxer’s initiative, which she launched

so many other people are not so lucky.

Flore Marxer. “They were friendly, sweet

Pull-in and Thermo Pad, as well as Culture

here’. He was just 21.”

via social media, is one of myriad Riders

So this was a chance to make a little

and respectful, but completely broken.

Sud, local to Biarritz in the south of France

Marxer and Bock met people who were

for Refugees projects happening this

difference. Every jacket counts, every

Never did they expect to come so far from

where Marxer spends the autumn surfing

teachers, graduates, chefs, drivers and

winter, involving volunteers collecting

smile counts.”

home to end up living under a bridge,

as part of her pre-winter training regime.

entrepreneurs, from countries including

and distributing clothing among Europe’s

washing in a freezing cold river.”

Marxer’s dedication paid off, with 164 boxes

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Eritrea and Sudan,

growing refugee population across France,

Marxer, who is from Switzerland and has

containing jackets, gloves, beanies and neck

who were sleeping under bridges or in

Italy, Serbia and Greece.

made her name riding some of the world’s

warmers ready to go by mid-December.

makeshift tents, forced into nearby forests

Riders for Refugees was founded by

020 // FEB18

Fran McElhone is a freelance journalist. Read more of her work at mettleandmirth.co.uk

RIDERSFORREFUGEES.COM

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A holiday company called Super Break has launched ski holidays to Iceland this winter. Iceland is home to about 18 ski areas, most of them fairly basic, but there are several larger centres including Bláfjöll, which operates the most lifts, more than a dozen, close to the capital Reykjavik.

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Established in 1962, the centre has a highly

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long list of high-adrenaline activities.

skills at the Hlíðarfjall Ski School for Children.

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Super Break are three- and four-night packages

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Floodlighting for the slopes is provided during

costing from £749pp, including charter flights

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from a selection of regional UK airports, return

town of Akureyri.

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021 // FEB18

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BRIDES LES BAINS

Brides les Bains is one of the great discoveries for many British skiers in the French Alps. Connected by a fast gondola to the ski resort of Méribel in the heart of the world’s biggest ski area, Les 3 Vallées, Brides les Bains has its own unique identity with a history as a spa town, and it is also typically cheaper to stay and après-ski in than upin-the-mountain resorts.

via Méribel to Les Menuires and Val Thorens, guests

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staying in Brides are whisked up to the centre of the vast ski domain each morning and can decide whether to go left, right or straight up to explore another part of the white wonderland; with so many lifts and runs it is

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check out the après-ski scene there too.

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Nothing could be easier than getting to Brides!

same or better quality but for 30–50% less than the

There’s a choice of four airports to fly into

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boasting one of the few thermal spas in France:

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Grenoble 160km). Connecting bus services from

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these airports to the resort are available from companies like Altibus, or you could rent a car.

For those arriving by rail, including on the direct Eurostar service from London St Pancras and

Connected by a ski lift into the huge Les 3 Vallées ski

themed spa experiences or opt for one or more of

There’s lots to do in Brides les Bains when you get

Ashford in Kent, Moûtiers train station is just 4km

area with its 600km of runs stretching from Courchevel,

a multitude of à la carte treatments for recuperating

back down from the slopes. Besides the spa, the town

from the village.

022 // FEB18

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making some of the best Iced Coffee out there, they also created The RideClub. It’s for those

Original, Mocha, Skinny or Dairy Free

who love to cruise the slopes, half-pipe, kicker or dirt track by whatever means makes them

 1 x Jimmy’s Iced Coffee Beanie Hat

happy. RideClub members get priority tickets, merch discounts and something rad delivered

Keep your noggin safe from the winter cold

to their inbox every single week.

Jimmy’s Iced Coffee is fuelling the skiers and

jimmysicedcoffee.com/therideclub #KYCU #TheRideClub

snowboarders of the nation with their epic Iced

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Crédit Photo @ David André

in the palm of your hand

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APP Available

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WORDS: PATRICK THORNE

024 // FEB18

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©ANDYPARANT.COM

©ANDYPARANT.COM

There are thousands of ski resorts to choose from when you’re planning your holiday each year. You might choose depending on the size of the ski area, how snow-sure it is or simply on price, and probably a combination of all three. But would you ever choose based on pure, simple class?

the Tour de Charvet basin runs are equally recommended.

Val d’Isère is almost as famous for its après-ski, and in terms of venues “the big one” that has to be visited one afternoon is the remarkable La Folie Douce, which fills much of the building at the top of the Daille gondola lift, close to the boundary with Tignes, spilling out on to the base of the adjacent ski slopes. Essentially a cabaret show on the slopes that also happens to serve up superb food, this is an establishment like no other and certainly puts the vast Austrian drinking halls in the shade when it comes to,

For while the number of ski areas worldwide is now more

all the supplies up the mountain to serve that vast number

than 6,000, there are really just a handful that have that

of customers that pass through La Folie Douce’s doors

special something, a character and a pedigree you can’t

each season, a testimony to the family-run business that

really buy, and however much you spend on snowmaking

had the brilliant idea of establishing it in the first place.

and fast lifts, it doesn’t really make much difference. They

The concept has proved so successful that other Folie

tend to be winter-sports early adopters, although not

Douces have appeared in recent years at other French

always. In Austria there’s Kitzbühel and Lech; Switzerland

resorts including Alpe d’Huez, Val Thorens, Méribel and

has Davos, Mürren and St Moritz; Italy has Courmayeur

Megève, but Val d’Isère has the original.

MARK JUNAK

well, class, once again. It takes a remarkable effort to get

and Cortina d’Ampezzo; and for France it has to be Val d’Isère – a village that dates back to the 11th century where the first ski lift – one of the world’s first – was installed more than 80 years ago. quoi? That’s more difficult to define. It does, of course,

Val d’Isère has a big selection of hotels, chalets and

have that great winter-sports heritage – it’s one of just

apartments. It has an upmarket reputation and there are

an elite handful of ski resorts to have staged the Skiing

indeed pricey hotels and incredibly luxurious chalets of

World Championships, Winter Olympics and its annual

the sort that Russian oligarchs book up for the peak New

World Cup Races. One of the world’s most famous race

Year week. In terms of chalets it’s definitely a favourite

courses, the Face de Bellevarde, is here and Critérium de

with British operators, so there’s lots of choice; for hotels

la Première Neige World Cup races have been staged 62

it’s a little more difficult to find “affordable” as the resort

times – that all helps.

is believed to be placed third in France behind Paris and

Like St Moritz it’s also very high in altitude for a traditional

Courchevel for the number of 5★ hotels.

resort, making it more snow-sure at the base as well as

But affordable 4 and 5★ star apartments and chalets do

high above, and giving it an “away from it all” feeling,

exist, especially if you travel low season.

but crucially it is still a genuine community and doesn’t

The recently built 5★ Chalet Skadi, for example, located

have the seasonal moonbase feel of many purpose-

just five minutes’ walk from the resort centre and a

built destinations. Along with a good natural snowfall

minute from the nearest ski bus stop, provides luxurious

reputation, it’s also home to Le Snow Factory, the largest

self-catering accommodation (don’t worry, there’s a

snowmaking facility in Europe (which just got bigger still

supermarket next door).

this season). It’s also one of three French resorts to still

Each apartment is finished with modern Alpine chic to a

offer some summer glacier skiing.

very high standard, complete with private balcony, well-

Its ski area is vast, one of the world’s biggest with 300km

equipped kitchenette and two bathrooms – one en-suite.

of trails shared with neighbouring Tignes and one that

Some have their own open fireplaces and all have all their

used to be known as “Espace Killy” after the great French

beds in their own bedrooms, so no need to make up a

skier and hero of the 1968 Winter Olympics, but not,

sofa bed in the living area – real luxury!

officially, any more.

Residents also get access to the Spa Les Bains du

But although all that terrain means there’s plenty for

Montana, which has an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and

every level of skier, perhaps Val d’Isère's overall status is

steam room, and treatments and massages are available

enhanced by its world-class reputation for its challenging

for an extra charge.

off-piste terrain, a reputation it shares with resorts like

Wherever you choose to stay, the good news is that an

Chamonix and St Anton.

excellent shuttle bus service constantly circulates around

GUEUGNOT JEAN-MICHEL - GUEUGNOT.COM

What is it that gives Val d’Isère that special je ne sais

Val d’Isère has one of the world’s biggest and best ski areas. Although it is popular with expert skiers and

For 2017/18, the joint Val d’Isère – Tignes ski area has

boarders who want to head off-piste in the same way that

300km of groomed pistes, served by 78 lifts. Some 60%

Jackson Hole and Verbier do, there’s actually plenty for

of the 153 pistes and 10,000 hectares of ski terrain are

intermediate-level piste skiers to do, in addition to the

located above 2,200m. The skiing stretches from a top

excellent beginner areas for first-timers (the ski school

altitude of 3,450m down to 1,550m.

clocks up 200,000 pupils each winter), all served by a

valdisere.com | lafoliedouce.com

LLORCAPHOTOGRAPHIES

the resort, and you can jump on and off wherever you need.

network of superb high-speed lifts.

For good skiers the Solaise bumps run above the resort or

Crystal Ski Holidays (crystalski.co.uk; 020 8610 3123)

the Olympic Men's Downhill from Bellevarde (a good first

offer a week’s stay at the 5★ self-catering Chalet Skadi in

choice as it gets the sun early and is accessed by the high-

Val d’Isère from £717pp (based on four sharing) including

speed underground "Funival" funicular) are popular options.

flights from Gatwick to Chambéry and transfers (price

Later on you can take off into the powder fields with a

given is for departure on 27 January 2018). Direct flights

guide. Otherwise the descents from the Pissaillas glacier or

available from all major UK airports.

025 // FEB18

©ANDYPARANT.COM

WORDS: ROB STEWART

The Pyrenees – a long strip of mountains stretching from the Mediterranean Sea across to the Atlantic Ocean, basking in Spanish sun, with rustic ski resorts famed for their lively après-ski and cruisy slopes suited to skiers who like to rise late and take a long lunch.

powder later in the season, you can

“secret” off-piste paradises in Europe.

at the end of the day, with plenty of lively

Session” (private lesson). The guided

experience some fantastic spring skiing

arinsal.co.uk/arcalis

bars to choose from. Excursions to nearby

option is known as “Freeride Discovery”.

conditions off-piste.

Arcalis can be made easily, and there are

They also have freeride skis for pupils

Here’s where to find it:

lots of British ski instructors, and lessons

to try as well as providing avalanche

can be booked at arinsal.co.uk.

safety equipment – transceiver, probe

Stay in Arinsal: 4★ – Princesa Parc, Arinsal

and shovel. It’s a good place to start your

(hotelprincesaparc.com/en)

off-piste experience, especially if others in

Best for families Best for experts Arcalis

Arinsal

The town of Arinsal is nestled at the end

the group want to take advantage of the

of a steep valley, and at first glance any

210km of groomed slopes available.

Best for skills

grandvalira.com/en/freeride-center

Arcalis is more of a ski station that an actual

beginner might wonder what they’ve

resort, with accommodation options in

got themselves into. But head up the

There is perhaps some truth in that

the town of La Massana or the resort of

gondola to the base station (Comallempla,

statement, and who wouldn’t want a bit

Arinsal. There are good transport options,

1,950m) and it all becomes clear, as a vast

While offering the most extensive piste

of that now and again? But the Pyrenees,

though, linking skiers and snowboarders

bowl spreads out and offers a number of

skiing and snowboarding in the Pyrenees

and specifically Andorra, offer skiers and

directly into what’s considered to be some

options for all levels. Intermediates will

– linking with the sectors of El Tarter,

snowboarders a whole lot more than that,

of the best freeride terrain in the Pyrenees.

find that the link over to the Pal sector

Grau Roig and Pas de la Casa – the area

UK operator and Andorra specialist

and the truth is they can get snow – a lot

Arcalis isn’t a large ski area – 14 lifts, 30km

offers some extensive piste skiing too.

also offers some interesting off-piste

Andorra Resorts operate across the

of snow.

of slopes – but there are vast areas of

It’s not the obvious off-piste destination,

possibilities that are easy to access from

whole of Andorra including Arinsal,

Storms raging in from the west, combined

off-piste terrain straight off some of the

but confident skiers with a guide can find

the lifts and good for anyone thinking

Soldeu, Pas de la Casa, Grandvalira and

with cold northerly airstreams, often

main chairlifts like the high-speed quad, Les

some interesting excursions, especially

about dipping their toes in the powder.

Vallnord. Accommodation includes 3 and

create week-long snowfalls that can

Portelles (2,562m), where you can head

straight off the back of Pic Negre (2,569m)

The dedicated “Freeride Centre” at the

4★ hotels and self-catered apartments.

produce better average snow depths than

back down to the base lodge and into the

and down to the Coll de la Botella. Then

Grandvalira Soldeu Ski School has a

Andorra Resorts can also organise ski

the Alps. Looking at the numbers, Andorra

series of bowls and gullies that straddle the

head back over via the Arinsal-Pal cable

team of four instructors and mountain

school, equipment hire and ski passes.

has a fantastic snow record – the resort of

entire face, or push further over towards

car and hike the ridge up to Pic Alt de

guides specialising in teaching all levels

andorraresorts.com

Grandvalira Soldeu consistently records

La Coma, where from the far side of the

la Capa. Here, a huge wide-open bowl

of off-piste skiing, as well as a guiding

upper-slope depths of over 1.5m during

system you can access a long itinerary route

opens up that leads all the way down to

service if you just want to see as much of

Destination Andorra offer flexible

the month of March. Upper-slope depths

with huge wide-open powder bowls. One

the mid-station access road. Then hike (or

the area as possible. There are several

package holidays to all the resorts of

also generally remain higher during April

of the stages in the World Freeride Tour

hitchhike if you’re lucky) back up to the

options for instruction including “Top Class

Andorra. Accommodation includes 3, 4

than they are in December and January,

competition pays a visit to Arcalis, and you

central area. Arinsal is a great place to

Freeride” (full-day programme), “Freeride

and 5★hotels with all-inclusive prices

so although you might not get the fresh

can see why – it’s one of the few untapped

enjoy some well-earned après-ski beers

Camp” (group lesson) and “Freeride

available. destinationandorra.com

0026 // FEB18

Grandvalira Soldeu

Stay in Soldeu: 4★ – Sport Village Hotel, Soldeu (hotelvillage.sporthotels.ad)

Booking and operators:

@INTHESNOWMAG

ROB DOOLAARD IZP

NORAH JONES AT ZERMATT UNPLUGGED

PLANS FOR SWINDON SLOPE MOVE FORWARD

Norah Jones, Emeli Sandé, Kodaline and Jessie J have been

Long-standing plans to build an indoor snow centre as part of a

announced as headline acts for the 11th Zermatt Unplugged, which

leisure centre redevelopment in Swindon appear to be moving

takes place from 10 to 14 April. Irish alternative rock band Kodaline

forward again. The plans, first mooted more than five years

will open the acoustic music festival, which this year is also launching

ago, for the town’s North Star site were given outline planning

an "Unplugged Pass" for all visitors who do not have a concert ticket

permission by the local council's planning committee last month,

for the main concerts, and costs CHF30 per day (CHF50 per week).

and construction work is expected to begin later this year.

In addition to access to the Taste Village and the Foyer Marquee,

The proposals are reported to include a small 2,000m2 snow

the Unplugged Pass includes entry to the "Newcomer" (side stages)

and ski centre featuring two real-snow slopes, along with a

concerts, the "Breaking Acts" (Vernissage), the "Artist in Residence"

130-bedroom hotel, a 14-screen cinema with the largest IMAX

(Hotel Schönegg & Foyer Marquee), Ronnie Scott’s All Stars

screen in the UK, a new bowling alley, trampolining and climbing

(Gandegghütte/Hotel Alex/Mont Cervin Palace), and the after parties

wall, as well as restaurants and sporting retail units on site too.

(Vernissage/The Alex /Heinz Julen Shop/Ferdinand). The Taste Village

“Now we have outline planning granted, the work really begins

created as a festival centre for the first time in 2017 will be back in

on getting all the detail filled in ready to submit detailed

2018 as a meeting point where visitors can listen to newcomers, fry a

planning, after which we can get to work on making this project

cervelat sausage in the tradition of authentic Switzerland and taste all

a reality,” said John Watkins, Director at SevenCapital.

XANDRA M. LINSIN

the delicacies that Taste Village partners have created.

NEW “GREEN” SWISS SKI HOTEL OPENS WITH “ICE BATTERY” A new hotel that has just opened in Arosa, Switzerland, is the first in the country to be heated by geothermal probes and an ultramodern ice battery.

an autonomous energy recovery system which

The Valsana is located just steps from the

draws waste heat energy from everyday devices,

main cable car at an altitude of 1,800m and

such as kitchen appliances and air conditioning

has easy ski-in access to the 225km of piste in

units, into an 850m3 water tank which contains a

the Arosa–Lenzerheide ski region. The hotel

400m register of pipes.

is spread across three new buildings with 40

The Valsana Hotel is owned by the Tschuggen

As heat energy leaves the system, the water

spacious double rooms and suites, nine serviced

Hotel Group which also operates famous hotels

temperature in the tank drops, allowing an

apartments and open-plan public areas.

including the Tschuggen Grand with its private

ice block to form around the tank’s pipes.

The hotel also has two indoor tennis courts, a

funicular link to Arosa’s ski slopes, and the

The combined effect of freezing and thawing

high-tech fitness studio, extensive spa facilities

Carlton in St Moritz.

recovers high amounts of latent energy and

and a bike and ski shop.

According to the company, the ice battery is

produces zero emissions.

valsana.ch/en

FB.COM/LTMOUNTAINS FB.COM/INTHESNOW

027 // FEB18

Flexible, independent holidays created by the Andorra experts.

arinsal.co.uk | pasdelacasa.com | soldeu.com andorraresorts.com

VAL D’ISÈRE TO UPGRADE GONDOLA Val d’Isère have announced they’ll replace the old La Daille gondola next winter with a new high-performance lift with a capacity of 2,800 passengers per hour. The new gondola will be the first in France to be equipped with 50 Premium Symphony 10-passenger cabins as well as a VIP cabin, the details of which are yet to be announced. The cabins will, however, be “very bright” and feature heated seats.

SLOVENIA TOPS CHARTS The Julian Alps in Slovenia have been announced as one of the world’s top three must-visit regions in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018. It is the only European winter-sports destination on the list which was also ranked the number-one best-value ski resort in Europe in the Post Office’s annual price survey. "Once little discovered, Slovenia's spectacular Julian Alps are becoming increasingly accessible to travellers,” said Anna Tyler, Lonely Planet's Destination Editor.

GROOVE CAIRNGORM RETURNS

FREERIDE OFF-PISTE

WORDS: MEGAN HUGHES

Powder-Perfect Destinations: The Best Areas for Off-Piste In Europe

Aviemore’s Groove CairnGorm festival, billed as Britain’s only winter-sports music festival, is Saturday 24 February, the event offers plenty of

France

entertainment off the slopes. Visitors will be able

Chamonix

back this season. Taking place on Friday 23 and

to enjoy acts including 2manydjs and Norman

simply, the whole mountain really is your playground.

should be on every skier's bucket list!

Where to head? Anywhere and everywhere!

Where to head? Tortin Wall, Mont Fort, Gentianes-Tortin, Stairway to Heaven.

Often hailed as "the mecca of freeriding", Chamonix adrenaline hunters. This is in part due to its huge ski

Austria

area – the Mont-Blanc Unlimited lift pass gives you

The Arlberg

access to a staggering 900km of amazing terrain

Whenever you look up a list of the best resorts for off-

Cortina

throughout the Chamonix Valley all the way through

piste skiing, you can make a good bet that one of the

Though it’s not known as a must-visit destination for off-

to the other side of Mont Blanc at Italy’s Courmayeur.

resorts in the Arlberg will feature. Arguably one of the

piste adventures in the way that Chamonix or La Grave

Furthermore, 90% of the skiing in the Chamonix

most popular Austrian ski areas, the Arlberg comprises

may be, Cortina has varied and entertaining backcountry

Mount Washington Alpine Resort on Vancouver

Valley is located above 2,000m, meaning it is the

a huge range of resorts, from the party town of St Anton,

terrain with the potential for some serious freeriding.

Island off Canada’s West Coast was forced to close

perfect destination for those looking for the best

to the luxurious slopes of Lech and the smaller towns

Incredible descents range from steep, narrow chutes to

chance of powder all year round.

of Warth and Shröcken. Though the last few years have

gentle powder routes with breathtakingly beautiful views

Where to head? Grands Montets, Vallée Blanche,

been somewhat lacking in terms of that waist-deep

to boot.

Brévent, Flégère and Le Tour.

powder, this year has been a different story altogether,

Where to head? Cristallo, Faloria, Tofane, Lagazuoi

with day after day of incredible off-piste conditions.

Couloirs, Forcella Col dei Bos

Jay MBE in the evening and hit the slopes, weather permitting, during the daytime.

WESTERN CANADA DUMPED ON on Sunday 21 January as there was too much snow. The ski resort received more than a metre of snow in 24 hours, forcing the centre and access

has long been a top destination for off piste

roads to close due to dangerous conditions.

Around 30 people including a group of scouts were stuck in the centre overnight.

“ONLINE RESOURCES” FOR OLYMPICS

Val d’Isère

From tree runs to wide-open faces or powder bowls, the

The huge ski area of Val d’Isère encompasses not only

Arlberg has something for everyone.

Livigno

some incredible pistes across across Val d’Isère as well as

Where to head? Valluga II, Stuben, Warth,

Interestingly, off-piste skiing was actually banned in

Tignes but also some of our favourite European off-piste

Shröcken, Sonnenkopf

Livigno until recently, when the opening of a new

ski routes as well. From heart-pumping couloirs to fun tree

dedicated freeride area was met with a collective cheer

runs and vast powder fields, it's easy to understand why

from off-piste lovers across Europe. With a thriving

Switzerland

freeride scene and even a heli-skiing outfit, Livigno

Where to head? Le Fornet, Les Brévières, Pisteur’s Couloir, "The Fingers", Lavachet’s "Mickey’s Ears", North

Verbier

as well as gentler terrain for those who want to work on

so many people return here year after year.

Snowsport England has released a "PyeongChang to Piste" school resources pack ahead of the Winter Olympics next month and the Paralympics

Italy

Face of Le Grande Motte, Bonneval-sur-Arc.

in March. The cross-curricular resource pack is

offers challenging routes to keep the experts entertained their off-piste abilities.

A regular stop on the Freeride World Tour, Verbier is

Where to head? Monte della Neve, Monte della Mine

La Grave

definitely one of Europe’s top dogs when it comes to off-

La Grave is a pretty unique resort; the entire area has

piste with a wide range of easily accessible backcountry

Alternatively, if you like the sound of the Chamonix area

just two marked runs. Essentially what is on offer here is

routes. The steep Tortin "Wall" itinerary route is often

but have your heart set on Italy, why not try Courmayeur?

competition where children can get arty and

lift-serviced ski touring. Here, you will never feel the need

featured as one of the world’s most scary ski routes and

The Valle d'Aosta has some great freeride potential while

submit their own skis or snowboard graphic.

to keep the best off-piste routes to yourselves. To put it

is definitely not for the faint-hearted, though it is one that

still allowing you to access the likes of the Vallée Blanche.

designed to suit an audience aged between 7 and 14 years. It includes a series of activities involving discussion, research, a quiz and a creative

028 // FEB18

@INTHESNOWMAG

ANDORRA TO ZERMATT

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BE HAPPY, SKI MORE Call our ski experts today on 023 8072 0413 or email sales@skiweekends.com

ST MORITZ

GLAMOROUS ALPINE DESTINATION 030 // FEB18

@INTHESNOWMAG

Even though well renowned for its palace-like hotels and glamorous lifestyle, the luxury Alpine resort of St Moritz – the world’s original winter-sports destination – has still retained much of its original character and traditional charm, mixing authenticity and prestige.

Head to Pizzet for a family-friendly area with plenty of room to carve wide turns over uncrowded pistes.

Besides Skiing St Moritz Engadin is one of the most varied wintersport regions in Switzerland. For all those who enjoy being active in a spectacular natural setting the region offers lots of opportunities for winter activities besides

Reached by the red trains of the Rhaetian Railway,

downhill skiing, including cross-country skiing, winter

which have been smoothly transporting visitors up to

hiking, curling, tobogganing, snow kiting or ice skating.

St Moritz for the past century via one of the world’s

Corvatsch Snow Night on Fridays is one to add to

most spectacular train rides (and now a UNESCO world

your bucket list. When a full day on the slopes is not

heritage route), St Moritz is a dream destination for

enough, ski Switzerland’s longest illuminated night run,

any fan of snow and ice sports, located 1,800m up in a

every Friday until April from 7pm until 40 minutes past

stunning and snow-sure Alpine location.

midnight for a first-class skiing experience. In the dark, the big cable car takes you up 2,702m, and from there you can ski down the Corvatsch scenic descent through

Ski Area

the trees, to silent and perfectly groomed slopes. Pure delight. Halfway down you can stop by the Hossa Bar, where the après continues all evening.

Situated on the southern side of the Swiss Alps, on the “Roof of Europe”, the “local” region around St Moritz is composed of four separate ski areas, so diversity in skiing is guaranteed. Each however offers wonderful

Free Fall

scenery and excellent terrain. And these are just part of

S

the full Engadin pass with 350km of runs in areas linked

The Engadin is an important venue for sporting

by ski bus and rail on an all-inclusive pass.

competitions for the racing elite. St Moritz held the FIS

In fact, there are enough kilometres of piste to delight

Alpine World Ski Championships for the fifth time last

any skier, from beginner to intermediate or expert.

February. Athletes raced in six disciplines: Downhill,

Altogether there are 88 marked pistes so you can

Giant Slalom, Super-G, Slalom, Super Combined and

even ski or snowboard all day long without repeating

the Team Event.

a single run. Thanks to its high altitude, Engadin St

The highlight of the event and World Cup races too,

Moritz is famously snow-sure, and the great thing is

the men’s downhill race – known as the “Free Fall” – is

that queues are minimal to maximise the number of

world famous for its starting gate. With a gradient of

runs during your day (many visitors to St Moritz don’t

45°, it’s the steepest slope of any downhill course in

even bother to go skiing, especially in the morning,

the world. Approximately 3km long, skiers can reach a

leaving more space for everyone else). Early birds can

speed up to 140 kph.

enjoy a perfect “cour du roy” via the first ride up to the

Even the way up is an enterprise. To reach the top

freshly groomed slopes at 7:45am.

platform (at 2,840m) you have to go up a staircase of

Of the main ski areas, Corviglia – the mountain on St

187 steps. When you get to look down from the top you

Moritz’s doorstep – is accessible from the town by the St

may feel dizzy! This breathtaking start has consequently

Moritz–Corviglia funicular. This sector is home to World

been named “Free Fall”. Since the course was designed

Cup races but will also suit any level of skier or boarder

in 2003 for the World Championships, the start to the

with its varied and optimally groomed slopes ranging

downhill competition has become legendary on the

from easy nursery slopes up to challenging blacks.

World Cup ski circuit.

One of the latest attractions here is situated on the FIS piste – the new Audi Ski Run – a slalom run which is designed to recreate a World Cup atmosphere.

400m long, the giant slalom course has fully automatic

St Moritz Facts

cameras along the piste to record your time from the start to the finish line. An original starting hut formerly used at Ski World Cup events and the Ski Chrono

350km of pistes 88 runs

National tour recreate the overwhelming atmosphere of

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

taking part in a genuine World Cup race.

Longest descent: 10km – Glacier descent

The second biggest area in St Moritz, Corvatsch, is the

3 snowparks | 56 ski lifts

sporty ski area where you can enjoy the thrilling downhill

Highest point: Piz Bernina – 4,089m

runs from the highest mountain station in the eastern

Language: Romansh and German

Alps. The big cable car will take you up the mountain at

Switzerland Tourism: myswitzerland.com

an altitude of 3,303m – the highest lift-served point in

Engadin St Moritz Tourism: engadin.stmoritz.ch

the Engadin. Once at the top, just take in the view over

Swiss International Airlines offer more than 180 weekly

the high mountains. The runs are nice and long and keep

flights from London City, Heathrow, Gatwick (seasonal),

everyone happy. Depending on where you are staying,

Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh (seasonal) and

you may be able to reach this area on skis, but for those

Dublin to either Zurich or Geneva. swiss.com

staying in the main resort the area is easily accessible by

Swiss Railway: swissrailways.com

a 10-minute bus ride down the valley.

Switzerland Travel System: swisstravelsystem.com

031 // FEB18

BY PATRICK THORNE

UNCHECKED CLIMATE CHANGE WOULD MAKE SKI RESORT OPERATIONS UNSUSTAINABLE A study by a group of scientists in Colorado has sought to look at the financial impact on ski resort operations climate change might bring.

The group, who say they looked at 300,000

RECORD-BREAKING CABLE CAR OPENS

years’ worth of climate modelling data, focused

The new Zugspitze Cable Car is reported to have gone into operation on Germany’s highest peak.

height difference of 1,945m over one

work, sometimes under the most

section as well as the world’s longest

challenging building conditions

unsupported span, measuring 3,213m.

at 3,000m.

“In addition to breaking three world

Integrated window heaters make

targets agreed at the International Panel on

The new lift has two fully glazed

records in technology, the new lift

it possible to enjoy unobstructed

Climate Change in 2014.

on how the ski season in North America might look in 70 years’ time depending on whether the rate of climate change continues as it does today, or whether mankind manages to hit

ZERMATT'S NEW SUPER LIFT TO OPEN IN 2018

high-capacity cabins which can

offers winter sports enthusiasts a

visibility even in bad weather.

Their study is called: “Projected climate change

transport up to 580 passengers per

breathtaking panorama as it whisks

Once at the top of Germany’s

impacts on skiing and snowmobiling: A case

hour to the peak. Along the journey,

them to the peak,” a Zugspitze cable-

highest peak, visitors can look

they traverse the world’s highest

car company statement confirms.

forward to unique 360° panoramic

Essentially both models see the world

steelwork pylon for aerial tramways

The new lift has taken a total of six

views of over 400 Alpine peaks in

The third and final summer season of

warming at similar rates up to 2040, but then

at 127m, the world’s greatest overall

years of planning and construction

four different countries.

construction of Zermatt’s spectacular

study of the United States.”

temperatures rising more rapidly up to 2090 if

new 3S giant gondola lift up to the Klein

targets are not hit over the next few years, or

Matterhorn is yet to take place, but the

improving if targets are hit.

famous Swiss resort has announced its

The study found that hitting the International

opening date: 29 September 2018.

Panel on Climate Change’s target meant

Work began on the 3S lift – a kind of

the vision for snowsports by the end of this

combination cable car/gondola type

century need not be catastrophic. It projected

lift which carries giant 28-passenger

a shorter season for most resorts but not a

gondola cabins on a continuous loop

disastrously shorter one, and it even envisaged

suspended below twin cables like a cable

skier numbers potentially rising in line with

car for speed, stability and high passenger

population growth, meaning more crowded

capacity – in spring 2016.

slopes but viable operations with a potential

The lift, which will provide a second access to the Klein Matterhorn to the existing

increase in annual revenue of over $120 million at current rates.

The ‘do nothing’ results were shown to be fairly catastrophic for the ski industry. Markedly

SHEFFIELD SKI VILLAGE TO BE REBUILT

cable car, which will continue to operate, is being built over 300 days, broken down into three 100-day construction weather windows around the summer months

shorter seasons due to warmer temperatures were seen as meaning investment required to

The famous Sheffield Ski Village,

The ski centre was initially destroyed

Famous skiers who first learned

each year. The new Leitner-built lift will

sustain ski area operations would not be met

once the largest artificial ski centre

in April 2012 when arsonists burnt

their craft at Sheffield include

be significantly quicker, and the modern

by reduced income from ticket sales as fewer

in the world and where several of

down the main building and has

James “Woodsy” Woods (Men’s Ski

cabins, designed by Pininfarina, will have a

people could ski and the widespread closure

Britain’s and the world’s best skiers

since been the scene of dozens of

Slopestyle), Katie Summerhayes

capacity of 2,000 passengers per hour.

and boarders trained, looks set to

fires. Travellers have also reportedly

(Women's Ski Slopestyle), Ellie

The lift will climb 900 vertical metres

be rebuilt.

moved onto part of the site.

Koyander (Women’s Moguls,

to Europe’s highest cable-car station at

“It’s important that the study points out that

A £22.5m plan has been unveiled

Alistair Gosling, Extreme CEO said,

2010 Winter Olympics) and Paddy

3,821m in nine minutes, accessing Zermatt’s

this is still a choice, in the sense that we can

by Sheffield City Council to build

“This is a fantastic and unique

Graham (pro freeskier sponsored by

year-round glacier ski area, one of only two

determine our future based on how aggressively

an extreme sports centre with

opportunity to deliver an EXTREME

Red Bull), most of whom were also

centres to operate their ski slopes 365 days

we as a society choose to cut emissions,” said

established leisure company

Destination right in the heart of

active members of the Sheffield

a year (weather permitting).

leading climate change spokesperson in the ski

Extreme Destinations, which owns

Sheffield and bring the much-

Sharks Ski Club during their

industry, Auden Schendler from Aspen ski resort.

TV channel Extreme Sports.

missed ski facility bang up to date.”

childhood and early teenage years.

of resorts across North America at a multibillion dollar loss.

032 // FEB18

@INTHESNOWMAG @LTMOUNTAINS

LAAX CREATES BUSINESS CENTRE 2252 METRES UP Laax ski area in Switzerland has unveiled an innovative new idea within a redeveloped mountain station – a business centre.

team, have a place to return to when you need

Christened “The Bridge”, this new workspace within

cinema, the Chill Out lounge or just one of the

the Galaaxy mountain station at Crap Sogn Gion can

team tables upon request and availability.”

cater up to 45 people and includes a small cinema

The new business zone is part of a complete

for presentations or movies for up to 29 people.

renovation of the Crap Sogn Gion mountain station,

“The Bridge offers a space for all forward-

now re-christened Galaaxy, this winter. It now has

thinking entrepreneurs, innovators, start-ups,

a new modern contemporary design and also

digital nomads and tech heads to take things

includes a juice bar and brand-new 360° restaurant.

to the next level,” a statement from the resort

Users of The Bridge can buy a day membership,

claims, continuing, “Whether you’ve come to

a card that’s valid for 10 or 20 entries or a full

create the next million dollar idea with your

seasonal member card.

inspiration or simply want to relax and discuss how to change the world in between slashing turns at Laax, members can book meeting rooms,

OBE AND MBE FOR TWO WELL-KNOWN NAMES IN SKIING Two well-known names in skiing have been named in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

There is an OBE for Sarah Lewis, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation (FIS) for “services to sport”, and an MBE for James McIntosh, Managing Director of the Lecht Ski Centre, for services to skiing and tourism in North East Scotland.

Sarah Lewis has been involved with skiing on both a competitive and administrative level for over 30 years. She began working for FIS in 1994 and was appointed Secretary General in 2000.

According to Lecht’s website, the idea to develop the Lecht ski area was started by James McIntosh, who teamed up with Pieter du Pon during their combined time in the Fleet Air Arm. The only thing at the Lecht before 1977 was a lay-by for three cars at the cattle grid, but since then it has always expanded on a modular basis, reinvesting all the generated funds, and now has a car park with capacity for over 800 cars and uplift capacity of over 10,000 skiers per hour.

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033 // FEB18

H E AVY- D U T Y N E V E R F E LT S O L I G H T Seek more with KORE, a game-changing combination of materials and technology brought together to lead the next evolution of freeride.

KORE 105

YOUR NEW FAVOURITE FAMILY DESTINATION WORDS: MEGAN HUGHES

It's no myth that travelling is stressful. Early morning alarms, airport breakfasts, turbulent journeys, tedious passport control queues, long waits at baggage claim ... While air travel is incredibly convenient, it's not always the most relaxing way to start or end your holiday.

supercharging point – perfect for our needs! The

the wonderful slopes of Val Gardena, which offer

Our second Dolomites destination was Corvara's

next day, we continued onwards, marvelling at the

some great opportunities for the whole family to

La Perla hotel, which was utterly unlike anything we

gorgeous scenery as we approached the Dolomites.

develop their skills. A selection of blues, both easy

have ever experienced in a ski resort (and we've

Eventually we reached our destination, the

and challenging reds and some enjoyable black runs

stayed in our fair share of hotels!). It's a gorgeous

magnificent Pizseteur mountain chalet set in an

are available, as are three funslopes, sure to be a hit

hotel, with beautiful rooms, a luxurious wellness area

amazing location on the slopes of the mountain,

with younger skiers.

and a number of delicious eateries. However, our

accessible only via skidoo or chairlift! 12 skidoos

A brand new 10-seater lift has opened in Val Gardena

favourite moment was on arrival, when an evening of

came down to collect us and our luggage – an

this season, the 'Piz Seteur' – a popular name it

energetic Italian live music descended into a parade

exhilarating ride to end the 1,000-mile journey, which

would seem! Convenient and comfortable, it allows

of the hotel, the kitchens and the hallways with a real

both we and the kids absolutely loved.

for incredibly easy access into the Sellaronda circuit.

fun, inclusive party atmosphere.

So, ahead of a recent trip to the Dolomites, we

It was dark when we arrived, so we had the brilliant

Skiing the Sella Ronda is an experience that we loved

A lively village, Corvara was a definite hit with the

decided to scrap all this and give driving a go. As

surprise the next day of waking up to a spectacular

sharing with our children. This famous circuit is a great

family, as were the lovely cruisy red runs of the Alta

quite frequent fliers, we are well aware of the uneasy

mountainscape right outside our window. With glorious

way to spend a day and takes you through the most

Badia area. With 53% of runs red and 38% blue, it's

guilt that comes with racking up those air miles so,

sunshine and the fantastic ski area of the Dolomites

stunning natural landscapes. Quite an easy route, the

a fantastic resort in which to base yourself when

we decided that we would not only drive, but we

at our fingertips, we knew we were in for a fantastic

Sella Ronda is very suitable for families, and covering

travelling with your family, particularly if some are

would drive electric.

few days. The location of the Pitzseteur really is

40km, you feel a real sense of achievement afterwards.

less confident on their skis.

As it turns out, Tesla's P100D Model S was the

unparalleled, right on the edge of the Plan de Gralba

When we weren't skiing, we were lunching in the

Our journey back home was as seamless as on the

perfect choice for this journey; ultra safe, with

ski area – it doesn't get more ski-in/ski-out than this.

fabulous fish restaurant Rifugio Emilio Comici, having

way out, stopping at Domaine de Barive, a beautiful

electric all-wheel drive and a lot of space for all our

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dolomites really

a few après-ski drinks in the chalet's own piste-side

country manor hotel. Arriving late, we were shown

luggage (a family of 4 + ski boots = a lot of luggage).

are one of the most beautiful natural landscapes we

bar or sampling the delicious food on offer. From the

to our room in a tower of the hotel, which the girls

It's supercharging function meant no paying for

have come across in a ski area, with some fantastic

incredible hospitality of the Pizseteur staff (thanks to

absolutely loved. Equally loved by us was the

petrol, and the stopping itself was not a chore at all.

skiing to match. The Dolomites Superski Pass gives

whom I was reunited with my wallet which I thought

Jacuzzi bath after a day on the road! We arrived

On the way down, we stopped at Hotel au Boeuf

you access to the whole area, a staggering 1200km

I'd lost forever on the mountain), to the impeccable

home in England relaxed and rejuvenated after an

Rouge, an amazing hotel in the middle of nowhere,

of slopes across 12 ski areas.

cleanliness of the hotel and the fun of the skidoos,

incredible holiday. Our advice about travelling to the

with great food, a fantastic wine cellar and a

We spent our time at the Pizseteur mostly skiing

we all absolutely loved our stay here.

Dolomites? Definitely do it!

034 // FEB18 034//PROMO JUN17

TESLA.COM

LEONARDO DICAPRIO’S FOUNDATION JOINS BATTLE AGAINST BULGARIAN SKI AREA EXPANSION A campaigning environmental charity set up by Leonardo DiCaprio is believed to have donated funds to a group battling plans to expand Bansko ski area further into Bulgaria’s Pirin National Park. Bansko’s ski activities in the national park land have been the subject of disagreement with environmental groups for nearly two decades. Originally campaigners claimed Bansko had already built lifts and runs illegally on the national park land, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This led to legal cases right up to EU level, and successive Bulgarian governments took differing positions, with some arguing that the employment created justified any transgressions, while others said that protecting the national park from development was all important.

One even went so far as retrospectively declaring that the national park land where Bansko built lifts and cut runs was no longer part of the park.

The latest developments, which are being fought by the WWF, appear to see Bansko planning to add more lifts and runs further into the park, creating one of the world’s biggest ski areas. Leonardo DiCaprio established the DiCaprio Foundation aged 23 with the stated aim “to protect the world’s last wild places.” It is not clear exactly what relationship the foundation has with environmental campaigners in Bulgaria, but it recently tweeted: “Join us and @World_Wildlife to help save the centuries-old forests of Bulgaria’s Pirin National Park from ski zone expansion and logging.”

NEW HALF-TERM COACH NEW MEGA-LIFTS $50M SERVICE TO LES 2 IN ALPES

INVESTMENT AT WHISTLER Snow Express, the UK to French Alps direct bus service, has

cost, according to the company’s founder.

Vail Resorts launchedhave a brand announced new half-term plans to route spend to Les $52 2 Alpes million for the (aroundFebruary £37 million) half-term week. at Whistler Departing Blackcomb Londonahead on Friday of10 the 2018/19 February ski 2017 season.

(5.30pm)The and new lifts leaving atthe the resort largest on Saturday ski resort 18inFebruary North2017 America, (6.15pm), the which they return trip acquired costs £199pp. last year, will At the include time of writing, the for creation arrival of and what departure Vail Resorts on the believesame is dates, the world’s one well-known first three-gondola low-cost airline inter-connect. was charging

represent a 47%Snow capacity increase “Since starting Express in and

This largest wellsingle in excess investment of £1,500 in the for

29% and maximising the snow passenger age rangetime goesonright

resort’s history the lowest-cost will includefares a new for a

for on the mountain’s premier up families to 85 years old.”

10-passenger familygondola, with twonew adults six-passenger and

intermediate learning terrain.

Snow Express operates to

high-speed twoliftchildren and new (including four-passenger hold

Finally, the existing 40 ski resorts in theCatskinner French triple-

high-speed luggage), lift providing with times quicker, thateasier would

passenger lift will be replaced Alps, with departures every with a

access tomake all levels it extremely of terrain.difficult and

four-passenger, high-speed Friday evening from Londonlift orallowing

A new 10-passenger expensive togondola get to the willresort

Whistler Blackcomb to enjoy Folkestone betweenguests December

replace the on arrival.

Wizard Most and Solar of thechairlifts fares

faster, morereturning convenient access to and April, every

and ascend withfrom times thethat base work to the welltop are in

Blackcomb Mountain’s Saturday evening frombeginner resort. and

of Blackcomb Mountain, terminating excess of £2,000 for a family of

intermediate terrain.

Fares start from £99pp return;

adjacentfour, to the existing PEAKtime 2 PEAK with the prime fare

“This theretransformative are no excessinvestment baggage will offer a

Gondola,coming which transports guests to in at over £3,340.

That

dramatic the experience charges improvement for luggage ortowinter

and fromdoesn’t Blackcomb andthe Whistler.

Upon include transfer

for all ofequipment, our guests as they explore and sports and travel

completion, thefrom newairport gondola will offer costs to resort.

enjoy theto largest and most is direct the resort itself.popular resort

guests a But more andthe weatherit’scomfortable not just about

insnowexpress.co.uk North America,” said Pete Sonntag,

protected experience.

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating

The new gondola is expected to

Officer of Whistler Blackcomb.

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

move 4,000ofpeople perwe hour, the winter 2009/10 havethe highest capacity in North America. carried over 14,000 passengers In addition toto the new gondola, from the UK the Alps, and the capital plan also includes lift upgrades in increasingly we are finding Whistler Blackcomb’s Family a huge variety of people of Ski Zone, an area renowned for all upper-mountain ages using the service for intermediate tailored to families. convenience,trails rather than just The Family Ski Zone’s Emerald Express the cost saving,” said Snow four-passenger liftDave will be replaced Express founder, Manley. with new six-passenger “Weaare also now carryinghigh-speed more lift, increasing guest uphill capacity by families than before and our

035 // FEB18

Kitzbühel has a visible network of fast, comfortable

marvel created by British-born architect Zaha Hadid.

modern lifts, but what’s less obvious to the visiting

Each of the four stations have been designed to

skier is that there are around 1,100 of the latest

resemble icy glaciers, giving the impression that

snow cannons covering the slopes too, taking

the nearby mountain is right in the heart of the city.

their water from 10 specially created water-storage

The contrast between the arched shape of the roofs

lakes. Also, the lift company uses a fleet of 31 GPS-

and the firmly anchored concrete bases makes the

controlled piste-groomers each night to ensure

stations unique, and gives them an almost magical

the slopes are smoothed to a pristine condition as

sense of weightlessness.

efficiently as possible.

The latest thinking covers almost every aspect of ski

Kitzbühel has in fact got so clever with its snow

area operations too, not just the biggest projects.

management in recent years that it actually

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental already has a fleet of

stockpiles large amounts of snow at the end of

the latest ski lifts, but this year a sizable chunk of its

The truth is that while the Tiroleans know it’s worth

each ski season, protecting it using conventional

latest €4.5 million spend has gone on a revolution

preserving their architecture, their traditions and all that

insulation material, such as white fleece and foil,

in slope grooming: a new snow measuring system,

we love about spending our ski holidays there, they

to save it from the summer heat. About 20% of the

which uses GPS to measure snow depth to within a

don’t live in the past. In fact, tens of millions of euros are

snow melts through the spring and summer months,

few centimetres. During slope grooming work, this

spent each year on buying in the very latest tech.

but in October each year, the snow is re-used to

information is passed on in real time to the drivers, who

So, whether you’re on the slopes riding the latest

form the base for the next winter’s skiing. The start

therefore know precisely how much snow is currently

designer chairlift or in resort enjoying the warmth

of this season (2017/18) was the earliest opening

sitting beneath their high-performance machines

provided by an ultra-modern communal green

yet, with thousands of recreational skiers, as well

enabling more targeted use of manmade snow and

heating system, you benefit from the very latest

as professionals who could use the snow for early

consequently less water and energy consumption,

innovations, while enjoying those traditional values,

training, being welcomed on 14 October.

less fuel and shorter operating times for the fleet of 65

on a ski holiday in Tirol.

In Innsbruck, the Hungerburg Funicular is a design

snow groomers, seven of which are new this year.

©INNSBRUCKTOURISMUS

21ST CENTURY TIROL

When we think of the Austrian Tirol we tend to think of cosy villages, friendly people and snowy slopes … and we’re not wrong. But this timeless reputation for traditional charm does tend to mask another part of the Tirol ski holiday experience – the high technology.

036 // FEB18

VISITTIROL.CO.UK

NEW OPERATOR OF 12 NORTH AMERICAN SKI AREAS GIVES ITSELF A NAME The entity that snapped up a dozen leading US ski areas in the spring has finally decided on its name: Alterra. The entity is made up of a Coloradobased venture capital company, KSL Capital Partners, who have put in the majority of the money, and Henry Crown and Company, whose existing assets include Aspen ski area, which put in the remainder. The company’s resorts include Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Mammoth in California, as well as Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado, Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, and the remaining resorts still owned by the once mighty Intrawest group, including Stratton in Vermont, Tremblant in Quebec, Blue Mountain in Ontario and CMH Heli-Skiing in Canada, which Alterra say is the world’s largest heli-skiing operation. At the time of the acquisitions (which all came within a period of about a week and had a rumoured collective price tag of some $2 billion), commentators speculated that the group’s creation was a response to the rapid expansion of Vail Resorts, which now owns a BRANDON SKINNER

dozen resorts, recently acquiring Stowe in Vermont and former Intrawest flagship ski area Whistler Blackcomb, to give it both the largest ski area in North America (Whistler) and in the USA (Park City). Alterra have insisted they’re keen to see their resorts continue to operate independently and only to use best-practice ideas discovered at each ski area across others where it seems sensible to do so. alterramtnco.com

NEW HALF-TERM COACH LEADING SERVICEUS TO SKI LES TOWNS 2 ALPES

TO BECOME 100% GREEN Snow Express, the UK to French Alps direct bus service, has

At least launched threea brand of the newbiggest half-term ski towns routein to Les the 2 Alpes USA for have the announced February they half-term plan week. to ensure they are Departing 100% London green on energy Friday 10 powered February by 2035.

2017 (5.30pm) and leaving the resort on Saturday

cost, according to the company’s founder.

to“Since become fully carbon neutral,inand the starting Snow Express popularity town and ski area with the winterof ofthe 2009/10 we have the super-rich meanspassengers its local airport carried over 14,000 isfrom believed totohave a veryand high carbon the UK the Alps, footprint due we to all private planes increasingly arethe finding flying in.variety of people of a huge

The latest 18toFebruary make the 2017 commitment (6.15pm), the is

The voteusing to go the “100% Renewable” means all ages service for

Breckenridge returnintrip Colorado, costs £199pp. where the

that convenience, local energy rather providers than just are required

council recently At the time voted of unanimously writing, for to

to identify and provide more renewable the cost saving,” said Snow

power their arrival entire andcommunity departure by on100% the

power tofounder, the community.

Express Dave Manley.

renewable same energy dates, sources one well-known by 2035.

About 50also communities in Colorado “We are now carrying more have

Athletes low-cost who support airline climate was charging change

voted to go 100% green families than before andenergy our powered.

advocacywell group in excess ProtectofOur £1,500 Winters for

Worldwide study by climate change passengeraage range goes right

attendedthe thelowest-cost Breckenridge fares Town for Council a

information organisation SaveOurSnow. up to 85 years old.”

meeting family and spoke with to two Council adultsmembers and

com found that operates more thanto23% of ski Snow Express

about their twosupport children for(including the resolution hold

areas already 100% renewable energy 40 skiare resorts in the French

ahead ofluggage), the vote. with times that would

powered, exporting Alps, withseveral departures everyexcess green

Breckenridge makejoins it extremely fellow Colorado difficult and ski

power produce site from Fridaythey evening fromon London or wind,

town Aspen expensive as well to asget Utah’s to the Park resort City in

hydro and solar.

Folkestone between December

making this on arrival. commitment.

Most of the fares

and April, returning every

Aspen skiwith area times has been that work one well of the are in

Saturday evening from resort.

leading ski areasofworldwide excess £2,000 forwhen a family of

Fares start from £99pp return;

it comes four, to campaigning on climate with the prime time fare

there are no excess baggage

change and taking positive action. That coming in at over £3,340.

charges for luggage or winter

A projectdoesn’t which recycles global-warminginclude the transfer

sports equipment, and travel

causing emissions disused mines costs fromfrom airport to resort.

is direct to the resort itself.

in the area energy Butinto it’sclean not just aboutmeans the the

snowexpress.co.uk

ski area is effectively carbon neutral.

However, the ski town of Aspen is yet

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037 // FEB18

WORDS: MEGAN HUGHES & PATRICK THORNE

038 // FEB18

@INTHESNOWMAG

 PROMOTION

Four years after what became known as the “Tropical Winter Olympic Games” in Sochi, the wider world will be focused on ice and snowsports once again as the Winter Olympics and Paralympics return, moving even further east, this time to South Korea.

When Are The Games On?

Millie Knight The upcoming star of Britain’s Winter Paralympics Team lost

The 23rd Winter Olympics will take place from 9 to 25

her sight at age six and only has 8% peripheral vision in one

February 2018, and the 12th Winter Paralympics will follow at

eye won eleven medals on the World Cup circuit last season,

the same venues from 9 to 18 March 2018.

including seven golds, before she even took her A levels.

South Korea is nine hours ahead of the UK, so afternoon events will appear in the early morning and evening

James Woods

competitions in the late morning and early afternoon.

James “Woodsy” Woods has become the UK’s most

The BBC will have extensive coverage of the Olympics,

successful winter-sports athlete competing in ski slopestyle.

as will Eurosport who have made a big splash about their

With an increasingly impressive trophy cabinet built up over

coup in securing recently retired American skiing great

the past 10 years now, Woods’ most recent achievements

Bode Miller to join their commentary team.

include an X Games gold and winning gold again in the

Channel 4 will be the main broadcaster for the Paralympics.

Cardrona World Cup competition in New Zealand at the

InTheSnow.com and our social media channels will also

start of the 2017/18 season.

deliver the big ski and snowboarding news stories from As with Sochi, snow cover can be problematic in South

the Games.

Aimee Fuller

Korea, but the country does have a reputation for consistent

Aimee Fuller’s many achievements on snow include

sub-zero temperatures in its ski regions, so usually, although

making the semi-finals in the slopestyle contest at the

heavy snow is unusual, the snow that does fall tends to stay on the ground. The organisers have also invested large

Who to Watch on Team GB

Sochi Olympics and being the first woman to land a double backflip and cab double 900.

amounts on snowmaking in a belts and braces approach.

Another problem for South Korea is that it doesn’t have

Britain has previously won two bronze medals in

Kelly Gallagher

many big mountains, and didn’t have a lift-served ski slope

snowsports at the Olympics: one for Alain Baxter in

Britain’s only gold-medal-winning Winter Olympian or

with big enough vertical to accommodate the required

the slalom at the 2002 Games in Utah, which was

Paralympian aims to be back for Pyeongchang and to

descent of the blue-ribbon Men’s Alpine Downhill race.

unfortunately unfairly taken from him and has not yet

achieve even more with medals in multiple events.

The problem might have been addressed by building a bit

been returned despite enquiries finding him innocent

of extra height on top of the existing biggest vert, but in

of drug cheating, and the other for Jenny Jones in

Emily Sarsfield

the event the South Koreans circumvented the problem by

snowboard slopestyle at the Sochi Games.

Emily Sarsfield is Britain’s No.1female ski-cross athlete

building a completely new run through national parkland – a

Britain’s Winter Paralympians have won more medals

and at 34 years old, is the oldest of the team headed to

very unpopular move with environmental groups.

to date, including five in skiing at the Sochi Games with

PyeongChang. (Not sure if you’d want to include that?)

The Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium will host the opening

gold for Kelly Gallagher and her guide Charlotte Evans

Alongside her 8 national titles, Sarsfield has been a regular

and closing ceremonies, but downhill and freestyle ski

in the Super-G, and a remarkable three silvers and a

fixture on the FIS Ski Cross World Cup circuit for many

and snowboarding events will take place at four separate

bronze for Jade Etherington and her guide Caroline

years, regularly finishing within the top 15 since her return

venues. The Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre will host the

Powell across skiing disciplines.

from injury in 2016. This is her first Winter Games after injury

snowboarding Big Air competition; the Yongpyong Alpine

For the 2018 Olympics and Paralympics some well-

ruled her out of Vancouver 2010 and she narrowly missed

Centre will stage alpine skiing’s slalom and giant slalom

known faces will be back, but there are also high hopes

out on qualification in 2014, so we are excited to see what

competition; the Bokwang Snow Park is the venue for other

for members new to the team since the 2014 games.

she has in store for PyeongChang!

freestyle skiing and snowboard competitions and that

At the time of going to press we know that there’ll be

purpose-built Jeongseon Alpine Centre will stage Downhill,

around 60 Team GB competitors across all disciplines

Billy Morgan

Super-G and combined alpine skiing contests.

for the Olympics, and 15–20 for the Paralympics, but

Billy Morgan competes in both Slopestyle and Big Air

At the last Winter Olympics the main talk was about the vast

the teams have not been announced. Here are some of

snowboarding events, the latter being newly included in the

amount of money lavished on the event by the Russians –

the more high-profile athletes at present expected to

Olympics this year. Beginning as a gymnast, Morgan began

variously estimated at up to $50 billion dollars and believed

compete and have the greatest success, although who

snowboarding on his local dry slope in Southampton at

to be the most expensive Games, summer or winter, in history.

knows, it could be one of the lesser-known competitors

the age of 14 and did not board on snow until he was 18! In

The South Koreans have been more modest in their spending,

that makes the podium.

2013, he gained his first World Cup podium, bronze at Sierra

although they clearly haven’t scrimped on new infrastructure,

Dave Ryding

land an 1800 triple cork and also took bronze in the Big Air

new high-speed train link from capital Seoul which takes little

Slalom specialist Dave “The Rocket” Ryding scored Team

event at the X Games in Oslo in 2016.

more than an hour to reach Olympic venues. The big story

GB’s best alpine skiing result for 35 years with a silver at

that has overshadowed the build-up to the Games has of

the Hahnenkamm in Austria a year ago. Since then he has

Jamie Nicholls

course been the antics of northern neighbour, North Korea.

scored numerous top 10 results and came agonisingly close

In 2014 Jamie represented Team GB at the Sochi 2014 Winter

to a first gold in his first event of the season in Levi, Finland,

Olympics in Russia. Making it to the finals, Jamie successfully

when he fell when leading in the second run just short of

finished 6th, missing out on a podium finish by 1 point. In

the finish line.

2016, Jamie became the first British male to win a Snowboard

New Events

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Nevada, and more recently he became the first boarder to

which, besides the new alpine ski racing centre, includes a

World Cup at the Snow Jam in the Czech Republic.

Katie Ormerod

The 2018 Winter Olympics will feature 102 events in 15

Snowboarder Katie Ormerod (20) became the first British

Katie Summerhayes

sports. These include four new disciplines not previously

woman to win a Big Air World Cup competition in Moscow

Katie grew up honing her skills on her local dry ski slope

featured in an Olympic Games, including one each in skiing

last season and built on her success by winning silver in

in Sheffield as well as the Snozone indoor snow slope in

and boarding. They are Big Air snowboarding (which will

Milan this season. Other claims to fame include becoming

Castleford. In 2013, Summerhayes finished second in the

replace the parallel slalom) and mixed-team alpine skiing.

the youngest female snowboarder to land a double backflip

FIS World Cup Slopestyle competition, becoming the first

The Paralympics will feature 80 events including 30 alpine

and being the first woman to successfully complete a

British female skier in 19 years to win a medal in a World

skiing competitions and 10 snowboarding contests.

backside double cork 1080.

Cup event.

PYEONGCHANG2018.COM/EN

BY PATRICK THORNE

FAMILY-FRIENDLIEST SKI DESTINATIONS Almost all ski resorts say they’re family-friendly, and it’s true to say you can have a great family ski holiday at virtually any resort. However some centres are particularly well set up to cater for families making the likelihood of a

UK’S 7TH INDOOR SNOW CENTRE TO OPEN IN 2019

great stay that bit higher.

What could be the UK’s seventh indoor snow centre could open in autumn next year, according to a spokesperson for Cool Runnings (NE).

more recently there was an

site with a 12-month construction

agreement for the new facility to

schedule. They are to seek full

be run by the team behind Snow

planning permission in the meantime.

Factor, which runs Scotland’s only

The complex will have a main slope

indoor snow centre at Braehead.

and nursery slope and will also

The Cool Runnings spokesperson

house a soft play facility, both a

told the local Northern Echo

climbing wall and ice-climbing wall,

village is family oriented but the chocolate sweet

The plans for the new facility on a

newspaper that the company was

indoor sky diving and trampolines

making classes with Isobel at the village chocolatier

seven-acre site in the Middlehaven

waiting for a new road bridge and

plus a cafe, restaurant and shops.

A team of Paralympic ski and snowboard

area of Middlesbrough were

link road by the site to be completed

Cool Runnings believe the complex

athletes will be representing Great Britain at

announced some time ago, and

in August before starting work on

will bring 2.25m visitors to the area.

the 2018 Paralympics, which will take place in

There are many, but here are six of the best:

LES GETS, FRANCE Les Gets has built a reputation like few other resorts for its family-friendly facilities and attitude, attracting some of the best British family ski specialist tour operators. Everything about the

is a particular favourite.

MONT-TREMBLANT, CANADA

PIPPA LAUNCHES SKI2PARALYMPICS CHALLENGE

PyeongChang in South Korea between 9–18

It is a transatlantic flight away, but one of the

March 2018, and they’re looking for as much

shorter hops, and once you arrive at Montreal

funding as they can raise.

All are supported by Disability Snowsport UK

airport, it’s a quick hop to the resort. MontTremblant is perfectly purpose-built with panache

(DSUK), and the charity’s patron, royal sister-in-law

– spacious accommodation is located steps away

and extreme sports adventurer, Pippa Middleton,

from all facilities and the ski slopes in its car-free

has helped launch a “5,560 mile ski challenge”

village, and there are excellent off-slope attractions

named #Ski2Paralymics with that very aim. To enjoy this challenge, you’ll need to donate just £5 to

including an indoor water park.

DSUK on the #Ski2Paralympics JustGiving page and

LEVI, FINLAND

then share your ski mileage on the DSUK Facebook event page (www.bit.ly/Facebookski2paralympics)

Stay in the compact centre of Levi and you’ll find everything your family needs close to your

as often as you can get on a ski slope. You can do

accommodation. The huge slopeside Spa Hotel

this by taking a screenshot of the distance travelled

Levitunturi has a remarkable complex of more than a dozen themed swimming pools, and there are some great play areas for children on the slopes

GLENSHEE LIFT MAY BE READY FOR 2018/19

using the Crystal Ski Explorer app or any other ski tracking device.

“It is clear to me that the work of DSUK changes and enhances people’s lives. Their adaptive

and, of course, Santa to visit. It can be VERY cold A new quad chairlift to be installed

chairlift to replace the elderly

ongoing programme to replace the

snowsports programmes create opportunities and

at Scotland’s Glenshee ski centre

Cairnwell T-bar tow by the

older infrastructure at Glenshee

inspire disabled people through snowsports. So,

may go into service in time for the

Cairngorms National Park Authority

and improve the visitor experience

if you would like more of a challenge to your own

2018/19 ski season.

(CNPA) earlier this autumn.

at the site. It is expected to be

ski season, then why not take part in the DSUK

regions, Andorra also has great family-friendly ski

“Work is expected to start as soon

The new chair will transport almost

operational in 2019.

Ski2Paralympics18!” said Pippa Middleton.

areas, good accommodation and dining options,

as funds are in place, most likely

2,000 people per hour – three

Glenshee Ski Centre is the

DSUK will be recording the distance travelled and

and excellent on-slope childcare and ski school

during spring 2018,” a statement

times as many skiers as the surface

largest of its kind in Scotland,

keep everyone updated on their progress. Miles

facilities, often staffed by Brits, Aussies and Kiwis

from Ski Scotland claims.

tow – and will be much more user-

covering an area of more than

can be skied, snow-shoed or snowboarded.

Glenshee has been given planning

friendly for snowboarders.

2,000 acres extending across

permission for the four-person

The development is part of an

four mountains.

though, so if that’s an issue, best avoid.

ARINSAL, ANDORRA As well as being one of the more affordable ski

who make your children feel right at home.

040 // FEB18

@INTHESNOWMAG @LTMOUNTAINS

threevalleetransfers www.3vt.co.uk | +44 (0)1323 351964

PRIVATE & SHARED TRANSFERS TO LES 3 VALLÉES

MONGOLIA With temperatures averaging -40°C, Mongolia should be a natural ski destination, but snowfall is not quite the winter asset that the low temperature is for winter sports, and downhill skiing hasn’t been a big priority for Mongolians until recently.

The slopes are wide open with a little bit of

country of Mongolia!) just over the border.

light glading at the edge of the trails. The

Alsham is regarded as the top league of ski

ski centre can cope with 1,500 customers a

areas in China, with an FIS racing slope. It is

day but is reported to be quiet most days as

reported to be located in a snow pocket with

Mongolians are still not keen skiers. The 300-

skiing from the start of November, making it one

seat restaurant, 480 lockers and 1,000-capacity

of the country's most snow-sure destinations.

car parking space are rarely full.

Because of its location on the border of

The lifts and runs are located between 1,379

Mongolia, it is marketed for the "Mongolian

and 1,570m, giving a 191m vertical. Visitors can

experience" and offers alternative snow-fun

rent skiwear as well as skis, boards and boots.

sports such as football on snow.

But that all changed in November 2009 with

The runs are 100% covered by snowmaking,

The ski resort contains two parts: the West

the opening of Sky Mountain, a ski area located

installed by TechnoAlpin, which is needed

Hill Ski Terrain for ski racing and training,

13km southeast of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s

because the area is extremely dry and

and the East Hill Terrain for fun. The West

capital and largest city. Sky Mountain has six

only receives an average of 20cm of snow

Hill Terrain is built in accordance with the

trails for beginners, intermediate and advanced

between November and February each winter.

standards of international ski racing, suitable

skiers, adding up to 6km of trails served by

The nearest existing resort is believed to

for competition and training. This part covers

seven lifts including a couple of chairs, two

be Alsham in the Chinese province of Inner

around 5.5km with a great many downhill and

drags and three moving carpet lifts.

Mongolia (not to be confused with the actual

cross-country trails.

GET YOUR DAILY POWDER FIX AT

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041 // FEB18

COPYRIGHT BY KMU-FOTOGRAFIE.CH / 2012

It has occasionally made international news when some billionaire has paid out so much money that a top resort agrees to close a slope or two for their personal use.

per hour) and a lot of additional services too.

There are the essentials to start with that you might not think about – but along with the lift operators, your slopes will be groomed and ready for you, and the ski patrol are on hand just as they always are.

For the CHF10,000 version, for Kulm Hotel guests you get access for more than twice as long included,

Your Own Private Ski Slope

Basic Package:

Lux Package:

CHF5,000 (£3,800)

from CHF10,000 (£7,600)

kulm.com

042 // FEB18

corvatsch.ch

Those of us not so financially well-endowed protest

right through to 2am, transfer to/from the mountain

loudly that we paid for our day’s skiing and that

and from/to the hotel; Swiss specialities including

includes the run that is closed to us – even if we had

Raclette, Fondue, Fondue Chinoise, dessert,

no intention of going on it and there are dozens of

selected wines, coffee/tea and water included and

alternatives. It’s the principle that counts!

entertainment with a private DJ. All other requests

Thankfully, at St Moritz you are not closing a ski slope

can normally be catered for.

to prevent the general public from using it, but having

In terms of catering, the ski area has three

the area open up its famed Corvatsch ski area for

restaurants on hand and is happy to offer additional

your private use in the evening after the regular snow

ideas just for you:

day ends. So not only are you not stopping everyone

“Virtually everything is possible: perhaps hors

else skiing, you’re giving some bonus work hours to

d’oeuvres on the boarding platform and/or in

the centre’s employees – well done you!

the cable car cabin? You could have a drinks

Booking the slope for the personal use of yourself

bar on the lift platform or make use of any of the

and any friends or business colleagues you wish is

three restaurants for your evening meal: Murtèl

possible, thanks to the fact that the ski area is owned

middle station, Alpetta and the Hossa Bar,” a Kulm

and operated by the same family that own the world’s

spokesperson suggested.

original winter-sports hotel, the Kulm Hotel St Moritz,

Once you have arrived at the bottom, you can make

where the first winter mountain guests ever recorded

your way directly to the cable car boarding platform.

– Brits, of course – checked in for the 1864/65

You do not need a lift pass and there is no queueing

season even before the winter season had been

at the turnstile. Drinks are awaiting you, which you

thought of. The Kulm is now one of the world’s most

can enjoy at your leisure as you do not have to wait

luxurious 5★ hotels, and the owners this season also

for the next cable-car, for it will depart when you

snapped up a second of the three St Moritz ski areas,

are ready. You can decide how many trips up the

Diavolezza-Lagalb.

mountain you make and when you want to stop for

The family run the ski areas and hotel as separate

refreshments or a bite to eat.

businesses, however, and there are a number of

Private slope rental is available any evening of the

options for renting Corvatsch. The first is the “VIP

week except Friday (when it is open to the public)

Snow Night”, priced from CHF5,000, that’s open to

between December and April and takes place

all, and the second is the “Rent Your Own Mountain”

on a 4.2km-long run, the longest floodlit piste in

experience priced from CHF10,000 that is specifically

Switzerland, after the slopes have been freshly

for Kulm guests, has added perks, and normally limits

groomed between 5 and 6.45pm.

the number of skiers participating to just 10.

It’s up to you just how many people you invite to

For your CHF5,000 you get the floodlit ski area to

share your private slope with you. The Kulm notes

yourself for three hours from 7 to 10pm (extra hours

the minimum number for the slopes to operate is,

are available, up to midnight at the latest, at CHF1,500

well, one.

KULM.COM | CORVATSCH.CH

RESORT:INSIDER Planning a ski holiday on a budget

Mark Baker looks at a budget ski holiday this winter in Tignes and chooses the UCPA. I wanted to take an extra week to ski with some mates this winter, around the family holiday during the half-term holidays, but I needed to keep the costs down. Our dates were 31 March for a week and I started to look around online for some deals.

I wanted to go high, so Tignes was the obvious choice and I thought self-catered was going to provide the best value, so I put a shopping © ROGER GRUETTER

list together based on 7 nights in an apartment with four people.

Here’s what I came up with:

ENGELBERG Engelberg is one of the quickest and easiest major ski resorts in Switzerland to reach, just a short hop from Zurich Airport. Famous for its freeriding,

APARTMENT 2 BEDROOM €950 / 4 PEOPLE = ESPACE KILLY PASS 6 DAYS SKI HIRE TIGNES 6 DAYS LESSONS ESF TIGNES BREAKFASTS 7 X €4 = LUNCH ON MOUNTAIN 6 X €25 = DINNER COOK IN 3 X €15 = DINNER EAT OUT 4 X €35 =

€237 €285 €96 €149 €28 €150 €45 €140

but this year the resort’s igloo village has

snowmobile in an environmentally friendly

something of a monastic theme too. A

way by renting an electric snow vehicle and

Shaolin theme to be precise. The planned

taking off on a fun driving course. You can

highlight will be a visit by Shaolin masters

test the limits of drifting with your snowXbike

in the final week of the season, organising

or throw your whole body into the narrow

But then I heard about the UCPA – a not-for-profit organisation that

martial art workshops, show fights and

curves as you jet along on your snowmobile.

has all-inclusive packages based in their centre right in the middle

seminars. iglu-dorf.com

Junior snowmobiles (slower and with less

of Tignes. They had a holiday for £587 that included three meals a

Engelberg also has 82km of fantastic

torque) are also available for kids aged 12

day, ski pass, instruction and equipment hire – we don’t even need

groomed pistes over a massive vertical of

and up. snowxpark.ch/

to cook. The room sleeps four people so that works out too. With

TOTAL =

€1,130 OR AROUND £1,000

nearly 2,000m, accessed by more than

Snow and Safety Days

20 fast, state-of-the-art lifts including the

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about

remarkable revolving Rotair cable car. The

mountain safety but weren’t sure where to

magnificent 12km run from the top to the

begin, a visit during one of Engelberg’s Snow

Visit One of the World’s Highest Chocolate Shops

bottom of the slopes is one of the longest in

and Safety Days could be your answer. At

Located 3,020m up, the Chocolate Shop

the world.

these, mountain guides teach freeriders how

located on the third floor of the TITLIS peak

to ski safely through off-piste powder snow

station lets you choose from over 300 of

and demonstrate the most important rules

your favourite sorts of chocolate, or you can

Saturday Night at Trübsee

for having fun and staying safe, including

put together your own selection of sweets.

Take the gondola lift up to Trübsee on a

training with shovels and transceivers. There

Saturday night and you can have fun tubing,

are tours over powder snow accompanied by

snowshoe walking or winter hiking by night

mountain guides, an orienteering race in the

Night Ski at Brunni

then enjoy pizza from a wood-fired oven and

ski area, and much more – and best of all,

The Brunni ski area celebrates 75 years in

a good glass of wine in Italian restaurant

the course is free of charge for resort guests.

operation this winter. It has offered night

Lago Torbido after your exertions. All you

The courses run (Monday to Wednesday)

skiing for many years and this continues

need is your ski pass.

22–24 and 29–31 January as well as 12–14

on selected Friday and Saturday nights in

and 26–28 February. engelberg.ch/en/

January and February. Brunni now operates

I booked everyone through the Action Outdoors website after calling

freeride-the-big-5/snow-safety-days/

a solar power plant on Ristis (1,600m) with

them to check some details. It has been an amazing start to the

panels spread over 150m2, which produces

winter there with some record-breaking amounts of snow, so we’re

Meet the Monks

the option to take the Snow Express coach from London direct to the resort for only £89 return, the whole trip comes in way below our self-catering option and certainly much less than a catered chalet, once you consider the ski pass price alone. The list changed:

ALL INCLUSIVE ACTION OUTDOORS HOLIDAY = £ 5 8 7 4 BED ROOM 6 DAY SKI PASS ALL SKI OR SNOWBOARD HIRE INCLUDED 12 HOURS LESSONS WITH UCPA BREAKFAST FULL LUNCH AT CENTRE OR PACKED LUNCH HUGE EVENING MEAL SNOW EXPRESS (NO LUGGAGE LIMITS REALLY) = £89 RETURN

Engelberg has an ancient Benedictine

Rent an Electric Snowmobile

as much electricity per year as the artificial

now really looking forward to heading out there in March!

monastery (which serves very good beer),

snowXpark gives you the chance to

snowmaking system on Brunni consumes.

Call Action Outdoors on 0203 328 5443 or email info@action-outdoors.co.uk

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

ENGELBERG.CH

This month the subject is how to ski bumps. For many, skiing bumps can be a love/hate relationship. However you feel about them, sooner or later you will come across some, and it is better to be prepared. Here are some simple tips to help improve your bumps skiing:

©PAUL KEPPEL PHOTOGRAPHY

TUITION SKI BUMPS JON (AKA WESTY)

Pick a line

Pole-plant!

Before you have even started skiing, it is so

Pole-planting is critical to skiing bumps as it

important to choose the line you are going

will help with the rhythm of your turns, provide

Jon holds the top qualifications from

to ski and commit to it. Pick a point down the

stability for your upper body and help you to

France, Switzerland and Britain,

hill and aim for it with conviction – do not

stay balanced over your skis.

and we can say firsthand that he is

hold back!

Plant your pole over the top of the bump onto

a great ski instructor! Jon heads up

the backside. This allows for better flow down

the team at Altitude Ski School –

High line – In the moguls ski up onto the top

the bumps, and the upper body is less likely to

Verbier’s most established British ski

or high on the shoulder of the bump so that

be pushed back.

school. Each month Jon or one of

the tip and tail are free and it is easy to rotate

Take it easy to start with

his team will provide us with a few

the ski. Rotate the ski and skid down the

Take a deep breath and relax …

tips and words of wisdom to help

back of the bump to control the speed.

Bumps can often be intimidating, so it is

improve our understanding of skiing.

Make sure you practise first on some easy

important to try and keep a level head. Take

ALTITUDE

smaller bumps to warm up; don’t head straight

Direct line – Keep the skis in the rut line. The

a deep breath at the top of the bumps and try

to Tortin! Even when you do get to the harder

skier is much more restricted in how much

and just focus on one action point for the run.

bumps, break the run into smaller sections.

and where they can turn and skid the ski.

The more relaxed and confident you are, the

The Altitude winter company portfolio

For example, just try to ski 10 bumps at a time.

Speed down the slope is generally faster

more likely it is that your legs will respond and

includes the ski and snowboard

Before you know it you will be at the bottom!

than in a high line.

your upper body will stay strong, leading to a

school, the Futures instructor training

great fun ride down the hill!

programmes and FREERIDE VERBIER,

Traverse lines – To further reduce the speed,

a new school dedicated to off-piste

a more offset line can be taken. See diagram.

coaching in Verbier.

info@altitude-verbier.com +41(0)27 771 6006

044 // FEB18

ALTITUDE-VERBIER.COM | ALTITUDE-F

Isn’t it About Time You Upgraded Yours?

When Can Your Children Start Skiing?

We all love skiing, and the experience of descending a beautiful snow-covered mountain is one that we’d all love to share with our families. So, when can your children start

Have you improved since you bought your current ski boots?

Are they still comfortable?

learning to ski and enjoying the mountains? In general, some of the younger skiers on the slope will be around three to four years old. Most ski schools will begin to accept children into group lessons at three years, and private lessons at two, although this may differ from school to school. However, I have taught a two-year-old who was linking turns in one day, and a four-year-old that could barely stand on their skis after one week. So, other than age, what are the more important guidelines for when to start your child skiing?

Even for adults, skiing is not easy on the body. While the little ones have the advantage of more flexible joints, which are far less likely to break than those of us unfortunate grown-ups, they also have much less muscle and less ability to get those muscles to do what they want. A key sign of how ready your child is for skiing will be how strong and co-ordinated they are for their age. A bigger threeyear-old can get more out of ski school than a slighter fouror five-year-old child.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Did you know - ski boot plastic shells can now be heat moulded to the unique shape of your feet?

This gives you better performance and comfort than your old ski boots ever could - you’ll be amazed at the difference!

Recent technology and innovation means ski equipment is better than it’s ever been before... isn’t it time you upgraded your equipment and made the most of your experience in the mountains?

Before you invest in your next trip, come and visit us today to ensure you have the correct advice from experienced equipment specialists.

Bringing you the UKs largest specialist range of skis & boots and advice and expertise since 1965.

We’ll always be here to help and advise you on the correct equipment for wherever your passions and dreams take you.

Custom boot fitting specialists Ski Industries Of Great Britain official ski testers Winner of the World Snow Awards - Best UK Speciailst Retailer

Do you have older children skiing? This can be a big motivation for a child – seeing their older siblings coming back after ski school excited and happy after a hard day’s skiing will push them to want to try it themselves. We see this a lot in the families that use our ski school regularly, where many of the younger siblings grow up to be the stronger skiers.

Download your FREE Buyers Guides:

Other important factors to consider are clothing (a cold skier is an unhappy skier!), weather (a bad weather day is best avoided) and finding a resort with a gentle and safe beginners’ slope. Hopefully with these things

http://bit.ly/ITS-Buyers-Guide

coming together, your children can start off on a long and happy time out on the mountains, with some great family memories!

For more info on kids’ lessons, please contact our resident experts at Altitude Ski School in Verbier.

FREERIDE | FREESTYLE | TOURING | TELEMARK | RACE | RECREATIONAL Ski Bartlett, Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon, West London, UB10 0NP T:020 8848 0040 | E:info@skibartlett.com | www.SkiBartlett.com

UTURES.COM | FREERIDE-VERBIER.COM

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SNOW MACHINES COULD REGROW GLACIERS, SCIENTIST CLAIMS A scientist has calculated that using machine-made snow on glaciers could help regrow them, if you use enough snowmaking machines (and presumably running on green energy).

The glacier Mr Oerlemans will be coating with

attempts to save glaciers, which have included

snow is shrinking at an average of 30m each year.

covering sections with reflective material, and

According to a report in New Scientist magazine,

Whistler Blackcomb in BC Canada has also been

Mr Oerlemans’ theory is that coating the glacier

experimenting with snowmaking on its glacier.

with just a few centimetres of snow will cause

Switzerland had its warmest ever December

Hans Oerlemans of Utrecht University is set to

the sunlight to be reflected off it, allowing it to

in 2015 followed by its driest ever December

test his theory this summer on a small glacier at

recover. He has calculated that if he had 4,000

last year, and a study published in the autumn

the foot of Diavolezzafirn, close to St Moritz in

snow machines running on the glacier for 20

reported that the country had 40 fewer snow

southeast Switzerland.

years, he could regrow the glacier by 800m.

days a season compared to the 1970s. Ski resorts

Most glaciers around the world are melting

However, the pilot project is much smaller than

at both low and high altitudes saw snow arrive,

increasingly quickly as a result of climate change,

that and has just under a CHF100,000 (around

on average, 12 days later and disappear 25 days

and a good number have disappeared altogether.

£74,450) budget. It is the latest in a series of

earlier in 2015 than in 1970.

POUND UP AGAINST SOME SKI COUNTRY CURRENCIES

www.chamonix-vacances.com

046 // FEB18

The pound will buy you more in some of

For skiers, the pound is doing best against

the world’s skiing nations than a year ago,

the Turkish lira, rising 17% compared to a

according to rate stats published by No1

year ago, while, surprisingly perhaps, doing

Currency. Since the Brexit vote sent the pound

worst against the Polish zloty, dropping 9%.

tumbling 18 months ago, 2017 saw some

Turkey does have some good ski areas, but

stabilisation in the decline, but it was also a bit

it also has Foreign Office travel advisories

of a roller-coaster year for exchange rates.

on visiting there to ski.

“On the face of it, 2017 was a rocky year

In terms of major ski nations, sterling is up

for the pound,” said Simon Phillips, Retail

7% against the US dollar from its historic

Director at No1 Currency.

lows in autumn 2016. This year every £1,000

“Dig a little deeper and you’ll find that in

exchanged into dollars will buy you $90

three quarters of holiday hotspots, you can

more than last year. Apart from the Swiss

actually get more for your currency than you

franc and the Norwegian krone, which are

could a year ago. For those planning to get

up 3.96% and 4.18% respectively, Brits will

away to one of those destinations where the

see worse exchange rates in countries

native currency has dropped by more than

closer to home. As well as the Eurozone,

5% against the sterling, it’s good news.”

Sweden is also more expensive this year.

@INTHESNOWMAG

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

 Shred Bumper Helmet with

 Patagonia

NoShock Protection From £140

Descensionist Jacket £419

A lower-profile helmet with high-impact safety protection – utilising imbedded

Built for the backcountry whether

“Slytech NoShock” foam to dissipate

you need breathability for the

force away from your brain in an impact.

journey up, a windproof and

This has allowed Shred to reduce the

waterproof storm shell to keep out

bulk and weight of their helmets without

the weather when you reach the top,

compromising on safety – lower-profile,

or a lightweight, free-moving jacket

better looking and therefore more likely to

for the adventure back down.

be worn! skibartlett.com

skibartlett.com

 Rossignol Alltrack 80 Junior Ski Boots £195 What better experience can a child have than joining you on an exciting ski touring adventure? These aren't just built for heading upwards to hidden stashes, but also Mach 10

 Forcefield Boom

on the piste and cruising through the powder;

Shorts Ti £110

these have the ability to do everything your little ripper could need in one boot. It will be

These shorts combine the very

smiles all round when you see how much fun

best features and protection

they're having!

from the Forcefield Action Shorts

skibartlett.com

and Board Shorts to create flexible, comfortable and highimpact-absorbing shorts ideal for

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

the mountain or park. Now in a new ‘Titanium’ colourway. forcefieldbodyarmour.com

 Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Active Jacket £469 Norrona’s lightest and most breathable GoreTex freeride shell jackets. Really comfortable,

 Atomic Revent FDL HD Goggles

you’ll barely know you’re wearing it, and it

£159

folds up really small if it’s in your backpack.

Full of the usual Norrona technical features

Imagine a HD TV – the richness of colour and clear

allowing you to get multiple adventures from

crisp picture; now imagine a similar clarity through

this one jacket – ski, snowboard, bike, hike.

your goggles. Clever engineering has allowed

skibartlett.com

the standard double lenses to be fused together, giving you no distortion, more vibrant colour, better peripheral vision and unbelievable clarity. HD (High Definition) says it all!

 Black Crows Corpus 2-Layer

skibartlett.com

Gore-Tex Jacket £389 Super-simple, elegant style and the unmistakable Black Crows attention to detail. Whether you want a mountain-

 Scott Slight 93

techy shell or a subtle parka-style

Skis £499

street jacket, this hits the mark on both fronts. Soft fabric that’s fully

More at skibartlett.com

New, lighter construction allows

waterproof will keep you dry and

the Slight to flow smoothly from

feeling good all year round.

turn to turn, and their overall

skibartlett.com

shape makes them easier to control and easier to roll on an edge. They have unbelievable precision characteristics on

With their renowned reputation for

piste, with impressive edge

specialist expert advice, combined with

grip and stability at speed.

their carefully selected and tested range

skibartlett.com

of products, it’s no surprise that Ski Bartlett’s word-of-mouth reputation over the last 50 years has made them the UK’s most popular independent ski shop! @INTHESNOWMAG

 Scarpa Maestrale RS 2 Touring Boot £499

 Line “I AM A SKIER” Braces £26

One of the best-performance touring boots on the

They're striking, they're cool and with Line’s “I

market has just got even better – the refined RS 2 is

am a Skier” slogan you've just got to get a pair!

lighter-weight, stiffer-flex, more responsive and even

skibartlett.com

more comfortable. If you want one boot that doesn’t compromise on performance, up or down the mountain, then you’ve just found it! skibartlett.com

 Sinner Everest Dry-S Glove £35 The Everest gloves are special gloves for men, equipped with the unique SINNER DRY-S technology.

The DRY-S membrane is 10,000mm waterproof, 6,000mm windproof and breathable. Equipped with smart air ventilation, while the pre-curved fingers ensure a perfect fit. sinner.eu/en

 Mammut Barryvox S Transceiver £329 As safety products should be – simple and easy to use when you’re under pressure, intuitive and fast when lives are at stake. New technology allows for faster actions to take place as signals are received from a much bigger search area, and you’re directed to a casualty in a more direct route. Reduce search times when minutes matter! skibartlett.com

 Blizzard Black Pearl 98  Sinner Titan Ski Helmet

Women’s Skis £509

£90 A slightly more forgiving tip shape The Titan ski/snowboard helmet is

and stiffness than in previous years,

a lightweight freeride helmet with

allowing you to flow more easily and

In-Mold technology, equipped with a

smoothly into every turn, whether

size-adapting system for ultimate fit.

short or long. Still not compromising

The helmet comes with a washable

on stability at speed and superb

soft fleece lining and features a

edge grip, these are all-mountain

goggle holder, so you can wear the

versatility at its finest. Whether

helmet with ski goggles.

you’re a good intermediate-level

sinner.eu/en

skier or advanced freerider, these will flatter and impress you and take you to the next level.

 Line Pescado Skis

skibartlett.comwith AEP

£620

KINEMATICS technology provides superb mobility on the slopes.

A directional, surfy ski with playful, light

dare2b.com

construction, with an innovative fish shape

 Tecnica Cochise 130 DYN

and swallow tail, making it carve deeper and

Touring Boot £449

float faster. This is the culmination of years of Eric Pollard’s hard work and ski design skills,

 Fritschi Tecton 12 Ski Touring

bringing you a masterpiece of art for skiing

Binding £485

Tecnica has delivered a superb all-

A newly designed touring binding with a

to venture anywhere on the mountain.

traditional alpine-style heel and a tech pin toe

Whether it’s off the beaten track with a

– the combination of which gives you alpine

pin-style touring binding or carving down

performance for the down and free-flowing

the pistes with precision. Performance and

movement for the up. Not compromising on

accessibility combine to give you one boot

safety, these are one of the safest touring

that allows you to ski piste, powder or tour.

bindings on the market.

skibartlett.com

deep powder or adorning your walls! skibartlett.com

mountain ski boot that will allow you

skibartlett.com

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049 // FEB18

 Burton Deluxe Gore Glove

 Demon Complete Tune Kit

£74.95

£74.95

Achieve ultimate comfort in the absolute

An easy-to-carry all-in-one snowboard-

worst weather with the Burton Deluxe

tuning solution in a handy carry case.

Gore glove. The GORE-TEX® membrane

Comes complete with iron, edge tuner,

+ Gore warm technology is durably

repair sticks and base structure pad. All you

waterproof, windproof and breathable

need to add for a week or a month away

guaranteed. Even in harsh conditions.

snowboarding is the wax of your choice.

sputniksnowboardshop.com

sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Adidas Response ADV Snowboard Boot £279.95 Authentic Adidas heritage on the mountain. Connect your body and board in these snowboarding boots, designed top to bottom for personalised comfort.

Features include dual-zone speed lacing, a moulded liner and tongue for a natural fit and a grippy, durable rubber outsole with backstay for traction on and off your board. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton Free Thinker Snowboard

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

£489.95 The Burton Free Thinker is a true twin for hot laps in the park, pipe or mobbing side hits across the mountain. The unique shape opens up the possibilities for creative expression in any direction, while the control of camber keeps it quick and poppy. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Sinner Nauders Ski Goggle £99 The Nauders is a Sinner ski/snowboard goggle with an interchangeable lens system. The Nauders is supplied with a Cat. 3 mirrored lens and a SINTEC® polarised orange Cat. 2 lens, which you can easily change due to the presence of the Easy Click Lens change system. sinner.eu/en

 Capita Birds Of A Feather

 Dakine Low Roller

Women’s Snowboard 2018 £389.95

Snowboard Bag 165cm £89.95

One of the most popular women’s

Holds two boards (one with bindings

snowboards in the industry, the do-anything,

mounted) or two pairs of skis up to 165cm.

go-anywhere board that you will fall in

Keep your gear protected with durable

love with. This hybrid-camber, all-terrain

tarp liner and 360° padding, and there’s

snowboard is suitable for a wide range of

a separate removable boot bag to keep

riders and is ready to take your snowboarding

it organised. Durable wheels plus an end

to new heights.

handle make this bag manoeuvrable,

sputniksnowboardshop.com

even when fully loaded. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Burton Ion Leather Snowboard Boot £364.95 Want high performance and full-grain leather style? This special edition of the Burton Ion boot fuses genuine made-in-the-USA Red Wing®

More at sputniksnow boardshop.com

waterproof leather with the trademark features that have made this boot legendary. Proven Ion technologies such as Total Comfort and AutoCANT EST® cushioning deliver precise control and

Sputnik is one of the UK’s largest

out-of-box happiness.

independent snowboard shops. We

sputniksnowboardshop.com

offer great choice and service to all our customers. Whether you are beginner or expert, we can kit you out to ensure you have a great day on the mountains.

050 // FEB18

@INTHESNOWMAG

DO YOUR SKI BOOTS FIT PROPERLY?

 Anon Prime MIPS Helmet £184.95 Features an In-shell Boa® Fit System for easy, on-the-go fit adjustment. The Hybrid 50/50 shell construction combines durability on top with the performance of a featherweight bottom. The MIPS offers advanced protection against angled impacts.

Active Ventilation gives you one-handed control over 23 total vents, so you can fine-tune your temperature depending on the weather and activity. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Volcom Taro Gore-Tex Women’s Mitt £114.95 The feeling of comfortable boots is no

The Taro Gore-Tex mitt features top-notch technology inside and out. This fingerless style includes a GORE-TEX® waterproof/breathable insert, V-Science Stay Dry Leather and a premium leather palm. With added PrimaLoft® insulation for extra warmth. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Capita Scott Stevens Pro

 Picture Organic Clothing Seen Women’s Jacket £264.95

longer a pipe dream. With the amazing innovations that have come out over the last few years, there’s no need to put up with discomfort!

The Picture Seen jacket is part of the expedition range with its fully technical

Here’s our step-by-step guide to assess if your ski

features such as Thermal Dry Insulation and

boots are the correct fit for you ...

fully taped seams. Its 20K/15K membrane ensures you stay warm and dry all day, even

Step 1

in the harshest of conditions.

Make sure you put them on correctly.

sputniksnowboardshop.com

Put your ski boots on and buckle them up loosely, starting from the top buckle down. Flex up and down

Snowboard 2018 £449.95

a few times to make sure your heel is fully back in the boot. The overall shape of the boot should

This extremely durable, versatile, twin-tip

hold your foot in place, but if your foot is not held

park destroyer is exactly what Scott uses to

securely, tighten the buckles a bit more.

get wild. With a shape that turns on a dime, this board was made to jib, bonk, slide,

Step 2

shred, ride, slap and pop off anything. A

Is the length correct?

very versatile freestyle snowboard.

When standing up, with your knees slightly bent and

sputniksnowboardshop.com

your shins just contacting the front of the boot, you should be able to feel your toes lightly skimming the front of the boot. There should be room for your toes to wiggle!

Step 3 Do they fit around your foot and leg?

Roll from side to side, as if you’re edging your skis – your foot and boot should feel linked together and move as one.

When you flex forward your heel should be held in the boot and not lift up ...

Step 4 Are Your Boots the Right Flex?

When pushing your shins on the front of the boot you should be able to easily flex your ankles, without excessive force, and you should be able to maintain

 Burton Riders Pack 2.0 25L –

good balance. Flexing at the ankles, knees and hips

Eclipse Coated Ripstop

 Stance Yo Big Snowboard Socks £16.95

£79.95 Board carry with shovel and probe storage,

 Picture Organic Clothing Seen Women’s Pant £179.95

A technical snowboard sock that looks as

it also features a stowable and removable

The Picture Seen pant is part of the

good as it performs. Featuring Toe Box

waist belt, a side water bottle pocket, ample

expedition range with its fully technical

Oven™ for warm toes, terry looped foot, heel

storage and a plush ergonomic shoulder

features such as Cormax Insulation and

and toe for extra cushioning. Left and right

harness and back panel.

fully taped seams. Its 20K/15K membrane

engineered arch support, reinforced heel

sputniksnowboardshop.com

ensures you stay warm and dry all day even

and toe and seamless toe closure.

in the harshest of conditions.

sputniksnowboardshop.com

sputniksnowboardshop.com

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

should feel uninhibited.

If your boots don’t fit as described in these steps – don’t panic! There are many ways an experienced boot fitter can subtly change and improve the fit of your boots using some of the following …

•

Thicker or thinner socks

•

Custom-moulded footbeds

•

Volume-reducing footbed shims

•

Moving buckles

•

Heel raisers

•

Stretching and manipulating the shell

•

Heat-moulding the liner 051 // JUN17

 Picture Organic

 Boom Shorts

Clothing Takashima Jacket

Ti Junior

£164.95

£59.99

As part of the Expedition line, the

These shorts are fitted with

Picture Takashima jacket is a very

high-energy-absorbing (two-

versatile mid-layer. It has PrimaLoft®

layer) low-profile Forcefield

insulation making it warm but

material located at the

lightweight and downproof to offer

hips, thighs and combined

a water-resistant protective layer.

buttocks/coccyx. These are

sputniksnowboardshop.com

removable to allow the shorts to be machine-washed for maximum hygiene. forcefieldbodyarmour.com

 Rossignol Alltrack Pro 80 Women’s Ski Boot

 Burton Party Snowboard

£255

Socks £19.95 One of our best-selling ladies’ boots – Merino wool blend ensures that

soft and warm comfortable liners blend beautifully with the anatomical shaping

while your feet remain warm,

 Lange SX 90 Ski Boot £240

and secure hold around your foot. Their slightly more “comfort” width means you

they also remain dry as they wick away any moisture created

A perfect first boot, ideal if you’re a

can happily cruise in these all day long,

by shredding. The rider-specific

progressing intermediate skier. Lighter-

and with their walk mode on the back it’s

support and no-irritation seams

weight plastics and anatomically designed

much more relaxed when it’s time for the

mean that your feet will be happy

liners reduce areas of usual pressure and

après-ski! skibartlett.com

as can be, allowing you to shred

help them feel light on your feet. Their

from dawn till dusk.

slightly wider foot shape also gives you a

sputniksnowboardshop.com

comfort fit whilst still maintaining Lange’s impeccable performance heel hold to help you improve. skibartlett.com

 Volcom BL Stretch Gore Jacket – Blue/Black £329.95 Weatherproof doesn’t mean stiff and uncomfortable anymore. The Volcom BL Stretch Gore jacket offers top-notch protection with the GORE-TEX® guarantee. It is stretchy and flexible to match your riding style and also has fully taped seams, mesh-lined vents and a super sueded chin guard for extra comfort. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 Dynastar Speedzone 10 Ti Skis £479 inc. Binding  Volcom Iguchi Slack

 Atomic Vantage X 77

Vest Jacket £219.95

Women’s Ski £324 inc. Bindings

Wear this rugged nylon Oxford vest over

Are you an intermediate-level skier

or under your jacket. Includes a down-

wanting to progress your piste skiing?

filled hood, drop-tail fit, adjustable side

These are forgiving and easy to turn

panels and polyester mesh. Includes

at slower speeds, but when the sun

options for toting all your accessories. A

is shining and your confidence level

probe sleeve. Zippered chest pockets.

rises you will feel stable and secure

Shovel handle pocket and exterior

if you pick up the pace. A fun, light,

snowboard or ski straps. You really can

easy-turning piste ski that will help

bring it all with you when you ride.

you improve.

sputniksnowboardshop.com

skibartlett.com

052 // FEB18

New Powerdrive sidewall absorbs bumps and vibrations, making you feel like you’re anchored to the snow and flowing through any size of turn or terrain.

The grip you experience carving on the piste, the unmistakeable smoothness under your feet and the ability to change turn shape on a sixpence all contribute to making you grin! skibartlett.com

@INTHESNOWMAG

CHALET DUC DU SAVOIE ST MORITZ

CHALET AU GRE DU TEMPS LES GETS

Chalet Duc du Savoie is a beautifully traditional self-catered chalet with an ideal location in Les Gets. Just a few minutes’ walk from both the town centre and the piste, this Alpine getaway sleeps up to 12 people, with five bedrooms and it's the perfect place to cosy up by the log fire and relax after a hard day's skiing.

Located just 30m from the piste, this lovely spacious chalet is in a prime position for you to enjoy the wonderful skiing Les Gets has to offer. Wind down at the end of the day in the sauna, or have a drink by the log fire and appreciate the beautiful furnishings of this fourbedroom chalet. Satellite TV and wi-fi are also included.

+44 (0) 207 183 5082 // SUE@CHALETS1066.COM CHALETS1066.COM

+44 (0) 207 183 5082 // SUE@CHALETS1066.COM CHALETS1066.COM

LES VIEUX CHALETS NO. 7 GRIMENTZ

CHALET PERLE LA PLAGNE 1800

Located just in front of a gondola giving you direct access to the slopes of the Grandvalira area, the Sport Hotel 4 is a lovely homely Alpine hotel.

It’s 165 rooms are all decorated in a traditional mountain style and the hugely diverse buffet and daily cooking show in the evenings are sure to please all those hungry stomachs after a day on the slopes!

This luxury top-floor duplex chalet apartment sleeps eight people and is right near the centre of the charming 15th-century village of Grimentz. With the main gondola only 200m away, it’s a great spot from which to explore this incredibly picturesque ski area. Relatively quiet slopes, 220km of runs and great off-piste make Grimentz a destination we highly recommend.

Just 100m away from the main piste, you can usually ski right back to the door at Chalet Perle, which is also only a short walk from La Plagne 1800 village. However, you may never want to leave this chalet thanks to the outdoor Scandinavian hot tub, sauna, large terrace and log fire.

Recently renovated and sleeping 14 people, it’s the perfect group getaway spot.

+376 870550 // BOOKING@SPORTHOTELS.AD SPORTHOTEL.SPORTHOTELSANDORRA.CO.UK

0151 625 1921 // INFO@MOUNTAINHEAVEN.CO.UK MOUNTAINHEAVEN.CO.UK

0151 625 1921 // INFO@MOUNTAINHEAVEN.CO.UK MOUNTAINHEAVEN.CO.UK

RESIDENCE & SPA VALLORCINE CHAMONIX 

HOTEL LE TAOS 4* TIGNES

Nestled in the charming village of Vallorcine, in the Chamonix MontBlanc valley, Vallorcine Mont-Blanc offers a relaxing atmosphere.

The 5 Residence gives guests a choice of 50 cosy apartments with services. Facilities include an indoor heated pool, two saunas, a spa, a tea-room, a ski shop and a private ice-rink. Less than 10 minutes from your breakfast to the ski slopes!

This unique hotel occupies a brilliant ski-in, ski-out location in the centre of Tignes le Lac. With easy access to the slopes, it’s a great choice for beginners and families, who may not want to travel with their skis. Hotel Le Taos is beautifully decorated in an Alpine style, with modern suites, good food, and a relaxing swimming pool, spa and sauna.

A beautiful 5 hotel in Soldeu, right at the foot of the Grandvalira ski area and just metres from the main gondola. The Sport Hotel Hermitage’s 135 suites all boast satellite TV, Egyptian cotton sheets, wi-fi and a terrace or balcony. Guests also benefit from access to the Sport Wellness Mountain Spa, the perfect place to relax and unwind.

+33 (0)4 5054 7520 // CONTACT@CHAMONIX-VACANCES.COM CHAMONIX-VACANCES.COM

+33 (0)4 79 10 49 15 // INFOS@MONTAGNETTES.COM MONTAGNETTES.CO.UK

+376 870550 // BOOKING@SPORTHOTELS.AD HERMITAGEHOTEL.SPORTHOTELSANDORRA.CO.UK

SPORT HOTEL 4 SOLDEU

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



SPORT HOTEL HERMITAGE & SPA 5 | SOLDEU



053 // FEB18

M

I

N

U

T

E

S

NIGEL GRAINGER Nigel Grainger runs independent ski shop Lockwoods with his sister Maxine and his daughter Hayley, along with Maxine’s son Oliver Watts, making it a thirdgeneration family-owned ski and outdoor clothing shop. Lockwoods first opened its doors in Warwickshire’s Royal Leamington Spa 41 years ago, and despite the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reporting that non-food sales rose by just 0.2% in the year to October – the weakest growth since 2011 – this independent store is not only surviving, but thriving, in the digital age, says Nigel.

So what are you doing right to ensure that you remain one of the survivors?

Well, we’re not selling products which are any different to any other retailers in our sector, but what we are selling is knowledge, attention to detail and great customer service.

What would you say to someone tempted by a cheap deal on the web?

People can often spend thousands of pounds of their hard-earned money on skiing holidays, yet are prepared to potentially ruin that by ordering an ill-fitting pair of boots from the internet. We offer our time and knowledge, which helps customers avoid buying an ill-fitting ski boot which causes agony on the slopes.

So customer service is the key?

Is it true that there’s been a big drop-off

Each industry and each business is unique,

in the number of independent ski shops

but regardless of what product they are

with the rise of the internet?

selling, everyone has the ability to provide

There are very few specialist shops such as

exceptional customer service. Many high

ours in the UK now. The change in people’s

street stores across the country are in a

buying habits to a more online-dominated

battle to keep their heads above water,

scenario has made them something of a

and we’re no different, but we try to do the

dying breed, with only around 100 in the

very best for our customers.

UK currently, compared to probably 1,000 in the 1990s. We’d like to think we’re proof

Where will Lockwoods be in 10 years?

of the fact that these types of shop can still

In 10 years I’d still see us fitting shoes and

prosper when run properly.

continuing to add value to our customers in store. The retail trade is going full circle

054 // FEB18

So how did you come to run a

– even Amazon is talking about putting

ski shop anyway?

shops on the high street. People still like to

The opportunity arose when the previous

go into shops and get advice on what they

premises, which was a garage showroom,

are buying, and I don’t think that is going

was up for sale when I worked as a local

to change. We started off as bricks and

estate agent. I decided to put an offer

mortar and ventured online, and I’d like

in and it went from there. So I went from

to see the third generation of our family

selling houses to selling tents!

taking it forward from here.

LOCKWOODS.COM

COPPER SKI GOGGLE APART FROM THE STUNNING LOOKS, THIS FRAME IS ECO-FRIENDLY, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE’S A LITTLE MATERIAL USED. BESIDES THAT, THE STRAP IS MADE OF 80% BAMBOO YARN. THIS IS GOING TO BE A SUSTAINABLE WINTER!

DARE TO LIVE

SINNER WINTER COLLECTION SINNER.EU