SKIER: WILLIE NELSON | LOCATION: ALTA, UTAH | PHOTOGRAPHER: NOAH WETZEL
INTHE SNOW
ZOOMJPG
016 SERRE CHEVALIER: THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE ALPS Serre Chevalier Briançon in the Southern French Alps, a quick 90-minute transfer from Turin, is one of the world’s
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biggest ski areas and deserves to be better known in the British market. Boasting more than 3,900 hectares of skiable terrain, more than 80 individual runs and nearly 60 lifts, for all tastes and ability levels and served by no less than 59 fast ski lifts, with 80% of the area’s ski runs sitting above 2,000 metres high, the fact that the old walled town of
03I
CRYSTAL
Briançon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site is just a bonus.
WHAT’S YOUR WINTER MOMENT? It’s time to think about more than just where we’re going to go skiing this year. What is it about our ski holidays we really enjoy? What is the feeling or sensation we can’t wait to experience once we’re back in the
THE PERFECT SKI DESTINATION? A great snow record, a long ski season running from
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November to May, fast and comfortable lifts, lots of exciting terrain, great slopeside accommodation, magnificent views and even a short airport transfer, could Obertauern be the perfect ski destination?
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TIROL’S TOP TEN FOR BRITS Tirol is chock-full of great ski areas, easy to reach
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via Innsbruck airport, which will have more flights
INTHESNOW_MAGAZINE
province’s ski areas are better known than others.
than ever from the UK this winter. But some of the Here’s the top 10 most popular with the British skiers.
© TVB INNSBRUCK / KLAUS POLZER
mountain. In short, what’s your winter moment?
04I FEDERICO MODICA
VAL DI FASSA: THE SNOWY FAIRYTALE WORLD
EDITOR
One of the great ski valleys of the Dolomites, Fassa offers a great selection of accommodation options from busy villages like Canazei, linked into the famous
PATRICK THORNE
Sellaronda circuit, to quieter settlements with their own intimate ski areas along the valley.
A new season is upon us and with it lots of wonderful new ski gear for winter 2018/19. Feast your eyes on our extended collection of kit from skiwear to the latest skis, boards and boots. All selected by our expert team who know their gear better than anyone.
GEPA PICTURES/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
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WHISTLER BLACKCOMB
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BUYERS GUIDE 051–059
BC NO SKI Go on a winter holiday to Canada’s famous ski region of British Columbia … but don’t go skiing. It sounded like a rather cruel challenge at first but it turned out to be remarkably easy as there’s so much ELSE to do. Still can’t decide if dog sledding
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PORTES DU SOLEIL - SYLVAIN COCHARD
or zip wiring is more fun though?
SKI WEEKENDS: BE HAPPY SKI MORE
SLALOM STAR MARCEL HIRSCHER With 58 World Cup wins, nine World Championship medals, two Olympic medals and a record seven World Cup overall titles – something no one else has achieved – many believe Marcel Hirscher is the greatest skier of all time. He doesn’t though, as he told Megan Hughes when they met up.
EDITORIAL TEAM PUBLISHER
SUB EDITORS
Dominic Killinger
Nick Jones Marion Adams
dom@inthesnow.com EDITOR
CONTRIBUTORS
Patrick Thorne
Emmanuelle Châtel Megan Hughes Sega Fairweather
patrick@inthesnow.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Why do we stick to old-style ski holidays where we use a day at each end of our seven-night trip getting to
Debbie Gabriel debbie@inthesnow.com
EQUIPMENT BY
Ski Bartlett Sputnik
BRAND & DIGITAL MANAGER
our destination and another day on the return leg. Ski
Emmanuelle Châtel
Weekends argue that with a bit of ski holiday savvy you
SOCIAL & DIGITAL MANAGER
can ski a half or full day on transfer day. No brainer?
Megan Hughes
DESIGN BY
Tom Showler Rocket Base tom@rocketbase.co.uk
© Copyright 2018 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.
I’m not sure what’s been getting me the most excited about the coming ski season. Firstly there were the reports of fresh snow falling on high slopes in the Alps while it was still summertime in late August and early September; now there’s the almost daily news of one high glacier ski area or another opening already for the start of their 2018/19 season, and then there’s the ever-increasing intensity of emails from tour operators telling us about their first “deals” for the season and gear manufacturers plugging their latest kit – which, as every year, has lots of allnew, must-have features. But perhaps what really brought the imminence of the new season home to me was a series of pictures of hundreds of sheep being gathered from high Alpine pastures and marched down the mountainside through the first snow to safety in the valley. Their time on the slopes is over for another summer, and ours is beginning once again! Regular readers may notice a few small changes with InTheSnow this season as we return to print for the autumn and winter while continuing our year-round daily updates at inthesnow.com, our weekly email newsletter and our social media channels. We’re investing in even higher production quality and more pages of great news and features so there’s even more to take in and in a format that’s even easier to read and hold on to. So I hope you enjoy it. Whether you’re just in the early stages of planning your annual escape to the mountains or you’re heading to one of those early-opening high Alpine ski areas this weekend, we wish you a great trip, and here’s to a snowy winter 2018/19 – it’s nearly here!
InTheSnow Ltd The Snow Studio, Kings Lane, Bucks, HP16 0QY +44 (0)1494 862 423 dom@inthesnow.com inthesnow.com
patrick@inthesnow.com OCT18 // 03
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A SUMMER OF INCREDIBLE SKI ACHIEVEMENTS While most of us were soaking up the rays during the long, warm summer of 2018, some exceptional human beings were out skiing. They weren’t on indoor snow, an Alpine glacier summer ski slope or even down in the southern hemisphere; instead they were carrying their skis on their backs up above 6,000 and even 8,000m to ski some of the world’s most extreme terrain.
went to press with this issue.
K2 since at least 2001, with at least
The first of these, and one of the few
one person, Swedish ski-mountaineer
remaining great achievements in skiing,
Fredrik Ericsson, dying in the attempt.
was the first successful descent of
But it’s not the only great achievement
K2 on skis by Polish ski mountaineer
this summer. French skiers Carole
Andrzej Bargiel, who completed this
Chambaret, Tiphaine Duperier and
remarkable feat at his second attempt.
Boris Langenstein have skied what
At 8,611m, K2 is just a little lower than
is popularly regarded as one of the
Everest, which has been skied and
world’s most perfect ski slopes from top
snowboarded down multiple times over
to bottom for the first time.
the past two decades, but for climbers
After several years of planning, the
and skiers alike K2 is regarded as the
trio from Val d’Isère who work as ski
much greater challenge.
instructors or mountain guides struck
When the 30-year-old reached the
lucky on their expedition dates to
peak he simply strapped on his trusty
Pakistan’s 6,096m-high Laila Peak in
skis and started back down the iconic
May with perfect conditions for their
mountain. He is reported to have
ascent and their ski down its northwest
The challenge at these altitudes is not
navigated under huge seracs (blocks
face with a near constant slope of 45
just the danger of skiing exceptionally
of glacial ice) via the daunting Messner
for more than 1,500 vertical metres.
steep slopes in what’s known as “the
Traverse to the arête (narrow ridge
“Good weather, no wind, a great
death zone” (you fall, you die), where
of rock) on the Kukuczka–Piotrowski
moment of happiness at the top, then
there’s high avalanche danger and
route, then battled past snow fields full
an incredible descent of 1,800 metres in
completely unpredictable ice and
of dangerous crevices leading back to
fresh snow!” said Chambaret.
snow conditions; it is also being able to
base camp and a place in the history
The achievements may not yet be
breathe and muster the energy to make
books, making the full descent on skis
complete either; as we go to press an
the turns in this thin atmosphere.
non-stop.
American team is attempting to ski the
Yet two great skiing achievements have
The magnitude of Bargiel’s
incredible 2,000m vertical “Dream Line”
been made in the past few months with
achievement is difficult to understate.
from the top of the world’s fifth-highest
further attempts being made as we
People have been attempting to ski
peak, Lhotse (8,516m), in the Himalayas.
005 // OCT18
ASPEN TOPS UP MINIMUM WAGE Aspen is hoping to entice more people to work there by paying them more. The company needs to hire 1,200 winter staff but has problems filling vacancies. The minimum hourly wage is $13.50 (around £10), about a third more than the Colorado minimum wage CAMARA PHOTOGRAPHY
of $10.20 (around £8) and up 12.5% from last season.
MORE NEW SLOPES FOR SAMOËNS Improvements and expansion of the Giffre skiing area by Samoëns in the French Grand Massif region have continued with another
THIRTY NEW RUNS AS COLORADO SKI AREA ALMOST DOUBLES IN SIZE
two ski runs due to be added Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, one of
Beavers will be served by a new fixed-grip
the most challenging skiing at Arapahoe
chairlift was installed there last
the world’s highest altitude ski
quad chairlift. Terrain in The Beavers will
Basin. All skiers using that terrain will
season, but only two of the new
areas, with a season that typically
range from intermediate (blue square)
be required to hike back to the bottom
runs from October to June, will
groomed runs to the most difficult and
of the Pallavicini Lift, a hike that takes
add 34 new runs over 468 acres for
extreme (black and double-black diamond)
approximately 20–30 minutes.
ability levels from intermediate
tree skiing. The runs include two new
The new terrain is located to the west of
to expert to its Beavers and The
intermediate groomed runs, Loafer and Davis.
the current ski area boundary and will add
Steep Gullies area this winter.
The extreme terrain of The Steep Gullies
about 50% more terrain to the ski area,
Approximately 137 hectares of terrain in The
(52 hectares ) is for experts only and will be
increasing its total area to 578 hectares.
this winter. A second detachable
ski runs announced then were ready in time.
WORLD’S LONGEST LIFT OPENS Doppelmayr have completed construction of the world’s longest lift, a 3S gondola. With a length of 7,899.9m, the Hòn Thơm 3S links three islands across the sea and beats the record previously held by another 3S lift in Vietnam, the Fansipan Legend, by almost 1.5km.
EDDIE THE EAGLE’S SKI JUMP FACING DEMOLITION The 90m ski jump on which Eddie
TOMORROWLAND HEADING TO ALPE D’HUEZ
the Eagle valiantly jumped at the
The latest big summer music festival to
reports indicate that during the festival
“This edition of Tomorrowland was created
1988 Calgary Winter Olympics is
announce a winter edition in a ski resort is
the ski area will be open exclusively to
by our own dedicated young team in
facing demolition. The jump, one
Tomorrowland, which says it will run from
Tomorrowland Winter ticketholders. A
Antwerp and we will be 100% in control of
of several at the Canada Olympic
9 to 16 March at Alpe d’Huez in the French
main stage will be built specially for the
its execution. We couldn’t imagine a better
Park near Calgary, hasn’t been
Alps. Around 30,000 people are expected to
event and located at the foot of the ski
way to celebrate our 15th anniversary with
used for many years, the centre’s
attend “Tomorrowland Winter”, making it one
trails, and four-day and seven-day tickets
the People of Tomorrow, and we just can’t
operators say, and it will be
of the biggest music festivals in the Alps.
will be available, which will include
wait to welcome them to this enchanting
demolished later this year.
The theme of the inaugural festival will
access to the festival, accommodation
winter wonderland,” said Michiel Beers,
be “The Hymn of the Frozen Lotus”, and
and a lift/ski-pass.
creator and organiser of Tomorrowland.
006 // OCT18
@INTHESNOWMAG
ANTONY SPENCER
MARK BADER
OFF-PISTE IN ICELAND
Tour operator Neilson is celebrating 40 years in
Snoworks has launched a new ski touring trip to
business and has announced its continued focus on
Iceland aimed at experienced off-piste skiers with
its Mountain Collection portfolio of properties, adding
a good level of fitness who can ski tour all day
four more this winter. The Neilson Mountain Collection
long for six full days.
offers three property types: hotels, chalet hotels and
“Iceland is an absolute paradise for ski touring:
chalets, and whichever accommodation option guests
perfect spring snow, long daylight hours and
choose, it will always be exclusive to Neilson guests
stunning skiing above the sea. The Troll Peninsula,
and offer free ski guiding and coaching sessions as
in the north of Iceland, is an off-piste skier’s
part of the Neilson Mountain Experts service, all run by
dream, with mountains cascading into the sea
fully qualified instructors local to the resort. The new
along with larger mountains further inland,” said
properties include a flagship hotel and two chalets in
Phil Smith, Director of Snoworks. Ascents can
Les Menuires, France, and a chalet hotel in Arinsal,
last up to five hours but the rewards include long
Andorra. The company operates in 24 resorts across
descents among spectacular scenery, and options
Andorra, Austria, France, Italy and Spain.
include heli-assisted touring to access remoter
“We’ve spent the last few years fine-tuning the Mountain
terrain. The trip costs £2,122pp including six full
Collection service, and its continued growth is testament
days’ backcountry skiing with Snoworks instructor/
to the positive feedback we’re receiving from our
mountain guide, full-board accommodation and
guests,” said David Taylor, Neilson’s Managing Director.
transfers. snoworks.co.uk
DAS BILD/ STADLER&&USTER
BIG 4-0 FOR NEILSON
WORLD’S FIRST “MUSIC-CENTRIC SPA”
THERE ARE TWO SECRETS TO G R E AT B A C K C O U N T R Y SKIING. A RIGHT ONE AND A LEFT ONE.
The first step is to build a boot from the lightest materials available. The second step is to design it to perform effortlessly all day long.
The Hard Rock Hotel Davos has
facilities including a 57m2 main pool, a
patterns, as the foundation of its
unveiled a new 1,000m2 wellness facility,
Kneipp Walk Pool, a whirlpool, several
treatments. This groundbreaking
their Rock Spa®. A hotel spokesperson
saunas, steam bath, ice room and six
experience takes guests on a rhythmic
says the new facility aims to “… bring
treatment rooms where guests are
massage journey – bass vibrations
together elements of spa, fitness,
encouraged to choose from the Rhythm
ripple through the massage table
dance and yoga, encouraging guests
and Motion signature treatments.
as treble beats come from above,
to maximise their physical and mental
“It’s the world’s first fully immersive
sending pulses through the body and
potential in a fun and creative way.”
music-centric spa menu utilising
leaving guests feeling energised and
The spa features a series of thermal
amplified vibrations, pressures and
invigorated,” a hotel statement explains.
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OCT18 // 007
KORE BOOT 1G
BY PATRICK THORNE
A project to make one of the world’s largest indoor snow centres almost self-sufficient in their renewable energy needs has gone live.
JAMES NORTH
SNOW CENTRE GREEN ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENT
LONDON SKI & SNOWBOARD SHOW BACK FOR 45TH YEAR
SnowWorld Landgraaf in the The UK’s only remaining large-
explains: “With even more attractions and
demos from the British Ski and Snowboard
scale ski and snowboard festival
entertainment, this year’s event has truly
Team, gear retailers and a number of
long, has had 10,000 solar panels
will return to its current location
evolved from a show into a ‘festival’ for all
stands from ski resorts around the world.
installed on its huge roof by green
at Battersea Park in London from
ages to celebrate the winter season ahead.”
New attractions will include dog sledding,
power company Indi Energie,
Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 October
As in previous years, the festival will feature
a climbing wall and indoor conveyor ski
working with the Dutch full-service
2018, which is during the English
après-themed street food and bar areas,
slope Chel-Ski.
schools’ half term.
live music and entertainment, Travel Genius
The festival will run 12pm–7pm on Thursday,
A second, smaller SnowWorld
Now re-christened a “festival” rather than
Bar for expert destination advice, an ice
11am –10pm on Friday, 10am–8pm on
centre at Zoetermeer had 3,000
a show, a statement from the organisers
rink, the “Mount Battersea” snow slope with
Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sunday.
Netherlands, which has a number of indoor ski slopes up to 550m
solar company KiesZon.
panels added to its roof last year. Overall the project, described as “the most complex solar panel project in Europe” has taken two and a half years to complete. On very sunny days the solar panels on Landgraaf’s roof will produce more energy than is FAIRMONT HOTELS && RESORTS
needed to meet the energy needs of the indoor ski slope, at which point surplus energy will be delivered to the local community. Altogether the two SnowWorld locations will generate approximately 2,500,000kWh of green energy every year. “Eventually,” said Wim Moerman, CFO at SnowWorld, “the goal is to
FEWER FLIGHTS TO CALGARY TO PUSH UP PRICES?
become completely self- sufficient.” A tour operator with a long-standing
Calgary serves a number of world-famous
However, BA have pulled out of the
in Germany and the Netherlands
reputation as a North American ski
resorts in western Canada including Banff
Calgary route for the winter, which
also have solar-panel-covered roofs
specialist has warned that reduced
Lake Louise and Jasper in Alberta as
means that only Air Canada now offers
meeting much of their energy needs,
capacity on direct services between the
well as Kicking Horse, Fernie, Panorama
a direct service from the UK. The good
including one German centre built
UK and Calgary airport in Canada could
and others in BC. The resorts are usually
news is that Air Canada has confirmed
on a former coal mine. Ski Dubai has
drive up the price of ski holidays to the
easy to reach (weather permitting) from
it is one of the few airlines to offer free
also committed to cutting its energy
region. Ski Independence is advising
the airport, and holiday prices here are
ski and boot carriage on all transatlantic
needs and says these are now down
skiers wanting to head to the region this
often among the lowest for western North
routes in addition to the regular 23kg
winter to book early.
American destinations from the UK.
luggage allowance.
Several other indoor snow centres
to the equivalent of a small hotel.
008 // OCT18
@INTHESNOWMAG
ALL PICS: DAS BILD/ STADLER&&USTER
To enter simply visit: InTheSnow.com/competitions Prize includes: A minimum four-night half-board stay for a minimum of two people plus two ski passes
Win a four-night luxury stay for two at Hard Rock Hotel
and Motion® treatment menu, the world’s first fully
Davos and indulge after an exhilarating day of winter
immersive music-centric spa menu utilising amplified
sports in the comfort of the stylish music-infused hotel.
vibrations, pressures and patterns. Guests can also
Just metres away from the slopes, located in the heart
take part in Rock Om®, an in-room, video-lead yoga
of the highest situated town in Europe.
experience, energising the body and soul through the
With an exciting new link providing access to the
power of music.
neighbouring ski resort of Klosters, there has
Winners can live like rock stars in carefully curated
never been a more interesting time to visit the
rooms surrounded by alpine beauty, relaxing on
destination. Discover the unbeatable slopes with two
hanging chairs on the spacious balconies of the
complimentary ski passes included in the prize.
South Balcony rooms, or taking in the views from the
Guests can unwind in the new state-of-the-art
North Side rooms which look out onto picturesque
Rock Spa® and choose from Hard Rock’s Rhythm
mountains and the charming town of Davos.
Terms & Conditions apply. The prize is valid for travel six months from the date the winner is announced. The following blackout dates apply: 26 Dec 2018 – 1 Jan 2019, 20–26 Jan 2019, and 16–19 Mar 2019. The prize is offered strictly subject to availability and may not be available in high season. The winner is responsible for all additional expenses (phone calls, room service, minibar, laundry, excursions, bar tabs, meals and drinks not included in the half board plan) not specifically included in the prize.
BANFF AND LAKE LOUISE THE SKI MILES ARE WORTH THE AIR MILES
If you are looking for a ski holiday that brings a new adventure every day, then Banff National Park is right for you. Immerse yourself in the stunning Canadian Rockies whilst you ski the vast variety of terrain across Banff Sunshine, Mt Norquay and Lake Louise Ski Resort. Banff and Lake Louise is so much more than a ski holiday; it is an unforgettable winter escapade.
BOOK BEFORE 30th NOVEMBER TO GET UP TO
25%
OFF
www.skiworld.co.uk | 0330 102 8004
WHAT YOUR WINT MOM 010 // OCT18 PROMO
@INTHESNOWMAG
T'S R TER MENT?
Back in the day, a ski holiday was about only one thing: skiing. We’d obsess all year long about our next winter holiday and where we’d go for our week in the snow, agonising over the many attractions of the various wonderful resort choices.
or perhaps it’s just the sheer pleasure of getting the gang together to make new mountain memories with a fun-filled snowball fight. Of course, skiing or boarding remains the main attraction for many, but it’s not just about that wonderful sense of freedom as you slide down the slopes. There’s that first moment when all the planning, travel and exercising you’ve been doing to get there come together and you’re finally grabbing your goggles and setting off to catch your first lift. Then you’re up there standing tall and feeling on top of the world for a few glorious moments before you’re
Once that wonderful day of departure finally arrived,
whooshing down the slopes, floating through the
we’d look forward to being first on the slopes in the
fresh knee-deep powder once more and everything
morning, taking as brief a break as possible for lunch,
feels right in your world again at last.
then skiing all afternoon until the last lift of the day
Lunch on the mountain brings more wonderful winter
stopped turning. Not a lot else mattered – we’d do the
moments. Going from the crisp outside air to the snug
same again for all six days of our holiday then spend
warmth of the old mountain hut, stripping off layers
the next 51 weeks waiting for the next one!
as you watch the steam rising, looking out at the
Of course, for many of us skiing remains the key
snowy wonderland, watching others having fun on the
attraction of our winter holiday, but these days we
slopes while you indulge in a scrummy tartiflette with
also recognise that our escape to the mountains is
perhaps a slice of apple strudel afterwards if there’s
about so much more.
space, and maybe a hot chocolate to wash it down
We take time to stop and breathe in the clean, cool
with. Can you make it out of the door and back on the
mountain air and look at the spectacular scenery
slopes for a few more hours now you feel so relaxed
that surrounds us. We enjoy the wonderful tastes
and full of good food? Yes!
and smells of the ski resort we’ve chosen to visit, its
Après-ski remains a big part of any winter-sports
unique cuisine and its special, magical atmosphere.
holiday (even if you choose to skip the skiing part!).
In fact, every aspect of the whole winter holiday
It can be a full-on party from mid-afternoon with an
experience in the mountains.
ice-cold beer, dancing on the tables in your ski boots in a slopeside bar and exchanging tales of the day’s highs with old friends, or new friends you’ve just
So, what’s your winter moment?
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into the night to feel the snowflakes on your cheeks,
met. Alternatively, you might prefer snuggling up with a loved one in a cosy chalet, supping on a vin chaud. How long can you go before you head to your comfortable bed with the impossibly light fluffy duvet
What makes our special winter moment may not
in your snug wooden chalet, hotel room or apartment?
even occur on the ski slopes. It might come during
The best way to find the moments that matter to you
an evening’s snowshoe excursion, crunching out
is to look at the huge choice offered by Crystal, the largest ski holiday operator in the UK. Crystal recognise that every winter-snow holidaymaker is different and that not everyone wants to ski all day long anymore. Some of us may not even want to ski or board at all but enjoy different special moments on the mountain that make it special to us, in our own unique way. These days there is so much more on the mountain in winter which can again create the perfect winter moment for you – long, fun toboggan runs, dog sledding or snowmobiling, zip wiring above the snow, a sleigh ride or ice skating on a frozen lake – the list of options goes on and on. Crystal have the biggest choice of winter-sports destinations with more than 120 ski resort destinations to choose from in 13 countries, so there are tons of opportunities to hit the slopes and make new mountain memories this winter.
TO GET MORE WINTER VISIT CRYSTALSKI.CO.UK
MAKE YOUR WINTER MOMENT IN FINLAND Northern Finland, also known as Lapland, is a very special place in the winter-sports world. A land of pristine beauty with its ski resorts located at the heart of areas and lakes and forest that continue north to a region where very few people live, or even visit, there’s just a real sense of freedom here.
and Ylläs, which are international ski destinations,
adventure on a dog-sledding excursion or a reindeer
opening from as early as October right through
safari, or perhaps to just pop in and visit Santa Claus
to May as they are so snow-sure at this northerly
at his home address.
latitude, to smaller, completely unspoilt communities
Daylight hours are short here in winter, so villages
with little skiing but a wonderful atmosphere, such
and ski slopes are lit by twinkling lights, and you’ll
as Salla, or, new for British holidaymakers for the
spend time in cosy cafés and restaurants tasting
coming winter, Suomu.
Lappish delicacies created from local berries,
There’s a great choice of accommodation, too, from
mushrooms and deer. But there are also larger
snug log cabins through to comfortable hotels and
resorts with some great modern facilities such as
spacious apartments – there are even glass-roofed
indoor water parks and sports centres.
igloos in which you can stay and look up from your
You can do it all in a single trip, although beware that
bed to see the stars and the aurora. An unusual
once you visit in winter you’ll want to return.
feature for most is that you are likely to find your own
Crystal has a choice of seven wonderful ski resorts
on-site sauna in your accommodation, a daily ritual
Skiing and snowboarding are popular but are
in Finland where you can make your winter moment
for the Finns and yet another winter moment you’ll
definitely not, for most, the main attraction that they
this ski season. The selection ranges from some
quickly grow to love. In fact, that daily sauna could
go to the Alps for. Instead people visit to see the
of the country’s larger ski resorts like Levi, Ruka
become your winter moment!
LIGHTPIX
incomparable Northern Lights, to feel a true sense of
012 // OCT18 PROMO
SEARCH FINLAND AT CRYSTALSKI.CO.UK
ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
SKI RESORT TO RE-OPEN AFTER 7 YEARS CLOSED A small ski area in New York State
KAESTLE GMBH
is set to re-open this winter, seven years after it shut down following a major fire in 2011. Its new owners hope the centre will be able to re-open on 1 December with 15 different slopes available.
VONN AIMS TO BREAK WORLD CUP RECORD
LECH STAGES THIRD SKI IN YOUR DIRNDL DAY
The International Ski Federation has “indefinitely tabled” a
The Austrian ski resort of Lech, with sponsorship from
proposal by the most successful female ski racer of all time,
Kastle skis, staged their third dirndl ski day at the end of
American Lindsey Vonn, to race alongside men in the Men’s
last season.
Downhill World Cup opener in Lake Louise, the decision as to
The event has become so popular that participation is
which they had previously postponed . The FIS said they had
limited to a maximum of 300 skiers and boarders dressed
received “no renewed proposal”.
in the traditional Austrian dresses.
Posting on Twitter, Vonn said, “I haven’t given up on this, just
The day kicks off at Lech Schlegelkopf with a mass ski
delayed it one more year.”
down of all the skiers wearing dirndls, and this year men
Jesse Hunt, the Alpine Director of the US Alpine Ski Team,
in lederhosen were also welcome to take part.
appeared to confirm in an interview that Vonn currently has
Kastle’s 2019-season skis were available to test on the
season. Cocaine users in resorts
other things on her mind. He said Vonn, who already has more
day, and besides skiing there was a Käsespätzle party
are nicknamed “snow sniffers”, the
World Cup victories than any other female racer, with 82 wins,
with live music in the Schneggarei. Other Austrian ski
report stated.
is currently prioritising breaking the record of 86 World Cup
areas are also organising “Dirndl Days” but Lech believes
victories, currently held by Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark.
theirs is the largest. The event will be back next April.
RESORTS STEP UP FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS USE French ski resorts are reported to have stepped up their fight against drugs use. A report claims that a total of 500kg of weed, cocaine, ecstasy and other drugs were confiscated in one recent
BOLLYWOOD WEEKEND ON THE SKI SLOPES Australian resort Mt Baw Baw celebrated all things Bollywood recently. A spokesperson said the weekend was about “… celebrating our vibrant Indian community.” It included Bollywood dancing on snow by skilled performers, followed by Indian dance workshops for anyone who wanted to try themselves.
SECOND BASE VILLAGE OPENING AT RUKA
IMMIGRANTS BOND OVER IGLOO BUILDING A group of 80 African asylum
Ruka in Finnish Lapland has announced
resort base, named RukaValley, built on
RukaValley Resort will ultimately contain
plans for a second base village, along with
the east side of the resort. The existing
1,700 new ski-in/ski-out beds, 400 of them
at a small and currently unused
a gondola connecting this to the existing
development, on the west side, is known as
in the new RukaValley hotel which will be
Italian ski area last winter found
base. Some of these developments will
RukaVillage.
built in the first construction phase at a cost
common ground building igloos.
already be complete for the start of this
The two will be linked by a new “Village-2-
of approximately €20 million, part of a
A local restaurateur had the idea
season in October while other upgrades
Valley” scenic gondola which will traverse
€100 million investment in RukaValley.
of building the igloos as a venture
will take place over future years.
over the top of the fell between the two
Ruka is also building a new VillageExpress
to try to bring overnight guests
The resort is working with Canada-based
bases in around six minutes and feature
chairlift to the front slopes in Ruka Village,
to the village after operating the
Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners on the
a mid-station on top of the Saarua fell so
a fast, six-seater chairlift with pull-down
new development, which will see the new
skiers can use it to get up the slopes too.
weather protection covers.
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seekers who stayed in a hotel
ski lifts was deemed no longer economically viable.
013 // OCT18
SHUTTERSTOCK
FIVE
REASONS
TO
VISIT
LES GETS
Brilliant for Beginners & Families
Skiing for All Abilities
Traditional Mountain Village Charm
Convenience
A Wealth of Accommodation Choice
Les Gets is arguably one of the
More advanced skiers are sure
Les Gets is a beautiful mountain
Another benefit of the small-
Though Les Gets is a small
best areas in the world to learn
to enjoy the skiing here as much
village with a traditional charm
town charm of Les Gets is
resort, you are by no means
to ski, with gentle, accessible
as their children, with the vast
that larger, more purpose-built
that the entire resort is easily
limited in accommodation
slopes and highly qualified
650km Les Portes du Soleil ski
resorts often lack. For families
accessible, with all amenities at
choices. Independent, family-run
instructors. So whether you have
area at their fingertips. You can
after that true chocolate-box
your fingertips. Many chalets are
chalet operators Chalets1066
never stepped on snow before or
even replicate the famous ski
Alpine setting that will fuel
within a few minutes of the slopes,
specialise in the Les Gets area
already have a few weeks’ skiing
test, which must be passed by
festive adventures and inspire
meaning none of those dreaded
and have a vast choice of
under your belt, you’re sure to
French instructors and often
youngsters’ imaginations,
lengthy walks with heavy skis
chalets. They also offer a tailor-
find Les Gets the perfect place to
takes place on the slopes from
there’s nowhere better. Here,
and tired children. You are also
made holiday service so that you
help your skiing progress quickly
the Pleney into Morzine. In the
small-town ambience and quiet
never far away from a cosy bar,
can choose exactly the levels
and effectively. With a fantastic
local area, a number of blacks
tree-lined local slopes combine
great restaurant or well-stocked
and details of service you want,
festive calendar, dedicated
will entertain advanced skiers,
with the added benefit of easy
supermarket here, with everything
from economy to highest luxury.
children’s skiing areas and
including the respected Yeti run
access to the huge Portes du
you might need within walking
You can work around your
entertaining non-skiing activities,
in Les Gets “bowl”.
Soleil ski area for a perfect
distance. This convenience
needs, your budget and your
winter getaway.
extends to the journey from the
preferences to create your truly
UK, with Les Gets only a short
perfect holiday.
it’s an ideal place for youngsters (and adults!) to learn to ski.
NICOLAS JOLY
transfer from Geneva Airport.
014 // OCT18
CHALETS1066.COM
016 // OCT18 PROMO
@INTHESNOWMAG
NILS LOUNA/AGENCE ZOOM
© LUKA LEROY
THIBAUT BLAIS/AGENCE ZOOM
DAVID GOUEL
AGENCE ZOOM
CHRISTOPHE PALLOT/AGENCE ZOOM
If you fancy a little sunshine alongside your deep snow this winter it might be time to travel to visit the largest ski area in the Southern Alps, Serre Chevalier Briançon – which boasts 300 sunny days a year!
Côte Chevalier lift will mean getting from Villeneuve to Chantemerle will be much easier and much faster (3,000 people per hour instead of 1,800pph on the old lift it replaces). Guests visiting Serre Chevalier Briançon this winter will also find the new 4 hotel has opened in Monêtier les Bains. The Hotel Le Monêtier offers a choice of
NILS LOUNA/AGENCE ZOOM
21 spacious rooms, each with a south-facing terrace Although one of the less well known of the giant
and balcony. The hotel is decorated in the spirit of
French ski areas in Britain at least, “Serre Che” – as
a charming mountain lodge and also has a well-
it’s known to its friends – certainly has the stats that
being area and a restaurant, Le Stabatio, with terrace
stack up alongside the biggest of the rest, with 3,901
providing 180° view of the slopes.
hectares of skiable terrain (the largest in the region),
Finally, an interesting new attraction is a cryotherapy
divided into more than 80 runs for all tastes and ability
centre, GoCryo, which has opened in Briançon.
levels and served by no less than 59 fast ski lifts.
Cryotherapy, long used by top athletes, is well known
There are four play zones on the slopes including
for its effectiveness in the fields of sports, health and
a huge terrain park and a boardercross course and
well-being and is increasingly recognised by the
those concerned about snow reliability wherever they
medical profession. It is great for athletes for optimal
book these days will be reassured to know that 80%
recovery and increased physical performance.
of the area’s ski runs sit above 2,000m high.
It is well known for its ability to reduce symptoms in joint
But having given you those world-class stats I have to
and neurological diseases such as polyarthritis, multiple
tell you Serre Che is not actually about the stats; it’s
sclerosis and osteoarthritis. It is also useful in helping
all about the resort itself.
post-surgical and post-traumatic recovery. It can also
Serre Chevalier is made up of a number of hamlets and
help skin diseases, sleep problems, depression, and
villages spread along the Guisane Valley floor from the
vascular problems.
old walled town of Briançon, itself a UNESCO World
Following extensive research, GoCryo have installed
Heritage Site. The resort has a long history (the first ski
an electric chamber, which, unlike liquid nitrogen used
school in France was established here in 1902) but over
in some centres, enables whole body immersion. The
the years has tried hard to avoid the “concrete-monolith-
temperature is between -80°C and -100°C and a session
mentality” of some of the other big French resorts, and
lasts around three minutes.
there is a good proportion of traditional buildings and
The GoCryo centre has been opened by Leo Meyer,
authentic architecture in the villages, despite Serre
an osteopath with 20 years’ experience, to enable
Chevalier’s success and inevitable growth.
sportsmen and women and the general public to benefit
So in other words, if you want a real community in
from this innovative and highly effective treatment.
beautiful natural surroundings as well as great snow and plenty of sunshine, Serre Chevalier Briançon is the resort for you.
THIBAUT BLAIS/AGENCE ZOOM
This winter the resort will be open for the weekend of
Your Holiday in Serre Chevalier Briançon
7–9 December 2018 and then non-stop 15 December 2018–22 April 2019 – taking in the late Easter holiday.
Lots of leading ski holiday companies offer package
Special events this season include the Altitude Jazz
holidays to Serre Chevalier Briançon including Club
Festival back from 19 January to 1 February 2019 with
Med, Crystal, Inghams, Lagrange, Peak Retreats, Ski
concerts all over the valley and the third edition of
Independence and Zenith, among others.
Serre Chevalier’s Grand Prix which looks set to be
It’s also easy to book direct with the best deal from
crazier than ever when it takes place on 16 March
€225pppw (around £200pppw) including your
2019. Over 1,500 skiers/snowboarders participated in
apartment for seven nights + a six-day ski pass! Book on
the last edition!
serrechevalier-reservation.com
What’s New This Winter?
You can reach Serre Chevalier Briançon by flying to Turin airport (Italy) then Linkbus shuttle or car (1.5 hours), or Grenoble airport then Linkbus shuttle or car (2 hours)
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Regular visitors to Serre Chevalier Briançon will be
or Lyon airport then Linkbus shuttle or car (3 hours).
excited to discover a brand new 6-person high-
You can also arrive by rail from the UK in to Briançon’s
speed chairlift in the Villeneuve area following a €10
own station or to Oulx station in Italy then taking the
million (around £8.9 million) investment. The new
connecting shuttle (45 min).
SERRECHEVALIER-RESERVATION.COM
ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL
ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL
I9 JAN I9 ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL
I9 JAN I9
I2–I3 JAN I9
Ladies Downhill World Cup
79th Lauberhorn Men’s World Cup
Ladies Downhill World Cup
St Anton, Austria
Wengen, Switzerland
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Four weeks after the annual Criterium de Neige
Downhill: The men’s tour ramps up with the Wengen
After the Arlberg, there’s no rest for the speed queens as
competition in Val d’Isère, the world’s fastest women are
classic, the Lauberhorn, known among other things for
they head to the iconic “Queen of the Dolomites”, which will
back in action, hopefully none the worse for Christmas
seeing the highest speeds achieved on the circuit (up to
itself be hosting the World Championships (in Åre in Feb) in
and New Year excesses. arlbergkandaharrennen.com
163kph) and being the longest at 4.4km. lauberhorn.ch/en
two years’ time. cortinaclassic.com
I–I0 FEB I9
GRAEME MURRAY/RED BULL CONTENT POOL
2 FEB I9
SAMO VIDIC/RED BULL
ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL
26 JAN I9
79th Hahnenkamm Men’s World Cup
Garmisch Men’s World Cup Downhill
Freestyle, Freeski & Snowboard Worlds
Kitzbühel, Austria
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Utah, USA
Downhill and Slalom: The Grand National of the ski
A little overshadowed by Lauberhorn and Hahnenkamm,
Britain will be hoping to bring home some medals
racing world, the Hahnenkamm is the race everyone
the annual Garmisch race on the famed Kandahar course is
in some of our strongest disciplines, including
wants to win as much as, or perhaps more than,
the final test for the world’s fastest men ahead of the World
slopestyle and big air, staged across three resorts.
Olympic gold. hahnenkamm.com/en
Championships. skiweltcup-garmisch.com/en/race
2019worldchamps.com
THE
BIG 2 MAR I9
20I9
II–I7 MAR I9
ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL
FRODE SANDBECH/RED BULL
5–I7 FEB I9
RACES
The FIS Alpine World Champs
Men’s World Cup Downhill
World Cup Finals
Åre, Sweden
Kvitfjell, Norway
Soldeu, Andorra
The biggest event in the alpine racing calendar
The last speed competition for the men before the
Staged for the first time in Andorra, the finals see
besides the Olympics, this time they’re back in
finals in Soldeu. No doubt some will be wanting to
the 25 best men and women skiers in slalom, giant
Sweden, only 12 years after they were last at
prove themselves after failing to perform as hoped in
slalom, super-G and downhill compete in the World
Åre. Britain will want to build momentum after
Åre, while those who did do well in Sweden will want
Cup for the title in each discipline. grandvalira.com/
Pyeongchang. are2019.com
to build on their success. worldcup.kvitfjell.no
en/fis-ski-world-cup-finals-andorra-2019
018 // OCT18
@INTHESNOWMAG
KURT MÜLLER
LA ROSIÈRE TO OPEN NEW MOUNTAIN
ANOTHER 8KM OF PISTE IN THE PYRENEES
WORLD’S HIGHEST 3S LIFT TO BE ONE OF TWO
The French ski resort of La Rosière has announced it
Baqueira Beret ski resort in the Spanish Pyrenees
The new Matterhorn glacier ride lift, which opened at the
is opening a new mountain face for the coming winter,
will reach a total of 160km of piste with the opening
end of September, is just the first phase of a multi-resort
meaning it will have more slopes with more vertical
of a new area to skiers and boarders this winter.
cross-border lift-link between Italy and Switzerland.
drops.
The new runs, covering around 2.27 hectares, will
Work on the new lift, which has 25 cabins, each containing
Two new six-seater chairlifts and resulting new terrain
be created in the resort’s os Baciver area, close to
28 seats, including four “Crystal glide” cabins encrusted with
will have a significant impact on the Espace San
the Saumets zone.
Swarovski crystals, has involved three 100-day construction
Bernardo ski area that the resort shares with La Thuile
A new mile-long surface lift with a capacity of 800
periods over the past three summers due to the extreme
on the Italian side of the border.
people per hour will provide access to the new
weather conditions at “Europe’s highest building site”.
Firstly, it will take the height of the resort’s highest lift up
area. The new lift will take the resort’s hourly uplift
Now the lift company is keen to start work on the
from around 2,640m to 2,800m, increasing the skiable
capacity to 61,024 people.
second lift, instead of dismantling the cranes that have
vertical by 160 metres to around 1,350 vertical metres.
“It really is a beautiful area where the freeriding
been built at around 3,800m which will be needed for it.
Secondly, the five new red runs that will be created will
will be the main draw with lots of off-piste areas to
“The construction of the world’s highest 3S cableway
increase the amount of skiable terrain by nearly 40km
enjoy easy and safe free skiing,” said Commercial
is just the first stage in the realisation of a much more
to just under 200km. There will also be access to lots of
Director Xavi Ubeira.
far-reaching vision: to create a continuous connection
freeriding terrain.
Baqueira is also improving its snowmaking system
between Zermatt and Italy, the so-called Alpine
The news of the “new mountainside” was first
and adding two new grooming machines to its fleet.
Crossing,” a spokesperson said.
announced in the UK by tour operator Peak Retreats.
One of the biggest international events at the
The crossing will be completed via a lift between the
“With a limit on beds, the plans will expand La Rosière
resort this winter will be a Snowboard Cross World
Klein Matterhorn and Testa Grigia (3,479m), a rocky
while maintaining its family-friendly atmosphere that
Cup on 1–2 March, with the best riders from around
prominence on the Swiss/Italian border above Cervinia.
brings loyal families back time and time again,” said a
the world competing.
Some reports in the Italian media have suggested the
spokesperson. peakretreats.co.uk
second new lift could be completed by 2020.
20,000 HAPPY SKIERS CAN’T BE WRONG IN 2017, WE TOOK OVER 20,000 BOOKING ENQUIRIES FOR CHALETS, APARTMENTS & HOTELS. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PROPERTIES ACROSS THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS FOR YOU TO BOOK DIRECT.
SKI THE GLOBE www.chaletf inde r.c om
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB
WORDS: PATRICK THORNE
@INTHESNOWMAG
SUN PEAKS / KELLY FUNK
Head to one of the world’s great skiing wonderlands in the ski season but don’t actually ski? Why would you? Well, it seems perfect powder is no longer enough, and more and more of us seek winter holidays that offer other activities. And being BC, the activity providers have to do things XL, better than all the rest.
the 40-second elevator ride up the 168.6m-high
sit in with one of the team whose job it is to smooth
Vancouver Lookout tower for 360° views of the city
the slopes each night. We were picked up from the
before heading down to Spokes bike rentals, from
base lodge by a couple of piste-bashers (which was
where we headed off for a ride around the 8km-long
pretty special in itself) and headed up the mountain
Stanley Park Seawall, a popular excursion providing
soon after the lifts had closed for the day.
more great views back towards the city.
Suffice to say grooming a slope is not as easy as you might think, so every night’s grooming is
Whistler
meticulously planned for maximum efficiency.
It takes 100 minutes on the Sea-to-Sky Highway to
Next morning was dog sledding with Mountain Man
reach Whistler where we booked in to the wonderful
Dog Sled Adventures. You have the choice of just
Fairmont Chateau Whistler, a resort in its own right
riding along or taking a turn at being a “musher”
Anyway, the idea of going to BC last Easter on a family
with great restaurants, shopping and a swimming
yourself with expert instruction from the team. Dog
road trip and not skiing was pure madness, obviously,
pool and spa. We could rent our ski gear in the hotel
sledding is always a wonderful way to explore the
but it was a challenge I was up for (well, so long as it
and board the lift steps from the rental shop.
back country when you get the opportunity, and this
didn’t matter if I sneakily broke the “no ski” rule).
The highlight of our 48 hours’ not skiing in Whistler
was no exception and the perfect way to round off
was undoubtedly the zip lining.
our BC-(almost)-No-Ski trip.
Vancouver
Nerves aren’t completely allayed by the
Had we had time we might also have tried
Eight time zones west of the UK, Vancouver is
comprehensive induction before you set off, and the
snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ski biking, a sleigh ride
probably not top of the list for most Brits’ weekend
custom 4x4 over snow ascent to the start of the first
or one of 101 other activities now available in Sun
city break, yet when you are travelling across the
parallel cables – the ends of which disappear in the
Peaks, Whistler and Vancouver – besides skiing or
Atlantic and across North America, it makes sense
mist across the valley – doesn’t ease the fear either.
boarding that is. Alas we didn’t, but I can confirm it
to stop over in one of the world’s most vibrant cities
But then the sheer joy as you fly out on some of the
is definitely possible to go on a winter holiday to BC,
before heading into the mountains.
world’s highest (nearly 200m above the ground) and
not ski (if you must) and still have a great time.
We made the smart move of starting our trip by
longest wires travelling at speeds of up to 100kph
staying at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport. Going
feels very special indeed.
BC Info
so far and not leaving the airport on arrival may seem a little mad, but it was wonderful to just go a
Sun Peaks
short distance through the airy terminal and check
It was a fabulous drive over from Whistler through
Vancouver: tourismvancouver.com
in. The big guest rooms, spa, great staff and many
spectacular scenery, which is really what a visit to
Fairmont Vancouver Airport: fairmont.com/
other positives mean it was no surprise to read
BC is all about.
vancouver-airport-richmond
that the hotel has been voted the best in any North
I first visited what is today Canada’s second biggest
Whistler: whistler.com/uk/
American airport for five years straight.
ski area around 15 years ago and was delighted
Whistler Zip Lining: SuperflyZiplines.com
Next morning we headed into downtown
to see that while it had certainly grown since, it
Fairmont Chateau Whistler: Fairmont.com/whistler
Vancouver early (the upside of the jetlag is you’re
remains a wonderful family-friendly resort with a
Sun Peaks: sunpeaksresort.com
raring to go at 5am!) .
compact centre, with everything you need steps
Sun Peaks Cat Trax Groomer Rides: CA$49pp
First stop were the cobblestone streets of Gastown,
from your hotel-room door.
(around £29pp) (min 14 years old)
the city’s most historic neighbourhood now lined
The first non-ski activity was a groomer ride-along.
Sun Peaks Mountain Man Dog Sled Adventures:
with enticing cafés and boutiques. Next we took
This is not so much a scenic tour, but the chance to
mountainmanadventures.ca
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Tourism BC: hellobc.com
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c r
l e
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h c
s r i
H l
r e N GA ME : S RD WO
ES GH U H
with a bad setup for the day,” he admits happily. “That is really sometimes the difference.”
He is also very aware of the advantages he has had as an Austrian, growing up surrounded by mountains. “In Austria we have everything – a team, a federation, ski clubs, normal snow, perfect
Hirscher, Marcel Hirscher” begin to
conditions, you can ski here everywhere,”
filter through to our ears, a crowd of
he acknowledges.
young skiing fans having gathered at
So what does he make of fellow
the entrance to the restaurant where we
competitor and GB’s top slalom skier
are sat. Austrian fans are renowned for
Dave Ryding, who began his skiing
being some of the most passionate in the
career on Pendle Dry Slope? “I saw on
world and Hirscher is their hero. It’s an
the TV a documentary of Dave Ryding,”
adulation that provides both incredible
Hirscher says. “I was close to tears. I had
elation but also immense pressure. The
goosebumps. That was unbelievable.”
have been running rife about Hirscher’s
expectations to perform are as high as
Admitting he has only ever skied on a
future. Is he retiring? Not quite. But he’s
can be – failure is not an option.
dry slope once, he laughs, “Usually in
definitely rethinking his priorities.
“Second place is already a big disaster,”
Austria we use these mats for our shoes
“The last 15 years, they were 100% about
he says. “For me personally, if I have
and our feet!” before turning serious. “To
being a professional athlete,” Hirscher
done my best, fifth place can be
ski there on dry slopes, it is really hard.
explains. “Now a lot of other positive things
wonderful. But it is the people, the
I mean really. If you really want it, I think
are coming into my life and I can’t manage
expectation is already that high that
everything is possible, and Dave’s story is
both of them. But I’m not ready to quit
there’s no feeling anymore. That is what
telling us exactly this.”
racing, so my dream is to bring everything
I feel sometimes. The people are not
Indeed, in 2017, Dave achieved the best-
together but to make a little compromise
thinking anymore what’s normal and
ever finish for a British skier in a slalom
with family, especially with ski racing.”
what isn’t; they always think this winning,
race, finishing in second place at Kitzbühel,
Hirscher’s decision to take a step back
winning, winning performance is normal.”
behind none other than Hirscher himself.
comes after one of his most successful
Yet if there’s anyone who makes
Was Hirscher surprised to see him there?
seasons to date. After fracturing his ankle
winning look normal, it’s Hirscher,
He shakes his head. “Not really. I saw Dave
during pre-season training, hopes for
whose record includes 58 World Cup
years before training next to my course; his
Hirscher’s 2017/18 season weren’t high,
wins, nine World Championship medals
technique is one of the smartest we have
but Hirscher actually believes that this
and two Olympic medals.
on the tour”. Then, the words us Brits long
The last few years have been pretty good
injury took the pressure of him, allowing
Despite this though, Hirscher doesn’t
to hear: “I’m sure he will take his chance to
to Marcel Hirscher. The 2017/18 season saw
him to enjoy his racing. “It hurt like hell
actually believe he is the best slalom
win a World Cup race”.
him claim two Olympic gold medals and
but at the end of the day, it was sort of a
skier in the world. “I’m not the better
However, this may be difficult while
three FIS World Cup titles, meaning that
free season for myself,” he says. “It was
skier, no, no,” he shakes his head. “But
Hirscher is around. Even though he may
he now holds a record seven consecutive
wonderful, it was so unexpected that I
95% of the races we are really on board
be toning it down this season, he still
World Cup titles and is regarded by many
was able to win already the early races.”
with the equipment.” Indeed, Hirscher is
believes he can win races and improve on
as the best alpine skier ever.
However, the pressure that comes
a self-confessed “gear geek” and wholly
his performances. “If I stop thinking that
However, following his recent marriage
with being a top athlete soon returned.
believes an athlete’s gear is what makes
there is an opportunity to get better every
and news of a baby on the way, rumours
Indeed, as we talk, chants of “Marcel
the difference. “I will never win a race
day, then it is better to stop right now.”
The first skier to win seven overall titles but he insists, “I’m not the better skier”. We speak to the slalom star about pressure, perfection and what the future has in store.
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P A K I S T A N Like India or China, your first thought of Pakistan might well be of a hot country, with a dry season and a rainy season, and you wouldn’t be far wrong. But flat it isn’t, and the country’s Northern Highlands are home to five of the fourteen “eightthousanders” (mountain peaks over 8,000m), which attract adventurers and mountaineers from all over the world, notably the world’s secondhighest peak, K2 (8,611m).
most illustrious resort, Malam Jabba, has a
lift. The Taliban were driven out two years
years had a primitive drag lift, but a new
very checkered history, but it is now back
later in 2009. In 2014/15 a rudimentary
chairlift donated by the Swiss ski resort of
in business. Malam Jabba, Pakistan’s only
cable lift was installed followed by a
Villars allowed for the main ski run to be
international-standard resort, is located
Chinese-made chairlift, and the hotel is
extended to a mile long and uplift capacity
more than 2,600m up in the country’s
being rebuilt.
multiplied tenfold from 50 to 500 skiers
picturesque Swat Valley. Originally built
The resort gets 1–3m of snowfall on
per hour.
three decades ago in 1988 it has been
average annually and is very popular with
The President of the Ski Federation of
able to operate in total only 10 years out
thousands of people clogging the roads
Pakistan, Air Marshal Khan, declared
of the past 30. The resort was created
up to it just to enjoy the snow.
the project as being “… of strategic
in cooperation with Austrian specialists
The other side of Pakistan’s ski business
importance for development and
but remained “mothballed” for a decade
is linked to its military with the country’s
promotion of skiing in the country,” at the
before finally being opened by Pakistan’s
army in particular running half a dozen
time and predicted Naltar would become
then president in the late 1990s. It was
small ski fields themselves.
an international-standard ski facility and
originally equipped with two chairlifts, a
But in recent years the country has been
help attract national and international
hotel, restaurants and a coffee shop.
trying to open these up to a wider skiing
tourism, helping the area’s economy.
In 2007 it was taken over by the Taliban,
audience. There was, for example, a small
He said that the Pakistan Air Force would
Organised ski areas with lifts are, it’s true,
who destroyed most of the facilities,
ski area at Naltar, formerly a preserve of
continue to support the Federation to
few and far between, and the country’s
setting fire to the hotel and destroying the
the Pakistan Air Force, which for many
promote ski sport in Pakistan.
024 // OCT18
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VALENTIN LUTHIGER
TSCHUGGEN UNVEILS PRIVATE SKIERS FUNICULAR
HOW MUCH SNOW IS THERE ON EARTH?
NEW BIG CENTRAL SWISS SKI AREA COMPLETE
There’ll be a new attraction for skiers at the Tschuggen
NASA is reported to be spearheading an attempt
The Andermatt–Sedrun ski area will be fully linked in both
Grand Hotel in Arosa’s “Private Mountain” opening
to ascertain exactly how much snow there is in the
directions for the coming season, completing the ski area
event this November.
world. The US space agency’s SnowEx project has
development part of a project that had been described as
A new improved version of the hotel’s remarkable
initially focused on research areas in Colorado and
the biggest construction effort in Switzerland.
private mini-funicular railway, used to whisk guests the
California, trying to accurately measure how much
The connection of Andermatt and Sedrun to create the
short distance to the slopes, has been installed, and
snow cover there is at any one time.
largest ski resort in Central Switzerland, with 120km of
which a spokesperson says is even faster and more
It is known that at its peak each winter, snow
runs, has been planned for many years and is linked to
comfortable than the original.
covers around 31% of the earth’s land surface, but
a 5 resort development by Egyptian billionaire Samih
The lift comprises two linked six-seater cabins, a little like
accurately measuring volume has proved much
Sawiris in Andermatt following the CHF130 million
luxurious gondola cabins, but on rails. A special lift pass,
more problematic, especially as around half the
(around £102 million) spend on ski area upgrades.
for hotel guests only, calls the lift to its mini station by the
snow is “hidden” by tree cover. The SnowEx answer
There are a total of 10 new and upgraded ski lifts (mostly
hotel, if it is not already waiting there, and guests board
is to use a number of different measuring systems,
large, high-speed chair and gondola lifts) completing the
for the two-and-a-half-minute ride up to the ski slopes.
including detecting radiation in different parts of the
two-way connection between the formerly separate ski
The lift travels a little over 500m on an undulating rail
electromagnetic spectrum, from the visible to the
areas. A kilometre-long chairlift, with pull-down weather
line, climbing 154 vertical metres from the hotel, at
microwave, to provide a solution.
protection shields and an uplift capacity of 1,600 people
1,850m above sea level, to deposit skiers and boarders
Accurate water-content-of-snow data is seen as a
per hour, was completed in March. Its upper station is
upon the slopes, at 2,004m.
“holy grail” of global data collection because of the
housed in the same building as the mountain station of the
Guests of the Tschuggen Grand have exclusive use
value of the water for agriculture around the world.
new 10-passenger gondola “Schneehüenerstock-Express”,
of Arosa’s ski slopes for a preview weekend known
The data is also important in recording a key factor
which has been completed over the summer and will run
as “Private Mountain”, which this year runs from 29
in climate change, with more extensive snow cover
from the Oberalppass to the Schneehüenerstock this
November to 2 December.
believed to be more likely to slow global warming.
season, the final step in the project.
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THE AUSTRIAN TIROL REGION IS HOME TO MORE THAN 80 SKI AREAS AND THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES, BUT SOME ARE MORE POPULAR WITH US BRITS THAN OTHERS ARE.
Tiroler Zugspitz Arena is made up of seven picturesque villages, each perfect for family ski holidays together. Altogether, there are 139km of runs, and while the majority of the terrain is easy or intermediate level, there are more challenging slopes too, along with freeride opportunities. Or you might prefer to just kick back and soak up the amazing natural beauty of this region.
When you think of Tirol, your first thought may be of cosy villages with lights twinkling invitingly from their traditional chalet-style buildings while up above there are endless kilometres of piste carved down through the wooded valley scenery. That’s all very true of course, but there are other types © TIROL WERBUNG
of ski resorts in Tirol too. Do you fancy a city break with access to high-altitude glacier skiing on your lift pass? Well, you could base yourself in the province’s capital, Innsbruck. Or do you want to party all night as hard as you have skied all day? Then there are several options here, but perhaps Ischgl is the most famous. How about some legendary steep and deep
3 SÖLDEN & OBERGURGL-HOCHGURGL
powder? That would be St. Anton.
A nine-month ski season at the resort where James
The list goes on and on, but for now here are 10 of the
Bond lives.
most popular with Brits.
If one snow-sure high-altitude ski resort isn’t enough for you, how about two? Neighbouring Obergurgl and Sölden in the Ötztal Valley both have strong individual personalities but also complement each other perfectly. Obergurgl-Hochgurgl is the highest traditional resort in Austria and has one of its longest ski seasons, opening its 110km of runs
TVB PAZNAUN - ISCHGL
for the ski season from mid-November each year. Sölden meanwhile has twin glaciers and stages the first races in the annual World Cup calendar in late October. It’s home to the stunning glass ice Q restaurant, which featured in the James Bond film Spectre. A new permanent audiovisual 007
1 ISCHGL
exhibition is here too: 007 Elements.
Open from November to May, partying every night. Ischgl boasts one of the world’s longest ski seasons, from November to May. The season always starts and ends with a big music concert – stars like Elton, Kylie, Robbie and many others have headlined Ischgl. The long season is in part thanks to lifts rising up CHRISTOPH JORDA
to 2,800m above the village, and there’s a mighty snowmaking arsenal as well. It’s big too, with 239km of runs stretching over the Swiss border to duty-free Samnaun. Throw in an amazing après-ski scene, some designer shopping and a Michelin-starred restaurant and you have a very special resort indeed.
2 TIROLER ZUGSPITZ ARENA
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4 INNSBRUCK The stunning city in the Alps that’s surrounded by ski areas.
A hidden gem of natural beauty with cosy villages,
Innsbruck is a vibrant and bustling small city with a
beautiful panoramas and wonderful skiing.
compact centre. The mountains tower up all around
027 // OCT18 PROMO
BERGBAHNEN SOELDEN RUDI WYHLIDAL
this cultural metropolis, which has twice hosted
dimensions, with 284km of piste served by 90 fast,
cosmopolitan mix of accommodation, shopping and
the Winter Olympics. It’s only a short drive from the
modern and comfortable ski lifts. Of course, that
dining, Kitzbühel is a popular destination all year
city’s hotels to more than half a dozen great ski
means that if you like to whizz around seemingly
round. But it remains a ski resort in its DNA and sits at
areas, or you can hop on the cable car from the city
endless slopes clocking up the kilometres, it’s
the heart of a great ski region that extends for almost
centre and reach the top of the Nordkette within
perfect. Even if you prefer to take things at a more
160km of ski slopes, open from October to May. Every
minutes. All these areas are included on a regional
leisurely pace, there are 77 mountain huts available.
January, the world’s bravest and best skiers tackle the
pass, which also includes a bus connection from the
The ski area interconnects the skiing above nine
most famous downhill run on the World Cup circuit:
city centre to the ski slopes. You’ll want to save time
Tirolean villages, so wherever you choose to stay,
the Hahnenkamm. Skiers reach up to 140kph as they
to explore the university city itself, with its historic
you can access it all, and it’s easy to get to – just an
almost fly down the technical, extremely challenging
buildings, great shopping, excellent restaurant
hour from Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich airports.
course, as they have done for 80 years now.
choices and lively nightlife – all just a short hop from the airport too, of course.
5 SKI JUWEL
7 ST. JOHANN IN TIROL A long-time favourite with plenty to do on and off the slopes. St. Johann in Tirol has been drawing British skiers to
ski areas into one of the best.
its friendly ski slopes for more than 70 years. Today,
Ski Juwel was created when two of the most
there are 43km of runs served by 17 modern lifts,
picturesque valleys in the region, Alpbachtal and
making it perfect for beginners and intermediates
Wildschönau, decided that after 50 years of operating
(with some tough terrain and freeriding opportunities
separately, they’d join their ski areas together to
too). You can also buy a regional pass for a few euros
create one of the 10 biggest regions in Tirol. There’s
more that provides access to dozens of neighbouring
109km of piste offering lots of family-friendly terrain
ski areas. St. Johann’s visitors can also enjoy the
but also some challenging black runs and exciting
historic town centre, with its enticing shops and cafés.
10 MAYRHOFEN
freeride opportunities too. Add to the offer some highly
The beautiful countryside surrounding the resort is
One of Austria’s most popular choices for Brits in a
regarded ski schools, fun off-slope activities and a
also great for winter hiking, cross-country skiing or
famous skiing valley.
strong heritage of producing great local cuisine and it’s
snowshoeing.
State-of-the-art lifts and terrain for every level have
easy to see why Ski Juwel is so popular.
made Mayrhofen a firm favourite with Brits for
8 ST. ANTON AM ARLBERG SKIWELT WILDER KAISER BRIXENTAL
C. JORDA
Two beautiful villages combine their
generations. Easy to reach and filled with lovely family-run hotels, along with great restaurants and
Ski by day, party by night.
bars, all set in the stunning scenery of the Ziller
Part of Austria’s biggest ski area, St. Anton is where it
Valley – what’s not to love? The local ski area is part
all began – the first downhill skiing in the style we use
of the bigger Zillertal Valley ski pass, which extends
today was perfected here more than 100 years ago. It’s
to 515km of piste. There are groomed pistes to suit
most famous today for its challenging off-piste terrain
all tastes, right up to the steepest groomed run in
and also for the full-on après-ski party scene that
Austria, Harakiri, along with terrain parks and plenty
accompanies it. But there is a softer side to St. Anton,
of freeride terrain too.
with a whole separate mountain of predominantly easy
6 SKIWELT WILDER KAISER-BRIXENTAL
and intermediate-level terrain. Après-ski is big here,
Both easyJet and British Airways now offer regular
with the slopeside bars busy from 3pm.
flights from London (Heathrow and Gatwick) to Innsbruck all year round – perfect for an earlyseason ski on the glaciers. From December
So big you never need ski the same run twice!
9 KITZBÜHEL
Most areas in Tirol offer enough skiing to keep you
One of the most cosmopolitan resorts in the Alps,
Gatwick, starting at just £28 one-way, while British
entertained for at least a week, but with the SkiWelt
with a great ski-racing heritage.
Airways flies eight times a week from Heathrow,
Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, the ski area has really XL
With its ancient heart, picturesque scenery and
alongside its regular Gatwick service.
028 // OCT18 PROMO
onwards, easyJet runs double daily flights from
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ROGER MOSS
Heavenly Skiing At Down To Earth Prices
5% DISCOUNT
QUOTE CODE 'ITS'
Arêches-Beaufort Peak Retreats, which specialise in off-the-beaten-track (for Brits) French ski resorts, often located in or close to the country’s bestknown giant ski areas but offering a quiet “back door” in at a much lower cost, has found another choice unknown to the UK market: Arêches-Beaufort.
With Mont Blanc as its backdrop, Arêches-Beaufort itself has 50km of pistes and a top resort height of 2,320m, but it is also within easy driving distance of Les Contamines (with 120km of pistes) and Les Saisies (which has 192km of pistes). There is about 1,200m of vertical, more than a dozen lifts and runs for all standards plus a terrain park locally. Peak Retreats offers self-catered apartments at the brand new 4★ La Clé des Cîmes residence in the village, due to open this December 2018. La Clé des Cîmes sits 400m
Described as “a typical Beaufortain village resort in the
from the resort centre and a three-minute shuttle bus ride
heart of the Savoie” by Peak Retreats, from whom it is
from the nearest lift and ski school meeting point (there is
their 57th resort choice, Arêches-Beaufort is located
a bus stop outside the residence).
20km from the town of Albertville, base for the 1992
Facilities are to include a reception, lounge, kids/
Winter Olympics. Skiing here dates back to the 1930s.
teenagers clubs, indoor heated pool, wellness area,
The authentic, traditional resort, known for its cheese
Jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, ski lockers and underground
(Beaufort!), is a year-round working village with
parking with a restaurant also planned.
independent local businesses including ski-hire shops
Seven nights self-catered cost from £181pp including
and restaurants. There is also non-ski childcare available
a return Eurotunnel crossing with a free upgrade to
as well as a ski school.
FlexiPlus.
High Quality Catered + Self Catered Accommodation French and Swiss Alps Snow Sure Resorts On / Near Piste locations No Hidden Extras
ROGER MOSS
Financially Bonded
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PEAKRETREATS.CO.UK
a Chalet in the Time Zone of Your Choice Price from: €22,800 (around £20,300) to €137,800 (around £122,650)
030 // OCT18
Booking an expensive luxury chalet in the Alps usually comes with many perks. Gourmet food and free-flowing unlimited champagne is a given, as is a team of staff ready to meet your every need, including a concierge service to ensure the skiing bit goes seamlessly and (for you) effortlessly. These days you can find lots of additional services available too – perhaps a “dog nanny” for example?
Discreetly set back from the main road, Chalet Marco Polo features a large living area set around a central fireplace opening on to a large balcony with outdoor kitchen and heated seating, offering panoramic views of the notorious La Face piste. The chalet features its own indoor swimming pool with Jet Stream tiles and gold leaf design by Christian Lacroix, an indoor hot tub, hammam, three massage and treatment rooms, one with a hydromassage bed, and can accommodate up to 10 adults and four children sharing six rooms.
But how about giving you the power to
The chalet also includes a fully equipped
control time itself?
gym with two of each machine so there’s
That was the challenge faced by staff from
no squabbling over who uses what when,
Consensio Chalets last season when a
a games and entertainment room with pool
guest from Asia requested his chalet in the
table, a bar and a wine and cheese tasting
French Alps was run on Hong Kong time,
cellar and two bars.
that’s seven hours ahead of European time,
New this year is a retro 8 car racing game
so that it was easy for him to stick to his
(think Scalextric for grown-ups) and a
business timetable.
biathlon laser shooting game.
It wasn’t as simple as just switching the
The chalet’s ski room is actually a
whole chalet to Hong Kong time either, as
reconstructed cable car cabin rebuilt in the
while the party leader wanted to work on
chalet’s basement, and ski fitting is done
his local Hong Kong time, his family wanted
inside this.
to ski so needed to be on French time.
Consensio offers Chalet Marco Polo from
To successfully achieve this request
€22,800 (around £20,300) to €137,800
Consensio had two teams working on
(around £122,650) per week (depending on
different schedules to accommodate the
dates), based on up to 10 adults and four
whole party.
children sharing six rooms. This is on a fully
This miracle of having guests living in two
inclusive basis, and includes two hours of
time zones in one building was achieved in
complimentary spa treatments a day, use of
the luxurious Chalet Marco Polo in the heart
all chalet facilities and an in-resort chauffeur
of the French ski resort of Val d’Isère.
driving a 4×4 Caravelle.
CONSENSIOCHALETS.CO.UK
What do you look for when you’re choosing your ski holiday destination each winter?
nice, as well as nice slopeside accommodation so it’s
you get a traditional village oozing charm but where
only a few steps from your bed to the slopes in the
you risk the ski slopes being green grass when you
morning, and vice versa. Lots of exciting terrain, bags
visit, as they’re just too low.
of character, great views and a short airport transfer
But it is possible to find that skiing El Dorado, as
would be the icing on the cake for most of us.
the Austrian resort of Obertauern manages to
You want value of course, but, whatever you’re
Trying to find a resort that ticks all the boxes is always
tick all the boxes. Located only 90 minutes from
paying, you want to be sure that there’ll be snow.
a challenge though. You get high snow-sure resorts
Salzburg Airport, it’s so snow-sure that it is open from
Somewhere with fast, comfortable lifts would be
that are soulless and a long way from the airport, or
November to May.
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031 // OCT18 PROMO
ROHRBACHER18
Snow REALLY Guaranteed
A Quick Bit of History
and tastes. Beginners have some excellent nursery slopes
An increasing number of ski areas are offering, or at least
Obertauern is sometimes referred to as “Austria’s only
around the valley – again, the high altitude of the village
claiming, guaranteed snow, thanks to their snowmaking
purpose-built resort” (although you wouldn’t realise that if
means that resort-level snow isn’t a problem, so no need
systems. At 1,740m up at the base of the ski slopes though,
you weren’t told) because it grew up as the popularity of
to struggle up the mountain on a lift to reach the slopes on
Obertauern has hard data from over 100 years of snow
skiing grew from the 1940s, and even then local people
day one here.
measurements that it has by far the deepest natural average
realised just how reliable the snow cover was in the high
Intermediate-level recreational skiers are really spoiled for
snow depth in Austria.
Tauern Pass where it is located.
choice, with plenty of fast blue and red cruisers to whizz
Ski-tourism researcher Günther Aigner studied about
The first lifts were installed from the edge of the road
around the slopes on and a superb high-speed chairlift
100 years’ worth of snow depth measurements
through the valley and the first hotels were built. Over
network so you are back at the top in no time, clocking up the
gathered by Austrian State Hydrographic Services;
the past 75 years or so, many more have followed, and
kilometres. For a special treat, there’s the option to access the
comparing data from the past 30 years, he determined
Obertauern has become a world-class ski resort.
slopes before everyone else with an 8.30am start possible on
that the snowiest spot in Austria by some distance
But it has stayed true to the values that made it so
the freshly groomed runs each Wednesday morning.
was Obertauern, with a mean maximum snow depth
popular in the first place, with door-step skiing and
For advanced skiers, there are some great challenging
of 264cm, well ahead of the second-placed ski area at
reliable snow cover still its top attractions.
runs too and a reputation for off-piste freeride
197cm – a whole 25% less. Surprisingly, Aigner’s research also found that, despite
opportunities as well. The groomed runs include the infamous Gamsleiten 2 run, a testing black piste that
climate change, snow depths in Obertauern have not
On the Slopes
changed much in 108 years, and there’s no indication that
The snow-sure ski slopes of Obertauern extend to a
moguls. Ski touring is another option offered by the ski
the snowfall in Obertauern might decrease over time.
huge 100km of runs, with something to suit all standards
schools, including special groups for first-timers.
032 // OCT18 PROMO
features downhill gradients of up to 45° and huge
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ROHRBACHER18
To make getting around easy for new arrivals, there are
There are a great range of establishments, from small, cosy,
key pieces of information.
a number of signposted routes around the mountain you
traditional family-run huts serving up home-cooked cuisine
For freestylers, The Spot is one of the great terrain parks
can follow. The Tauernrunde circuit is one of the most
using locally sourced ingredients and cooked to recipes
of the Alps. A full 3km long and chock-full of around 40
popular, while the S7 (Super Seven) route is a tour of the
handed down through families for generations to big party
features divided into three lanes of varying difficulty, it’s
seven highest points of the area.
bars where you can kick back and dance the afternoon and
accessed via the Kehrkopf chair.
Whatever level you’re at, getting on the slopes is easy,
evening away, so long as you have the energy!
And if you’ve not had enough of snowsports during the
with lifts ascending from at least nine points along the valley floor, so there’s no start-of-day bottleneck as
day, night skiing is offered until 10pm weekly from the
everyone tries to board one key access lift at the same
Freeride or Freestyle?
time, as at many resorts.
Freeriding is very popular at Obertauern – not
Cosy Huts
Edelweissbahn, with 1.5km of slopes open.
surprisingly when you consider that its altitude means
Obertauern & The Beatles
that the snow conditions are usually lighter powder
While much of Salzburgerland is associated with Julie
than elsewhere. There’s plenty of great terrain just a
Andrews and the Von Trapp family in the movie classic
There are more than 40 restaurants and mountain huts
few minutes’ walk from the groomed slopes, but it’s well
The Sound of Music, Obertauern has a more remarkable
on the slopes above and in Obertauern, so there are
worth hiring a guide to ensure that you find the best on
claim to fame. The fun-filled snow and ski scenes that
plenty of places to sit down and enjoy a great lunchtime
the day of your visit and ski it with maximum safety. The
appeared in The Beatles movie Help! were shot here.
meal with spectacular views or to stop off at the end of
resort has lots of information and services for freeriders:
It may now be more than five decades since the Fab
the day for some après-ski drinks and perhaps a little
look out for the freeride Checkpoint information boards
Four and a film crew some 60 people strong were in
boogie while the music plays loudly all around you.
showing the current avalanche danger level and other
resort back in 1965, but the locals have never forgotten
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034 // OCT18 PROMO
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their visit, and there are pictures, monuments and other
ghost train and a wave-riding track encourage the young
memorabilia to be found in many of the village’s hotels
guests to share their Obertauern experiences under the
and restaurants, and even out on the slopes. You may
hashtag #LOVEOBERTAUERN.
even be lucky enough to visit when a Beatles tribute
Bobby’s Ski Adventure is available in the spring as the
band is in town.
weather warms up, with special tours for children up to
The Das Seekarhaus hotel is just one example. Here
the age of five and for those aged 6–14 to experience
you will find a dedicated “Beatles Bar” full of signed
the natural wonders of the region.
photographs, skis worn by the band, a jukebox and even
One unusual attraction is the scarily fun Geisterbahn
a cocktail menu with Beatles-themed drinks. The hotel is
Fairytale Park – a recent addition to the ski area’s long list
owned by a gentleman named Gerhard Krings, who can
of attractions located at the Schaidbergbahn. This features
not only claim to be the proprietor of a very nice hotel
a 30m-long wooden tunnel where a lot of (nicely carved)
but was also George Harrison’s stunt double for the Help!
scary figures await, and there’s also an igloo to visit.
shoot. He’s one of several gentlemen in the resort who
In the ski-hire shops, children aged up to 10 years old
were just young men when The Beatles stopped by but
receive free rentals when their accompanying adult hires
who now own hotels, restaurants, ski lifts and more and
their gear, and it’s also possible to rent any equipment
are big players in the village.
your child may need – from a buggy to skiwear – in the
The Beatles stayed in the Hotel Edelweiss during their
resort at a very reasonable price. Babysitting services are
stay in Obertauern and hosted a wrap party for the film’s
also available if needed.
cast and crew there on the evening of 20 March 1965.
ROHRBACHER18
Speed and Comfort from Hotel to Snow
Après-Ski There are a great range of places to eat, drink and be merry in Obertauern, with more than 100 bars and
One aspect of your ski holiday in which Obertauern really
restaurants to choose from.
excels is the quality of its ski lifts. Almost all of the resort’s
As the lifts close, there are a host of slopeside après-
hotels are located steps from a lift, and the vast majority
ski venues to slide into as bars like the Edelweissalm
of the village’s two dozen or so lifts are fast four-, six- or
Chalet in the Lürzer Alm get the party started with a DJ
eight-seater chairlifts to whisk you straight up the slopes.
performing as skiers start dancing on the tables.
This essentially means more of your holiday is spent
You’ll find a great choice of dining options, with all tastes
doing what you came to the mountains to do – ski!
catered for and many different international cuisines
You’ll reach the lift more quickly, the capacity is so good
on offer, albeit with wholesome and hearty Austrian
that any possible queues are quickly gobbled up even
mountain dishes the most popular, of course.
at peak times and you’re whisked up the slopes more
Later on, establishments like People, Mundwerk and
speedily, so there’s time to get more laps in.
Römerbar stage live gigs and DJ sets while serving
New for the coming 2018/19 season is Obertauern’s
drinks from a vast menu of more than 250 different
latest lift, the Plattenkarbahn, which will feature a
cocktails and some 300 international spirits.
combination of eight-seat chairs and 10-seat gondola cabins on one cable. In a world first, it will feature warm, wool-covered seating.
When Not Skiing There’s plenty more to do in Obertauern when not skiing
Families
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or boarding – even for people who don’t actually want to ski or board, who just want to enjoy a snowy holiday
Families are made especially welcome in Obertauern,
surrounded by beautiful nature.
with special nursery facilities, children’s menus and many
Outdoors, there are some great cross-country ski routes
other family-friendly facilities in the resort’s hotels.
if you prefer to ski at a slightly gentler pace and incline.
One of the resort’s big advantages for families is that
There is an unusual oppurtunity to try out the exciting
everything is close at hand and easy to see from
sport of biathlon – combining cross-country skiing with
wherever you are at the resort base, so it all feels, and
shooting a rifle on a firing range. Getting the balance
is, easily manageable. On the slopes, there’s a choice
between the exertion of the skiing and the calm needed
of great ski schools offering kids’ lessons and several
to shoot straight is very challenging, but it’s a lot of fun
special areas reserved just for youngsters, including the
trying to get it right.
wonderful Bibo Bear family ski park.
Another on-snow activity not often offered is snow –
An exciting recent development for families on the
kiting, which is a lot like kiting on the water, but on the
slopes of Obertauern is two brand-new marked routes
snow, and there’s a special snow kiting school to teach
around the ski area known as the “Tauern rounds for
you the basics. Snow-biking – a kind of cross between
kids”. These are based on existing routes that have been
cycling and skiing, using skis instead of wheels – is also
popular for years in the area, but the new routes have
popular and great fun.
been especially tailored to the ability and stamina of
Besides biathlon, you can also try another Olympic sport
children and teens.
not offered by many ski resorts here: ski jumping, with a
Smaller children will love the new “Bobby round”, named
special introductory course.
after Obertauern’s local mascot Bobby, while more-
Of course, you can also sign up for a guided winter hike
advanced kids and teens will be hitting “My Track”. On
through the snowy scenery or join a snowshoeing group.
both of the rounds, a fun park, a timed race track, a
There are also some wonderful long toboggan runs (one
OBERTAUERN.COM
CHRISTIAN-SCHARTNER.AT
1.5km and one a full 5km long – that’s more than three
runs from 30 November until 2 December. The indie pop
Austria sees hundreds of people digging in the snow on
miles!), or sign up for a scenic sleigh ride. Airboarding
band Wanda will be on stage on the Saturday evening,
Gamsleiten 2 – one of the steepest ski slopes in Europe
(sledging on an inflatable sledge) is also offered, and the
giving their utmost and getting all the Obertauern fans
and Obertauern’s unofficial landmark – searching for
village has its own ice rink.
going. The traditional Krampus parade of hundreds of
some real treasure! A total of 30 chests are hidden, all of
Indoors, the resort’s sports centre offers a fitness centre,
Krampus figures and the Ö3-Party will be held a week
them containing prizes, and all of them exciting reasons
bowling, a pool table, darts, table tennis and a multi-
later on 8 December.
to participate in the quest. But the star prizes are two
purpose hall for football, volleyball, tennis and basketball;
Obertauern’s #Sheskis Day, which the resort runs in
keys to new BMW cars!
mountain yoga classes are offered at the end of the ski
partnership with Atomic, has proven very popular over
Traditionally, the last day of the ski season is 1 May.
day in the Haus des Gastes. In addition, many of the
the past two seasons, and this very special event is back
rest’s hotels have their own indoor swimming pools, as
for the third time on 30 March 2019. The event promotes
well as spa and wellness facilities.
active networking among leading women, and indeed all women on the and off the slopes,
Where to Stay & How to Get the Best Deal
and is part of a wider approach that will see Obertauern
Obertauern has a great range of accommodation choices
sponsoring more women’s projects that, alongside winter
to suit all budgets, from warm and welcoming B&Bs or
Obertauern’s great snow record means that it has one of
sports, highlight relaxation, deceleration and recreation.
comfortable apartments right through all categories of
the longest ski seasons in the Alps, and scientific findings
The season starts winding down in April with the biggest
hotels up to luxurious five-star establishments.
confirm this: Obertauern is Austria’s snowiest winter
treasure hunt in the Alps: the Gamsleiten Criterion, 5–7
Look out for special offers throughout the nearly six-month-
sports destination. The main season really begins with
April 2019. Back for its 13th staging next year, what’s
long ski season if you book direct via obertauern.com.
the resort’s famous Ski-opening festival, which this year
probably the funniest and largest treasure hunt in
These often include low-cost accommodation combined
Obertauern’s Winter 2018/19
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Getting There Obertauern is 90km from Salzburg Airport – about an hour’s drive and easy to reach. Salzburg is a small, pleasant airport to travel though. It’s easy to book everything direct, but if you prefer to have your ski holiday to Obertauern packaged for you, a number of leading UK ski holiday operators offer packages to Obertauern, including the
ROHRBACHER18
biggest: Crystal and Inghams.
with packages including lift passes, rental and ski school at one inclusive high-value price. For example, look at the Opening Weeks from 21 November to 22 December 2018 and the Powder Snow Weeks from 12 January to 2 February 2019. Then, as the season winds down, there are the Sun & Fun Weeks from 22 March to 13 April 2019 and from 24 April to 1 May 2019. There are special weeks for families too, known as Bobby´s Snow Adventure Weeks, which offer similar savings and more, extended to include children, and can include discounts on airport transfers, as well as the ski holiday costs. Bobby’s Snow Adventure Weeks also include extra entertainment and activities for children. They run each week between 12 January and 2 February 2019 and finally the week 6–13 April 2019. Whatever type of winter holidaymaker you are, Obertauern offers you the complete package.
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o d . . . n i a t n u o m e h nt
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OCT18 // 039
VERBIER PARTNERS WITH LIVERPOOL FC The famous Swiss ski resort Verbier has announced a four-year partnership deal with Liverpool Football Club, which it believes will help position it as a leading Alpine destination among new markets. To launch the partnership, Liverpool FC legend Robbie Fowler recently took to an indoor snow slope to show off a Verbier Liverpool shirt. Laurent Vaucher, CEO of Téléverbier, said, “It is important to distinguish between sponsorship and commercial partnership. Our operation aims to make our station known and to entice LFC fans through new experiences.”
DRY SLOPE PLANS FOR CORNWALL
CHALETFINDER APPROACHES THE SEASON ON A HIGH WITH US ACQUISITION Accommodation portal ChaletFinder
resorts around the world from France and
and we are fully confident in continuing this
Plans have been unveiled for a
is heading towards the new ski
Italy, to America and Andorra, one of which
relationship into the future.”
new dry ski slope for St Austell
season on a high, having secured the
is based at Mount Baker in Washington
Giving avid skiers and holidaymakers
in Cornwall. If built, the slope is
Northern America chalet market.
state, a world-renowned ski area. Elliot
looking for a picturesque break the option
believed to be Cornwall’s first;
Not only has ChaletFinder secured over
Moritz, onboarding specialist from Mt Baker
to book luxury chalets all year round,
however, there have been several
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Lodging, said: “We are very excited to
ChaletFinder offers a range of catered or
other dry slope proposals for the
but it has already signed hundreds of
now have our full portfolio of 80+ privately
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county, over the past decade,
renewals and new properties across
owned vacation homes listed through
families or smaller parties.
none of which have been built.
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ChaletFinder. We have long been happy
For more information or to find a chalet
properties on its portfolio across 140
with the services ChaletFinder provides
visit: chaletfinder.com
DELAYED SNOW CENTRE TO OPEN An indoor snow centre built in the USA around 2008 is set to finally open in March 2019, hopefully. Work on the mega mall known as The American Dream in New Jersey started 15 years ago, but after about $6 billion and three owners it is yet to open.
BLABLA LANGUAGE NIGHT Every Thursday at the Bec Jaune
ASPEN USES DRONES TO AID IN MOUNTAIN RESCUE
micro-brewery in Morzine, a table is reserved for those who’d like to
Over the past few years, most of the news
and particularly of the best skiers and
Rescue team is now implementing drone
improve their French or English. A
regarding drone use in ski resorts has
boarders doing their stuff, either for
use as part of their slope safety operations,
fun evening is ensured swapping
focused on the banning of the recreational
movies or in competitions.
using a Matrice 210 drone fitted with an
stories and learning a language
use of them due to concerns about safety,
It seems that drones are now increasingly
infrared camera and a second powerful
including the potentially catastrophic
being used by resort workers to improve
zoom camera to help find lost hikers in
results of a drone colliding with a ski lift.
the way they carry out tasks that previously
summer and skiers in winter. The drone has
However, the professional use of drones
required a helicopter or extensive hiking to
apparently scored its first success, locating
has transformed filming of resorts
reach remote areas. The Aspen Mountain
a lost hiker this summer.
over a beer brewed on site! becjaunebrewery.com
040 // OCT18
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FEDERICO MODICA
o f
V a l
d i
F a s s a
WORDS: PATRICK THORNE
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041 // OCT18
FEDERICO MODICA
If you want more from your ski holiday than just great slopes, the Italian Dolomites are hard to beat. There are the spectacular pink mountains, sometimes referred to as “rocky cathedrals”, towering above you; then there is the rich culture that still exists in the ancient towns and villages of the valleys.
cuisine is strong here and comes to the fore for visitors
boasts a first-class children’s area.
in delicious traditional cuisine to satisfy even the
Moena is the gateway to Val di Fassa, surrounded by
most demanding palates. It can be served up to you
the mountains of Catinaccio, Latemar and Monzoni. The
in a gourmet restaurant in the valley or in a simple
main town of the valley has a reputation for its beautiful
mountain hut high on the slopes – the result is the
architecture, housing elegant boutiques, cafés and
same great taste.
gourmet restaurants in a pedestrian area between its
Alba is just an outlying part of one of six different
two squares. Up above, Moena is in the heart of the
resorts where you can stay in Val di Fassa. Perhaps
Alpe Lusia-San Pellegrino area, where this winter the
best known to the British market is Canazei, of which
black La Volata piste has been broadened, again for the
Alba is one of four outlying parts. Located at the heart
ski competitions that will take place in February 2019.
of the Sellaronda ski tour and Dolomiti Superski, the
The valley’s other settlements include Mazzin, the
This, in ski holiday terms, translates into authentic food
ski areas of Belvedere, Ciampac, Col Rodella and
smallest municipality and a great cross-country ski
and drink to enjoy, and very reasonable prices too.
the famed Marmolada glacier are all easily reachable
centre with ski bus connections to the Alpine areas,
The good thing is that, these days, visiting an unspoilt
from the town. The resort has a great choice of shops,
and Soraga, one of Val di Fassa’s oldest settlements,
ski destination no longer means putting up with aged
restaurants and pubs, as well as sports halls, the Eghes
with many of its typical Ladin features intact. Again,
ski lifts. On the contrary, resorts in the huge Dolomiti
Wellness Centre and other attractions, making it an
cross-country skiing is popular here, and it’s a short
Superski region, with its incredible 1200km of runs on
ideal place to spend a great holiday in the Dolomites.
distance to the Moena-Lusia and Vigo-Catinaccio
the one lift ticket, have been adding state-of-the-art lifts
Campitello, dominated by the impressive mass of the
downhill ski areas.
season after season.
Sassolungo and by the Col Rodella, reached directly from
One of these, Val di Fassa, unveiled its brand-new D-line
the village with a quick cable car ride to reveal some of
gondola in its Clampac sector earlier this year. D-Line
the most spectacular views in the Dolomites, is another
technology from the famous Doppelmayr/Garaventa lift
popular choice. The Col Rodella/Belvedere ski area is
company provides an even faster and more comfortable
connected to the Sellaronda, meaning you can be over
Always Full of Life Besides the timeless magnificence of
ride up from Alba to the
in Val Gardena or Alta Badia
its awe-inspiring scenery and the
Ciampac ski area.
in minutes. Down in the resort,
daily joy of great skiing and
The innovative panoramic
there’s the modern Ischia well-
wonderful food, Val di
equipped sports centre and plenty
Fassa offers numerous
of excellent bars and restaurants.
weekends of music and
Pozza di Fassa and Pera are also
sports events through the
have an increased hourly
Facts
capacity of 2,000 people.
Ski Area: 1,440–2,950m
connected to the Sellaronda
ski season.
It will greatly improve
Piste: 210km
ski tour. They are located in the
Weekends in
lift will carry gondola cabins for up to 10 people and will
connections to the famed Sellaronda ski circuit – a great day trip with some 40km of runs and lifts to enjoy in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The Ciampac ski area has
1,200km w/ Dolomiti Superski pass Terrain Parks: 7
di Fassa and are home to the
Lifts: 86 Season: 6 Dec 2018 – 7 April 2019 Nearest airports: Venice 175km, Verona 180km, Innsbruck 190km, Milano-Bergamo 280km
also recently seen the Sella Brunech and Roseal
widest and sunniest part of Val Buffaure-Ciampac ski area, known for its gorgeous scenery and highquality runs. Pozza will be a key host for this winter’s FIS Alpine Ski Junior World Championship, and the Skistadium Aloch has been upgraded ahead of this major
chairlifts upgraded to a detachable quad.
event in February 2019. Night skiing is also offered
Val di Fassa is one of Italy’s leading ski destinations
here on the Aloch ski slope, and cross-country skiing is
in its own right, with 210km of ski slopes served by
possible, with access to both the Marcialonga circuit and
86 modern lifts (including a section of the Sellaronda),
the Ciancoal ring. Again, the village itself can satisfy all
links to four other ski tours and several snow parks.
ski holiday needs and also boasts a lovely spa complex:
The slopes, divided into nine areas interconnected
the QC Terme Dolomiti.
by ski lifts and runs or an inclusive ski bus, are almost
Pozza’s neighbour, Vigo di Fassa, sits on a wide terrace
entirely covered by state-of-the-art snowmaking
in a dominant position in the valley. From the village
systems. Altogether, Val di Fassa stretches over
centre, a cable car takes you up to Ciampedìe, the
about 20km as the crow flies, surrounded by some
heart of the local ski area and from where there are still
of the Dolomites’ most-famous peaks: Catinaccio,
more stunning vistas, this time from Catinaccio as far
Sassolungo, Sella group and Pordoi, over which
as the Marmolada glacier. For the coming winter, two
Marmolada stands undisputed.
chairlifts here from Pera to Pian Pecei have also been
But, as mentioned earlier, the region is about much
upgraded to detachable quad chairs, further improving
more than skiing and spectacular scenery. The Ladin
the area, which is especially popular with families and
042 // OCT18
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December will be all about sport, music and wellness, all made even more appealing thanks to the Dolomiti Super Ski Première offer available through the website, which brings special savings and great events. What’s more, while families, mums and dads are more than welcome in Val di Fassa all winter long, January is the perfect month for some quality family time with Fassa Family Weeks, 6–20 January, and again there’s more information available online. Then, in March and April, sports and entertainment will be the flavour of the month, with concerts at the mountain huts with Panorama Music Ski Weeks (details online) and their very appealing offers.
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DOLOMITISUPERSKI.COM | FASSA.COM
NEW BLUE PISTE IN PORTES DU SOLEIL It’s been announced that a new blue ski run for intermediate skiers will open on the slopes of Les Gets this winter. The new run will be served by the Perrières Express chairlift and is located in a sector that’s very popular as a result of day skiers using the large, conveniently located car park at the entrance to the village.
FROZEN OWL RESCUED A frozen owl was rescued by lift staff from the ski slopes at Mt Buller in Australia. “The owl has been warmed up and is set to be released somewhere a little less frosty,” a spokesperson
LONGEST INDOOR SNOW SLOPE IN UK AT 500M+ MOVES FORWARD
commented, adding, “Just a reminder it is chilly on the slopes
Long-standing plans to build one
freestyle park, a fitness centre, shops and
“If Team GB want to achieve their goal
today – layer up folks!”
of the world’s longest indoor snow
various cafés and bars.
of being one of the top five snowsport
slopes in Wales, nearly three times
Its longest slope at more than 500m would
nation in the world by 2030, many of our
longer than the UK’s existing longest
be around three times as long as the 180m
future elite athletes haven’t started skiing
slope at Chill Factore in Manchester,
slope at Chill Factore and one of the five
or boarding yet. It’s about finding the
have had their public launch.
longest in the world.
next generation of talent by getting more
The snowsport centre is part of the
Robin Kellen, Chief Executive of Snowsport
new people involved,” said Mr Kellen,
Rhydycar West leisure destination project
Cymru Wales, has identified the site as the
who added, “I am reaching out to the UK
lifts, closed for the past six years,
in Wales and will resemble an authentic
preferred location to develop a National
snowsport fraternity, asking them to show
has been renovated. The Téléski
Alpine resort incorporating ski and
Centre of Excellence and training centre for
huge support as it moves to the formal
des 3000 drag lift in the resort’s
snowboard schools, competition runs, a
TeamGB Snowsports elite athletes.
planning process.” rhydycarwest.com
LIFT TO RE-OPEN AFTER SIX YEARS One of Val d’Isère’s iconic ski
Solaise sector permits advanced skiers to reach the Leissières ridge that separates Solaise from the Le Fornet ski area and the Pissaillas glacier.
MONICA DALMASSO
ANOTHER FOUR RESORTS FOR VAIL Vail Resorts have bought four more ski areas – including their fifth in Colorado – in their latest spending spree. The company has bought Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire and
NEW LIFT & BEGINNERS’ AREA IN €10M CHAMONIX SPEND
Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado, as well as Stevens Pass
The Compagnie du Mont-Blanc, which
fast, comfortable Leitner-built six-seater
canons. The area will be accessible for all
Resort in Washington state – its
operates the ski lifts around Chamonix as
chair, also named Tabé after its predecessor,
ages from early December to early May.
first in that state – for a total spend
well as other leading French resorts, has
which has the capacity to transport more
The new lifts were installed before a fire
invested €10m in upgrading the Plateau de
than 3,000 people per hour. At the mid
in September left the cable cars at Grand
Lognan at the resort’s Grands Montets ski
station of Lognan (1,900 metres) a dedicated
Montets unable to operate; however, the
area. The old Marmottons and Tabé chairlifts
beginner’s area has been developed to
resort is emphasising that it’s business as
have been removed and replaced with a
include two drag lift and additional snow
usual in all other respects.
of $304m (£229m).
044 // OCT18
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MICHAEL WERLBERGER
RESORT:INSIDER
KITZBÜHEL One of the best-known resorts in Austria, and indeed the skiing world, Kitzbühel lies at the heart of a mighty winter sports empire that encompasses about 180km of linked slopes around the town (and linked by lots of fast, comfy lifts) but extends to a still bigger area on the regional lift pass, which spreads out across the surrounding Kitzbüheler Alps.
Coffee and Cake
The Best Snow is at Resterkogel
Pano, in the heart of the town within the cobbled
The resort’s high slopes on Resterkogel have the
central area, is a wonderful café-bar that’s highly
reputation for having the best snow, usually, in the
rated for its coffee and cakes. There’s a huge
whole region. It’s here that the resort manages to
selection of pastries and wonderful ice-cream
open a few runs before any other non-glacier resort
milkshakes, and all in all it’s just yum.
in Europe in early October each season, using snow
With its delightful walled centre, cobbled streets and
farmed from the previous winter.
Ski the Streif Without Skiing the Streif
A Kitzbühel Institution
The Streif ski run (21A on the piste map), where the
Rosi’s Sonnbergstuben is a resort institution. The
infamous Hahnenkamm race is run every January,
famous Rosi is as well known for her singing and
enticing shops and restaurants, the town is also the
is one of the most terrifying in the skiing world. It
guitar playing as she is for her cuisine. Rosi’s famous
location for the biggest event in the winter sports
features pitches of up to 85%; around race day, it is
Schnitzelparty takes place on the evening after
calendar each January – the Hahnenkamm World
sheet ice. You can, however, ski the adjacent Streif-
the Hahnenkamm race, and here you can taste
Cup race. Here are some insider tips from the town.
Familienabfahrt, which runs next to it and gives you a
“probably the most famous schnitzel in Austria”.
great view of the course.
The Kitzbühel Ski Run You Didn’t Know About While the most-famous run in Kitzbühel may be the
Hit the Casino, but You Don’t Have to Bet
Streif (see below), there are many other wonderful
Kitzbühel’s small casino is located in the heart of the
descents. The Schwarzkogel off-piste route is
resort. Although it has a reputation for its friendly
something special; starting from the top of the D6
atmosphere and great staff at the gaming tables, it’s
chair, it offers a kilometre of great cruising down to
also known for having some of the most reasonable
Aschau with spectacular views all the way down.
drinks prices in the town and some of the best steaks.
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OCT18 // 045
It may seem like summer is only just over, but it’s never too early to get excited about the next ski season, and most of us have been counting the days until the runs are snow-covered again, the lifts are turning and we can hit the slopes! The good news is that there are already a dozen or so glacier ski areas open in the Alps, so if you’ve got a weekend free this autumn, why wait? Lots of them will be running season-start festivals with new
046 // OCT18
@INTHESNOWMAG
Booking Trends To Be Aware Of
gear testing so you can get a jump on the
after the Olympics, is back for 2019, this
preceding three winters had brought little
rest of us.
time taking place in Åre, Sweden, on
snow cover at the start of the season.
For those of us planning a holiday in the
5–17 February.
The start of last winter, however, was very
main season from December to April,
The other big event of note is the World
snowy indeed; tour operators are reporting
Ski Independence, one of the largest
though, here’s a quick overview of how
Cup Finals when the male and female
a surge in bookings for Christmas week,
independent ski holiday companies
winter 2018/19 is shaping up.
World Cup tours come together to thrash
with prices going up, of course.
covering more than 60 ski resorts in
out the final results and crown the greatest
For some it is a sell-out, the most popular
Europe, North America and Japan, say
achievers. In 2019 that event is set for
week of the season, although for most this
they had a 10% jump in business last
Grandvalira in Andorra and will take place a
is February half-term week when prices
winter and they noted several booking
month later on 13–17 March 2019.
are often four or five times higher than the
trends they’ve witnessed recently.
We hate to mention it as the very word
preceding week as parents are forced to
There are more regional departures using
In terms of big events in the mountains,
tends to evoke a nervous twitch in many
choose that one week only, and with many
low-cost flights to choose from, so we
all the big music festivals are back, and
of us, but you may wish to factor into your
other European nations sharing the same
don’t need to travel through London as
we’ll be running a planner for them all
thinking Brexit Day, and the uncertainties
week it makes demand for space intense.
much as we did. easyJet have announced
shortly. Perhaps the biggest news is that
it brings to international travel and the
However, 2019 looks a little different to
a new service from Bristol to the Swedish
Snowbombing, the biggest of them all, will
rights of British resort staff in the Alps,
other years.
airport serving Åre in Sweden this winter,
be celebrating its 20th anniversary when it
which will happen at the end of March, just
The good news is that Christmas and
for example, two years after it first
returns to Mayrhofen in April.
before the Easter holidays.
New Year’s Day fall on Tuesday, so even
introduced a route there from the UK out
After South Korea earlier this year there
with the conventional Saturday or Sunday
of Gatwick.
are no more Winter Olympics until Beijing
change-over you can be in resort before
They say that there’s an increase in
festivities commence, and then have four
demand for hotel accommodation (as
or five days to recover afterwards before
compared to self-catering), a continuing
having to brave the flight home.
increase in demand for properties in high-
A year ago we were reporting that there
Easter on the other hand is very late in
altitude resorts – particularly Val Thorens
were bargains to be had at Christmas as
2019 – towards the end of its possible
and Val d’Isère – and that the average
bookings then were very slow after the
date range in March–April, meaning that
length of stay has continued to decrease
the Easter holidays, even with Easter
as more clients look for short breaks.
Sunday itself at the end for many, won’t
However, average spend has risen.
start until well into April for most. So the
So, to sum up, we’re spending more to
usual advice to aim for a snow-sure resort
fly from a local airport to a higher-calibre
if you’re travelling this late in the season is
accommodation in higher-altitude ski
more important than ever.
resorts and staying for less time.
Dates for Your Ski Season Diary
in 2022, but the biannual World Alpine Ski
AVORIAZ 1800
Championships, the second-biggest event
Key Winter Dates FOR 2018/19
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048 // OCT18 PROMO
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W OR DS :P AT RIC KT HO RN E
B E SK H I A MO PP Y RE
The problem with most packaged ski holidays is that, from a skiing perspective, they’re not time-efficient.
the slopes; that’s 25% more than your regular ski week!”
can take a long weekend and just a couple of days off
How do they do it? Well, the company has been
work and still squeeze in almost four days of skiing. Do
mastering the art of combining good flight times
that two or three times and you have enjoyed up to 12
with short transfers via efficient and direct private
days on the slopes – the equivalent of two normal ski
connections (no waiting around for the group bus and
weeks – for just four to six days off work in total.
How many times have you got up before the crack of
going around the houses before it reaches your hotel)
dawn, trudged to the airport, made your flight, waited for
to get you to the closest resorts as quickly as possible.
other flights to come in, finally got your transfer coach,
Lift passes are pre-booked and handed to you, so no
visited half a dozen different properties in a few resorts
queuing. Ski hire, likewise, is pre-booked so the hire shop
en route then finally arrived at your destination late
know you are coming and have your details – you won’t
afternoon – just too late to get on the slopes in fact.
have to shop around and fill in forms when you get there.
Courchevel 1650 can deliver 4.5 days’ skiing on a four-
Then at the other end of your holidays it’s no better –
The company, which offers holidays to hand-picked
night weekend chalet or hotel break. Leave the UK
you still have to leave too early for it to be worth going
accommodation in more than 60 specially selected
on a 7am flight and arrive in resort by 1.30pm. The ski
out skiing on travel day.
resorts across Europe, also makes sure your
rental shop is opposite the chalet, the lift two minutes’
accommodation know when you’ll arrive and will be
walk away. Ski until 4pm on departure day and land
leaving, meaning they will be expecting you to want to
back in the UK at 10.15pm.
get ready for skiing.
Flaine can deliver 4.5 days’ skiing on a four-night
“Don’t waste time eating on arrival in resort – get a
weekend chalet or hotel break. Leave the UK on a
snack to eat on the plane then straight on the slopes
6.10am flight and arrive in resort by midday. The ski
There are companies that really look at the logistics
when you arrive,” advises Dan, adding, “you can of
rental shop is a one-minute walk from the chalet en
from a skier’s perspective, finding ways to make travel
course plan this yourself, like any holiday, but how long
route to the slopes, which are a three- to four-minute
possible so that you’re rewarded for that early start by
are you going to spend sorting it all out? What happens
walk away. Ski until 5pm on departure day and land
getting at least half a day on the slopes on your arrival
if everything doesn’t go to plan? How will you be
back in the UK at 10.05pm.
day, and so you can ski all day on your departure day
transferred there? Who will sort it out?”
La Clusaz can deliver 3.5 days skiing on a three-night
Well, the good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way!
and still make it home in the evening. Ski Weekends has over 30 years of experience organising ski holidays, and despite its name it sells as many week-
Good choices when you want to ski more:
mid-week hotel break. Leave the UK on a 6.10am flight
Why ski just once a year?
long and mid-week breaks these days. And when they say
and arrive in resort by 11.30am (just a one-hour transfer). The ski rental shop is en route to the slopes. Ski until 5pm on departure day and land back in the UK at 10.05pm.
“week-long”, they mean a week actually on the slopes, not
The same technique, to squeeze more skiing days out
Morzine can deliver 3.5 days skiing on a three-night
two days of travelling and six on the slopes,
of your holiday time, is applied by Ski Weekends to
mid-week chalet or hotel break. Leave the UK on a
“Be happy, ski more isn’t our strapline, it’s our mantra,”
enable their clients to be happy and ski more on short
6.10am flight and arrive in resort by midday. The ski
explains company director Dan Fox. “We simply offer
breaks too. After all, that’s how they started out. So you
rental shop is opposite the chalet. Ski until 5pm on
more flexi-ski options than anyone else, and with Ski
departure day and land back in the UK at 10.05pm.
Weekends a 7-night break actually gives you 7.5 days on
EXAMPLE HOLIDAY PACKAGES Ski Weekends will tailor your holiday to suit your needs and offer flights from 15 UK airports, but here are some example packages, including transfers, with flights from London Gatwick or Luton: Early season:
January:
Later in the season:
Morzine chalet from 13 Dec and ski for 4 days
Verbier with 4.5 days’ skiing and a 10 Jan
for £510pp, or a Reberty chalet at £596pp.
departure, staying in a hotel on a B&B basis
Half-term in Morzine skiing 4.5 days from 21 Feb in a hotel on half board from £582pp.
Start the season with fresh tracks in a
from £766pp. Spend Christmas in Courchevel, departing La Clusaz from 17 Jan with 4.5 days’ skiing in a hotel on a B&B basis from £735pp. Ski with Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards in Courchevel from 10 Jan with 4.5 days on the
Les Gets from 28 Jan skiing 3.5 days and
slopes, staying in a chalet for £635pp.
staying in a chalet from £375pp.
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March in Åre, Sweden, skiing for 6 days in a hotel on half-board from £737pp. March in Andorra skiing 4 days at Pas de la Casa and staying in a hotel with B&B from £506pp.
SKIWEEKENDS.COM | 02380 983503
PORTES DU SOLEIL - SYLVAIN COCHARD
24 Dec, and ski 3.5 days in a chalet for £427pp.
March in Avoriaz departing 4 March for 3.5 days skiing staying in a chalet from £454pp.
BAUSE.AT
PUT AWAY SMARTPHONES ON THE SLOPES
VAL D’ISTANCE WITH MIKE TINDALL
WHEN CHAIRLIFT PROPOSALS GO WRONG
The senior vice president of the Big White Ski Resort
Former English rugby captain Mike Tindall,
A marriage proposal made on a chairlift at Snow
in BC, Canada, is urging people not to use their
the husband of Princess Anne’s daughter and
Summit ski area in California went badly wrong
smartphones while skiing or boarding.
the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips, has
when bachelor Sean Strickland opened the box
Michael Ballingall told Canada’s Global News that
announced he’ll be staging the first ever Val
containing the engagement ring and it promptly
resort staff were receiving an increasing number of
d’Istance Challenge in aid of three charities The
fell out dropping around 15m into thick scrub
reports, from safety-conscious skiers, of other skiers and
Matt Hampson Foundation, Wings For Life and The
below the chair.
boarders texting, talking and filming on smartphones
Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
His intended fiancée Karen Yeoman initially thought
while they are in motion.
The event, to be staged on the 300km of ski
the event was a joke and told Strickland not to tease
Ballingall also said he believed an increasing number
slopes served by 78 lifts at the Val d’Isère–Tignes
her but eventually realised he had genuinely tried to
of people were skiing or boarding without helmets
ski area, one of the largest and most popular ski
propose and that the ring had really fallen. The pair
compared to previously, and that more were opting
areas in the world, will take place 24–28 March
spent several fruitless hours underneath the lift trying
to ski alone, which increases the risk of remaining
2019. Teams of four skiers or snowboarders will
to find the ring.
undetected in the event of an accident.
compete to see which of them can cover the most
After two separate searches by resort teams who
“The reality is, if a skier or snowboarder is operating
terrain over three gruelling days.
turned out to help when they heard what had
a smartphone, they’re not paying attention to where
Based in Val d’Isère, this challenge will test skills
happened, there was eventually a happy ending
they’re going and it can pose a safety hazard,” Ballingall
and stamina, and along with the skiing there will
to the tale when Snow Summit’s lift operations
was quoted as saying.
be plenty of additional first-class entertainment,
supervisor Shannon White finally found the ring
Mr Ballingall was commenting generally on safety issues
the organisers say, adding, “The event will bring
under a branch, having continued the search in her
after a 21-year-old snowboarder from the nearby town
together celebrities, skiing enthusiasts and, most
spare time. Karen and Sean are now considering
of Kelowna died on the slopes at the resort, apparently
importantly, some amazing people while charities
Snow Summit as their wedding venue, with Shannon
hitting a tree while boarding alone.
will benefit from the money raised.”
definitely on the guest list.
CHALE TS IN LES GE TS Where you can ‘tailor your holiday’ from economy to luxury…
A SELEC TION OF OVER 30 PROPER TIES
www.chalets1066.com
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
VIDEO REVIEWS AVAILABLE ON THE INTHESNOW YOU TUBE CHANNEL
Head
Dare2B ROAMER JACKET
Schöffel
Nexo LYT 110G
This men’s ski jacket is made of seam-sealed waterproof/ breathable ARED VO2 20 000 fabric with high-warmth, low-bulk insulation. Four-way stretch fabric mapped with AEP Kinematics technology provides superb mobility on the slopes. Packed with ski-defined features and a detachable snow skirt. £200 | dare2b.com
Already touted by fashion editors as a top pick of the season, this beautiful ski jacket offers four-way stretch for easy movement on the slopes. Both the faux-fur trim and the hood are detachable, allowing for different degrees of practicality and glamour. £570 | snowandrock.com
A revolution in lightweight performance. Nexo combines graphene-infused plastics with a new Smart Frame to deliver the perfect balance of performance, comfort and lightweight design. Also featuring Liquid Fit technology. A 100% flexible upgrade in fit and performance. £350 | head.com/en-GB/home
Keystone2 Jacket
Elan Ripstick 106
Ripstick 106 is the ultimate one-ski wonder for all of the variable terrain from the boundary line to base lodge, peak to car park and trail to tailgate. No wonder it’s Glen Plake’s favourite ski from the Elan quiver! £575 | ellis-brigham.com
Black Diamond Route 95 Skis
A daily backcountry driver that stands up to season after season of ski touring in mixed terrain. Built in Austria with a 95mm waist, fibreglass layup, poplar wood core and flat construction for increased torsional stiffness. The rockered tip aids flotation in the deep snow and on the ski track. £525 | ellis-brigham.com
KJUS Men’s BT (BlueTooth) 2.0 Glove
No more fumbling with zips only to reach your phone just as the caller hangs up. KJUS’ Bluetooth Gloves enable you to make and receive phone calls without getting your smartphone out. This version has an integrated OLED caller display. £299 | kjus.com | snowandrock.com
686 WMS DREAM INSL JKT
A luxe and cosy coat that seamlessly goes from bootpack to city block and back again. £180 | 686.com
Bollé INSTINCT MIPS
Instinct MIPS offers the ultimate level of protection and performance and features a dual shell, AVID Progressive EPS construction, adjustable ventilation and MIPS technology, which adds more protection against rotational forces to the brain caused by angled impacts. It also features the BOA 360° fit system for precise size adjustment. £149 | bolle.com
Elan Amphibio 84 XTi
They say that 40 is the new 30, but don’t believe it: 40 is still 40. BUT the 84mm is the new 78mm! Versatile, quick, powerful and full of energy – don’t let the waist width fool you. It will make you feel like you’re 30 again, which is the new 20. £625 | elanskis.com
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KJUS Men’s Macun Jacket
Ortovox Crossrider 20
Part of KJUS’ Macun Alpine Layering System, this lightweight, breathable four-way stretch jacket allows you to create the perfect body climate based on the season, the weather and your activity level. Used in conjunction with body-zoned layers, the jacket’s awardwinning ventilation system helps regulate temperature. £549 | kjus.com | snowandrock.com
Those who place great emphasis on low weight and selected features will love the CROSS RIDER 20. At 860 grams it is one of the lightweights, but it still has the most important characteristic features: storage space for safety equipment, ski and snowboard fastenings, an ice axe and hiking pole fastening, front and rear access to the main compartment and hydration system compatibility. The CROSS RIDER 20 offers sufficient space for smaller tours or days on the piste. £100 | absolute-snow.co.uk
Skilock
Protect valuable skiing time by securing skis and poles outside restaurants, bars and in overnight storage areas. Pocket-sized, lightweight lock (210g) for Alpine skis (approx. 70–96mm at waist). Lock by pressing a button – release with a key. £29.99 | skilock.co.uk | amazon.co.uk
Skins DNAmic THERMALLONG SLEEVE TOP WITH MOCK NECK & ZIP
Dare2B CERTIFY PANT
Thule Backspace XT
Thule’s new lightweight, durable cargo box that fits onto the rear of the car, keeping all of your gear easily accessible. It’s easily fitted straight onto the Thule VeloSpace XT towbar-mounted bike carrier; there are no tools required. This premium cargo box gives the car 300L of easily accessed, extra loading space. £450 | halfords.com
The men’s Dare2b Certify Ski Pant is made of top-performing waterproof/ breathable ARED VO2 20,000 fabric mapped with AEP Kinematics and four-way stretch. With detachable bib system and snow gaiters. £100 | dare2b.com
Stay on top of your goals, all winter long, in SKINS DNAmic thermal long sleeve top with mock neck and zip. With a brushed thermal interior for warmth, and a mock neck and thumb loops for extra coverage, it’s designed to protect you from icy winter elements, on sidewalks to slopes. £100 | skins.net/uk
686 MEN’S GT JACKET
Technical performance that doesn’t break the bank. GORE-TEX® two-layer shell in classic styling provides bomber and breathable protection for every season. £300 | 686.com
Ortovox Fleece Plus
You’ll never want to take this off again! Thanks to the finest merino wool on the inside of the fleece jacket, it feels very pleasant on the skin. The ergonomic cut and use of elasticated materials ensures an optimum fit and great freedom of movement. To ensure that your neck and throat always stay warm, Ortovox have fitted the inner collar with warming sheep’s wool inserts. £175 | ldmountaincentre.com
686 WOMEN’S BLACK MAGIC INSULATED OVERALL
Definitely not your boyfriend’s bibs. Get the overall look you want with a tailored fit and classic feel. £210 | 686.com
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Head Kore 1G
Dare2B SURPASS JACKET
Black Diamond Recon
The Kore series of ski boots was designed with upward mobility in mind and exceptional downhill performance at its heart. The lightweight is delivered with the introduction of graphene in ski boots, and the blistering downhill performance is enhanced with new Liquid Fit technology. A 100% flexible customisation system. £550 | head.com/en-GB/home
The women’s Dare2b Surpass Ski Jacket is made of highly waterproof/breathable ARED VO2 20,000 fabric with high-loft, low-bulk insulation and is packed with ski-defined features. Fourway stretch fabric mapped with AEP Kinematics technology provides superb mobility. With a detachable snow skirt. £250 | dare2b.com
Designed for the skier who demands performance and comfort for both in and out-of-bounds missions, this jacket uses BD.dry™ fabric for high waterproofness and breathability, along with four-way stretch and versatile features such as removable powder skirt, helmet-compatible hood and pit zip vents. £320 | ellis-brigham.com
Stretch Ski Shell
Head Kore 99
Sometimes it’s deep. Sometimes it’s tracked. Sometimes it’s bumped. Lots of times it’s groomed. If this is when and where you ski then the Kore 99 is for thee! Kore 99 is the latest addition to the hugely successful Kore stable. Any conditions, any time. #TOTHEKORE £660 inc. attack 13 GW bindings | head.com/en-GB/home
Skins DNAmic THERMAL 3/4 TIGHTS
Give your favourite snowsport your all in SKINS DNAmic Thermal ¾ tights. By merging DNAmic Gradient Compression with brushed Italian thermal fabrics, they’re designed to support and stabilise major muscle groups in your upper legs to help you perform at your peak, week after week. £90 | skins.net/uk
686 MEN’S GLCR HYDRA THERMAGRAPH JKT
From the powder to park, sub-zero to springtime, Thermagraph™ Body Mapping Insulation creates the ultimate do-it-all jacket. Add an asymmetrical zipper and you have the Hydra, the best-selling 686 GLCR jacket, ever. £250 | 686.com Dare2B GILDED PANT
The women’s Dare2b Gilded Pant is made of warm-backed, waterproof/ breathable iLUS D-Lab Softshell fabric with fourway stretch. With inner snow gaiters and zipped hems. £100 | dare2b.com
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Ortovox
686 MEN’S INFINITY
Merino Guardian
INSULATED CARGO PNT
Shell Jacket
A 686 favourite with timeless style and unbeatable function: cargo pockets to stash your gear, kick panels to protect your cuffs and insulation plus infiDRY 10k fabric to keep you warm and dry. £180 | 686.com
Thanks to the unique interplay of the HIGH-PERFORMANCE Toray DERMIZAX®EV MEMBRANE with a LINING OF PURE MERINO WOOL, this 3L jacket remains the benchmark in hardshell comfort! With a water column of at least 20,000mm, it protects you from the wet and cold, and is also absolutely windproof. The 100% merino wool backing ensures excellent temperature management. £600 | ellis-brigham.com
Elan Ripstick 96 Black Edition
The award-winning Ripstick series is known for being the best of both worlds: dreamy in powder and rips on the hard pack. When the state-of-the-art Black Edition carbon construction meets the Ripstick, it’s out of both worlds. £650 | tiso.com
Elan Speed Magic Power Shift
Designed for expert-level skiers with racing in their DNA, the Speed Magic is the ultimate carving tool for women who grip it and rip it on the groomers and keep coming back for more. Guys, beware! £525 | elanskis.com
Ortovox Merino
686 WOMEN’S GLCR
Guardian Shell Pants
HYDRA INSULATED JACKET
These pants will impress you with their unique interplay of the highperformance Toray Dermizax®EV membrane with a lining made from pure merino wool. Thanks to this membrane, these freeriding pants protect against snow and moisture. Further features such as the integrated gaiters and protection against sharp edges with Cordura® ensure additional protection when freeriding. £525 | ellis-brigham.com
Cut from the same cloth as our best-selling men’s GLCR jacket, but specifically tailored for you, the Hydra is made to go effortlessly from powder to park, keeping you warm wherever winter takes you. £230 | 686.com
Thule Velospace XT3
Thule’s versatile bike rack for all types of bikes – from e-bikes and fatbikes to small children’s bikes. Mounting bikes is easy through detachable bike arms with the Thule AcuTight torque limiter knobs that click when optimal torque is reached. You have easy trunk access even with the bikes mounted, thanks to smart foot pedal tilt. £550 | halfords.com
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Elan Amphibio Black Edition Fusion
Amphibio Black Edition is the edge you need to start your morning right on perfectly groomed slopes. Step up your game with the enhanced performance and design found in the carbon reinforced Amphibio Black Edition. £800 | elanskis.com
Skins DNAmic BASE LONG-SLEEVE HALF ZIP
Stay on top of your game when the mercury starts to drop and the wind picks up in SKINS DNAmic base longsleeve top with half zip. This light compression base layer has a semi-seamless fabric construction for maximum freedom of movement and superior moisture management to keep you dry, comfortable and protected while you’re on the go. £60 | skins.net/uk
OCT18 // 055
Ortovox Piz Boval JACKET
The reversible SWISSWOOL PIZ BOVAL JACKET for men was developed for high-action mountain sports where good insulation performance at a low weight is required. The 90g/m² lightweight lining is not only produced in an environmentally friendly way, but also has the advantage compared to down when it comes to warming, even when wet. In addition, wool can absorb and release larger quantities of moisture than synthetic fibres. £245 | nordicoutdoor.co.uk
Ortovox Fleece Melange Hoody
Only the finest merino wool touches your skin, while the polyester on the outside ensures the material is highly flexible and very robust. You’ll benefit from the functional merino wool, which keeps you at just the right temperature level and prevents unpleasant odours, and you’ll be at the height of fashion at the same time. £140 | ellis-brigham.com | absolute-snow.co.uk
KJUS Women’s Duana Jacket
Available in solid and colour-block designs, this ultra-stretchy down jacket has a figure-hugging and flattering fit. A neck-gaiter provides cosy warmth while shoulder inserts absorb abrasion when carrying skis. The jacket’s four-way stretch runs through all layers – the outer fabric, the lining and even the seams. £649 | kjus.com | snowandrock.com
Schöffel Solden2 Jacket
This fully featured, high-end navy blue jacket uses Dermizax®EV fabric with four-way stretch laminate, lining and PrimaLoft® Gold Active quilting for superb comfort, protection and freedom of movement. Bonded seams, adjustable hood and stretch snow guard increase the comfort levels further. £680 | ellis-brigham.com
Dare2B REGRESSION JACKET
The men’s Dare2b Regression Ski Jacket is made of highly waterproof/breathable ARED VO2 20,000 fabric with high-loft, low-bulk insulation and is packed with ski-defined features. Four-way stretch fabric mapped with AEP Kinematics technology provides superb mobility. With a detachable snow skirt. £270 | dare2b.com
Elan Ripstick 86
We expanded the Ripstick series with the Ripstick 86, the perfect blend of versatility, agility and performance for almost every condition the mountain can dish out. It’s the go-to freeski from peak to piste. £450 | elanskis.com
056 // OCT18
Skins DNAmic BASE LONG TIGHTS
A light compression solution for training sessions on the sports field or on the slopes. Designed to be worn as a base layer beneath your gear for added muscular protection, the semi-seamless construction maximises freedom of movement, wherever your active life takes you. £60 | skins.net/uk
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Wherever You Prefer To Ski... Wherever You Prefer To Ski...
Wherever You Prefer To Ski...
Dare2B PROVIDENCE JACKET
The women’s Dare2b Providence Ski Jacket is made of highly waterproof/ breathable ARED VO2 15,000 stretch fabric lightly wadded with warming insulation. With a faux-fur trimmed hood and a detachable snow skirt for slopeto-street wearability. £250 | dare2b.com
...We’ve Got The Equipment and Expertise To Get You There! ...We’ve Got The Equipment and Expertise To Get You There! ...We’ve Got The Equipment and Expertise To Get You There!
Bringing you the UK’s largest range of specialist skis and boots and advice and expertise since 1965 We’ll always be here to help and advise you on the correct equipment Bringing you the UK’s largest range ofyour specialist skis and and advice and expertise since 1965 for wherever passions andboots dreams take you We’ll always be here to help and advise you on the correct equipment for wherever passions and dreams take you Customyour Ski Boot Fitting Specialists
KJUS Men’s Macun Pants
The higher back section of these superfunctional, comfy pants provides increased weather protection. Excellent ventilation and reinforced abrasion-resistant hems make them a great choice for serious skiers. The adjustable waistband gives you control over the fit, while the integrated kidney warmer provides extra protection. Part of the Macun Alpine Layering System. £349 | kjus.com | snowandrock.com
Ski largest Industries ofspecialist Great Britain Official Testers Bringing you the UK’s range of skis and boots and Ski advice and expertise since 1965 Custom Ski Boot Fitting Specialists We’ll always be here to help and advise you on the correct equipment Winner of the World Snow Awards - Best Specialist Retailer Ski Industries Great Britain for whereverof your passions andOfficial dreams Ski takeTesters you Winner of the World Snow Awards - Best Specialist Retailer
Custom Ski Boot Fitting Specialists FREERIDE | FREESTYLE | TOURING | TELEMARK | RACE | RECREATI LANO Ski Industries of Great Britain Official Ski Testers
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OCT18 // 057
FREERIDE | FREESTYLEWinner | TOURING TELEMARK | RACE | RECREATIONA of the World Snow |Awards - Best Specialist Retailer Ski Bartlett, Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon, West London, UB10 0NP Bartlett, Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon, West| London, UB10 0NP | FREESTYLE | TOURING | TELEMARK RACE | RECREATIONAL T:FREERIDE 020Ski 8848 0040 | E: info@skibartlett.com | www.SkiBartlett.com T: 020 8848 0040 | E: info@skibartlett.com | www.SkiBartlett.com Ski Bartlett, Uxbridge Road, Hillingdon, West London, UB10 0NP T: 020 8848 0040 | E: info@skibartlett.com | www.SkiBartlett.com
Protest Nocton 18 snowjacket
Protest Silvares snowjacket
Protest Warrior snowjacket
The slim-fit Nocton 18 ski/snowboard jacket by Protest is part of their PVRE series, which features; 10,000mm water resistance, chevron-style quilting, detachable hood, zip chest and side pockets, and under-arm vent zips for natural ventilation. £179.99 | protest.eu
The Silvares features colour-blocking formed by criss-crossing lines this ski/snowboard jacket is quilted throughout. Part of their Geotech series which features 10,000mm water resistance, ventilation zips under the arms, zip side pockets and a detachable hood. £179.99 | protest.eu
An innovative technical ski/snowboard jacket. The colour-blocked Warrior has a water resistance level of 20,000mm and a breathability level of 20,000gr. Embedded in this jacket, cohaesive™ stoppers simplify hood adjustment. This new stopper tech hides the hardware used to tighten your hood and is convenient to use. £199.99 | protest.eu
Protest Longa snowjacket
Protest Lole Softshell Snowpants
Protest Soribel snowpants
Protest Nebesna s
The Longa ski/snowboard jacket is part of the Geotech range; it features a massive 20,000mm of water resistance, a fabulous all-over print, a detachable hood lined with sherpa fabric and faux-fur detachable trim. Vent zips under the arms for natural ventilation. £179.99 | protest.eu
These women’s LOLE softshell snowpants are pants for winter activities such as snowboarding and skiing, from the Geotech 10,000 series. They feature: softshell, YKK zips, anti-slip waistband, and zips at the bottom. £89.99 | protest.eu
Part of the Geotech series, the Soribel ski trousers are loaded with technical features such as 10,000mm water resistance, adjustable waistband. Features: 10,000mm water resistance, anti-slip waistband, zip pockets and zips at the ankle. These trousers also feature a fantastic leopard print. £109.99 | protest.eu
Introducing the awesom by Protest. Inspired by t these ski/snowboard tro over print of a polar bea water resistance, anti-sl pockets and zips at the £109.99 | protest.eu
058 // OCT18
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Protest Mount 18
Protest Risto snowjacket
Protest Texture snowjacket
The Mount 18 ski/snowboard jacket is an all-round winner for your winter sports. Part of their PVRE series, this jacket is loaded with features; 20,000mm water resistance, soft shell, slim fit and regular in length. Featuring colour-blocking and quilted parts, there is an attached hood and ventilation zips under the arms. £179.99 | protest.eu
The Risto Snowjacket is a quilted ski/ snowboard jacket which is a true fusion of street and slope style and innovation. Part of their Geotech series, this jacket has 10,000mm water resistance. With a bomber fit, zip pockets and a detachable hood. £159.99 | protest.eu
Enter the world of water-resistant breathable fabric with a water resistance level of 20,000mm and a breathability level of 20,000gr. Features: a fixed hood, ventilation zips, zip pockets that include a lift pass pocket. The outer fabric features a subtle texture print, hence the name. £179.99 | protest.eu
snowpants
Protest Owen snowpants
Protest Mowen snowpants
Protest Decay snowjacket
me regular-fit Nabesna the Polar regions, ousers feature an allar. Features: 10,000mm lip waistband, zip ankle.
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The Mowen snowpants are stylish slim-fit ski/ snowboarding snowpants which are melange in colour and features: waterproof hydrophilic breathable lamination 10,000mm, nylon zip with pocket flap, adjustable waist with velcro, reinforcement ankle, slit with velcro closure. £99.99 | protest.eu
Check out the fantastic Decay by Protest. This awesome ski/snowboard jacket takes the street to the slopes in style. Features: 10,000mm water resistance, a super cool camouflage print on body and arms; the shoulders and hood are a solid colour. £169.99 | protest.eu
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ENGADIN ST. MORITZ/WHITE TURF
Anyone who is afflicted by what I like to call “the equine obsession” will know all too well the realities of mud. Whether brushing it off, barrowing it or wading through it … but being a horse rider, I love it.
instead of the stocky Haflinger breed work-horse that is
time for horse-related ski fun and the phenomenon that
popular in the Alps, we have a chestnut Arab, the horse
is ski-joring – which means, essentially, being towed
of the desert, and a stunning black Friesian (there’s a
behind a horse on your skis.
certain bank advert … ).
We’ve been whisked up to the frozen Lake Silsersee,
But before I can start interrogating the riders with boring
reputedly the region’s most beautiful. It is indeed a
horse talk they turn, ropes attached to the pommel and
scene from the Hollywood image of a winter holiday
placed with a triangle of rope and wooden handle laid out
Mud comes with one kind of winter, but bring this
scene. Families are walking happily through the
behind. It’s clear we have to pick it up and go for a tow.
obsession in alignment with my other sporting
snow, fit-looking folk are cross-country skiing, others
This is the nerve-wracking element. My entire instinct is
passion and life couldn’t become more complete. And
are sledging and there are small cafés selling hot
to leave the back end of a horse well alone, particularly
so to St Moritz.
chocolate.
when the beast’s ears are flicking. However, not one to
In a complete reversal of those mud-churned fields of
The scene is completed by two excited-looking
duck a challenge, I pick up the rope and brace myself.
home I’m transported to the snow and sun paradise of
horses, which come trotting around a corner, ready to
We go sedately at first; there’s even time to take in the
the Engadin, much as the first British tourists were 153
tow us away.
scenery and smile over at the folk pointing and waving
winters earlier when they made the first-ever recorded
As I greet the riders I realise I am missing my own beasts
at the sight of us.
wintersports holiday in the very hotel I’m booked into:
too much and bury my hands into their shaggy necks,
Try a trot? Why not! A little speedy jerk forward and the
The Kulm. It is February, -20°C, and my nostrils are
breathing in deeply that horsey smell. My surprise is that
pace increases, as does my competitive edge – bend
NIGEL YOUNG
frozen, but the sun is out, the sky achingly blue and it’s
060 // OCT18
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WORDS: SALLY BROOKES
Kulm Hotel St Moritz
knees low, it’s getting more exciting.
in which to take a break.
A canter? Too right … and don’t let the horse behind catch
As mentioned, I stayed in the incredible Kulm hotel,
us up! Snow sprays in your face (yes, you need goggles)
which has seen more than 150 years of an exceptional
The Kulm Hotel St Moritz (kulm.com), open from 6
and my hands are painfully frozen, but the exhilaration is
skiing history, including essentially hosting the second
December 2018 to 4 April 2019, costs from CHF675
intense and I want to go faster than any other “ski-jorer” in
Winter Olympics in 1928, and being the meeting place at
(around £535) for two people sharing a double room on
our team, nerves a distant memory.
the start of the world-famous Cresta run.
a half-board basis.
But too soon it’s over. The horses have behaved
The hotel has grown into a spacious 5★ with several
Guests are entitled to a discounted daily ski pass, a
impeccably, and despite the -20°C temperatures they
gourmet restaurants and an incredible spa, but the
gourmet package allowing guests to eat in one of 17
need to cool down so depart for a well-earned rest
original simple house where those first guests were
restaurants; weekly early bird skiing sessions when only
and rug.
received, escaping the London fog (and mud), is
hotel guests get to ski before the slopes officially open
As the adrenaline surge subsides I realise my hands hurt
incorporated into its fabric, and the Ice Pavilion, built in
and free skiing lessons for kids aged 3 to 12.
like hell and I need to be holding a hot drink.
1905 and where skating competitions were staged at
What else to say about my trip? The equine experience
the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympic Games, has recently
was the main attraction for me but I skied the beautiful
been restored and converted into a wonderful restaurant,
slopes of St Moritz, of course. They tick all the boxes –
designed by the great architect Norman Foster.
Switzerland Tourism: myswitzerland.com
a great range of terrain, spectacular views, great snow
In short, if you’re going to go skiing with horses, there
Swiss International Air Lines: swiss.com
at this high altitude and some wonderful mountain huts
are few better choices than St Moritz.
Swiss Travel System: swisstravelsystem.co.uk
DANIEL MARTINEK
Flights
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ESCAPE ROOM IN FRENCH CABLE CAR Europe’s highest “escape room” was established, temporarily, in a cable car hanging more than 3,000 metres above sea level at Val Thorens in France, the
PRIVATE OR GROUP SKI SCHOOL LESSONS?
continent’s highest resort. The
“escape room” opened after the
lifts were closed to skiers for the day and participation was free
of charge with up to five people
MICHAEL WERLBERGER
taking part in each session. We think they all escaped.
CHAIRLIFT HOAX MAN CHARGED New York State Police have charged a man with making a false statement after he claimed to have spent the night trapped on a ski
KITZBÜHEL JOINS 200-DAY SKI SEASON CLUB
lift. Isaac Hyde, 37, claimed that he spent 17 hours trapped in sub-
Kitzbühel has joined a small group
get an awful lot of snow.
a dozen glaciers in the Alps, high-altitude
zero temperatures on a chairlift at
of ski areas that offer snowsports
Kitzbühel has joined the club by pushing
Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, which is
Gore Mountain ski area but staff
for at least 200 days of the season
back on its season start and end dates over
often open from October to June, and the
became suspicious and reported
– that is, a season lasting almost
the past few seasons so that it opens some
northern Scandinavian resorts of Levi and
Mr Hyde to the authorities. If
seven months, sometimes longer.
terrain in early October and closes in May.
Ruka in Finland.
convicted, Hyde faces up to a year
Most of the existing members of the club
It manages this by snow farming – saving
Mammoth in California is sometimes open
– which has fewer than 20 permanent
snow from the previous winter undercover
from mid-autumn to early summer due to
members worldwide – are glacier ski
and spreading it out on the slopes in early
all the snow it gets, and the permanent
areas, but there are also a few resorts that
autumn the following year. This year’s
snowfield above Timberline Lodge on Mt
manage to qualify due to their high altitude,
opening day is 13 October.
Hood in Oregon is open more than 300
northerly latitude or just the fact that they
Other members of the “200 Club” include
days each year.
in jail and a fine up to $1,000.
NEW RESORTS FOR KAZAKHSTAN? Kazakhstan has announced plans to inter-connect the country’s existing mountain resorts by gondola to encourage tourism, noting that Kazakhstan is wellplaced to attract skiers from the EU, Persian Gulf, Iran, India, China and Southeast Asia. He said the country will also add 7–10 more ski resorts by 2025.
THREE MORE US SKI AREAS SNAPPED UP A company which has operated three ski areas in Pennsylvania
JAPANESE SKI AREA TO STAY OPEN ONE MORE SEASON
has sold them to Peak Resorts, The operators of Japan’s southernmost
its plight and the likelihood of it needing
time low of 32,000; however, more cash
ski areas in the Northeast and
which already owns 14 other
ski area, Gokase Highland, say it will open
to close, it had seen an increase in skier
donations to enable continued operations
Midwest. More than 60 US ski
this winter despite receiving even fewer
numbers as well as other kinds of support,
have been received from across Japan. The
areas are now operated by four
skiers last season than it had previously.
including cash gifts from well-wishers, in
ski area’s operators, the local municipality,
groups including Alterra, Vail
The centre has been running at a loss for
order to stay open. Last winter saw poor
had previously said they needed at least
several seasons, but having publicised
snow cover, and skier numbers hit an all-
40,000 visitors in order to keep operating.
Resorts and Boyne resorts.
062 // OCT18
@INTHESNOWMAG
most informed choice possible.
much quicker rate. You also have much
The key benefit of a group lesson is
more input in how you want the lesson
that it should promote camaraderie,
to progress. You can choose to see a
helping each other to progress as
specific view, or visit a particular area
you learn with those of a similar
as part of the lesson, which can include
ability and have more fun. It will also
impromptu coffee stops!
be the cheapest option, especially
Private lessons can be any length:
during peak times such as school
perhaps two hours if you aren’t
holidays. Set against this, you have
sure whether or not you will like
less control over which instructor
it. AlpineMojo ski school recently
will lead the lesson, or how many
introduced a four-hour lesson, which
share the lesson (obviously the more
is perfect for an intermediate to really
people there are, the less one-to-one
make improvements.
time you get).
In both group and private lessons,
Unlike in a private lesson, in a group
instructors can use private lift queues
lesson there is no flexibility on lesson
to reduce waiting times during peak
timing, length or meeting point, and
season, increasing the time actually
looking into the kinds of ski lessons
you should pay attention to where
spent skiing.
that are offered.
that meeting point is when booking,
All lessons should be fun and
Look at each ski school’s website
as it may require a long walk in ski
enjoyable, but choosing which school
for any offers and also pay particular
boots, or even a bus journey!
or type of lesson can really influence
attention to their partner page. Many
In a private lesson, the instructor can
other parts of the holiday, so it is worth
rental accommodation sites will offer
hone in on the individual’s learning style,
researching the options in each resort
discounted lessons if booked with a
and progression normally happens at a
before booking.
WORDS: SEGA FAIRWEATHER
It’s a long-running debate: is it better to spend your money on group or private ski lessons? The key question is: while private
particular ski school. Many ski schools
lessons may cost more, do they offer
offer a discount on rental equipment
proportionately better value as you
when booking ski lessons. As with all
learn faster with one-to-one tuition? Or
things these days, early booking can
might you have more fun progressing
bring cost savings too.
with a group of your peers, paying
When making your choice, don’t
less and having a laugh, but perhaps
be afraid to discuss your
needing more lessons?
needs and concerns with
In fact, it can be worth basing your
the ski school prior to
decision on the particular resort you
booking lessons
choose, then looking at the ski school
because they
options available to you there.
want to help
There are a multitude of reasons why
you make
people pick a particular resort for
the
their ski holiday, and this is usually
SHUTTERSTOCK
all organised before you even start
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ALPINEMOJOSKISCHOOL.COM
What Makes The Perfect Ski Holiday?
It May Not be
What do we all want from a ski holiday? It’s a question that I’ve mulled over for many years. The ski industry is pretty clear about it: POWDER! We should all be heading off piste into perfect light, fluffy powder. Bouncing through it effortlessly with unrestrained whoops of glee. It makes great video footage too.
to seek out those “secret stashes”.
Snowfall in the Dolomites seems to vary a good deal.
Fresh snowfall is usually accompanied by bad weather
Some years it gets huge snowfalls, but the previous
– low visibility, high avalanche danger, poor access and
three winters, particularly at the start, there was very
often strong winds too as the front comes in. Not so
little snow. Opening up the massive 1,200km of slopes
much fun to be out in.
on the area’s incredible Dolomiti Superski pass wasn’t
And besides, do most Brits, who, if they’re lucky, only
actually much of a problem due to one of the world’s
get to ski one week each winter, really have to have
most powerful snowmaking systems, which can cover
powder? Is it the main thing we want from our ski
the lot of it with snow so long as it’s cold enough,
holiday, as the ski industry and media (mostly run by
which it was, and it did. But still I imagined that with
powder-obsessed men, incidentally) tell us?
lots of natural snowfall, as they’d had at the start of this
These musings became more prominent in my mind
winter, the area was expecting a boost in business.
If you don’t want to ski or board powder, well, we don’t
on a recent trip to the Dolomites. I’ve been to the
So I was surprised when the area’s media relations
like to say it directly, but to be honest you’re a bit weird
Dolomites quite a few times over the years, and I
manager, Nicole Dorigo, put me right. Last season,
and you’re missing out.
absolutely love the area. The scenery is quite simply
she told me, the area did record business. Having
And yet, to be honest, powder is pretty hard to
among the most stunning on earth – no surprise
sunny days and glorious, groomed slopes suited their
find. The good stuff at least. Fresh, light, fluffy snow
it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and for me it’s
core Italian market. Italians, it seems, aren’t as fussed
doesn’t fall often in the Alps, and even places where
worth going for that alone. Fortunately there’s also a
about powder, but they do like good skiing, good
it does – Japan, Utah, BC – in any given week in the
great relaxed atmosphere on the slopes, lovely local
food and good weather. Also known as the good life
winter, it’s more likely than not that you’ll struggle
people, phenomenal skiing and great food, all at pretty
or “dolce vita”.
to find freshly fallen snow. In Europe those odds are
reasonable prices, so you win at least five times over.
So that winter, Nicole told me, the few bad weather
much, much worse, and those who can’t do without it
But last January I was particularly interested to visit
days they’d had, allowing the snow to fall, meant that
are wise to hire the service of a local guide in resort
after the area had had a lot of snow.
fewer people wanted to come skiing, so they were
064 // OCT18
@INTHESNOWMAG
t ?
SÜDTIROL MARKETING - ALEX FILZ
e Powder... waiting to see if their numbers stayed up.
Mesdi, are world-famous descents on any hardcore
restaurants (including an authentic Stube restaurant
This bit of news tallied with a report we’d received a
freerider’s bucket list, the majority comprise just fast
which dates back to the 16th century) so you could
few weeks earlier (we get lots of reports with lots of
on-piste cruising and, for that, powder snow doesn’t
choose a different theme each evening, and the quality
stats each autumn from various PR companies hoping
help – although it does look pretty.
was always excellent, as was the polished musical
for a headline story for their clients, often with fairly
Alta Badia has an additional claim to fame. It has put
performance of the inimitable Carmelo in the bar.
wild numbers based on dodgy-looking research), which
a real focus on becoming a haven for skiing foodies.
This winter the Hotel Sassongher will see the addition
claimed around a third of Brits were booking their ski
That doesn’t mean the elite gourmand Michelin-starred
of five new rooms in the main building and the
holidays based on the food available in resort, not on
restaurants that are way out of the price league of
completion of a second building next to the hotel.
the skiing, let alone the likelihood of powder snow.
most of us, but that the region’s restaurateurs have
This will house eight further rooms, a new wellness
I was staying in the Alta Badia region of the
committed to serving really top-quality food, usually to
area, gym, children’s room and cinema, as well as
Dolomites, a collection of half a dozen villages that
a traditional recipe using locally sourced ingredients
a sun terrace and sky spa with open whirlpool and
have got together for joint promotion. Located next
in many of the mountain restaurants (yes, I know that
panorama sauna.
to Val Gardena, the area is one of a dozen or so
sounds a bit of a cliché these days, but here it really
that make up the huge Dolomiti Superski area. It is
means something!). Alongside their standard menu
also located on the famous Sellaronda, a network of
there is usually a daily special at a very good price
lifts and ski runs surrounding the vast Sella Massif,
meeting this criteria.
which an average skier can ski around in half a day,
Alta Badia’s affinity with food was well demonstrated
Regional info: altabadia.org/en/
although it’s more fun to take a day over it and stop to
in the hotel where I stayed, a remarkably affordable
Hotel Sassongher: (sassongher.it +39 0471 836085)
take in the sights at one of the area’s many authentic
family-run 5★, the Sassongher, at the top of the
has rooms available from €175pp (around £155pp) per
mountain cafés and restaurants.
resort. This not only had all the luxurious trappings
night, based on two adults sharing a Comfort Room on
While the area does have its famous “steep and
you’d expect including very comfortable rooms and a
a half-board basis. Fly to Innsbruck, Venice or Verona.
deep” powder runs, some of which, like the Val de
great wellness and spa centre, but also a selection of
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Alta Badia Info
ALTABADIA.ORG/EN/
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ADRIAN BALLINGER With the news that the world’s second highest peak, K2, has finally been skied from the top this summer by Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel, about two decades after Everest was first skied, the number of the world’s fourteen 8,000m+ peaks not yet skied from the top is fast diminishing.
tallest mountain in the world; I’ve skied it twice). I believe these are the most successful ski descents of 8,000m peaks by any American. I have also attempted to ski Makalu (the fourth-tallest mountain in the world, attempted it twice; our 2015 team skied it from higher than anyone else to this point, approx. 7,900m). Lhotse I’ve attempted to ski already but conditions were poor, and Everest (same season as Lhotse ski attempt, same poor conditions).
Now American big-mountain climber Adrian Ballinger, who has
What are the major challenges you
already skied two 8,000m+ peaks
feel you face?
(one of them twice), and his long-
The physical challenge will be huge,
time girlfriend and professional
of course. But the biggest challenge
rock climber Emily Harrington
will come from the hazard of skiing
have said they plan to ski Lhotse
a line this steep and exposed
(fourth-tallest peak in the world),
at altitude. Gauging avalanche
then a straight and steep 2,000m
conditions can also be very difficult
ski down, all on “no-fall” terrain, in
on peaks this big.
a straight line called the “dream line” through the Lhotse Couloir, a
It’s quite a rarity for the snow to be
feat never achieved before.
skiable on Lhotse – how confident are you that it will be?
So no one has skied Lhotse before?
Getting the right conditions is a big
You are correct. The key is the
challenge. We will be attempting
couloir (steep gully) that goes from
this expedition in the autumn. All
the summit to Camp 4. This section
Lhotse ski attempts have been
has never been skied. A number of
done in spring, when guided teams
great ski mountaineers have tried,
make the work of the expedition
and Jamie Laidlaw got the closest,
much easier. But most snow falls in
skiing the bottom part of the couloir
Nepal and Tibet during the summer
from about 8,000m. But this leaves
monsoons, not during the winter.
500m above, and this is the most
That makes autumn a much more
challenging part.
difficult climbing season but there’s a good chance of more snow in the
What’s your previous experience of
couloir. This makes for a potential
this type of very extreme skiing?
avalanche hazard but may make the
I have made complete ski descents
line more skiable.
of Manaslu (the eighth-tallest mountain in the world; this was
Finally, what drives you to try this?!
the first time it was skied from the
A love of climbing and skiing big
summit) and Cho Oyu (the sixth-
mountains with friends!
Don’t like crowds? If you like more room on the mountain, it really pays dividends to travel to lesser-known destinations like Åre and Vemdalen in Sweden. You’ll be blown away by the uncrowded slopes and short lift queues. Even over school holidays, queueing is limited so you’ll have more uninterrupted skiing time on the immaculately groomed pistes and plentiful and accessible off-piste. Call Ski Safari’s Sweden specialists on 01273 224068 for help choosing your perfect, uncrowded ski holiday.
Quiet slopes (even at half term) from £765pp.
Visit skisafari.com/sweden or call 01273 224068
FOR THOSE WHO DARE
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