InTheSnow | Issue 72 | February 2023

From one generation to the next.

We always have your back.

IT’S NEARLY SPRINGTIME!

Alas, the Alps were in the news for all the wrong reasons at the start of the year, with warm temperatures damaging the snow cover at low elevations. This led to inaccurate “No snow in the Alps!” stories when actually, above 1,800m, as much of the terrain is at most larger resorts, conditions were fine. Fortunately, big snowfalls in early January have changed all that anyway, and it’s looking good for the latter half of the winter.

Ski resorts and holiday companies are reporting strong booking towards the Easter holidays, and in the near term we have the excitement of the Alpine Ski World Championships in Courchevel and Meribel, then all the springtime music festivals in March and April.

Another thing to keep an eye on over the next few months is just how much success Team GB athletes will have both at the current various World Championships, and then the remaining World Cup competitions. Our new batch of superstars who have been posting podium performances in recent weeks, several of them featured in this issue, include Kirsty Muir, Zoe Atkin, Mia Brookes and Makayla Gerken Schofield, as well as Dave Ryding of course.

So if you’ve not made it out to the slopes yet this season it’s not too late, or if you like to plan ahead, it's not too early to book your 2023/24 ski holiday either. Next season’s trips are already on sale!

Patrick Thorne | Editor

PUBLISHER

Dominic Killinger dom@inthesnow.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Patrick Thorne patrick@inthesnow.com

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Debbie Gabriel debbie@inthesnow.com

SUB EDITORS

Nick Jones & Marion Adams

GEAR EDITORS

Rob Stewart & Sally Bartlett

CONTRIBUTORS

Debbie Gabriel, Sam Thorne, James Bishton, Pete Thompson, Dan Elkan, and Iain Martin

MAGAZINE + BRAND DESIGN BY Tom Showler | Rocket Base tom@rocketbase.co.uk

WEB + DIGITAL DESIGNER

Chris Bennett | Bennett Design

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Tilly Tasker +44 (0)1494 862 423 dom@inthesnow.com inthesnow.com

© Copyright 2023 | Printed in the

EXPERIENCE A MOUNTAIN HEAVEN HOLIDAY

A selection of handpicked Catered & Self-catered Chalets and Apartments in the French and Swiss Alps

NEW JACKSON HOLE QUAD

Jackson Hole has replaced its Thunder Quad lift with a new Leitner-Poma lift that makes the ascent at twice the speed of the original, cutting ride time down from over 7 minutes to 3.6.

“Thunder was installed in 1984 when Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's notoriety

across the ski industry grew. This central hub of our mountain is a top priority for locals and guests alike each time they set skis or board on snow, and for good reason: the terrain accessed from this workhorse is some of the best. Classics like Tower 3, the Grand, Laramie

Bowl, Thunder Bumps and Tram Line, to Riverton Bowl, Gannett, Mushroom Chutes, Paintbrush, and Toilet Bowl; the list goes on. When conditions align in the Tetons, Thunder's terrain is perfect for a blower powder day,” a resort spokesperson said.

BROOKES’ SILVER

Mia Brookes (16) won silver at the Laax Open slopestyle in Switzerland in January. Competing in the opening Slopestyle event of the season in Laax, Brookes qualified in first, and a best score of 79.91 in the final was enough for silver – her maiden World Cup medal. Mia, from Sandbach in Cheshire, who only turned 16 last week, previously won the Europa Cup Slopestyle and Big Air overall title for 2021/22.

EZRA TO PLAY ISCHGL

British singer-songwriter George Ezra is heading to the Austrian Tirol resort of Ischgl to play a free mountain-top concert. Ezra will Ride Shotgun in Ischgl's Top of the Mountain Spring Concert at 1pm on 30 March 2023 at the Idalp at 2,320m above sea level. The concert will be the first of Ischgl’s four-week “Spring Blanc” series of culinary and musical events running throughout April.

SKI SCANDINAVIA DOUBLES UP

Ski Scandinavia is doubling the capacity of its winter charters to Scandinavian Mountains Airport on Saturdays from Gatwick commencing 11 February 2023. The new airport lies on the border between Sälen, Sweden’s largest alpine ski area, and Trysil, Norway's largest, both a short transfer away. “We firmly believe the UK will be an important market in the future,” said Mathias Lindstrom, Commercial Director at SkiStar.

JOHN BOWERS

MARCEL LAEMMERHIRT

ADAM SCARBOROUGH

OLA MATSSON

DIOR’S STORE IN ICE

Dior has recreated its famous Paris store out of ice at the Songhua Lake Ski Resort in Jilin, China. Images of the ice store, which incorporates a light show at night, are reported to be trending high on China’s social media channels. Songhua Lake is

one of China’s best resorts with about 30km of runs and either lifts, mostly Doppelmayr quad and six-seater chairlifts, plus a gondola. It is widely regarded as an upmarket destination, with its beginner slopes sponsored by BMW.

SKI HOLIDAYS BY RAIL

Travelski Express, the company that began offering package ski holidays by rail direct to the French Alps from London last winter, is increasing the number of resort destination choices it offers from seven to ten. The company has added Courchevel, La Rosière and Val Thorens to their 2023 programme. They join existing options Val d’Isere, Tignes, Meribel, Les Arcs, Brides Les Bains, Les Menuires and La Plagne.

SNOW SKIING INDONESIA

A small indoor snow centre has opened in Indonesia, with snow provided by one of the world’s leading manufacturers of snowmaking systems, the Italian company TechnoAlpin. Trans Snow World Surabaya is located in the capital of East Java, which is also the second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta, and offers mostly “snow fun experiences” like snowman creating to those who may not have seen snow before.

NATHAN GALLAGHER

World's

NEW CHAIRLIFT IN MEGÈVE

Classic French resort Megève, at the heart of a vast area of 445km of slopes, has upgraded its old Arbois chairlift on Mont d’Arbois to a fast six-seater chairlift. “This is great, obviously, but it does mean that more people can now discover the lovely

Michel Dujon piste underneath it, that’s long been a family favourite of ours,” said Elizabeth Cahir of family-run Stanford Skiing who have been organising holidays to Megève for more than three decades. “Most people were put off by the rickety

old double chairlift, but I guess I'm going to have to learn to share!” Elizabeth added. The new chairlift precedes bigger ski area upgrades coming for winter 2023/24 when the Rochebrune ski area over to Cote 2000 will be completely overhauled.

LADIES’ SKI CLUB CENTENARY

As part of a series of events to celebrate the centenary of the Ladies’ Ski Club, members and guests were invited to take part in a free and fun costumed slalom race in Mürren, Switzerland, on 23 January 2023, the 100th anniversary, to the day, of the founding of the club. Course timings were kept the old-fashioned way by waving a flag each time a racer left the starting gate.

CHAIRLIFTS CHARITY AUCTION

Heavenly Mountain Resort in California has increased uphill capacity at its North Bowl lift by 40% this season by replacing its triple chairlift there with a new high-speed, quad chair. The new lift is of course also much faster than its predecessor. By auctioning off the old chairs, Heavenly raised $162,000 (£140,000) for non-profits the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, Ski Run Community Park, and owners Vail Resorts’ EpicPromise Foundation.

RUSSIAN CENTRE DEMOLITION

A huge indoor snow centre in Moscow is to be demolished after major structural flaws were found. The $100 million SNEZH.COM slope at Krasnogorsk, just northeast of the city’s limits, opened in March 2008. It was closed in late 2021 after failing a long list of health and safety checks by government officials. Attempts to rectify these have failed and at a meeting of creditors, a decision was made to demolish it.

Whistler is not only one of the world’s great ski resorts, it also has a reputation for taking everything to the next level. Now we at InTheSnow are beyond excited to be able to offer a trip of a lifetime to one lucky person who wants to experience all that this amazing resort offers!

The Grand Prize Includes Vancouver flights from a major UK airport, private luxury transfers to Whistler with six nights'

accommodation at Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Once there you’ll experience the vast 8,171 acres of skiing and unwind with refined dining and unique activities. You’ll receive 3-day lift tickets, premium ski or snowboard rentals from Black Tie Ski Rentals and a private ski / snowboard day with Extremely Canadian. Off the slopes you’ll have a bobsleigh or skeleton experience at the Whistler Sliding Centre and a day of crosscountry skiing at Whistler Olympic Park. Other activities included in your prize

include a multimedia night walk through the forest at Vallea Lumina, some Forged Axe Throwing(!), a 60-minute massage and spa access to The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge and a culture fix at Audain Art Museum and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. For dining, you’ll taste your way through Whistler with a Finer Things Tour, enjoy an Original Box charcuterie arrangement and eat out at Teppan Village, Earls Kitchen, Hunter Gather Eatery and 21 Steps Kitchen. It's worth around $10,000!

This dream trip for two includes flights and six nights' luxury accommodation to be redeemed in winter 2023/24

Different trends for sliding on snow have dominated over the years. In the 1960s and ‘70s, downhill skiing really became popular, then by the mid-80s skinny skis were already passé and snowboarding was in rapid ascendancy. Skiing fought back with easierto-use carving skis replacing the longer, straighter skis of old. Soon both skiers and boarders embraced freestyle in the terrain parks which were popping up everywhere. With the new century came a throwback to an old idea, escaping the crowds that filled resorts and groomed runs and heading into the powder off the side. Once called skiing “off-piste”, the practice was rebranded “freeriding” with boards and fat skis making the ride easier.

At the top of the talent pile, the world’s best freeriders head off to remote mountain locations around the world to try to search out the soul of freeriding, the purity of the mountain, filling YouTube with more incredible footage of them doing so. This winter’s offering includes current ski video superstars Sam Anthamatten and Victor de Le Rue capturing the freedom of first lines in Alaska in The North Face®sponsored Freerider.

“Some say in order to finally know your true worth as a freerider, to become the real deal, you’ve got to ride the spines. It requires decades of experience to master the skill of managing your snowboard or skis on big lines,” a statement from The North Face explains.

Sam Anthamatten has spent his life travelling the world AND gaining the depth of knowledge needed to stay safe and at the top of his game while Victor de Le Rue has made a career out of breathtaking big mountain adventures, jumping in at the deep end to experience the snow like no other. Freerider is no different. Born from a dare to dream big, the pair set out to claim the first lines on unbeatable spines in a remote corner of the world in Alaska. Their goal required a specific set of climate conditions, with guaranteed heavy snowfall and humidity to form the nearly vertical spines and bluebird days to ride. After months of scoping and recon, the destination was set and the lines earmarked.

Sam Anthamatten and Victor de Le Rue travel to Alaska in this stunning new film that aims to discover the pure perfection of freeriding.

The opening of the new Club Med in Tignes has been designed to deliver a smoother, more enjoyable and relaxing experience for all the family.

With an investment of 128.9 million euros, the massively upgraded resort integrates perfectly with its surroundings thanks to the work of architect Jean-Philippe Nuel. Of course, it’s not the first Club Med in Tignes. The famous resort was home to

one of the very first Club Meds in 1958 and has now supported the development of this legendary resort for over 60 years. The new building boasts 430 rooms, two restaurants, a huge swimming pool and a wellness area – all the ingredients for an unforgettable stay near the peaks. Huge picture windows offer breathtaking views of the slopes and peaks. This panorama can also be admired from the large, sunny, south-facing terrace. The resort

opened just as Club Med published a report, providing an in-depth exploration of how Brits are booking their winter sports holidays in light of the current cost of living. It found that value for money is the most important factor for people choosing a resort and that France is perceived to be the bestvalue-for-money destination. Club Med’s research also found that the all-inclusive model is the leading holiday preference so the new Tignes resort is perfectly timed.

LUXURY FOR LESS WITH A MIDWEEK SKI BREAK

Flexiski have a great range of mid-week ski-breaks, which will save you a whole lot of dosh while providing a higher quality of holiday – you just need to avoid the weekend!

First up, you’ll save at least 38% and potentially as much as 76% on travel to and from the Alps. Data taken from Google

Flights looking at all flight prices between London to Geneva for the rest of the ski season shows mid-week flights (Monday to Thursday) are on average 38.6% cheaper than weekend break flights (Thurs to Mon) and on average 76.1% cheaper than Saturday to Saturday flights. Then opt to stay in a luxury flexiski ski-in/

ski-out chalet with your own private chef provided, and you’ll pay less too for your stay if it’s midweek, compared to weekend prices.

flexiski is the home of flexible ski holidays and operates in Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Norway and Switzerland. flexiski.com

“SNOW LIKE” CEREAL

Well-known cereal brand Kellogg’s have unveiled a new type of cereal that the company describes as “snow like” and claim that eating it “cools your mouth”. Working with the increasingly popular Elf on the Shelf franchise, Kellogg's have unveiled their new ‘Elf on the Shelf® North Pole Snow Creme Cereal’ and claim in a media release that it is “…our first-ever cereal that deliciously cools your mouth as you enjoy it.”

NEW SHOT-SKI RECORD

Colorado ski town Breckenridge has reclaimed the title in a long-running battle with Utah ski town Park City to line up the most people in their respective main streets to simultaneously knock back a drink from a shot ski. But Breckenridge set the new record of 1,350 people and 468 skis during the town’s 59th annual Ullr Fest last month. Park City has already said that they will retake the record.

SNOW CENTRE CLOSED

Built at Braehead near Glasgow in 2004, the troubled Snow Factor indoor snow centre, which was home to the longest indoor snow slope in the UK and was Scotland’s only such facility, has closed down indefinitely, although the XSite mall it’s in remains open. Management for Snow Factor issued the following statement: “Following ongoing legal proceedings and a subsequent court order, Snow Factor at XSite Braehead will be closed from today until further notice.”

SNS GROUP JEFF HOLMES

SKI INTO SPRING

Sunshine, soft snow, lazy afternoons with a drink on the terrace – what’s not to love?

For many of us it’s our favourite time of the ski season. The days are getting longer, the afternoon sunshine warmer, but it’s still dropping well below freezing overnight, so the snow is still in great shape first thing. Spring skiing has a fun and relaxed atmosphere after the cold intensity of midwinter when we’ve tried to get every minute of daylight out on the snow.

Now is the time to kick back and relax, making the most of the best morning conditions but then enjoying the afternoons, either sat out on a sunny terrace with a cold beverage just enjoying being in the mountains in springtime, or perhaps switching to a more summertime activity like biking or hiking after lunch. Whichever your preference, plenty of ski areas are ready for you in springtime.

LECH ZÜRS AM ARLBERG

When it comes to spring skiing destinations, it doesn’t get much better than Lech and Zürs.

Located in the famous Arlberg region, this is not just Austria’s biggest ski area; it also has one of the best reputations for deep springtime snow cover and perfect slope conditions right through March and April.

“More Time More Space” is one of Lech’s slogans, and it’s very true. Even at busy times of the year, the resort limits ticket sales to ensure it’s never too crowded, but in springtime things feel more spacious still when you have longer daylight hours and warmer afternoons to just enjoy being in the mountains, perhaps taking a break on a sunny terrace to soak up the rays.

In Austria, they describe the spring snow conditions as “Firn” … which essentially means “soft as butter – and just plain fun!” The slopes above Lech are open to late April, and snow is guaranteed right to the end!

FABULOUS DINING

Lech has been reviewed as the “World gourmet village” and is famed for its luxurious and upscale cuisine, although in truth there’s something for every taste and budget.

Springtime is a great time to enjoy this aspect of your Lech ski holiday to the max, perhaps enjoying a fabulous meal with an après-ski spritzer at one of the mountain huts and restaurants out on one of the fantastic sun terraces. As they say here, Lech is the place to enjoy “Your Private Luxury Moment”.

MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS

From 2 to 16 April the Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival brings music to every corner of the slopes and the village through the first half of April. Music is music and all genres put in an appearance, from swing and funk, soul and pop to jazz and R’n’B, acapella or big band to electro beats. The Tanzcafé festival is always evolving, and this year there will be a festival stage for the first time in Lech, joining those performances on mountain hut sun terraces and in hotel bars. tanzcafe-arlberg.com/en

BEST VALUE AND SERVICE

Along with the sunshine, fresh mountain air and guaranteed snow, thanks to the high altitude of the ski slopes, great food and fabulous events, springtime also brings the bonus of lower prices in Lech, as the season winds down. For example, a special sun ski week applies for lift passes from 1 to 14 April and then drops again for the final “Snow Crystal” week from 15 to 23 April. Despite the lower rates though, there’s still plenty to do on and off the slopes, including a visit to the remarkable art institution that is the Skyspace-Lech, a lightroom created by world-famous American artist James Turrell. Here sky and earth seem to encounter one another from a new point of view in the high alpine landscape. But, however you spend your springtime stay in Lech, you’ll still receive the same high-class service in all Lech’s hotels or guesthouses, for which the famous resort is doubly famous.

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN

VISITMAMMOTH.COM

As springtime reaches America, most of the continent’s resorts start to shut down. Even when the snow is still 10 feet deep, many famous Canadian and US resorts are closed by early April, often because of land-use agreements with the National Forest Service or because limited demand means they can’t sustain operating costs in low season. However, a few dozen do carry on into May, June and, some years, July.

It looks like 2023 is going to be one of those years for Mammoth Mountain in California. Ski

areas in the Western US have been reporting one of the best early seasons for snowfall this century, setting a 20-year record for reaching 10m of snowfall by mid-January.

None has done better than Mammoth Mountain, which at the start of February already had snow lying 6m deep up top.

Mammoth offers the Californian dream for skiers and boarders, including the chance to hit the beach of the Pacific Ocean and the ski slopes on the same day. In similarly snowy years in the past, it has kept the lifts turning till July and even August!

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Andorra’s season got off to a good start last December with cold weather, plenty of early-season cover and most slopes open. Late January saw more snowfall and historically the region gets dumped on more in late winter/ early spring, so conditions are often at their best for the final month of the season – this year running to 16 April.

If you like to soak up the sunshine of southern Europe, while also enjoying great late-season conditions, Andorra is the place for you. Renowned for beautiful spring sunshine as well

as great late-season snow cover, the country’s resorts including Arinsal, Pas de la Casa and Soldeu – El Tarter are all great choices when it comes to finding a sunny terrace to enjoy some après-ski beers and soak up the rays.

Andorra Resorts offer fully flexible holidays to precisely suit your needs in this Pyrenean spring skiing paradise. You can easily find the best-priced flights at this time of the season, with Barcelona usually a great option with a wide choice of flights and lower demand pushing prices down before the summer holiday season really gets started there.

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LES GETS

Les Gets is a charming, traditional French ski resort, within the huge Portes du Soleil ski area where the lifts and ski runs stretch across the border into neighbouring Switzerland. Les Gets is a fabulous, authentic community, full of the French ambience we Brits love, and it is also a great choice for your spring ski holiday.

First of all, Les Gets is high enough for good snow but not as high as some of the soulless, purpose-built altitude resorts.

Next, the ski slopes are located on the same grassy meadows and higher mountain slopes where the cattle from the local farms graze in summer, which means a smooth surface and no gravel or rock surprises below. That snow is kept smooth right to the end of the season by the resort’s excellent slope-grooming team.

There’s a huge range of pistes too, which increase in difficulty incrementally as you get higher up the slopes. Les Gets is part of the Portes du Soleil region which currently has the deepest snow in Europe on its higher runs. There’s fast, easy access to these pistes provided by a world-class ski lift network and supported by excellent ski patrollers, keeping everyone safe.

Next, if you are in search of challenging skiing, springtime is the perfect time for it. By March bases are built as deep as they’re likely to get, and Les Gets will be aiming to open all

the steeper terrain that needs enough snow to open. That’s one of the reasons why ski touring is so popular in springtime. In springtime, you’ll particularly appreciate the great mountain restaurants that serve up the best local food and drink at a reasonable price. There’s a more relaxed mood in springtime, and you’ll be tempted to spend more time soaking up the sun’s rays on one of the mountain restaurant’s terraces and enjoying some of the best views in the Alps. Finally, Les Gets is a very short transfer time from Geneva Airport, so you can be there and home again at the end, quickly and easily.

WHY CHALETS 1066?

Chalets 1066 is the largest operator in Les Gets – offering some 50 properties including four luxury chalets. The Chalets 1066 team all live in Les Gets and know the area inside out. Chalets 1066 are the Les Gets specialists – they don’t operate in other resorts, and they don’t sell property. They are always on hand to help. You can tailor your own Les Gets holiday to your required level of service and the budget you choose. This includes the option to choose from a wide range of additional services up to Michelin-standard chef service or do everything yourselves to keep costs to a minimum. This flexible approach makes your holiday outstanding value.

KM OF RUNS NO. OF LIFTS RESORT ALTITUDE TOP LIFT HEIGHT

VAL THORENS

If there’s one thing that warmer weather in the Alps has taught us skiers and snowboarders, it’s that if we want to be sure of snow cover, we need to aim high. And you can’t get higher than Val Thorens. Located up at 2,300m it’s the highest ski resort in Europe, and 99% of its slopes are located above 2,000m altitude. In short, quality snow conditions are guaranteed from mid-November to May.

Val Thorens is so sure of its great conditions –in fact, it stays open right through to mid-May and is one of the last to end its season in France. It all ends with a big party weekend, “La Grande Dernière”, this year from 6 to 8 May 2023.

FABULOUS SPRING SKIING

Val Thorens is located in a natural bowl which offers sunny and open skiing and has great connections to Les 3 Vallées, the world’s largest ski area with 600km of slopes. Fast, modern lifts mean you can spend more time skiing and less going back up. The skiing goes high above to the mythical summit of Cime Caron at 3,200m, accessible by cable car and with a 360° view from the top over more than 1,000 summits from the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. And right to the end of the season the whole resort is ski-in/ski-out. Val Thorens was designed from the very start to offer simple skiing holidays with no stress and no wasted time. You go right out of your accommodation and you’re on the slopes, even in springtime

when the snow has melted from lower slopes at lower-altitude resorts.

THE RESORT

Val Thorens has grown into a major international resort offering a wide range of accommodation from 5★ hotels to budget apartments. There’s something to suit everyone, from families to couples to groups, on every type of budget. Springtime also brings some extra-high-value deals.

It is well known as one of the liveliest French resorts with a great après-ski scene including live concerts, themed and festive bars like La Folie Douce, le 360, Village Igloo and the largest night club in the Alps.

There are great dining options across the resort as well with gourmet cuisine from local specialities including fondue, raclette and tartiflette, without forgetting the famous Val Thorens blueberry pie!

This winter the new sports centre, “Le Board”, offers many activities including a great swimming pool, spa, squash and more. There are lots of fun activities besides skiing too, including the La BEE series of ziplines that enable to you to fly over the lifts and slopes, either solo or with a friend. And there’s Moon Xperience Snow Tubing, new this winter, where you can link up with two, three or four other tubers!

All in all it’s no surprise that since 2013, Val Thorens has been voted France’s Best Resort nine times and the World’s Best Resort seven times in the prestigious World Ski Awards.

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KM OF RUNS NO. OF LIFTS RESORT ALTITUDE TOP LIFT HEIGHT

SAALBACH

Spring skiing is all about great skiing in the morning, and then soaking up the rays in the afternoon.

In Austria’s huge Skicircus region, they’ve got that down to a fine art, with hundreds of kilometres of slopes, all interlinked above the villages of Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fieberbrunn, all beautifully groomed each morning to provide a superb ski surface. You can ski or board lap after lap, whizzing back up the slopes almost as fast as you ski down them, thanks to a network of 70 fast, comfortable, state-of-the-art, high-speed

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lifts, most of them chairs and gondolas. Then, as things warm up, skiers can enjoy some drinks, a snack or a meal in one of the 60 ski huts located right across this big area of 270km of slopes, while enjoying the sunshine. This spring the Skicircus is running their “White Pearl Mountain Days” from 24 March to 2 April, an event focused on all the best of spring skiing along with wonderful culinary experiences, sports and music. There are also some special deals for families, covering all parts of your spring skiing holiday in the Skicircus.

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SÖLDEN

SOELDEN.COM

Austria is a country in two parts when it comes to its many famous ski resorts. The majority have quite low-altitude ski areas compared to those of its neighbours and tend to end their seasons in early April, sometimes even before the Easter holidays. But Austria also has more glacier ski areas open late into spring, and in some cases into summer, than any other country on the planet!

More than half of these glacier areas are in the Tirol region, and this winter one in particular has stood out for having a deep snowpack all

season and everything open over Christmas and New Year when lower resorts were struggling. Its ski area crowned by twin glaciers, Sölden is Austria’s only ski resort which has opened up three mountains higher than 3,000m with state-of-the-art mountain gondola lifts.

Gaislachkogl (3,058m), Tiefenbachkogl (3,250m) and Schwarze Schneid (3,340m) symbolise the special “BIG3” experience on skis, a truly memorable adventure comprising stunning views above the sea of summits in the Ötztal Alps and endless glorious long ski runs in the spring sunshine.

Avoriaz is currently posting the deepest snowpack in Europe, nearly 3m thick, so that bodes well for a great spring skiing season this year, right through to 23 April.

Along with boasting the best snow record in France and access to an amazing 650km of slopes spreading across the border into Switzerland, Avoriaz offers a short transfer from Geneva, making it the perfect choice for maximising your ski time.

Holiday company Ski Weekends, who operate six fantastic ski-in/ski-out chalets in Avoriaz and

a further two ski-in/ski-out hotels, specialise in maximising your time on the slopes. Their priorities include making it possible to ski on the days you arrive in resort and again on the day when you’re heading home. Apart from full-on skiing, Avoriaz offers a fantastic après-ski scene, arguably the best in the Alps for a purpose-built resort. Highlights include the fabulous La Folie Deuce cabaret bar-restaurant, but there are plenty more great bars with sunny terraces where you can relax and soak up the rays after a great morning on the slopes.

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PARK CITY

Utah has had an incredible season so far for snowfall, with many resorts seeing more powder by the end of January than they did in all of last winter, so things are shaping up nicely for a superb latter half to the season.

But whether you fly out for some spring skiing, or make a booking for 2023/24, it’s good to know that one of the world’s great ski towns, Park City, Utah, is only 35 minutes’ drive from Salt Lake City International Airport.

Apart from being a wonderful place to stay in its own right, offering historic charm, lined with quirky boutiques, enticing cafes, over 150 bars and restaurants and choc-full of awesome accommodation options; Park City is also

home to the largest ski area in America, Park City Mountain Resort, with its 7,300 acres of superb skiing and snowboarding, as well as Deer Valley, famous for its pristine pistes and sublime service. Both resorts hosted events at the last US Winter Olympics and visitors can explore that heritage, as well as the original one as a 19th century silver mining town. Fast forward to the future though and Park City is working hard on sustainability to ensure the super snowy seasons like this one continue in the years to come. The latest committment is for both ski areas to be fully powered by solar electricity by 2030, with a solar farm being built 30 miles away in the desert.

ERIC SCHRAMM

CAIRNGORM FUNICULAR RE-OPENS

The funicular railway that provides access to much of Cairngorm ski area above Aviemore in Scotland has re-opened after a closure of four years and four months. The lift was closed after structural problems were identified in the concrete supports for its track. Initial estimates

of about £10m to repair the lift grew to approximately £16m. That cost though was suggested to be a little lower than what it would cost to remove the railway altogether, due to the sensitive ecological environment where it’s located. However, the final repair cost appears to be closer

to £25m.

The 2km-long railway in Scotland’s only funicular reaches the Ptarmigan building at over 1,065m. Weather conditions permitting, the lift will now run regularly, taking snowsports enthusiasts to the top in around 5 minutes.

$8,000 SNOWBOARD

The French high-end luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has launched its own snowboard. The Paris-based company have produced just 100 of their Marble Snowboard, which has a retail price of $8,000 USD (around £6,650). The board was designed by Louis Vuitton’s former artistic director Virgil Abloh, who died of cancer last year. Coloured emerald green, the boards have a marble pattern with fluorescent LV initials.

OCTOGENARIAN SKI TEACHER

Maurice, who at 81 years old is still teaching skiing on the slopes of La Clusaz, is now the oldest teacher in the ESF. “I was born here, I have always lived here. And I will die here,” he says. Make sure you book well in advance in case Maurice is out on a bike ride or chopping wood. What is his secret to staying active?

“Exercising, keeping moving and doing what I love!”

esf-laclusaz.com

10% OFF FOR RAIL ARRIVALS

Morzine has expanded the benefits of its recently introduced AlpinExpress Pass, which rewards those who arrive by rail. This winter the AlpinExpress Pass gives skiers and snowboarders up to 10% off ski passes as well as ski hire, accommodation, and eating out with its wide range of partners including boutique hotel The Farmhouse, local brewery Bec Jaune, welcoming café Satellite Coffee, and transfer organisation Skiidy Gonzales.

PIERRE-MAULLET

NATHAN GALLAGHER

RYDING SECOND IN KITZBÜHEL

Britain’s Dave Ryding has followed up his unprecedented win in the Kitzbühel slalom a year ago by taking second place in the 2023 Hahnenkamm Slalom. Ryding was lying in 16th place and more than 1.5 seconds behind Austrian leader Manuel Feller after the first run, but he put down the fastest second run to move into the leader’s chair with all but one of the skiers following him either skiing out (including Feller) or failing to beat his time. Race winner Daniel Yule from Switzerland is a member of the Kandahar Ski Club along with Ryding, and both of Yule’s parents are Scottish. Ryding has now further strengthened his position as Britain’s most successful skier of the World Cup era with this, his sixth podium and fourth second place result.

The race was also memorable for Britain’s Billy Major who made 23rd after breaking into the top 30 from his 40th start place.

IPHONE SOS CALLS PROBLEM

Colorado’s Summit County 911 Center has been swamped by automated calls from iPhones which report their owner has been in an accident, when they haven’t. The new iPhone 14 and Watch 8 series automatically call emergency services if they are moving at speed then stop abruptly, indicating a car crash may have occurred. However, it appears skiers stopping suddenly on the slopes cause the system to call emergency services. Summit County reported an average of 60 automated crash notifications a day and a record so far of 71 in one day. Trina Dummer, the interim director of the Summit County 911 Centre, told the Colorado Sun that the calls involve “a tremendous amount of resources, from dispatchers to deputies to ski patrollers,” but none of them has been an actual emergency event.

Apple are now aware of the issue and have a team working on a fix.

RESORT BANS SMOKING

French ski resort Les Gets has become the first in Europe, they believe, to ban smoking on its ski slopes. In Les Gets it’s now forbidden to smoke on the ski slopes or on the ski lifts. The resort says the move is to fight against pollution linked to cigarette butts thrown on the ground in the resort. More than 3,000 cigarette butts were collected on the ski slopes during the annual “Clean Mountain” day and in France, around 20 to 25,000 tonnes of cigarette butts end up polluting natural environments every year. Les Gets has created five smoking areas by the slopes with ashtrays made from recycled skis. Smoking is not banned in the village; however, it is forbidden for smokers to throw cigarette butts on the ground. Tobacco-free ski areas have existed for several years in North America, Japan and New Zealand, but this is a first for European slopes.

STEFAN ADELSBERGER APPLE LES GETS

CRANS MONTANA | 2022

Photographer: T.B. Confirmed Skier: T.B. Confirmed

Drop some of the world’s top freeskiers and snowboarders into one of the most epic park set-ups ever built, then get your camera out to witness some of the most innovative displays on skis and boards you'll ever see. The 31st edition of The Nines will take place in the Swiss resort of Schilthorn from 17-22 April 2023

THE NINES / RED BULL CONTENT POOL

While we all want great snow conditions on our holidays, we also want lots of sunshine so we can enjoy it all.

The very first winter holidays in the mountains, taken in St Moritz back in the 1860s, were successful because early holidaymakers loved the sunshine and the mountain air in the Engadin region, not so much the snow fun that came later.

Of course, it’s something of a balancing act as logically you’d think lots of sun meant not a lot of snowfall. Ideally we want heavy snow at night, then sunshine all day.

Although we often focus on snowfall records and the likelihood of powder, more and more resorts are promoting their sunshine too. There’s still St Moritz, of course, who have a golden sun as their logo, but France’s Serre Chevalier is among others claiming “300 days of snowfall” a year.

Now suitably named holiday company Sunweb has created the Bluebird Index, which looks at sunshine data from ski resorts across the Alps to establish which has the highest number of “Bluebird” days on average.

Although, as we know from snowfall, knowing what has happened in the past is no sure guide to what will happen on any day in any present or future ski season, it does at least show us what’s more likely to happen! The company looked at Snow-forecast.com’s historical analysis of weather conditions at 30 of Europe’s top Alpine destinations over 15 years from 2007 to 2022. They found that of those they looked at, Méribel and La Plagne have more “bluebird days” than any other resorts in the index, with Val-d'Isère/Tignes and Val Thorens making up the top four. Dolomiti Superski region was a high scorer in Italy too.

Snow-forecast.com defines a Bluebird day as a day with “Average snow, mostly sunny, light wind.”

Sunweb also found that wherever you want to go skiing and have the best chance of sunshine, the second week of March, historically and on average, delivers the most snow with 4.2 days.

Martine Langerak, Head of Communications for Sunweb Group, said: “There’s so much that goes into planning a skiing holiday, but the one thing that we can’t control is the weather. We hope the Bluebird Index will assist families and friends who are looking to get their fix of the slopes this winter, by offering a little insight into the weather conditions. And if all else fails, there is always après if the conditions are not in your favour!”

SWITZERLAND TOURISM

SNOW HEAVEN

With their reputation for abundant, floaty light powder, it’s no surprise that so many British skiers and boarders that have ventured across the Atlantic just keep going back. It’s not just the snow of course; there’s the high service standards that are common across the ski areas of Canada and the US, the perfectly groomed slopes, the fast, comfortable

lift networks and the lack of queues that all score highly in favour of North American skiing. Throw into the mix spectacular scenery, spacious accommodation, high-value dining, excellent childcare, great resort amenities on and off the slopes and an always-friendly, smiling welcome and we start to get to the point where the question has to be asked: why would you ski anywhere else?

North American ski areas are famous for their powder, high service standards and great value, making a transatlantic ski trip one to remember for life!

RED MOUNTAIN

The wide world of skiing keeps evolving, and although RED Mountain may not yet be a name you’re familiar with, this amazing ski area in British Columbia, Canada, not only has a long history (it’s actually the oldest resort in Western Canada) but has expanded three times through the last decade. Today it’s one of the top 10 largest ski resorts in North America.

Although located in the snowy Kootenay mountains close to the US border, RED is proudly Canadian. The resort boasts an incredible 3,850 total skiable acres spread between five peaks with 360-degree descents. Altogether there are 119 marked runs and endless famous gladed tree skiing, known for its perfect pitch and even the option of highly affordable pay-per-run cat skiing. The resort also boasts nearly 3,000 ft of vertical drop and 300 inches of snowfall.

One advantage of having grown so big while remaining under the radar for many is that it receives only a fraction of the visits of similarsized resorts, meaning there are no crowds or lift queues, even on powder days!

After your fabulous day on the slopes, aprés at Rafters Bar on the third floor of the base lodge is another part of the full RED experience! Rafters has as much history as it does beer selection (the rafter beams inside are from the original mine on Red Mountain!). Selected multiple times as North America’s Best Ski Bar, this is a place to rub shoulders with locals and visitors alike after an unreal day on the mountain. But it’s not just about the amazing ski area. Rossland, RED Mountain’s resort town, has been voted the number one ski town in North America for the past two years in a row by USA Today and ranked the eighth best place in the world to visit by The New York Times.

It’s one of the few remaining real ski towns with a thriving local community and culture of welcoming locals that is hard to find anywhere else. Essentially, you’ll come for the skiing but will fall in love with the town and people there.

Along with RED itself, the town is famous for its Winter Carnival, which has been running for over 120 years and is the longest-running carnival in Western Canada.

SIZE IN ACRES 3850

NO. OF LIFTS 8 RESORT ALTITUDE 1185m

TOP LIFT HEIGHT 2075m

ONE OF CANADA'S OLDEST SKI AREAS, NOW ONE OF ITS BIGGEST TOO

SIZE IN ACRES 4270

NO. OF LIFTS 12

RESORT ALTITUDE 1198m

TOP LIFT HEIGHT 2080m

ONE OF CANADA'S TWO BIGGEST SKI AREAS WITH EVERYTHING ON YOUR DOORSTEP

SUN PEAKS

SUNPEAKSRESORT.COM

Sun Peaks is a mountain resort municipality in the interior of British Columbia (or ‘BC’ as it’s commonly known) and boasts Canada’s second largest ski area with a vast 4,270 acres of skiable terrain.

It remains a hidden gem among other mountain resorts in BC and as a result, there is seldom a time skiers or riders will find themselves waiting in a lift queue. It’s a common occurrence to ski lap after lap on a bluebird day at Sun Peaks!

A welcoming, intimate community resides among the three peaks that encircle the charming village. Whether guests are visiting for a day, a week, or a month, a sense of belonging follows them on and off the slopes. Unwavering kindness and community-oriented folk await beyond the gates to Sun Peaks.

A pedestrian-only, ski through village sits in the heart of the community with more than 40 restaurants, shops and cafes. Once in Sun Peaks, guests can park their car and leave the keys at home as everything is within walking distance. Each hotel is conveniently located in the village, meaning guests need only to strap on their skis

and cruise through the village to the slopes as they begin their day in the mountains.

Among the 4,270 acres of terrain, there are ski runs for all abilities. The network of trails spread across the three inter-connected mountains range from superb beginner terrain to great freeriding terrain; the trails off the Crystal chairlift on Tod Mountain are a great place for those looking for a challenge. In between, there are miles of corduroy groomers, deep steeps, and glade zones (tree skiing but with the trees thinned out).

Being situated in the interior of BC, Sun Peaks is consistently recognized for its unbeatable winter conditions. They receive an annual average snowfall of six metres of light, fluffy powder. The next pow day is always around the corner!

A favourite activity is the Alpine Fondue and Starlight Descent. Skiers and riders board the Sunburst Express chairlift after the slopes close and ride up to the Sunburst Bar and Eatery at mid-mountain to take in the view of twinkling lights below. Enjoy a Swiss-style fondue before skiing down the freshly groomed five-mile run wearing a head torch – a guide leading the way. It’s a magical experience for all.

COLORADO

COLORADOSKI.COM

If you’re lucky enough to be hitting the slopes of Colorado this winter, you’ll find something new at all 21 members of Colorado Ski Country USA. This season got off to a great start with huge snowfalls even before Christmas, so it’s shaping up to be one of the best in years! Here’s what’s new: If it’s new terrain you’re after, Winter Park is opening previously unutilised terrain in The Cirque Territory. The area is called “Jelly Roll,” because of its rolling steep pitch and its ability to hold light, fluffy snow for days after a storm. Monarch Mountain, meanwhile, has done trail work on tree skiing areas, and at Echo Mountain, guests will see a re-route to make it easier for beginners to get to the mountain base. At Cooper there’s new expert terrain in the Tennessee Creek Basin and Chicago Ridge area, and the second stage of Steamboat’s $200 million transformation includes a new beginner area, Greenhorn Ranch, serviced by a new gondola, beginner lift and two carpets. Colorado is famed for its abundant powder, but resorts take a belt-and-braces approach with Purgatory spending $1.25 million on snowmaking upgrades. Powderhorn has also been working on snowmaking improvements as well as adding a new beginner area lift. Eldora too has snowmaking upgrades and has spent $7 million on a parking expansion adding nearly 800 spaces.

In terms of new lifts, Arapahoe Basin has upgraded the Lenawee Lift to a high-speed 6-pack, and at Telluride a new high-speed detachable quad for

Chair 9 cuts the lift time from 15 to 7 minutes while Loveland replaced their Lift 6 with a fixed-grip triple. Purgatory has a focus on getting more people uphill, offering a Power Kids free season pass now up to age 12, and creating an uphill access pass for ski tourers in designated areas outside of operating hours. Most Colorado ski areas also have state-of-the-art tech, and Granby Ranch has streamlined the guest experience with RFID lift access, in addition to a refreshed base lodge and updated wi-fi. Other upgrades include a new ski school ski and snowboard yurt at Sunlight, and Aspen Snowmass has a new, all-electric 9,300-square-foot skier services building at the base of Buttermilk housing a ticketing office, rental and retail shop, ski and snowboard school, guest lounge and lockers. Howelsen Hill will feature a new tubing slope this season. There are numerous events all season long, and at Silverton they’re hosting a Big Mountain Women’s Weekend featuring Krista Crabtree, offering phenomenal expert-only skiing, networking, inspiration, and education. Finally, those big anniversaries include Copper and Telluride turning 50, Sunlight 55 and Eldora and Steamboat both 60. Not to be outdone, Steamboat’s Howelsen Hill is a spry 107 years old this season, the oldest continuously operating ski area in North America. Colorado Ski Country USA itself celebrates 60 years of promoting and growing Colorado’s ski industry. #AMountainForEveryone

SIZE IN ACRES 28K

SNOW EACH YR 300+inches MOUNTAIN AIRPORTS 8

9 MONTH LONG SEASON VARIETY OF SKI AREAS A MOUNTAIN FOR EVERYONE

BANFF & LAKE LOUISE

The three ski areas of Banff and Lake Louise all have long ski seasons stretching to late April or well into May, making the famous ski region one of the best in the world for spring skiing.

The world-famous ski town is just a 90-minute drive from Calgary International Airport to Banff on the smooth, safe Trans-Canada Highway with no traffic and the spectacular Canadian Rockies towering up ahead of you. If you wish, you can explore the region car-free, thanks to a network of airport shuttles, ski shuttles and public transit, helping save the planet while giving you more time to take in the jawdropping views.

The SkiBig3 Lift Ticket gives you access to 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, 29 lifts and 362 runs across Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mt Norquay ski areas.

Banff Sunshine has the longest non-glacial ski season of any resort in North America, with 201 opening days planned this season, culminating in the famous 95(ish) annual Slush Cup pond-skimming contest on 22 May!

Delirium Dive is Banff Sunshine’s famous double black area, a cool “intermediate” between groomed runs and backcountry for those wanting to get into more free ride skiing while still in a patrolled area. Lake Louise Ski Resort is also open into May and is currently showing off its ever-improving facilities following the approval of its Long Range Plan by Parks Canada. Several new quad chairlifts have been unveiled in the past few years as well as another 480 acres of freeride terrain in West Bowl, and there’s much more planned. West Bowl remains largely

unexplored by UK visitors. Known for its unlimited glades, gullies, powder pockets and fun chutes, there is lots of new terrain (and fresh lines) to explore! The third area, Mt Norquay, is only 10 minutes from the world-famous ski town of Banff, and is also known as “Banff’s backyard”. Being so close to Banff, it’s ideal for families with kids and teens (who love the night skiing available here), plus it has the longest tubing lanes in Alberta! Afterwards, head to their Lone Pine Pub and celebrate with this season’s new Norquay 97 Rusty Edges Amber Ale, brewed by Banff Ave. Brewing Co.

Whichever you pick (and you can pick all three during your visit!), you’re skiing in Canada’s oldest National Park and it’s a unique experience. There are no condos or endless development up the sides of resorts – just fantastic skiing with unobstructed views. No forestry cutting, no mining, no development – just endless mountain vistas. Banff and Lake Louise are authentic mountain towns with local culture and cuisine (not purpose-built villages). This destination boasts over 150 dining options and is building a reputation as a foodie destination, with eight great new dining options opened in the last two years alone. Choose to stay in any one of more than 40 accommodation options from hostels to condos to premium suites to cabins and everything in between. Springtime is a great time to visit as this is still Banff’s low season (most visitors come in summer), but temperatures are warming and the days are getting longer, plus the skiing is great. No lift lines, no traffic, just skiing!

SIZE IN ACRES 7748

NO. OF LIFTS 29

RESORT ALTITUDE 1631m

TOP LIFT HEIGHT 2729m

SPECTACULAR SCENERY AND SPRING SKIING INTO MAY

RESORT ALTITUDE 3286m

TOP LIFT HEIGHT 3790m

ARAPAHOE BASIN

ARAPAHOEBASIN.COM

Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin (or “A-Basin” to those in the know) always tops the world snow news in the early autumn and late spring when it’s one of North America’s (and indeed the whole northern hemisphere’s) first ski areas to open and last to close each season. In fact it’s so snow-sure it’s usually open for around eight months of the year – that’s around twice the average.

But those who know and love A-Basin know there’s so much more to this classic Colorado ski area. The resort has some of the Best High Alpine Terrain in Colorado including the East Wall, Zuma Bowl and some great steep gullies.

The big news this winter is the cool new Lenawee 6-pack chairlift which speeds up the

lift and reduces lift lines on this route, which is particularly popular in autumn and spring when Lenawee sees lines. This fantastic lift means skiers and boarders can now access two thirds of the ski hill more quickly than ever before.

Il Rifugios, the highest restaurant in Colorado, has re-opened with more capacity. This European-style bistro, inspired by the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, reminiscent of the Alps, specialises in wine and charcuterie pairings featuring both imported and local-to-Colorado meats and cheeses. This restaurant concept was located close to Denver and on the Ikon Pass, A-Basin has a low-key vibe and limits ticket sales to make the guest experience the best it can be.

STAY IN COURCHEVEL FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

You can watch it on the telly of course, but nothing beats the excitement of actually being in Les 3 Vallées for the Alpine Skiing World Championships this February. All of the men’s races as well as the opening and closing ceremonies are taking place in Courchevel, which is also home to SkiWeekends.com’s Chalet Monique.

Subject to availability, you can arrive at the chalet whenever you like in February and stay as long as you like (arrive any day except Wednesday or Saturday) and enjoy the action. Once there you can either head to the spectator zones to watch the racing up close and personal, or just carry on skiing

when the races are on – the slopes are likely to be a little quieter with 20,000 expected to be watching each race. The world’s biggest ski region promises that 99% of slopes and 100% of lifts will be open throughout the Championships, so it’s a great time to ski. Ski weekends.com

NIGHT-SKIING LIGHTS STAY ON

Despite the energy crisis, Manigod in the Annecy Mountains has committed to keeping its low-energy light-powered floodlighting on for night-skiing this winter. The ski area is big on night-skiing with eight floodlit slopes offering sliding under a starry sky while enjoying the magic and calm of the mountain. Slopes open from 4.30pm daily (except Sundays) in holiday periods, Fridays and Saturdays other times, until 11 March 2023. en.manigod.com

SKI AREA SINKHOLE

A huge sinkhole is reported to have appeared next to the Russian ski resort of Sheregesh. The 30m-wide smoking sinkhole, dubbed “the Gate to Hell” by locals, is being linked to a coal mine reported to be owned by oligarch Roman Abramovich. Sheregesh was previously best known for its annual spring mass skiing-in-swimsuits day, competing with Spain’s Sierra Nevada for the most participants world record each spring.

MOST LEFT-BEHIND ITEMS

A ski chalet holiday company has revealed which items are most often left behind by guests. “Taking too much is our biggest faux pas; forgetting to pack chargers and adapters comes a close second. On the return leg, other items most left behind in ski chalets also include odd socks, gloves and passports. One guest left an entire wardrobe of clothes behind, another diamond jewellery,” says Ski Beat’s Laura Hazell.

EMILIE LYNAM ALPCAT MEDIAS

APRÈS ESSENTIALS

We all have our perfect version of après-ski. We might be up for dancing on tables and spraying the champagne or perhaps a more laid-back afternoon, lazing around on a sundeck and listening to music with friends while melting s’mores on an open fire. Whatever your preference, when the lifts quietly come to a halt, après is an essential part of any ski holiday. Après is always better with a fire, and Solo Stove’s fire pit cooking system, featuring cast iron cooktops, is perfect for grilling

burgers, brats or veggies post-ski, and the Bonfire fire pit is super portable with the included carry case. For a lighter-weight setup, there’s Solo Stove’s smaller Ranger fire pit. Solo Stove even make a fire-pitcompatible pizza oven, Pi Fire, and supply restaurant-quality Pi Ingredients, making having an après pizza party easier than ever. And for those après ski tunes, the small yet mighty SONOS Roam is the perfect sound system for the snow. Weatherproof and portable, this smart speaker will allow you to enjoy brilliant sound, and you can even access your favourite streaming with voice control.

SEEKING ASGARD

Holmlands have released their latest ski film Seeking Asgard: Ski Life Stories from Iceland, a feature-length documentary focusing on Icelandic ski culture from a very human angle you can find on Youtube. Taking a personal look at Icelandic skiing through the eyes of its people; the crew circumnavigated the Nordic Island nation last spring; interviewing various

personalities within the country’s skiing community on mountain tops, shorelines, sailboats and in the backcountry speaking. Interviewees include retired ski racing coach Guðmundur Jakobsson who discusses the journey he shared with his son, in training him for the Winter Olympic Games and Sævar Guðjónsson, who doubles as a government-

appointed reindeer hunter and ski guide in the EastFjords of Iceland and is passionate about fighting the battle against climate change. Each character represents a different location on the Island, and acts as a vehicle to showcase the vast beauty – and mostly untapped – ski terrain in one Europe’s lesser-explored skiing regions.

SKI TOWN TWINNED

The Welsh seaside town of Llandudno, which has a dry slope, has been twinned with the Swiss ski resort of Champéry, part of the vast Portes du Soleil ski region which links the slopes of ski areas like Avoriaz, Morzine, Chatel and Les Gets. Champéry “becomes Welsh for a week” each winter, having hosted the Welsh Alpine Championships, attracting around 500 racers from 20 countries, for the last 15 years. The event is known locally as “Ya-Ski-Da”.

VONN SKIS HAHNENKAMM

Retired American ski racer Lindsey Vonn (38) has become the first woman to ever ski the Streif, the racecourse created above Kitzbühel each January to host the famous Hahnenkamm races. She’s also the first to ever dare to ski it at night. “The Streif is the pinnacle of all downhills, the most difficult course in the world. To kick out of the starting gate here and fulfil my dream is incredible," said Vonn.

NEW CHAMONIX VALLEY GONDOLA

This winter a new gondola will open at the Balme Ski Area in the Chamonix Valley, replacing the old lift up from the village of Le Tour. The next-generation Doppelmayr 10-seater panoramic gondola has a capacity to transport 2,200 people/hour, which is more than double the maximum uplift of the former lift. It’s faster than the old lifts, too, with the 376m ascent completed in 5.26 minutes, a speed of 6m/second.

© HOLMLANDS CAMERON HALL

PATRICE LABARBE

GREEN POWER CUTS COSTS

While most ski resorts are reporting a dramatic increase in energy costs with the worry that this will feed through to higher lift pass prices, Scandinavia’s largest resort operator, SkiStar, is reporting the opposite – lower energy costs this season, so far.

The company is putting the decreased costs down to efforts on the environment already underway before energy prices surged. Speaking in a presentation on the company’s first quarter results, company CEO Stefan Sjöstrand said, “Energy costs were lower

in the first quarter, which is pleasing. This shows that our work on energy consumption is having an impact, although the bulk of energy for the year is yet to be used. Making our operations more energy efficient is also an important part of our sustainability work.”

RECYCLE YOUR BOOTS

“Wondering what to do with your old ski boots? Rather than send them to landfill, take them into your local Ellis Brigham shop and drop them into the recycling bin provided. They will then go off to the Nordica/Tecnica project to be transformed into pellets, which can be used in the manufacture of new ski boots or for aluminium or for stuffing material, amongst other things,” said a spokesperson for the chain.

SHIFFRIN BEST FEMALE RACER

As we go to press, Mikaela Shiffrin has overtaken compatriot and retired ski racer Lyndsey Vonn to post the most alpine ski race victories for a female athlete in World Cup history, and she is within one win of equalling the all-time record of 86 wins held by Swede Ingemar Stenmark for more than 30 years. Shiffrin’s boyfriend, Norwegian racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, described her achievement as “mind blowing” and added, “she's just enjoying skiing.”

VIRTUAL SLALOM POLES

A Swiss tech start-up called Ostloong has integrated an augmented reality display into a pair of ski goggles to provide live info to skiers and boarders on the slopes. Options include tracking friends and family in your group or creating virtual slalom poles to ski around. Thanks to a GPS sensor, the Sirius goggles, available to order now, can also provide directional arrows or even virtual slalom poles on the piste.

ERICH SPIESS/ASP/RED BULL CONTENT POOL

From 5–19 February, the world’s skiing elite will converge on the world’s biggest ski area, Les 3 Vallées, for the bi-annual FIS Alpine World Ski Championships that’s heading to Courchevel and Méribel.

It will be only the fourth time that France has staged the Championships, after Chamonix in 1937 and 1962 and Val d ’Isère in 2009, and for the first time in the event’s history, competitors will be racing down the slopes at two different locations. The women’s competitions and men’s parallel slalom heats will take place on the Roc de Fer slope in Méribel, while the men’s speed events will take place on the new L’Éclipse downhill slope in Courchevel.

ATTENDING THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Les 3 Vallées are keen to stress that it’s business as usual for ski holidays during the Championships, which take place during the busy February half-term period. 99% of the huge region will remain open with just four runs closed, the two race courses and Choucas and Éterlou in Méribel and Grange in Courchevel. All lifts will be open to everyone as usual, and all the links between the valleys will be open.

Four ski-in fan zones will be set up along the L’Éclipse slope. A chance to enjoy the event with your skis on, watching the races live and on the giant screens installed for the occasion.

WHO TO WATCH

Although skiing greats and Beijing Olympic gold medallists Switzerland’s Beat Feuz and Austria’s Matthias Mayer announced their retirements ahead of the Championships, there are lots of famous names and up-and-coming starts to watch out for.

The top star has to be America’s Mikaela Shiffrin, who at the time of writing has equalled her compatriot Lindsey Vonn to be the most successful woman racer of all time with 82 victories and is on her way to overtake the all-time number one with 86 wins. In the downhill, Italy’s Sofia Goggia is a force of nature. On the men’s tour the big name and current world number one, Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt, is set to impress while Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Henrik Kristoffersen and young gun Lucas Braathen are always exciting to watch.

Team GB had not confirmed who would be racing at the time of writing, but Britain’s men’s team may include slalom skiers Dave Ryding, Laurie Taylor and Billy Major, who recently made history in Madonna di Campiglio with all three making the second run together in a World Cup Slalom top 30 for the first time ever. The other British male racer is Charlie Raposo and the UK’s women racers are Charlie Guest and Alex Tilley. French fans will be cheering for Courchevel local boy Alexis Pinturault among others.

GUCCI GOGGLES

Alimited-edition ski goggle collaboration between Gucci Vault (Gucci’s experimental concept store) and the Swedish luxury sports eyewear brand Yniq is available now only from the Gucci Vault. The cool new goggles, known as models NINE (€690) and FOUR (€495), have been created in partnership with three-time Olympic medallist skier Lindsey Vonn and have been designed to create a dynamic interplay where high fashion carves a winning line down the mountain. Each pair is secured with comfortable elastic straps featuring the words "Sine Amore Nihil" ("Without love, life is pointless”), and there are four lens colour gradations available: red/orange, silver, purple, and blue.

Yniq claims to be the only sports tech company to blend cutting-edge science and Swedish design with haute couture. Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn is a member of Yniq's development team and a shareholder in the company. With her extensive knowledge and experience in blending luxury, performance, and mountain sports, she is uniquely qualified to contribute to the development of Yniq’s products.

Moss Bemis, CEO of Yniq, added, “Yniq’s patented technology (PVT) for expanded peripheral vision was developed to eliminate the very real feeling of being restrained when wearing goggles. As more people seek the joy of skiing and boarding, the need to see your surroundings has never been more important.”

DOLOMITES’ €65M SPEND

Dolomiti Superski resorts have invested €65 million in new lifts and other improvements for the current 22-23 ski season, with three new chairlifts among the upgrades.

These include new 6-seater chairlift Spitzbühel on the Alpe di Siusi, the 6-seater chairlift Campanil in Pampeago in Val di Fiemme

and the 4-seater chairlift Cigolera-Cima Tognola in San Martino di Castrozza. There’s also a new black run, “Soréga” in San Vigilio di Marebbe at Plan de Corones, and a new blue Campanil slope in Pampeago. The ski lifts Doris at Haunold near San Candido and the skilift Dorflift in Castelrotto were also renewed.

A new gondola lift to the Plose is still under construction and will not be put into operation until next year.

In addition, numerous snowmaking systems have been renewed and expanded to make the most of the cold windows by using the latest technology for the optimal use of resources.

THE REAPPLY RULE

The Melanoma Fund is advising skiers to improve their sun protection to avoid the risk of sun damage and skin cancer. They recommend skiers apply a SPF30+ waterresistant sunscreen to all exposed skin, reapplying every two hours. “With snow reflecting up to 85% of UV radiation, a sunny day on slopes at high altitude can triple the risk of sunburn, sun damage and skin cancer,” explained Professor Brian Diffey.

ATKIN’S X GAMES GOLD

Britain’s Zoe Atkin (20) has won gold in the Ski Superpipe competition at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. It was her third X Games and her first podium result. “This is insane. It feels amazing. I just thought ‘get a run down, go as big as you can’ – and to get a gold as my first X Games medal, I can’t even speak, I’m so excited,” Atkin said. Zoe’s previous podiums include bronze in the halfpipe at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships in 2021.

GB GOLD AT UNI GAMES

Manchester Metropolitan University student Scott Johns, 19, from Dorridge in the West Midlands is celebrating after winning gold in the Ski Cross competition at the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games staged in the US in January. Scott Johns, 19, who learned to ski aged 3 at the Tamworth Snowdome and sponsored by Prime Accountants Group, comfortably beat his opponents in the men’s race at Gore Mountain.

HARALE WISTHALER

SKI ITALIA

Everybody loves ski holidays Italian style – sunny slopes, friendly faces, espressos and pizza as well as perfectly prepared pistes. It’s time to ski la dolce vita!

One of the world’s great skiing nations, we’ve been enjoying the slopes of Italy for well over a century now, and they provide a very different experience to the ski centres of the Northern Alps. Firstly there’s the value factor – much more

affordable lift passes, dining and après-ski than in the other ‘Big Four’ European ski nations. Then there’s the sunshine for which the country is famous, alongside spectacular scenery – be it over in the mighty western Alps by Mont Blanc or over in UNESCO World Heritage Site The Dolomites to the

east. Italian style is omnipresent wherever in the country you choose to ski, such is the Italian love of the good things in life – the best food, be it pizza, pasta or anything else, fabulous coffee and much more besides. They call it ‘La Dolce Vita’ or ‘the sweet life’. What better way to ski?

LORENZO BELFROND FOR COURMAYEUR

KM OF RUNS 42

NO. OF LIFTS I8

RESORT ALTITUDE I260m

TOP LIFT HEIGHT 2755m

VERTICAL I550m

THE ATMOSPHERE, THE SCENERY, THE SKIING, AND THE FOOD

COURMAYEUR MONT BLANC

Courmayeur Mont Blanc, situated on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, is a traditional yet sophisticated resort surrounded by spectacular scenery and full of history and charm.

Located in the heart of the Italian Alps and famous for its freeriding terrain, while also offering lots of groomed terrain for every level of skier or snowboarder, this classic ski town is renowned for its warm Italian welcome and fabulous winter sports scene. There’s so much to do and see both on and off the slopes, and the resort is ideal for families and friends as well as both skiers and non-skiers who are looking to spend time outside in the fresh mountain air. While the UK is often a damp and gloomy place to be through the winter, Courmayeur Mont Blanc December through to all the gloomier months in the UK makes the renowned ski resort a vibrantly tempting destination filled with fresh-powered slopes, unspoilt trails, and peaceful views from the highest of peaks. Ideal for any mountain enthusiast, Courmayeur offers superb heliskiing, off-piste and crosscountry skiing, as well as joy skating, fat biking, hiking, snowshoeing, climbing, cycling and much more.

PEAK OF TASTE

Besides its incredible skiing, Courmayeur Mont Blanc has built a reputation as a fantastic destination for foodies, with fabulous restaurants on the ski slopes and in the resort, as well as special culinary events. The cable car to the slopes keeps running until midnight, providing the opportunity to dine on the mountain for an amazing culinary experience.

This coming winter, the luxury family resort is welcoming the return of their renowned culinary events for the first time since before the pandemic.

Courmayeur Mont Blanc is hosting its delicious culinary month, Peak of Taste, for a second series in March 2023.

The month incorporates a remarkable 10 culinary events which will take place across the gastronomic resort. Resort guests are invited to meet and eat on the slopes, with sumptuous meals created by some of the region’s most exceptional chefs.

Planned events include Michelin Star curated dining experiences at Super G, the most exciting après-ski venue in the Italian Alps. Other participating venues on the mountain include La Chaumière, a traditional and cosy bistro, and the Rifugio Monte Bianco, run by Alex Campedelli, the president of the local alpine guides which offers a fine dining experience as well as Les Dames Anglaises.

There will also be an aperitif tasting at the highest lift-accessed peak in Europe – the Punta Helbronner Station in Skyway – followed by a descent of 2,173m to the Pavilion in the valley below for dinner in the mountains.

Wine tastings and pairings will also take place throughout the Peak of Taste festival at newly re-opened restaurants all around Courmayeur Mont Blanc including Le Cadran Solaire, L’Auberge de la Maison, La Sapinière and 4810 (which combines a bar, bakery, ski rentals and restaurant from the historic and famous 4810 company run by the Grivel family for many, many years).

Fresh and local ingredients are always at the heart of the culinary extravaganza in the mountains.

VAL GARDENA

VALGARDENA.IT/EN

The beautiful ski destination of Val Gardena is one of Italy’s bestknown and most-loved ski resorts. Located in the north of the stunning Dolomite mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the local community brings together Ladin, Austrian and Italian influence for a very rich cultural heritage which you’ll benefit from in many ways when you visit, but particularly when you come to taste the fabulous local cuisine. The extensive ski area, with everything from peaceful and perfectly laid-out beginner terrain to exciting World Cup Downhill descents, is part of an even bigger network of interlinked pistes. That huge ski area connecting 500km of runs radiating around the famous Sellaronda circuit is one of the world’s three largest. But feeling like you can ski forever doesn’t just come from those impressive stats; it’s more of a state of mind that being in this stunning location gives you and owning a Dolomiti Superski pass facilitates! Going back from the feelings to the facts though, Val Gardena is a nearly 20 km-long valley that’s home to three main villages – Ortisei (1,236m), S. Cristina (1,428m) and Selva Val Gardena (1,563m), which is actually the highest village in the Dolomites. It’s also very easy to reach from Verona or Innsbruck airports.

ON THE SLOPES

Val Gardena has a great selection of slopes including the “Legendary 8”, which includes the Saslong, Cir, Ciampinoi, Bravo, Falk, Gardenissima, La Pilat and the aptly named

“La Longia” … as it’s the longest slope in South Tyrol at 10.5km. You can also head off around the famous Sellaronda circuit of about 40km of lifts and runs from Val Gardena, a trip that takes about five fours and offers incredible panoramic vistas of Sassolungo, the Sella Massif and the Marmolada Glacier.

NOT JUST GREAT SKIING

Val Gardena has been a famous ski resort for many decades now, and the visitors from all over the world have helped it grow in other areas too. The Valley is now also known as the cradle of South Tyrolean art, for example, with over 200 artists based here and filling the local shops and businesses with their beautiful creations. There’s fabulous food to be enjoyed everywhere, from homely mountain huts to Michelin-starred restaurants. The après-ski scene is vibrant, helped on its way by a local gin “8025” from Refugio Sofie. You can also visit the Museum Gherdëina for insights into the valleys’ evolution, stepping back in time on a journey starting millions of years ago, delving into geology, palaeontology, flora and fauna and archaeology as well as the history of art. An ichthyosaurus fossil, part reptile, part fish, found in the Seceda mountains above Val Gardena is also here.

The many other attractions include a new 1,500m-long zip line, Monte Pana, along which you whizz 100m above the ground. Overall, for the warm Italian welcome, for the amazing skiing on snow-sure slopes and for the incredible Italian food, it’s impossible to beat Val Gardena.

KM OF RUNS

178

NO. OF LIFTS 79

RESORT ALTITUDE I236m

TOP LIFT HEIGHT 2518m

SPECTACULAR SCENERY, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST SKI REGIONS

PILA

PILASKI.CO.UK

Little-known Pila in the Aosta Valley is a fabulous ski holiday choice.

The 75km of slopes for all abilities climb to a snow-sure 2,700m, where there are spectacular views out across the Alps reaching Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. There’s 90% slopeside accommodation, a lively après-ski scene at weekends, a cable car down to the city of Aosta below with its Roman remains, and it’s all a short transfer from Turin.

Pilaski is run by BASI-qualified instructor and fluent Italian speaker Carole, who takes ski guiding groups out most mornings to help

her guests make the most of their holidays. Pilaski offers holidays to all, from individuals, families or groups, with a choice of packaged or affordable ski holidays tailor-made to your requirements. Either way, clients are very well looked after with 80% returning each season.

“With Pilaski you will get a personalised experience. I spend time with my clients, not just at the end of a phone. No call centres, no speaking to someone that does not know the resort, and if by any chance I don’t know the answer, I will find out!” says Carole.

Escape. Find your pace.

Put life on hold, and take the time to just be. Whether it's a rush of adrenaline, or the art of pampering, immerse yourself in the lifestyle, sport and cuisine of Italy's natural gateway.

Imagine if, after all those years of ski lessons, trying to improve, never quite getting beyond that “intermediate plateau”, it was never really down to our skills progression on the slopes – it was all down to our ski boots?

The problem for most of us is that we start skiing with low-quality rental gear. We perhaps ski a week or two each winter, maybe trying and buying a pair of boots

we feel fairly comfortable in, and we never really get the boot that’s right for us – we just make do. There are, after all, enough things to buy in our lives without wanting to splash out on some boots we only wear one week a year. The thing is that getting your boots right can make a phenomenal difference to your skiing. Probably a lot more than a good week in ski school. There have also been huge advances in just

the last five or ten years which massively increase comfort as well as functionality.

“In ski boot design, everything starts with the foot because even minor foot problems can ruin a ski day,” says Paul-Eric Chamay, Salomon’s Product Line Manager for Alpine ski boots, adding, “The foot is also the key to steering the ski on the slope, so it must be well-fitted to the boot and lead the movement to the ski. As podiatrists will

BUYING BOOTS

tell you, the most important part of the foot when it comes to comfort and steering is the instep, and it’s the most delicate part of the foot anatomically.”

The creation of footbeds to fit your feet precisely, the heat moulding of boots so that every contour of your foot and ankle is held in perfect place – nowhere too loose, nowhere too tight – is relatively quick and simple to do. In short, the boot-fitting tech

that used to be the preserve of racers is now available to all. In short, even if you don’t feel you are, and don’t particularly want to be, a great skier, why not be as good as you can be, and have comfortable ski boots at last?    How? Well, head to your local specialist ski shop, book a boot-fitting appointment if it’s a good shop – and most are – allow several hours for this to be done properly, be prepared to talk through what you think

you need and listen to staff suggestions on what you might actually need.

Ellis Brigham, one of the longestestablished names in ski retail and with shops across the UK, are the experts when it comes to boot fitting. All of their staff are SUREfit trained and employ the same clear five-step process that is designed to ensure you get the right boots for you and that the pair you choose are a perfect fit.

Boots are your most important piece of kit and it’s easy to get it wrong, or right!

PODIUMS FOR MUIR

Scottish skier Kirsty Muir (18) took second place behind Norwegian Johanne Killi in the women's freeski slopestyle at Mammoth Mountain in California earlier this month. “What a few weeks! Super happy to grab second here in Mammoth.

Tough conditions today with the wind, but stoked to get one down!” Kirsty posted on social media. The second place followed Kirsty’s first Winter X Games medal a week earlier with third place in the Ski Big Air competition. After first bursting on to

the freestyle scene five years ago, then aged just 13, Muir from Aberdeen has already also won silver at the Youth Winter Olympics in 2020, a silver in a World Cup ski slopestyle competition in 2021, and took 5th in the Beijing Olympics a year ago.

ASPEN EGG SHORTAGE

Upmarket Colorado ski town Aspen is reported to be suffering from a shortage of eggs. “Those in need of eggs for cooking and baking are out of luck due to an egg shortage sweeping the Roaring Fork Valley,” the Aspen Times reports, saying the problem is down to high demand and avian flu. Supermarkets had been limiting egg sales but are now reported to be completely out of stock.

OMAN SEES FIRST SNOW

Oman has seen its first snow – albeit produced indoors. Snow Oman is the third indoor snow centre from the Majid Al Futtaim group which opened Ski Dubai in 2005 and Ski Egypt in 2017. Unlike the Dubai and Cairo centres, however, the Sultanate of Oman’s indoor snow facility on the south-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula will operate as a snow entertainment centre, rather than for skiers and snowboarders.

TROTT’ATHLON

There’s always something new to try on the slopes somewhere each winter, and this year we have the "Fat Trott” scooter. Advances in electric motor power have been behind a lot of new devices unveiled for over-snow travel in recent winters, and this all-terrain vehicle is in the same vein. “With little effort, noise free and zero pollution, the Fat Trott is an activity that anyone can try,” its backers enthuse. It’s available to snow-test at the resort of Aurisen-Oisans in the Southern French Alps.

JECPHOTOGRAPHY

VAIL RESORTS SPENDS $500M

Vail Resorts, which has now expanded its portfolio of ski areas to 41 centres in Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the USA, has announced nearly half-abillion dollars of investment in upgrades this season. $300 million is going to

THE WHITE O T

improve the “guest experience” with 21 new lifts installed across 14 resorts from North America’s east to west coasts. These include some fast new chairlifts and gondolas at resorts including Breckenridge, Heavenly, Stowe and Vail.

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SKIING

LA PLAGNE TERRAIN PARK

The Belle Plagne Snowpark at La Plagne in Paradiski, is moving to the Dos Rond sector in MontchavinLes Coches this winter. The park has a focus on accessibility with developmental green and blue lines for those learning the basics along with some expert areas for the more daring. The park also has plenty of tutorial signs on hand to accompany and advise first-time riders.

NEW 4 VALLEYS CHAIRLIFT

Téléverbier SA and Télé-Thyon SA have replaced the fixed chairlift in La Pasay in the Bruson sector of the 4 Valleys with a hi-tec detachable six-seater chairlift complete with weather hood. The journey time is reduced from 11 to five minutes and the chair, designed by Porsche Design Studio, allows skiers to enjoy a ride up the slopes with maximum comfort, whatever the weather.

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PHILIPPE ROYER

Photo Courtesy of: Mattias Fredriksson - Patagonia

K2 MINDBENDER 90 C SKI | £474.95

A fun, high-energy version of K2’s epic Mindbender range. Designed to offer lighter skiers a lively ride anywhere on the hill. Spectral Braid and Carbon Boost technology maintain the torsional rigidity while the Aspen Core and All-Terrain Rocker keep things smooth and fun. A great freeride ski for precise turns and inspiring confidence all over the mountain. skibartlett.com

 ELAN RIPSTICK

88 WOMEN’S SKI | £519.95

For women looking for versatility and progression anywhere on the mountain, from frontside groomers to backside bowls. The women’s 88 version is the bridge between the iconic freeride Ripstick and Elan’s piste skis, and it is perfect for intermediate skiers looking to get into freeriding without sacrificing performance on piste. skibartlett.com

TECNICA COCHISE 120 DYN

GW TOURING SKI BOOT 2023 | £549.95

The Hybrid boot category has been growing year on year with more and more people getting into touring but not wanting to pack two pairs of boots for a ski trip. Tecnica’s Cochise 120 was a trailblazer in the category and have had a complete redesign to ensure that they keep up with the latest innovations and stay at the top of their game. skibartlett.com

LEVEL

REXFORD LEATHER GLOVE | £149.95

Goat leather is undoubtedly the toughest and best-performing material for a glove outer. Couple that with Primaloft insulation and innovative Membra-Therm Plus waterproof membrane and you have the perfect glove for cold weather conditions. skibartlett.com

 BURTON

WHEELIE GIG BAG 166CM | £169.95

Burton’s Gig Bags have been the go-to for globe-trotting snowboarders lugging multiple boards for years. Each winter the features and strength get refined. One of our favourite colourways this season has to be Aerial Pines; you’ll never have to rummage through piles of plain black board bags at an airport again. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 SCOTT PATROL E2 30 BACKPACK | £984.95

Using Supercapacitor technology to inflate its airbag, the E2 is the smallest and lightest system on the market, meaning you can be safe skiing in the backcountry without a heavy pack imposing on the fun. No cartridges or Li-ion batteries means that there are also no restrictions to travelling or shipping the Scott Patrol E2. skibartlett.com

TECNICA MACH1 MV 95

W TD GW WOMEN’S SKI BOOT | £349.95

Specifically designed for advanced female skiers with medium volume feet who want a forgiving boot. Tecnica have prioritised fit in the MV 95 boot with a women’s specific liner providing great fit out of the box but highly customisable if need be. The Cuff Adapt System allows the top of the boot to be easily adjusted. skibartlett.com

PICTURE ORGANIC CLOTHING

MATHEW QUARTER FLEECE | £79.95

Picture are one of the key brands pioneering eco-friendly ski gear. The Mathew is their 50% recycled nod to the classic fleeces of yore with contrast pocket, snap front opening and colour blocking. With Dry Feel antimicrobial treatment, Dry Now wicking technology and anti-pilling. skibartlett.com

MONS ROYALE CASCADE MERINO

FLEX 200 MOCK NECK LONG SLEEVE | £119

BLIZZARD BRAHMA 88 SKI | £674.95

Works well whatever the snowpack throws at you and offers intermediate skiers confidence across early morning corduroy, fresh soft stuff or late-day chopped crud. skibartlett.com

BLACK CROWS QUINTUS

COTTON 5 PANEL CAP | £34.95

Black Crows isn’t just a ski manufacturer, it’s a way of life. Pledge your allegiance with the Quintus cap! And for those out there who don’t ski Black Crows, there’s no denying the quality and attention to detail. skibartlett.com

Made to move, the Mons Royale Women's Cascade Merino Flex 200 Mock Neck Long Sleeve provides all the warmth of merino with fourway stretch for mobility. Merino wool naturally provides comfort, breathability, and odour resistance, while the Merino Flex fabric keeps its shape and lasts longer. The high mock neck keeps the warmth in while thumb loops make layering easy. ellis-brigham.com

 SCOTT REACT GOGGLES | £229.95

Magnetic lens change systems have become the standard for higherend ski goggles in the past few years, allowing quick and easy lens changes and eradicating the need to wrestle with your goggles every time the sun comes out. Scott’s new React system is by far the best we’ve seen: smooth, sturdy and easy to use, even with gloves on. skibartlett.com

With their renowned reputation for specialist expert advice, combined with their carefully selected and tested range of products, it’s no surprise that Ski Bartlett’s word-ofmouth reputation over the last 50 years has made them the UK’s most popular independent ski shop!

SALOMON RUMBLE FISH WOMEN’S SNOWBOARD 2023 | £479.95

Riding like a twin in the park and on piste but with a slightly setback stance and stiffer flex to rip in powder and carve at speed. On this particular deck, Salomon have ditched petroleum products for bamboo and cork, so you don’t have to worry about the environmental impact of treating yourself to a new stick. sputniksnowboardshop.com

UNION FORCE (TEAM HB) 

SNOWBOARD BINDINGS 2023 | £239.95

One binding to rule them all… Want to know which snowboard binding is going to work the hardest for the longest and deliver all over the mountain with minimum fuss? Union’s Force. A time-tested classic that is trusted by more pro snowboarders than any other binding. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 COROS VERTIX 2 GPS

ADVENTURE WATCH | £599.99

It’s all about outdoors, mountains, and a passionate active lifestyle. They combine high-grade hardware with innovative technology to provide endurance athletes with the gear they rely on in the world’s most extreme environments. coros.com

 ANON M4S TORIC GOGGLE | £289.95

A scaled-down version of Anon’s high-end M4 Goggles for slightly smaller faces. The quick-change magnetic lens system eliminates the need to pack multiple goggles; whatever the weather you can easily switch lenses so you’re covered. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 BURTON FAVOURITE

LONG SLEEVE FLANNEL SHIRT | £64.95

The aptly named Favourite Flannel is a regular-fitting 100% organic shirt, sitting perfectly on the fence between fitted and baggy. Add a popping colourway and Burton’s eco cred as a certified B Corp using bluesign® fabrics and you’ve got a winning formula. sputniksnowboardshop.com

VANS ENCORE OG

WOMEN’S SNOWBOARD BOOT | £234.95

For all levels of female rider who want the unmistakable style of a Vans boot, supreme all-day comfort and the simplicity of a BOA® system. The UltraCush® liner and POPCUSH™ footbed are the perfect combo of support and comfort. sputniksnowboardshop.com

SALOMON DANCEHAUL

SNOWBOARD 2023 | £424.95

Sometimes a snowboard comes out that just oozes fun. Salomon’s Dancehaul is that board. Unisex and mid-flexing with positive camber and a directional outline for ripping carves on piste, XL width and nose for maximum float in pow and Salomon’s Popster Core for snappy ollies and soft landings. Good times guaranteed! sputniksnowboardshop.com

 PATAGONIA MACLURE HAT | £49.95

Five-panel camp cap in multiple colour blocks constructed from organic cotton, recycled fishing nets and repurposed polyester?

Yes! Add in Patagonia’s legendary P6 Logo patch and you have an instant classic. sputniksnowboardshop.com

PICTURE ORGANIC CLOTHING PICTURE HAAKON WOMENS JACKET | £329.95

Picture’s Haakon Jacket ticks all our boxes for a snowboarding shell; top eco-credentials, a bucketload of features, long relaxed fit and an eye-catching colourway. Made from 44% sugarcane waste, 56% recycled polyester and equipped with a 20K/20K membrane. sputniksnowboardshop.com

BLACK

If you plan to ride anywhere outside of resort boundaries then you’re going to need a beacon. The Recon LT is the lightest fully featured transceiver on the market and it performs just as well as larger beacons. sputniksnowboardshop.com

MONS ROYALE YOTEI LS T-SHIRT | £99.95

The original loose-fit merino baselayer. If you can trust anyone with a wool layer designed to work in the mountains, it’s got to be a brand from the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Hailing from Wanaka, NZ, Mons combines a deep knowledge of wool, a love for playing in the mountains and progressive design. sputniksnowboardshop.com

BURTON RULER BOA  SNOWBOARD BOOT 2023 | £289.95

With a mid-flex and responsive feel, the legendary Ruler is all about board control. When you add in the Dual-Zone BOA® system, letting you dial in the perfect fit, you get a boot that will give experienced riders the confidence to level up. A heatmouldable liner with 3M™ Thinsulate™ insulation keeps bulk and the boot’s overall footprint down, and a thinneddown EST® optimised midsole improves board feel without sacrificing comfort. sputniksnowboardshop.com

SWEET PROTECTION

SWITCHER MIPS HELMET | £239.95

The Switcher is a ground-breaking allmountain helmet offering up a heady 22 easily adjustably vents, so no day will be too hot or too cold. MIPS is a technology that reduces rotational forces on the brain, and at Ski Bartlett we only stock helmets equipped with MIPS. Sweet Protection have added in Impact Shells to increase the level of protection, a turn-dial adjustment for comfort and fit, and a magnetic chin buckle for safety and ease of use. skibartlett.com

Sputnik is one of the UK’s largest independent snowboard shops. We offer great choice and service to all our customers. Whether you are beginner or expert, we can kit you out to ensure you have a great day on the mountains.

DIAMOND RECON LT BEACON AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER | £299.95

BATALEON DISTORTIA WOMEN’S SNOWBOARD 2023 | £439.95

Bataleon’s true twin mid-flex freestyle stick has been helping female riders to build courage riding in the park and on the mountain for a good few years. With the addition of their latest developments SideKick™ and WallieTips™ and edge-catch eliminating 3BT™, this is the ideal board for women who are keen to add to their arsenal of tricks both in the park and around the whole resort. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 BLACK DIAMOND DIRT BAG MITTENS | £44.95

The minimalist utilitarian look of a goat leather work glove just can’t be beaten. BD’s Dirt Bag Mittens couple that with the added warmth and comfort of a mitt. Namechecking the dirt bag climbers who spend their lives outdoors, Black Diamond gloves are reliably hardwearing and functional workhorses. sputniksnowboardshop.com

VOLKL FLAIR 75 WOMENS SKI | £579.95

A great first ski for women ready to step out of the rental queue and own their own. XTD Tip & Tail Rocker and Dual Woodcore are borrowed from Volkl’s highperformance planks. Comes packaged with perfectly matched GripWalk-compatible Marker bindings. skibartlett.com

K2 METHOD WOMEN’S SKI BOOT | £284.95

K2’s boots are looking stunning this winter. But don’t be fooled by the pretty colourways! The Method is part of their FL3X range and offers a forgiving flex aimed at freestyle skiers but also a great option for women who want a soft comfortable boot to ski all over the mountain. The Intuition liner can be moulded perfectly to your foot shape, and the 70 flex tongue can easily be swapped out for something stiffer if needed.

skibartlett.com

 FACTION STUDIO 0 GU SKI | £519.95

Eileen Gu is a bit of a phenomenon in the freeskiing world, winning gold medals in both Big Air and Half-Pipe and silver in Slopestyle at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The Studio 0 GU is a limited-edition pro model with artwork designed in collaboration with Eileen. skibartlett.com

POWERSOCKS SET | HEAT FUSION UNI + S-PACK 1400B | £270

Technical socks made from luxury fibres are great for the most demanding skiers. The Heat Fusion Powersocks provide gentle, pleasant warmth all around the toes, for up to 16 hours when paired with the S-Pack 1400B batteries. Pair with your smartphone via the Therm-ic app. therm-ic.store

 POLER REVERSIBLE NAPSACK | £139.95

The ultimate post-shred chilling accessory just got even better. This season Poler offer up their iconic wearable sleeping bag in a pattern lifted from Craig Kelly’s Burton Air, one of the most famous snowboards in history. The Napsack is ideal for cosying up fireside in the chalet or sipping brews round the campfire. sputniksnowboardshop.com

BLACK DIAMOND RECON STRETCH

WOMEN’S SKI PANTS | £289.95

The Recon collection is designed as the perfect meeting point between freeride and touring functionality, and the Recon Stretch Women’s Ski Pants are the perfect example. With both the waterproofing and features to withstand the deepest powder days and the 4-way stretch, venting and articulation to keep up with the most demanding tours. skibartlett.com

THIRTYTWO REST STOP ANORAK | £109.95

A burly 220g fleece pullover with classic feature panelling, snap closures and zippered hand pockets. Essential for any snowboard trip, working great as a mid-layer in the depths of winter but treated with a durable water repellent and ready to be worn as an outer when springtime shredding rolls around. sputniksnowboardshop.com

AIRBLASTER GUIDE SHELL JACKET | £259.95

No brand epitomises the fun of snowboarding with your friends more than Airblaster. However, under all the smiles and good times lies a serious side. Spending all day in mountains with your friends, particularly in the Pacific North West, requires clothing that keeps you warm and dry. Don’t be fooled by the Guide Shell’s minimalist looks; Airblaster have packed all the features of their higher-end gear into this mid-price jacket. sputniksnowboardshop.com

 STANCE ROUTE 2 PERFORMANCE

WOMEN’S SNOWBOARD SOCK | £22.95

Once you’ve worn Stance socks it’s hard to go back to anything else. Add in merino wool, channelled air cushioning and performance mesh and you’ve got the dream snowboard socks; wicking moisture and reducing fatigue so you can focus on the important thing… snowboarding. sputniksnowboardshop.com

The Flight Attendant is Burton’s board for hard-charging riders who huck tricks in all manner of terrain. A stiffer flex and setback stance allow supreme handling in powder and at speed, whilst balanced freeride geometry means landing an air switch is no problemo. Plus this year’s topsheet graphic really is a thing of beauty! sputniksnowboardshop.com

 BURTON FLIGHT ATTENDANT SNOWBOARD 2023 | £539.95

Alexis Pinturault is the most successful French ski racer of all time. He made his World Cup debut at 17 and has since won 34 World Cup races, representing France at six World Championships and three Winter Olympics (winning two medals).

Iain Martin from The Ski Podcast spoke to him at the start of the 2022/23 season:

You were very talented at football when you were younger. If things had gone differently, might you have been playing at the World Cup with France?

AP I was a central defender, doing well, but

ALEXIS PINTURAULT

I had to choose between soccer and skiing. I always felt better in an individual sport: it suits my character better.

The World Alpine Ski Championships in 2023 take place in your home town of Courchevel. Have you skied the course in Courchevel before?

AP No, it’s a new slope and new for me. I’ve not trained or raced there apart from the test event, so I don’t have any advantage over the other skiers.

If you had to choose between winning the Crystal Globe [awarded to overall

World Cup champion] or gold in the World Champs, which would you choose?

AP Gold in Courchevel would be unbelievable, especially as I have won the Crystal Globe before [in 2021].

You have your own event called “Winter Legacy” taking place in Courchevel in April. Can you tell us about it?

AP It’s a multi-discipline family event. You start at Col de la Loze and finish in the Emile Allais race stade, with race sections including a GS, Super G, Boardercross, Moguls and a waterslide at the finish!

PHOTO: NOAH WETZEL SKIER: JONNIE MERRILL LOCATION: ALTA