In The Snow Issue 25 - March 2012 by InTheSnow

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All The Latest News // SHOESTRING 09 // VALLORCINE 12 // PRO DIARY 14 // ON THE SLOPES IN SERBIA 16-17 // TUITION 24-25 // BOOT ROOM 26-27 // 10MINS 30

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It’s hard to believe I’m writing the last editorial for the InTheSnow 2011–12 run already. The 6 months since our first issue last September has flown by – I must be getting old. Still on the upside, thanks to all the snow this winter, conditions on the slopes of resorts that stay open into May (Åre, Chamonix, Ischgl, Zermatt, etc.) look set to be good until late spring, and then it’s only 3 months until we start work on 2012–13! The next month sees a host of music and comedy festivals across the Alps, which add that extra dimension of a full-on party atmosphere to add to your spring snow fun if you’ve got the energy. They’ll be Rock the Pistes (en. rockthepistes.com) in the French-Swiss resorts of the Portes du Soleil, Snowbombing (www. snowbombing.com) in Mayrhofen, Austria, with Dizzee Rascal and Fat Boy Slim among others, and The Brits (www.the-brits.com) in Laax, Switzerland. As reported last month Mayrhofen is also the place to go for a good laugh, with Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle and Ed Byrne headlining a stellar cast of comedy talent – the best Altitude Festival line-up yet (www.altitudefestival.com). Next season’s brochures are already out from the big operators, with Crystal and Inghams offering (really) ”early booking deals” if you reserve your holiday by the end of May. Over the past few years early booking has hardly seemed necessary, as the last minute deals have always seemed better if you can be flexible on dates and destination. If the pundits are right, however, that era may be ending as more Brits escape the relentlessly grim headlines at home and head to the slopes; consequently, there are not so many flight seats or hotel beds left to discount – see our main story opposite. I don’t want to wish away the remaining month or two of this winter, but I’m already getting excited about 2012–13. The new Aquariaz – a kind of Centre Parcs on a mountaintop – will have opened at Avoriaz and Schladming in Austria will be hosting the 2013 World Alpine Championships. Let’s just hope we get as much snow again as this winter!

We’re Back In The Snow AGAIN! The British ski travel industry is collectively hoping that winter 2011–12 will prove to be the one that sees a return to growth, after three successive winters of decline following the start of the recession in 2008. Despite the fact that media stories screamed “No snow in the Alps” only a week before the first charters were due to take off for Geneva at the start of the 2011–12 season, the snow did start falling in mid-December and the rate of bookings increased dramatically too. “Dates wise – it’s all about Easter now, and I can’t remember it selling so well” says Craig Burton of specialist ski travel agency Ski Solutions. “The 31 March departure is almost sold out now – clients have booked, confident that unlike last year, the snow is going to be superb long into April. Anyone who can’t get a good deal should look at 7 April – a better value departure date, and still with the prospect of superb snow.” Since then the snow has hardly stopped falling, causing some practical problems – where roads had to be closed and skiers/ boarders couldn’t get in or out – but mostly just signifying an epic season, and a return to the slopes for thousands of Brits, despite the economic gloom at home. “Last summer, early bookings for this winter started a bit slower than anticipated because of the lack of much snow the previous season. Then in November bookings were still affected by the lack of early snow, which meant that by mid-December we were still behind the previous season” said Xavier Schouller of Peak Retreats (www.peakretreats.co.uk; 0844 576 0170). “Then the huge amount of non-stop snow that the French Alps has received since early

Publisher

Dominic Killinger

Easter Deals Fernie, Canada

Hinterglemm, Austria

Zermatt, Switzerland

3plus Stanford Inn, room only for 11 nights, departing 7 April 2012, costs £879pp (save £320pp) based on four sharing, includes scheduled British Airways flights from London Heathrow to Calgary and transfers . Crystal Ski www.crystalski.co.uk 0871 231 2256

4 Chalet Hotel Pinzgauerhof, fully catered for 7 nights, departing 31 March 2012, costs £519pp (save £390pp), includes flights from London Gatwick to Salzburg and resort transfers. Regional flights are extra. Inghams www.inghams.co.uk 020 8780 4447

3 Hotel Perren, B&B for 7 nights, departing 7 April 2012, costs £2995 for a family of 2 adults & 2 children aged up to 9-years-old sharing a family room (save £350), includes scheduled flights from Heathrow to Zurich and Rail transfers. Ski Solutions www.skisolutions.com 020 7471 7700

rules apply for Easter bookings – aim for a reasonably high altitude, and expect the snow to be soft after lunch; but the prospects for those skiing at Easter have never looked better. Several operators have reported more skiers and boarders have paid out for all-inclusive packages to protect themselves from in-resort

is flying out the door. We’ve sold 65% more than we had done at the same time last year. I think that with the snow as it is this year, many of our clients have taken a week with us, and then subsequently decided to squeeze in an extra weekend because it’s so good” confirmed Craig Burton.

Reporters / Contributors

Tuition Correspondent

PATRICK THORNE

duncan woRRell DEBBIE GABRIEL Ellie Koyander Gavin Robbie DAVID BLACK

JON WEST

patrick@InTheSnow.com

Production Director

Design By

matt@InTheSnow.com

costs, with sterling still comparatively weak, although it has regained some lost ground more recently. “So far this season our new chalet and chalet hotels have sold really well, with many skiers choosing the fully catered option, which offers fantastic value for money, particularly against the Euro and the Swiss Franc” confirmed Lydia Crisostomo of Inghams. “Our ‘affordable luxury’ programme is booming and our short breaks programme

Editor

dom@InTheSnow.com

MATT NICHOLSON

December changed everything radically and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing since.” By the February half-term holidays last month, Paradiski, the large ski area in the French Alps with 425km of pistes stretching from Les Arcs to La Plagne, was one of several areas reporting record levels of snowfall having reached nearly 5m. Despite the record snow in most of the northern Alps, and the fact that Easter is more than a fortnight earlier than in 2012, the usual

ROCKET BASE

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BEN CLATWORTHY

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Swedish Spring Season Starts BEN CLATWORTHY

Although most resorts in the northern hemisphere open by the end of December -even in a bad snow year- some at very northerly latitudes leave it until the coldest, darkest months of winter are over, and then stay open through to May or June. Such is the case with Sweden’s ski touring centre up in the Arctic Circle at Kebnekaise (www.svenskaturistforeningen.se), next to the country’s highest peak which opens this weekend. It offers a vertical drop of 1500m –

huge by Scandinavian standards. “The mountains are covered with snow and conditions are very good,” said a statement from the centre. “With an infinite number of runs, no lift lines and no expensive lift ticket, there's no excuse not to come here.” Tours of between one and seven hours duration- for all abilities- are available and are led by local guides. Facilities at the local accommodation centre include gear rentals, a restaurant and a sauna with mountain views. A snowmobile taxi will take you to the base of the hill each morning.

Pakistani Ski Resort Destroyed By The Taliban To Be Rebuilt

Pakistan’s only commercial ski area will be rebuilt, according to the local Khyber Pakthunkhwa regional government, who say they are working on a redevelopment plan as a “top priority.”

Malam Jabba ski area was built in 1988 in the country’s scenic Swat Valley thanks to assistance from the Austrian government which installed a double chairlift and built a hotel. However, it lay idle for much of the 1990s and it was more than a decade before the resort was officially opened because of problems paying for its operation. The Taliban occupied the region and destroyed the ski resort’s lift and hotel between 2007 to 2009 as part of a wider policy of enforcing a strict version of Islamic religious law. A Peace Ski Gala 2011 was organised by Swat’s Pioneer Ski School and skiers have been hiking up the slopes.

Big Snow Moves Festival The Big Snow Festival later this month has cancelled plans to move to Kopaonik in Serbia from its original base in Andorra and instead will be staged at Sauze d’Oulx in Italy. Modestep will be headlining the Festival from 25 March to 1 April and seven night packages starting from £399 include return flights from London Gatwick to Milan, resort transfers, seven night’s bed and breakfast accommodation and festival wristband, with booking via www.nomud.com. Also on the bill are Judge Jules, Micky

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Slim, Zomboy, Eddy Temple Morris and Stereotype. “We are really pleased; Sauze d’Oulx is the perfect resort to move to. It has a

great ski area, it is a great resort and it’s the ideal location for a music festival,” said Festival Managing Director Teresa Walsh.

scott-sports.com © SCOTT SPORTS SA 2011 © SCOTT SPORTS SA 2011

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Courchevel Tops Luxury Lodging Cost League for Hotels and Chalets Company which compiles an annual impressive array of facilities and list of what they have found to be the include a level of service unrivalled in 20 best ski chalets in the world (www. Courchevel. This really is like renting luxurychaletcollection.com) – although your very own boutique hotel,and is not necessarily the most expensive. leagues ahead of many other chalets They found this season that a property in the Alps.” in Courchevel – Ormello-peaked at €200,000 a week – almost twice the cost of Richard Branson’s ‘The 1. Les Suites de la Pointière (Courchevel, France) $1958 Lodge’ in Verbier 2. Aurelio Lech (Lech-Arlberg, Austria) $1423 – for its most 3. Carlton Hotel (St. Moritz, Switzerland) $1256 expensive week 4. Almhof Schneider (Lech-Arlberg, Austria) $1185 over New Year. 5. Suvretta House (St. Moritz, Switzerland) $1121 Ormello’s amenities include a private cinema, Courchevel, renowned in recent years indoor swimming pool, hot tub, and for its popularity with Russian skiers fitness and massage rooms, but and for one highly-publicised case that’s not dissimilar to those provided of closing a piste for a wealthy South by other luxury chalets, who charge Korean businessman in 2005 so that he much less, so what makes Ormello could learn to ski alone, takes top spot so special? According to the Oxford for price in both the hotel and chalet Ski Company (www.oxfordski.com) categories. This also shows that costs which book holidays there, “The for top-end accommodation in France list of reasons is pretty exhaustive can outstrip Switzerland despite the … a chalet with nine bedrooms is strength of the Swiss Franc. a rare find in itself. Add to this an

The Top 5

BEN CLATWORTHY

A new survey has found that hotels in Courchevel, France; Lech in Austria and St Moritz, Switzerland were the most expensive to stay in – based on their average rate for a double room in

January. However, several of the toprated properties are “suites only” with no double rooms. In top spot was The Suites de la Potiniere with an average room rate of $1958 (£1245) per night. Eight of the ten most expensive were in the three

aforementioned European resorts, with hotels in Deer Valley, Utah and Aspen Colorado in the USA taking the other two spots. The survey, by Luxury-Hotels. com, backs up the findings of luxury chalet specialists the Oxford Skiing

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Whistler Readies For Ski and Board Festival Patrick Thorne

Whistler’s World Ski & Snowboard Festival (www.wssf. com), now the largest annual winter sports and music festival in North America, returns this April for its 17th year along with its famous catchphrase, ‘Party in April. Sleep in May.’ The Festival takes place in the period following the Easter fortnight, when most other North American resorts have closed, from April 13–22. Whistler Blackcomb resort will be transformed into a thriving hub of foot-stomping live music and sports competitions, as well as arts and lifestyle events. This year there’s an ‘End of the World’ theme which the Mayans have predicted for December 2012.

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"Art Park" Back At Mammoth Mammoth in California’s Unbound Terrain Park has continued to evolve this winter. The Art Park, a hit last year in its inaugural season, has returned with Jamie Lynn as the featured artist designing a whole new array of features. In addition, resort partners Monster Energy and Oakley created their own unique terrain features to add to Mammoth’s fleet of over 90 rails, boxes and jibs. Mammoth has also opened a new snow tubing park just above The Village at Mammoth.

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Champagne Bar Oasis Pops Up On Aspen Slopes BEN CLATWORTHY

Pop-up bars are all the rage in urban areas but now Aspen/Snowmass has taken the concept to the ski slopes, with the hottest bar in the coolest slopeside town. The Oasis, a pop-up champagne bar on Aspen Mountain featuring Veuve Clicquot, is being moved around Aspen Mountain by The Little Nell, one of Aspen’s most iconic hotels located at the base of Aspen Mountain. The Oasis combines flutes of chilled

champagne with spectacular scenery every weekend for the duration of the season. Guests can solve clues to help them locate the elusive mobile champagne bar in various scenic spots on Aspen Mountain by visiting The Little Nell’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ TheLittleNellAspen) and Twitter (@TheLittleNell). The Oasis is high altitude but not bad on price with the best deal on a glass of Veuve in town at $15 (£9) or a bottle of Veuve Grande Dame at $225 (£142) if you’ve given up on the skiing for the day.

Singles Opt For Davos Several surveys looking at different types of ski resort destination preferences in Switzerland, among single skiers and boarders, have put Davos as their top overall choice. In a survey by an ‘online partnership agency’ called PARSHIP.CH, 26% of single male skiers said Davos was their destination of choice, followed by Zermatt in second place with 19% while Lenzerheide took third place with 15%. When Klosters is added (8%, fifth place), over one third of male singles visit the neighbouring villages marketed together as Destination Davos Klosters. This naturally raises the question of where do the female singles go? In the second part of the survey Davos ranked second with single female skiers, with 19%, behind Lenzerheide, with Zermatt coming in third. “This means that the chances of a great weekend may be higher in Davos than

anywhere else, because the difference in the percentage of male and female singles from the lowlands is balanced by the population of Davos itself,” the resort suggests. The Swiss federal census, last taken in 2000, showed that Davos has the highest proportion of single women aged from 20 to 40 in the whole of Switzerland.

Christophe Bott/EPA/Corbis

Verbier High Five Returns

Verbier’s famous and infamous High Five competition (www.verbierhighfivebycarlsberg. com), sponsored by Carlsberg, returns on Saturday 31 March. This fun contest is unusual

and exciting as it combines professional ski champions alongside amateur skiers and snowboarders competing in five races: giant slalom, boardercross, speed skiing, a fun triathlon and parallel slalom. Last year’s event saw Didier Cuche, Alberto Tomba, Luc Alphand, Eric Guay, and Edgar Grospiron, the famous French ‘mogulist’ who took part in the very first High Five compete, as well as the involvement of the then still-injured Didier Defago and Chemmy Alcott, who were able to join the festival and assist with the race commentary, meeting their fans and providing last minute racing tips to the 350 amateurs.

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30 Years Of Saas-Fee’s Allalin Races PATRICK THORNE

More Green Snowmakers

New Holidays Announced By Neilson In Preview Brochure Snow holiday specialist Neilson (www.neilson.co.uk) has launched their 2012/13 preview brochure with, the company says, “a price match promise, more ‘ski inclusive’ properties, more group places, and more early booking savings than ever before.” The company now has 122 slope side properties and for 2012/13 has more adventure options, including guided snowshoe treks in Switzerland with an overnight stay at the world famous Grand St Bernard Monastery with an altitude of 2,469m. Early booking offers include upgrades, savings of up to £100 and a 2-for-1 offer on all pre-booked equipment – saving up to £104. The company also promises to “best the prices in resort.” Neilson Ski Inclusive options start from £399 including flights, accommodation, return transfers to resort, lift pass, ski or board hire or carriage, boot hire and dedicated Neilson rep service.

Main image photographer: Ben Burnett© Athlete: Ally Watson.

Already one of the world’s leading snow makers, and after all the natural snowfall this winter they’ve hardly needed them, Courchevel have nevertheless added 13 additional snow making machines this winter on the Murettes slope, providing a second point of access to Le Praz. Like all of the 2,100 snow guns in Les 3 Vallées ski area, the machines run on renewable energy, using only natural water with no additives, with 80% of it returning to the groundwater table when the snow melts.

This April sees the 30th anniversary of Saas-Fee’s popular Allalin Races on the 13th and 14th of the month. The two-day event will see over 1,000 participants race the nearly 9km long downhill course, descending from 3,600m into the valley at 1,800m. World-famous skier Silvan Zurbriggen will once again be at the starting gate. For 30 years the Allalin Races in Saas-Fee have been part of the Super Vier – a series of the top four amateur downhill races in Switzerland. Each year the races and after-parties attract ambitious amateur racers as well as winter sports fans who join in simply for the fun of taking part.

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More At The Pic du Midi The high altitude observatory at Pic du Midi is a highlight of the French Pyrénées, surrounded by nine conventional ski areas; someone also had the good idea of creating an exciting offpiste ski route down from it at 2,877m. Previously, access to the Pic du Midi was quite limited but this year it’s open all day and all night throughout winter and spring (til 7 May 2012), for the first time ever. This is when the luminosity of the skies is at its very best, facilitating spectacular stargazing for overnight guests. A new attraction this winter is a ‘tyrolienne’ – a kind of horizontal zip wire you pull yourself along, as well as a climbing wall. Also new is ‘AquaPic’ a special €42 ticket

which includes a return cable-car trip to the Pic du Midi and an Aqua-Pass for Aquensis with two hours to luxuriate in the Bagnères-deBigorre thermal spa.

60 Years Of O’Neill

A new book celebrating 60 years of O’Neill is out now and for sale through oneilleshop.com. Jack O’Neill, who began his first surf shop from his garage in 1952 and began a brand which now sells in nearly 50 countries as part of a $6.2

billion industry, is best known for the invention of the wetsuit so it’s easy to forget he is also equally passionate about the mountains. The evidence includes everything from sponsoring the O’Neill World Cup of Snowboarding back in the early 1980s when the sport was new, to staging some of the most important winter events, including the 6* TTR O’Neill Evolution, and sponsoring some of the world’s best athletes, such as World Snowboard Championship 2012 podium winner Seb Toots and freeride legend Jeremy Jones.

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Off The Beaten Track:

Vallorcine

BEN CLATWORTHY

Exploring lesser-known resorts, and those just off the beaten track, isn’t of appeal to everyone looking for a snowy escape, but for those willing to explore, these hidden Alpine gems can offer so much more than the average ski resort – even some of the most famous ones. However, not all smaller resorts can be classed as hidden gems, and there are several important factors to consider when it comes to choosing such a resort. Vallorcine, despite being within a stone’s throw of the larger, more commercialised Chamonix, easily falls into this category. This authentic mountain village, which is also a gateway to the vast “Pays du Mont Blanc” lies just minutes from Switzerland, and comprises a number of hamlets. The resorts of Chamonix and Martigny are a short 35 minute train ride away from the village, although there is a plenty of skiing to be had in the Balme area, accessed by taking the

gondola directly from the village, affordable prices. They are to discover the 19 slopes. The situated right at the entrance of resort is also a favourite with The Residence and Spa Vallorcine. cross-country skiers. For those The Residence and Spa Vallorcine looking to explore the whole (chamonix-vacances.com) is 5 area, the “Chamonix Le Pass” and has a lovely pool, spa and ice gives access to the Balme, Grands Montets, Brévent-Flégère and Chamonix ski areas. Located just over an hour’s drive from Geneva Another airport the resort couldn’t be easier to get to major bonus is in terms of transfers. Ski-Lifts (ski-lifts.com, Vallorcine’s ski 02088197950) offer a range of resort transfers, from school, which shared lifts to a group minivan, with prices starting unlike many other from €23.50. small villages so close to major resorts, is operated and run from the village. The ESF rink, as well as offering spacious (École du Ski Français, ecoleaccommodation. The village is ski-vallorcine.com) runs the small, and local amenities are few school and offers a wide range of and far between, but this needn’t be lessons and classes suitable for an issue. For those opting to selfall abilities. cater the nearest supermarket can For those who need to rent be found in Argentiere, and offers equipment, Sanglard Sports far more range, but a local shop in (rentski.com) offer the best Vallorcine does unexpectedly offer skis, boards and boots at very most must have items.

Getting There

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New In The French Pyrenees Peyragudes in the French Pyrenees has added three unusual activities this winter – a Japanese onsen, snowshoe walks with archery and boomerang lessons thrown in, and Snowbaby – a special mini sleigh. The resort’s Balnéa Wellness Centre has added the new Japanese onsen area – so one may now supplement a skiing holiday with a Zen Tao course. The onsen area has only just opened and includes three exterior pools, a Japanese zen garden to practise Tai Chi and two saunas enjoying mountain views. Another very new and ‘different’ activity is the ancestry of archery – so you can learn to throw boomerangs, fire Polynesian arrows and so on, on foot or wearing snowshoes! Finally ‘Snowbaby’ - a board with a seat that can be towed behind mum and dad as they snowshoe in the mountains - is new for toddlers aged between one and five years old. Ski Ad_ITS_A4_final.pdf

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BEN CLATWORTHY

23:27

Skis Have Improved in the Last Few Years Isn’t it About Time You Upgraded Yours?

VAIL Vail Mountain in Colorado, the largest ski resort in the US, has already begun making plans for its 50th anniversary in December, with the announcement of a new, state-of-the art gondola to replace the Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16) in Vail Village. The new gondola will be in the same location as the existing lift, a high-speed quad that was installed in 1985, and will reach the same location at Mid-Vail.

LES MENUIRES InTheSnow has had access to the plans for a new six-seater chair lift. The new lift will replace the current Reberty fixed-grip cabins, with the base station in the original location next to the Doron chair lift, and the arrival station on a new site higher up the mountain. The new lift will vastly improve access to the Sunny Express six-person chair lift, which is currently underused, despite installation in 2009.

JACKSON HOLE The Casper triple chair lift will be replaced with a new high speed, four-passenger detachable chair this summer. Along with the lift installation, the Casper trail network will be enhanced for intermediate skiing and riding, with summer grooming and widening of several trails in the area. The resort will also expand intermediate terrain over the summer as part of a wider scheme to attract more skiers to

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the resort. The base of the new Casper lift will not be changing, however the top terminal will move northward to the opposite side of the lift line trail. Got a story? Know of a new lift coming soon to a resort where you ski? Drop me an email, my address is ben@inthesnow.com.

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DIARY OF A PRO Ellie Koyander

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Seeing the Olympic flame being lit at the 2010 Vancouver opening ceremony … what a spine tingler! Some of us could even feel the heat from our seats in the TeamGB enclosure! A sense of how special the Olympics are, and being part of it, gets ignited inside everyone at that precise moment, and now it’s just so exciting that the London Games are approaching fast. The countdown is now literally only weeks, days and hours away until the greatest show on earth … and it’s on home soil!

tears, striving to be the best in the world. With crowds in their thousands, and the intrusion of TV crews shoving a camera a few centimetres from your face, I wouldn’t say that the regular comps on the World Cup circuit are not ”big events”, but an Olympic event is like nothing else. You can’t practice being a competitor in an Olympic spectacle (well, only once every 4 years!). It’s a test of your ”0–60mph factor”, and it doesn’t get any bigger, standing in the start gate with 3 billion people watching you live on TV and the internet, and a stadium-full of people at the bottom of the run, all waiting to see what you can do. So whilst there will be a really wonderful focus on our summer athletes in just a few weeks’ time, hopefully there will be a sense of pride in all the British skiers, boarders, and other winter athletes, striving to hit the qualification standards for Sochi, and working equally hard to do GBR proud! In the meantime there is London 2012 to celebrate, and that’s going to be an Olympic experience of a lifetime for everyone in the UK to enjoy and remember!

An Olympic event is like nothing else. You can’t practice being an Olympic competitor... I have a real respect for anyone in any sport, any discipline, at any level, who is given the opportunity to perform for their country. Despite outward appearances that things go like clockwork, there is nobody at elite level that doesn’t have issues to work through, whether it’s about lack of funding, dealing with injury, maintaining performance – there is always a lot of pressure and stuff to deal with besides being a brilliant athlete. So I am excited, really excited, for all the athletes emerging in the summer sports who are going to go their first Games, and will have pushed through the hard times – there is just no such thing as an easy ticket to the Olympics. For us winter athletes, our next Games are just 18 months after London. Sochi, Russia, February 2014, will be the culmination of 4 years blood, sweat and

Athlete Biography At the age of 18 Ellie made her Olympic debut at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics in the women’s freestyle moguls event. She is a member of the British Freestyle Ski Team and GBR’s number one female moguls skier. Ellie is on the FIS World Cup circuit currently working towards the Sochi Olympics in 2014. Ellie rides for Team SnoKart. Twitter @EllieKoyander Web: elliekoyander.com

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First Ski In/Out Starbucks

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DAVID BLACK

The world’s first ski in/out Starbucks has opened at Squaw Valley, California, USA. It’s just the latest in a series of catering-related firsts for the ski industry – which opened the first ski in/out McDonalds at Lindvallen Högfjället in Sweden in 1996 (“McSki”) and more recently the world’s first ski-in/out toilets at Tryvann in Norway, currently hosting the World Snowboard Championships. Squaw say they worked closely with the famous coffee house brand based just to the north of them in Seattle, Washington State, to create a unique experience. “Nowhere else in the world can skiers and riders enjoy a delicious Starbucks coffee

without missing a beat on the slopes,” said Andy Wirth, Squaw Valley’s President and CEO. “Starbucks is passionate about providing customers with the unique Starbucks Experience wherever they are, including Squaw Valley’s upper mountain,” said Doug Satzman, Vice President, Channel Development – Branded Solutions for Starbucks. “We look forward to serving our signature espresso and coffee beverages to the thousands of skiers and riders at Squaw Valley through our first-ever ski-in/ski-out Starbucks location.” Squaw Valley’s mountaintop Starbucks store is located at the Gold Coast mid-mountain complex and can be accessed by the resort’s Funitel with or without ski or snowboard equipment.

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Ski Train On The Rails A new Ski Train service has begun operations from Quebec City offering a direct service to Le Massif – a ski area located above the mighty St Lawrence River and one which has seen huge investment in upgrades over recent years. The plan is to launch a ski train service, with sleeping cabins, where skiers and boarders can stay overnight after travelling to the slopes in the morning and spending a day on the snow. This season the $229 adult ticket ($179 Youth aged 6 – 17 or $79 child aged five and under) includes: return travel, breakfast on the

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morning journey, day lift ticket and gourmet après-ski fare on the return trip. Services run on most Fridays and Saturdays til April 7.

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Snowmaking From Wastewater A ten year battle by an Arizona ski resort to be allowed to use purified reclaimed waste water for snowmaking scored its latest victory last week, but whether the end is nigh remains to be seen. Arizona Snowbowl first put forward plans to use re-treated waste water from the nearby city of Flagstaff to make snow more than ten years ago but their project was rejected by a combination of local Native American groups, who hold the mountain where the skiing takes place to be sacred, and by environmental groups. They object to the plans for multiple reasons, including the insult to their religious beliefs in spreading reprocessed waste on land they hold sacred, and also the potential health dangers in making snow from re-processed waste water. An original legal action in 2005 eventually

PMC2000 SKIS & BINDINGS

reached the US Supreme court but ultimately failed in 2009. However, a similar legal action by another, closely-related group was then launched and in its latest stage this week the Californiabased Federal Appeals panel ruled the new case was effectively the same case rehashed, and implied it was an abuse of the legal process. The group say they may appeal. Reprocessed waste water is widely used in agriculture and has previously been used on golf courses and school playing fields in Arizona. It is reported to be cleaner than rainwater. Other ski resorts in different parts of the USA and wider world are already using it for snowmaking and one resort in Australia has won an environmental award for water conservation for doing so.

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Deep Snow On Colorado Slopes There’s increasingly deep snow in Colorado after some of the largest falls in the state’s history during late February brought snow cover right back on target. One of the most significant accumulations has been at Steamboat, which reported a metre falling in 48 hours, reported to be its biggest ever fall in that short a time period. Many other resorts are now fully open. Elsewhere in the west the snow is still falling heavily in Washington State, Alaska and Wyoming. As we went to press Mt Baker was one of four resorts in the world (and the only one in North America) with a snow base of more than 5m.

Foto Josef Mallaun

The White Thrill Race

Average Snow Depth In French Alps Hits 2.5m CLAIRE BURNET/CHAMONIX

The cult White Thrill race that comes near the end of the season each winter returns to St Anton next month. Always booked out well in advance every year, 500 participants from all over the world will congregate on 21 April, 2,650m up, at the Vallugagrat for the start of the 9km race. Skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers whizz down to the valley at breakneck speeds. Then halfway through the race it’s skis/ board off for a 150m ascent – scaling 37m in altitude – then skis on again and full speed ahead.

Average snow depths in the northern French Alps at the time of going to press were running at 242cm at the top of the slopes and 114cm at the bottom of the ski areas. Although there has not been a huge amount of fresh snow in the region over the past week, conditions are mostly excellent thanks to huge accumulations in December and January building up big bases. “After an early February that was cold and snowy, conditions are exceptional,” says Skiinfo France’s Stéphane Giraud. With 430cm of snow at the top of the slopes, Chamonix is the snowiest, followed by the Grand Massif ski area (Flaine, Morillon, Samoens and Les Carroz) where there is 375cm. Elsewhere in France the average snow depths are 178cm at the top of the slopes of the Pyrenees and 112cm at the top of the slopes of the Southern Alps.

Vail/Jack Affleck

BEN CLATWORTHY

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NZ Ski Town One Of World’s Best

LOW BUDGET ALL INCLUSIVE TRIPS TO THE FRENCH ALPS SOME GREAT OFFERS: Fantastic Easter deals – Flaine – Argentiére – Val d’Isère – Tignes – Chamonix

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Introduction to Ski Touring Argentiére; February and March

DAVID BLACK

Anyone planning a summer skiing trip in 2012 might wish to take note that the picturesque resort town of Lake Wanaka in New Zealand’s Southern Alps has been named as one of the top 25 ski towns in the world by National Geographic Magazine. Tipped as best for, “skiers and snowboarders from the Northern Hemisphere who just can’t let go when winter slips way,” Lake Wanaka is the only town in the Southern Hemisphere to feature in the list and shares this top 25 recognition with Aspen, Zermatt and Chamonix. Lake Wanaka gets the most snow in New Zealand, with over 4m in an average season and

the local Treble Cone ski area has more snow and skiable terrain than any other South Island resort. A second area, Snow Park, NZ boasts a world-class terrain park, and is surrounded by stunning, ‘Lord of the Rings-style’ alpine scenery. Cardrona Alpine Resort and the cross-country ski area, Snow Farm, are also nearby. “We have four ski areas within half an hour’s drive and a further two within an hour, providing the most varied and extensive terrain in Australasia,” said James Helmore, General Manager of Lake Wanaka Tourism (www.lakewanaka. co.nz). “Combine this with the region’s spectacular scenery and the largest heli-skiing area outside of North America and it’s easy to see why the world’s skiers and boarders would come here!”

Action Outd oors is Low Budget All-inclusiv e Ski and S nowboard Holidays to the French Alps: Accommod ation All Meals Evening En tertainmen t Ski/Snowb oard & Boo t Hire Lift Pass Instruction or Guiding Always inc luded in the price!

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Child’s Survival Is Message From God To Wear Ski Helmets

BEN CLATWORTHY

B.KOUMANOV

New In La Plagne

The mother of a 13-year-old boy from Milwaukee, who narrowly escaped death after hitting a tree whilst skiing without a helmet, has told local media that she has told her son, "...you're a miracle, and God has a plan for you... even if it's just to get the message out to wear your helmet, even if it's not cool when you're skiing." The parents of 13-year-old Jacob DeGroot were airlifted from the slopes of Nordic Mountain to a local trauma centre where surgeons told them the odds were not good and that Jacob had to have surgery within five minutes to avoid certain death. They removed part of his skull to relieve the swelling of his brain and Jacob subsequently lost some hearing and has speech issues, but doctors hope to replace the section of his skull they removed in mid-March. "On ski hills, wearing a helmet can help prevent injury by up to 50%. Those are some overwhelming stats, to keep our kids safe," child safety advocate Lisa Klindt-Simpson told local media.

Visitors to La Plagne in Paradiski this winter have a new six–seater chairlift ,’Verdons Sud’ in the Champagny sector, replacing the old quad and increasing passenger capacity from 1540 to 3600. There are also two new blue link runs in the Montchavin/Les Coches sector and improvements to the middle section of the Mira piste. The middle section of the Cornegidouille piste has also been upgraded, to improve access from the six-seat La Roche chairlift for the benefit of Plagne Montalbert guests and residents. Snowmaking has been extended to include the Bozelet piste and the lowest section of Cornegidouille.

Bollé To Sell Heated Helmet Thanks to Bollé your ears and head will never again get cold on the slopes. Bollé have developed the world's first heated helmet, the B-Hot (£180 RRP) which incorporates an exclusively designed Thermic heating system invisibly integrated into the ear pads. Three different heat levels can be individually set, fuelled by a rechargeable lithium battery for up to six hours of warmth. Thanks to two front vents and eight holes, the hot and humid air from the head is constantly drawn away to prevent overheating.

Great Conditions In Austria Austrian ski resorts got their third big snowfall of the season at the end of February, with two resorts reporting 1.2m falling within a week. Two resorts had cracked the 5m snow depth mark as we went to press, St Anton now has 515cm of snow at the top of the mountain and the Dachstein Glacier reports 510cm. “After the heavy snow falls the weather has been perfect and ski conditions could not be better,” says snow reporting agency Skiinfo’s Gerda Moritz.

B-Style Helmet & Nova Goggle

T H E L I F E, S I N C E 1 8 8 8 Pierre Vaultier - 2010 Snowboard Cross World Champion

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Ötztal Tourimus

Sölden’s Gay Snow Happening This Month ‘On snow’ events for the gay community have been popular for several decades now and most of these annual events have been gaining in strength, with this year’s Gay Ski Week in Telluride in Colorado earlier this month welcoming openly gay active military service members for the first time following law changes in the United States. Sölden will host the 13th Gay Snow Happening (gaysnowhappening.com) from 24–31 March with a week of fun-packed skiing and partying. The varied programme of events include hut evenings at "Hühnersteign", moonlight bowling, relaxing spa sessions at the Aqua Dome and long disco nights at "Q-Stall" or "Snowrock Café". The week is rounded off in style with a final extravaganza, featuring famous DJs from London, Berlin and Hamburg. Seven nights’ accommodation, including a six-day ski pass and entertainment programme plus event pass, starts from €557 per person. Innsbruck is served by Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) from Gatwick, Liverpool and Bristol, and by British Airways (www.ba.com) from Gatwick.

BEN CLATWORTHY

Get Retro In Morzine

Retro Rentals in Morzine is a unique new ski outfitter that owns about 250 retro one-piece ski outfits, rented out to people on a day-to-day basis. “Anyone can enjoy epic retro days up on the slope, in all sorts of amazing, tragic, bright, tight, multipatterned designs,” says co-owner Kyle Dickson (www.retro-rentals.eu) who says he and joint-owner Rob Purver run the service, “…mainly for the love of the one piece, and for an excuse to put on all out epic 80’s parties!”

Hi-Tech Dolomites Smartphones (iPhone or Android) can do more in Dolomiti Superski than perhaps any other ski region. New mobile features include a social networking game “SkiBeep”, the Dolomiti Superski App, the augmented reality service DolomitiSuperski.AR, and there’s also the 3D Dolomiti Superski with the Check Performance and Skiplanner features, as well as a mobile internet site. You can download them all for free from the Apple Store and Android Market and you can then use them for free too at Dolomiti Superski’s free WIFI hot spots located at the ski pass offices and lift stations.

Coach To The Alps from £49 Anyone wanting to get to the Alps on a tight budget might consider SkiShuttle.co.uk’s services – which cost from £49 for an eight day stay at resorts including La Plagne, Les Arcs, Val Thorens, Tignes and Val d’Isère. Since its launch late last year, SkiShuttle.co.uk coaches have travelled over, 22,500kms, with twelve coaches making regular trips to the snowy mountains and escaping the temperamental UK weather. Costs are dependent on route selected and date of trip.

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Y R NL FO O M W O NO FROK

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2 Swiss Image/Saas Fee

Car-Free Resort Backdoor access to main resorts Quality Self-catering sleeping 2-18 Self-drive / accommodation only Charming traditional resorts Ski Packs at great prices

Similar to other Swiss resorts, such as Zermatt, Saas-Fee is a carfree resort throughout the year. For city dwellers this is a real selling point and helps maintain the resort’s tranquillity. The only noise you hear comes from the hum of electric buggies, owned by many hotels and restaurants in order to transport guests around the resort. There is also a taxi company, and if you’re feeling friendly you could always befriend a local for a lift.

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REASONS TO VISIT SAAS-FEE

Resorts include: Samöens for Flaine, Les Gets for Avoriaz, Vaujany for Alpe d’Huez, Peisey for Les Arcs, St Martin de Belleville for Méribel & La Tania for Courchevel

Skiing Galore With in excess of 145km of groomed slopes the Saas Valley has something special for everyone, from wide, smooth pistes for those looking to put in some fast turns, moguls fields for the more adventurous, and flat pistes for beginners. There are also a variety of ski schools which cater to all abilities and ages. The resort also boasts a number of freestyle parks and jumps for those looking for an adrenaline rush.

Wellness Heaven The Bielen Leisure Centre has something for all ages with its variety of indoor and outdoor sports facilities. The swimming pools, saunas and whirlpools are a great place to relax and recharge your batteries after a hard day on slopes. The resort also has a number of ‘wellness hotels’ with their own spas and pools.

What A View! Enjoy a hot chocolate in the revolving restaurant, ‘Metro-Alpin’ on the Mittel-Allalin. The restaurant holds several records; not only is it Switzerland’s highest restaurant, it is also the world's highest revolving restaurant. Just be careful not to leave your helmet and gloves on the side ledge, they’ll be on the other side of the restaurant when you’re done!

BY BEN CLATWORTHY

Summer Skiing If you just can’t get enough snow then Saas-Fee offers skiing throughout the summer and autumn. The glacier at 3600m offers around 20km of pistes with three T-bars, as well as a freestyle park. Ski teams from all over the world come to Saas-Fee in preparation for the winter season, including the Swiss and British national squads. Just beware; it’s a long way up to the glacier, two gondolas and then a funicular railway.

D G Bandion

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Hot Tub On The Slopes DAVID BLACK

Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Dolomites can now offer its guests the chance to sweat in the sauna or soak in the hot tub high up on its slopes. This fabulous Finnish sauna is located at altitude alongside the Croda da Lago Refuge, a few steps from the lake of the same name. Here lucky guests can enjoy the aroma of burning wood and the crackling of the fire, while the heat melts away every tension in the body. The structure offers optimal air circulation

providing even heating, thanks to its circular cross-section which allows for faster heating and lower energy consumption. A place where you can truly indulge all your senses, immersed in a natural paradise and surrounded by the impressive Dolomite peaks of Croda da Lago, Pomagagnon, Cristallo, Sorapis and Becco di Mezzodì. Alternatively, you can enjot a soak in an outdoor hot tub at an altitude of 2,137m by the Scoiattoli Mountain Refuge, sipping champagne under the stars. www.cortina.dolomiti.org

Countdown To The Brits

With just a few weeks before The Brits Snow and Music Festival (www.the-brits.com) kicks off for another year in Laax, Switzerland (18–25 March), skiwear manufacturer Dare 2b are showing their commitment to developing the UK talent ahead of Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics by bringing us the Dare 2b British Halfpipe Championships. Dare 2b has also recently signed up three times British Halfpipe Champion James Machon, who will be heading to Laax to defend his British

crown for an unprecedented fourth time. Last year saw an outstanding display of worldclass halfpipe riding with Olympians Ben Kilner and Dan Wakeham raising the bar in the men’s snowboard final and Dare 2b’s James Machon and Emma Lonsdale setting the pace for the freeskiers. Taking place on Laax’s pristine and perfectly shaped 6m superpipe, the Dare 2b British Halfpipe Championships will attract the UK’s elite as they battle it out for the coveted British title. With the likes of Lewis Courier-Jones fresh from winning the Halfpipe Rookie Fest, and Katie Summerhayes coming fifth overall in halfpipe at the Junior Winter Olympics, will we see the groms coming through and showing the veterans how it’s done…? Week-long packages start from £279 and include seven nights’ accommodation, seven day lift pass, festival wristband, and an official BRITS Funi beanie.

ALL IMAGES: Nick Thomas

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Jon (AKA WESTY) AT ALTITUDE

Jon is one of the few instructors in the world to hold the top qualifications from France, Switzerland and Britain. He can teach on- and off-piste skiing throughout the Alps, and as Ski School Director, Jon helps manage the ski and snowboard school, the instructor training Gap programs, the Verbier freeride camps, and also the winter and summer kids camps. www.altitude-verbier.com; +41 277 716006

SKI TOURING

What is ski touring?

GET THE RIGHT KIT

This month Jon looks at a side of skiing that is not new but is undergoing an explosion in popularity – ski touring. Ski touring is an amazing way to see the mountains in an entirely different way and to get away from the crowds. If you ever wanted to stand on top of a slope of virgin powder with no one else around (and can’t afford heliskiing) then start touring.

Ski touring is using your skis and some specialised equipment to walk up the hill rather than take the ski lift. It is usually used to access terrain where there are no lifts, off-piste or away from the ski area. It is also a great way to get some exercise and fresh snow after the resort has been tracked out.

Some of the equipment you will need – but not an exhaustive list: skins which stick onto the bottom of your skis to allow you to walk uphill; touring bindings which in walk mode allow your heel to lift up off the ski; avalanche gear if you are off-piste (shovel, probe and transceiver). Plenty of water (it is thirsty work on the way up).

The catered chalet on the edge of the Savoy piste in Chamonix, opposite the Brevent lift. www.chamchalet.co.uk www.chamonixskiout.com

”

The product many people have dreamt of

“I have been skiing for 35 years, competitively for 18 years and 10 years as a member of the British Alpine Ski Team. I retired from competitive skiing after rupturing my cruciate ligament. Following 9 knee operations I had been skiing with knee pain for the last few years, but now I have discovered the ski~mojo. Quite simply this is the product many people have dreamt of; using the ski~mojo enables me enjoy skiing the whole mountain pain free.” Adam Sullivan Former British Alpine Slalom Champion

Chamonix Ski In // Ski Out

t: 05603 458846 www.ski-mojo.com

“

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Over the following 4 issues we will tackle: Powder Skiing / Carving / Bumps / Instructor Training. PIC

KNOW WHERE YOU ARE

BE CAREFUL TAKE A GUIDE

If you are venturing away from the resort without a guide it is important to have a map, and good knowledge of the area. Be aware of the weather forecast. Know what the current avalanche risk is and have sufficient knowledge and training on how to use your avalanche gear; even if you are with a guide (you might need to rescue them).

When you go touring for the first time it is definitely a good idea to take a fully qualified IFMGA mountain guide, and many people never feel comfortable or experienced enough to go without a guide. Stay safe, have fun and get out and earn those turns!!

Europe has this year been experiencing a very cold winter, with temperatures as low as –18°C in resort - temperatures similar to those regularly experienced when skiing in North America. It is hugely important to ensure that your kids stay warm both for their safety and their enjoyment . Children lose heat quicker than adults and their energy levels can drop suddenly. If they go from being lively to quiet and more withdrawn, perhaps struggling with a piste you would expect them to be fine on, or if they keep falling over on easy runs, check on how warm they are. Here are some tips for keeping them (and you) warm: Small Kids (3–5 year olds) – Often they won’t tell you they

are getting cold until they are very cold. Keep checking to see how warm their hands are. Layering – Several layers of thinner clothing are better than one thick one as they are easier to adjust for temperature changes throughout the day. Don’t wear cotton as once it is damp it loses a lot of its thermal properties. Ski Boots – Make sure they are properly dried out every evening, ideally use boot dryers overnight, alternatively take the inner boots out and place them on a radiator (make sure you put them back in the right boot) or use a hairdryer. Mittens – These are warmer than gloves and inner thermal gloves can be used for added warmth. Again, make sure they

are dried out properly overnight. You can get ones containing a pocket into which you can insert a hand warmer. Hand dryers in the toilets on the mountainside are useful for warming mitts up. Frost Nip – Regularly check for frost nip, small white patches on exposed skin usually on the nose, cheeks or ears. Skiing at speed increases the chance of it happening due to wind chill, ski several short turns to reduce the speed and to keep everyone warm. A neck warmer or face mask can help prevent frost nip, but in any case, keep checking underneath this to be certain. Make sure someone checks you as well. If you do suspect frost nip, move inside and warm up immediately as the next stage is frostbite which will require medical attention.

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The thrill of backcountry and ski touring is undeniable, but it needs to be balanced with suitable gear, and some good rescue equipment in case of emergencies. Here is a taster of some of the many products recommended and tested by the experts at Ellis Brigham.

Black Diamond Bandit Package £229.99

Scarpa Maestrale Gea £440

The Maestrale and the Gea were new

This 3+ antenna transceiver is simple

A slick package combining a Bandit

last season and proved an instant

to use and processes information fast.

The glove of choice for cold weather

Avalung pack, a Quickdraw Super Tour

hit with their lightweight, great fit

The circular display clearly guides you

ski touring, the Randonee combines

probe and Deploy 3 shovel. The pack is

and remarkable performance. The

at each stage of a search, promoting

Schoeller dry skin extreme soft

lightweight and streamlined, and can

anatomical shape increases comfort

fast recoveries even when faced with

shell fabric that sheds water, with a

carry all the essentials necessary for the

and sensitivity, whilst improving the

multiple burials. All housed in an

Pittards Armortan leather palm and

backcountry. The built-in Avalung allows

power transmission. An Intuition liner

ergonomic, rubberised case in black

fourchettes. The lining is quick-drying

the user to breathe fresh air directly from

provides the best possible custom fit

or green.

and warm.

the snowpack if buried by an avalanche.

and keeps the weight down. The cuff is

Also designed for minimal storage.

also ventilated for drier liners.

(Mens)

(Womens)

Ortovox 3+ Transceiver £259.99

Mountain Equipment Randonee Glove £59.99

Scott Crus’Air £640

The revamped Crus’Air will ski any terrain an

new challenges, being light enough to skin

construction of wood core and 3D carbon m torsional rigidity for strong skiing. The new

it has the capacity to deal with any depth o

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iation with c o s as For more information visit www.ellis-brigham.com Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports has 23 shops nationwide; go online to request a free catalogue featuring the UK’s biggest range of mountain and snowsports clothing, equipment and accessories.

Arc’teryx Sabre Pant £299.99 Superb relaxed fit ski pants in highly breathable three-layer GORE-TEX soft shell fabric, with a brushed inner face for targeted warmth and moisture management. There’s also a concealed Recco reflector, laminated inner gaiters and watertight zips.

Dalbello V.I.R.U.S. Tour ID £475

Arc’teryx Rush Jacket £439.99

K2 COOMBAck £390

The innovative V.I.R.U.S. Tour ID is packed

The newest Arc’teryx WhiteLine jacket

The ski of choice for guides and

with clever features that make it stand out

delivers unmatched big mountain

freeriders who like to earn their powder

from the crowd. The Cabrio design uses a

performance combined with a modern

turns. 102mm in the waist provides

three-piece construction, with a patented

freeride cut. The three-layer GORE-TEX

plenty of floatation, the all-terrain

hinging tongue; this improves the glide/

pro shell fabric delivers the best in

rocker ensures smooth handling in

stride range of motion forwards and back,

waterproof and breathable protection,

all conditions, and the 22m radius

and also creates a low cuff hinge for a

whilst aggressively engineered

guarantees stability whatever the

natural flex when skiing. The polyurethane

construction ensures fantastic freedom

snow or speed. Cap construction adds

shell is responsive and precise, the ID liner

of movement.

toughness; a fir and aspen core is

is light and comfortable, and the rockered

wrapped with a carbon web to keep the

sole uses tech inserts and Vibram rubber.

weight down.

Marker Tour F12 £290

nd condition in the search for fresh snow and

Marker’s Tour F12 is a lightweight touring binding, which incorporates well thought-out features

n up and powerful enough to rip back down. A

with excellent downhill ability. A height adjustable gliding AFD is designed specifically for AT

matrix keeps the weight low, and provides the

boots (it will accommodate alpine boots), the twin connecting brackets use a glove-friendly

wider dimensions and increased nose rocker ensure

of snow.

lever and allow the ski to flex smoothly, and the hollow axle heel focuses energy directly to the heel of the boot for optimum skiing performance.

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MONTHLY GUIDE TO ACCOMMODATION

HOTEL ALEX

Zermatt

The Hotel Alex is perfectly situated in the centre of Zermatt just off on a hidden back street but with the bustle of beautiful Zermatt right on your doorstep. The warm and friendly welcome here is simply hard to beat. Described as having an “extravagant mountain style”, each room has been designed in its own eclectic way, with surprises at every turn. The Alex is famous for a wonderful lounge-cocktail-bar with intimate corners forming an alpine world of art displays and designer fabrics.

www.clubchalets.co.uk Search ski chalet accommodation

+41 (0)27 9667070

info@hotelalexzermatt.com

www.hotelalexzermatt.com

CHALET 1066

CHALET TREIZE ETOILES II

SNOW CHATEAUX

Les Gets

Verbier

Les Arcs / Le Plagne / Tignes

With 12 Self Catered Chalets & Apartments and 1 Fully Catered Chalet all in Les Gets, Chalets1066 also offer services for self catered accommodation normally associated with a Catered Chalet, these include: ski pass delivery, ski/ boot fitting in the Chalet, fresh croissants, lifts to ski school, etc. Additionally, Chalets1066 fully Catered Chalet has highly experienced staff and assures clients of outstanding food.

Located moments from Place Centrale, this stylish and rustic apartment never fails to impress. It is equipped with state of the art technology including a Mac computer, Sonos music system, Wifi & plasma TV screens in every bedroom. Wonderful luxuries are bountiful in this chalet with a hot tub on the balcony and spa area with sauna & hammam. Guests will receive Ski Verbier’s 5 service with a private chef, host & 24hr driving service.

'Voted one of the top 5 places to stay'

+44 (0)121 288 0586 sue@chalets1066.com www.chalets1066.com

+44 (0)207 401 1101 info@skiverbier.com www.skiverbier.com

0800 066 4996 info@snowchateax.co.uk www.snowchateaux.co.uk

lES CHALETS DE PHILIPPE

CHAM CHALET

CHALET CLARE

Chamonix

Chamonix Mont – Blanc

Les Crosets, Portes du Soleil

A cluster of eight chalets with spectacular views of Mont Blanc, located in a quiet corner of Lavancher. Alpine Antique furniture mixed with contemporary features such as flat screen TVs and WIFI access throughout and spa services include hammam, hot tubs, sauna and massage. A chauffeur is also available as well as Michelin-starred food!

Catered chalet for upto 8 guests. Truly on the piste, opposite Brevent lift station. A panoramic setting, hot tub with view, but still close enough to walk to the centre of town (5 minutes). Excellent food & wine. Wood burning stove. Owner managed.

Large newly built traditional swiss chalet situated in Les Crosets at 1750M, gateway to the Portes du Soliel ski area. Easy access to lifts. Usually able to ski, in ski out. Sleeps 8 in four en suite double rooms, seperate studio sleeps 2. Large open living area with wonderful views. Sauna/Steam room. Garage for three cars. 2 hours from Geneva.

+ 33 (0)607 231 726 contact@chaletsphilippe.com www.chaletsphilippe.com

+44 (0)20 7193 0648 info@chamchalet.co.uk www.chamonixskiout.com

+44 (0)1258 820779 richard@markusproducts.co.uk www.chaletclare.com

The Daily Telegraph Charming ski in / ski out chalets with hot tubs, saunas & games rooms in 3 of the Worlds largest linked ski areas. Special offers - free passes, massage and more

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MATTERHORN FOCUS

THE CAMBRIAN

Zermatt

SKI-BASe: chalet de la Cloche

Adelboden

Val d’Isère

Here you can enjoy privacy, outstanding design and a unique stay in 30 individual rooms. Situated in the most fantastic position with unrivalled views of the Matterhorn, the modern, elegant architecture blends in beautifully, elegantly and somewhat obtrusively but perfectly into the mountain around.

Stunning mountain views in every direction, The Cambrian offers the kind of location that desk huggers the world over spend their days dreaming about. Located in the leading resort of Adelboden in the Bernese Oberland, the hotel provides authentic local colour, cosmopolitan comfort and inspiring cuisine backed up by superb service.

Chalet de la Cloche is in the heart of Les Brevieres, Espace Killy, considered to be one of the greatest ski areas in the world.The Ski-Base team have created a wonderful chalet described by ‘Harpers Bazaar’ as a “haven of sensual indulgence”. It is one of Conde Naste Travellers top 10 chalets in the Alps.

+41 (0)27 966 24 24 info@matterhorn-focus.ch www.matterhorn-focus.ch

+41 (0)33 673 83 83 info@thecambrianadelboden.com www.thecambrianadelboden.com

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

Vitalhotel & Mountain Residence

ALPINE ACTION

MOUNTAIN HEAVEN

Méribel & La Tania

Morzine

The four star Vitalhotel and adjacent mountain residence provide a choice of comfortable hotel or spacious self catering. Either way you have full hotel facilities and a door step shuttle to Obergurgl’s slopes, two minutes away.

Specialist in chalet holidays for 18 years, Alpine Action offers superior service, cuisine and wine, at their well-appointed chalets in central and piste locations in Meribel and La Tania. Several chalets have hot-tubs, spa baths or saunas; all have free Wifi, SKY/Freeview TV, and DVD. For a superior holiday in this wonderful location, choose Alpine Action.

Chamois D'Or is in a prime location just seconds away from the Nyon cable car & ski slopes. The chalet has an outside hot tub perfect for easing those aching muscles after a long hard days skiing. The chalet sleeps 12 in 6 ensuite bedrooms, there is an additional bunk bedroom with an en-suite shower sleeping a further 2. Each bedroom also has a south facing balcony & stunning views.

+43 (0)52 566 767 info@hotel-muehle.at www.hotel-muehle.at

+44 (0)1273 466535 sales@alpineaction.co.uk www.alpineaction.co.uk

+44 (0)151 625 1921 info@mountainheaven.co.uk www.mountainheaven.co.uk

Obergurgl

Chalet Cole Ridge

UNOFFICIAL

Grimentz

THE PENTHOUSE

UNOFFICIAL

THE CLUBHOUSE

La Rosière

Chamonix – Mont Blanc

Chalet Cole Ridge is a magnificent premium chalet located in a stunning position directly on the piste and overlooking the historic village of Grimentz in the Val D’Anniviers. Sleeping up to 10 people and with a south-facing sunken Jacuzzi with stunning views overlooking the mountains, this chalet is exceptional.

A stunning chalet in the Les Eucherts area of La Rosière at 1850m. The Penthouse is a large chalet set over two floors with stunning views down the valley from the beautiful lounge / dining room with six ensuite bedrooms, three are doubles and three twins.

The Clubhouse is a boutique chalet-hotel, bar and restaurant which sits inside a magnificent 1920s Art Deco mansion. The building has undergone major refurbishment to create seven ultra modern rooms with accommodation for up to 20 guests. The range of rooms (from the sumptuous Myla Suite to the comfortable bunk rooms) boast his-and-hers, teakdecked, power showers, Frette linen and fat duvets.

+44 (0)151 625 1921 info@mountainheaven.co.uk www.mountainheaven.co.uk

+33 (0)450 984 220 reception@clubhouse.fr www.clubhouse.fr

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l l e r t t o C m Willia BEN CLATWORTHY

William Cottrell has recently competed in the Special Olympics GB National Alpine Championships, placing fourth in both the Advanced Slalom and Super-G, as well as placing fifth in the Advanced Giant Slalom. At the 2009 Special Olympics in Boise, Idaho, USA, he won a bronze medal competing in the Intermediate Slalom. Cottrell has Down’s Syndrome and his mother Maureen joined him during this interview. How do you think you did at the National Championships? WC > I think I did well. It was very cold, but I managed to complete all the competitions without missing any of the gates, and got good placing in the advanced group. And this was your first time performing in the advanced group? WC > Yes it was. I was very happy. I told my dad, mum, sisters, brothers and friends. I was very proud that I got to race in the very best group at the Special Olympics.

How did it feel to get to represent your country at the Special Olympics? WC > It feels very good. When I was in America, in Boise, the head coach told me he was very proud of me, and we would always hug after I cleared the course. I do it for my loved ones and for my country, and because of that I skied very well. How has the Special Olympics helped you? WC > It’s given me a lot of happiness, I can do what I dream to do and it’s been really good, I’ve made friends and learned a lot from professional skiers. Who did you meet through the Olympics? WC > I’ve met Graham Bell several times. He came in 2009 during the Special Olympics and coached us. He taught me a lot about skiing. Before the Games we got to meet Sebastian Coe who took us around the Olympic site; in fact, I’ve now met him several times because I’m going to be a volunteer for the Olympics and Paralympics. You’re at a level where you can easily manage a black run how tough do you find it? WC > Skiing is a very difficult sport, but I’ve got a personal trainer that helps me with my fitness levels so that I’m prepared, and I also practise every other week at the Bromley ski centre to keep up my fitness and ability levels. Anything you want to add? WC > Thanks to all the great people at the Special Olympics, but especially

the coaches, they really are the best coaches in the world. They helped to prepare me for the National Championships, and I’m very grateful for all the hard work they’ve put in. And you Maureen? MC > The overwhelming feeling we have is that we are tremendous fans of the whole organisation. It’s tough if you are a person with special needs, and everyday living can be a struggle. The Special Olympics give the athletes something of their own, something special, something to work for and enjoy. Just because you’ve got special needs doesn’t mean you haven’t got ambitions. That’s where the Special Olympics is incredible. It gives these athletes the chance to live their dreams. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

Pre-order your ATOMIC Tracker 16 Binding at one of the below stores: www.snowandrock.com www.skibartlett.com www.edgeandwax.co.uk www.sailandski.co.uk www.snowlab.co.uk www.outdooraction.co.uk www.47degrees.com www.lockwoods.com www.snowsun.com

www.ellis-brigham.com www.snowtrax.eu www.craigdonmountainsports.com www.whitemountainski.co.uk www.snowsportservices.com www.venturaski.co.uk www.skinboardroom.co.uk www.carterse.com www.banksofperth.co.uk

Touring binding on the ascent, freeski binding in powder: the ATOMIC Tracker takes you on the best ride of your life. ATOMIC.COM/TRACKER