Ski+board November 2015

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Produced by skiers and boarders for skiers and boarders

Balloons on the piste! + Closing in on the world’s first skiers + Snow wear + Goggles + Technique + Off-piste safety + Fitness + Resorts + Puzzles

BREAKING THROUGH THE GLASS CEILING

Chamonix's

FEMALE MOUNTAIN GUIDES

ALSO INSIDE

Speeding around Sun Peaks SKIS, BOOTS, BOARDS

All-mountain issue publication

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5

Editor’s note

EDITOR Colin Nicholson colin.nicholson@skiclub.co.uk DEPUTY EDITOR Ben Clatworthy ben.clatworthy@skiclub.co.uk

Some professions, one suspects, will always be male-dominated — soldiers, firemen, labourers, taxi drivers — but why so many male computer programmers, surgeons, car salesmen... and mountain guides? After all, only in the most extreme cases would a guide be expected to cart a skier off the mountain over their shoulder. And there are several female instructors qualified to take skiers and snowboarders off-piste.

So I was intrigued to hear Magnus Wiström’s account of meeting two female guides in Chamonix — Liz Smart and Eva Eskilsson. Partly I wanted to know how, as women and foreigners, they overcame the bureaucratic hurdles that France uses to protect its sons.

Beating French protectionism is no mean feat, as anyone who has followed Ski+board’s coverage of the issues faced by instructors, resort hosts and Ski Club Leaders in France knows. Nor is it limited to the Alps. I once told a French friend that a mutual acquaintance had got a job at a big French firm.

“Oh, who is his ‘piston’?” he immediately enquired, explaining that in France you couldn’t expect to really get ahead in business without someone in the firm — perhaps a family friend — driving you up the greasy pole. When I said I thought our acquaintance had done it without a ‘piston’ my friend looked at me as if I were insane.

Though the Alps are far from corporate France, the two guides interviewed by Magnus had to rely on mentors to get into the business. In Liz’s case, this was the late freeskier Doug Coombs, to whom she is obviously immensely grateful.

Which brings me to the aspect of Magnus’s interview that I found most fascinating.

The two women show a humility, humanity and depth of concern that I have found signally lacking in male guides — even British ones. It is clear that Liz and Eva are incredibly focused on their clients’ enjoyment of skiing off-piste.

This contrasts with the many occasions on which I have felt like the dead weight slowing our guide down — a sort of Captain Oates, but without the good grace he showed in offering himself up for self-sacrifice. In one instance, I remember seeing the guide’s evident frustration in the delicate doily he had created by punching holes in the snow with his skipole while waiting for the rest of us to catch up.

If female mountain guides such as Liz and Eva can start to change that culture, then hats off to them. I do not doubt that the bulk of their male colleagues enjoy their work and wouldn’t wish to do any other job. But unless they find a way of really sharing and communicating that passion with the skiers and boarders who pay their way, they risk doing themselves out of a job. As Liz and Eva agree, their presence does not threaten the work of other guides. By giving guests an enjoyable experience, they argue, they will only encourage more people to use a guide when skiing. And they are right.

We are all looking forward to the coming season, as the leaves turn a burning hue of orange and red. But if the presence of women such as Liz and Eva make our winters even more enjoyable then that is most welcome.

ART DIRECTOR Nicole Wiedemann DESIGNER Amanda Barks MEDIA SALES Madison Bell madisonbell.com 020 7389 0859 OVERSEAS MEDIA SALES Martina Diez-Routh martina.diez-routh@skiclub.co.uk +44 (0) 7508 382 781 PUBLISHER Ski Club of Great Britain London SW19 5SB skiclub.co.uk | 020 8410 2000 DISTRIBUTION Jellyfish Print Solutions Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Independently audited circulation of 19,764 (January to December 2014) Issue 190 © Ski Club of Great Britain 2015 ISSN 1369-8826

Cover photo: Patrik Lindqvist

Ski+board is printed by Precision Colour Printing, Stirchley, Telford TF7 4QQ

Colin Nicholson Editor Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

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All prices are correct at time of publication. Opinions expressed in Ski+board are not necessarily those of the Ski Club of Great Britain, nor does the publisher accept responsibility for advertising content.

Contents

November 2015 Photo: Patrik Lindqvist

8 EXPOSURE A showcase of stunning action shots… and the photographers’ stories of how they were taken

14 YOU SAY Is the ESF looking after our children properly?

Plus a request for off-piste advice

15 SKI CLUB NEWS Bookings open for the instructor-led guiding service and our new insurance catches on

17 NEWS Crystal axes ski hosts, a chalet booking scam, and more on the battle to instruct in France

22 WE’RE GUIDES BUT NOT GUYS

The inside edge 50 SNOW WEAR

58 SKI TESTS

70 BOOTS

78 SNOWBOARDS

Our fashion editor knows how to make you look sleek on the slopes, plus how to wash ski gear

After a ski to power over pistes and through powder? Our team test the best all-mountain skis

They’re not the fastest or the coolest, but these are the boots you’ll want to wear for ever

Our boarding guru reviews all-mountain models and uncovers an interesting design trend

Photo: Adam Stein/Sun Peaks

30 SUN PEAKS AND THE RACE FOR MORE SPACE Photo: Ben Bläss/Pays d’Enhaut

43 ON THE TRAIL OF SKIING’S PIONEERS

37 UP, UP AND AWAY TO NEW HEIGHTS

82 GEAR

84 TECHNIQUE

88 FITNESS

90 RESORT INSIDER

Whether you ski in first or fifth gear, a helmet is vital. We review a selection of the best

Want to be the boss of the bumps? Mark Jones will make you a pro… but start slow

Worried you’re too stiff to ski well? We show you how to get supple for the winter

Skiing on a shoestring — our experts know where to go, so you won’t baulk at bar bills

Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

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8

9

SKIER William Larsson LOCATION Engelberg, Switzerland PHOTOGRAPHER Oskar Enander Engelberg’s glacier is smaller than most, but if you study it on the lift going up, as Oskar Enander did, you get stunning views. He asked William Larsson about building a kicker next to it. The job ended up being more work then either expected. After two days of digging they got it right. Oskar recalls: “It was scary seeing William drop in. If he went too slow, he would crash into the ice. Too fast and he would fly out of the landing area.” For readers who fear William is in trouble, he is in fact doing a flat spin 360 with a Japan grab. So now you know.

Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

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10

SKIER Pete Davison LOCATION Kühtai, Austria PHOTOGRAPHER Ross Woodhall Drawn to the frozen waterfall Ross Woodhall snuck under it, worked out an angle and let former action model Pete Davison do the rest at the Ski Club’s ski tests in February. The ensuing avalanche of powder halted between the nape of his neck and shoulder blades. No matter, job done!

Ski tests – page 58

11

SKIER Unknown LOCATION Les Diablerets, Switzerland PHOTOGRAPHER Martin Söderqvist “Sharp left,” cried Martin Söderqvist. Though Glacier 3000, shared by Les Diablerets and Gstaad, has a maze of runs, if you’re off-piste you don’t want to take a wrong turning.

Up, up and away – page 37

SKATERS Various LOCATION Neusiedlersee, Austria PHOTOGRAPHER Hans Wiesenhofer Even in Austria’s flattest province, Burgenland, in the east of the country they get excited about winter sliding sports — as Hans Wiesenhofer discovered taking his camera on the lake that crosses into Hungary.

Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

skiclub.co.uk

SKI JUWELS IN AUSTRIA’S CROWN

You could hardly come up with more evocative names for these Austrian ski regions: a “Wilder Kaiser” (wild emperor), a Skicircus, and a Ski Juwel, while Zell am See has powerful connections to Porsche Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau

©Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau

Tucked away in the Austrian Tirol, close to the Kitzbüheler Alps, Alpbach and Wildschönau are tranquil resorts. Known as the Ski Juwel, the Wildschönau resorts of Niederau, Oberau and Auffach are accessible to skiers in Alpbach and Reith im Alpbachtal, and vice versa, offering 109km of skiing.

The actual link is between Alpbach and Auffach, the resort at the head of the Wildschönau valley, which itself is linked with Oberau and Niederau, by a free bus. Forget the crowds and the packed slopes – here you can enjoy a gentle holiday, whether with children or on your own. Alpbach, with its traditional farmhouses, onion-domed church and narrow streets, is one of the prettiest villages in the Tirol, and – like Niederau – has always attracted British skiers. The majority of its slopes suit intermediates, although it’s not without its challenges: for many years the British Army held their races here, and around the Wiedersbergerhorn in Alpbach you will find a good choice of freeride possibilities.

The Wilder Kaiser resorts

The Wilder Kaiser resorts Söll, Ellmau, Scheffau and Going combine to offer one of Austria’s largest linked ski area SkiWelt (Ski World), with 280 kms of runs served by 90 modern lifts. Highly recommended childcare facilities await families in the valley and directly in the skiing area. Thirteen ski schools offer tuition for kids, so junior skiers can take their first slide down the mountain with the help of expert instructors. Reasonably good skiers and snowboarders can wander almost indefinitely around eight principle ski areas, exploring almost endless possibilities and scarcely any need to ski the same run twice. There are eight kilometres of floodlit toboggan runs too. Söll is the best known to British visitors. In the other direction, Scheffau, Ellmau and Going are the next ports of call. There are as many as 70 mountain restaurants and huts dotted around the circuit, so you’ll never be far from a reviving drink or snack. And if you find that in the excitement you’ve overdone things and are feeling a little weary, there are regular buses connecting Going, Ellmau, Scheffau and Söll. Söll itself is well known for its lively aprèsski and nightlife. Getting here couldn’t be easier: it’s only an hour from Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich.

©Wilder Kaiser Felbert Reiter

ADVERTORIAL

Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

©Tourismusverband Saalbach Hinterglemm Tom Bause

There’s a new name to add to the celebrated SaalbachHinterglemm-Leogang “Skicircus” this season thanks to a new link to Fieberbrunn, making it Austria’s biggest ski area. The pivotal resorts are sustainable Leogang (788m), traditional Saalbach (1,003m), and Hinterglemm, which lies slightly higher at 1,060m. Both villages have traffic-free centres. Between them, and the family friendly resort of Leogang, they already boasted an extensive network of runs, and now there’s even more to ski! A new 10-seat gondola creates the link to Fieberbrunn, and realises a “dream” the resort has had for decades. The new network creates a 270km ski area served by 70 lifts, in two Austrian provinces: Salzburgerland and the Tirol.

The Fieberbrunn connection will start from a bottom station at Reckmoos-Süd, with a mid-station at the base of the Hörndlingergraben near the Pulvermacheralm. From here the lift will continue to the Reiterkogel in the centre of the existing Skicirus. A new 3.5 km piste will run from the Reiterkogel to the area around the Vierstadlalm, complete with extensive snowmaking facilities. Away from the slopes, from Fieberbrunn will doubtless encounter SaalbachHinterglemm’s famous après-ski – but they’ll have to be quick so not to miss the gondola.

Zell am See-Kaprun

Arguably one of the most beautiful lakeside towns in the Alps, Zell am See has excellent local slopes, while there’s also skiing on the “eternal ice” of the magnificent Kitzsteinhorn (3,000m) with guaranteed snow from October until June. Together these areas (the local slopes at Kaprun) make up the Region Zell am See-Kaprun. Zell am See’s own slopes are mainly intermediate, but also have some steeper-than-average roller-coaster runs for stronger skiers. The Schmittenhöhe mountain is home to the world’s longest “fun slope” (1,300m) incorporating tunnels and tight turns. Meanwhile Schmidolin’s Dragon Park keeps children safe and happy as they try out their first turns. The town, with its traffic-free medieval centre, provides a delightful contrast to the mountains. And the après-ski, being mainly town-based, has many more options than you’d get in a ski village. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier, accessed by cable cars, has high-altitude runs and is the only glacier open for ten months’ skiing Salzburgerland. Peakworld 3000, a panoramic platform offers incredible views of the peaks. ©Kitzsteinhorn

YOU SAY…

14

Please tell me how to avoid an off-day when I am going off-piste Could Ski+board address the tactics to adopt going off-piste when you don’t know what the snow will be like?

Sometimes I go off-piste and after a couple of turns say to myself: “Oh yes, this is quite do-able.”

At other times I mutter several expletives and head back to the piste as fast as I can. I guess this is also a question of adjusting your technique to the various off-piste conditions.

Rob Massey

Not all instructors are as fastidious in their care of children as others when they lead classes

Off-piste safety — Page 87

Why do French lecture Leaders, yet cut corners with children?

Americanisms are pants I noticed in the last issue of Ski+board that dates within articles are written in the American English format, for instance December 10 and February 6.

I thought it was the Ski Club of Great Britain? Will you be talking of the ‘color’ of ‘trails’ next, and referring to pants instead of trousers?

Kathryn Rogers

Ski+board writes: Putting the date after the month is traditional in UK publications, including The Times and The Telegraph.

But on the snow wear pages we have bowed to the brands’ habit of referring to ‘ski pants’ or simply ‘pants’ now. Sorry.

We’re cross at crossword We are not regular cryptic crossword solvers but, having given it a go, we were hampered by ignorance of some of the more far-flung resorts.

And though anagrams are normal fodder, we felt that there were too many. Your compiler — whose real name is obviously Smelly R Mole — may say it is the norm.

Jonathan Nicholson

Ski+board writes: Our compiler Myles Mellor has cut the number of anagrams, which we appreciate readers may find taxing, and from the next issue we will focus on some resorts closer to home.

We have been surprised by the behaviour of some (by no means all) Ecole du Ski Français instructors in charge of children. I have seen very small children taken into a bar, ostensibly to warm up. Admittedly, it was cold, but the instructor propped up the bar for a few brandies before setting off again. As a parent, had I seen my child there I would have raised hell with the ski school.

I know this is not usual, as we have friends who are instructors who would never do that or condone it — but it happens. Likewise, while going up a lift last season in Chamonix I saw an instructor pull his class of eight- to ten-year-olds to the side of the piste and indicate they should ski down the busy piste while he nipped down an off-piste section.

Admittedly this followed the same line as the piste, but it was hidden and inaccessible had a problem occurred in his group. He went one way and sent his class the other, presumably intending to do it fast enough, unseen, before zipping back out to join them several hundred metres further down. But his bright red ESF uniform was hard to miss…

It’s fine to have fun in the powder,

but not while employed to instruct children snowploughing on piste.

We have had great experiences with excellent monitors and guides over the years. The point is that France’s ban on Ski Club Leaders is unbalanced. It is right to respect the customs and laws of another country, but the ESF should look to its own behaviour and standards before criticising generally harmless orientation and fun in the mountains.

C Roots

Regarding the ban on Leaders in France, we were wondering if the ruling could affect requests from instructors that members of the public look after their pupils on chairlifts when they ferry a class-load of young children up the mountain.

If we are to be sticklers for the law — and clearly those pursuing the case against Ski Club Leader Ken Piddleston think they are — then unpaid volunteers without professional qualifications shouldn’t take responsibility for children like this and the instructors are negligent.

Perhaps we will see ski schools take their own instructors to court?

Alex O’Reilly

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? SHARE IT WITH US AT: @TheSkiClub

/theskiclub

skiclub.co.uk/snowtalk

Ski Club of Great Britain, The White House, 57-63 Church Road, Wimbledon Village, London SW19 5SB OR EMAIL: colin.nicholson@skiclub.co.uk

15

SKI CLUB NEWS

Bookings for instructor-led guiding service are going live

Drive off with a great deal at the Manchester and London Ski Shows

The Ski Club’s instructor-led guiding service opens for booking this month, offering members the chance to ski in guided groups in France.

The club has partnered with Evolution 2 ski school to offer the service in 11 French resorts. The move will see instructors offering three or more sessions a week designed to suit a variety of members’ standards.

The club ran its Leading service — provided by volunteer members who ski and socialise with other members — in seven countries up to 2014. But after Leaders’ volunteer status was questioned by the French authorities, the club had to withdraw the service in France, though it continues to fight the case in the courts.

Leaders continue to operate in 18 resorts in Andorra, Canada, Italy, America, Switzerland and Austria, including Mayrhofen, which returned to the programme this year.

Last season the club replaced its Leaders with Ambassadors in France, who socialised with members in resort and offered advice on where to go, but did not ski with them.

That interim measure has now been replaced with a solution that the club hopes will prove more popular while it awaits the court’s decision.

The club’s appeal on behalf of its Leader Ken Piddleston, who was stopped by gendarmes in April 2014,

Thanks to a new partnership with Volvo Car UK, Ski Club members can now make great savings on new Volvo cars along with offers on servicing, finance and accessories.

Plus members who visit the Ski Club stand at the Ski Shows this autumn can get a further £500-off voucher (subject to terms and conditions). To find out how much you can save call Tyson Cooper on 01473 372020.

The Manchester show at EventCity runs from October 30 to November 1 (the Ski Club is at C14). The London show at Battersea Evolution runs from November 5 to 8 (stand 205).

Dates for your diary — Page 98

was heard in Chambéry last month.

A decision is expected within weeks.

The Evolution 2 instructors assigned to the new service will complete training on the Ski Club’s purpose, values and commitments, as well as the logistics of running a session and what is expected from members and the club. They will ski and socialise with members, running regular social hours in all resorts and events in the more popular ones.

The new service will be available in Alpe d’Huez, Argentière, Avoriaz, Courchevel, Flaine, La Plagne, Méribel, Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d’Isère and Val Thorens. Members can secure a place by paying a booking fee of £10 for half a day’s session and £20 for a full day. To find out more go to skiclub.co.uk/skiwiththeclub Photo: Ross Woodhall

Ski Club members now have access to an on-snow guiding service again in France

Revamp of membership tiers attracts interest The Ski Club‘s new membership tier has attracted high levels of interest from members. Platinum membership, which replaces the Ski Club+ tier, comes with all the benefits of standard membership, plus annual European multi-trip insurance.

Platinum members are covered for 45 days of winter sports a year and those taking out family policies also get cover included for children under the age of 24 travelling with them.

To learn more call the Member Services team on 020 8410 2015 or visit skiclub.co.uk/platinum.

Calling all students: We want your submissions

The Ski Club’s new range of travel insurance policies is proving popular.

The cover, launched in partnership with Travel Insurance Facilities, offers year-round holiday insurance.

It caters for the most passionate

The Ski Club has now launched its student snowsports website and is looking for younger skiers and boarders to contribute videos, photos, articles and other content.

The new website, called Line-S, has been launched in partnership with Wasteland Ski — a student ski tour operator that takes 15,000 students a year to the slopes.

It will also offer a new membership tier that provides exclusive discounts, flash sales and competitions to students who are booked on Wasteland Ski holidays. For more information see line-s.co.uk.

Photo: Stef Candé

New insurance is in demand

Correct cover in the mountains is essential

skiers and snowboarders, including those venturing off-piste without a guide, heli-skiing, cat skiing and touring — activities that are often excluded by generalist insurers.

The policies also tackle the age discrimination that is rife in the industry, offering cover for travellers aged up to 85 for single trips, or 75 for multi-trip policies. They also cover pre-existing medical conditions, which many policies exclude.

Ski Club Members get 15 per cent off policy prices. To purchase a policy or for a quote visit skiclubinsurance. co.uk or call 0300 303 2610.

Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

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FIS AlpIne World SkI ChAmpIonShIpS 2017

17

NEWS

Crystal quietly ditches resort hosts saying skiers prefer app

Ticketholders enraged as they are frozen out of Freeze festival

Colin Nicholson

Ben Clatworthy

Britain’s biggest ski tour operator has scrapped its hosting service, where reps show guests around a resort.

Crystal revealed the news in the fourth paragraph of a press release entitled “Crystal continues digital evolution” sent on July 28. A press release sent on September 7 about its Explorer app, which replaces its ‘social skiing’ programme, contained no mention of the decision. In that email Tamsin Todd, who joined Crystal last year as managing director having been head of e-commerce at Betfair, said: “Skiers today are digitally savvy and ready to use technology to get the most out of their winter holiday.”

Crystal claimed that more than 15 per cent of guests used the app’s recommended ski routes while just four per cent used its hosting service.

Hosting was suspended in France and Italy by all British tour operators, after it was ruled illegal in France and challenged in Piedmont, Italy. An appeal by chalet firm Le Ski is waiting to be heard in a Paris court. Crystal said it would continue to support Le Ski, which is also backed by HotelPlan, Neilson, Mark Warner, Alpine Elements, Ski Olympic and Skiworld.

HotelPlan, which owns Inghams, Ski Total and Esprit Ski, said: “In most Austrian resorts where social skiing remains legal and the service is approved by local ski school partners,

The Freeze Festival, dubbed “Britain’s biggest ever snowsports and music event”, has been postponed. It was due to take place on November 14 at the Olympic Park in East London.

The organisers, Vision Nine, would only suggest a new date in “early 2016”, but Ski+board found that a date had already been entered into the FIS calendar — January 16, 2016.

Vision Nine cited the unavailability of freestyle skiers and boarders, but ticketholders, who took to Twitter to express their unhappiness, suggested it was due to poor ticket sales.

One wrote: “Disgusted. Expensive hotels and transport booked and paid for in advance. Big disappointment.”

Crystal’s Explorer app proposes ski routes

it will continue as an integral and popular part of the programme.”

Andy Perrin, HotelPlan’s chief executive, said: “Social skiing is about enhancing our guests’ holiday through the relaxed camaraderie and enjoyment of skiing with reps and fellow guests. The service offers a valuable introduction to the resorts and has never replaced the excellent tuition provided by ski schools.”

Neilson, the UK’s third biggest ski tour operator, said: “We are now employing qualified instructors to offer a guiding and coaching service in resorts where we have Neilson Mountain Collection properties.

A spokesperson for Crystal said: “Our withdrawal of social skiing is based on customer demand. Social skiing, which was popular many years ago, will no longer be offered.”

New flights to western Austria and Geneva EasyJet will fly to Friedrichshafen from Gatwick this winter. The German airport serves resorts such as Lech in Austria’s western province of Vorarlberg. Flights will be twiceweekly and will run from December 12 to April 10.

British Airways already runs flights on the route, as does Monarch, which this season is launching a flight from Gatwick to Geneva, which will also run on Saturdays and Sundays, from December 12 to April 16.

Save our drags!

Ski resorts campaign to bring forward holidays

This season has seen a spate of lift openings, with resorts boasting about drag lifts being replaced. But what if we actually like T-bars and buttons?

In a Megève restaurant, Ski+board saw this “save the drag lifts” poster issued by the putative association for the protection of obsolete ski lifts. It is a creation of Annecy-based British artist Charlie Adam, who has many retro-themed ski posters for sale on his website bungalowgraphics.com.

You can read the Ski Club’s full research into new lift openings on its website at bit.ly/newlifts1516.

The French government is considering rescheduling spring school holidays in an attempt to boost its ski industry.

Resorts say bringing forward the holidays, which in France start in 2016 on April 2, 9 and 16, would raise sales by three per cent. However, parents’ associations and teachers’ unions have objected, saying the half-term fortnight in February is sufficient.

The half-term for France’s ‘Zone C’, which includes the Paris area, begins on February 20, 2016, while Zones A and B start their holidays on February 13 and 6 respectively.

Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

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#visitaustria

And suddenly you realise that relaxation and lifestyle go hand in hand.

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Yo u r p e r s o n a l A u s t r i a e x p e r t s a r e o n h a n d f o r y o u .

Freephone: 00800 400 200 00 or e-mail holiday@austria.info

19

NEWS

Skiers are losing thousands by booking on fake chalet websites

‘Don’t stop skiing’ say parents of teenager killed on chairlift

Ben Clatworthy

Ben Clatworthy

One family paid more than £8,000 to scam website rightski.com, which took chalet images from genuine sites

Skiers booking chalets online are being warned about scam websites, where the fraudsters have no right to sell the chalets listed.

Abta (formerly the Association of British Travel Agents) says that this is a “growing problem”.

One family told Ski+board they paid £8,000 by bank transfer in September to book a chalet in Val d’Isère over the New Year, which they found on the website rightski.com.

The site advertised luxury chalets across the Alps, despite having no affiliation with the property owners.

The site is now offline and the victims, who did not wish to be named, are trying to get their money back. But an investigation

by Ski+board uncovered another website, chalethunter.com, with an identical design to rightski.com and

employing the same tactics. This too is currently offline.

A group of luxury British tour operators reported rightski.com to the Serious Fraud Office, but were told that until a crime had been reported their hands were tied.

Malcolm Kerr, sales manager of luxury operator Bramble Ski, said: “These fake websites use hugely discounted prices to lure people in, and steal images from legitimate travel companies’ websites.”

Abta spokesman Sean Tipton said there were simple precautions people could take when booking online, such as looking for reviews of the company. He added: “If a company does not accept credit or debit card payments, be very suspicious. If you pay by bank transfer, you have no protection whatsoever.”

Wolves spark hostage drama Photo: Kuhnmi

Angry French sheep farmers held the president of the Vanoise National Park hostage overnight in September, demanding the right to shoot wolves.

They say there have been 130 wolf attacks this year, up from 105 in 2014.

The 50 farmers locked him in with a park director and employee at a meeting with the prefecture in Bramans, which finally granted them the right to kill six wolves this year.

In Switzerland the protected status of wolves living in packs was recently relaxed, just before a second pack appeared in the canton of Ticino.

Wolves are not universally popular in the Alps

Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

skiclub.co.uk

The family of a schoolboy killed on a chairlift have said they don’t want their son’s death to deter Britons from skiing or schools from offering trips.

Kieran Brookes, 14, was strangled in Châtel, France, in 2011 after his backpack became tangled in the chair as he tried to get off.

A criminal trial into the accident began last month. Richard Cettour, 50, a lift attendant, is accused of not being at his post when the accident happened and the lift company is accused of failing to enforce a rule banning rucksacks from being worn on chairlifts. The trial continues.

Avalanche toll in France reaches ten-year high Forty-five people were killed in French avalanches last season, making it the deadliest year in that country since 2005-6 when 57 deaths were recorded.

The figures account for the period from October 1, 2014, to September 31, 2015, and were made worse by the death of seven climbers in the Ecrins national park on September 15.

The late start to the season, resulting in fragile snowpack, was a major contributory factor. In the 2013-14 season 26 people were killed, and just nine the year before.

Great! You must speak French to your instructor Only recently have British skiers been able to find native English speakers to teach them in the Alps, with the evident advantages that brings.

But two French ski schools have now launched ski-cum-language classes. Ski-Cool says its bilingual ski instructors in Val Thorens will help children hone their linguistic skills in group lessons, while Morzine’s French Alpine School (formerly called Lost in Translation) offers skiing with the ESF followed by classroom sessions in the late afternoon.

So why does the idea not grab us?

NEWS

20

Head of Megève ski school in fracas over the right to teach

Instructor has his membership reinstated on eve of court ruling

Colin Nicholson

Colin Nicholson

The battle over the right to teach skiing turned ugly at the annual jamboree of the Ecole du Ski Français held this year in Serre Chevalier.

Veteran instructor Jean-Philippe Sanson took the podium for bronze on April 17, but an altercation with the head of the ESF in Megève, Cyprien Durand, in a hotel afterwards left the 64-year-old in hospital in Briançon for seven days, with several fractures and requiring an operation to his eye.

Sanson has been a vocal critic of the ESF, winning a case against it last year over the ‘intergenerational pact’ which the ESF adopted in 2007 and modified in 2012. The court ruled that a clause in the pact that required instructors over the age of 60 to reduce their hours outside of school holidays was discriminatory.

Durand appeared on TV at the time of Simon Butler’s trial in April 2014, which Ski+board attended, to explain why the ESF backed the prosecution.

He told the France 3 channel: “We want to protect the status of our profession. We have a level of competence that is recognised by the administration and our pupils alike.”

He did not reply to Ski+board‘s request for comment. However, he told regional newspaper Le Dauphiné after the incident that he was sorry for losing his temper, but said he had been assaulted by Sanson.

Simon Butler, the instructor at the centre of the cause célèbre of British ski instruction in France, has had his membership of Basi reinstated days before an Edinburgh court was due to rule on the legality of his suspension.

Basi, the British Association of Snowsport Instructors, expelled Butler at its annual meeting at the London Ski Show in November last year.

But Basi says it will maintain its defence in a second case, scheduled for November 18, in which Butler is pursuing the association for more than £500,000, saying it denied him the official stamp that allows suitably qualified instructors to teach in France.

Talking to Ski+board after Basi’s decision to reinstate him, Butler said: “When you’ve been through what I’ve been through you feel vindicated.

Until now I’ve stood alone, being told that what I was doing was wrong and was ruining things for other people.”

In a statement, Basi chief executive Andrew Lockerbie said the decision to reinstate Butler was made “on the basis of legal advice”. He sought to reassure members about Basi’s situation in the coming judicial hearing saying: “Basi is protected by insurance from claims such as this and in a ‘worst case scenario’ this will not negatively affect Basi financially.”

The French judge at Butler’s trial in April 2014 noted it was odd that

Bond learns to ski again

Briton aims for second record

Bond is back on skis for the first time since 1999 in Spectre, filmed in Sölden, Austria. Daniel Craig was said to have taken ski lessons before filming, though he wasn’t able to send the doubles packing. We know how it feels when you’re a bit rusty…

Speed skier Jan Farrell aims to become the fastest man on skis… on sand.

Lancaster-born Farrell, 32, became FIS Speed Ski World Cup Champion last year in the SDH category, which uses conventional downhill gear. This year he joined the bigger S1 category, but is also looking to new challenges.

In May, he beat the indoor record set by Austrian Klaus Schrottshammer, hitting 105kph in Amnéville, France.

This autumn he hopes to beat the sand skiing record of 92kph, set by German-born Henrik May in Namibia.

Speeding around Sun Peaks — Page 30

Simon Butler in court in Bonneville last year

in Britain a private company decided who was entitled to instruct.

Butler had been arrested two months before in Megève, where he runs tuition-based ski holidays, for teaching without the carte pro qualified ski instructors must hold.

While his defence also contested the case of six less qualified instructors he employed, who were charged alongside him, Butler himself says he was unable to obtain a carte pro because that season Basi did not issue him with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) stamp.

The judge found Butler guilty, but an appeal court in April this year overturned two convictions over paperwork and employment law, and referred the criminal case over his ability to teach to a civil court.

Speed skier Jan Farrell in Andorra in March

Photo credit: Dave Lehl / Athlete: Mirjam Jaeger / Conception & Graphic Design :

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F E MAL E

M O U N TA I N

G U I DES face the toughest challenge

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Think of a mountain guide and you may conjure up the image of a weather-beaten, wiry man who’s out every day, whatever the weather, and we admire his rugged, macho persona.

But today my guides are Eva Eskilsson, 33, a small woman with a big smile, and taller Liz Smart, 35, who show up at the Aiguille du Midi cable car with ice axes and ropes to take me and their other guests down the glacier.

Chamonix has a long history of Alpinism and boomed in the late 19th century as adventure travel — Victorian-style — took off. It hosted the first Winter Olympics

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in 1924 and is, in short, the last place you’d expect two women to be accepted into the guiding fraternity. So how did they do it?

Eva grew up in Sundsvall, central Sweden, and in such a progressive country had little concept of what was ‘man’s’ work — she planned to be a civil engineer. But during her studies in Grenoble, she met her partner, Wolfgang Huber, and life took a turn. He had skied and climbed since childhood in southern Austria and was training to be a guide while studying.

So she moved to Chamonix, began training and now runs Mountain Spirit Guides with Wolfgang. She explains: “It felt natural I should guide with my boyfriend. We’re in the mountains nearly every day and I like to inspire people and challenge their limits.”

Until she passes her final exams she’s an aspirant, which means she can work only with fully qualified guides, who act as her supervisor.

Liz also grew up in the snow — in Aspen, Colorado — where

Photo: Patrik Lindqvist

Two women have beaten chauvinism and red tape to break into the ski guiding fraternity.

Magnus Wiström found out how

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Maybe once a week a guide will ask where I got my guiding pin.

At first I was quite defensive. Now I just tell them it was a surprise in my cereal box

LIZ SMART

older guides who are most surprised.”

Most people Eva has met have been positive. She says: “There are now more girls who are good climbers and skiers.” But she adds: “You may not be taken for a guide when they see you.”

Casual sexism aside, being a guide is a demanding job, so I ask Liz and Eva why they made a career of it. They reply, without hesitation, that they get a buzz out of seeing clients achieve things they couldn’t have done alone.

“I love giving people amazing

Photo: Patrik Lindqvist

her father was a ski instructor. After taking courses in avalanche safety and backcountry skiing at school, she decided to become a guide aged 16, moving to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

It was there she met her husband, Miles Smart, and freeride skier Doug Coombs. Doug urged Liz and Miles to join him in the Alps. And when Liz came in 2002 she was overwhelmed at the top of the Aiguille du Midi.

“That huge, exposed terrain with the massive glacier was foreign to me,” Liz says. She and Miles started guiding in La Grave with Doug, before making Chamonix their home.

She’s been an authorised mountain guide for a few years and runs Smart Mountain Guides with Miles.

Boarding the cable car, I ask what reaction the women get when guiding. Liz says: “Maybe once a week another guide, usually French or Swiss, will ask where I got my pin. At first I was quite defensive. Now I just tell them it was a surprise in my cereal box and ask ‘where did you get yours?’

— that gets a better reaction. It’s the

The women have a level of concern for guests that many of the more gung-ho male guides lack

experiences,” Eva says. “They are so excited if you take them to places they couldn’t reach on their own.”

Putting clients first comes naturally to Liz too, who says: “The best thing is being with clients who are having a really good time.” Neither woman has a hint of the gruff ‘follow me’ attitude of so many of their male counterparts.

When pushed, both admit that living up to clients’ expectations can be hard. Eva says: “It’s still a job and it’s not always fun, though it usually is. It’s also quite physical and I need to find a balance, so I have the time and energy to get out in the mountains on my own and take care of myself. If you don’t, you can get pretty tired.”

Liz finds it hard if the conditions are poor and clients are disappointed.

She says: “I always worry about if they are enjoying it, if it’s too hard for them or if they are doing what they hoped — plus wishing I could find better powder.”

Then there’s the thorny issue of working in France. Eva is finding it a bit of a Catch 22 situation trying to get fully qualified. You must put in hours of training, but it’s hard to get enough under your belt due to the strict rules.

“As an aspirant, it’s easier with climbing. With a group of four guests, I can take two and the lead guide can take the other two,” she says. When it comes to skiing, aspirants have fewer opportunities to work, as one guide

can take up to six guests himself. The trainee may be able to follow as an additional guide to get the hours, but will not necessarily be paid for it.

As we watch the town shrink below us, the women say that, despite the red tape, they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else and love the fact Chamonix attracts like-minded, active people from all over the world.

“It’s very multinational,” says Eva. “We’ve come to know people with the same interests as us. It’s fun that people come here from so many places to experience life, rather than pursue a career that earns them lots of money.”

Liz agrees, saying: “It would have been hard for us to move somewhere that was all French. We’re learning French and speak it often, but the mix of cultures makes it easy to integrate.”

As we exit the cable car and head into the sunshine to take in the views, I ask them for their favourite run. They both name the 2,500m vertical descent of the Glacier Rond, from high on the west face of the Aiguille du Midi. Liz says: “It’s steep, but you can ski all the way down without a lot of monkey business with ropes or crampons.”

But it’s one of those tricky runs that she would only take one or two clients down at a time, she admits.

Eva, who also likes the Cosmiques Couloir, to skier’s left of the Glacier Rond, adds: “You get a lot of vertical and good steep runs in Chamonix. But I just try to choose the best snow for the company. It’s the choice of runs that make Chamonix special.”

I wonder how they manage not to tread on local guides’ toes and ask if

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where Doug fell trying to rescue his friend Chad VanderHam, to try to comprehend what had happened. It was a run that Doug, who had twice been World Extreme Skiing Champion, had skied several times. Liz took a year off from training, pondering if this really was the career for her. But given the alternative of an office job, she felt this was where she loved to be, and wanted to help others have a safer experience in the mountains.

Liz knows well the pressures heaped on guides. She says: “Once on Mont Blanc the weather turned really bad so we had to turn back. We had this

Briton who claimed he had signed the papers to accept the risk, and expected us to continue, no matter what. We had to sit with him for 20 minutes to explain that was not an option.”

What hits me, as we run through the safety briefing and put on skis, is how self-deprecating the women are.

During the descent, they talk about their achievements and goals with refreshing modesty, saying how much they owe their mentors, and warn against rushing into the career, saying the more on-mountain experience you can get beforehand the better.

Eva found training fun, but warns:

Liz Smart became acutely aware of the risks of extreme skiing after her mentor, Doug Coombs, died Photo: Poa Andersson

there’s been any animosity, but I get the impression that the women are careful not to ruffle any feathers.

“We try to market our company just to the US,” says Liz. “We’ve a handful of Scandinavian and British clients, but try really hard not to compete with the local French guides. There’s obviously some competition, but we’ve always got on well with other guides.”

The competition between guides is something Eva is more relaxed about.

She feels they should support each other for the good of the profession, saying: “If the guides and guiding companies all do a good job, everyone will benefit, because more people will want to hire a guide.”

While they are obviously model colleagues, the women’s day job is a world away from the safe working space most of us know. Assessing hazards and keeping clients safe is something they take in their stride. But how do they keep calm without being worn down worrying about the risks?

Eva says: “I try to guide in situations that don’t involve large objective risks.

You choose the size of risks you take.”

Similarly, Liz errs on the side of caution, saying: “When I’m guiding, I feel I don’t take a lot of risks.”

Liz is open about taking slightly greater risks when she skis on her own or with friends. But with clients she’s never had any avalanche or crevasse incidents. There have been times when she has gone up the mountain intent on skiing something, only to have to replan the whole day. She explains: “The clients pay us to keep them safe, so I do my best to manage the risks.”

Again, I get a hint of the more nurturing side of these women that surely works in their favour in a job that people often perceive as needing a gung-ho attitude and air of bravado.

Even experienced professionals can fall victim to the whims of the mountain. As we climb gingerly down the narrow ridge leading to the start of the Vallée Blanche, with skis strapped to our backpacks, Liz opens up about the death of Doug Coombs in La Grave in 2006 and how it affected her. Doug had been a mentor to her and Miles, and they had been guiding together on the steep skiing camps Doug was running in La Grave.

The day after the accident, Liz and Miles skied the Couloir de Polichinelle,

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“It’s less stressful if you’re well prepared before taking responsibility for other people in the mountains.”

Liz says: “When I was 16, I thought it was more about taking people hiking in the mountains. I didn’t realise how dangerous mountains could be and how big the responsibility was.”

She started guiding in the US, which you can do before going through the full training programme, and says it was good to see what guiding was all about before fully committing to it.

Most importantly, she adds: “Find people to mentor you. I was really lucky to have some great mentors like Doug Coombs and, of course, Miles.”

If all goes to plan, Eva will qualify in spring. On the courses, she’s on the mountain every day doing practical exercises, then has several days of theory with different themes. She says: “Most of the training is practical but it’s combined with theory. There are a lot of things you’re expected to know. You should be an experienced

EVA ESKILSSON

Competition is not an issue.

If guides do a good job all of us benefit as more skiers will want to hire a guide mountain climber and skier before you begin the course.”

Liz and Miles now run the Steep Camps company that was founded by Doug. They were his chosen successors and, for a week every season, lead the intensive course.

Liz has also recently started running a women-only steep camp. She says: “A lot of women get intimidated when skiing with men and they feel more comfortable when they’re around other women. So it’s a freeing experience for them to do a ski camp with only women, and they’re all very supportive of each other.”

So what do they do during their time off? Eva laughs: “I go skiing.”

At the bottom of the run, they don’t need to ask me if I have enjoyed myself — they can tell by the beaming smile on my face. They, in turn, break into huge smiles themselves, content that they have another happy customer who has had an amazing experience — and made it safely to the bottom of the run.

To ski with Eva and Liz contact Mountain Spirit Guides (mountain-spirit-guides.com) and Smart Mountain Guides (smartmountainguides.com).

Picture: La Meije by ET Compton

The celebrities of their day Marking the role of female mountaineers Women are no newcomers to the world of guiding and climbing, and their achievements are marked in a new exhibition in Chamonix.

The Ladies’ Alpine Club was formed in London in 1907, as the Alpine Club did not admit women, and the two clubs merged only in 1975. This winter their archives — which include rare books, expedition reports and more than 50 paintings — are exhibited in the French town’s Alpine Museum.

They chronicle the adventures of pioneers such as Lucy Walker. Having started climbing with her father and brother in 1858, she went on to make 98 expeditions up to 1879. Careful to preserve her femininity, she always wore a skirt, and ate cake and drank champagne while climbing to alleviate chronic altitude sickness.

She was the first woman to conquer 16 summits, her most notable ascent being the Matterhorn in 1871, just six years after Edward Whymper’s disastrous climb. He referred to Walker as a “celebrity”.

Another Briton, Isabella Straton,

made the first winter ascent of Mont Blanc in January 1876 and caused a stir by marrying her French guide.

They named a peak in the Aiguille Rouge massif Perseverance after the perseverance they had shown in their love for each other.

The Treasures of the Alpine Club opens on December 17 and runs to April 15, 2016. To find out more visit bit.ly/chamonix-expo Ben Clatworthy

Lucy, Frank and Horace Walker with their guides

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Itching to put those skates on as winter approaches? There can’t be a more spectacular setting than Interlaken’s Top of Europe ICE MAGIC, which begins a second season on 19 December and runs to 27 February

Within sight of the Jungfrau and overlooked by the Harder mountain, the centre of the town is transformed into a winter wonderland with a 750 square metre ice-skating arena with three other rinks, all linked by 450-metre-long runways curving between them. One of them is a beginners’ rink with ice-skating aids for children.

You can try your hand at Bavarian curling, relax in the winter lounge, and enjoy the illuminations and fringe programme. Besides open-air market stands serving warming drinks such as hot

chocolate and mulled wine, there is an igloo restaurant offering the traditional family sharing experience of a fondue.

On your doorstep are enough slopes for a month of skiing without repeating a run. The most popular are those reached by charming narrow-gauge railways around Wengen, Grindelwald, Kleine Scheidegg and Mürren, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as the incomparable backdrop.

But closer to Interlaken are some delightful smaller ski areas where you can be guaranteed to find quieter slopes and a tranquil atmosphere: snow-sure Axalp is an insider tip for off-piste enthusiasts; challenging slopes can be found in the mountain village of Habkern; the Niederhorn sun terrace is popular with winter walkers and sledging fans; Hohwald in Beatenberg is a beginner-friendly area; and the richly varied snowy landscape of Schwanden-Wilerallmi enjoys exceptional views of Lake Thun.

To appreciate the beauty of the mountains

surrounding the lake, you can take a winter cruise when cheese fondue, Chinese fondue and raclette are served on board. Boats call at lakeside villages decorated for the Christmas festivities such as Oberhofen with its fairytale castle, frost lacing the trees and snow giving a brilliance to the picturepostcard scenes. During the Christmas period the lake’s elegant 1906-built paddlesteamer Blümisalp will be gracing the waters and enchanting young and old by its mesmerising, immaculately kept engines.

After the Christmas markets comes New Year’s Eve with Switzerland’s longest celebration: a New Year’s Eve gala dinner, the mega Touch the Mountains free concert on New Year’s Day and the masked Harderpotschete procession on 2 January. And on 23 January, there is the 73rd Inferno Race, the ‘craziest ski race in the world’, when 1,850 amateur skiers will hurtle down from Kleines Schilthorn towards Lauterbrunnen. interlaken.ch

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The prime skiing area of the Bernese Oberland has been attracting Brits for a century, and it’s easy to see why

There were good reasons why Sir Arnold Lunn and a group of Englishmen chose Mürren as the place to found the Kandahar Ski Club in 1924: they recognised that some of the best alpine skiing was to be found in this stunningly beautiful arena.

Today it offers over 200km of ski slopes – all covered by one ski pass and catering for all abilities.

The slopes range from fast to leisurely and from 6–12km in length, and 40 per cent of them are covered by snow-making machines. Two of the most challenging runs are the Lauberhorn, famous for the 4.5km Lauberhorn Races in Wengen (on 15–17 January), and the 14.9km Inferno in Mürren, the White Elements fun park on Grindelwald-First is perfect for young families and ‘tempo 30 slopes’ are for skiers who like to take it a bit more easily.

Grindelwald lies embedded in the unique, natural alpine landscape at the foot of the famous north face of the Eiger. Both Wengen and Mürren are car-free, enchanting oases of peace and intoxicating air ideal for families. Wengen has a fantastic panorama to Mt. Jungfrau, but all the village resorts are surrounded by mountain views and all are linked by an efficient network of narrow-gauge railways and cable cars.

Besides the pistes, there is a snow park for freestylers on Grindelwald-First where a new halfpipe is opening this winter in the White Elements Park.

Freestyle fans shouldn’t miss the 130m long and 5.7m high halfpipe.

For a day off skiing, the area has 100km of sledding routes (including the world’s longest sledding run) and winter hiking trails, and there is always the option of going to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe by

the railway – the main reason many summer visitors come to the Bernese Oberland.

Another new, all-year attraction is the circular First Cliff Walk summit trail, which consists of a cliff-face walkway, a 40-metre suspension bridge and an observation platform reached by spiral staircase with spectacular views towards the Eiger.

With the 2-for-1 winter special offer, one person books the package and the second person enjoys the same benefits free of charge. The package includes 2 nights’ accommodation including breakfast and a 3-day Jungfrau Sportpass. You can choose a hotel from all categories. The package can only be booked online at jungfrau.ch/2for1.

For more information about snow holidays in the Jungfrau region, please visit jungfrau.ch

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‘MINE’S BIGGER THAN YOURS’ Last season Sun Peaks became Canada’s second biggest ski area. Neil English decided to go large

D

Photo: Adam Stein/Sun Peaks

eep in the snowy heart of British Columbia lies a little-known, underestimated resort. And it might have stayed that way, but the addition of 600 acres of new terrain last season is catapulting Sun Peaks to the status of Canada’s second ski area, behind only Whistler, North America’s outright leader, with 8,000 acres.

Not bad for a local ski hill called Tod Mountain which, when it opened in 1961 with just a single two-person chairlift, was known only to skiers from Kamloops, 50 minutes away.

I flew to Kamloops from Vancouver, keen to ski the terrain that knocked Alberta’s Lake Louise one place down the leader board. It’s part of a steady expansion the authorities got right from day one. The village’s attractive network of pedestrianised streets is lined with boutiques, restaurants, bars and hotels, including the woodfronted Grand, where I was staying.

From its pool, I could look out over what the French call a front-de-neige, where hire shops and cafés lead out on to beginner slopes and lifts — a refreshing alternative in a continent where so many ski resorts are far from the nearest village or town, and have only the most basic amenities on site.

After 1961, Sun Peaks went on to embrace two more mountains, Morrisey and Sundance, which offered me a peaceful wealth of easy, egoboosting, runs, with islands of trees in the middle providing Sun Peaks’ own atmospheric brand of gladed groomers.

It was the development of these two

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Photo: Hayden King/Sun Peaks

A new ski-out road has helped open up 600 skiable acres of terrain in an area that also offers cross-country skiing trails

mountains that turned the resort into an international destination, third on Canada’s ‘size does matter’ podium, with its 3,678 acres of skiable terrain.

For years the number two spot was held as if by right by Lake Louise. But the new terrain brings Sun Peaks’ skiable acreage to 4,270 — 70 more than Alberta’s resort, leading Sun Peaks to splash the ‘Canada’s second largest ski area’ accolade across its lift map and signs all over the village.

I asked at Lake Louise what they thought of this ‘mine’s bigger than yours’ move and its spokesman Dan Markham sportingly admitted defeat, saying: “As of right now, it is true they are ever so slightly bigger than us.”

But he added: “Perhaps you haven’t heard our latest news? Parks Canada have just approved our expansion.”

This will apparently add hundreds of skiable acres, new lodging and lifts. So the message to Sun Peaks seems to be: “Enjoy the limelight while you can.”

Before I went in search of the new descents on which I hoped to bask in Sun Peaks’ reflected glory, I wanted to fully reacquaint myself with the joy of cruising Sun Peaks’ manicured pistes on this, my third visit to the resort.

In my opinion, the grooming here is second to none. The pistes at Sun Peaks always take an edge, giving you confidence to trust your edges, mix up the radius size of your turns, play with speed and get the exhilaration that carries us through the summer months.

I rode up Tod Mountain on the still very slow Burfield quad. During

the 20-minute ride I recalled the last time I did the run from the top with my snowboarding buddy Joe. Having agreed not to stop, we flew down the steepish Spillway hitting top speed as it threw us on to the perfectly pisted green Five Mile run all the way back down to the village.

Joe was leant right over, carving his edge into the piste, his outstretched glove skimming the surface on every turn, while I front loaded my tips as aggressively as I could, throwing my hips as close to the piste as my ample body allowed for maximum torque before catapulting into the next turn.

I could hear Joe giggling in thrilled excitement, and it set me off into fits of laughter to the point I thought I might lose control at what was still a frightening speed on a piste as flat as a pancake. But we got down and exchanged high fives… at the bottom of the bunny run.

For readers who think me vaguely irresponsible, let me explain: North American resorts are amazingly empty from Monday to Friday in a continent where ten days’ holiday a year is

Ski+board

quite normal. And lift queues? Forget them. Moreover that run was perfect training for what awaited me at the top of the lift — skiing with Olympic gold medallist Nancy Greene.

Even at 72, Nancy has a scary amount of energy. And I mean scary.

Not only is she the long-time director of skiing at Sun Peaks and owner of the resort’s 175room Cahilty Lodge with her husband Al Raine — the town’s mayor — who joined us, but she’s also one of Canada’s hundred or so senators.

And she doesn’t let up on the skiing either, deploying a blistering speed that only a top racer can so quickly conjure up. She decided the place to start was… the Headwall where every March Sun Peaks hosts its speed skiing competition.

Gulp.

The 30-degree slope had a pleasing chalky surface that would grip an edge but had been slightly bumped out by skiers that morning. As I was mulling tactics, Nancy sailed down it with such grace and style it might have been a nursery slope. Al skied it well too.

Remarkably little time seemed to elapse between when I set off and

Olympic gold medallist Nancy Greene tries to ski with resort guests most Saturdays and Sundays, when her other duties, including being a grandmother, allow

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when I reached the bottom, my lungs bursting as I’d forgotten to breathe.

I looked back in awe, spluttering to Al: “I can’t believe racers go into a tuck down that entire face — it looks like there’s hardly any space to stop.”

Al replied: “Well, that is an issue. We spend a lot of time building an uphill run-out to help skiers in the short braking zone.” So now he tells me!

Photo: Royce Sihlis/Sun Peaks

beyond it the Cariboo mountains.

Look east on a very clear day and you can see Revelstoke and the Monashee mountains. West is Whistler in the Coastal mountains. South presents the rolling hills down into the grasslands of British Columbia’s ranches, but to the south-west you can also see the tree-lined trails of a local ski hill called Harper and, on a really clear day, the resorts of Big White and Silver Star.

Sadly, the weather had been a little too clear of late, as was the case for many resorts in the Rockies, and the snow pack in early January was too thin to venture into Gil’s — the area was closed. But a quick traverse enabled me to take a good look at the extent of the off-piste, which offers some attractive looking pitches.

The second expansion is the addition of two expert trails on Morrisey’s west face, known locally as ‘the washing machine zone’. Though again, there

The wine festival week is unique to Sun Peaks

Photo: Adam Stein/Sun Peaks

Incredibly, Nancy still tries to ski with resort guests on most Saturdays and Sundays, if her many other duties, including being a grandmother, allow.

Like most North American resorts, Sun Peaks has volunteer guides to show you around the mountain at no cost.

They take all comers, splitting you into groups by ability. If Nancy thinks you’re up for speed it’s real treat — if you can get used to munching the Olympic champion’s powder smoke.

The days passed quickly too. One evening I went snowmobiling and had a meal cooked over a camp fire.

There were also après bars to explore after skiing hard from 8.30am to 4pm.

Often I ended up looking out of the window longingly at the Grand’s mountain-view pool and hot tubs.

But I didn’t miss the other facilities, including the lounge bar, fine dining restaurant, and even nightclub, as well as its excellent hire shop, Elevation.

Which brings me back to skiing and the recent expansion. A former out-of-bounds area, accessed from the top of the Burfield chair and known as Gil’s Zone, has had a lower ski-out road added, increasing the vertical drop, with a few trees cleared. Though you still have to traverse to reach it (there are no lifts in Gil’s Zone), it is now patrolled for avalanche danger, bringing it within the resort’s ski area.

It’s worth stopping a moment on the plateau at the top of the Burfield chair to take in the magnificent 360-degree views. Due north is the striking peak of Mount Dunn, at 2,635m, and

of fantastic skiing and never felt disappointed on this visit. Well, not on account of the skiing. I could forgive the tourist office for assuring me the snowfall had been a fraction of what was usual for this time of year. I could almost forgive them for adding: “It’s such a pity because there’s a massive snowstorm forecast for next week.”

But what I cannot forgive them for is telling me I should have come the following week for the annual Sun Peaks Okanagan Wine Festival. Now I love Okanagan wine. Long ago it was only possible to find decent ice wine from these parts, made from grapes plucked just after the first frost. But the popularity of ice wine has led local vintners to grow hugely in stature.

The festival is unique to Sun Peaks, and what a fabulous pairing it is. Ski all day, come off the hill to indulge in a wine crawl savouring as much as you can handle, from a multitude of

Mount Morrisey offers gentle blue and green runs… and double black runs if you stray off them

was not enough snow on them for me to take a spin there.

Morrisey is a Jekyll-and-Hyde mountain. The east side offers greens and blues that weave in and out of the trees. The west side draws you in with equally enticing blues.

But head off the Grand Return, as I did, and the route rolls over dramatically, committing you to a long, steep, heavily bumped, double black diamond run, called Spin Cycle, with shrubs and rocks adding to the excitement, right down to the village.

Despite not being able to experience the new terrain, I revelled in plenty

wine makers, with snacks, music and performances thrown in — all for C$60 (£30). A veritable après-ski utopia!

So to help other wine-lovers avoid my disappointment, next year’s festival runs from January 14 and 24. And you may just get lucky with the snow too.

Neil travelled as a guest of Ski Safari (skisafari.com; 01273 224060), which offers ten nights at the Grand Hotel from £1,109 per person, based on two sharing, including Air Canada flights and shuttle bus transfers. The price does not include breakfast, but you can go half-board for an extra £35.50 per person per day.

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Fancy trying the fastest, non-motorised sport on Earth?

Photo: Adam Stein/Sun Peaks

Sun Peaks is one of the few resorts with a speed skiing track open to the public. And it is not for faint hearts, says Chris Exall

S

un Peaks not only caters for those who want to go wide, but fast.

Very fast. It is one of the few resorts to offer speed skiing — billed as the fastest, non-motorised sport on Earth.

My foray into speed skiing began, as so many journeys do, in a conversation with a friend. She, like me, was a ski coach and, like me, learnt to ski soon after learning to walk. Neither of us had any real recollection of learning to ski, it was just something we did.

We were discussing fear, and how hard it was to empathise with terrified novices. To do so she had learnt to ski jump and nearly wet herself. Now, she declared, it was my turn to relearn fear. And I chose speed skiing.

I used to race, but the idea of going at speeds of up to 250kph (150mph) was new to me. Even on a Downhill course skiers reach just 145kph (90mph). And if an app on your phone says you regularly do even 80kph (50mph) on piste, it’s wrong, trust me.

You need a dedicated space for speed skiing — the ski patrol would take a dim view if you attempted it on piste. Resorts such as Sun Peaks and Vars open their tracks to the public, with the French resort being especially user-friendly — it is open to anyone over the age of six from Thursday to Sunday, with former record holder

Philippe Billy on hand. Verbier in Switzerland runs a recreational challenge near Les Ruinettes, and failing that many resorts have simple speed traps by the side of runs. But, having accepted my friend’s challenge, I was going to do it properly — at the dedicated slope at Les Arcs, in France.

I’d managed to get hold of 240cm speed skis (normal carving skis would wobble like a bridge in an earthquake) and a helmet that is designed to come off in a fall, lest it take your head with it. What I was painfully aware I lacked was the custom-made suit that would allow the high speed slide to a halt that shiny vinyl allows.

And I was looking down a very steep slope. Yes, I felt fear. Hitting the deck at any speed would hurt a lot.

Sure the track was wide and free of obstacles, but so are motorways and you wouldn’t jump out of a car.

I’ve stood at a fair few start gates in my time and this felt very different.

Things went quiet and I listened to my pulse. Then there was the signal I was clear to go. I skated once, skated twice, then tucked.

The first thing I noticed was the noise, deep like a jet engine. Then there was the drag. This increases by the square of your speed and I felt I was being pushed by a wall of

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oncoming air. To get a sense of it stick your hand out of a car window palm forward on a deserted stretch of motorway and try to push it forward.

But most of all I was concentrating.

I remembered that my skis had to be flat — if you catch an edge recoveries are hard to find. I was now in freefall, trying to keep my skis pressed on the snow and forcing my hands together to stay in a tuck, with my head down, but my eyes raised until I passed that blessed line in the snow that marked the end of the speed trap.

I also remembered to straighten up slowly. Forget that bit and the blast will knock you flat on your back.

Then there was another noise, like a beating drum. I’d remembered to breathe again and my heart was delighted to be able to return to work.

The whole thing had taken all of ten seconds. Checking the scoreboard, I saw my figure — 98mph or 157kph.

A curious mix of feelings set in as I sat down, a combination of the most fantastic high with, deeper down, my core shaking with a relief that I last felt when I narrowly escaped being embroiled in a drive-by shooting.

Was this the terror novice skiers feel in that first, out of control, run on the nursery slope? If so all credit to them.

Am I tempted to go back to try and break the 100mph barrier? Forget it.

If I want to find out what beginners feel like on bunny runs, next time I’ll jolly well join them on a bunny run.

Where and when did you fall in love with Switzerland?

Share your love story at MySwitzerland.com/yourstory or use the hashtag #INLOVEWITHSWITZERLAND to share it via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. The best stories will win a trip back to the destination they fell in love with.

ADVERTORIAL

From new pistes to swanky lifts, Switzerland is better than ever this winter Millions of Brits have fallen in love with Switzerland and its skiing since a Norwegian introduced skis to Davos in 1888.

The man who did most to promote the joys of early Swiss skiing, Arnold Lunn, recorded that he fell in love with skiing in Adelboden in 1903.

It’s no surprise that Switzerland has inspired such emotions.

Quite apart from the beauty, scale and extent of its mountains, the country has created many of the world’s best-equipped ski resorts, served by the world’s finest public transport system and a national airline that doesn’t charge for skis (and gives Ski Club Members £25 off flights).

And this season the skiing is better than ever thanks to a raft of new lifts and improvements at resorts across the country.

For long downhill runs, Titlis above Engelberg takes some beating: the longest from the 3,020m-high peak is over 12km, and snowblowers ensure that skiing on the glacier is possible from October through to May. The higher of the 80km of pistes are mostly red and black runs, and the area’s celebrated powder snow makes it a paradise for those looking for pristine off-piste experiences.

From 12 December guests will be able to ride from Engleberg–Trübsee–Stand in just 15 minutes – half the previous time – by the TITLIS Xpress. The new eight-seater gondolas have level, walk-in entry and exit, and capacity will increase by 1,000 riders an hour to 2,475. Titlis is already known for pioneering technology: it introduced the world’s first revolving cabin.

Engelberg itself is an enchanting mountain village at the end of a picturesque railway from Lucerne. It is dominated by the colossal Benedictine monastery, which offers visitors concerts and produces delicious cheeses.

Also in the Lake Lucerne Region, the famous mountain of Pilatus has a new attraction: the ‘Dragon Ride’ aerial cableway whose spacious interior and cockpit-like design gives the impression of flying. It is reached by cable car and continues from there to Pilatus Kulm. Other thrills on the mountain are provided by sledges, toboggans, mini-bobs, snowbikes and the Pilatus Rope Park, with a 1,350m all-weather toboggan run.

Hard on the heals of Lenzerheide joining its ski area with Arosa to create 225km of runs, this winter will see cable cars created by Porsche Design replacing a chairlift between Churwalden and Heidbüel. The eight-seat cars will take just five minutes, and the valley station has an information office, sports shop with equipment rental, ski school office and a restaurant.

Joining the two ski areas catapaulted the Graubünden resorts into the top ten of Swiss skiing destinations with 43 lifts serving the runs, of which just over half are red or black and reach 2,865m asl. The village is known for its authentic alpine lodges, and even widely skied visitors are astonished by the location and quality of the Rothorngipfel panoramic restaurant – and especially the professionally guided sledge run after dinner, returning to your hotel by the light of the moon.

The sports car designer theme continues at Laax where Pininfarina, best known for Ferraris, has designed the 10-place La Siala cable cars for a new 3.3km route replacing the old three-person chairlift. The fully glazed cable cars even have heated seat cushions powered by solar panels at the base station and will take guests up to La Siala in just nine minutes.

Situated in the mountains lying to the north of the Vorderrhein valley and reached by PostBus from Chur, Laax became a ski resort in 1962 and has become Europe’s leading freestyle destination with over 90 obstacles. Joined with Flims and Falera, it has one of the largest and most snow-sure ski areas in Switzerland with four snowparks and 235km of slopes reached by 29 lifts, all covered by a single pass.

Laax boasts the world’s largest permanently operated halfpipe, 200m long and 6.9m high, in the NoName snowpark.

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Even when it’s blowing a blizzard outside, it doesn’t mean snowboarding time is being lost, thanks to the Freestyle Academy, Europe’s first indoor freestyle training centre; it has a range of jumps, ramps, boxes and rails with a foam pit for crash landing as well as trampolines and skate ramps. It’s also equipped to cater for skiers and bikers. There is a centrally located bar with viewing platform over all the training facilities, and a micro-skate ramp for children aged up to five years under the supervision of parents.

Slope altitude ranges from 1,100–3,018m, but most of the 235km are above 2,000m.

The extent of the ski slopes and their variety means there’s room for everyone and slopes

for all levels of skill; 39 per cent are advanced and 32 per cent intermediate.

The Valais’ Aletsch Arena surrounds Europe’s longest glacier, and the plateau of three villages along its southern flank is also Europe’s largest pedestrian area, providing pristine air as well as 104km of perfectly groomed pistes. Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiesch enjoy fantastic views over the Rhone Valley and are reached by cable cars from stations just to the east of Brig. New for the 2015/16 season is the rebuilt two-section lift from Riederalp to Moosfluh offering a choice of eight-seat gondolas or six-seat hooded chairlifts.

A single pass covers the arena’s slopes

which lie at 1,845–2,869m , providing ideal skiing conditions from December to April with most accommodation allowing ski-in, ski-out.

One of Switzerland’s smaller ski resorts is La Fouly, also in the Valais and close to the famous St Bernard Pass. Half of the 20km of runs are black, and access to them will be greatly improved by the new lift up to Arpalle at 2,200m. For those wanting a restful atmosphere as well as skiing in sublime surroundings away from the crowds, La Fouly is perfect. It’s also much more affordable than some more fashionable resorts, and the main hotel is family-run with great food and wine.

For more inspiration go to MySwitzerland.com/winter

How to get there Ski lifts don’t charge extra for your ski equipment. Neither do SWISS. Winter fairytales begin with Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS). As the skiers’ airline, SWISS is your ideal flight partner as they have more than 180 weekly flights from the UK and Ireland to Switzerland.

Your ski and snowboard equipment travels free (excluding Economy Light fares). The all-inclusive fares start from £54 one-way, including all airport taxes, one piece checked baggage and hand luggage, meals & drinks and free ski carriage. SWISS.COM The best way for guests to reach their holiday destination is with the Swiss Transfer Ticket, covering train travel and, if necessary, connecting bus or cable car. This special ticket takes travellers from any Swiss arrival airport / border station direct to their dream destination – and back again at the end of their stay. The Swiss Transfer Ticket costs £94 (2nd class) or £151 (1st class) and is valid for one month.

Children aged under sixteen travel free of charge on Swiss trains, when accompanied by an adult holding a Swiss Transfer Ticket or Swiss Travel Pass. MySwitzerland.com/rail

37

Pilots of the peaks A Swiss ski resort hosts one of the world’s big ballooning festivals. Colin Nicholson went to find out why and give it a try

I

t was the sight of a vast, brightly coloured canopy rising like the sun from behind a piste that first fired the idea in my mind. As a skier I go up and down mountains on ski lifts and well-defined runs. But watching the balloon fill the horizon, the flame of its burner licking the air, I wondered what prompted the pilots to undertake such a whimsical form

of navigation between the sharp spires and stone curtains of the Alps.

The question stayed with me until I learnt of a ballooning festival held each January in the Swiss resort of Château d’Oex. This is where RAF pilot Brian Jones and Swiss psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard began the first roundthe-world balloon flight in March 1999, finishing 19 days later in the

Photo: Claudia Baumberger/Pays d’Enhaut

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38

pyramids. But at the festival anyone can try ballooning, so my partner and I put our names on the waiting list.

Château d’Oex has just six lifts, so while waiting for the right weather we went skiing in nearby Villars, which has nearly 200km of linked pistes and is just 90 minutes from Geneva airport.

To make the most of the day we signed up to a dinner of local specialties in an Alpine restaurant, including bone marrow served on the bone, followed by a torchlit descent, which saw our torches sputtering in the insistent wind as we skied down pristine corduroy.

Over the next few days the wind didn’t ease, so we explored the rest of the area, including Gryon and Les Diablerets. It has a new snowmaking system — a boon in a season that started so late. Happily skiing is less weather dependent than ballooning.

The furthest part of the ski area is Glacier 3000, whose pistes boast spectacular views — or would have done, had a storm not come in. We ventured on to the new suspension bridge linking its two peaks, but quickly retreated inside to tuck into a fondue of etivaz cheese, whose deep yellow colour comes from the wild flowers cows eat on the mountainside when the weather is clement. Could there be any hope of flying now?

At a pilots’ dinner in a mountain restaurant that night back in Château d’Oex we joined the balloonists, skiing down again by torchlight, though this time through the calm, deep powder the storm had left. I was starting to think that such torches would be

the only flames I would see and, as the pilots were cautious about the prospects, the next morning we moved on to nearby Rougemont and Gstaad.

In contrast to its upmarket image, Gstaad’s ski area is rural — all farmyard smells with lots of powder left untouched. I had decided I was happy to settle for this, when the call came — the flight might be on.

We rushed to the take-off ground, but a test balloon would have to go up first so there was time for lunch in the festival tent. Over veal and wild mushrooms we watched the pilots outside train their eyes upwards, across, then down, as the wind caught the test balloon.

“Why,” I asked the organisers, “do you fly in the mountains given the risks albeit in a stunning setting?”

Château d’Oex hosts one of four big European balloon festivals. But the others, including Bristol, where the world’s largest balloon maker is based, all have a predictable prevailing wind.

In fact, it is the fickleness of weather in the mountains (and rarely will a ski instructor rely on the forecast) that makes them so attractive to pilots.

They can catch lifts with currents that might reverse at a different altitude, giving them more, rather than less, manoeuvrability than in a steady wind.

Nonetheless, conditions must be right to fly and a hasty confab on the test balloon’s path ensued. Then the call went up — we were good to go.

Suddenly the launching ground was all action, with crews using giant fans to start inflating the balloons before the gas jets could take over. But I

I was bundled into the giant picnic hamper and we let go the anchor

Photo: Alexis Antille/Pays d’Enhaut

noticed that — for all the preparations — ballooning felt very ad hoc indeed.

Clutching a slip of paper with the destination box marked inconnu, I found a basket, someone shouted to get in, another gave me a leg-up and in the mêlée I lost my partner. As soon as I had been bundled into the oversize picnic hamper we let go the anchor and the upturned faces in the snow were disappearing beneath us.

Balloon baskets, I noted, are still very much made of wicker. After I had processed the sheer terror of this, I found some handles to hold on to.

Then I looked around some more.

The crew, I learnt, were from Saxony, and their main aim was to avoid bumping into the other 20 balloons, which looked like giant bouncy castles below us. The thought of jumping made me clutch the handles tighter.

At least with the wind carrying us, we didn’t feel the cold. And it was quiet, with the silence punctuated only by the regular deep sighs of the jets, and the beeping of an altimeter, which like a heart monitor, slowed the further we got from life on Earth.

I might have felt I was vanishing into space, but the pilots were busy alternating burners and tugging ropes to follow a course on a laptop. During the week-long festival, the organisers set them challenges, such as landing in a certain castle. Our touchdown was going to be equally demanding, on a patch of snow alarmingly near a crane where a new chalet was being built.

By opening a vent in the top of the canopy he hit the mark. But, my partner, who had gone for a third loo break before take-off and so ended up in another balloon, was sailing off again after a failed landing attempt.

Sometimes balloons land in the

39

Photo: Martin Söderqvist/Les Diablerets

earlier. But he arrived back, elated at having gone higher than 3,000m.

The next day, as we finally skied the pistes of Château d’Oex before our flight home, we rounded a bend to be met by a score of brightly coloured balloons rising in front of us.

And not just our friends from the day before, but the special-shaped balloons for this, the children’s afternoon, with a spaceman, snail and little owl smiling down at us — all the balloons that due to their shape need the calmest air. Little bird, we salute you, as a fellow baron of the skies.

You may be glad to have both feet back in contact with the snow after a balloon flight

middle of pistes, but skiers happily help shift baskets down the slope.

We touched down and I jumped out, glad to feel the crunch of soft snow under my boots again. The flight had lasted just an hour and now it was time to pack up the balloon and load it into the van that had followed us.

But it was when I told the crew this was my maiden flight that they

got really excited, muttering about a ritual. First they collected some bubbly, then I knelt before the pilot, who, recreating a mishap of old, lit a lock of my hair, which the co-pilot doused with wine, pronouncing me a baron of the skies. Then we downed the rest.

Back at the hotel I was a little worried that I had last seen my partner ascending into heaven three hours

Colin travelled as a guest of Switzerland Tourism (MySwitzerland.com; 00800 100 200 30). He flew to Geneva with Swiss (swiss.com). Returns from Heathrow, City and Gatwick currently start at £92 return, including food, drink, luggage and ski carriage. A return rail trip between the airport and any Swiss destination costs £104.

The festival runs from January 23 to 31.

A balloon flight costs CHF390 per adult and CHF195 per child. See festivaldeballons.ch

SKI CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN HAS DRIVEN A GREAT DEAL. S O YO U CA N D R I V E A G R E A T V O L V O. As you’d expect of a true Swedish icon, the Volvo Range delivers form and function in perfect harmony.

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HEAVENLY OFF-PISTE DEEP POWDER SNOW Enjoy the snow in Vorarlberg`s powder heaven – Lech Zürs am Arlberg Lech and its higher linked neighbour Zürs, are located in the Vorarlberg region of Austria. With 200 kilometres of high alpine deep powder snow runs Lech Zürs am Arlberg is the Eldorado for everyone who looks for their skiing enjoyment and extra kicks away from prepared pistes.

Heli Skiing Adventurous souls can get a very exclusive kick in Arlberg with heli-skiing, and, by the way, Lech Zürs am Arlberg is the only resort in Austria to offer this. Of course, there are precise restrictions on this with regard to nature conversations – only when accompanied by ski guides, in specific locations and solely on weekdays. „The White Ring“ The legendary ski circuit The 22 kilometres of ski slopes are an inspiring challenge for winter sports enthusiasts, who have to cope with altitudes of no less than 5,500 metres on the White Ring ski circuit.

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Snow and Safety Conference 4 – 6/12/2015 Lectures and workshops about mountain safety.

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Alpine off-piste descents 200 km Snowmaking 59% Six-day lift pass € 252 More info vorarlberg.travel/en and lechzuers.com

43

The Tsaatan are a tribe of Tuvans whose livelihood comes almost entirely from reindeer

— PART 2

Having failed in Russia’s Tuvan republic to find a tribe that has been skiing for 8,000 years, Andreas Hofer crosses back into Mongolia

R

ecent research suggests the first skiers came not from Scandinavia, but the Altai mountains, in Russia, Mongolia and China. And reports have emerged that the Turkic-speaking Tuvan people still use home-made skis for hunting and herding 8,000 years on. Theoretically this makes it possible to ski with the oldest skiing race… on stone age skis.

I add the word theoretically because the logistics of visiting the cradle of skiing are daunting. Having gathered two 4x4s to transport myself, a local guide, ski guide, driver, two mechanics and a mountain of camping gear from Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar to the Russian border, I was promptly forced to part with one car (and half the crew) as the number on its chassis differed by a digit from its papers. Nor was my return to the border crossing at Kyakhta — having failed to find any sign of the skiers in Russia’s Tuvan republic — going to be easier.

“If you do not go back immediately, we will have to arrest you,” a female Russian border guard told us politely.

“But we’ve queued for four hours to get here,” we protested.

“Oh you will sit in jail much longer than that,” she assured us, her finelychiselled Asiatic features breaking into a smile. Our crime this time? After we had crossed into Russia, we sent the registered driver back with the banned car to Ulaanbaatar. So we had to call the driver, who took a 326km taxi ride from Ulaanbaatar to join us, entering Russia by foot to take over the vehicle.

When we had reassembled the full team on the Mongolian side it was gone midnight. The stars were shining and we were shivering at -15°C (even in March) as we huddled in the kitchen tent. Yet the food our chef had dished up was delicious and we were glad to be together again in Mongolia.

This is a country in which a third of the three million inhabitants are still nomadic or semi-nomadic, despite the investment that followed the fall of Communism. Nowhere is this paradox more evident than in its capital, a mix of tents and skyscrapers best viewed from the holy mountain of Bogd Khan.

The peak was holy to us skiers too.

Despite the temperature, we had been starved of snow and nowhere more so than here, 500km east of target and

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not far from where Beijing will stage the 2022 Winter Olympics. So it was a miracle to stumble on Mongolia’s only ski resort. The 2,260m mountain has just two chairlifts and two T-bars for vertical descents of 190m.

But, joy, the 6km of slopes of the ‘Sky Resort’, which opened in 2012, all have artificial snowmaking — vital, since Ulaanbaatar gets less than 6mm of precipitation from the start of November to the end of March.

It was hard to believe the leaden sky had been so disobliging: skiers were out in force, children sledged and threw snowballs; workers on company outings sang and danced in the snow; and a toddler waved shyly for a photo from the ornate saddle of a camel.

Their enjoyment was in marked contrast to their Maoist uniform — grey anoraks, grey padded trousers, black ski boots. All bar a few colourful expats rent clothing and gear in resort.

For much of its history, Mongolia was muffled by its neighbours and the cloak of Communism. While in 1259 Genghis Khan’s Mongol empire stretched from Europe to Vladivostok, by the 18th Century it was under

44

Chinese rule. After a stab at autonomy in the 1910s, it took the Baltic soldier and Tsarist Baron Ungern-Sternberg and his rag-tag army to kick the Chinese out in 1921 during Russia’s civil war. It was a bitter-sweet victory.

Three years later the Communists took over, with Mongolia becoming a Soviet satellite state until 1989.

I have a passion for history and my search for the first skiers was further complicated as I became engrossed in the tale of another European caught up in this mess. The Pole Ferdinand Ossendowski was hunted over the Altai by Bolsheviks in 1920 and 1921, chronicling his escape in Beasts, Men and Gods, and I planned to find the Tuvan skiers by following his route.

Having been barred from entering Mongolia from Russia — power of persuasion not being my forte with border guards — I found myself 500km off target on both counts.

And, welcome as the Sky Resort was, we were thirsting for deep, natural powder on 4,000m peaks, and above all to join the stone-age skiers. So my caravan set off for Murun, a town visited at least twice by Ossendowski.

To some, my entourage may have appeared excessive. I am surely in a minority of husbands to be mocked by my wife for how much I take when I travel. But Mongolia has almost no roads and just a few settlements with petrol stations and shops. Not for the first time were we forced to use a frozen waterway as a road when we arrived at the southern tip of Lake Khövsgöl. Today just a few tourists, yaks and horses roam the shores of the lake, of which Ossendowski said: “Subterranean forces beneath the ice heaved waves which with a roar tore loose great sections of ice.”

At the petrol station we heard of ambulances, fuel tankers and timber lorries that had already fallen through this year. So it was with trepidation that we drove on to the ice.

It looked solid: crystal-clear with smoky streaks and bubbles frozen into it like a glass paperweight. In places we could even see the lake floor — pebbles, plants and all — as though through a magnifying glass. On the far shore rose Mönkh-Saridag, like a giant boundary stone marking the Russian border. Halfway across, we turned left into a narrow gorge, hoping to ski a ridge there.

Alas the ancient pine and larch forest was as dry as a bone. How sad our skis looked on the roof rack.

Sliding over rocks and streams we took a short cut to Tsagaan Nuur, the ‘white lake’. It proved ill-judged, as we ploughed for two days through deep snow, an irony not lost on us.

Why was the snow never on slopes?

Shortly before Tsagaan Nuur we finally lost the kitchen truck, which broke through the ice — rear axle, leaf springs and drive shaft broken.

Waiting for it to be fixed, we asked about Tuvan skiers in the village.

No one had heard of them. So we headed deep into the snowy hills of the Tsaatan, the fabled reindeer people. The sun was setting behind the mountains that are the source of the mighty Yenisei, which flows all the way to the Arctic Ocean. We walked in the dusk, our shadows growing longer, disappearing in the bluish undergrowth. Then we saw them: snow-white fur, delicate antlers and big, round eyes looking at us with gentle, silent curiosity: the reindeer.

THE HOLY MOUNTAIN DOES NOT ALLOW ITSELF TO BE CLIMBED TODAY

Mönkh Saridag

RUSSIA MONDY

Tsagaan Nuur

Lake Baikal

ULAN-UDE KYAKHTA

MURUN TAKASHIKEN

100km

ULIASTAI

There were hundreds, all tied with red ribbons to stumps and low-hanging branches of silver birch. Further on we came to the first tepees, where the silence was broken as white shepherd dogs ran barking towards us.

When Ossendowski passed here, he saw the Yenisei river flooded with thousands of maimed White soldiers and passed smouldering villages.

Could our visit be more auspicious?

The Tsaatan, a Tuvan tribe, fled here from Soviet collectivisation in the 1920s, hiding so well that not even Ossendowski saw them.

Reindeer are their lifeblood. They sleep under reindeer furs, sew clothes with reindeer hair, make cheese, butter and yoghurt from reindeer milk in a life little changed for millennia. Alas, they do not ski.

Zaya, who invited us in for tea, estimated that 500 Tsaatan were still around, but skiing? “No, we don’t ski.

We have our reindeer to carry us,” she laughed. As if on cue, her husband arrived back from a hunting trip, jumping from his reindeer at full gallop and reining it to a halt on foot.

We headed back. It was dark and the reindeer had blended silently into the night, fathomless eyes wide open.

Good news — our drivers had rebuilt the axle so to make up for lost time we drove to Murun at night, using a mix of GPS, hiking maps and lucky guesses, from there reaching Uliastai.

In 1920 Ossendowski had negotiated a peaceful take-over of the town, as Chinese troops beat a retreat from the ‘mad baron’ Ungern-Sternberg. From here we were close to Otgon Tenger, our first 4,000m peak. But to reach it we had to drive for half a day through a wide, lonely valley of tombs: large bronze age burial mounds called kurgans and menhirs decorated with patterns of antlers and animal eyes.

“The holy mountain does not allow itself to be climbed today,” said our 65-year-old pathfinder, narrowing his eyes to view the snow-swept glacier’s flanks, now obscured by fast-moving cloud. As the others battled to set up camp in a fierce wind, my Austrian ski guide Schorsch Schichl and I, like rebellious students, glued on climbing

Sky Resort Lake Khövsgöl

ULAANBAATAR Otgon Tenger

MONGOLIA

45

Top row: Mongolia’s only ski resort; the kitchen truck gets stuck; on the shore of Lake Khövsgöl. Middle row: The tracks of a snow leopard; driving over Lake Khövsgöl; Herders watch the attempt to climb Otgon Tenger. Bottom row: a masked herder offers help after the snow disappears in the cold; 6,000-year-old carved tombstones; Amarbayasgalant monastery skins and headed for its main flank.

After so many snowless days it was hard to heed his superstition. We rounded a small volcano to reach 3,700m, but had to ski down from there as the weather turned worse.

After a starlit night, the morning was sunny and calm, and a thin layer of powder had swallowed our tracks.

It was while searching for these that we saw the fresh marks of a large animal leading towards the summit.

They looked like cats’ paws but were as big as a plate: a snow leopard! For the rest of our stay our Mongol staff would now sleep in their cars, such is their fear of this sacred animal.

Only five hours later did we reach the summit, a bulging cone of ice at the top of a glacier. Looking down we saw the peaks that had taken so long to circumnavigate by car. We donned skis and, passing a cairn adorned with scarves of blue silk, let our tidy, narrow turns take us back to camp.

Passing the city of Altai a sandstorm

set in. The last thing we saw were two camels, their fur pulled by the wind.

Then all went dark and again we could only navigate blindly by GPS. The next day our fortunes appeared to have turned. Reaching a valley of fresh powder we set up camp for a last chance to ski before the Chinese border. As the wind whistled around our tents and the mercury dropped to -25C we dreamt of powdery descents.

So waking before sunrise we were shocked to see much of the snow had disappeared. Even as we hiked the 700 vertical metres to the nearest summit it was vanishing before our eyes in a process physicists call sublimation, but that was anything but sublime. By the time we reached the peak, there was no longer anything to ski down on.

Not quite willing to believe what had happened, Schorsch and I were trying a few turns hopping from one last patch to another, finally settling on a frozen creek, when a herder rode up. Masked like a bank robber against

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the bone dry wind and sun, he tried to help us in our peculiar quest, even at one stage pulling us along the river.

If our quest to ski here, let alone ski with Tuvans, looked fruitless, we had more setbacks in store. As we passed through a canyon of red ore, the rock walls narrowed to a corridor in which our kitchen truck lodged fast. Only with much shouting and lifting did we finally persuade it to slip through.

China was now just 240km away.

Yet an outbreak of foot and mouth — or plague according to the locals — rendered the stretch to the border at Takashiken inaccessible. Quarantine had been decreed with police check points cordoning off the road. Mile upon mile of coal lorries indicated that all border traffic had come to a halt.

Would we ever find our skiing ancestors?

Read the final part of Hofer’s adventures in the next issue of Ski+board

THE PERFECT TASTE OF AUSTRIA Pristine pistes, state-of-the-art lifts, gourmet delights and fun-fuelled activities – Austria’s Ski amadé has everything for an action-packed stay British skiers and snowboarders are fans of Ski amadé’s 760km of well-groomed pistes in 25 resorts. But it’s the 260 mountain restaurants, offering delicious regional cuisine, which puts the icing on the cake, and would get Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose name is given to the area, to rejoice!

And this winter, visitors are in for a culinary treat during Skiing and Wine Enjoyment Week (12-19 March) for there will be a farmers’ market in the mountains – the highest in the Alps. At stalls in 20 restaurants across the region, including Schladming-Dachstein, Hochkönig and Salzburger Sportwelt, you can buy or taste traditional, home produced fare such as cheeses, farmhouse bacon and venison salami – great for a picnic or to take back home, though there’s so much choice you might not be able to carry it all.

The Ski amadé mobile app “Ski amadé Guide” has been around for several years but this year an exciting piece of technology is available – Smart Ski Goggles! The app has been adapted and installed into Smith IO Recon goggles and skiers and boarders can access information as they zoom around the pistes. In the lower right field of vision they can see current lift or run status, piste regulations, when a mountain restaurant is 50 metres ahead, nearby attractions or even a good photo spot. The goggles can be hired for 19 euros a day from all 25 Intersport Rent shops in the area.

Ski amadé has pistes for all abilities but for freestylers and freeriders it’s the 13 terrain parks and off-piste powder that make their visit memorable. Gigantic kickers, gap jumps, airbags, S rails, wallrides and pipes are guaranteed to challenge beginners and experts whether it’s jibs in the Dachstein Superpark, the superpipe in the Absolut Park in Flachauwinkl or rails in Hochkönig’s Kings Park.

SCHLADMING-DACHSTEIN ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND Between the magnificent southern walls of the Dachstein and the Schladminger Tauern, 230 kilometres of pistes, 88 of the latest aids to ascent and 98 cosy ski lodges invite one to enjoy unlimited skiing pleasure. The heart of the ski region, the Schladminger 4 mountain ski complex, links the well-known ski mountains of Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm.

There’s something for everyone: mogul runs and the Men’s Downhill for experts, cruisy reds for intermediates and good nursery slopes for beginners. Want to get away from it all – why not try ski touring? Join a group or hire a guide and discover unspoiled parts

of the mountains. But the area is also a paradise for Nordic skiers with 500km of cross-country trails. Getting back to nature is easy on a snowshoe walk along the valley or up in the mountains.

Thrill seekers need look no further than Schladming-Dachstein: from heli-skiing to tandem para-gliding, airboarding to fat bike trips and snow tubing to dog sledding, there’s an adventure for all. Take the state-of-the-art Panormic Gondola to the Dachstein Glacier and gaze at the breathtaking views as you walk along the suspension bridge to the Ice Palace. Just don’t look down!

ADVERTORIAL

SALZBURGER SPORTWELT FAMILY VALUES A family atmosphere is waiting for visitors in this picturesque area with its eight diverse villages amid 350km of slopes. Located in the heart of the Ski amadé, the villages range from tiny Eben, which has won a Family Ski Area of the Year accolade, to larger Flachau, host of the Women’s World Cup Slalom in January 2016, plus Wagrain-Kleinarl, St. JohannAlpendorf, Radstadt, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee and Filzmoos. Much of the accommodation is geared to families, offering activity programmes.

With 25 ski schools in the area, taking first steps on the slopes or brushing up technique is no problem – catch Olympic stardust at former champion Hermman Maier’s school in Flachau! Children as young as three can find their snow legs – groups are small, so little ones aren’t overwhelmed. Some schools offer taster instruction with lessons for two or three days. For older kids, there are group or private

lessons tailored to their needs and including off-piste, park and slalom training.

Family fun is guaranteed in the evening. And there’s nothing more magical than racing down a floodlit toboggan run whooping with laughter – there are 13 in the area, including the 6km run in Radstadt. For chilling out, there’s the Therme amadé in Altenmarkt and the Adventure Pool in Wagrain, offering slides and kiddie pools plus saunas for mum and dad.

HOCHKÖNIG ROYAL TOUR

Hochkönig Tourism +43 (0) 6584/20 388 hochkoenig.at

Salzburger Sportwelt +43 (0)6457 2929 salzburgersportwelt.com Schladming-Dachstein Tourismus +43 (0) 3687-23310 schladming-dachstein.at

In any of Hochkönig’s three charming villages, Maria Alm, Dienten and Mühlbach, visitors will receive a welcome fit for a king. The villages are linked by 33 up-to-date lifts giving skiers and snowboarders, from beginner to expert, 120km of superbly groomed slopes to play on.

A highlight of the area is the beautiful KönigsTour (King’s Tour). This delightful circuit spans 32km and five summits and really lets visitors discover the area’s slopes. And don’t forget to look out for the six thrones – massive wooden box seats dotted around the slopes where you can rest those weary legs and soak up the magnificent scenery while gazing at the majestic Hochkönig mountain.

Delicious food plays a big role in the area and the many rustic mountain restaurants serve up good value hearty, traditional dishes, such as

roast pork with dumpling and Kaiserschmarrnstyle pancakes with stewed plums and a glass of schnapps – yum! And now many restaurants, both in the villages and on the mountain, are putting vegan dishes on the menu for those who prefer that option.

Every week visitors will ooh and aah as the local ski and snowboard schools put on impressive freestyle performances. The Night Show in Maria Alm and the Mountain Mania Show in Dienten are accompanied by music as well as lighting and laser effects.

That moment when you know you’ve made the perfect choice

France

Italy

• • ••• • ••• • • •• from

£471

Austria

Our award-winning approach to ski holidays is what makes us the best in the business. And the extra value you get from our experienced, friendly staff is why so many of our customers return.

Everyone, from our chalet hotel managers to our skilled chefs, works to ensure you get the most from your holiday. And we take care of everything.

Flights, transfers, breakfast, afternoon tea, three-course dinner with wine, evening childcare and kids’ clubs (at an extra cost) are all included.

So that every moment you spend with us, is one to remember.

Call our ski experts on

0844 273 6789

markwarner.co.uk

Terms & Conditions: ATOL 1176 protected. Lead in price shown is per person and applies to 7 nights at Chalet Hotel Moris, 17th April 2016. Offers apply to new bookings only, are subject to availability, can be withdrawn at any time and can’t be offered in retrospect or combined with any other offer. Facilities and inclusives vary between resorts. Mark Warner Ltd’s full terms and conditions apply.

••

49

The inside edge The first snow is falling in the Alps, and our experts are here to make you an all-mountain pro this winter

70 BOOTS These are the boots that you won’t want to take off: dependable all-mountain models that aren’t painfully flash

90 RESORT INSIDER Looking for big thrills, without the price tag?

Our panel of experts know where to find a bargain

50 SNOW WEAR Cool colours and pert prints, our fashion editor picks the season’s hottest outfits. Plus how to wash ski gear

88 FITNESS

78 SNOWBOARDS

It’s time to limber up for winter, and our tutorial shows you the best stretches for your back, shoulders, hips and legs

We test the latest crop of all-mountain snowboards, and discover that history really does repeat itself

82 GEAR Helmets are getting lighter but stronger, and have more ways to customise the fit.

We review the best

84

58

TECHNIQUE

SKI TESTS

Do moguls make you shudder? If so, Mark Jones is on hand to make you a pro… so give them a go

The Ski Club’s industryleading ski testers put the latest batch of all-mountain skis through their paces

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50

SNOW WEAR

Colour me beautiful Photography: Melody Sky

Bright colours have been combined with graphic patterns as this season’s snow wear goes to print, says Maisha Frost Deep oranges, bright greens and vivid blues form the centrepiece of this season’s women’s ranges.

For high-end women’s snow wear pink, ruby and scarlet with twists of silver and crystal add sparkle.

Buyers at online retailer Surfdome see the main trend for women as “colour blocks for snow jackets and all-over prints for whole outfits.”

Neon — which made a resurgence four seasons ago — is still in vogue, with shots of pink, lava and citrus appearing as eye-catching trims, adding contrast to zips.

Leopard and tiger prints are also making a comeback, along with striking floral prints.

Two very different looks stand out for freestylers. Ellis Brigham fashion buyer Dave Whitlow says: “It’s either high-contrast colour blocking, or retro outdoor styled utility wear.”

That casual, urban crossover look and more muted shades also make a strong showing in this season’s male collections.

“Colours are staying earthy for men,” say buyers at Surfdome. Matt Jordan at Eider agrees, saying: “The palette for our ranges is inspired by views from mountain tops and nature’s rocks and moss.”

If you’re struggling to mix and match such an array of colours and prints, don’t forget that one essential is always worth packing: a pair of classic black ski pants.

Ashley, standing outside the Arlberg Hospiz Hotel in St Christoph, is wearing Mountain Force Rider jacket (£775) and pants (£475)

51

SNOW WEAR

Walking down the high street in St Anton, Rachel, left, wears a Scott Ultimate DRX jacket (£285) and pants (£190) and O’Neill Runa 103P sunglasses (£45). With her is Tony, wearing Scott Explorair 3L jacket (£215), Scott Vertic 2L insulated pants (£290) and O’Neill Anso 113P sunglasses (£50). Ashley, right, wears Picture Time jacket (£220) and pants (£190) and O’Neill Tube sunglasses (£50)

Rachel wears Horsefeathers The Julia jacket (£180), O’Neill Star pants (£110), POW Empress GTX mittens (£85) and Anon WM1 goggles (£160). Helmet model’s own

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SNOW WEAR

52

Knitwear that will keep you dry In the past, water resistant clothing presented something of a dilemma.

Truly rainproof garments often left you sweating, while lightweight options could leave you sodden after a day of heavy snowfall.

To counter this, some big outdoor brands are turning to new materials, one of which is Gore-Tex’s new C-Knit fabric. This is softer and more breathable than previous materials, without compromising water resistance.

Made of fine nylon yarn, the C-Knit is a stretchy, laminated fabric that

sits close to the skin. In between the C-Knit and the main external outer layer is a Gore-Tex membrane, which completes the high-tech ‘sandwich’. The combination, which the firm calls “the most versatile three-layer fabric ever”, is specially designed for ski clothing.

Brands such as Arc’teryx, Patagonia, Armada, Burton, Eider, Mammut, and The North Face are all including C-Knit in their latest ranges.

In September the company said it was investing £10 million to continue research into water repellent materials.

Standing near St Anton’s oniondome church, Will wears a 686 Thereom Thermagraph jacket (£230) and Runa 104P sunglasses by O’Neill (£45)

53

SNOW WEAR

Rachel wears Horsefeathers Nea long-fit jacket (£155) with Von Zipper Feenom NLS Tru Def goggles (£140), and an Antlers beanie from The North Face (£25)

The models are standing at the base of St Anton’s pistes. From left to right, Rachel wears CLWR Cake jacket (£140), Roxy Torah Bright Whisper pants (£150), POW Gem gloves (£65) and Von Zipper Cleaver goggles (£80).

Tony wears O’Neill Intel jacket (£190) and Exalt pants (£120), POW Alpha GTX gloves (£130) and Von Zipper Skylab goggles (£80). Ashley wears Horsefeathers Julia jacket (£180), O’Neill Star pants (£110), POW Empress GTX mittens (£85) and Anon WM1 goggles (£160). Will wears Quiksilver Selector jacket (£210), CLWR Denim pants (£125), Quiksilver Trig mittens (£60) and Nike Command goggles (£185) Boots, skis and boards models’ own

Ski+board

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For stockists information call: 01572 770900

55

SNOW WEAR

Dare you wash your brand new jacket?

When did you last wash your ski gear?

It may well be that if you have a fairly new jacket you have yet to wash it, for fear of it losing its water resistance, or the colours fading. After all you don’t want to ruin a £500 jacket.

New outdoor clothing has a water repellent coating that causes moisture to bead on the surface, but after a lot of use this protective layer gets worn off. Once this happens the garment will start to absorb water — and on snowy days will leave you sodden.

Without this protective layer, clothes are also more susceptible to everyday dirt penetrating the surface, so washing and reproofing will actually help maximise its lifespan.

Obviously washing snow wear with normal detergent and fabric

conditioner is a bad idea, so use a specially designed technical product.

British brand Nikwax (various prices; cotswoldoutdoor.com) is the industry leader, but other brands such as Atsko Sports Wash (£4; bergzeit.co.uk) serve the same purpose.

Before you do this, clean your washing machine’s detergent drawer.

And wash the products on a 30°C synthetic cycle on a slow spin setting.

Then hang the products out to dry.

The next stage of the process is to use a waterproofing treatment such as Nikwax TX Direct (£8.24), and follow the same washing routine.

Some proofing products require the item to be tumble-dried after this stage in order to activate the waterrepellent coating.

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Rachel, Ski+board’s fashion assistant, wears an Armada Gypsum jacket (£185) and The Julietta hat by Coal (£17). Sunglasses model’s own

SKI CLUB PROMOTION

Chalet Freshtracks

the Ski Club’s base for off piste adventures in Flaine Chalet Freshtracks is the Ski Club’s home from home in the Alps – a perfect base for members to get to know each other, relax in cosy surroundings with delicious food, and most importantly, discover some amazing off piste skiing under the guidance of expert instructors. Our chalet hosts, Sue, Jackie and Barry are highly experienced and know exactly what our members are looking for from a ski holiday.

Freshtracks holidays in Flaine provide something for everyone, with some of the best off piste skiing to be found anywhere in the French Alps. Whether you’re looking to improve your powder skills, or you’re already a seasoned off-piste expert, you’ll find exactly what you’re after at Chalet Freshtracks.

Our instructors, Yann, Diane and Alain offer some of the best tuition around, and Seb and Hugo in the local ski hire shop are there to advise you on which skis will help you get the most from your time in this extensive ski area.

f De ve lope ys okuillsr o f p ist

It all adds up to a truly memorable experience, as you discover the exhilaration of leaving the piste behind. It’s no wonder so many of our members return to Chalet Freshtracks year after year.

Find out more at skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks or call 020 8410 2022 Holidays to Chalet Freshtracks run from 19 December to 9 April, and start at just £849 for 7 nights, including chalet board and 5 full days off piste instruction.

Fa nt a st ic y ou r doofofr p i st e o n st e p

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SNOW WEAR

BRITISH RETAILERS Ellis Brigham: ellis-brigham.com Snow+Rock: snowandrock.com Surfdome: surfdome.com TSA: snowboard-asylum.com All four above offer Ski Club members ten per cent off full-priced products DISTRIBUTORS Anon Optics: anonoptics.com Arc’teryx: arcteryx.com Armada: freezeproshop.com Burton: burton.com Degré 7: 07855 959551 Didriksons: didriksons.com Eider: eider.com Eisbär: specs4sports.co.uk Fusalp: fusalp.com; 07969 228009 Jack Wolfskin: jack-wolfskin.de Manbi: manbi.com; 01787 881144 Nike: snowboard-asylum.com Oakley: oakley.com O’Neil: oneill.com; 01899 491006 Patagonia: patagonia.com Picture: ellis-brigham.com Planks: planksclothing.com Poivre Blanc: poivre-blanc.com Roxy: roxy-uk.co.uk; 020 7392 4020 Salomon: ellis-brigham.com Salice: salice.com; 01787 881144 Schöffel: 01572 770900 The North Face: thenorthface.com

Hiking in soft spring snow, Rachel, left, wears Patagonia Refugative jacket with Gore-Tex C-Knit, see page 52 (£360), Untracked pants (£330) and Von Zipper VZ Cleaver Wildcat goggles (£80). Ashley wears Columbia Shreddin jacket (£350), Jump Off pants (£220) and Von Zipper Jetpack goggles (£150)

Considered one of the world’s top ski resorts, St Anton am Arlberg is part of the expansive Ski Arlberg region, with a modern network of 97 lifts, offering 350km of groomed pistes. With on and off-piste challenges, awe-inspiring scenery and unrivalled après-ski, there are many reasons to visit.

Daily flights are available from London Gatwick and twice weekly from Bristol and Liverpool to Innsbruck with easyJet. Alternative airports include Zurich, Munich or Friedrichshafen. St Anton is also easily accessible by train. For further information on St Anton am Arlberg visit stantonamarlberg.com, while to find out about the Austrian Tirol region see visittirol.co.uk

Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

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Fashion assistant Rachel Rosser Production manager Ben Clatworthy Hair and make-up Jemma Barwick Models Ashley Crook, Rachel Tugwell Will Siggers, Tony Walker

ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS

58

SIDEWALL A wall of plastic, typically ABS (the stuff Lego is made of), running from the metal base edge of the ski to the top sheet.

It drives power to the metal edges, protects the core and can also help absorb vibrations

CAMBER If a cambered ski is laid on a flat surface its centre will be raised. Camber is now often combined with some level of rocker. Reverse camber (full rocker) is where a ski curves up from the centre to tip and tail

CAP This is where the top sheet and other layers roll down over the side of the ski to the metal edge.

Caps can offer benefits over sidewalls, often cutting weight, making skis more forgiving and more resistant to damage

ROCKER Rocker, or early rise, is where the ski has a slight rise before it gets to the tip or tail. Off-piste this helps lift and floatation. On piste it aids turn initiation and release

Cap and sidewall can be combined in several ways, for instance by having sidewall underfoot with cap at tip and tail, or cap rolling down to meet sidewall for the length of the ski. Each will affect the ski's performance differently

SKI CORES A ski's performance is affected by the materials used and how they are arranged in the core.

Cores are normally wood or synthetic, combined with other layers, such as resin (usually epoxy), fibreglass, basalt, carbon, aramid and metal

TAPER This is when the widest point of the ski is brought back from the tip or tail, reducing weight and making the skis easier to handle off-piste. On a tapered ski you may feel like you are using a shorter ski

COMBO

SIDECUT This is the width of the tip, waist and tail of the ski. A ski with a wide waist floats better off-piste, while a ski with a narrower waist will grip better on piste

WOOD CORE Wood cores tend to be made from strips of wood, glued side by side in a laminate construction.

Their characteristics vary greatly: paulownia is light; beech can deliver power; poplar offers a smooth flex and there are many others

RADIUS This is the radius of the theoretical circle that a ski will naturally make in the snow when tilted on to its edge.

A smaller radius will produce tighter turns and a larger radius will produce wider turns

SYNTHETIC

What it all means

Synthetic or foam cores are traditionally used in lower end skis, being cheaper, lighter and more forgiving than wood.

We are now seeing more hightech synthetics in upper end skis to keep weight low and enhance performance

59

SKI TESTS

All-mountain skis carve a new furrow

Our testers The Ski Club’s ski tests are unique to the industry, as our independent, impartial testing team comprises only the best skiers. They are signally able to relate what they feel under their feet to a ski's performance

If you want just one pair of skis to take you on or off-piste the latest all-mountain models are up to the job, says Mark Jones

Mark Jones

All-mountain skis represent the most closely contested category for major ski manufacturers. Every skier would love to have just one pair of skis that can cover all the bases, ripping up the pistes and shredding the powder.

The reality is somewhat different.

If you are a mad-keen skier who wants the best ski for the conditions, you need two pairs of skis, a freeride pair for the backcountry, which we covered in the previous issue, and one for the pistes — we will cover piste performance skis in the next issue.

Anything that has to deal with both types of conditions will have to make some compromises. However,

many of the models we have tested here can do an amazing job. These are versatile with a generous enough waist and rocker to give some help in the powder, while being powerful enough to deliver really impressive performance on the groomers.

This year sees new materials and construction methods reduce weights, increasing ease of use, while actually improving carving performance.

For hardened backcountry fans we will be covering freetour skis in Issue 4.

Al Morgan

You can read the full results of the ski tests and watch video reviews online at skiclub.co.uk/skitests

James Allen

SIDEWALL CONSTRUCTION

TRADITIONAL CAMBER

Director of ICE training centre in Val d’Isère and trainer for Basi icesi.org Ski Club head of Member Services and former ski service manager skiclub.co.uk

Derek Chandler

Director of Marmalade ski school in Méribel and trainer for Basi skimarmalade.com

Kevin Harris

Ex-race coach and ski model who now covers competitions for TV kevinharris.tv Racer-turned-coach giving private tuition in Val d'Isère to highest Basi level jamesallenskicoaching.com

Pete Davison

Ex-action model who now owns retailer LD Mountain Centre ldmountaincentre.com

effective edge

CAMBER WITH TIP ROCKER

Mike Barker CAP CONSTRUCTION

effective edge

CAMBER WITH TIP AND TAIL ROCKER

Ex-head coach of England squad, offering off-piste and performance courses snoworks.co.uk

Rowena Phillips

effective edge

REVERSE CAMBER

Topsheet Core Reinforcement Edges Base Sidewall

These exaggerated diagrams show a ski's rocker, camber and effective edge as well as its core construction

Ski user rating We rate each ski by the type of skier it would suit.

So in the example below, the ski would suit upper intermediate to advanced skiers, but it’s not so well suited to beginners or experts. Generally, the skis tested are aimed at those who have skied before.

Beginner

Intermediate

Ski+board

Advanced

NOVEMBER 2015

Expert

skiclub.co.uk

Highly qualified ski school director at Matterhorn Diamonds in Zermatt matterhorn-diamonds.com

Bella Seel

Fully certified in the French, Swiss and UK systems, she runs concierge service ALS alsprivate.com

Lynn Sharp

Ex-British champion who now owns Target ski training and race coaching targetski.com

Steph Ede

A great skier training for the highest Basi exam who runs a chalet in Val d’Isère stephede@hotmail.co.uk

DOES YOUR EQUIPMENT PERFORM AS WELL AS IT SHOULD...?

Recent innovations in technology means ski equipment is better than it’s ever been before.

Ski boots are much more customizable, as plastic shells can now be heat moulded and shaped to the lumps and bumps in your feet.

Have you improved since you bought your current boots? Are they still comfortable making you reluctant to upgrade them?

A pair of custom fitted boots will be more comfortable than you can possibly imagine and give better performance than your old ski boots ever could.

Have your skis seen better days? Or are you still using rental equipment?

Skis have now become much more versatile and user friendly helping you to ski in all snow conditions.

If you choose the correct ski shape and ability level, you will see huge changes in your progression and enjoyment.

Come and visit us today to ensure you have the correct advice from experienced equipment specialists before you invest in your next pair of boots and skis.

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

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

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MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS

61

What’s new in men’s all-mountain skis?

All-mountain skis have traditionally been the go-to category for skiers who want one ski for everything. The reality is most skis here are best suited to all types of piste use, while their profile, flex pattern and sidecut make life a bit easier for a quick session offpiste, if not days in the deep stuff.

But this is the right place if you want great piste performance and be able to cope with the odd foray into powder.

Most use mild rocker to help lift, while still having a narrow enough waist to be snappy from edge to edge on piste.

This season sees new construction methods and materials cut weights, improving both their usability and carving power. Good examples of this in the men's category are two of our award-winners — the new Salomon X-Drive and Scott’s The Ski.

LINE SUPERNATURAL 92 LITE £440

ATOMIC VANTAGE 90 CTI

BUILD

BUILD

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

Sidewall/light weight wood core/tip rocker

165, 172, 179 1,822g for 179cm

THEY SAY No metal? No problem. This light hardpack charger has a waist width that will handle almost anything.

WE SAY This is a light ski (the clue is in the name) and that is very noticeable. It’s very playful, easy to turn and generally throw about.

You can get on and ride, fully enjoying the experience, without needing time to get used to its character. It’s easy to use in deeper snow and would work well as a touring option. When running at high speeds and big edge angles the lighter construction means it lacks some grip and stability.

E A I B

BUILD

169, 176, 184 1,829g for 184cm

E A I B

Ski+board

Easy to pivot on and off-piste.

Nice float in deep powder at slow to medium speeds (Pete Davison) Light, well balanced and very easy to use (Mark Jones) Easy to use, light, well balanced Can flap at high speeds

NOVEMBER 2015

skiclub.co.uk

£420

Sidewall/light weight Titanal wood core/tip and tail rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

132-90-115.5 16.8m (176cm)

THEY SAY Lighter, stronger and even more effortless to ride on piste, without sacrificing any of its play in powder.

WE SAY Another ski that is light and easy to use, it is effortless at slow speeds with the profile and lack of weight making direction changes and turn initiation instant. The shape and flex is well balanced, producing smooth, round arcs in all turn shapes.

Though light, it has solid grip and is great fun on the groomers. At speed and on harder snow the lack of weight means the Vantage starts to lose its damping ability.

Great all-rounder, but fullweight ski would do better at speed (James Allen) Playful, easy to use, a good ski for playing on piste and fun off the sides (Al Morgan) Easy to use, light, playful, great for touring Lacks grip and stability at speed

NORDICA NRGY 90

Cap and sidewall combo/carbon Titanal wood core/tip and tail rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

127-92-115 19.6m (179cm)

£480

126-90-110 19.5m (177cm) 161, 169, 177, 185 N/A

THEY SAY The NRGy's light titanium core with torsion bridge construction and all-mountain Camrock excel in all conditions.

WE SAY This ski's light build can be instantly felt under your feet. It's easy, playful, quick on transitions and for adjustments through the arc. Yet the NRGy can also deliver the goods when pushed. It has superb edge hold when tilted on edge and is generally great fun for any fast skiing on piste. Off-piste, its light weight and well-judged rocker make it fun and usable for all levels of skier.

E A I B

Suits intermediates off-piste as it's easy to keep above the surface and move about (James Allen) Great all-mountain ski if you don't want to gun it (Al Morgan) Light, easy to use, yet grips well on piste Lighter construction does have its limits

SKI BOOT LAB

www.profeet.co.uk/skiing photo - www.konradbartelski.photography

THE UK SPECIALISTS IN SKI BOOTS, SKI BOOT FITTING, CUSTOM SKI INSOLES & CUSTOM LINERS "I had my boots blown out to accommodate my bunions, so I needed specialised fitting of the shell to my feet. It was done perfectly and the difference that it makes is considerable... every skier ought to take the time to get their feet right before any ski holiday."

Konrad Bartelski - Former British Team Skier

Personal assessment

Biomechanical analysis

ki

tels r a B d onra

K

Custom insoles*

Shell customisation & foam liners

One of the widest ranges of ski boots in the UK!

Call 020 7736 0046 to book your appointment *depending on appointment type

Profeet 867 Fulham Road, London, SW6 5HP

MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS: INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT

BLIZZARD BRAHMA

Sidewall/carbon basalt light weight wood core, honeycomb tip/tip and tail rocker

BUILD

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

131.5-88-117 18.3m (184cm) 165, 172, 179, 184 2,040g for 184cm

E A I B

ER

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A

Easy to use, light, smooth, yet good grip Could be quicker from edge to edge

B

E

I

I B

2015

IC

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IN ITA OF GREAT BR

Awesome, easiest of them all in short turns but holds well when hammered on piste (James Allen) Loved it! Smooth and easy but grips pistes well (Mark Jones) Well balanced and smooth in all conditions Hard to fault

E A I B

BUILD

BUILD

165, 172, 179, 186 2,320g for 179cm

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

128-86-116 17m (175cm) 161, 168, 175, 182 N/A

THEY SAY With Air Tec Ti to save weight, this is at home on piste and outstanding off-piste.

WE SAY Another well-balanced ski, producing smooth arcs in any turn shape. Because the shape is well judged, you feel the strong grip along the full length of the ski. While producing powerful turns it also offers a super-smooth ride consistently smothering any vibrations from pistes. Off-piste in deeper conditions it feels a bit less wieldy, but overall this is a wellrounded, balanced, capable ski.

Very easy to engage the turn. Rock solid on the edge.

Easy even in longer lengths (Pete Davison) Strong underfoot, solid, carves well on piste (Mark Jones)

A

Nice grip, good on piste, easy to pivot Can be over-pivoty at high speeds

B

E

I

Ski+board

Strong, lively on piste. Grips really well offering a smooth ride (Derek Chandler) Very well balanced, smooth, easy to use, but feels solid (Mark Jones) Well balanced, smooth, strong grip Best suited to pistes

NOVEMBER 2015

skiclub.co.uk

LUB

IN ITA OF GREAT BR

£580 inc binding

Sidewall/carbon Titanal wood core/tip rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

2015

IC

Smooth, sensitive, great in all conditions Tip doesn’t engage so well in short turns

BUILD

126-89-110

1,950g for 180cm

A true aspiring freeride ski that works well all-mountain (Al Morgan) Easy to predict on or off-piste, grips firm snow, powers through crud (Pete Davison)

K2 IKONIC 85TI

17m (179cm)

155, 165, 175, 180, 185

SK

FISCHER MOTIVE 86TI £600 inc binding

Sidewall/Titanal wood core/ tip and tail rocker

131-92-121 17m (180cm)

THEY SAY Unique elliptic sandwich build offers torsional stiffness, while true full-length wood core offers unmatched flex.

WE SAY The Ski is now TOP SKI a bit of a classic. Even R alongside its latest FOR M rivals it feels superb having a sensitive touch with the snow. It's easy to use, has strong edge grip on piste, especially in long, fast turns. In powder it's a joy, with the rockered shovel and wide platform giving lots of float, making it easy to steer. Brilliant for those with an off-piste bias.

DYNASTAR POWERTRACK 89 FL £609 inc binding

THEY SAY Delivers versatility, playfulness and power across all terrains and snow conditions.

WE SAY The new Powertrack is rock solid on edge while the tip rocker makes it easy to change turn shape or wash off speed.

It also floats at low speeds in powder. Overall it’s easy to use with good grip while making pivoting and turn entry effortless.

At speed that radical shape, strong mid-body but softer tip and tail can make it twitchy, but the grip mid-ski is strong, and won’t give.

A

1,960g for 180cm

SK

IN ITA OF GREAT BR

Versatile, always feels active, never feels like you have to push it (James Allen) Excellent on piste, but still feels great if you blast off to the side (Al Morgan)

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

E

166, 173, 180, 187

THEY SAY Unbeatable choice for someone looking for a ski with a hard snow bias which maintains great performance off-piste.

WE SAY This got great TOP SKI feedback from the RF team. It's an incredibly OR M well-balanced ski, with the flex, shape and profile working to deliver a smooth, easy-to-predict, yet exciting performance. The silky ride can make the most chopped up piste feel freshly groomed. It is also easy on transitions, and packs a mean punch with superb edge grip too.

2015

IC

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

125-88-110

£450

Cap and sidewall combo/elliptic wood core/tip rocker

PE

SK

BUILD

19m (180cm)

PE

PE

THEY SAY Super-versatile, with All Terrain Rocker 2.0 reinforced with carbon X-Chassis and RKS for power and precision.

WE SAY Surprisingly TOP SKI different to the 8.0, this matches a super-smooth R F O M R ride with an easy-to-use character due to its light build and well-judged rocker. Astonishingly, when speed and edge angle are ramped up, it maintains high performance with great edge grip and fantastic stability. In deeper snow it still works well with great float — a lovely ski.

SCOTT THE SKI

£470

Sidewall/Titanal wood core/ tip and tail rocker

ER

£520

BUILD

ER

SALOMON X-DRIVE 8.8FS

63

Cap and sidewall combo/ Titanal wood core/tip rocker 126-85-114 17m (177cm) 163, 170, 177, 184 N/A

THEY SAY Strengthened outer core gives power and response, with weight taken from the centre.

WE SAY This is a class act from the new Ikonic range which replaces the AMP range. It keeps that super-smooth K2 ride with fantastic damping, but is also able to switch turn shapes happily while offering strong edge grip, and good energy from the flex and sidecut. The light build is noticeable, giving it an easy swingweight which helps make the ski quick to manoeuvre at all speeds. Overall, a hard ski to fault.

E A I B

Strong, dependable, easy to predict. Great off-piste. Easy to mix short and long turns (Derek Chandler) Great damping, solid yet easy to use for 184cm (Mark Jones) Light, grippy and offers a very smooth ride Could be more reactive at the end of turns

MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS: ADVANCED TO EXPERT

64

MOVEMENT PLAYER

KÄSTLE MX 88

£445

BUILD

BUILD Cap and sidewall combo/light weight wood core/tip rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

136-86-117 14.5m (177cm) 171, 177, 183 N/A

THEY SAY The Player replaces the Jam and is adaptable, with a tight radius allowing it to enter turns with ease.

WE SAY The Player is at its best in big, fast turns in open, off-piste terrain, where it feels solid on the edge while the tip sits up well in deeper snow. On piste it felt less agile, with the flex lacking the spark of rivals, especially coming out of turns, where it needs more kick. But, in longer, faster turns it is strong with good edge hold and stability. Overall, a good ski, best suited to softer snow.

E A I B

A I B

ARMADA INVICTUS 89 BUILD

158, 168, 178, 188 2,090g for 178cm

Solid charger, tip works well off-piste, but ski feels dead on piste (James Allen) Fine in soft snow, but no energy coming out of turns on piste (Al Morgan)

E A I

Stronger in long, fast turns Weaker on piste, with a lack of energy

B

£445

Cap and sidewall combo/carbon Kevlar Titanal wood core/tip rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

128-88-113 20m (178cm)

THEY SAY The MX 88 is a true all-rounder of a ski, which offers power, control and stability on groomed pistes.

WE SAY Kästle doesn’t hold huge sway in the UK, but is much sought after on the Continent with a reputation for excellence. The 88 doesn’t disappoint, exuding quality from the start. It offers a smooth, well-damped ride, the sidecut is brilliantly balanced, it's quick on to the edge for an all-mountain ski, and amazing in high speed turns on piste. Off-piste it works well, but is more groomer-orientated.

130-88-120 17.5m (179cm) 163, 171, 179, 187 N/A

THEY SAY The Invictus 89 has a traditional sidecut profile combined with tip rocker for everyday all-mountain ripping.

WE SAY This has great grip directly underfoot, where it feels super-powerful. It can hold its own on hardpack, where it feels grippy and stable in long, fast turns. In deep snow it works well with the soft tip allowing the ski to rise and steer. But the variation in flex between front and mid-body can be disconcerting with the overall flex pattern not feeling as well balanced as it might be.

A top performing all-rounder, superb on piste and very usable for an upper advanced or expert skier (Al Morgan) Beautiful ski, awesome, loved it (Mark Jones)

E A I

Very grippy, smooth ride, feels high quality Best suited to pistes, and expensive

B

Great grip underfoot, very strong. Soft tip with powerful mid-section (Mark Jones) Good all-round ski, stable in long turns.

(Derek Chandler) Strong on piste with float in powder Flex can feel unbalanced to some skiers

ROSSIGNOL EXPERIENCE 88 £575 inc binding

HEAD MONSTER 88TI £520 inc binding

VÖLKL RTM 84 UVO £650 inc binding

BUILD Cap and sidewall combo/basalt wood

BUILD

BUILD

core with honeycomb tip/tip and tail rocker

E

£875 inc binding

Sidewall/Titanal wood core/ standard camber

Cap and sidewall combo/Graphene Titanal wood core/tip rocker

SIDECUT (mm) 135-88-124 RADIUS 15m (172cm) LENGTHS (cm) 156, 164, 172, 180, 188 WEIGHT (per ski) N/A

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

THEY SAY A rounder tip with longer, more progressive rocker enhances float and control.

WE SAY On piste this is astounding, with race-like ability in short and long turns, and huge reserves of grip, and great acceleration coming out of turns. The tip engages at the start of turns, setting up a grippy, powerful arc that doesn’t get deflected. In softer, deeper snow the ski stays powerful at higher speeds, but at slower speeds the tip stays low and needs some pace before it rises up to ease steering.

THEY SAY The Graphene cuts weight and raises torsional rigidity, resulting in a nimble, athletic ski.

WE SAY This is a punchy ski that loves making long, fast turns.

For high speed work on piste it’s an absolute beauty with stacks of grip and a high quality, well-damped ride that gives you confidence at speed. In shorter turns it feels a bit slower from edge to edge, but overall it’s great fun on piste. In deeper conditions the shape and flex work well, allowing the ski to float up, but it definitely feels at its best at speed.

In short turns it's like a slalom ski, but takes you off the side too (Mike Barker) Good, pistefocused ski. Rocker helps off-piste.

Great for all skiers (Al Morgan) Amazing on piste, huge levels of grip Less playful at slower speeds off-piste

E A I B

Cap and sidewall combo/steel wood core/tip and tail rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

133-88-114 17.4m (177cm) 163, 170, 177, 184 N/A

131-84-112 17.9m (177cm) 162, 167, 172, 177, 182 N/A

THEY SAY The modified RTM 84 UVO has a huge range of uses for extreme action in any terrain.

WE SAY Wow! The new RTM blew us away with its incredibly high levels of performance. It’s unbelievable on the edge, feeling bomb-proof at really high speeds with huge edge grip available in any turn shape, nonetheless giving the skier a consistently smooth ride. It works well in deeper snow away from the piste, although it needs some speed, and generally feels best suited to hardpack.

Great at speed, super stable with good grip on hard snow (Al Morgan) Great stability at speed, very smooth and easy to predict. Great value! (Pete Davison)

A

High edge grip, awesome in long fast turns Slower from edge to edge in short turns

B

E

I

Fantastic solid beast. Rips piste but surprisingly good off-piste if skied well (James Allen) Superb for all pistes. Easy to use, lots of performance (Al Morgan) Inspirational, fantastic performance More suited to piste than deep powder

WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS

66

What’s new in women’s all-mountain skis?

All of the skis featured on the following pages are aimed at female skiers who spend most of their time on groomed runs, but want a ski that can make life easier in softer powder or chopped-up conditions — just like their male counterparts.

However, the difference is that they all use technology specifically targeted at women, reducing weight and softening the flex. Also on some models there is a different heel raise or mounting point for the binding to make turn initiation even easier.

They are a great selection, but the standout models that won our much sought after top performance awards were Head's super-light Total Joy, Salomon's new-style Gemma and Blizzard's Black Pearl, with its femalespecific Flipcore.

ROSSIGNOL TEMPTATION 84 £485 inc binding

Why our awards are so highly prized

Cap and sidewall combo/light wood core with honeycomb tip/tip and tail rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

RD

SK

ago, so we can EST AWA IT vouch for the SKI impartiality 20 16 2015 of our reviews K and choice of IC L U U B.C O. awards.

Second, our team of no fewer than 11 testers are all ski professionals — former racers, elite instructors and freeride experts — so they are uniquely able to relate what they feel under their feet to the performance of the ski.

We typically get three testers to try each ski and those we think may receive awards can have six or more people ski them. In the evening, the testers ensure they are unanimous on the day’s decisions.

But it’s always pretty clear which skis have come out top.

That is why ski manufacturers are right to wait with bated breath to see who has won an award.

SK

IC

LUB

OF GREAT

A B RIT

IN

For more visit skiclub.co.uk/skitests

133-84-120 11m (154cm) 146, 154, 162, 170 2,050g for 162cm

THEY SAY The Temptation offers high performance versatility and features a rounder tip profile.

WE SAY Like a lot of Rossignol skis we tested, the Temptation has great edge hold. With its reactive shape, this makes it playful and full of life. Though a high performer, it is easy to use and is fine for lower level skiers. At speed on hard snow it loses grip and the lack of stiffness is felt, but for most skiers it's brilliant on groomers. Off-piste it worked well enough with its soft forebody helping to steer it through the arc.

K

S

Every autumn ski manufacturers eagerly wait to learn who has won the Ski Club’s awards for top performance and top value in its renowned ski tests. And with good reason. The club provides the most in-depth, accurate ski tests available to British buyers, so the seal means a lot in the industry.

The testers are faced with 872 different models of ski at the annual event held at the Austrian resort of Kühtai in February. But before that our experts narrow them down by talking to the 23 manufacturers present to pick the best performers in the four categories we cover: freeride, all-mountain, piste performance and freetour. It is the results of the testing of these 84 pairs of skis that feature in the four print issues of Ski+board.

But it is when our testers get on these skis that the advantages of the Ski Club’s tests really become clear.

First, the Ski Club is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that was established more than a century

BUILD

E A I B

Well-priced ski best for those less stable on chopped-up snow or powder (Lynn Sharp) Fun, full of life, playful, easy to use and enjoyable (Steph Ede) Playful, easy, great grip at medium speeds Felt a bit less stable off-piste

WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS: INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED LINE SOULMATE 86 BUILD

MOVEMENT SUNDANCE

£300

BUILD

Cap/light weight wood core/ standard camber

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

13.2m (158cm) 151, 158, 165 1,420g for 158cm

THEY SAY Super-light, durable design offers greater power over the entire mountain, and it is agile from edge to edge for a fun ride.

WE SAY The Soulmate got pretty even scores in all conditions and terrain. On piste it was stiff enough to give good grip in short and long turns with great edge hold through the arc. In deeper snow its sturdy build lets it charge through chopped up snow with ease. At slower speeds it felt less lively, being slow to initiate turns.

Overall, a well-rounded ski at a great price, which covers all bases in any terrain in all conditions.

£399

Cap and sidewall combo/ light weight wood core/tip rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

125-86-111

127-81-108 14m (164cm) 155, 164, 173 1,400g for 164cm

THEY SAY Its light weight makes it manoeuvrable, while its wood core/triaxial fibre mix assure great performance and grip.

WE SAY Despite being pisteorientated, this makes you feel safe and in control in unpredictable conditions. The smooth ride does a fantastic job of damping vibrations in tricky snow. On piste it's best suited to shorter turns, where it’s agile, quick on the edge and easy to use. In long turns it grips well and delivers a smooth ride. But it has its limits and at speed it feels like it needs a stiffer construction to maintain edge hold.

A

I

Performs best off-piste, reliable but doesn’t inspire (Lynn Sharp) Manoeuvrable, grippy on piste for short and long turns. Good value (Steph Ede)

I

Playful in powder, where it is solid and easy to ski (Steph Ede) Good on piste, especially in short turns. In long turns it felt a little soft (Rowena Phillips)

B

Works well at speed, feels livelier off-piste Steady all-rounder, but rarely inspires

B

Easy to use, surprisingly good in powder Felt less stable in long, fast turns

E A

E

67

Where can I buy a pair of those?

Several retailers are present at the ski tests and many offer discounts to Ski Club members. They include: Absolute Snow: 10 per cent off absolute-snow.co.uk Craigdon Mountain Sports: 15 per cent off craigdonmountainsports.com Ellis Brigham: 10 per cent off ellis-brigham.com Freeze Pro Shop: 10 per cent off freezeproshop.com Glisshop: 10 per cent off glisshop.co.uk Lockwoods: various discounts lockwoods.com Sail and Ski: 10 per cent off sailandski.co.uk Ski Bartlett: 10 per cent off skibartlett.com Snow+Rock: 10 per cent off snowandrock.com Snow Lab: 10 per cent off, 15 per cent for servicing snowlab.co.uk Surfdome: 10 per cent off surfdome.com

Madonna di Campiglio

Holiday Resort

Ski & dolce itviesta in the Dolom

ph: Trovati

www.campigliodolomiti.it

WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS: INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT

£420

HEAD TOTAL JOY

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

123-88-108 152, 159, 166, 173 1,650g for 166cm

A I B

ER

SK

IN ITA OF GREAT BR

Great ski, high in the category.

Solid, reliable, versatile and fun (Steph Ede) Offers a very smooth ride off-piste, like silk over varying terrain (Rowena Phillips) Powerful all-rounder, smooth ride, high grip Not super-easy, takes time to engage with

E A I B

I B

IN ITA OF GREAT BR

A

Light, yet really strong on piste Not so stable in deeper off-piste conditions

B

BUILD

BUILD Cap and sidewall combo/light weight

Sidewall/light weight wood core/ tip and tail rocker 15m (163cm) 149, 156, 163, 170 N/A

Nimble, easy to use, but loads of energy Feels less stable at speed in long turns

E

I

2015

IC

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IN ITA OF GREAT BR

Nice all-rounder. Fast and solid, strongest in long turns (Bella Seel) Best at cruising pistes and charging powder, surprisingly stable even in a short length (Lynn Sharp) Stable, works well on piste and in deep stuff Not so agile in short turns

wood core/tip rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

123-84-106

Fun. I love the rocker. It's quick and bouncy off-piste (Bella Seel) Light, manoeuvrable, in short turns it whips around the arc if you commit (Lynn Sharp)

SK

A unique design allows strong piste skiing, yet it bounces through powder (Lynn Sharp) Strong on piste, fun, zippy in short and long turns (Bella Seel)

K2 OOOLALUV 85TI £525 inc binding

126-85-114 14m (163cm) 156, 163, 170 N/A

THEY SAY New core gives a lighter ski with lower swingweight and smooth flex. Skis everywhere.

WE SAY This is a soft, playful ski that is a joy at medium speeds in all turn shapes. It's easy to use, with its light build and rockered shovel making it no effort to steer into turns. It’s smooth in transitions with a great touch on the snow from edge to edge. Off-piste it turns well and remains fun. Only at higher speed on hard pistes does its lighter build start to make it feel less stable. A superb choice for the aspiring all-mountain skier.

THEY SAY Five-point sidecut with all-mountain tip and tail rocker gives a huge sweet spot.

WE SAY All of our testers said the new Glory was a fun, nimble ski with heaps of energy. This is due to the pronounced rocker, which makes it easy to steer into the turn and adjust through the arc. Though it has a radical shape and feels light underfoot, it’s a ski that can grip enough to be fun on piste and is at its best in short to medium arcs. At very high speeds it starts to struggle, but overall a great all-rounder with energy.

A

LUB

157, 163, 169 1,779g for 163cm

THEY SAY A new approach to women’s skiing, delivering the type of performance women all over the world have been waiting for.

WE SAY This feels quite TOP different to previous SKI Salomon models we RF OR M tested. It likes to be skied hard and fast, with lots of stability and edge grip when tilted on to big angles, which makes it hold long turns well. Super-stable for the length we tested (157cm), higher lengths should perform amazingly. Off-piste it skied well, with good float in the shovel.

2015

IC

DYNASTAR GLORY 84 £485 inc bindings

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

E

N/A

129.5-85-111 13.5m (157cm)

PE

E

148, 153, 158, 163, 168

THEY SAY This all-mountain ski is so light, yet its performance will make you chill even when you’re ripping.

WE SAY The weight of TOP SKI this ski is immediately R apparent. It instantly FOR M feels easy, needing little effort to make adjustments and initiate turns, and delivering high performance despite its light weight. It is well balanced along its length, managing to feel light, yet strong. Best suited to carving on piste, it feels a little less stable in deeper snow.

2015

LUB

Cap and sidewall combo/basalt light weight wood core/tip rocker

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

133-85-113 13.6m (163cm)

PE

PE

THEY SAY With a light build, female-specific Flipcore, early rise tip and tail, and camber this will raise your game on piste and off.

WE SAY Does a brilliant TOP SKI job of giving a secure, RF balanced, all-round OR M smooth, classy ride. It doesn’t have the ultimate float in powder its rivals had, yet drives through anything tricky with ease.

On piste its powerful build works well, snapping out of turns with strong acceleration. It takes time to learn, but rewards you with great performance in all conditions.

IC

BUILD

honeycomb, carbon and wood core/tip rocker

17m (166cm)

SK

SALOMON GEMMA £540 inc binding

£550 inc binding

BUILD Cap and sidewall combo/light weight

Sidewall/composite and Titanal light weight wood core/tip and tail rocker

ER

BLIZZARD BLACK PEARL BUILD

ER

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E A I B

Lively and responsive, easy to use (Bella Seel) Easy in long and short turns, its light weight makes it a nice introduction to allmountain skiing (Rowena Phillips) Easy to use, soft and playful Feels less solid at high speeds

TESTER PROFILE

Bella Seel

Bella has been skiing from the age of four and has spent more than ten years living in the Alps and working as a ski instructor.

She is one of the few British instructors to be fully certified in the French, Swiss and British ski instruction systems.

After a very successful career teaching skiing and owning a clothing company, she now runs ALS (alsprivate.com), a travel management and concierge service based between London and Geneva.

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WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIS: ADVANCED TO EXPERT

ATOMIC AFFINITY STORM £485 inc binding

NORDICA WILD BELLE

BUILD

BUILD

£420

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm) WEIGHT (per ski)

130-84-109 15.7m (167cm) 151, 159, 167 1,520g for 151cm

THEY SAY Light and ultra agile with tip rocker, its 84mm waist gives great floatation.

WE SAY The Storm just loves blasting out fast turns on piste.

Heavy and stiff with amazing grip, it feels planted on edge and is geared for strong, accurate skiing.

But less confident skiers will need to get their speed thresholds up to get the best out of it. Offpiste it’s a similar story with great accuracy and performance at high speeds, but less floatation or ease of use at slower speeds.

E A I

A

Awesome at speed, huge grip on an edge Needs speed to get the best out of it

B

www.larosiere.net

124-88-108 17.5m (169cm) 145, 153, 161, 169, 177 N/A

THEY SAY 88mm waist gives enough float for soft stuff, but it has plenty of sidecut for hardpack.

WE SAY This has a really wide shovel which drives into the turn, helping in deep snow where it thrives, feeling floaty and easy to steer in all turn shapes. That shovel gives it strong stability in long turns and lots of energy.

In short turns it felt less wieldy but still had lots of grip. Some testers found the radical shape a bit too reactive and twitchy on initiation of turns. But overall a great ski.

Best in long turns on piste, very grippy. Off-piste I got some bounce (Bella Seel) Fast and grippy on the edge, needs some physical work (Rowena Phillips)

from

B

Sidewall/carbon light weight wood core/tip and tail rocker

E

I

Ski test sponsors With thanks to Atomic, Eider, Salomon, Scott and Planks, who provided clothing for our test team in Kühtai.

Ski Club members can get savings on these brands through the many shops in the UK that offer discounts to Ski Club members.

You can see the full listing of members' discounts at skiclub.co.uk/discounts Photos: Ross Woodhall

Width gives it off-piste bias.

Easy to steer in both long and short turns off-piste (Bella Seel) Big shovel makes short, off-piste turns a joy (Rowena Phillips) Strong shape, lots of character, nice float Can feel hyper reactive at times

• • • • • •• •• • • • • •

Cap and sidewall combo/titanium light weight wood core/tip rocker

* This offer is valid for the weeks of January 2-23rd and March 12-19th 2016.

Prices are per person, studio accommodation occupied by 4 people - subject to availability.

ALL-MOUNTAIN BOOTS

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What it all means

LINER Designed to keep your feet warm and comfortable, some are standard, while others can be custom fitted to adopt shape of your calves and feet

SHELL

TONGUE Look at the top of your foot and you will see a maze of blood vessels and tendons. A badly shaped tongue compresses these… and that’s painful

Most shells are two-piece and combine a cuff, on top, attached by a hinge to a lower part, often called a clog, below. Threepiece models also have an external tongue

POWER STRAP The power strap acts as a vital extra buckle around your leg, and is usually closed by Velcro, but some high performance boots use a metal closure.

Don’t forget to do it up!

CANT ADJUSTMENT With many boots you can tilt the cuff slightly towards the big toe or little toe side of the clog, making you feel more balanced in the boot

BUCKLES These are used to fasten the boot. Buckles should wrap the shell evenly around the foot, keeping it snug without creating pressure points

WALK MODE The stiff back of ski boots, vital for performance, makes them no fun to walk in. So a walk switch releases the cuff to allow it to move backwards

FLEX

FOOTBED

LAST

This is the theoretical force in Newtons needed to decrease the angle between cuff and clog by ten degrees, and is written after the name of the boot.

High performance boots are stiffer, but often less comfortable

This is a trainer-type insole that comes with the boot.

A customised footbed is recommended to improve stability and give better foot-to-boot contact

A ‘last’ is the metal template around which the plastic shell of boots is shaped. It is measured in millimetres across the widest part of the foot, with 100mm being about medium

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BOOTS

You’ll soon soften to all-mountain models

SIZE All sizes are given in Mondopoint. Men’s boots usually come in sizes 24.5 to 30.5, which corresponds roughly to UK sizes 5.5 to 11.5.

Women’s boots usually come in sizes 22 to 27.5 or roughly UK sizes 5 to 10.5

They’re less racy or cool than some categories, but if you want just one pair of boots to settle down with, look no further, says Chris Exall All-mountain or all-terrain boots need to be good at everything. They must be comfortable enough to wear all day, yet powerful enough to control the ski in almost all conditions. While a race or freeride boot is honed to perfection in one area, the key to an all-mountain boot is versatility.

Most are designed around a fairly traditional overlap construction, which is simple but reliable. But even simple designs conceal innovations.

Almost all the boots featured here have liners that can be custom fitted, achieved by heating the liner to soften it, before you put it on and

Chris Exall (skipress.co.uk) describes himself as being 40 years into an 80-year apprenticeship in skiing: his first boots were made of leather. He is a member of the International Federation of Ski Instructors governing body and has written widely on snowsports safety

ATOMIC HAWX 130

DALBELLO AVANTI 130

PRICE OTHER FLEXES SIZE

£360 120, 100, 90 24.5-31.5

The Atomic Hawx was one of the best-selling ski boots of all time, so there was some trepidation when it was revised in 2015. Its strength is its out-of-the-box fit, feeling bespoke without custom fitting. The boot’s last is at the wide end of the medium band, but it’s certainly not a bathtub type shell. Some report that it’s a little longer than normal in the big toe area so you might be able to go down from your usual size. Great snow feel is achieved by allowing a little sole flex (as the ski bends, the boot bends) which helps you balance.

Fits most skiers well Slightly wide for those with narrow feet

PRICE OTHER FLEXES SIZE

£350 110, 100, 90 24-32

At first glance Dalbello’s Avanti series looks almost traditional.

However its simplicity hides a number of features. The clog is made of three plastics: a soft insert on the top of the foot, for comfort and ease of entry, connects with a stiff-sided clog for performance, and a super-stiff sole for power and edge control. The shell has small pre-stretched areas in potential problem spots, which often allow a skier to use a smaller shell than usual.

The 110 (£310) and 100 (£275) versions have fewer mouldable areas being softer anyway.

Light weight and easy to put on and take off Strong skiers might overpower it

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let it take the shape of your foot as it cools. And it doesn’t stop there — many of the shells can be moulded to match the shape of your foot too.

What is noticeable this winter is that boots are becoming lighter — a trend manufacturers tell me will continue into 2017 — thanks to new materials and stripped back designs, as in the Rossignol Allspeed Elite.

Ultimately these boots are the partners you bring home to meet your mother. They might not be as exciting as some dates, but you can live with them all day, every day and have lots of fun.

FULL TILT DESCENDANT 8 PRICE £290 OTHER FLEXES 6 SIZE 24.5-30.5

A new boot from Full Tilt, the Descendant takes its inspiration from the 1970s Raichle design. Full Tilt’s classic shells have always favoured lower-volume feet, so to counter this the Descendant 8, and its softer brother the 6 (Full Tilt does not use the usual measure of flex) are wider than their predecessors, with a new external tongue design, and modified buckling system fitting a wider range of feet. The ribbed tongue makes for a smooth flex, while having one central buckle ensures the heel is held snugly. The liner is comfortable.

Works for most feet Those with very narrow feet should try other models

MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN BOOTS

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HEAD VECTOR EVO 130 PRICE OTHER FLEXES SIZE

£320 130, 120 25-30.5

Head’s Vector collection has undergone a total redesign for 2016 starting with a new Form Fit heat customisable shell. The Evo uses a dual density lower, with the rearfoot cradled in a stiff frame for high performance, while the forefoot is wrapped in a softer, more forgiving, plastic. This year’s model has a more upright stance and a flatter bootboard than previous incarnations, making it more agile. The boot’s hinge point has also been moved back by almost an inch, making it feel super lively. It fits a medium to narrow foot and leg best.

A great combination of fit and performance Cable closure wraps the foot well but can be fiddly

K2 SPYNE 130 £370 110, 100 25.5-30.5

LANGE SX120

PRICE OTHER FLEXES

PRICE OTHER FLEXES

SIZE

SIZE

Most performance boots rely on bolts or rivets to connect the hinged cuff to the clog. K2 takes a different route, and instead uses a carbon fibre spine, which wraps the calf and heel.

The upper and lower sections are dovetailed together, so that as the skier flexes they lock more tightly, storing energy by stretching slightly.

This rivet-free design allows the energy created when flexing to be captured over a wider area, making the boot smooth and powerful. The 130 and 110 versions are available in three last widths — 97mm, 100mm and 102mm.

Three width options available The toebox can be a little too snug

£300 110, 90 24-31.5

Lange makes some of the most anatomical shells on the market, with the curves, lumps and bumps making them appear foot shaped. This makes for fantastic performance, but in the narrow shell, unless your lumps match Lange’s, you’ll be with the bootfitter for a while. In the SX120, Lange has kept the narrow heel and shell but widened the forefoot, calling it ‘performance wide’. It skis like a race model, but with a cushier, more tolerant fit and a fantastic feel for the snow. The SX100 (£255) and SX90 (£230) have a similar feel in softer flexes.

Simple, elegant design Almost no bells or whistles

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MEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN BOOTS

NORDICA NRGY PRO 1 130

ROSSIGNOL ALLSPEED ELITE 130

PRICE £420 OTHER FLEXES 130, 120, 110 SIZE 24-31

PRICE £385 OTHER FLEXES 120, 110, 100, 90 SIZE 24.5-29.5

Though the NRGy range looks different to Nordica’s hardcore Doberman collection, the boots share a lot features, and are designed to make bootfitters’ lives easy. Like a race product, the buckles, straps and cuff are screwed together, so a technician can separate them and modify the shell, while the 130 has a dual cant adjustment to allow the leg and cuff to align. Overall the fit is medium, however, cork-lined ankle pockets (in the top two models) compensate for this. The Pro 2 120 (£379) and Pro 3 110 (£339) are easier skiing versions.

Rossignol’s Allspeed boots tend towards the piste performance end of the all-mountain continuum. Rossignol developed a ‘sensor grid’ in its Alltrack boots, which wraps the foot in a web structure, while the boots have all superfluous material whittled away, leaving only critical areas reinforced with thicker plastic. There are three last widths, ranging from 98mm to 102mm, though the 98mm feels a little wider. The family has nine models, with flexes from the Elite 130 to 100 (£265), so if you can’t find one that works, you haven’t look hard enough.

A bootfitter’s dream The cork liner fits brilliantly, but takes time to bed in

A huge range of options to suit all foot types Powerstrap could be improved on softer models

SALOMON X PRO 130

TECNICA MACH 1 130

PRICE £330 OTHER FLEXES 120, 110, 100 SIZE 24.5-31.5

PRICE £420 OTHER FLEXES 120, 120, 110, 100, 90 SIZE 22.5-29.5

If you want to look like a racer, but ski all day in comfort, then Salomon’s X Pro family is the place to start. It shares many of the features of the piste performance X Max collection, but fits a greater range of feet. The boot is one of the most customisable on the market with a mouldable shell and liner, which are so well-fitting that many opt for a size smaller than usual. The 130 version offers near race performance but with a more relaxed fit. However most skiers will prefer the slightly softer 120 (£300). The boot has a tall cuff and upright centred stance, which works best with modern skis.

Fits most skiers quickly and well Purists may wish for mechanical cuff alignment

Tecnica’s Mach 1 boots may look mean, but the collection comes in two widths, the low volume LV models having a 98mm last, while the MV has a 100mm last. The latter feels even wider, so you may be able to ski in a smaller shell than usual. Tecnica’s CAS liner is heat mouldable, and the microcell material can be ground away by a bootfitter to remove any tight spots. Similarly, the polyether shell has dimpled areas that can be blown out without the risk of the shell bubbling.

Flexes from 120 (£340) to 90 (£220) are also available, though the 120 feels like some makes’ 130 models.

Anatomical shell is easy to put on and take off The medium version may be too roomy for some

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Give bootfitters your custom Just a few years ago, any form of customisation of your ski boot would have involved a professional boot doctor spending hours using clamps and grinders, with a bill to match. Now almost all boots are sold with some customisation possible, and at no extra cost.

Shells and liners can be heated, so they can take the shape of your foot. But for a small additional sum you can make your boots better still. First ditch the boot’s standard footbed and opt for a custommade one, which can be made in almost all ski shops. A customised footbed balances your foot in the boot, giving you more control over your skis and are less tiring to ski on. The most common brand is Sidas, with Superfeet and Surefoot gaining market share. Each makes insoles in a different way, but they should cost about £50.

Fitters can also align the boot with your foot and shin so your movements follow the hinging action of the shell. Because customisation is just that — tailored to your needs — it’s hard to give a price, but a top bootfitter such as Solutions 4 Feet’s Colin Martin charges about £30 an hour.

While a moulded inner is superior to an out-of-the-box one, skiers with problem feet or those seeking greater comfort or performance should consider a foam liner made for them. This is done by mixing two chemicals together so they expand in an unpadded liner, filling every gap between your foot and the shell perfectly and creating an exact mould of your foot. It costs about £425 but provides the best fit.

It’s easy to see boot customisation as a vanity, especially if you were brought up to believe that ski boots are uncomfortable as a matter of necessity.

However, I would suggest that it is as essential as adjusting the mirrors, seat and steering wheel of a car before driving off.

And you thought you’d skied them all…

Ski the Swiss Alp

s this winter

Discover great skiing and more in Graubünden.

The Swiss Alps have more to offer than you might think. This winter, explore Arosa Lenzerheide and LAAX. With over 220km of varied slopes high above the snowline, both resorts offer a wide range of skiing and snowboarding experiences – including snow parks, halfpipes and more leisurely activities such as winter hiking and cross-country.

Choose from 5-star resorts, traditional family-run hotels and holiday apartments – and make sure you leave plenty of time to enjoy the many restaurants and bars in town.

Easy access from Zurich with either train or coach shuttle means that you can be on the slopes the same day you leave home.

Book great holidays to Graubünden direct, visit en.graubuenden.ch

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WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN BOOTS

Women bring boot makers to heel As with men’s all-mountain models, these boots can go everywhere, but allow for the fact that women have narrower heels, calves that connect lower and prefer lighter boots.

Manufacturers are also allowing shells to be customised. Some are also straightening the forward lean angle of their boots.

This, combined with flatter boot boards, is designed to help you stay centred and balanced over the ski.

Photo: Ross Woodhall

Janine Winter is ski manager and buyer at specialist bootfitter Profeet (020 7736 0046; profeet.co.uk), having spent 11 seasons fitting boots with the Boot Doctors in Telluride, Colorado, four seasons in New Zealand, and one in Australia

ATOMIC HAWX MAGNA 90W

TECNICA MACH 1 105W

PRICE £280 OTHER FLEX 70 SIZE 22-27.5

PRICE £300 OTHER FLEXES 95, 85 SIZE 22-27.5

The Magna series is a new addition to Atomic’s Hawx range for this season. Atomic has taken the everpopular Hawx boot, and expanded it to a 102mm last to accommodate wider feet. Despite being generous in the forefoot and calf, the Magna still secures the heel well for great control. It comes with Atomic’s Memory Fit technology, allowing the boot to be heated and cooled for a more personalised fit, while the liner has 3M Thinsulate Insulation for extra warmth. The boot also comes in a 70 flex model for less aggressive skiers.

Shell can be customised Not suitable for lower volume feet

The Mach 1 has been completely revamped for its second season.

Coming in two last widths — 98mm and 100mm — and three flex options, it is designed to fit a wide range of feet and skiing styles. The shell now has dimples in key areas of the foot, known as CAS shell technology, so that it can be easily stretched or ground to customise the boot’s fit to your foot.

The liner is anatomically shaped to your foot thanks to pre-punched ankle pockets, which provide a great initial fit, while also allowing for further customisation by your bootfitter.

A bootfitter’s dream A little heavier than others in the category

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DALBELLO AVANTI 95W PRICE £310 OTHER FLEXES 85, 75 SIZE 22-27.5

The Avanti series is a new addition to Dalbello’s range for this season, and is focused at intermediate to advanced skiers expecting to cope with a variety of terrain and snow conditions. At 99mm wide, the Avanti’s last is ideal for medium width feet. It comes with Dalbello’s new Instant Fit liner, which is quick and easy to mould and retains warmth well on cold days. The 95 flex is targeted at the advanced female skier, while the 85 and 75 flex options suit less aggressive skiers, who nonetheless wish to explore what the whole mountain has to offer.

Instant Fit liner for quick, easy moulding and warmth Not the most exciting graphics compared to others

WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN BOOTS

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HEAD VECTOR EVO 110W

K2 SPYRE 110 LV

PRICE £330 OTHER FLEXES 90 SIZE 23-27.5

PRICE £360 OTHER FLEXES 100, 80 SIZE 22.5-27.5

The Vector series has been revolutionised for this season, and now features Head’s Form Fit technology, which allows the whole shell to be heated in the oven and customised to your foot. The 110 flex is aimed at advanced female skiers but does not compromise on comfort, and even with a medium 100mm width shell, the Vector still offers great heel hold. It comes with Head’s famous Spine buckles, which curve around the boot, avoiding the creation of flat spots.

Buckles wrap the foot without creating flat spots Smallest size available is a 23

The Spyre is aimed at hard-charging females looking to explore the whole mountain. It comes with an Intuition liner for warmth and a precision fit around the foot, including great heel hold. The low volume, 97mm, version is a great option for narrow feet, but it also comes in a wider 100mm last.

The cuff height has been lowered to accommodate women’s calves — which connect lower — while the heel made narrower for better control. It has replaceable rubber soles and padded mid-grip under foot for traction.

Intuition liner is great for warmth and precise fit More expensive than its competitors

SALOMON X PRO 90 PRICE £290 OTHER FLEXES 80, 70 SIZE 22-27.5

The X Pro has long been a favourite with women skiers, and returns with a new look, but unchanged technology for this season. It features a Custom Shell, which can be heated, allowing it to expand where necessary around your foot. Salomon has worked hard on its 3D liner, which comes pre-shaped, providing a great instant fit. The liner comes with calf adjustment, which can be lowered depending on the shape of your leg. The X Pro 90 is a great option for intermediate to advanced skiers, but also comes in 80 and 70 flex.

Customised shell fits almost every foot shape No cuff adjustment to help with alignment issues

ADVERTORIAL

©Helmuth Rier

Deep in the Dolomites of northern Italy is the remarkable holiday region of Kronplatz, a dazzling melting pot of cultures and languages - and some of the best, most spectacular and wellorganised skiing in the Alps The holiday region comprises three ski areas – Kronplatz itself plus nearby Speikboden and Klausberg.

The skiing centrepiece of Kronplatz is the mountain which locals call Panettone, because of its sugarloaf shape. Ski runs of every colour, long and scenic, snake their way down to lovely little villages on all sides of the mountain – 116 kilometres in total.

You could also call it Gondola Central - the uphill transport system is astonishing. These are gondolas with extras – business class gondolas. Some have heated seats. Some have free wi-fi.

There are more than 20. One gondola, at the village of Percha, even takes you right onto the platform of a railway line that links with the ski area of Sextner Dolomiten, a pleasant 35-minute journey away. The Sella Ronda, for a day trip on skis around the mighty limestone massif of the Gruppo del Sella, is also within easy reach.

The Panettone has two crowning glories.

The recently-opened Messner Mountain Museum Corones, brainchild of mountaineer Reinhold Messner and renowned architect Zaha Hadid, pays homage to the traditions and history of mountaineering in breathtaking galleries hewn right through the rock at the top of the mountain. And at peak of the Panettone is the biggest cowbell you’ve ever seen. The 16-ton Concordia 2000 Peace Bell marked the

Millennium and every day at noon it rings out its message – and every gondola in the area vibrates in solidarity.

Despite being in the majestic Dolomites, which in 2009 was accorded UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the atmosphere is distinctly Tirolean – the villages boast onion-domed churches, lederhosen is much in evidence and waitresses are delightfully dirndl-clad.

The mountain restaurants, of which there is a huge choice from rustic to high-end gourmet, are as likely to have germknodels and kaiserschmarrn on the menu as tiramisu and zabaglione. You will hear spoken German, Italian and the ancient Ladinisch - which all goes to make up a cosmopolitan atmosphere with a Mediterranean ambience.

Speikboden, in the Valli di Tures, is very family-orientated – and is very proud of its eight-kilometre run with an impressive vertical of 1,500 metres. Klausberg has the highest top station of the Kronplatz region, at 2,510 metres, with the panorama from this point embracing many 3,000-metre peaks.

As a fully-rounded winter resort, holiday diversions in these enchanting villages include tobogganing, snow-shoeing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing and fabulous spas. And if you find yourself in beguiling little Brunico at the time of the Christmas markets, it will be the highlight of your year. It was recently voted

©Helmuth Rier

©Alex Filz

Italy’s most pleasant small city.

All the Kronplatz resorts are linked by skibus, or in some cases by train – and overnight guests receive a HOLIDAYPASS which gives free use of all public transport in Südtirol.

More information at kronplatz.com

ALL-MOUNTAIN BOARDS

78

BASE Extruded bases are cheap, easy to repair, and ideal for beginners. Sintered bases need more care and cost more, but are faster when waxed

FLEX This is graded from one to five, with one being soft — making a board easy to turn — and five being stiff, for high-speed piste performance

LENGTH Board lengths are measured in centimetres from tip to tail. Longer boards suit powder; shorter ones are best for freestyle

EFFECTIVE EDGE

WIDTH A ’W‘ following a length means the board comes in wide, and so is suitable for riders with larger feet — UK size 11 and over

The distance between the two contact points on either side of the snowboard

FLAT PROFILE A board with a flat profile is flat under the feet, with the board rising only at the tip and tail

ROCKER PROFILE A board with a rocker profile has its main contact point between the rider’s feet, while the ends of the effective edge are lifted

CAMBER PROFILE A board with a camber profile rises up between the rider’s feet and has contact points at each end — at the nose and tail ends of the effective edge

COMBO PROFILE

What it all means

A board with a combo profile combines elements of both rocker and camber boards

79

SNOWBOARDS SHAPE Directional boards have a setback stance, twin boards have a centred stance and an identical nose and tail, while directional twin boards combine elements of both

Tristan Kennedy is editor of action sports and adventure website Mpora.com and former deputy editor of Whitelines Snowboarding magazine. He tested these boards exclusively for Ski+board at the Snowboard Spring Break event in Kaunertal, Austria

Are board makers still going bananas?

Rockered boards, popular five years ago, are being replaced by more stable all-mountain cambered models, writes Tristan Kennedy The release of the Skate Banana by the pioneering brand Lib Tech in 2007 sparked a revolution. In the aftermath, rival manufacturers raced to design their own reverse camber (or full rocker) models, feeding the public desire for playful, forgiving boards.

In fact, some brands dropped all their conventional camber boards.

Initially a few voices of disquiet were raised by freeride-loving pros, such as Nicolas Müller, who always maintained he preferred the high speed stability offered by cambered boards.

More recently, he’s been joined in the retreat from full-rocker fervour,

SLASH BRAINSTORM £380

RIDE ALTER EGO

FLEX PROFILE Combo SHAPE Directional twin LENGTHS (cm) 151, 154, 157, 160

FLEX PROFILE SHAPE LENGTHS (cm)

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

Slash may be a relatively new brand, but its boards are designed by veteran backcountry freestyler Gigi Rüf, and built by the masters at the Nidecker factory in Switzerland. The result is second-to-none design and build quality. The board features a profile that reflects its setback stance, making powder easier. And for taking your tricks out of the park and on to other places on the mountain, the Brainstorm is perfect for the job.

Setback profile helps in powder Stiffer flex makes it less playful

£460 Combo Directional 155, 159, 162

Split tail makes it versatile A little stiff for hitting rails

NOVEMBER 2015

ROME BRIGADE

£300

FLEX PROFILE Combo SHAPE Directional twin LENGTHS (cm) 151, 154, 158 PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

The Alter Ego is one of the many new boards this season that comes in an unusual shape. The wide, squared-off nose helps it float in powder, but it’s the tail that’s really special. As well as a cutaway, it features a split that can be locked shut.

When open, the tail is softer helping, you carve surf-style turns in powder.

When locked, it stiffens the torsional flex behind your rear foot, making carving on piste easier. Amazingly, despite this, it’s still possible to ride switch. An unusual looking all-rounder.

Ski+board

especially in the important allmountain category, with even some rail lovers opting for cambered boards over rockered ones.

So perhaps it is no surprise that all-mountain boards, which are designed to please both freeriders and freestylers, are increasingly featuring more conventional, cambered profiles.

With the exception of the Salomon Derby and the Gnu Zoid, all the boards featured here are designed with a pronounced camber giving them a solid and stable feel reminiscent of boards released pre-2007. The wheel, it appears, has turned full circle.

The log pile graphic on the Rome Brigade feels appropriate; if a lumberjack were designing a snowboard, this is what it would look like. It’s a no-nonsense, no-frills stick that’s nonetheless solid and dependable, regardless of the terrain you ride on. The base isn’t the fastest Rome make, the core isn’t the lightest and there’s little in the way of flashy tech. But this doesn’t matter.

The Brigade still rides well all over the mountain. And given it’s just £300 what more could you ask for?

Great all-rounder at a reasonable price Not the fastest board

skiclub.co.uk

ALL-MOUNTAIN BOARDS

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SALOMON DERBY

£320

BURTON FLIGHT ATTENDANT

FLEX PROFILE Combo SHAPE Directional twin LENGTHS (cm) 147, 151

FLEX PROFILE Combo SHAPE Directional twin LENGTHS (cm) 156, 159, 162

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

Designed by Salomon team rider Josh Dirksen, the Derby is great in deep powder. It’s short (147cm and 151cm), but makes up for this in width — it’s about a centimetre wider than other boards. This means it still has the surface area needed to float in soft snow, but is nimble, making it good for tight turns through trees.

This, combined with the soft flex, makes it great fun to mess around on.

Nimble and great for tree riding Not the most stable at high speed

Women’s shapes are changing and for the better

£400

As with men’s boards, the women’s all-mountain market is seeing a slow move back towards conventional camber profiles.

The Hel Yes, for example, technically features a combo profile, however it’s the camber element between the bindings that really gives the board its characteristic stability and power in the carve.

And, as with women’s freestyle boards, featured in the last issue, there is an increasing number of strangely shaped designs appearing on the market. None more so than the Gnu Zoid, which is sold in two different configurations: one for ‘regular’ and one for ‘goofy’ riders.

New last year, the Flight Attendant really took off thanks to its ability to handle all terrain types with ease.

It was designed with the help of long-standing Burton pro Nicolas Müller, and although they’ve now parted, his input is still obvious.

The board is made for backcountry freestyle with a stiff flex, making it feel solid underfoot, and carves like a dream, both on piste and in powder.

Solid and stable with a snappy flex Not an entry level board

Photo: Fankhauser/Austrian National Tourist Office

Boots that are forgiving on you and your wallet The technology used in top-of-therange freeride boots continues to steadily trickle down to allmountain models this year.

Both the Burton Imperial and the Felix Boa boast technological features previously only seen in freeride boots.

This is great news for riders who are after a high performance boot that not only has a more forgiving flex, but also comes with a more forgiving price-tag.

Read comprehensive advice on buying boards and boots at skiclub.co.uk/kit

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ALL-MOUNTAIN BOARDS

HEL YES FLEX PROFILE SHAPE LENGTHS (cm)

£390

BURTON FEELGOOD £450

GNU ZOID

Combo Directional 146, 149, 152, 155

FLEX PROFILE Camber SHAPE Directional twin LENGTHS (cm) 140, 144, 149, 152

FLEX PROFILE SHAPE LENGTH (cm)

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

The Hel Yes takes its name from the brand (Yes Snowboards) and its team rider who designed it, Helen Schettini. Based in Canada, she’s among the best backcountry riders in the world, and turns heads with her aggressive riding style and penchant for fast lines and big cliff drops.

The board has a stiff flex that makes it carve beautifully on piste, yet feel snappy and responsive in powder.

The Feelgood is the female version of the world’s first allmountain board, the Burton Custom. It’s been a staple of Burton’s line for years, and along with its more forgiving cousin, the Feelgood Flying V, proved highly popular. The camber profile makes the board feel solid underfoot and helps it carve. It’s a stiff model — Olympic medalist Kelly Clark uses it — but not so rigid you can’t ride it on rails.

A high performance board for all terrain types Not particularly forgiving

A great freestyle-focused all-rounder You pay a premium for the Burton brand

BURTON IMPERIAL

£520 Combo Directional 149

The strangest in appearance, but also one of the most interesting technologically, the Gnu Zoid takes the asymmetric sidecut that Gnu pioneered to new extremes.

It’s a board that’s designed for carving both on piste and in powder. The radical difference in edges means you must buy either a ‘regular’ (left-foot forward) or ‘goofy’ (rightfoot forward) configured board.

A lot of fun to use both on and off-piste Not designed for riding switch

£240

RIDE JACKSON

£210

FLEX SIZE 6 to 14 LACING SYSTEM Speed lace

FLEX SIZE LACING SYSTEM

5 to 14 Boa

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

The Imperial borrows technology from Burton’s top-of-the-range SLX freeride boot, but comes at a more affordable price for an all-mountain rider. The flex is relatively stiff, offering plenty of ankle support — essential if you’re blasting around the hill at high speed.

Named after the resort in Wyoming that’s best known for its backcountry, the Jackson is an all-terrain destroyer.

Its mid-stiff flex is designed to deliver performance on piste, and power in the powder. The Boa lacing system makes getting them on and off quick and easy.

BURTON FELIX BOA £270

SALOMON LILY FOCUS BOA

FLEX SIZE LACING SYSTEM

FLEX SIZE LACING SYSTEM

4 to 10 Boa

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

4 to 10 Boa

PISTES POWDER JUMPS RAILS

Designed with input from backcountry rider Kimmy Fasani, the Felix Boa combines freeride technology with a slightly softer flex, making it an excellent all-mountain option. The Heat Cycle tech and reflective foil (used in sleeping bags) are designed to keep your toes warm and dry even if walking through deep snow for hours.

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£220

With two Boa lacing wheels — allowing for precision control of the boot’s fit — the Salomon Lily is a versatile boot that works well on all terrain. If you’re looking for a dedicated freestyle model, then you’d be better off with something softer, but for a boot that can go anywhere, this is one of the best all-rounders on the market.

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GEAR Ski helmets must comply with one of three safety systems:

Put a lid on it Ski helmets are evolving fast, with new lightweight yet super-strong materials and greater customisation, says Alf Alderson Protecting your head is vital, as with each season kit emerges that allows us to ski faster and jump higher.

Happily helmets are keeping pace.

Statistics show most accidents involve oblique impacts, resulting in a sharp rotation of head and brain. Such glancing impacts may also subject brain tissue to more stress than straight, so-called radial impacts. In a helmet with MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system) shell and liner are separated by a low friction layer, allowing the shell to slide relative to the head, reducing the forces on the brain.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), a common liner, is a good shock absorber, but remains compressed

after an impact, reducing its effectiveness, so you should get rid of a helmet after a nasty accident.

If you’re prone to regular spills — if you enjoy park life, say — opt for an Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) liner, which will continue to protect your head after several wipeouts.

ABS, which stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, simply refers to the hard plastic outer shell.

Here we review a selection of the latest models. Some allow for in-built headphones (hardly safe when skiing!) while others have camera mounts.

The key new trend is a boom in lighter, cooler models that comes from the growing popularity of ski touring, but these are great all-rounders.

£140 SALOMON MTN LAB

Salomon came up with the MTN Lab in response to the increasing popularity in ski touring, where weight and ventilation are important factors for climbing. The awardwinning helmet weighs in at just 300g, so you hardly notice you’ve got it on. It’s an extremely comfortable model, and easily adjustable thanks to a single dial at the back. The MTN Lab has a highly shock absorbent EPS liner, which exceeds official safety standards for both mountaineering and skiing by more than 30 per cent.

It has 12 vents, although you can’t close them. I liked its little touches such as the goggle attachment and the headlamp retainer, but its weight is the main attraction.

A super-light and well vented lid Ear pads not removable and vents not adjustable

ONE The Common European Norm, CEN 1077, is the European standard TWO Helmets tested according to the American Society of Testing and Materials, ASTM, must reach standard F2040 THREE Snell’s RS-98 standard is arguably the most stringent of all

Alf Alderson is an award-winning adventure travel writer who divides his time between the Alps and Pembrokeshire. He is co-author of the Rough Guide to the Rocky Mountains and other ski guides. He is an experienced gear tester for the ski press

£115

£120

CÉBÉ TRILOGY

BERN KINGSTON

The Trilogy can be used for skiing, mountain biking and climbing, with features designed for each activity.

For skiing its lightweight design — a tough polycarbonate shell with an EPS liner — works like any other ski helmet, with non-adjustable vents, removable ear pads, and fine fit using a dial at the rear. If you’re mountain biking you remove the two lateral reinforcements, which reveals three large vents either side of the helmet.

You can also attach a visor to the front, and switch the winter lining for a warm weather version. For climbing you use the cycling set-up, minus the visor. Its light weight (360g in ski mode, 280g for climbing) means you soon forget you’re wearing it.

Versatile and light A faff to change the liner and add the visor

The new Kingston model from Bern is one of the stronger, heavier models we tested, weighing 500g. It features the American company’s top-end technology using the patented Zip Mold construction — a PVC microshell lined with liquid injected foam — to give good protection. In appearance, the Kingston is rugged and plain, with a built-in peak, waxed canvas liner and ear pads that aren’t removable. When you start to heat up there’s an easy sliding vent adjuster, which can be operated with gloves, and has three settings for the six vents on top of the helmet. You’ll find the Kingston reassuringly snug and stable, with a tough, solid feel about it, without being too heavy.

Easy to adjust with a reassuringly tough feel Ear pads can’t be removed

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GEAR: HELMETS

£210 £115 SMITH PIVOT

The Pivot is ‘self-adjusting’ using an elasticated cradle — as seen in climbing helmets — to secure a good fit. This is surprisingly snug and secure given its basic nature (it does come in small, medium and large). The Pivot features well-padded ear covers that are headphone compatible.

Protection comes in the form of Smith’s proprietary Bombshell Plus construction — which uses an injection moulded ABS shell — and a multiimpact EPP liner. It is designed to withstand high-impact falls and works well for skiers who tend to give their helmet a lot of hammer and don’t mind wearing a slightly heavier model.

It has 13 vents to maximise airflow.

Understated, but good looking Vents not adjustable and rather small

H

alfway between Lake Geneva and the Mont-Blanc Massif, Morzine is an authentic Savoyard village, nestled in a pine tree forest, with traditional wooden chalets.

Often village resorts only have a few slopes. Morzine, however, is the exception, thanks to its link to the Portes du Soleil, with its 650km of pistes.

Its location and ease of accessibility (the resort is 75 minutes’ drive from Geneva Airport) make Morzine

POC RECEPTOR BACKCOUNTRY MIPS

Another award-winning shell, the Poc Receptor Backcountry offers MIPS technology combined with a multi-impact EPP liner. The helmet also features Poc’s patented Double Shell Anti-Penetration system, which uses two offset ventilated shells, maximising protection against penetration from sharp objects, while maintaining good air flow and ventilation. Uniquely, the helmet has a thin sheet of aramid — used for snooker balls — moulded in its core.

The helmet size isn’t adjustable, but if you have the right size, the helmet feels very stable, and it’s more than adequately padded, although the vents are not adjustable on the go.

£220 GIRO RANGE

Giro’s new Range helmet has a unique two-piece shell design whereby you can expand and contract the semi-flexible EPP inner shell by turning a dial at the rear of the helmet.

You get up to 6cm of adjustment, which gives it the feel of custom fit. Unsurprisingly, it felt remarkably stable and comfy in use, and also features MIPS technology, 13 vents, of which the upper six can be adjusted on the go, and a magnetic buckle closure — which can be operated with gloved hands. Additional features, such as removable ear flaps and compatibility with Giro’s audio system, mean there’s virtually everything you need in the Range, albeit at a price.

Excellent build quality and stacks of safety features Venting can’t be adjusted on the go; not the lightest

Excellent fitting system and good looks The most expensive we tested

a destination enjoyed both by skiers and mountain lovers.

And the pistes are great. From gentle nursery slopes, to big off-piste drops, Morzine is the ideal playground.

The domain is full of slopes of varying difficulty and exposure (wide slopes, couloirs, forests…) you’ll always find a spot to make first tracks.

Thanks to the quality of snow and number of pistes, everyone will be able to find routes to suit their level.

At the end of the day, Morzine offers many bars with very different vibes, from DJ sets at the Tremplin to Concerts at the Cottage, and the Cheese bar at La Chaudanne, there is something for everyone.

For more information visit morzine-avoriaz.com, and share your moments with momentsmorzine.com, or tag your photos and videos on social media with #momentsmorzine

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Stretch your legs out into the trough to maintain contact with the snow

Use an accurate pole plant near the top of the bump to initiate the turn Start to scrape your skis down the back of the bump

TECHNIQUE

Bump-tastic!

If there’s one question instructors are invariably asked, it’s how to deal with moguls. Mark Jones shows you how Lots of skiers try to avoid bumps.

But they occur to a greater or lesser extent on many pistes, as skiers carve tight turns in soft snow, which hardens to create these regular mounds.

Some resorts leave them as a challenge, while others groom the main run, but leave moguls to the side, so you can try them in a less pressured space. And on a cold morning, when no amount of skiing seems to warm you up, there’s nothing like a mogul run to get the blood really pumping.

They demand fast reactions and rapid decision-making on the move.

When done well, mogul-skiing can be inspirational to watch. When done badly, you may feel you are being mugged trying to get down the slope.

Here are key points to turn you from hapless victim to consummate pro.

CONTROL Control is vital and relates to speed. Before honing your technique you must be able to dictate your speed. There are two vital ways to do this, skidding and using the terrain, and you need to do both.

Skidding is something we usually try to avoid, but it is your ultimate getout-of-jail card in bumps. To skid you must twist the skis sideways and scrape them across the snow. Keep them fairly flat. Skis on edge are harder to twist and will bite into the snow. Try to make the twisting movement from your legs, rather than shifting your whole body.

Using the terrain sounds obvious but

Keep a straight back and actively pull your legs up to absorb the next bump

you must make moguls your friends in controlling your speed. Use the sides and up-slopes of bumps as zones to scrape into and slow down. Try to get your skis high on the sides of bumps for this. If you follow a line deep in the troughs, your speed will increase.

The importance of these techniques cannot be over emphasised. Make sure you have mastered them to control speed before even thinking about any finer points of technique. So if things are going wrong ask yourself this: • Can I control my speed by quickly twisting the skis so that they scrape sideways across the snow?

• Am I riding up the sides of the bump to control speed?

• Can I do this in a narrow corridor rather than zigzagging from one side of the piste to the other?

Photo: vanessafry.com

ridge by starting to twist the skis into the new direction. This is an easy place to do it, as only the part of the skis directly underfoot is in contact with the snow so they are simple to swivel.

Once I’ve done that I need to stretch my legs back down, to make sure they make full contact with the snow again, while twisting them so they can scrape the down-slope of the bump to steer me to the next up-slope.

The ability to flex and stretch your legs to absorb the bumps and keep in contact within the troughs is a skill that takes time to acquire, so don’t let it vex you. But it will allow you to increase your speed eventually, giving your body an easier ride. So, as you progress, remember: • As you hit the up-slope, keep a straight back and let your legs flex in front of you, shifting your feet forward slightly • As you turn your skis on the ridge, dip your toes down and stretch your legs to keep contact in the trough • Try to use leg joints to make these movements with minimal motion in your hip and neck

Having swivelled your skis at the top of a bump, spy your next turning point Use the up-slope you have chosen to help control your speed

BALANCE Balancing effectively will make your progress through the bumps much easier. It’s all about feeling balanced through the middle of your feet then making reactive moves with your body to maintain that equilibrium.

In bumps you must adjust your usual skiing posture. Typically you should: • Keep your skis closer together to make it easier to turn quickly in tight spaces • Keep a straighter back to make it easier to flex your legs • Tighten your core to deal with the counter-rotation movements between legs and upper body • Be disciplined with your upper body — keep your hands out in front and don’t let them out of your range of vision

TACTICS

Once you are in balance, and can maintain a constant speed, you can focus on making great turns.

This involves choosing the right place to turn and getting your line right.

This can be confusing in bumps simply because there are so many lines you can take. I’m often asked: “Where should I turn?” A better question would be: “How much do I need to turn to control my speed?” On a low-incline slope with flat-ish moguls it is fine to follow the troughs as you don’t need to slow down too much.

Now look at the bigger bumps on the steeper slope I am tackling in the photo sequence. Here I’m using the up-slopes near the top of the bump as a point to slow down. So I twist and scrape the skis in that small area.

I then initiate the new turn on the

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As I said at the start, bumps can be deeply frustrating and mastering them will be no smoother than the piste itself. Battling a whole slope can grind you down — mentally and physically.

If you’re struggling, keep it down to small sections, try just three bumps, stop, reflect on your performance, rest, then go for another three. If that works build it up to six at a time.

If you fall, or have a bad run, erase it mentally, before moving on.

How many bumps you go for is your choice, but build it up slowly. Like blocks of chocolate, bumps are best tackled in bite-size chunks.

Read more of Mark Jones’s ski tips at skiclub.co.uk/skitechnique

Mark Jones is director of ICE (icesi.org), a training centre for aspiring skiers and instructors in Val d’Isère, France. He is also a trainer and assessor for Basi and has been in the British demo team at the industry-leading annual Interski Congress four times.

MEMBERS’ BENEFIT

The Ski Club hits the slopes in France this season…

MEMBERSHIP

…with Instructor-led Guiding The Ski Club has teamed up with ski school Evolution 2 to offer members instructor-led guiding in 11 French resorts for the 2015-16 season.

INSTRUCTOR-LED GUIDING The new service will operate in Alpe d’Huez, Argentière, Avoriaz, Courchevel, Flaine, La Plagne, Méribel, Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d’Isère and Val Thorens.

As with our regular Leading service (still running in 18 resorts in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Andorra and North America), all our featured French resorts will offer a regular programme, suited to different abilities, run by fully qualified instructors. The programme will be flexible, catering to member demand and snow conditions.

Evolution 2 instructors won’t just be taking Ski Club members out on the snow – they’ll be providing the full member service that’s always been there with our

Leaders. They’ll host social hours, help members to arrange groups for skiing together when they’re not taking part in an organised day, provide daily snow reports, and will generally offer advice and assistance.

There is a small administration fee to use the Instructor-led Guiding service: Half-day £10 Full-day £20 Places are limited so you’ll need to book in advance at skiclub.co.uk/skiwiththeclub to secure your spot.

Booking will be available from early November. All sessions are subject to there being at least 2 members booked.

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TECHNIQUE: OFF-PISTE SAFETY

The wrong kind of snow You can learn how to spot tricky patches and deal with them, says Nigel Shepherd, who recommends two hugely unfashionable turns if you’re stuck

Nigel Shepherd is safety adviser to the Ski Club. He qualified as a full guide in 1979 and was president of British Mountain Guides from 1993 to 1996. He has climbed, skied, taken photographs and guided all over the world and has contributed to several books.

sunlight it can be thrilling to ski. After warm spring nights and hotter days, snow may become sodden to quite a depth. Aside from the avalanche risk, this will require you to make your turns slower and broader, so factor this in when you’re planning where to turn.

The worst such snow supports you briefly but collapses as soon as you try to turn. I once led a tour where skiers sank so deep — to the crotch — I had to dig them out. Which leads to the question of how to get down a slope if you’re unable to avoid hostile snow.

There’s no one answer. But while the most important thing is not to injure yourself — which is easy to do in tricky snow — fear and apprehension are your worst enemies. Rather than tensing up, evolve a strategy using the skills and tactics you have developed as a skier or boarder up to this point.

Tense muscles are more easily torn or strained if subjected to the twisting forces encountered in difficult snow. If you feel your muscles tensing, throttle back the speed and regain control until you are more able to cope. If this means slow traverses across the slope followed by a standing turn, so be it.

This is where you lift one ski to put it parallel to the next but pointing in the opposite direction, so you are momentarily standing ballerina-style until you point them both in the same direction. The traverses will accustom you to the snow and you may decide it is possible to make turns after all.

An expert skier in breakable crust or heavy, chopped up, deep snow can make jump turns look simple. This is where they turn their skis mid-air to land facing in the new direction. But this takes time to learn. Sure, if you have lots of energy, stamina and spring in your step it may work briefly on steeper slopes, but you’ll find that just a few turns on less steep slopes will sap your energy unbelievably fast.

There is one reliable survival turn that is so out of fashion most skiers

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don’t even know of it and it’s called the stem turn. The skier traverses a slope, then ‘stems’ the uphill ski out (much like a snowplough), shifting weight on to it and, as it turns, taking their weight off the inside ski to bring it alongside. The key is to travel at a speed that suits you and not turn too radically. Speed may work for fit, confident riders with wide skis. But for others it can end in a wipe out, leading to embarrassment or injury.

If all else fails, there is a turn even less fashionable than the stem turn, which is especially useful if you struggle Photo: Ross Woodhall

The field of untracked snow is crying out to have elegant curves carved into it. So you head out, only to be pitched unceremoniously into the deep stuff head first. Sound familiar? That’s because there are so many different types of snow. Even now something will occasionally take me by surprise.

So how do you predict the type of snow you’ll find and deal with it?

Following how the snow fell and learning to spot tell-tale signs will help. After high winds, watch out for ragged windward slopes, lean of snow, and ‘sastrugi’ — sharp, irregular grooves and ridges on the surface.

Fuller, smoother slopes are your best bet, though factor in the avalanche hazard of windslab on leeward slopes.

Snow that falls in calm, cold air is likely to cover the terrain evenly. You will recognise it because the snow sits comfortably and fairytale-like on trees.

Of course, what skiers want to spot is breakable crust, which limits your scope for safe turns. Often it’s not until you’re in it that it’s apparent. But there are clues that crust may exist.

Freshly fallen snow given a coat of fine rain, mist or sleet which then freezes is certain to develop a crust.

Similarly, if sun-melt freezes overnight, melts again, then freezes again, the crust will become thicker each time.

Chopped up snow is easy to spot, but if it softens in the sun by day then freezes overnight you’ll be skiing over tram tracks in the morning. But by the afternoon if it’s softened again in the

Even highly experienced skiers can get caught out by sudden changes in snow conditions

with standing turns. It’s the ‘worm turn’. Simply lie down in the snow and turn your skis to face the new direction of travel. It works every time!

In the next issue — dealing with group dynamics and peer pressure.

Read comprehensive weather forecasts at skiclub.co.uk/snowreports

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FITNESS

Go on, stretch yourself If you’re stiff, these exercises will prepare you for the slopes, says Craig McLean Many people feel tension in their muscles without a known cause and may have been put off stretching after they attempted bends that were too demanding. In this issue we focus on safe and simple workouts for five parts of the body that need to be flexible for skiing — and tell you which ones to avoid if you are not particularly supple. All the exercises can be done at home — you can even do them while watching TV. So there are no excuses for avoiding limbering up for the season.

Craig McLean is a chiropractor and fitness expert.

He has worked in the ski industry for over 15 years, helping exOlympians Konrad Bartelski and Graham Bell, and consulting for the Warren Smith Ski Academy

1 Lower back

2 Hips

A. It’s important to have a flexible back for skiing.

Lying on your back, pull your knees up and let them fall from side to side while keeping your arms and upper spine on the ground.

A. Stretch your hip flexors by lunging and raising your arm on the side of your back leg high. You’ll feel the stretch through the abdomen. Do not bend your knees past 90 degrees.

B. Start the ‘cat’ stretch on all fours with your head held up and eyes looking forward. From here let your tummy drop down as if there’s a weight attached to your belly button.

B. Stiff piriformis muscles can cause hip pain. Stretch them by lying on your back, bringing both knees up and resting one ankle on the other thigh and pulling them towards your chest.

C. From the cat, lift the middle of your spine high, to the ‘camel’ position, rolling your shoulders and dropping your head so you are almost looking back at your legs.

C. Active leg swings are a great way to stretch your hip flexors and hamstrings at the same time. As you swing your leg, you’ll feel the stretch in the upper thigh and hamstring

You’re doing it wrong if… you have a stiff back and attempt the classic ‘touch-your-toes’ stretch, as this puts unnecessary strain on your lower spine, especially the lumbar discs.

You’re doing it wrong if… you have stiff hips and attempt the static sitting groin stretch. Stick to active stretches, such as the lunges and leg swings pictured above.

Myth buster

Chiropractors are for bad backs while physios are for bad knees…

If aches and pains prevent you from enjoying skiing, you should see a specialist — but which one?

GPs usually recommend seeing a physiotherapist but that isn’t the only option.

A physio’s role is to restore movement and function to

the body when a person is affected by injury or illness.

By contrast, chiropractors treat pressure on nerves, looking at how muscles, skeleton and nerves interact.

Osteopaths focus on musculoskeletal disorders, working on the principle

that the body is its own medicine chest in rehabilitation. So sessions include joint manipulation, soft and deep tissue massage and acupuncture.

It’s good to remember that just because the three specialisms have their own

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FITNESS

3 Shoulders

B. Another way to stretch your shoulders is against a wall. Lift your arm out to the side as high as possible and rest your palm against the wall. Stretch as high as you can.

C. Finally, reach both arms behind your back and clasp your hands together. Most people can do this in one direction only, so you may need a small flannel to hold on to. Don’t pull, just hold.

You’re doing it wrong if… you have stiff shoulders and try push-ups. If you are not used to doing them, make it easier by resting your knees on the carpet or, better still, swim instead.

B. Next lean your head to one side and rest your hand on your head to add just a tiny bit more pressure. Don’t pull. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat on the other side.

C. To stretch the back of your neck, let your head tilt towards the floor and rest both hands on the back of your head. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, and repeat if necessary.

You’re doing it wrong if… you’re rolling your neck in 360-degree circles — regardless of how bendy you are — as it can cause painful twinges. All neck exercises should be static.

A. To stretch the calf muscles, split your legs (keeping the back one straight) and push against a wall. Keep your heel flat.

B. To stretch the deeper calf muscle, known as the soleus, you assume the same position, but lift the back heel off the ground and bend your knee. You’ll feel the stretch lower down.

C. Doing step-ups — on to a ledge or stair — is a great way to strengthen calf muscles. When on the step, raise your foot all the way up to a tip toe position.

Do this one foot a time.

You’re doing it wrong if… you don’t keep the back knee straight or bounce up and down during the stretch. This will apply too much stress on the calf muscles.

focus, that doesn’t mean only one can cure your ailments. Often when recovering from an injury it is necessary to see two, or even all three.

So, for a skier suffering pain or injury, here is what I would recommend:

For back pain, first visit a chiropractor to ensure your spinal alignment and nervous system are intact.

Then to make sure your core and posterior spinal muscles are ‘switched on’ visit a physio to continue your rehabilitation.

Many knee injuries also involve a team effort. Your physio should diagnose the problem and prescribe a series of exercises to strengthen the knee. A chiropractor should work on any spinal and pelvic alignment issues, while

the massage therapist will address any muscle tension around the knee.

These are generalisations, clearly. If you are in doubt about what to do, visit your GP and perhaps discuss what I recommend here.

Craig McLean

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A. Stretch your shoulders using a door frame by pressing your palms on the frame and letting gravity pull your torso forward.

4 Neck A. Rotational stretches can strengthen your neck. Twist as far as you can in comfort, and hold for 20 seconds.

Repeat on the other side.

5 Ankles

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RESORT INSIDER

Slope off on a shoestring From equipment hire to lift passes, skiing can be an expensive hobby. But, as our experts show, choosing carefully will pay dividends WRITERS Abigail Butcher, Mary Novakovich, Colin Nicholson STATS Chris Madoc-Jones

Ski holidays needn’t cost a fortune, but time and research are required to minimise expense. Choosing your resort carefully is the first step, and opting for cheaper countries — such as Italy — or lesser-known skiing regions can save you hundreds. While if you’re looking for half-board Austria offers the best rates generally. Currently the euro offers good value against the pound, while the Swiss franc’s strength makes skiing there considerably more expensive. Bulgaria remains the

Valmorel Authentic French charm without astronomical prices WHY THERE? The first resort you come to in the Tarentaise Valley, Valmorel is often ignored by British skiers on their way to bigger neighbours in the Trois Vallées and Paradiski areas.

But they’re missing a trick — especially if they want value for money.

It’s one of the cheapest resorts in the French Alps, and packs a lot into its 165km of pistes, when counting the

cheapest country, with the lev offering incredible value for money.

If you’re on a fixed budget it’s worth scouring the market for all-inclusive deals. Signing up to tour operators’ emails is a good way to find these, as many will slash prices a few weeks in advance if they have beds to fill.

Choose your dates carefully, avoiding school holidays. The period from January 2 until February 6 is often quiet, so too are the weeks between March 5 and 26.

linked resort of St-François-Longchamp — the two form the Grand Domaine.

Beginners and intermediates have the lion’s share of the skiing, but experts can tackle the black-graded Combe du Riondet snowcross course or go off-piste on the daunting (but often empty) Massif de la Lauzière.

Unlike the eyesore resorts built in the 1970s, intimate Valmorel is designed in classic Savoyard style and has a solidly French atmosphere.

Life off the slopes centres on Le Bourg, the pedestrianised high street and the lively heart of the village.

Apartments are the main accommodation option in the resort, although there are a handful of hotels.

CAN’T SKI, WON’T SKI Feel the crunch of the snow under snowshoes on a trek through the woods at L’Aigle Blanc, or take an exhilarating sledge ride with huskies. Relax afterwards with a massage or a hammam session at Valmoforme spa in the village centre, or take in a film at the cinema. MN Good value, laid-back French atmosphere Pistes can be icy during peak weeks

PISTES Our pie 22% charts show how 15% resorts grade 30% 33% pistes according to difficulty, showing what percentage are black, red, blue or green (but Austrian, Swiss and some Italian areas don’t have green runs).

SLOPES We list the combined length of all the resort’s pistes, as claimed by the tourist office.

If the resort is part of a linked ski area we list the total of the whole area.

LIFT PASS Prices are for a six-day adult pass during high season.

WHAT WE THINK Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste Lift pass Lifts Pistes Piste height

£162 50 165km 1,250m–2,550m

9%

6%

21% 64%

91

RESORT INSIDER

Mayrhofen Genuine Austrian village charm at a good price WHY THERE? Mayrhofen is a year-round working village and has a bustling high street, with charming tea rooms and bars. Until now nowhere buzzed like the monstrous queue for the central Penken lift, but this season it has been replaced with a faster gondola that will whisk 3,840 skiers an hour to the main ski area.

You can also access the 135km of

Jasná East European prices in a modern resort WHY THERE? A new flight from Luton to Poprad last season with budget carrier Wizz Air put Slovakia on the skiing map for Britons. And with transfer times of less than an hour it’s ideal for an inexpensive short break.

Recent multi-million pound investment gives the resort a hightech feel, but despite this, the prices remain cheap. Even at the upmarket, panoramic restaurant on the summit of Mount Chopok, at 2,000m, the priciest dish — delicious duck breast on a bed of red cabbage — costs £8.

From there you can try one of the many exhilarating, uninterrupted drops to one the villages below, where even at the best hotel, the Grand, the excellent Slovak wines cost less than £1.50 a glass.

Many Britons assume that Eastern Europe offers little for advanced

pistes from other lifts — handy if you stay in one of the affordable B&Bs run by locals slightly out of town, though the free buses do get busy.

The resort’s fairly snowsure reds and challenging blues will suit confident intermediates best. Experts may find the much-hyped Harakiri disappointing, but there are off-piste challenges and ‘ski routes’. The resort also has a Ski Club Leader.

Take euros — M&S offers good rates — as Austrians don’t accept credit cards for small sums. This reporter skied the full loop of the horseshoe-shaped arena unable to get a coffee.

At night there are plenty of pizzerias, as well as traditional restaurants such as the Wirtshaus-zumGriena. And the après-ski is lively.

CAN’T SKI, WON’T SKI Many hotels let non-residents use their spas for a small fee. There’s an ice rink, tobogganing at Gerlosstein and a roller coaster at Zell-am-Zillertal. The Altitude comedy festival is in January. CN

WHAT WE THINK Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste Lift pass Lifts Pistes Piste height

£176 55 135km 630m–2,500m

22% 49% 29%

Good ski area, accessible from several lifts No piste back to village from main ski area

riders, but Jasná’s convex black slopes should test them, and if not they can try its 12 freeride zones.

You don’t have to fork out for a guide either. Just pick up the free guidebook which has maps of the offpiste routes and is printed in English.

CAN’T SKI, WON’T SKI Even modestly priced hotels such as the Junior have spas and offer affordable massages.

For £30 a piste-basher will take you up to a five-course dinner at the historic Von Roll cable car station. CN Great for an inexpensive short break Mileage-hungry intermediates will get bored

WHAT WE THINK Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste Lift pass Lifts Pistes Piste height

£111 26 48km 945m–2,000m

16%

45% 39%

Ski+board

NOVEMBER 2015

skiclub.co.uk

RESORT INSIDER

St Lary Traditional French village with Spanish influences WHY THERE? St Lary in the Pyrenees is an old-fashioned French village in the Aure Valley with a pretty main street lined with shops and restaurants.

The main village is at 830m — where you’ll find lots of affordable rental apartments — but those seeking convenience should stay higher up the mountain at the satellite resort of St Lary 1700, which has purpose-built, skiin, ski-out accommodation.

From the main village, two high speed gondolas serve the ski area, while in 1700 a new €10 million chairlift will open this winter, alleviating weekend queues, as the resort is popular with locals from both France and Spain.

The ski area is one of the Pyrenees biggest with 100km of mainly beginner and intermediate slopes.

Restaurants in both the resort and

village are well priced. Try Le Grange for a traditional Pyrenean-style meal, which includes specialties such as black pig and gâteau à la broche.

WHAT WE THINK Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste

CAN’T SKI, WON’T SKI Long before skiing, Saint Lary was famous for its healing waters that contain sulphur and sodium. Visitors can still bathe in the water at the Sensoria wellness centre, which has a pool full of underwater caves for children, and an adult-only spa for quiet swimming plus a well-equipped gym. It also offers treatments and massages. AB

Lift pass Lifts Pistes Piste height

A family-friendly resort with easy access Not a huge ski area

£145 34 100km 1,600m–2,515m

18%

13%

23% Photo: Saint Lary OT

92

46%

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95

Cryptic crossword

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert

By Myles Mellor

Try your hand at one of our ski-themed crosswords here. Experts can try the cryptic crossword below, but should avoid turning the page as the same crossword appears overleaf with less daunting clues.

The solution will be in the next issue of Ski+board.

ACROSS 1. Powerful businessmen are given the bumps (6) 4. Sage-like top GB snowboarder? (4) 6. Epic après-ski contains a beanie (3) 8. Desert state has resort, but not for sand skiing (3) 10. Corridor leads to key part of ski jump (7) 12. Got wind of mistrial in Southern France? Not I (7) 13. If it’s not here it must be in the crannies (5) 14. Gay skier leaves resort boundaries (3) 15. It may land European commuters at US peak! (4) 17. Word of advice for skiing twins? (3) 19. Follows or makes them (6) 21. Plane or stream? (3) 22. Ms Karenina loves a palindrome (4) 25. Haze led up to French ski area (4,1,4) 26. Photoshopped as an afterthought? (2)

7. Roger got to chalet before Champagne was served (3)

29. Frenchman piqued by name of summit (3)

9. As radiant as warm coals (5)

30. Climber’s technique belied his experience (5)

11. Freudian concepts checked by bouncers? (3)

32. For whom does starting bell toll? Not Graham (6)

12. Did you mention mountain of problems to HR? No matter (10)

33. Cartoon man reversed for what? (2)

16. Italian instructors are so self-centred (3)

34. Actress may not have killed Bill (3)

18. Stephen King novel about a computer tech? (2)

36. Captain fell in the drink, that’s rum (6)

20. Britain's first Winter Paralympic gold medallist wasn’t Killy (5)

39. Shoots down gullies (6)

23. Drunken Scottish poet ends up in snowbanks (5)

40. Holy cow! What’s that noise? (3)

24. Naughty child gave his name to Australian resort (8)

43. Oh so a London district is also in New York? (4)

26. To eat with your snowboard mash-up? (3)

44. Skiing with a horse? Are you a-joking, sir? (9)

27. Shush, let’s ski straight down (6)

DOWN

30. Swellings made by skiers — hopefully not on their heads (5)

1. Austrian shopping arcade has problem with lice (8)

31. Decidedly a pine (5)

28. Jules Verne's captain lost his fish (4)

2. A ski lift in Venice? (7)

35. Gun that might amaze? (4)

3. Don't goggle at it, use goggles to block it (3)

37. Descartes and Will come to same conclusion (2)

4. Royal personage needs the loo (2)

38. Naysayers in Parliament, go figure! (3)

5. The sun might rise over this bridge position? (4)

41. Fine to have a knockout reversed (2)

6. Referee booked Scottish lady at Kiwi resort (8)

42. Hey mister — are you an après-ski music provider? (2)

Advertise in Ski+board – the UK’s only ABC audited ski magazine See skiclub.co.uk/advertise, or contact Jack Daly at Madison Bell on 020 7389 0859 Overseas advertisers should contact Martina Diez-Routh on +44 (0) 7508 382 781 or martina.diez-routh@skiclub.co.uk

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97

Easy crossword

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert

By Myles Mellor

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Bumps in the snow (6)

1. Resort near Austria’s Ankogel mountain (8)

4. Top GB snowboarder, Kyle ____ (4)

2. Chairlift alternative (7)

6. Hat, or summit (3)

3. UV ray emitter (3)

8. Desert ski resort is in this country (3)

4. You and me (2)

10. Crucial part of a ski jump (7)

6. New Zealand resort (8)

5. Compass point (4)

12. Strong wind in southern France (7)

7. _____ Roger, Champagne (3)

13. Secluded places (5)

9. Radiant (5)

14. ____-of-bounds (3)

11. Photo cards, for short (3)

15. American cablecar (4)

12. Iconic Swiss peak (10)

17. Twin-____ skis (3)

16. Italian for my (3)

19. What skis leave (6)

18. Computer tech (2)

21. ____-ski, a water sport! (3)

20. GB’s first Winter Paralympic gold medallist, ____ Gallagher (5)

22. Tolstoy’s ____ Karenina (4) 25. Southerly French ski area (4,1,4) 26. Letter addendum (2) 29. French peak, or photo (3)

23. Snowbanks used in competitions (5) 24. Australian resort (8) 26. Apple dessert, say (3) 27. Ski straight downhill (6)

30. Climbing technique (5) 28. Jules Verne's Captain (4) 32. ____ Bell, British Olympian (6)

30. Carved by turns of skiers (5)

33. Communicates incomprehension (2)

31. Deciduous tree of pine family (5)

34. ____ Thurman of Kill Bill (3)

35. Shock (4)

36. GB skier Billy ____ (6) 39. Narrow gullies (6) 40. Sound a cow makes (3) 43. Area of New York, or London (4)

37. Dawn time (2) 38. The ____ have it (3) 41. Well enough (2) 42. Après-ski music provider, perhaps (2)

44. Skiing with the help of a horse (9)

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98

In your next issue…

Found? The world’s first skiers Read the final instalment of Andreas Hofer’s odyssey to find — and ski with — a tribe of stone-age skiers

Winter warmers From £3.50 to £380 — low-tech and high-tech gizmos to make sure all 20 digits stay toasty this season

The piste performance issue On test — piste performance skis, plus reviews of boots and boards that just lap up pistes You can read back issues of Ski+board online at issuu.com/skiclub

Dates for your diary Until February 28, 2016

Ortovox Avalanche Awareness Tour M O U N T A I N H E A V E N

Heavenly Skiing At Down To Earth Prices

Various venues, UK-wide Tips on how to avoid an avalanche, delivered by Henry’s Avalanche Talk. £12.50 online in advance, and £9.50 for Ski Club members. For details see bit.ly/avalanchetalks October 30 – November 1

Ski & Snowboard Show North

the usual mix of retailers, resorts, tour operators.

The Ski Club is at stand 205. Times vary; £25, Ski Club members get £5 off except for Saturday.

November 5

Les 3 Vallées Party Broadway Bar and Grill, Fulham, London Season launch compèred

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EventCity, Manchester The North’s ski show returns with stands aplenty. The Ski Club is at November 19 C14. 10am-5pm; £12, Ski Ski Club Annual Club members two-for-one. General Meeting

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