Ski+board October 2014 by Ski Club of Great Britain

OCT 14

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First man to ski every possible state in America ...is British

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150 YEARS OF SWISS BLISS How Britain’s epic love affair with its most cherished Alpine destination – “the only European country which has never fought as our ally or as our enemy” started – and continues to this day It’s a rainy September evening 1864. The American Civil War is reaching its climax. The first ever fish-and-chip shop opens in London. The Matterhorn won’t be climbed yet for another year. The mist is swirling down from the peak of Piz Rosatsch and there’s a bitter wind blowing across the Maloja pass. It’s time for the last four English guests to leave the Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz for home after a splendid summer – comforting themselves with the thought that they’ll be back next year. Does Johannes Badrutt, the owner, realise quite what he’s starting as they share a farewell bottle of Veltliner round a crackling fire? “Winter is just around the corner” he acknowledges. “But do you know that the winter here is much more pleasant and a good deal less cold than in London? Do you realise that on sunny days…it is so warm that we go about in shirt-sleeves, whereas in England you would catch pneumonia if you went out without a coat and a hat.” When he’s met with a chorus of affectionate derision, he continues: “I would like to offer you the chance of checking my statement for yourselves. This winter you shall be my guests at the Kulm; I mean my personal guests, and you will not pay anything for your stay. I bet you that you will agree that what I have said is true.” And thus it was that in mid-December, they did return – with their families and a few friends. And the weather was indeed so good that they stayed for five months – walking, skating, tobogganing, curling and even just sitting in the sun. Skiing was yet to come. But the concept of a winter sports holiday had been born. It was to change the face of St. Moritz – and the rest of the Swiss Alps – for ever. Today the British love affair with winter holidays in Switzerland is as compelling as ever. Each January, the picturesque village

of Kandersteg even celebrates the long relationship with a Belle Epoque week of winter nostalgia, recalling how holidays used to be here a century ago. Yet of course time does not really stand still in the Bernese Oberland. In the neighbouring resorts of Adelboden-Lenk, for example, which share more than 130 miles of slopes, a brand new ‘feeder’ gondola, the Stand-Xpress, will take skiers and boarders from the valley floor to the top of the slopes in just 10 minutes – unheard of, naturally, a century ago. And back then, who could have guessed that one day there would be six cable cars taking skiers to the winter-sun drenched terraces of Fiescheralp, Bettmeralp and Riederalp – ‘half way between the valley and the sky’ - with their ski-in, ski-out slopes? Along with the bonus of the breathtaking backdrop of the magnificent but once remote Aletsch Glacier – “the mightiest glacier in the Alps”? Equally, who could possibly have guessed

Engadin St. Moritz

that Swiss resorts would feature in the vast Portes du Soleil, one of the largest ski regions in the world? Or that skiers and snowboarders would take on the heart-stopping challenge of attempting the now notorious Chavanette descent – better known as the ‘Swiss Wall’ – to ski 1312 vertical and very steep and bumpy feet from the Col de Chavanette in the region’s French sector towards the Swiss resorts of Champéry-Les Crosets. Another Swiss ski area with a long and happy link with British visitors is Engelberg. This attractive “monastery village” is named after a prominent local peak, translated as ‘Angel Mountain’. The town, with lift-served slopes on both sides of the valley, sprang up around a 12th century Benedictine monastery. In 1744, two monks became the first to climb Engelberg’s greatest landmark: Titlis, the highest point in Central Switzerland at 3239m. Engelberg has some of the finest off-piste in the world, so who can blame skiers and

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snowboarders of all levels of ability from wanting to experience the joys of powder. A vertical drop of 2,000 metres takes them right to the valley floor. And here there would have been something else to amaze winter visitors a century and half ago: Titlis boasts the world’s first revolving cable-car, which glides above the glacier making a gentle 360° turn, giving unforgettable panoramic views across the frozen landscape to Klein Titlis at 3028m. There is no easy way down – except on skis and snowboards. Saas-Fee is a beautiful, traditional highalpine village with an excellent snow record. Yet until the first proper road reached here in the 1950s this Alpine community – with its magnificent backdrop of towering peaks and dazzling blue glaciers – would have been visited by few British guests. Today Saas-Fee claims to have more restaurants per square mile than anywhere in Switzerland, and by way of après-ski, there are plenty of bars and cafes to choose from, as well as a number of lively nightspots. But Saas-Fee, an easy transfer from Geneva and Zürich airports by train via Visp, has so much more to offer apart from skiing: pulsating nightlife, for example – and all those excellent restaurants, with such an eclectic choice of menu. Your visit to the traffic-free ‘Pearl of the Alps’ will be one to remember for ever.

HOW TO GET THERE SWISS

THE SWISS TRAVEL SYSTEM

As the airline of Switzerland, SWISS is the specialist to the Alps. With more flights from Gatwick to Geneva this winter (up to five weekly) and around 200 a week to Switzerland in general, SWISS will take you and your skis (free) closer to the slopes. swiss.com

Swiss Railways are well known for their punctuality, efficiency and comfort. So why not travel to your favourite Swiss resort by train? The Swiss Transfer Ticket is the ideal and most cost-effective way. It takes you from the airport or border railway station directly to your destination and back. Prices start from £92. MySwitzerland.com/rail

HOTELS SKI-IN SKI-OUT

TYPICALLY SWISS

TRAVEL THROUGH TIME

Nira Alpina / Silvaplana For winter sport fans, the position of the unique and newly constructed ski-in ski-out Resort in the Engadin is just perfect. The access to the Piz Corvatsch cable car is directly in front of the hotel and each room has a balcony or terrace.

Art Boutique Hotel Beau Séjour, Champéry Nestled in the Valais Alps, this charming boutique hotel is sure to impress with its personal service. The 20 rooms are beautifully appointed with wooden furniture and the hotel is also home to an art gallery and boutique. Swiss hospitality at its best!

Hotel du Pillon, Les Diablerets Located above the village of Les Diablerets, this historic hotel was built in 1860 for British visitors seeking adventure among the glaciers. For more hotels recommended by Switzerland Tourism, visit MySwitzerland. com/besthotels

“Wake up, Duncan!” shrieked the instructor to a confused, bespectacled boy in the lift queue in front of me. I was in Megève, covering the case of Simon Butler — the instructor charged with teaching without proper qualifications — when the words of the Frenchwoman to her young British charge cut me to the quick. All of a sudden I was transported back to the nightmarish world of brutish, monosyllabic PE instructors of my schooldays back in the 1970s and early 1980s. We expect a rather better standard of tuition nowadays, especially if we pay for it out of choice, and for me that tiny incident suddenly made something clear, where hours of conversation in and out of court had only befuddled me. The French system, with its insistence that instructors be able to race at speed, demands an almost impossibly high standard of teachers while at the same time delivering one of the most patchy levels of instruction for a national ski school. This is backed by the latest Ski Club research, in which skiers and boarders rated French instruction in the bottom three of big ski destinations for the UK market. For not only is the speed requirement unreasonable — some have argued that it is like demanding lorry drivers be tested by Lewis Hamilton around Brands Hatch — but countries such as Canada and Andorra, which came out top, have national ski schools with excellent reputations while demanding lesser qualifications of their instructors. Butler may be a bull in a china shop, but in exposing the absurdities of the set-up in France — still the most popular destination for British skiers — he is challenging a system in which you, either as parent, learner, or simply someone who wants to see the delight of skiing handed down to future generations, are potentially the loser. On a happier note, given that you don’t have to be super-fast or ludicrously brave to be a role model in winter sports, it gives me great pleasure to bring to a climax this magazine’s ‘Ski Hero’ series. Initiated by editor Arnie Wilson, it had one glaring omission — Wilson himself. Not content with entering the Guinness Book of Records as the first man to have skied every day in one year in 1994, Wilson has since been ticking off US states, becoming the first man to have skied every American state with a ski resort — a remarkable achievement. “What, every state that has ski lifts?” you may ask. Well, while Wilson’s achievement is undisputed, it always takes a bit of detective work to make sure all the boxes have been ticked. So, like a retired private eye still haunted by an unsolved case, he offered to go to Nebraska earlier this year for Ski+board to try and crack a hard customer. You can read about his adventure — and a few of the mishaps he endured in his great American odyssey — on the following pages in an article ably illustrated by cartoonist and illustrator Neil Linnert.It only remains for me to wish you fewer mishaps when it comes to booking your own trip.

Colin Nicholson Ski+board editor

EDITOR Colin Nicholson colin.nicholson@skiclub.co.uk DEPUTY EDITOR Rosie Barcroft rosie.barcroft@skiclub.co.uk ART DIRECTOR Annabel Stevens PICTURE EDITOR John Norris MEDIA SALES Publicom agencypublicom.com 020 3177 1167 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 19,880 ( January to December 2013)

COVER PHOTO: Megève Tourisme/Jean-Pierrre Noisillier/jpnoisillier-nuts.fr

Editor’s note

Freshtracks is the formula for the perfect holiday: take compatible skiers of a similar ability and use only the best instructors and mountain guides. The result is a tailor-made holiday to thrill and inspire you.

AUSTRIAN HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2014-15 St Anton Adventure

Austrian Indulgence

Mountain guides and instructors will provide you with six days of exploring the abundance of off-piste opportunities in the fresh powder of this worldfamous resort.

Obergurgl is a fantastic ski area, sitting at the head of the magnificent Ötz valley and has a loyal following due to its reliable snow and enticing variety of slopes.

18 – 25 Jan or 8 – 15 Mar

Obergurgl, 10 – 17 Jan

Special Offer - Half-price Ski Club membership when you book a Freshtracks Holiday.

Call 020 8410 2022 or visit skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks for a full list of our holidays for 2014-15.*

For prices and full details, visit skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks *Offer applies to new members only

CONTENTS FEATURES

Exposure Seven pages of stunning action shots… and the stories behind them

You Say

News Piste-length porkies, snow depths and the untimely demise of the Swiss chalet holiday

Tension mounts in Megève as British instructors stand in the dock

The remarkable story of how Rome’s 16 ski resorts are thriving despite the devastating earthquake five years ago

PHOTO: Megève Tourism/ Daniel Durand

Who is going to lead us now France and the ESF have effectively banned Ski Club Leaders?

PHOTO: Roberto Taddeo

One man’s incredible mission to ski every state in America with a ski resort

After the referendum, we are united with the friendly souls who make Scotland’s ski resorts tick

How the winter holiday was born, 150 years ago this month

REGULARS

Fashion

The ski tests

Snowboard review

Ski technology

Colours, shapes and fabrics that will keep you looking good — and feeling cosy

The first eagerly awaited results of the Ski Club’s industry-leading tests revealed

Board manufacturers are throwing some crazy shapes on the slopes

The gizmos, gadgets, must-haves (and mustn’t haves) that will enhance your time on and off-piste

Health & Fitness

Technique

Top tips to make sure you’re ready for the season and what happens if injury does strike

How to flow into a perfect turn, and guidance on common hazards off-piste

Photography masterclass Take better winter holiday photos with our picture editor

Resort insider Our writers reveal their eight favourite hidden gems in the mountains

PHOTOS (FROM LEFT): Arnie Wilson; CairnGorm Mountain/Peter Jolly; SMTC

RIDER Mattias Hargin LOCATION Haslital, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland PHOTOGRAPHER Oskar Ennender When photographer Oskar Ennender snapped his Achilles tendon and had his leg put in a plastercast, you might have thought it would have affected his ability to take great photos. But no, the photographer hopped into a helicopter to take this shot of his fellow countryman and Swedish Alpine racer Mattias Hargin, 28. It is not unusual for skiers to deliberately trigger a slough â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a loose snow avalanche â&#x20AC;&#x201D; knowing that it will run off the cliff away from them. However, in this case, although they had seen movement in the snow earlier in the day, indicating an avalanche was likely, such a big chute at the end of a run took them both by surprise.

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RIDER Oscar Scherlin LOCATION Livigno, Italy PHOTOGRAPHER Pally Learmond The Nine Knights invitational event in Livigno sees some of the world’s best freestyle skiers take on a mindblowingly huge ‘snowcastle’ with an array of jumps and transitions. Every April, the frontiers of the sport are rolled back during this action-packed week as the competitors push themselves to the limit. Here, Sweden’s Oscar Scherlin pulls off a huge corked 720-degree tail grab while transferring from one side of the huge feature to the other.

RIDER Anne Flore LOCATION Nuuk Fjord, west Greenland PHOTOGRAPHER Stef Godin The closest most skiers come to Greenland is flying over the vast, white, meringue-like island on the way to North America. Not so Anne Flore and Stef Godin, who travelled to Nuuk, the capital of this autonomous part of the kingdom of Denmark. On a sunny and cold day they climbed one of the many mountains overlooking the Nuuk Fjord for four to five hours. The snow conditions were perfect for Greenland — not too compact or icy. So on the way down Stef asked Anne to do a big spray of snow and captured the amazing landscape in the background.

RIDER Dale Cushway LOCATION Whitewater, Canada PHOTOGRAPHER Doug LePage This is classic inland British Columbia on a bluebird day — lovely light powder, small rocky outcrops between tall conifers for good skiers to launch, with the faint smell of the pines drifting through the forest. So Ski+board regular Doug LePage got teenager Dale Cushway to pull off this grab — to spectacular effect.

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RIDER Sven Kueenle LOCATION Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan PHOTOGRAPHER Pally Learmond Avalanche barriers are a common sight in Alpine resorts, but you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see many people ski them. However, Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northern island of Hokkaido is different. The cold Siberian winds coming across the Sea of Japan can deposit up to 15 metres of snow here, burying everything from trees to houses under a base of four metres. The avalanche barriers that line the roads around Niseko have become a must-do for freeskiers who visit, providing an endless stack of man-made pillows to ride down. Here, Sven Kueenle gets his thrill while filming with the Legs of Steel crew in January.

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RIDER Ronnie Prado LOCATION Steamboat Springs, Colorado, US PHOTOGRAPHER Ned Cremin It was late afternoon on a warm spring day near downtown Steamboat Springs, and this grass gap offered a drop in a small park that we had all been eyeing throughout the winter. Ronnie Prado, Josh Boeser and Jake Moore had been running a session on it late into sunset. When photographer Ned Cremin stepped back to explore the massive iron sculpture on the other side of the park, he yelled across to them: “Make some Noise.” Ronnie had just dropped in, holding a pose that made him seemed locked in the air for days, wrapped in the echoing cries of Josh and Jake’s enthusiastic howls. I was lucky to catch a triangulating tribute to the ultimate barometer of timeless style — the classic method.

YOU SAY…

WHO IS GOING TO LEAD US NOW? After a Ski Club Leader was stopped in Val d’Isère in April and charged with guiding without suitable qualifications, the club has suspended its Leader service in France. Leaders will continue to show Ski Club members around the mountain in Andorra, Austria, Italy, North America and Switzerland, but in the 11 French resorts where there was a Leader service, Ambassadors will now advise on itineraries, book guides and introduce members to each other. This is how Ski Club members responded: Disappointing news, but a sensible decision to safeguard our Leaders ‘just in case’. Now for the news the French don’t want to hear: I will not go to France this winter. I will ski with Leaders in Switzerland and Austria instead. Keith Irvine I understand the club’s position in protecting its Leaders by not exposing them to prosecution, but fancy this is the thin end of the wedge. Once the service is shelved the French are likely to entrench their arrogant position. Mike R Smith

By substituting Ambassadors for Leaders now members at least know where they stand. Members planning to ski with leaders in France will be aware of the position — rather than booking holidays in France only to find that Leaders are perhaps not offering the normal service. Peter Lewis My husband and I often ski with Leaders as it is a far more efficient way of getting around resorts than stopping at every junction to pull out a piste map. I hope the club moves heaven and earth to ensure the Leading system is restored. Failing that, many more Leaders should be deployed in other countries and the French should be made aware that they have ‘cut off their nose to spite their face’. Helen O’Brien I was planning to go to Les Arcs with my husband before Christmas to use the Leader service there. We will now plan for somewhere else. Ann Porter I suggest that the club provides more Leaders outside France and makes the French ski industry and UK tour operators aware of the implications of losing this valuable

service to major French resorts. We will be protesting by spending our euros in Austria or Italy — and certainly not hiring a French guide. Stephen Hole I haven’t skied in France for 30 years and this reminds me why. The French have never wanted our custom so why give it to them? I have skied with leaders in Saas-Fee and Obergurgl and it really added to my holiday, but where I really want to ski is in child-friendly Italy. How about reinstating a Leader in Cortina or adding one in Livigno or Madonna? Laura Vidler Jonny Cassidy, general manager of the Leader service at the Ski Club, writes: We constantly review our Leader programme and look for ways to expand it. There are a number of factors for us to consider, which include support from resorts, whether in France or outside France, and likely take-up of the service. As costs have increased, we have reluctantly discontinued resorts where there was not enough demand, as not only must we use club funds wisely, but our partner resorts need to see a return on the investment they are making in hosting Leaders. We will continue to work on possible additions to the 2014/15 programme.

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

SKI CLUB NEWS HOPES OF EARLY RESOLUTION TO SKI CLUB LEADING CASE DASHED By Rosie Barcroft

A Ski Club Leader due to appear in court in Albertville on September 1 after being accused of illegally guiding skiing groups will have to wait until December 8 to have his case heard. The French authorities and Ecole du Ski Français in Val d’Isère requested — and were granted — a delay so they could spend more time preparing their case. The Leader was stopped on the piste in Val d’Isère, France, on April 4 and questioned by gendarmes in relation to Art.L.212-1 of the French Code du Sport. Under this ruling, it is a legal requirement to have the relevant and appropriate qualification to instruct, lead or guide skiing groups if remuneration is received. Leaders, who show Ski Club members around resorts, are not paid, but they receive money towards travel expenses, food and accommodation. French law allows for legitimate expenses and this is the point the Ski Club will argue. Jonny Cassidy, general manager of the Leader service and Freshtracks at the Ski Club, said: “Clearly we would have preferred the case to take place at the soonest opportunity and are disappointed it has been put back.”

The Ski Club is fully behind the Leader and has appointed a local solicitor, who is also representing other UK tour operator Le Ski, in relation to the ski-hosting ban in France. With the case ongoing, the Club is keen to avoid exposing individual Leaders to possible prosecution. Therefore, it has created the role of ‘Ambassadors’ in the 11 resorts in France for the coming season. Ambassadors will advise members on itineraries, book guides and introduce members to each other. They can lend transceivers by prior arrangement, but will not be permitted to lead on snow. The Leader service remains unchanged in the Ski Club’s other 17 resorts with leaders in Andorra, Austria, Italy, North America and Switzerland. For more information: skiclub.co.uk/ skiclub/skiclubambassadors

FRESHTRACKS TRIPS REACH NEW PEAKS The Ski Club has announced its 201415 holiday line-up. It features more options in Italy and North America focused on value for money, a greater number of weeks for experienced skiers with the over-50 Peak Experience and an increased number of destinations for off-piste skiers. The club’s Freshtracks programme offers group holidays that match skiers of similar ability and use qualified instructors, mountain guides and Ski Club Leaders. The formula works particularly well for those who want to develop their level of skiing, travel individually, or are simply keen to spend time with like-minded people.

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Some of the best value holidays are in Italy, where the club has introduced more destinations, including off-piste weeks in Passo Tonale, development courses in Folgarida and weekends to Madesimo. Prices start at £799 including instruction, flights and transfers. Freshtracks is also running new ski touring holidays in Finnmark, northern Norway, and a Powder Highway exploration in Canada. With so many guests travelling individually, the club has again expanded the number of single rooms and choice of holidays that do not penalise solo travellers with a singles supplement. Visit: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks

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SKIING BUG HITS THOSE IN THEIR TWENTIES The ski industry must attract new skiers in their twenties, according to a new study commissioned by the Ski Club of Great Britain. The 2014 Consumer Research found that fewer than a third of skiers or boarders took up snowsports after their 30th birthday. The survey had 14,600 respondents, of whom 2,800 were non-skiers. Of these, 16.5 per cent said they would like to try skiing within three years. In the report North America came out top for customer experience, while the most contented skiers were at Ischgl, Lech, St Moritz, Zermatt and Livigno. Nordic resorts ranked highly for other winter activities, while Andorra came top again for ‘value for money’. For more information or a copy of the report contact pr@skiclub.co.uk.

HIRE A TRANSCEIVER FOR FREE Ski Club members who subscribe to the highest level of membership — Ski Club+ — can now hire avalanche transceivers free. Other members pay £30 a week for this vital piece of offpiste kit, while non-members pay £60. There is an £8 fee for postage and package and weekend rates are also available. See the Kit & Equipment page at skiclub.co.uk or call 020 8410 2009. The club also offers Ski Club+ members a complimentary Fogg MediCard for free emergency mountain rescue in most European resorts.

WIN WINTER TYRES Ski Club members can win a set of Goodyear winter tyres worth up to £1,000. To enter the contest, send a photo of your car in an imaginative location clearly displaying the sticker from the members’ pack in the window. You can email your photo to competitions@skiclub.co.uk, tweet it using #skiclubGBcarsticker, or post it on our Facebook page, but you must do so by November 30. The full terms and conditions of the competition are at skiclub.co.uk and if you want to check the details of Goodyear’s winter tyre range visit winter.goodyear.co.uk

NEWS NATIONAL CAMPAIGN SEES 10,000 TRY SNOWSPORTS

An initiative to encourage people to try skiing or boarding has seen more than 10,000 participate in sessions held at 35 of England’s outdoor and indoor slopes in its first year of operation. Run by Snowport England, the Go Ski Go Board programme offers six hours of lessons, usually spread over six weeks, for beginners or lapsed enthusiasts. Prices started at a total of £30 at outdoor slopes and £135 at indoor slopes, including instruction, slope time, equipment rental and, at some slopes, snowsports clothing. This season, Snowsport England is launching two new elements, again backed by the Tirol Tourist Board, called Go Race and Go Freestyle, with the focus on skiing gates or jumps. See: goskigoboard.org.uk

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST SKI DEMO RETURNS Now in its sixth year, the Ellis Brigham Big Ski event will offer visitors a chance to try more than 200 pairs of the latest skis without leaving the UK. This season’s models will be available, from Rossignol, Völkl, Salomon, Atomic, Head, Armada and Line, among others. The event will be held at Glasgow’s SnowFactor on Saturday, November 15, from 11am to 4pm and at Tamworth’s SnowDome on Wednesday, November 26, from 8pm to 10.30pm. Participation is free with entry to the centres, which is £31-£36 and £37 respectively. The Ski Club will be on hand to give advice. Ski Test results — Page 60

HOPE FOR SHEFFIELD After two years lying dormant, Sheffield Ski Village could get a second chance. In April 2012 the dry slope, which featured a half-pipe, jumps and a mogul field, was shut after a fire. Community group Snowsport for Sheffield is trying to re-establish the centre as a UK hub for snowsports, especially as it inspired British Winter Olympians such as James ‘Woodsy’ Woods and Katie Summerhayes.

TOP RESORTS CONTINUE TO EXAGGERATE PISTE LENGTHS By Rosie Barcroft

Nearly two years after German cartographer Christoph Schrahe revealed that many resorts are overstating their total piste length, many are still doubling their figures. Ski+board revealed in January 2013 that Schrahe was about to release research he had conducted using Google Earth, GPS devices and other sources, which showed that ski areas are exaggerating their figures. Schrahe, an occasional contributor to Ski+board, measures pistes down the middle, following natural bends. Having detailed piste lengths for the world’s 50 biggest ski areas, he found the worst culprits were the French resorts of Vars, which claimed 185km (115 miles) compared to Schrahe’s 73km, Isola 2000, which claimed 120km against his 54km, and Les Sybelles, which claimed 310km against his 141km, as well as the 4 Vallées in Switzerland, which claimed 362km, against his 164km. Since then, many resorts have altered their figures, however Vars, Isola 2000 and Les Sybelles are still sticking to their figures. How is this possible? Like a good maths pupil, the Austrian resort of Ischgl has at least shown its working on its website. It publishes a ‘sporty’ figure of 238km, assuming a

skier slaloms down the slopes, marked ‘a’ on the chart above, a downhill figure ‘b’ of 172km, and a very similar ‘ground covered’ figure of ‘c’ of 163km. Chris Gill, co-editor of resort guide Where to Ski and Snowboard is backing Schrahe’s cause. He was told outright by France’s Grand Massif lift company that it assumed skiers carve semicircles down a piste and so multiplied its figure by pi divided by two, or 57 per cent. This season he noted a disturbing new trend in the French resorts of Les Deux Alpes, which has not given a piste length figure at all, rather the area of its prepared runs in hectares. Gill said: “This makes comparisons impossible.” Schrahe said: “If resorts won’t be forced to use a common method, most of them will go on using their own, which they design according to the ideas from the marketing guys.”

TOUR OPS FIGHT ON AGAINST SKI HOSTING BAN British tour operators have pledged to fight on after losing an appeal on the French ski hosting ban on September 4. Ski hosting was ruled illegal in a test case in Albertville in February 2013 brought by the French authorities and the École du Ski Français (ESF) against tour company Le Ski. Under the ruling, hosts must hold an instructor’s qualification to lead groups if they are paid. Ski hosting is a service that tour operators offer free to guests, who are shown around the resort on piste usually by a paid employee of the chalet or tour operator. After the verdict from the Court of Appeal in Albertville, Nick Morgan,

managing director of Le Ski, said: “Le Ski has today instructed its lawyer to submit an appeal to the supreme court in Paris regarding the case. This is only possible with the continuing support of our fellow tour operators.” Morgan is backed by Alpine Elements, Crystal Ski Holidays, Esprit Ski, Inghams, Mark Warner, Neilson, Ski Olympic, Ski Total, Skiworld and Thomson Ski. Le Ski argues that some French civil servants and school teachers are exempt from holding a qualification, so the ruling is discriminatory under EU law. The ESF argues that, though hosts don’t instruct, the guest may consider them responsible for their safety.

NEWS SKI CLUB RECORDS CHALLENGE GLOOM OVER SNOW DEPTHS By Roger Bray

The doomsayers predicting the long, slow death of skiing were out again when temperatures soared in March. Research published by the journal Current Issues in Tourism suggested that, depending on the level of emissions, half of past Winter Olympic venues might no longer have enough snow to be reliable hosts by the 2050s. In the worst case scenario it said the list of past hosts still snowsure by the 2080s could be cut to six: Albertville, Calgary, Cortina, St Moritz, Salt Lake City and Sapporo. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said the three decades from 1983 to 2012 were probably the warmest 30-year period in 1,400 years. Because the Ski Club has consistent records of temperatures and snow levels, Ski+board looked into the club’s Snow Reports for the past 21 seasons to see whether they reflect this change. It must be stressed that the findings do not aim to question the huge body of scientific evidence supporting climate change — merely to discover whether, as yet, there has been any discernible deterioration in the quality of skiing. First we looked at snow depths on the lower slopes in the third week of March, a week in which temperatures

hit 23°C at valley level in the Tirol. We calculated the average in 25 resorts for the first five winters in club records (1992 to 1998) compared to the past five seasons. Fourteen had more snow in the later period: Wengen, St Moritz, Les Arcs, Bormio, Selva Gardena, Sauze d’Oulx, Courmayeur, Serre Chevalier, Cortina, Alpbach, Megève, Livigno, St Martin de Belleville and Schladming. Eleven had less snow. They were: Chamonix, Morzine, Lech, Isola 2000, Mayrhofen, Ischgl, Tignes, Cervinia, Zermatt, Verbier and Pamporovo. Some variations were so tiny as to be insignificant and improved snowmaking may have enhanced the later figures. Given that some experts predict more precipitation and more snow with global warming, it is probably too early to let climate change spoil your plans for a skiing holiday — just yet anyway.

SURPRISE FALL IN NUMBER OF BRITISH SKIERS By Roger Bray This year’s late Easter and warm spring scuppered hopes of a rise in the number of snowsport holidays taken by the British. The ski industry had been hoping to see an increase after the previous season saw the first rise since the economic crisis bit in 2008. Some 32,000 fewer Britons holidayed on the snow last winter, according to the annual Crystal Ski Report. The number of skiers and boarders fell by 3.6 per cent to 867,700. The biggest decline (5.8 per cent) was among independent travellers, who numbered 253,400. Tour operators suffered a 2.8 per cent drop to 500,500

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while school and student numbers fell by 1.6 per cent to 113,800. Looking solely at tour operators, France saw its share fall from 34.8 per cent to 33.5 per cent, while Austria saw its share dip very slightly from 28.2 per cent to 28 per cent. Good conditions in Italy boosted its share from 15.2 per cent to 15.7 per cent. Switzerland’s share rose from 5.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent — a rise Crystal attributed to an increase in rail travel via Lille. Andorra attracted 6.8 per cent — up from 6.6 per cent the previous season — while 3.8 per cent visited the US and Canada, down from four per cent.

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BRITISH INSTRUCTOR BOYCOTTS COURT Simon Butler, the British ski instructor arrested in February for teaching without adequate qualifications, refused to appear in court in Chambéry on September 17. The 51-year-old, who runs two chalets in the French resort of Megève, was found guilty on June 16 following a court case in April at which Ski+board was present. He was told to pay a €30,000 (£24,000) fine or face a 200day jail sentence. Six of his British staff were also found guilty and given suspended fines of €1,000 to €4,000. Butler is appealing the decision. This autumn’s hearing follows his arrest in 2013 for failing to declare his intention to instruct, for which he was given six-month suspended sentence — a verdict which he is also appealing. He told Ski+board: “I think the whole thing is a farce, with decisions already made beforehand. I have no faith at all in the French legal system and my colleagues actually fear it.” The great paper chase — Page 22

CLIMATE CHANGE IS SUCH A BOAR… The Alps are facing a new problem: wild boars. A conference in Salzburg heard that their population had tripled, with experts arguing that this is due to climate change. When temperatures rise oaks produce more acorns and beeches more nuts, giving the boars more food. The wild pigs are causing damage to the forests and agriculture, said Felix Montecuccoli from the Ecological Forum for Wild Alpine Space, held in May. He added: “A solution to the problem cannot be left to the hunters. Conservation and tourism associations should not only get a say, but also the right of a co-decision.”

HAS THE SUN SET ON THE SWISS CHALET HOLIDAY? By Roger Bray

Hundreds of Swiss chalet customers have been forced to look elsewhere this winter as tour operators suffer the impact of the country’s new employment rules. A new directive obliges UK tour firms to match Switzerland’s minimum pay rates. According to Inghams’ chief executive Andy Perrin, this works out at just under £34,000 a year. He said: “We have people in junior management jobs who aren’t on that. And they don’t get to ski every day, with free passes, equipment, meals and accommodation.” He said the law would have meant an average increase of £350 per double room. The impact has been felt mainly by operators of moderately priced chalets, for whom wages are a bigger part of costs than for luxury firms. Tour operators have dropped a dozen properties. Inghams dropped the Chalet Hotel Atlanta in Zermatt, which slept 43 people. It also had to come up with alternative holidays for some customers who had booked very early.

PHOTO: swiss-image.ch/Christof Sonderegger

NEWS

Until mid-2013, employment regulations were acknowledged not to apply to workers seconded from abroad, and taxed and insured in other countries, said Perrin, complaining: “The whole things got railroaded through, with no consultation at all.” Inghams was sent an email about the decision in August 2013, but it went to an address unstaffed in summer. Perrin said: “It wasn’t until October that the bombshell hit us.” At that time it was too late for operators to withdraw holidays for the 2013-14 season. Perrin argues that chalet customers are more likely to switch away from Switzerland than stay in hotels, adding the decision also affects local firms. “We’ve had suppliers in tears,” he said. A spokeswoman for Switzerland Tourism said that while the new ruling creates “additional costs for tour operators, it also protects employees working in Switzerland”. She said that it was “working hard to keep chalet guests in Switzerland with additional marketing activities”.

VAIL WARNS SKIERS ON CANNABIS BAN REPEAL By Roger Bray Skiers and boarders in four leading Colorado resorts are to be handed cards warning them against using marijuana. They will be reminded that though the Rocky Mountain state has relaxed its law against using the drug, public consumption remains illegal. And they will be told they could lose their lift passes if they don’t comply. The cards will be handed out in Vail and three other areas in the Vail Resorts empire: Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone. Like all the state’s major resorts, they are on US Forest Service land, where federal law, which still bans marijuana, applies.

The company says it has “a zero tolerance policy on skiing or riding under the influence and does not permit the consumption of marijuana on any of its lifts, facilities or premises under its control”, including hotels, and restaurants. The passing of Colorado’s Amendment 64 last autumn prompted conjectures that pot smoking might lead to recklessness on the slopes. A spokesperson for Vail’s rival Aspen said: “It was very much business as usual last season. We let people know that it is illegal to smoke marijuana in public places and that includes every part of a ski resort.”

4 VALLÉES REUNITED Switzerland’s 4 Vallées ski area will continue to be covered by one lift pass this winter. A row about how proceeds of lift-ticket sales should be distributed saw Verbier announce in June it was pulling out of the 2006 deal with Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon. Aware of the need to act, Jacques Melly, a councillor of the Valais region, banged heads together to negotiate an 18-year extension of the agreement. It has been a turbulent time for the ski area. Singled out as exaggerating the extent of its pistes, no sooner had the link between Bruson and Verbier been opened last season, than the lift pass row threatened to shrink it again.

MOBILE CHARGES FALL The cost of using your phone in the European Union and Norway this season has been slashed again, thanks to a series of price cuts, the final one of which came in on July 1 this year. The cost of taking a call is now 5¢ (4p) a minute, down from 7¢, and the cost of making one 19¢ a minute, down from 24¢. Texts, which are free to receive, will cost 6¢ to send, down from 8¢. The cost of data roaming has been slashed from 45¢ to 20¢ per megabyte this season. But the price cap does not cover Andorra or Switzerland. Ski Technology — Page 76

CAN EVERYONE LEARN TO SKI IN THREE DAYS? The simple answer from Ski Amadé is ‘yes’! Last season, the Austrian ski area, which includes the Gastein and Schladming resorts, launched a ‘learn to ski in three days’ programme. It promised to refund any skier unable to make it down a blue run by the end. Ski+board was keen to learn how often the area had coughed up, to be told: “Last season no attendee was unable to ski after finishing the course. So no reason to change anything.” The offer will run again this season. Follow all the latest news at skiclub.co.uk and add your own views to the big debates at skiclub.co.uk/chatforum

For stockists information call: 01572 770900

COURT REPORT

THE GREAT PAPER CHASE

PHOTO: MegĂ¨ve tourisme/Jean-Pierre Noisillier

Do British instructors face the same hurdles as locals when applying to work in France, or is protectionism alive and kicking? Colin Nicholson goes to court to cover the case of Simon Butler, the English ski instructor facing prison

On a drizzly April morning in Megève the only skiers to be seen are being ushered by blue-jacketed instructors on to the ancient Chamois bubble lift. Although this Sunday will turn into a beautiful spring day, the locals appear to have given up on it already — these skiers are the British pupils of Simon Butler’s ski school. And they are here even though their numbers have been decimated.

they British or French — to qualify in France, how is it that we see so many instructors on French slopes? That takes a court case to unravel. A crowd of journalists is packed into the corridors outside the courtroom, parting only when a blond man in his early thirties is led out in handcuffs. But before we can hear the Butler case, we must first wait for that of the tall, earnest African immigrant who,

It was on these now deserted slopes that Butler and six of his instructors were arrested in February this year. In the middle of a lesson in the busy half-term week, gendarmes stopped the ski lift Butler was on. Then with two gendarmes skiing behind him and two in front, as well as four civil servants in the wings, he was escorted to a police car, that drove him, sirens blaring and blue lights flashing, to the cells. And so, the day after skiing those gloriously empty slopes, I found myself at the Palais de Justice in the little town of Bonneville, waiting for the Simon Butler case to be heard. Now any reader who has followed the long-running saga of British instructors wanting to teach in France might say: “Hold on a minute, wasn’t this problem sorted out a decade ago, when the Eurotest was brought in for French and British instructors alike?” Well, there is a problem with the Eurotest. I once joined 30 or so young British instructors on a race training course as they prepared for the speed test. They were a nice bunch, the sort you could happily imagine being taught by, and they were looking pretty sharp on the race slopes. Watching them earnestly sharpening their skis one evening, I said to their British trainer: “But not all of them will pass, will they?” He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, and then replied in a low voice: “Honestly, none of them stand a chance.” So if the Eurotest makes it well nigh impossible for instructors — be

return rate of more than 90 per cent. At issue is whether the qualifications he and his instructors hold are equivalent to the minimum required for French instructors. If they are, European law says they should be allowed to teach. The argument has often been portrayed as a battle between the French and British, but the reality is very different. Butler is backed in court by Jean-Yves Lapeyrère, mayor of Mijoux, in the Jura mountains, who also represents several French outdoor sports employers. He and they would dearly love to see the rules on qualifications relaxed, not just for ski instruction, but for several sports. Against them are Butler’s long-standing nemesis, Gérard Apertet, vice president of the trade union of the instructors of the Ecole du Ski Français, the French national ski school, and the ministry of youth and sport. But also on Apertet’s side, ranged against Butler, are some British ski instructors, a few sitting quietly at the back of the court. They are among the 345 UK-qualified

“If the Eurotest makes it well nigh impossible for instructors — be they British or French — to qualify in France, how is it that we see so many instructors on French slopes?”

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OCTOBER 2014

the court hears, would be a model of integration into French society, had he not run into problems with his papers. And, in France, no papers means no job. Then it is the turn of a short, excitable man, who threatened to kill his landlady. But they have patched up their differences, chatting amiably together in the corridor, and she has agreed token damages of just €1. It is only in the late afternoon that Simon Butler’s turn comes. He also has a problem with his papers, but his struggle has been running for decades now, with no sign of any resolution — and he is harder to hold up as a “model of integration”. “You have run instructional skiing holidays in Megève since 1982, yet you don’t speak even rudimentary French?” the lead judge asks Butler incredulously, to which the 51-year-old bends his head towards his interpreter. Curiously, of all the defendants, it is this highly successful businessman who most appears like a schoolboy dragged in front of the headmaster, even as he describes how his skiing holidays bring 100 or so guests a week to his two chalets in Megève, with a

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instructors who are allowed to apply to work independently in France. This is because they have attained the highest British Association of Snowsport Instructors (Basi) qualification — Alpine Ski Level 4 International Ski Teacher Diploma — which after May 2000 required they pass the Euro Speed Test. Some of them say they would see their pay plunge if more of the 3,823 British

Simon Butler, flanked by his lawyer Philippe Planes, left, and Jean-Yves Lapeyrère, right

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licensed instructors were allowed to practise in France. Because French instructors must also pass this test to qualify, this agreement has been held up as an example of compliance with the European directive on the free movement of professionals, which requires equivalent demands be placed on foreign and local workers. So it may come as a surprise to learn that most fully qualified French instructors have not met the criterion of this exacting race, which is that men complete a giant slalom within 18 per cent of the time it would take the reigning world champion, and women 24 per cent. They are allowed to practise because they have claimed ‘grandfather’ rights, by virtue of being instructors before the Eurotest’s implementation in France in 2004. Just as drivers in Britain who bought cars before the driving test was introduced could postpone taking the test indefinitely, these instructors are exempt from taking the Eurotest. My own great uncle never had to take a driving test on this basis and he was an appalling driver, forever putting dings into any car he came into contact with. So outside the courtroom I ask Apertet why older instructors should get it easier than young ones. He argues that the speed qualifications that allowed him in 1974 to get his ‘Brevet d’Etat’ — the highest qualification for a ski instructor in France — was actually harder than the Eurotest. Prior to 1977, French instructors had to achieve the magical 18 per cent on a slalom course, rather than a giant slalom, though that condition was eased for the vast majority of current ski instructors. And Apertet brushes off the suggestion that there are many instructors claiming grandfather rights, referring to them as “just a handful of old men”. However, Butler says some ‘grandfathers’ could be in their 30s if they qualified in the early 2000s and inside the courtroom, Apertet and the

ministry official admit that only 350 instructors pass the Eurotest every year. Taking Apertet’s figure of 17,000 ESF instructors, of whom 15,000 are still practising, this suggests that the vast majority are ‘grandfathers’. So Butler’s lawyer asks the court why the Eurotest is held up as the equivalent qualification demanded of British instructors if so few French instructors have passed it. One of the questions the court only touched on was why on earth ski instructors should be required to ski at such high speeds. “Don’t tell me they trotted out the health and safety argument again,” Butler asks me with a groan outside

Butler would himself fall under the grandfather rule, having achieved the highest level of instruction before 2000, but says the British Association of Snowsport Instructors (Basi) has denied him the Memorandum of Understanding stamp it issues to suitably qualified Basi Level 4 instructors. This in turn means the French authorities will not issue him the Carte Professionelle, or Carte Pro, which he needs to practise independently. Basi says Butler failed to exercise his grandfather rights. The case of his six instructors is slightly more clear-cut. While their BASI level 2 and 3 qualifications and the fact that they have not passed the Eurotest would not disqualify them from instructing in some countries, in France the rules are interpreted to allow them only to work as trainees at a French-run ski school. Even then, they would have to pass their Test Technique, another race, which requires them to ski in 28 per cent of the world champion’s time.

“One of the questions the court only touched on was why on earth instructors should be required to ski at such high speeds”

But here too, the the courtroom, rolling his eyes. It is indeed odd to suggest that, in an age of mobile phones, the only way an instructor could save a group caught in an avalanche would be by slaloming at high speed between other skiers to get help. Butler adds: “It would be hilarious, if it wasn’t that it played havoc with ski instructors’ careers and ruined so many holidaymakers’ chances of having a decent instructor.” For Apertet, the answer is simple — you have to be an excellent skier yourself if you are going to instruct others, and your ability to race shows mastery of those skills. Pacing backwards and forwards, the gowned defence and prosecution lawyers regularly charge up to the bar to make a point and at other times sit heavily back down on the benches with loud harrumphs as the lead judge continues his investigation. By now the sun is low enough in the sky to bathe in orange light the mountainside that we can see out of the window.

argument of equivalence gets complicated. For not only have so many qualified French instructors not passed the Eurotest, but as many as half of the instructors you see on French slopes have yet to qualify — they are stagières, or trainees. I put this to Apertet, who says instructors can only remain stagières for four years, though he quickly accepts that this can extend to five or six years or more, if they are students or have an accident, say. He argues that Butler’s actions are unfair on stagières, who are only able to teach less advanced skiers, while the ski school invests in their attempt to gain fully qualified status. Butler sees this very differently. He argues that it is in the financial interest of older instructors sharing profits at the top to effectively exclude younger instructors from joining them, in practice using the stagières as cheap labour. The most obvious solution would be for Butler to employ his instructors as stagières himself. But that is not

Want to test your racing skills? Holiday skiers in France can easily race head-to-head against the world champion. Here’s how… The French obsession with speed has one unexpected upside for recreational skiers. If you want to know how you would fare against the reigning world champion — or whether you could pass the Eurotest — it is surprisingly easy to do so. At nearly every French resort the national ski school, the Ecole du Ski Français (ESF) , runs weekly or twice-weekly giant slalom competitions, especially in school holidays, which are open to all comers. Simply ask at the ESF office where and when the ‘flèche’ takes place and the staff will enrol you, typically for €6 to €10. The course is ‘opened’ by an instructor with an official racing handicap. This means the organisers can calculate how long it would take the world champion and calculate your time as a percentage of his. Those who complete the course within 15 per cent of his time qualify for gold, 28 per cent vermillion, 40 per cent silver, 50 per cent bronze and 55 per cent the ‘flèchette’ badge. Actual medals cost another €6 to €10. On my trip to Megève, travelling with my brother-in-law in the warmth of mid-April, we found none of the local ski schools had a competition running. However, we asked around and were told that nearby Les Contamines had two races scheduled, weather permitting. We had wanted to visit its high-altitude slopes anyway, as it is covered by the Megève ski pass. And, as soon as we heard the race was on, my heart began pounding insanely. We arrived at the designated piste far too early, but used the time to memorise the position of the gates as we rode the chairlift overhead. To get down the course — normally a blue or red run — is not hard. To do it fast Ski+board

OCTOBER 2014

Amateurs can take part in the ‘Flèche’ race, as Colin Nicholson, inset, did

without missing a gate is another matter. Having achieved bronze 12 years ago, I was determined to do better this time, even arriving in a racing suit. The catsuit is far from obligatory — only one other person wore one, but everyone is handed a racing bib at the top, and there 18 of us nervously awaited our turn. The course had been opened by a certain Damien Chatellard, who had done it in 45.23 seconds. Because he has an official handicap of six, the organisers calculated that the world champion, who is defined as having a handicap of zero, would have done it in 42.67 seconds. How would we square up to that? The teenager before me missed the second gate: instant disqualification. We later learnt that several others had missed the penultimate gate. But our early research paid off and we stayed the course. It was not my best run ever, but I managed to start some turns well above each gate to avoid skidding, which loses you vital seconds. When I flashed through the finishing line,

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the announcer called my time at 59.61 seconds. I had scraped a silver by just 13 hundredths of a second and I was jubilant. The lucky catsuit, which can shave half a second off your time, had done the trick. And we could see our times entered with a stamp in our official log book — or ‘carnet’ — which gave a nice indication of how my skiing had progressed over a decade. Of course, the conditions weren’t nearly as tough as for an official FIS (International Ski Federation) race. The soft, spring snow had flattered my technique, whereas an official race piste would have been far steeper, longer and iced, emphasising the difference between professionals and amateurs. But, alas, even in such benign conditions, my time would disqualify me from working even as a trainee ski instructor in France — for that I would need a vermillion stamp in my carnet. And the only two that day to achieve the magical Eurotest speed of 18 per cent were a pair of 13-year-old twins…

COURT REPORT

possible for his company, because to do this any ski school must have ten fully qualified instructors and access to a dedicated race slope. The question of stagières is more than academic if, as Butler argues, you are as likely as not to have a stagière instructing you or your children. Apertet tells me stagières are always supervised, but this is disputed by Philip May, 46, the only one of Butler’s instructors to appear in court with him, the others having returned to Britain. Having himself tried to qualify under the French system, May tells me that, in practice, ‘supervision’ means that as a stagière he was often on the other side of the mountain from his ‘maître de stage’, in contact only over a radio. By now, dusk is falling and there are just a few streaks of red light on the mountain as the gaunt procureur — the state prosecutor — stands up to chastise Butler. He says: “You come back here, regular as a metronome, passing yourself off as a victim of French protectionism.” And at the end of a speech that feels as long as the Butler saga itself, he calls on Butler to be imprisoned for a year. By the time Butler’s lawyer, Philippe Planes, stands up in a bid to save Butler

from gaol, darkness has fallen and the only orange light outside the window is the sodium glow of street lamps. It’s not just about the Eurotest, Planes says, nor is just about the stagières. In fact, there are no less than 17 different criteria by which instructors can teach snowsports in France, when one begins to consider cross-country skiers and snowboarders, say. Yet the authorities hold up just one as the level by which foreign instructors should be judged. And he finishes his impassioned defence by plonking several huge dossiers, outlining the different criteria on the three judges’ desk. With that pile of bedtime reading it is clear that the three judges will come to no quick conclusion. It is ten o’clock at night and the court is adjourned. Back on the slopes the next day, it becomes a little clearer why Butler is so passionate about the case. Running the classes has fallen to his partner, Jay Blatherwick, who has passed the Eurotest. But she rues losing experienced instructors who had such a good rapport with guests, instead paying more for some young pups who can ski fast. While desperately trying to coordinate three groups in Megève’s pretty cobbled centre, Blatherwick explains: “I was lucky to find some Basi-qualified British boys to replace them at short notice, but they don’t have the same social skills.” Meanwhile, all the ESF instructors in town are at an annual week-long race jamboree in the Combloux part of the ski area. Though the event is being promoted by the tourist office, the staff’s reaction to the Butler case typifies the lack of hostility to Butler I encountered among townsfolk. They exclaim “oh the poor man” when I mention the case. Butler’s desire to take on the system appears undimmed. Although he Facing an is likely to be teaching uncertain future — in Crans Montana, Simon Butler Switzerland, next season, in court

his partner Jay Blatherwick will continue to run the Megève business. Arguing that the court case reveals just how flimsy the grounds for the Eurotest requirement are, Butler has vowed to take the case all the way to European Court of Justice — if needs be. CN Colin stayed in Megève courtesy of Megève Tourism (+33 4 50 21 27 28; megeve.com) and Simon Butler Skiing (01483 21 27 26; simonbutlerskiing.com) December’s edition of Ski+board will look at some of the issues would-be instructors face in other countries

Rumbled... by Prince Charles Butler’s first brush with the authorities for teaching skiing was not in France but in England —and Prince Charles caused it all. Simon Butler’s passion for ski instruction saw him instructing on the dry slope at Sandown Park, Surrey, at the tender age of 16, when he should have been at school. All was going well for him, until Prince Charles, still fairly fresh out of the Navy, started looking for a role other than the long-term position of heir-in-waiting. In keeping with the family passion for horses, he decided to become a jockey, visiting Sandown Park for training. Journalists came down for the Royal occasion, and a photographer caught Butler in the shot. Seeing the front cover of Horse & Hound soon after, Butler’s mother was surprised — and none too impressed — to see her son playing truant. But the bug had bitten. Butler went on to spend the winter teaching in Zell am Ziller, Austria, and was expelled from sixth form when he finally returned in March.

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The first man to ski every possible state in Americaâ&#x20AC;Ś

USA

...and he’s British!

Ever-modest, the former editor of Ski+board Arnie Wilson failed to tell his readers how he had quietly set a world record by ticking off each of the 38 American states with liftserved resorts. We tell the story of how he did it and his many adventures on the way. My love affair with skiing in America started in 1978 in Colorado, when I skied Vail and Aspen, swiftly followed by two equally famous Californian resorts, Squaw Valley and Heavenly. This was the first time I had skied — or even seen — the Rockies and High Sierra, the land I had glimpsed as a boy in so many Westerns in London’s South End Green Odeon. British skiers didn’t venture much to the US in those days, so it was only in the mid-80s that I got to the resort that remains my favourite — Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Here I skied the flanks of the jagged Tetons — the backdrop to one of the most powerful Westerns ever screened: Shane. Now I was smitten. For the next decade I quietly but resolutely ticked off more and more resorts: Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Snowbird, Alta, Park City, Deer Valley, Sun Valley, Mammoth, Telluride, Taos, Killington, Stowe and quite a few lesser-known ski areas too. But it was my round-the-world ski expedition with Lucy Dicker in 1994 that really got me collecting US skiing states. In that year I skied every day in 240 resorts in 14 countries, starting in the US and moving to the southern hemisphere for summer, a Guinness world record. As we moved east from Jackson Hole on January 1, we realised it was easier to drive rather than fly between states, which explains how I came to ski in so many unlikely states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland, though Georgia’s Sky Valley was shut and never re-opened. In any case, I was more concerned with skiing every day rather than skiing every US state with ski lifts. But after 1994, it occurred to me that there were only a dozen or so I hadn’t skied. As the years rolled by, I found myself skiing in Alaska… and Jiminy Peak, in Massachusetts. Once, skiing in New York State, I made a detour to tick off Mohawk Mountain, Connecticut. On my way back from Utah, I used a layover in Detroit, Michigan, to visit Alpine Valley. My oldest friend in America, Bernie Weichsel, chairman of the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, agreed to help, and in 2008, 2010 and 2011 we mopped up Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, even Rhode Island, finishing with some unexpectedly good skiing in Arizona Snowbowl. Just one state remained: Nebraska. But was it still open? Having skied through so many adventures, I was determined this year to find out.

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USA Ski Butler, Kentucky

Villa Olivia, Illinois 30 This converted rubbish dump near Chicago (like Mount Trashmore, in Virginia) may be the only ‘resort’ in the world where a skier in a lift queue has been killed by an out-of-control car, as it is so close to the road. I had my own automotive issues there. After losing the keys to our rented Cadillac, I got a ride in a police car, with my leg pressed against a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun nursed by my driver Dave, who pointed out where the local gangsters lived.

In America, ski areas are often divided into ‘breeders, feeders and leaders’ with tiny areas breeding young skiers, whose passion feeds them on to leading resorts. And Butler, sadly no longer operational thus removing Kentucky’s only ski area, was definitely a breeder. There was mayhem when a huge group of endearingly cheerful AmericanAsians were scattering each other like ninepins as they battled to grasp the essentials of skiing for the first time. There was a ‘family deal’ in which up to five members of a family could ski for $70 including rental and lessons. The unlikeliest couples claimed to be married, with even less likely offspring.

Alyeska, Alaska You can learn a good deal about resorts by riffling through the Yellow Pages. Relaxing in my room after a hard day’s skiing in the Chugach mountain range, I flipped through what was on offer in the townships of Bird, Indian, Rainbow, Hope and Sunrise. There was Arctic Rent-A-Car, an Arctic Animal Hospital, Arctic Bed And Breakfast, Arctic Collision Repair and even Arctic Refrigeration. I was relieved to find that A-Bar-O Dental Services “welcome emergencies”, perhaps as a result of consuming too much Eskimo ‘Ice Cream’ — a strange mix of berries, seal oil and fresh snow.

Mount Bachelor, Oregon

Jackson Hole, Wyoming After years of looking over the edge, I was quite proud of myself when I finally jumped into Jackson Hole’s feared Corbet’s Couloir. You have to jump at least 10ft before you hit the snow. I was less pleased with what happened next. I landed badly, lost a ski and plunged halfway down the chute. This meant climbing all the way back — only to find a well-known Jackson restaurateur, Ned Brown, hopping in as though it were a green run, and handing me the missing ski.

The old Rainbow chair at Mount Bachelor — a lift ‘forgotten by time’ — was so slow that the ski school director, Ken Klecker, used it as his office. “I used to get all my paperwork done in one uplift,” he said. Mind you, the day I was there fierce winds closed the top of the mountain, an extinct volcano. As I said in my farewell note to Catherine Omelchuck, the resort’s marketing director: “Mount Bachelor was tantalising and tempestuous. We’ve skied it, but we ain’t seed it yet!” Catherine, a bronze medallist in the world freestyle skydiving championships, could have done with her parachute on the runs I skied with her.

USA Great Bear, South Dakota South Dakota — the geographic centre of the US — has some serious mountains over to the west in the Black Hills and even in the semi-arid Badlands. At 7,242ft, Harney Peak is, by some calculations, the highest point between the Rockies and the Alps. But, for logistical reasons, I clung to the eastern edge of the state, and headed for Great Bear ski area in Sioux Falls. Here, at the tender age of 20, Alex Mehlhaff could almost run the area single-handedly. His boss, Dan Grider, said: “Alex does everything — sells tickets, rents skis, sets skis, instructs, runs the lifts, flips burgers, makes snow and grooms the slopes.”

In transit to Mount Bachelor, Oregon During the 400-mile drive, blizzard conditions made it difficult to see where the road ended and the roadside began. Exhausted, I was tempted to stop at a solitary motel just outside Vale (not to be confused with Vail, Colorado) until I realised what it was called: Bates Motel. The screech of brakes, muffled only by the snow, was followed by my quickly hitting the accelerator, and I pressed on to Sunriver, in Bend, Oregon. Bend should not be confused with North Bend, in Washington State — the town made famous by the TV series Twin Peaks — but our Bates Motel encounter could have been part of a David Lynch script.

Mount Shasta Ski Park, California One of the world’s seven sacred peaks, this extinct volcano, which last erupted in 1786, looms up 14,179ft through the forest and dominates the skyline even 150 miles away like a huge white beached whale. It is steeped in legend and myth, which I found curiously appealing. They say it is inhabited by a race of “Lemurian” aliens 8ft tall with a single eye planted in their foreheads. One local who claimed he’d been abducted said the Lemurians took him on a tour inside the mountain, where there were vast quantities of gold and treasure. To this day you can join ‘spiritual tours’ of the mountain. Ski+board

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Mad River Glen, Vermont Mad River Glen is one of only three resorts in the US that still ban snowboarders (the others are Alta and Deer Valley, both in Utah). The ban in Vermont’s Green Mountains apparently came after its former owner, Betsy Pratt, a pipe-puffing widow, had some legendary confrontations with snowboaders. Even one of her friends once described Betsy as “one of the most stubborn, most opinionated, most exasperating, most in-lovewith-the-mountains people ever”. The challenge I faced when skiing Mad River’s Paradise run epitomises her attitude to the often treacherous skiing conditions you can find in New England. She would have said of it: “If you can find Paradise, you’re welcome to enjoy it. But beware, a snow serpent, in the form of a frozen waterfall — a mean-looking, jagged agglomeration of rock one storey high, encased in a footthick layer of ice — lurks here to tempt hapless skiers into an early descent into hell.” As they say of New England’s unpredictable climatic conditions, if you can ski the East you can ski anywhere, given that you can see your face in the ice and if you fired a gun at it you’ll be killed by the ricochet.

USA Brundage Mountain, Idaho I only managed six runs and 9,800 vertical feet on our guided tour with Bud Piggot. We could have done a lot more vertical with Bud — but perhaps not on skis — as he likes nothing better than looping the loop in his Pitts aerobatic plane over the triple chair, bringing the whole mountain to a halt. He had learnt to fly in his teens to work with his mother, who was a wing walker. Once he forgot to harness her and immediately flew back to base, where he said: “Do you realise, Ma, that if I’d finished the roll you’d have fallen straight off the aircraft?”

...and the o

Big Mountain, Montana In the late 50s, Big Mountain (now Whitefish) was the location for one of the most ludicrously funny incidents in the history of skiing. When resort workers erected its first draglift, they cranked up the tightness of the wire so much that the first skiers found themselves yanked bodily off the ground like theatrical Peter Pans and made their ascent up the mountain dangling in mid-air. Nobody really knew what skiers were supposed to look like on such a lift, so they carried on making fools of themselves all day. The problem was (sheepishly) rectified overnight.

Yawgoo Valley, Rhode Island After skiing in Yawgoo Valley, Rhode Island, I left my heliskiing gloves there. There is no heliskiing in this ‘resort’ of course. It is a converted potato field, although it does have four lifts and a vertical drop of 246ft. But I wore my heliski gloves there because they are extra warm. Whether Pati from Yawgoo Valley’s staff, who very kindly posted them back to me, had any idea of what they were I don’t know. The idea of heliskiing in a converted potato field is hard to grasp. But it made the people at Mike Wiegele Heliskiing in Blue River, British Columbia, smile. They were a personal gift from Mike himself, so quite precious.

NebraSki, Nebraska In 2014, having skied in 38 US states with downhill ski resorts, something was niggling me. There were 40 states in the US that had ski resorts in 1994, when I started ticking them off. However, Georgia’s only downhill resort, Sky Valley, remained shut that year and never reopened, so I felt relatively confident about excluding it from my list. However, I knew that NebraSki, Nebraska’s only resort, had only closed some time after I started my challenge. So I realised I had to investigate whether there was any skiing there before I could possibly claim to have skied in every American ‘skiing state’.

USA

e one that got away Whilst indisputably the first man to ski every possible US state, Arnie Wilson was determined to make sure he had not missed any out — even if it meant risking life and limb to do so It was this April, back in Colorado — where I had begun my American ski odyssey all those years ago — that the bug bit again. I was having such a brilliant time relishing corn snow on the slopes of Breckenridge and Vail, enjoying some of the best skiing in the Rockies, that my mind turned again to all those other ski areas in the US. I had been romping high off-piste in the newly opened Peak 6 area of ‘Breck’, although at an altitude of 12,300ft (3,750m), I didn’t fancy climbing to the new ‘hike-to’ terrain. But then I have always thought that ski lifts are a marvellous invention. And I floated down Breckenridge’s huge Freeway Terrain Park with Keri Herman, an Olympian fresh from Sochi.

To add to the sinister atmosphere, skulls lined the front of the building Later in Vail I tried hard to keep up with my guide, who skied like a missile. But something was bugging me. I knew that 300 miles away was a neighbouring state I’d never been to. Yes, although I had skied such unlikely states as Kentucky and Tennessee in the Deep South, as well as the remotest ones such as Alaska and Montana in

Unusually for America, NebraSki does not extend the warmest of welcomes to skiers — indeed the casual visitor could be forgiven for entering with a sense of trepidation

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Arnie Wilson clutches some hail at NebraSki, in Nebraska, a state in ‘Tornado Alley’ where the weather is unpredictable

the north, the one that had eluded me was right next door — Nebraska. It was madness, I knew, but having skied in every other state in the US with lifts, barring Georgia, for which I could claim exemption, I had to prove there was no skiing in Nebraska before I could boast that I had skied in every American ‘skiing state’. Georgia’s only downhill resort, Sky Valley, was shut in 1994 when I really began collecting skiing states, but numerous emails had failed to confirm what I assumed to be the case: that Nebraska’s only resort, NebraSki, probably hadn’t been open for some winters. Like an old detective determined to crack his last case — the one that eluded him, haunted him — it was time to check it out in person. From the air, Nebraska looked kind of… flat. It is characterised by treeless prairie, ideal for cattle, and in this beef and corn-producing state, hundreds of ‘towns’ have a population of less than 1,000. The impression didn’t change when I landed at Omaha’s Eppley airfield. Although Nebraska is known as the state where the West begins, the Rockies this is not. Unlike neighbouring Colorado, the vast swathes of tallgrass bluestem prairie plains don’t suddenly tilt up to the heavens. Nor did the weather didn’t lend itself to skiing — 80 degrees in old money — about 26°C. There’s a saying in many areas of the US — “If you don’t like the weather here hold on for ten minutes” — which is especially true of Nebraska. Violent thunderstorms and tornados are common in this

USA

Although the snow did finally arrive, the erratic coverage on Nebraska’s prairies rules it out as a skiing destination — for now

cornhusker state. It is also in ‘Tornado Alley’, which I’d experienced before, skiing in South Dakota. Nebraska’s weather is notoriously difficult to predict, which is one of the reasons I later suspected the old ski hill had closed down around the turn of the century. That evening in my hotel room, the TV weather man predicted “a soaker”. And indeed the next day the temperature had dropped dramatically to 40°F (4°C) and a hailstorm roared in, with almost enough hail to ski on. There was even the prospect of snow. I needed to find the NebraSki ski area — fast. Who better to help than Antone Oseka, editor of the local newspaper, the Papillion Times, who remembered skiing there in his youth? He drove me in his tank-like truck to the banks of the River Platte, just off Interstate 80. Up and down we cruised. “I can’t work out where it could be,” said Oseka, his baseball cap tilting forward as he scratched his head. He was all for giving up.

What if someone took a pot-shot at me? Then that really would have been this gumshoe’s last case I was distraught. After my 36-year-mission I hadn’t come all this way to give up. I had noticed the terrain becoming steeper the further we travelled and, hoping against hope, persuaded him to keep going for one final search. And finally we found it — the old ski area. But where were the skiers? The entrance to the road leading to the slopes was barred by a metal pole and a big sign said: “No Hunting. No Trespassing.” Gingerly, I stepped over the pole and started to walk up. It was deathly quiet except for the patter of hail. The old ski lodge hoved into view as I rounded the corner. What if someone was in and took me for a poacher? There wasn’t enough snow to make an escape on skis. And what if they took a pot-shot at me? Then that really would have been this gumshoe’s last case. To add to the sinister atmosphere, skulls lined the front of the building. Goat and deer skulls they may have been, but they still gave me the heebie jeebies. I hurried on past the lodge. You could see where the runs had been — long abandoned, it seemed. And wasn’t that the rusting remnant of an old chairlift?

I crunched back round the empty lodge, trying to imagine what NebraSki had been like in its heyday. At one point the resort had even hosted a NebraSki “Olympics” on the 15 trails served by five lifts, climbing a modest 200 vertical feet to a dizzying 1,250ft. Dare I hope that one day skiers will return? Could, one day, NebraSki again echo to the sound of excited skiers? From our Eurocentric point of view it may seem unlikely. But America’s economy has turned a corner and holiday-poor Americans are more likely than us to visit a resort for a weekend, a day, or even an evening, maintaining a special affinity for their ‘local hill’ — the mountain where they started skiing. If that spirit lives on, there may be hope for NebraSki. And if it does, I, for one, will be back to claim my 39th ‘skiing state’. AW Arnie Wilson travelled to Breckenridge and Vail courtesy of Ski Independence (0131 243 8097; ski-i.com) which offers seven nights B&B at the Lodge at Vail from £2,335 per person based on two sharing, including flights and airport transfers. It also offers seven nights at the One Ski Hill Place ski-in, skiout apartments in Breckenridge from £2,019 per person, based on two sharing a studio including flights and airport transfers. Want to ski in Arnie Wilson’s favourite US resort? A Ski Club Leader is in Jackson Hole from January 18 to March 20 to show Ski Club members around. See skiclub.co.uk/leaders

The abandoned lodge at Nebraska’s only ski area was once the hub of a resort with five ski lifts and 15 trails, and which hosted the NebraSki ‘Olympics’ before its untimely demise

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FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES 36

IN THE RUN-UP TO THE REFERENDUM, DANNY BUCKLAND WENT TO SCOTLAND TO BE UNITED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE A RESORT TICK Planning a winter holiday can be a detailed operation. But spare a thought for the unseen battalions that make every ski resort run smoothly. They work round the clock, but you may look straight through them, even though they are the engine room of any ski area. In the run-up to Scotland’s referendum on independence, Ski+board met the largely unsung heroes of CairnGorm Mountain, a resort promised £6.25 million by its new US lease-owner Natural Retreats. It aims to bring the X-Games and a new generation of skiers and boarders to Scotland.

Name ADAM MCINNES Occupation PISTE GROOMER Adam McInnes is one of the most crucial people on the mountain. However, you are more likely to see his handiwork than glimpse the midnight rider who drives his tenton PistenBully 600 with the finesse of a figure skater. The 39-year-old fires up his grooming machine as the runs are closing for the day and 12 hours later will have stamped a

smooth corduroy pattern on the 35 runs. Adam, from Carrbridge, seven miles away, started as an apprentice mechanic at 17 before becoming a piste groomer, then head of the mountain’s technical maintenance division. “It is a fantastic job because you get the mountain to yourself,” says Adam, who is recognised as one of the best in Europe — he even gives driving master classes in Corvatsch, in St Moritz, Switzerland. His ability to deal with the variability of Scottish snow conditions means that his skills are in high demand. “The different snow and conditions we get at CairnGorm are hugely challenging for drivers. When I started 20 years ago, we just pushed mounds of snow, but now it is like a science,” he says. “It is a very dynamic mountain and things change quickly. I’ve had few close shaves. Once a slab of snow broke free underneath me, and it was like being on a giant sledge. I and the groomer ended up going through fences, missing one of the towers by inches.” Being a piste groomer on a lonely mountain does have its benefits. He says: “There are some nights when we can ski down to the car park by moonlight.” Adam, whose partner Lisa is expecting their second child, adds: “The hours can be tough as you work through the night or are out early after a storm. But Lisa is from a skiing family, so she understands.”

PHOTO: P Tomkins/VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint

Name EUAN BAXTER Occupation PARK SHAPER AND FREESTYLE COACH Riders flocked to the UK’s first halfpipe when it made its debut at CairnGorm earlier this year. And nobody was more proud of the 30-metre (100ft) pipe than park shaper and freestyle coach Euan Baxter. “Halfpipes are the most technically demanding features to build,” says 35-year-old Euan, who grew up in Aviemore, the access point for CairnGorm mountain, and is also part of GB’s freestyle coaching team. “It took hundreds of man and machine hours, but it was really rewarding to make it happen and demonstrates huge commitment from the mountain.” Euan and the team watched anxiously as the Pipe Magician machine and enormous chainsaw gouged into the snow to create a freestyle heaven. He explains: “The angles are critical. If it is too open, you fly out and land on the top — called Ski+board

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‘decking out’ — which is not a good result. If it is too vertical you fly off the wall and back down where you started, which is worse. “You cannot just pile up the snow and do one cut. There’s a good three cuts before you get it how you want it. There is a great buzz about freestyle and we are working hard to provide the best facilities.” Euan’s partner, three-times Olympic snowboarder Lesley McKenna, 40, is park and pipe programme manager for British Ski and Snowboard, which was awarded a four-year £4.89 million grant by UK Sport following the Sochi Winter Olympics success. The park is organic and grows from rails, boxes and some rollers early in the season, when there is not as much snow, to a slopestyle course and halfpipe in mid-season. Euan says: “It’s free and unconstrained, which makes it really attractive, and people have fun.” The job of a park shaper is about minimising risk as well as encouraging aerobatics. Euan says: “It is hard to build the best and safest take-offs and landings, but it is so important. You are defying gravity up there, pushing physics, so we have to make sure you come down safely. “Every weekend there are kids in the park on coaching courses or hanging out with their friends riding the rails and boxes and having a great time.

Name JAMIE BISSETT Occupation SKI PATROL

Jamie Bissett has the pleasure of fresh tracks every morning, but this is no joyride. He is armed with poles, fencing, tools and de-icing gear as he makes sure the resort is ready for the first uplift. “We’re out shortly after 6am, digging stuff out, roping off areas and de-icing the cables,” says the 20-year-old. “We’re the first out after the groomers are done and the fitter has checked the lifts. We work fast to make sure the slopes are okay and there are no steps or gashes that could make people fall. The weather changes constantly so it could be a metre deep in one part and bare in another, blown away by the winds. “From then, it’s a question of being around in case someone is injured and to help customers. The thing I’m always asked for is to change the weather! Jamie, whose father is an instructor in Courchevel, France, lives in Grantown-on-Spey, 15 miles away, and is part of a patrol team that stays on the slopes until long after the last customer has gone. “My role is to make sure they have a safe fun day on the hill,” he says. “Before I started working here I had no idea what went into running a resort. “It’s a great job because you are skiing at home. When you get good days with sunshine, blue skies and powder, it is as good as the Alps.”

Name NEIL TURNBULL Occupation LIFT ATTENDANT Lift attendants, or lifties, are probably the workers most likely to be taken for granted in any resort. As soon as we are whisked away, we forget them. To the uninitiated, the job involves mainly looking cool in shades. “No one sees the hard labour involved,” says Neil Turnbull. “We have to dig things out and make everything safe, so it can be labour intensive. We often start the day digging out the mouth of the train tunnel and clearing snow from the entrances and exits to restaurants.” Neil quit a job selling watches in a high street shop and came to CairnGorm last season. “I’d had enough of wearing a shirt and tie every day. It wasn’t my idea of a life so I came up here,” said the 50-year-old from Carrbridge, who is a keen canoeist and works at a local adventure park during the summer. “Being a liftie is not the best-paid job in the world but it is one of the best jobs in the world because you are outdoors, you meet people and are part of a great team working in a wonderful environment.

“As long as we can put a smile on visitors’ faces that’s what it’s all about. There will be times when they can’t get to where they want, so it is just about trying to keep them happy and smiling. I really enjoyed last year and can’t wait for the new season.”

Name RICHARD VILLEGAS Occupation CUSTOMER SERVICES AND TRAIN DRIVER Richard is a multitasker, driving the UK’s highest funicular train, selling tickets and helping out here and there during surges of activity. “It’s a great job as I get to meet visitors when they are enjoying themselves on the mountain,” said the 39-year-old from Chile, who settled in the area after meeting his wife Elsa, from Kingussie, 15 miles away. “There’s a lot to do and it is the sort of vital work that keeps everything ticking over. The weather can be frustrating, though. Beautiful one day, then 70mph winds the next and we can’t get up the mountain. “The pace is fast in winter. The train ride takes ten minutes in summer, as people like to admire the view, but takes five minutes in winter, as they want to ski.” Richard and Elsa have an 18-month-old son Lucas and have little time to indulge in their passions for cross-country skiing and snowboarding. He says: “It’s a shame but we do get the odd day on the mountain.”

Name KIRSTY ADAM Occupation CATERING ASSISTANT Schoolgirl Kirsty Adam got a chance to work part-time on the mountain after her family moved to Aviemore three years ago and her mother, Lorna, got a job in the bookings office. “I work at the Ptarmigan Restaurant and I love the atmosphere,” says the 16-year-old, who is a keen boarder. “It’s wonderful to be part of the team working on the mountain. There’s a vibrant feeling with the skiers and boarders all enjoying themselves. The downside is that it makes you a bit jealous that you can’t join them. I would love to be a snowboard instructor some time as it would be great to teach and encourage youngsters.”

Name CAROLINE MCQUEEN Occupation SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR AND YOUTH HOSTEL MANAGER If your snowboard instructor looks like the woman who served you breakfast then that’s because she is the same woman. Caroline McQueen is used to the doubletake, mystifying her pupils with her dual role as an instructor and running the Glenmore Lodge, two miles from the foot of CairnGorm. “It can take people by surprise,” says the 42-year-old, who was given her own first snowboard lesson on the same mountain aged 18. “I feel very privileged to be able to instruct and look after guests who come to the area. “The past two seasons have been excellent. We’ve had brilliant snow and it’s a great place to teach. We get a lot of skiers and boarders who have never been

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here before and think it’s magic. We have others who keep coming back and lots doing a week here before going elsewhere. The great thing about instructing is that you meet a fantastic cross-section of people and we get a lot of mums trying boarding with their kids.” Caroline left CairnGorm to work as a web developer in Whistler, Canada. But the pull of home was irresistible when the chance arose to run the Scottish Youth Hostel Association’s 75-bed lodge with her partner and fellow snowboard instructor, Dave Stewart. She then qualified as a Level 2 CASI instructor on a three-month course in Kicking Horse, Canada, so she could spend more time on the mountain. “It’s hard work because there is a lot that goes into looking after the lodge and our guests,” she adds, talking of the hostel, which offers bed and breakfast from £17 a night. “But it is rewarding because of what they get out of it and we get many repeat visitors.” Read resort details and reviews of all five of Scotland’s major ski areas at skiclub.co.uk/skiresorts

AUSTRIA’S CROWNING GLORY! Focus on Hochkönig and Schladming-Dachstein – two of Ski amadé’s vast empire of five top ski areas, 25 resorts and towns With so much to shout about, it’s hard to focus on any one “jewel in the crown” but Hochkönig and Schladming-Dachstein are the strongest candidates in Ski amadé. As for Schladming, its history was based on mining, including substantial quantities of silver – another gem! Despite its long history as a mountain town, Schladming is very much at the forefront in the technology of modern lifts and internet technology. The area hosted the FIS Alpine World Championships in 2013. Hochkönig, meanwhile, is a truly authentic and charming destination for laid back skiers and families – but it too has kept up with the times in mod cons! Ski amadé is now the most popular destination for British skiers. It’s easy to reach – with regular ﬂights from London Gatwick and Stansted, and many regional UK airports, to Salzburg Airport. With 270 modern lifts serving 760 pistes – all available on just one ski pass – along with a huge variety of mountain restaurants, the amadé network is unique in Austria. Off the slopes in this “sprawling skiers’ wonderland”, the natural charm of Austrian village life, unrivalled hospitality and delicious on-themountain cuisine is all to be found just an hour or so from Salzburg – the birthplace of course, of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose name is enshrined in the ski region. Ski amadé love to stress that a skiing holiday incorporates all five senses – sight, feeling, smell, hearing and taste. In other words the skiing here is SENSational – and your passport to a new understanding of the exhilarating natural world. “With our ‘5 senses’ project with more than 50 sensational points of interests on the mountains, we would like to further enrich the fantastic ski experience at Ski amadé and make it even more emotional,“ says Dr Christoph Eisinger, the ski region’s MD.

www.skiamade.com/SENSations

SENSATIONAL SKIING

Ski amadé prides itself on offering genuine value for money throughout the season - so jump on a plane to Salzburg and hit the slopes! An unrivalled combination of professional skiing facilities, vast scope, stunning scenery, sophisticated technology – and an irresistible warm welcome – mean at Ski amadé, you and the family have got it made! Previously inaccessible viewing points now invite skiers to take a break and admire the scenery; discover a “massage drive-in” on the slopes; feel the adrenalin kick in on the “speed routes”; swing down the slope to the sound of a jukebox!

EXPLORING THE PISTES WITH HELP FROM THE NET For everyone who likes to share holiday photos on the Internet, check their e-mails or find a charming hut to dine out at, more than 400 hotspots guarantee free Internet access. Guests can surf the web, check emails or post their social media status reports from across almost the whole area After a successful day of skiing, visitors also have the option to check out how many miles and vertical feet they’ve skied, and which lifts they’ve ridden - all with the help of data stored on their lift passes. After logging in, visitors’ user details only need to be accepted once - a password isn’t necessary. Thanks to the free mobile app ‘Ski amadé Guide’, calories burned can be monitored and mountain huts, ski lifts, toilets, car parks and service areas and cash dispensers can be located in Ski amadé with pinpoint accuracy.

ADVERTORIAL

THE HOCHKÖNIG REGION

With around 120 kilometres (75 miles) of runs and 33 state-of-the-art lifts, as well as access points for cross-country ski trails, winter hiking paths and snowshoeing tours are all within a short distance of all three villages in the Hochkönig region – Maria Alm, Dienten and Mühlbach. Visitors can marvel at dome truly dramatic mountain scenery and exhilarating skiing right on their doorstep.

RIGHT ROYAL SCENERY ON THE “KING´S TOUR”

VEGAN DELICACIES AT MOUNTAIN HUTS

Visitors who enjoy the prospect of ski excursions will love the so-called “King’s Tour” – a ski circuit that covers 32 kilometres (20 miles) of pistes and 6700 vertical metres (25,520 ft). It’s a local highlight not to be missed.

At mountain restaurants in the Hochkönig region, you’ll be served popular local favourites as well as some surprises which the chefs enjoy adding to the choices available. Some select mountain huts feature menus that include, in addition to the classics, a rotating selection of vegan meals and cocktails.

SCHLADMING-DACHSTEIN

Hochkönig Tourism 5761 Maria Alm, Am Gemeindeplatz 7 +43 (0) 6584/20 388 region@hochkoenig.at www.hochkoenig.at

Schladming-Dachstein Ramsauerstr. 756, A- 8970 Schladming Tel. +43 (0) 3687-23310 info@schladming-dachstein.at www.schladming-dachstein.at

Still enjoying the glow of hosting the Alpine Ski World Cup in 2013, the region goes from strength to strength. Visitors can enjoy 230 kilometres (144 miles) of runs and 85 modern lifts. Schladming’s ski area is an exhilarating and powerful combination of slopes linking the Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm mountains. For many visitors the secret of a winter holiday is the variety of activities available in addition to the skiing, whether it’s snowshoe trekking through the snow-covered landscape, learning how the pistes are groomed, or perhaps a tobogganing party. Visitors can also access the many attractions of the Dachstein Glacier, such as the Sky Walk, Ice Palace, Glacier Restaurant, superpark, using the new Dachstein “Panorama Gondel”. You’ll feel you can almost reach out and touch the Dachstein mountains (but don’t try!) from the 360-degree glass-sided gondola.

MORE THAN SKIING TO SAVOUR The region has much more than just skiing to be savoured on the culinary front too. There are no fewer than 97 mountain restaurants and huts, each with its own unique charm. There’s usually a sun terrace or traditional rustic bar – more often than not, both! There’s a hut to suit everyone. What a shame you won’t have time to try them all!

PHOTO Kulm Hotel

Only the brave â&#x20AC;&#x201D; bobsleigh was one of the many winter sports that were popularised in St Moritz, Switzerland, after a bet 150 years ago

It was 150 years ago this month that the winter holiday was born. To celebrate the anniversary, St Moritz, where it all began, is inviting visitors to sample some of the activities that entranced thrill-seeking Victorians. But Rosie Barcroft found a few obstacles in her way.

From top: Lessons at the St Moritz Tobogganing Club’s Cresta Run circa 19001905; Rosie Barcroft, second from left, tries the bobsleigh; skiing in Corvatsch then; and now PHOTO (from top): SMTC; A Lady in London; St Moritz; swiss-image.ch/Christof Sonderegger

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This winter, a million or so British skiers will head to the mountains for the peak winter period. But, in September 1864, it was with a heavy heart that hotelier Johannes Badrutt was preparing to shut the Kulm Hotel in St Moritz for what was then the end of the season. As was common in the mountains, the wealthy might flock to the spa town in summer, but come autumn, hotels would be bolted and barred until next May. So the entrepreneurial Badrutt bet four of his well-to-do British regulars they would fall in love with the place if they stayed for winter, promising them crisp, sunny, action-filled days instead of drizzle at home. If he were wrong, he would pay their travel expenses. If he were right, they would have to tell everyone about the experience. This was more than an idle wager. It was a carefully considered PR exercise. The gentlemen were well connected in aristocratic circles and their recommendation could make wintering in St Moritz all the rage. But Badrutt had his work cut out to keep them entertained, almost singlehandedly inventing several winter sports, which visitors are being encouraged to try 150 years later. Though when I arrived at the St Moritz Tobogganing Club to be greeted by men sporting the unofficial club uniform of plus-twos and woolly jumpers, I wondered just how much had changed. The British introduced sledging to St Moritz. But after daring dashes on delivery sleds down the narrow twisting cobbled streets of this elegant town in Switzerland’s eastern Engadin valley terrorised pedestrians, Badrutt created the first purpose-built, half-pipe track for them to practise the skeleton on. First constructed in 1884, the Cresta Run is a three-quarters-of-a-mile-long ice flume, built from scratch every year with snow, which is then iced. The skeleton run has ten corners, with Shuttlecock being the most difficult,

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with a ride-to-fall ratio of 12 to one. Accidents are common because the walls on the Cresta Run have been cut shallow, so the slightest mistake can see you hurtling off the track at more than 50mph. However, beginners like me start halfway down. Or so I thought. What I had not banked on was an even more formidable obstacle in my way, in the form of Lady Harriet Brabazon, the membership secretary. “Women,” she explained, looking at me over gold-framed glasses, “can only take part in the non-official Ladies Race on the last day of the season.” It was February, and the thick layer of snow either side of the track revealed that this wasn’t going to be for a while. “Any questions?” she asked through pursed lips. Well yes: “Why?” “Females were actually rather good in their day,” she replied with a small sigh — goodness knows how many times she had been asked this question. “They were banned in 1929 for a number of reasons. It was rumoured that riding caused breast cancer, although no link was found. “Women turned up dressed as men for many years afterwards, with their breasts strapped down and rode under their husbands’ names. Another idea was that women were just too good. One finished ahead of her husband, which was not popular among the committee.”

Women turned up dressed as men for many years, with their breasts strapped down and rode under their husbands’ names We moved outside to watch the action. Standing on the sun-drenched balcony with her pastel-coloured cardigan draped over her shoulders Lady Brabazon and I watched the steel toboggans charging down the smooth trough. The men, it seemed, were determined to prove their worth. “I remember Lord Bledisloe, who once ran over his own hand, pulled off a bloodied glove, shook out a severed digit and declared, ‘Never mind. At least it’s not my trigger finger’,” Lady Brabazon recalled. Happily for me, the winter pioneers did not stop at the skeleton. They

were also behind the bobsleigh. So, having booked a slot at the Celerina Olympic bob run, I went on to the main attraction of the area: the skiing. By 1910, 2,000 mostly British guests wintered in the resort. And after St Moritz hosted the 1928 Winter Olympics, opening a funicular railway, followed by Switzerland’s second ski lift, skiing became the sport, even if Alpine skiing only made it into the Olympics eight years later. St Moritz has two main ski areas: Corvatsch and Corviglia. Of the two Corviglia is the place to be seen. If you take the rack railway up from the town, with its expensive boutiques that migrate here from St Tropez every year, you arrive at immaculately pisted runs that flatter your every turn. Unfortunately, I was neither going to be seen or see anything myself.

day, so decided to hold on to my Swiss Francs and settle for the cream slice, which was indeed very good. The St Moritz ski pass also covers the area of Corvatsch, ten minutes’ drive from the town. For adventurous skiers, Corvatsch is the biggest draw, with mostly red runs stretching up to 3,305m (10,845ft), while both Corvatsch and Corviglia are snowsure until late April. But would the weather clear for my trip? No. This was not to be my week. So it was with all my expectations pinned on the bobsleigh ride that I turned up at the bob run. Opened on New Year’s Day in 1904, it is the oldest bobsleigh track in the world and the only one that isn’t artificially refrigerated. It was used for both the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics. And now it was my turn.

My neck felt like it was being pushed into the rest of my body while my helmet pin-balled between the sides of the sled Church Leap is one of the Cresta Run’s challenges

Stepping out of the railway I walked straight into a snowstorm. The beautiful views down the Engadin valley, home to many of Switzerland’s Romansch speakers, were nowhere to be seen. So shoulders hunched, I poled forward and was enveloped by cloud. I was determined at least to make it to the chic El Paradiso restaurant, where I was promised the ‘best cream slice ever’. Had I set my sights a bit higher, I might have applied to join the exclusive members’ club, consisting of 99 people, each with their own drawer harbouring special cutlery with embroidered and initialled napkins. But I had had enough rejections for one

Pictures: SMTC; swiss-image.ch/Max Weiss

I looked the part even if I didn’t feel it. Dressed in a black race suit, balaclava and helmet, I climbed into the back of the bobsleigh and sat, heart pounding, behind bob pilot Martin with brakeman Karl all set to push. Martin turned his head slightly in his seat. “Ready to go?” he asked, his thick Swiss accent accentuating the words. Moments later, we were off, Karl jumping into the bob behind us. The G-force was intense. My neck felt like it was being pushed into the rest of my body, which in turn felt like it was being squeezed from all angles. My helmet pin-balled between the sides of the sled and at one point I had to close

For adventurous skiers, Corvatsch is the biggest draw with mostly red runs stretching up to 3,305m

my eyes. And yet when Karl jammed on the brakes I felt euphoric. Adrenaline and endorphins coursed through my body and I couldn’t help but grin wildly while shakily rising to my feet. My confidence on an all-time high, I proudly accepted my certificate and the glass of prosecco on offer. Watching people of all ages and sexes give it a go — one of whom was a 70-year-old who, on reaching the finish, asked whether he could go again — I couldn’t help but wish the Cresta Run was more like this. But who was I to challenge traditions? “We’re rather happy with the arrangement,” Lady Brabazon had told me earlier when I asked if she was okay with the female ban on the Cresta Run. “We are not lobbying to change the rules.” So then, neither will I. RB Rosie flew to Zurich with Swiss (0845 601 0956; swiss.com). Returns from Heathrow, City, Birmingham and Manchester currently start at £147 return, including all fees. She stayed at the Kulm (+41 81 836 80 00; kulm.com). Doubles start at CHF575 (£375) per night half-board. A return rail trip between the airport and any Swiss destination currently costs £92 if booked in advance. She travelled courtesy of MySwitzerland.com. For more infomration call international freephone 0800 100 200. Ski with a Ski Club Leader in eight other celebrated Swiss resorts — see skiclub.co.uk/leaders

THE MOUNTAIN IS CALLING

Make it your own at crystalski.co.uk

ATOL protected. For info please see our booking conditions.

On the fifth anniversary of the earthquake that shook Rome’s 16 ski resorts, baroque towns still stand in ruins in the Abruzzo region — but the resorts themselves are thriving, as Andreas Hofer discovers

“And here a whole family were crushed,” said my mountain guide Marco Zaffiri, pointing to a heap of masonry, cordoned off like a longforgotten crime scene. It is not often that a ski tour takes you through a ruined city, I thought as I followed Marco, squeezing through holes in safety fences in L’Aquila, some 90km (55 miles) east of Rome. The earthquake that shook the capital of the Abruzzo region early on Monday, April 6, 2009, left 297 dead, 1,500 injured and almost everybody homeless, as flames and fireballs engulfed the baroque town. Arriving on the fifth anniversary of the earthquake, the battered domes, spires and cupolas still look as if they have just survived a bombing raid, with hospitals and civic buildings forming neat heaps of gravel and broken brickwork, while those rococo facades and renaissance portals that survived are made safe by wooden supports.

Florentines come to ski. Indeed, skiing is so popular in the south of Italy that somehow skiers managed to get the lifts and restaurants, ticket offices and cafés up and running as if the earthquake never happened. Some 16 ski resorts compete for winter guests. Many are small, sporting just a handful of lifts, such as Campo di Giove, with its 10km of pistes. The biggest, Roccaraso-Rivisondoli, has 27 lifts — including gondolas — and an impressive 100km of pistes, which regularly host World Cup races. Skiing in the Abruzzo region feels incredibly exotic: one skis surrounded not just by vineyards, but olive groves and lines of orange trees as if the Dolomites had moved to Sicily for a spring break. “Under no circumstances must we write home about it, otherwise they will all come here,” warned Günther with a grin. Addicted to the pristine beauty of the region, the retired bank clerk from Munich comes every year with his wife.

“Under no circumstances must we write home about it, otherwise they will all come here” Shops in the centre are boarded up, restaurants and cafés closed, apartments locked and left, the only people in evidence being a smattering of workers in hard hats. However, raise you eyes beyond the crumbling walls of Emperor Hadrian’s summer palace and you will see, rising majestically before you, the radiant white peaks of the Apennines. This is where Romans, Neapolitans and

They ski tour for three weeks, travelling in a battered Land Rover fitted with bunk beds, shower and kitchenette, though they do not cook a lot — the local cuisine is irresistible. We met in Locanda de Senari, the restaurant and inn run by Mariella Salvatori and her daughter Francesca in the village of Castelluccio di Norcia. The menu consisted of a broth of tiny lentils, polenta all’amatriciana, boar

PHOTO: Roberto Taddeo

Abruzzo’s capital L’Aquila still lies in ruins, left, while the region’s resorts are gleaming, top, and the area is a mecca for ski tourers, above

Ski+board

OCTOBER 2014

skiclub.co.uk

Top left: A tribute to Mussolini, known as ‘Il Duce’ — or simply ‘Dux’ in Latin — is still carved into the mountains here

stew, a salad of wild greens, and a dessert of fresh sheep ricotta with almonds and wild honey. The room was full of noisy city dwellers from Lucca, Florence and Rome all donned up for an Easter holiday in the mountains. Leaving Castelluccio, Marco pointed to a speck of forest planted on the mountainside, spelling the word ‘DUX’ — the Latin for Il Duce — the name by which Benito Mussolini liked to be known. We were driving through drifting snow over the high plateau of Campo Imperatore, home of the Gran Sasso resort. Here, an impressively long cable car takes you from the base in Fonte Cerreto at 1,115m (3,650ft) on a beautiful ride to state-of-the-art chairlifts at double the altitude. When you have good snow, the skiing is as good as in the Dolomites— wide, long couloirs drop more than 1,000 vertical metres back into the valley. This is one of Italy’s oldest downhill resorts, starting commercial operations in the 1920s — long before most resorts in the Dolomites or Val d’Aosta. If you stay here, the chances are that it will be in the Hotel Campo Imperatore, where 200 carabinieri held Mussolini in 1943 on the orders of the king, before the Italian dictator was freed

“Mussolini was held here before he was freed by German commandos arriving in gliders” by German commandos arriving in gliders. Our target of the day was Monte Camicia, the ‘shirt’ mountain at 2,565m, holding its neck of bare rock above steep slopes of white muslin. When we parked Marco’s Volkswagen in front of the Rifugio Fonte Vetica, the snowstorm was so fierce we could hardly open the doors to get out our ski touring equipment. Tilting against the wind we made for the Vallone di Vradda, a steep gully winding up to the top, which sheltered us well from the gale-force westerly gusts. They hit us again without mercy when we reached the saddle, 50 metres below the peak. Then a brief window of unexpected sunlight appeared, brightening our descent over steep plates of ice, where only some windpressed puddles of powder which had formed in the hollows gave any respite. When we finally reached the car again, the road had disappeared and walls of snow were sweeping mercilessly over the plain. It would take quite a few grappas to defrost our bones. Going offpiste from the resort of Ovindoli in the SirenteVelino regional park

The next day was the first day of spring and though the wind had hardly eased, the sky triumphed, emerging a deep, lacquered blue, as clear and pure as if it had just been taken out of a gift box. From Vado di Pezza, we climbed the brushwood-covered hills of Costa Cerasole, then hiked along the Costone della Cerasa ridge to reach one peak after another in the Silente Range: Vetta Orientale, Vetta Occidentale, Punta Trieste, Punta Trento — all above 2,000m. In brilliant sunshine we skied down the Colle dell’Orso into Valle Cerchiata. The only thing that had been weighing on my heart had been the prospect of the 25km (15-mile) hike along the flat valley to Piani di Pezza — after eight hours skiing. Unexpectedly, this was one of the most fun parts of the day as the force eight wind on our backs carried us along like kites, speeding us along at 15kph so that just 90 minutes later we had arrived. Nonetheless, the return to our base, the Rifugio della Rocca, was welcome. We were staying on top of a 1,500m-high limestone promontory in one of the 12th Century stone mansions clustered around a giant’s fortress, Rocca Calascio. When the rifugio’s current owners, Susanna Salvati and Paolo Baldi, moved here, these towers were scarcely more than heaps of stones, victims not of the earthquake, but of villagers who had abandoned them to build new lives in Canada and America. The couple started a restaurant and with its proceeds carefully repaired one stone house after another. And we were more than ready to contribute to the restoration fund by patronising the restaurant for dinner. The plain of Navelli — the ‘saffron valley’ below us — was still dark when we were first warmed by horizontal shafts of sunlight, gently probing the mediaeval maze of steps, slate roofs and crumbling walls of our mountain fortress. From our windows, we could see over crenelated walls the mighty, snow-swept peaks of the Sirente-Velino regional park, gleaming pink in the early morning light.

Left: One of the historic mansions that visitors can stay in at the rustic Rifugio della Rocca

The nooks and crannies of the cobbled stone paths were still filled with the soft ice pellets of last night’s blizzard, which in the warmth of the morning were evaporating quickly. On this perfect day, with the wind in abeyance, it was time to get going. “If there really is such a thing as paradise, then they must have skiing there, mustn’t they?” Marco’s friend Alexandro had mused when we met in La Stozza da Osvaldo, a restaurant in the ski resort of Ovindoli that drowns its patrons in delicious truffles. Ovindoli became popular with ski-tourers after the First World War and is a respectable, mid-sized resort with eight lifts and six rifugio serving 22km of pistes. You can buy the Dei Parchi ski pass here, which also covers Campo Felice, with its 12 lifts and 30km of pistes. Corno Grande (2,912m) the highest peak in the Gran Sasso massif, was first skied only in 1923, and for us too it was to prove more elusive that we had hoped. We had come well prepared: crampons, harnesses, ropes, ice axes, helmets. Even at nine in the morning the scorching sun had softened the snow, and we climbed with ease. In a short time we had reached the Sella Monte Aquila and the big rock of Sassone (2,560m), at the foot of the summit wall. We tied our skis to the rucksacks and, ice axes in hand, moved up the so-called ‘Diretissima’, a steep flank Ski+board

OCTOBER 2014

of ice lodged between two rock spurs beneath the peak. After an hour, not far from the top, we had to give up. A huge expanse of windswept snow was looming over our heads, threatening to come loose if we moved any further. Instead of beating a meek retreat, we put our skis on and sailed down into the next valley to Campo Pericoli. A short hike to Sella dei Grilli brought us into Valle Venacquaro, a mountain valley so remote that it is rarely visited. The snow cover was still solid when we reached the fairytale forest of Fonte Novello. When we eventually had to shoulder our skis and walk under the sunlit canopy of ancient beech, the moss-coated, wild blocks of sandstone and the gnarled roots and leaf-covered knolls reminded us of a delicate Japanese garden. As if by design snowdrops were strewn over the forest floor, shy deer retreated in haste into the undergrowth, and where the snow had disappeared, the slopes were blue and yellow with liverworts, crocuses and primulas. The deer had good reason to be shy: they are well acquainted with the local hunter, who helps supply the region’s multiplicity of sausages, salamis and cured meat, to be accompanied by salted lardo, aged cheeses and fresh ricotta. These delights are matched by local wines of great finesse. On the foothills of the Grand Sasso and the Maiella massifs, the Trebbiano, Pecorino and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes are cultivated. The next day, a sunny Saturday, found us passing through the thriving resorts of Passo Lanciano and Maielletta on our way to Monte Amaro, or the ‘bitter mountain’. And for the first time, we were not alone after we had donned touring skins. The touring spirit that first drove the locals to skiing evidently lives on and it seemed that the hundreds of skiers who were out in droves were all ardent admirers of Marco. From the Passo St Leonardo up to the steel igloo on the summit, at every turn, we had to stop for a joke, a friendly pat on the shoulder, or a lengthy Italian discussion. But every cloud has a silver lining: for once, I seized the rare chance to reach the summit before Marco. We skied 1,500 vertical metres of perfect spring snow, along a line

skiclub.co.uk

straight enough to have been drawn with a ruler. Then we had a last visit to the Maiella wilderness. From Lama Bianca through level beech forests we arrived at the precipitous Rava del Ferro, which we climbed with crampons, then over the debris of frozen avalanches towards Monte Rotondo at 2,658m. Turning a corner we happened on a herd of chamois. Having ogled us with curiosity, they turned slowly, one after the other, to escape in long, elegant leaps into an even greater wilderness. Reflecting on the devastation of five years ago and its aftermath, one can focus too quickly on the negatives. It is true that in the Aterno valley only a few of the mediaeval villages and fortresses crowning the hills and promontories remained unscathed: campaniles are broken, watchtowers reveal gaping holes, and in some places even the graveyards look like excavation sites rather than cemeteries still in use. And yet the glorious beauty of the land prevails. Most of the walled hamlets, Romanesque churches, castles, fortified medieval monasteries and palazzos braved the assault without loss. They watch over the land from their rocky eyries with the equanimity of centuries. Easter lambs frolic, herded by sleepy shepherds, on meadows that glisten an incredible green, strewn with purple crocuses, primroses and pineapple-yellow dandelions — which lead up to the most enticingly white peaks. AH Andreas Hofer travelled independently.

British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com), and Al Italia (0871 424 1424; alitalia. com) fly to Rome, with returns starting at £119. Hofer stayed at Rifugio della Rocca (+39 33 8 805 9430, rifugiodellarocca. it), which offers double rooms from €90 a night B&B, based on two sharing. He toured with IFMGA mountain and ski guide Marco Zaffiri (marco.zaffiri@gmail. com). For more information contact the Abruzzo Tourist Office (+39 085 42 900 900; visitabruzzo.co.uk). Want to go ski touring in Italy with a group? The Ski Club’s Freshtracks service (020 8410 2022; skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks) offers the week-long Dolomites tour starting on January 31 and February 7 for £1,099 for halfboard accommodation and guiding, but not including flights and transfers.

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THE I NFO 51

F L AT T E R I N G FA S H I O N

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

DIE HAUPTSTADT DER ALPEN UND IHRE FERIENDÖRFER THE CAPITAL OF THE ALPS AND ITS HOLIDAY VILLAGES

GET THE GLOW Photography: MELODY SKY

It turned into the best warm-up act for winter that Ski+board’s fashion editor Maisha Frost could have wished for, when the magazine whisked this season’s hottest styles to Austria’s Tirol and showcased them in the spectacular setting of Innsbruck. Beneath its sparkling peaks and gleaming rooftops, the latest collections — mini-marvels of construction themselves with strategic insulation and multi-way stretch — held their own. So get ready, as flattering, subtly body-hugging fits, clever climate controlling fabrics, cosy faux furs and touchy-feely fleeces in rich shades of lava, rose, violet, marine and slate come your way. Next stop, the snow. [CATHERINE] Helly Hansen Arctic Legacy CIS long parka £350, very stylish, versatile with partly fleece-lined zip insulator, water and windproof, breathable, detachable faux fur hood, wrist gaiters and hand warmer pockets, articulated sleeves Funi The Forbes £35 thick rib — so adapts to all sizes — beanie woven in UK from super soft and warm merino wool that wicks moisture away in an instant

[ANNA] D7Duvillard Molly ski jacket £629, a gleaming chic head-turner in metallic stretch fabric, waterproof and breathable, faux fur-trimmed hood

Killy Eyeliner pants £249

Manbi Park Peak Piste sunglasses zen black gloss £19.95 new range with dark lenses and impact-resistant frame

Olang Musica OC Mole boots

£140 elegant, water repellent suede with quilted polyester upper, Sherpa fleece liner for extra cosiness, faux fur and anti-slip sole [TONY] Mountain Force Striker jacket £625 with extra stretch membrane for ultimate manoeuvrability, waterproof zippers and removable snow skirt

Mountain Force Grid

top £90 smart, soft, anti-pilling and treated with anti-bacterials so no chance of sweaty whiffs Mountain Force Devon pant £350, relaxed, body-shaped fit, 40g stretch padding protection

SOREL Caribou

boots £145 Planks The Freak-Out sunglasses £44.95 polarised lenses reduce glare and stainless steel

The Goldenes Dachl is a landmark structure located in the Old Town section of Innsbruck, Austria. It is considered the city’s most famous symbol.

hinges for comfortable fit

DIE HAUPTSTADT DER ALPEN UND IHRE FERIENDÖRFER THE CAPITAL OF THE ALPS AND ITS HOLIDAY VILLAGES

[ANDY] Burton BRTN Frontier Snowboard jacket £190 Gore-Tex Walden Snowboard pants £215 Burton Taft beanie £40

Leather (AK) tech mitt £55

Burton Snowboard

SOREL Caribou Reserve boots £145

The Nordkettenbahnen transports visitors directly from the city centre of Innsbruck to the mountains in just 20 minutes.

goggles £175

Burton

Anon Optics M1

DIE HAUPTSTADT DER ALPEN UND IHRE FERIENDÖRFER THE CAPITAL OF THE ALPS AND ITS HOLIDAY VILLAGES

Seven floors up, the Lichtblick/360º is an all-glass restaurant and bar with incredible views of the city and mountains, with a viewing terrace outside.

[ANNA] Arc’teryx Cerium SL jacket £250, superb warmth-to-weight super compressible package of goose down, Arc’teryx’s lightest in its collection, primarily a back country mid-layer for cool dry conditions, moisture and wind resistant, breathable

Smartwool women’s NTS

light 195 crew in rib and jersey knit £64.99 merino wool with sculpted side panels to flatter and reduce chafing, contoured sleeve cuff and drop tail hem for extra warmth

Icebreaker Oasis leggings £60 in lightweight merino wool for perfect temperature control

pompom £42 quick-drying mix of merino wool and acrylic with polyester lining for no-itch and extra warmth snow boots £140 non-slip sole, faux fur, water resistant

Eisbar Star

Olang Musica OC Mole

Manbi Park Peak Piste sunglasses in Rush Brown £24.95 dark lenses for strong light

[ANDY] Smartwool PhD Divide Sport hoody £209.99, men’s and women’s versions have both won best base layer awards, ultra lightweight insulation regulating body temperature even when wet thanks to strategic placing of knit panels and wind-resistant nylon, anti-microbial merino wool lining controls moisture and hood features wind-resistant panels and easy adjustment for wear under a helmet beanie £20.99 single layer knit, interior headliner ensures it stays put

Planks The Freak-Out sunglasses £44.95

two-layer stretch shell, highly breathable and water resistant, taped seams, durable fabric

SOREL Caribou Reserve boots £145 [CATHERINE]

Canada Goose Hybridge Lite hoody £530 weighs less than 227g for active wear, layering and efficient packing white gloss sunglasses £19.95 to reduce chafing body fitting

Eisbar Jain headband £23.75

Smartwool Lid

Volcom Wall pant £159.99 Manbi Park Peak Piste zen

Smartwool NTS Mid 250 pant £69.99 merino wool knit with flatlock seaming

Olang Patty Silver snow boots £60, ice-gripping sole, luxury with warmth, protection and comfort, a winter

winner [TONY] The North Face ThermoBall hoodie £170, this season’s major breakthrough in insulation technology, the Primaloft synthetic fibre clusters mimic down to trap heat in air pockets and retain warmth

Icebreaker Valor beanie £38 reversible so take your pick from

geometric graphics or stripes

Mountain Force Breath 11 shell pant £325 full stretch membrane,

Planks The Freak-Out sunglasses £44.95

water repellent, adjustable waistband, seam-sealed

Sorel Caribou boots £145

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD SKIING AND GREAT SKIING IS A VERY FINE LINER.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re serious about instantly improving your overall skiing experience then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to upgrade your ski boot liner. Surefoot Custom Liners come in three unique models designed for the nuances of all foot shapes and ability levels. From beginners to experts, a Surefoot Custom Liner is the best way to end the cold, pain and misery of ill-fitting boots. Surefoot liners work with all brands and models of ski boots. To experience the comfort and performance advantages a Surefoot Custom Liner will give you, come see one of our boot fitting experts at Surefoot today.

Skier: Russ Shay, Owner, Surefoot

surefoot.com London

DIE HAUPTSTADT DER ALPEN UND IHRE FERIENDÖRFER THE CAPITAL OF THE ALPS AND ITS HOLIDAY VILLAGES [ANNA] O’Neill Ginga jacket £179 in delicate turquoise — one of winter’s top colours — and full of features for free movement including armpit vents, articulated sleeves, chin guard, connector system to pant, critically taped seams, google, audio and sandwich pockets, inner storm packet and stow snow gaiter, same level of protection and mobility in O’Neill Star pant with articulated knees, stowaway snow gaiter and waist adjuster £109.99

Coal The Waffle Womens

hat £27.99

[CATHERINE] Maloja Saliha jacket £340 three-layer waterproof and breathable mountain shell, robust yet soft fabric ideal for long days, venting zips, snow skirt, storm hood

matching

Maloja Sina pant £275 with same three layer advanced technical fabric

Coal The Rosa hat £27.99

Manbi Park Peak Piste

sunglasses in zen white gloss £19.95, new range all seasons styling, lens suitable for slope or park, impact-resistant frame Merrell Decora Sonata Waterproof boots £145 Fashion Editor: [MAISHA FROST] maisha@maishafrost.com Stylist and Shoot Coordinator: [ROSIE BARCROFT] rosie.barcroft@

[WHERE TO BUY] Anon: anonoptics.com,

skiclub.co.uk Photography: [MELODY SKY] melodysky.com / timelinemissions.com Hair and Make-Up artist: [GEMMA

Arc’teryx: arcteryx.com, Burton: burton.com,

LOW] makeupbyglow@gmail.com Models: [ANNA SMOOTHY] annasmoothy@gmail.com, [CATHERINE PECK with SANDRA

Canada Goose: canada-goose.com and Greaves

REYNOLDS, ANDY MATTHEW] [andywmatthew@gmail.com], [TONY WALKER] [anthonywalker79@hotmail.com]

Sports: greavessports.com, Coal: theriderslounge. com/01732 866989, D7Duvillard at VP Fashion: 07855 959551, Eisbar: stores.ebay.co.uk/specs4sports and

With thanks to Tirol, Austria for making this shoot possible

snowandrock.com/0845 100 1000, Funi: funiwear. com/07966033651, Helly Hansen: hellyhansen.

Innsbruck is the capital city of the Austrian Tirol region and the Capital of the Alps. The medieval town perfectly combines culture

com/0115 9795997, Icebreaker: icebreaker.com/01572

and sport and is surrounded by a total of nine ski areas and up to 300km of piste, making up the Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck. From

772437 and snowandrock.com, Killy: killy.com,

the Olympic slopes of the Axamer Lizum to glacier skiing on the Stubai to the city slopes of the Nordkette, all the ski areas are easily

Maloja from snowandrock.com, Manbi: manbi.com,

accessible using the free bus service all covered by one lift pass.

Merrell: merrell.com, Mountain Force at VP Fashion:

Daily flights are available from London Gatwick with easyJet (easyjet.com) and five times a week with British Airways (ba.com). Direct

07855 959551, Olang: olang.com, O’Neill: surfdome.

flights are also available from Bristol and Liverpool to Innsbruck with easyJet and from Manchester with Monarch

com and oneill.com, Park Peak Piste: manbi.com,

(monarch.com). Further information on Innsbruck: innsbruck.info or about the Tirol region: visittirol.co.uk

Planks: surfdome.com, Smartwool: smartwool. com/01753 497153, Sorel: sorelfootwear.co.uk,

Thanks also to Ispo, Munich, international showcase for snow style: ispo-winter.com

The North Face: 01539 822155, Volcom: volcom.com

ADVERTORIAL

Skiing way out west – that’s the Austrian west!

The Bregenzerwald, in Western Austria - between Lake Constance and the Arlberg - has a wonderful mix of slopes - everything from gentle hills to the highest peaks. Thanks to its location in the north-east of the Vorarlberg province, the region gets an exceptional amount of snow. Some 22 villages tucked away in all kinds of picturesque locations - from meadows to forests - access over 160 miles of slopes. It’s the scenery which captures the spirit of the region - the après ski is fun but not over-exuberant! The villages have retained their romantic wood-shingled farmhouses; by and large you’ll look in vain for large hotel complexes. The locals believe it’s not size that counts, but quality – from rustic farmsteads above cosy private lodgings to the many comfortable guesthouses and hotels.

Skiing and boarding

The 3-Valley lift pass

With abundant snow, modern lifts and enchanting scenery, skiers appreciate the variety. The extensive areas of Damüls-Mellau and the Diedamskopf at Au-Schoppernau are particularly popular. And there’s now an even greater choice: the “Auenfeldjet” lift links Warth-Schröcken with Lech Zürs am Arlberg, accessing one of the largest, best-known skiing regions in the Alps.

All the Bregenzerwald ski areas, as well as those in the neighbouring valleys, are included in the 3-valley ski pass, which is also valid on the ski buses. And 3-valley ski pass holders are entitled to discounted day tickets for Lech Zürs am Arlberg.

Winter hiking paths For those visitors whose winter enjoyment is away from the piste, winter hiking paths guide you through picturesque landscapes en route to exceptional beauty spots with outstanding viewpoints. And after an energetic day on the slopes or just walking, wellness hotels offer baths, massages and all sorts of pampering treatment.

Say ‘cheese’! The local mountains have not yet been swamped with tourism - yet both accommodation and the local cuisine are of high quality. The exciting combination of old and new wooden architecture takes first-time visitors by surprise. In the well-tended inns and restaurants, the chefs love turning regional specialities into mouth-watering creations. Most of the produce comes from local farms. And even during the winter months, the village dairy farms continue to demonstrate the intriguing craft of turning milk into cheese - the “cheese culture” is alive and well!

Special deals SKI Bregenzerwald includes four nights’ accommodation from Sunday to Thursday, or three nights from Thursday to Sunday in the accommodation category of your choice at selected partner establishments and a 3-valley ski pass for three days. Book the package deal from Sunday to Thursday and stay for four nights but only pay for three! Available: January 8 - April 5 (except February 12 - 22) starting from €309 in a hotel on half board. Alternatively, you can stay in a holiday apartment or a B & B.

Getting there The nearest airports are Memmingen (64 miles), Zurich (81 miles) and Munich (131 miles). From Zurich and Munich, Bregenzerwald

Info & Booking can be reached by train (to Bregenz or Dornbirn) and bus or by car. Various taxi and bus companies also offer transfer services.

info@bregenzerwald.at www.bregenzerwald.at/en Further info on Vorarlberg www.vorarlberg.travel/en

Turn radius If you run a marker along the length of a flat ski, it will trace a curve. If you continued this curve it would draw a circle, the radius of which is called the turn radius. A smaller turn radius produces tighter turns and vice versa. In practice, you can make tighter carving turns than the stated radius, because the skis flex when they are tilted on edge.

Sidecut

Sidecut shows the width of the tip, the waist and the tail of a ski in millimetres. Generally, a wide shovel will move through to a narrow waist, and then flare out again through the tail. These three widths are indicated in millimetres by each ski, for instance 135-108-123, creating the turn radius. But these figures reveal something else. Skis designed for deeper snow have an overall wider shape for better floatation, while a narrower shape overall makes them more reactive, moving faster on to the edge, which suits piste performance.

Binding plate On high performance piste and race skis, a plate on which the binding is mounted will allow the ski to flex naturally, without hindrance from the binding. Also because the boot is mounted higher off the ski it gives greater leverage and gets more power down to the edge. Freeride and big mountain skis usually have a simpler set-up to keep weight down.

Camber When you put your skis together to carry them, you may notice a gap between them at the waist. This is because they have a camber, which means they lie flat under your weight. In contrast, many freeride and big mountain skis now have flat camber or full reverse camber, which gives greater float and ease of steering in deep snow.

Rocker Rocker is when the tip or tail of a ski rises earlier than on a traditional camber ski, making it easier to pivot and float in deep snow. Piste-orientated skis generally use a small amount of tip rocker to help initiate turns, while retaining traditional camber through the rest of the ski to keep good contact with the snow. At the other end of the scale, full reverse camber skis have huge tip and tail rocker, giving massive float in deep snow, but minimal contact with the snow and control on piste.

Sidewall The sidewall is the side of the ski, above the metal edge. Some skis have cap construction, where the top layer is pulled over the side of the ski down to the metal. It makes the top sheet less vulnerable to damage and allows the ski to be lighter and easier to turn, but torsional rigidity is not strong so levels of grip are lower. Sandwich construction and ABS sidewalls are where each layer within a ski is flat and their sides protected by a vertical sidewall. This is typical of race and high performance skis, resulting in a more sensitive interaction between snow and skier. The semi cap hybrid combines the two to give good levels of grip while keeping softer flex patterns and lighter weights.

OUR TESTERS...

SKI USER RATING... We rate each ski by the type of skier it would suit. So in the example below, the ski would suit early intermediate to advanced skiers, but it’s not so well suited for beginners or experts. Generally, the skis tested are aimed at those who have skied before.

BEGINNER

INTERMEDIATE

ADVANCED

EXPERT

Al Morgan

Pete Davison

Rowena Phillips

Mark Jones

Ski Club head of Member Services and ex-ski service manager

Owner of LD Mountain Centre and exaction model

Ski school director in Zermatt

Director of ICE training centre in Val d’Isère and trainer for Basi

skiclub.co.uk

ldmountain centre.com

european snowsport. com

icesi.org

SKIS Freeride skis become lighter, faster and stronger Freeride skis have evolved enormously over the past five years. These skis are aimed at skiers who love off-piste and backcountry adventure, but still want enough performance from the ski to have fun on the groomers. Since the advent of rocker and reverse camber (see left) manufacturers have been on a mission to get the perfect ski profile. This journey is continuing and profiles still vary. Some feature full reverse camber, others tip rocker with flat tail, and others tip and tail rocker with classic camber underfoot — the combinations are endless. To add to the confusion, the manufacturers have labelled different profiles with their own invented names. But the reality is that we are now in a position where freeride skis are getting a good mix of floatation and ease of use in the powder, while keeping the ability to hold an edge and be fun on piste. This means that most freeride skis with waist widths of 100mm to 110mm can be surprisingly effective for those considering all-mountain skis.

Ski weights for this category are also on their way down. Most manufacturers have achieved this either by cutting weight on the tip and tail through new construction methods, or by using new materials that still offer great flex and torsional stiffness. This reduced weight makes a big difference to the ease of use of the skis in tricky, backcountry conditions. Cutting down speed, making quick changes in the shape of your turns and generally being agile are all more achievable than ever before. The other big benefit of this weight change is that a lot of backcountry skiers are now looking at ‘fat’ skis and seeing them as a realistic proposition for touring. Overall, there has never been a better time to buy a freeride ski, and for the first time this might be the only ski you ever need, with the ability to cope with all conditions and terrain with ease. You can read the results of the ski tests and watch video reviews online at skiclub.co.uk/skitests

Lynn Sharpe

Chris Taine

James Allen

Steph Ede

Derek Chandler

Tess Swallow

Owner of Target ski training and ski race coach in Val d’Isère

Ex-Canadian instructor and until recently editor of Ski Club website

FIS circuit racer turned coach

Alpine chef turned ski instructor

Director of Marmalade ski school in Méribel

Basi Level 4 instructor for New Gen ski school

targetski.com

Ski+board

skiclub.co.uk

OCTOBER 2014

jamesallen skicoaching. com

skiclub.co.uk

stephede@ hotmail. co.uk

skimarmalade .com

skinewgen. com

SKI TESTS Why our tests are simply the best This season, we will feature the test results of 100 pairs of skis over the four print issues of Ski+board. But our selection process starts well before that. When our team went to Kühtai, Austria, in March they were confronted with no fewer than 764 pairs of skis. Well before they hit the snow they narrowed down the selection by discussing each range with the manufacturers. Then it was time for our team of ten full-time ski professionals, including ex-racers, elite instructors and freeride experts, to put the models through their paces. Our team have the experience and touch to accurately interpret what they feel under their feet and relate it to the performance of the ski. This is vital as conditions on the mountain can change between each run, so skiers need to discern the effect that this is having on performance. If there is fresh snow we will test freeride orientated skis. If it looks good on the groomers, then we test piste performance or allmountain skis. Once a category has been selected, we test at least one example from each manufacturer. It is vital that each ski is tried on exactly the same terrain with the same type of turns on each circuit. Throughout this process, testers ski together to compare performance and really explore the differences between the skis. We typically get at least three testers to try each ski and those we think may get awards can have six or more people ski them. Afterwards, the testers fill out a test card specific to a category, before moving to the next model. In the evening, the testers make sure they are unanimous on the day’s decisions. Coming to a conclusion is not always easy. People who dedicate their lives to skiing can be fairly single-minded. But it’s always pretty clear which ski has come out top. This is why we believe we can lay claim to providing the most in-depth, accurate ski tests available to the UK buyer.

MEN’S FREERIDE: INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED/EXPERT What’s new in men’s freeride?

MOVEMENT BUZZ

E A I B

PHOTO: Roos Woodhall / rosswoodhall.com

This winter sees several new additions to the pack, such as the Nordica NRGy 100, Line Supernatural and the Atomic Automatic 109. Meanwhile, many other models have kept their name, but have been restructured to retain solid performance, while reducing weight with the use of the latest materials and designs. This means that skis more than 100mm underfoot can now feel surprisingly agile and nimble, while still having enough floatation and power to keep the strongest skiers happy when going hard in the backcountry.

APO ROCKO

£545

HEAD VENTURI 95

£479

£550 with bindings

Light with a tight turn radius, the Buzz uses Va-Tech through the shovel to absorb vibration. Easy to use, the Buzz is confident through turns and feels capable when pushed or driven hard on edge. It releases nicely into the next turn, but you must be centered on the transition. It can be used for allmountain skiing, as it grips well on piste, carves a tight arc and can handle anything thrown at it. A solid performer in all conditions.

Built for all-mountain as well as off-piste use, the Rocko has a light wood core with fibreglass wrap. A forgiving flex makes for easy skiing and a nimble, playful nature mean it’s effortless and fun to steer, while the flex and tight sidecut make it reactive. On piste it grips well and lays out bigger turns nicely. At higher speeds and in harder conditions, that soft, easy character can work against it and it feels like it needs a stronger build.

This has an ‘exoskeleton’ tip and tail to reduce swing weight and dampen vibration. It’s another ski that’s incredibly easy to use and feels on your side, giving an exceptionally smooth ride. This is matched with a tight turn radius, giving instant reaction when the ski is on edge. Initiating turns is easy and you can feel the rocker doing its job. On piste it’s fun with plenty of grip. In powder it holds its own, with a light, soft character.

BUILD Poplar core/Rocker tip, tail/Va-Tech nose

BUILD Twin rocker/Poplar, Beech Core/Minicap

BUILD

SIDECUT (mm)

132-99-120

SIDECUT (mm)

TURN RADIUS

21m (185cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

177, 185

RADIUS LENGTHS (cm)

137-104-129 20.3m (180cm) 174, 180, 186

Light, easy to use, grips well on piste

Soft and easy to use, great fun

Could be more flowing and better dampened

Heavier, stronger skiers will want more power

WE SAY: Confident feel, deals with all terrain, but the flex feels a bit one-dimensional (James Allen) Light, but can be pushed hard through the turn (Al Morgan)

E A I B

WE SAY: An all-rounder, solid on piste, reliable and floaty in deep stuff (Mark Jones) A forgiving flex makes it effortless to use, it doesn’t punish mistakes (Al Morgan)

TNT rocker/Sandwichwood Core/ Independent Suspension System

SIDECUT (mm)

140-95-126

TURN RADIUS

16m (181cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

161, 171, 181

Easy to use, great fun, reactive turn shape

E A I B

Strong skiers would need more width and power for freeride

WE SAY: A freeride ski best suited to those who still want performance on groomers (Chris Taine) Brilliant as a freeride ski (Al Morgan)

MEN’S FREERIDE: INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT LINE SUPERNATURAL 108

£470

BUILD Shockwall Sidewall/Thin Tip/Early Rise

BUILD I-Core Torsion Bridge Technology/All Mountain Camrock/Titanal reinforcement

137-108-126

SIDECUT (mm)

22.3m (179cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

RADIUS

172, 179, 186

Great all-rounder for deep powder or hardpack

Some skiers may prefer something weightier

WE SAY: Perfect balance of power, performance and playfulness (Mark Jones) Stable carving, easy to play with or wash off speed (Al Morgan)

LENGTHS (cm)

E A I B

136-100-120

19.5m (177cm) 161, 169, 177, 185

Light, easy, yet strong and grippy at speed Strong skiers may prefer something beefier

WE SAY: Light, lovely balance, but strong on the edge — a great ski (Mark Jones) Feels lighter than others, easy to use (James Allen)

FISCHER RANGER 96 Ti

ROSSIGNOL SOUL 7

The new Ranger 96 uses a milled air carbon titanium core for lightness and is aimed at skiers looking for something that works well in the deep, but can also carve groomed runs. It feels more of an all-mountain ski, rather than a specialist powder choice. It does a good job on piste, being narrow enough to be quick on to the edge, while feeling reactive under foot. In deeper snow it doesn’t have the float fatter models have.

Last year’s game-changer this has a light, honeycomb tip and radical tip-and-tail rocker to make it easy to use regardless of conditions. Its strength is its sheer playfulness. The shovel gives instant lift, leading skiers into a turn without locking them in, and it grips surprisingly well on edge, particularly in chopped up snow. Piste performance is high, given its ability in the deep. An easy ski with a high fun factor.

BUILD Sandwich Sidewall/Air Carbon/Air TecTi

BUILD Air Tip/VAS dampening/Powder Turn Rocker

£620 with bindings

SIDECUT (mm)

132-96-120

TURN RADIUS

22m (178cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

170, 178, 186

Lacks floatation in deep powder

WE SAY:

Feels like a solid, traditional ski, shovel dives easily in powder I (James Allen) Great for shorter turns on piste, good reactions, easy B to throw around (Derek Chandler) Ski+board OCTOBER 2014 skiclub.co.uk

E A I B

How are skis classified?

Ski classifications can be confusing with terms such as all-mountain and big mountain sounding similar, but in reality quite different. We cover the four main categories in the ski tests. They are — moving from the least suitable for off-piste to the most suitable for off-piste — piste, all-mountain, freeride and big mountain. The categories are mainly defined by waist width, with skis more than 100mm wide coming into the freeride category, while big mountain skis are generally over 115mm wide. These two groups are focused on off-piste conditions, ranging from chopped up crud to deep powder. The all-mountain and piste categories have narrower widths and beefier construction and here carving performance is the key character. You may occasionally find these skis classified differently by their manufacturers. The reason is that for the ski tests we rate their suitably for a category ourselves, rather than always going by the manufacturer’s verdict. This is because when a ski is on the cusp of two categories, manufacturers might want to classify it one way, so they can say that they feature a model in each of the categories, even if, by our judgment, it is better categorised differently.

£600 with bindings

SIDECUT (mm)

136-106-126

RADIUS

17m (180cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

Quick on to edges, good all-mountain choice

£470

The new NRGy’s lightweight core, reinforced with torsion bridge, has a slight tip rocker to aid camber. Easy to adjust and steer, its lightness and shovel rocker gives a ski which is undemanding at slower speeds, particularly in tricky conditions. At higher speeds and bigger angles the NRGy has strength and can hold an edge and feel stable even in demanding conditions. Fantastic as a goanywhere ski, on and off-piste.

RADIUS

Questions you might be too afraid to ask:

This is a new addition for Line with a full-length Elastomer sidewall to absorb vibration and shock for a smooth ride, and its early rise tip is thin in profile to reduce weight. It got great feedback from all our testers. It’s simple to use, effortless to steer and easy to adjust through turns. It also performs at speed with strong edge hold through the length of the ski. In deeper snow it floats up quickly and is manoeuvrable and easy to use.

SIDECUT (mm)

NORDICA NRGy 100

164, 172, 180, 188

Really capable in all situations, super easy to use Tip can flap at high speeds on piste

WE SAY: Still playful, great feeling, shovel works well in powder (Mark Jones) This has it all: performance, versatility and looks (Pete Davison)

Tester Profile:

MARK JONES Mark is the veteran of ski testing, running the Ski Club’s test team for many years. Mark is a director of ICE, a training centre in Val d’Isère, France, which delivers gap courses, instructor training and performance courses. He is also a trainer for Basi (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) and has worked worldwide as a coach for skiers and trainee instructors. He is still passionate about skiing, and likes nothing better than getting deep into the powder! icesi.org

MEN’S FREERIDE: INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT LINE SUPERNATURAL 108

£470

BUILD Shockwall Sidewall/Thin Tip/Early Rise

BUILD I-Core Torsion Bridge Technology/All Mountain Camrock/Titanal reinforcement

137-108-126

SIDECUT (mm)

22.3m (179cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

RADIUS

172, 179, 186

Great all-rounder for deep powder or hardpack

Some skiers may prefer something weightier

WE SAY: Perfect balance of power, performance and playfulness (Mark Jones) Stable carving, easy to play with or wash off speed (Al Morgan)

LENGTHS (cm)

E A I B

136-100-120

19.5m (177cm) 161, 169, 177, 185

Light, easy, yet strong and grippy at speed Strong skiers may prefer something beefier

WE SAY: Light, lovely balance, but strong on the edge — a great ski (Mark Jones) Feels lighter than others, easy to use (James Allen)

FISCHER RANGER 96 Ti

ROSSIGNOL SOUL 7

BUILD Sandwich Sidewall/Air Carbon/Air TecTi

BUILD Air Tip/VAS dampening/Powder Turn Rocker

£620 with bindings

SIDECUT (mm)

132-96-120

TURN RADIUS

22m (178cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

170, 178, 186

Lacks floatation in deep powder

WE SAY:

E A I B

How are skis classified?

£600 with bindings

SIDECUT (mm)

136-106-126

RADIUS

17m (180cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

Quick on to edges, good all-mountain choice

£470

RADIUS

Questions you might be too afraid to ask:

SIDECUT (mm)

NORDICA NRGy 100

164, 172, 180, 188

Really capable in all situations, super easy to use Tip can flap at high speeds on piste

WE SAY: Still playful, great feeling, shovel works well in powder (Mark Jones) This has it all: performance, versatility and looks (Pete Davison)

Tester Profile:

MEN’S FREERIDE: INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT What makes a good ski great?

WHITE DOCTOR FT10

SALOMON ROCKER2 100

The FT10’s classic torsion box build of light wood core wrapped in glass fibre now has rocker through the shovel to add lift and manoeuvrability. A smooth ride with good grip, it’s a reactive ski that gives a lot back on groomers. Off-piste, the shovel makes turn initiation easy, giving good lift, only lacking floatation in the deepest snow. Best for skiers who want to combine strong performance on piste, with capability in all conditions.

The new 100’s twin rocker, full wood core and sandwich build is designed to be as at home in park and pipe as off-piste. Easy to use, nimble and playful, due to its weight, the twin rocker makes it effortless to change direction through turns. On piste it arcs tight curves and is fun to use. In deeper snow, its playfulness is great for aspiring freeriders, but aggressive riders will probably seek a stiffer, more stable model.

£430

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm)

A I B

SIDECUT (mm)

130-98-120

RADIUS

23.1m (183cm)

Needs more width and rocker for deep powder

WE SAY: Skis well on piste and fun in chopped up snow (Mark Jones) Good all-rounder, easy to use, performs well (Derek Chandler)

£400

E A I B

£500

The new Mantra has full rocker, flat camber and more width, with an early taper through the shovel. The rocker makes it easy to steer, while the typically complex Völkl build gives a classy, dampened, feeling. On piste it’s smooth, with tenacious edge hold that raises confidence at speed. Off-piste, the profile makes it manoeuvrable and fun to use. Much easier to use than last year’s ski, yet still grips well on hardpack. BUILD Multi layer Woodcore/Full Rocker/Flat Camber SIDECUT (mm)

129-100-122

RADIUS

17.6m (178cm)

132-100-118

23.7m (177cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

170, 177, 184, 191

162, 170, 178, 186

Easy to adjust with new rocker profile

Easy, very playful, great fun, looks cool

Shovel could be wider to add more floatation in deep snow

LENGTHS (cm)

177, 183, 189

Awesome all-rounder, great in chopped snow

VÖLKL MANTRA

BUILD Full Sandwich Sidewalls/Twin Rocker/ Full Wood Core

BUILD Flip Core, Sandwich Sidewall, Wood Core

PHOTO: Roos Woodhall / rosswoodhall.com

Some skis cost less than £300, even with bindings, and others well over £1,000. Why is that? A ski is a ski, right? Well, the big difference between a cheap ski and an expensive ski is complexity of construction. Most high quality skis use light laminated wood cores. Either wrapped around the wood core or more often layered on top are other materials which will play a major factor in torsional rigidity — how much they twist — and dampening properties. An expensive ski might have titanium, kevlar, carbon or aluminium honeycomb layers on a wood core, whereas a budget model may have a foam injection or composite core with fibreglass reinforcement that also caps the sidewalls. The interaction between the binding (and the plate if there is one) and the ski is also huge. A basic, budget binding will restrict the ability of the ski to flex naturally, making it feel flat and lifeless. Better binding set-ups will let the ski flex effectively under pressure and may also have built-in shock absorption and dampening control. This will give the ski more grip, better contact with the snow and a smoother ride. So a bigger budget goes a long way, particularly for piste performance and all-mountain skis, where the complex construction and systems on the ski make a real difference at high speeds and with big edge angles. In deeper, off-piste conditions the difference is less marked, with most skis using either touring bindings or a standard binding without a plate, and the main characteristics of the ski being dictated by width, profile and flex patterns.

Needs more strength and weight for real high-speed off-piste blasting

WE SAY: Nimble, light but needs firepower if going gets tough (Chris Taine) Feels great in all terrain, easy to throw around (James Allen)

E A I B

WE SAY: Good on piste and steeps, could use better fore/aft balance in deep snow (Pete Davison) Much easier than last year’s Mantra, still has power and grip (Mark Jones)

MEN’S FREERIDE: INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT K2 ANNEX 108

DYNASTAR CHAM 97

£470

£510

With a reworked flex pattern, the Annex is set up to perform in all conditions. Its sidewall runs almost the length of the ski, but tapers to a cap for a lighter swing weight. It feels playful, easy, even surfy and a solid platform gives good edge hold on piste. In powder the early rise tip gives instant floatation and a smooth ride. It can also smear off speed in a flash. A brilliant ski that can cope with anything.

Cham’s sidecut has been smoothed and rocker profile mellowed to give a bigger sweet spot and direct you through a rounder arc. But this is still a radical ski, giving immediate feedback. The reactive shape cuts a surprisingly tight arc on edge and it always feels lively and responsive. In deep stuff it rises quickly and feels playful. Its stiff, solid build gives stability at speed, but below that it can feel sluggish, particularly coming out of turns.

BUILD Metal Laminate/Hybritech Sidewall/All Terrain Rocker SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS LENGTHS (cm)

BUILD

139-108-127

22m (184cm)

SIDECUT (mm)

170, 177, 184, 191

RADIUS

Easy to use, but has power and grip at speed

E A I B

Some testers wanted a bit more responsiveness through the end of the turn

WE SAY: Easy, grippy in short turns on piste and smooth in powder (Pete Davison) Great solid ski, but playful to use (James Allen)

Levitation Profile/Wood Titanal Sandwich Laminate/Pin tai

LENGTHS (cm)

E A I B

133-97-113

15m (172cm) 166, 172, 178, 184

Loads of character, reactive, stable at speed Feels stiff, solid, needs to be softer, smoother

WE SAY: Needs to be softer for ease of use (Mark Jones) Stiff, solid, would work well in longer lengths for stronger skiers (Derek Chandler)

Tester Profile:

PETE DAVISON

‘Powder Pete’ has been on the Ski Club test team for many years now. He’s a skier who loves his backcountry. He cut his teeth in the French Alps, where he worked for many years as an action model, and he still manages to get the best shots. He’s crazy about backcountry skiing and slaps on touring skis at any opportunity. Pete is now the owner and manager of LD Mountain Centre, one of the North East’s leading ski retailers. ldmountaincentre.com

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27/08/2014 15:56:32

MEN’S FREERIDE: ADVANCED TO EXPERT Where can I find these skis? Absolute Snow: absolute-snow.co.uk

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS Anything Technical: skiequipmentuk.co.uk

Ski Exchange: skiexchange.co.uk

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS Ellis Brigham: ellis-brigham.com

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS Impulse Racing: impulse-racing.co.uk LD Mountain Centre: ldmountaincentre.com Lockwoods: lockwoods.com

Attwoolls: attwoolls.co.uk

Edge and Wax: edgeandwax.co.uk

Snow & Rock: snowandrock.com

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS Snow Lab: snowlab.co.uk

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS 15 PER CENT FOR SERVICING FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS

VARIOUS DISCOUNTS FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS

Snowfit: snowfit.co.uk

Backcountry UK: backcountryuk.com Blues: bluestheskishop.co.uk

Mike Davies Leisure: mikedaviesleisure.co.uk

Captain’s Cabin Sevenoaks: theski-shop.co.uk

Rinskis: rinskis.com

Carters: carters360.com

Rivington Alpine: rivingtonalpine.co.uk

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS 15 PER CENT OFF FOR SERVICING FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS

Christian Xavier: christianxavier.co.uk

Sail and Ski: sailandski.co.uk

Snowtrax: snowtrax.eu

Solutions 4 Feet: solutions4feet.com

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS

Craigdon Mountain Sports: craigdonmountainsports.com

Ski Bartlett: skibartlett.com

15 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS

SCOTT ADVENTURE

ARMADA INVICTUS

£450

£600

The new Invictus uses carbon fibre strips from tip to tail to increase liveliness and reduce weight, while layers of Titanal provide stability. It feels built for hard charging and is fast, direct and responds when pushed. It’s solid on edge with good grip at any speed, smashing through crud, blasting out long, fast turns, and feels secure on steeper terrain but its weight takes effort to steer at slower speeds.

BUILD

Venturi Tip and Tail/Sandwich Construction/Full Length Wood Core

LENGTHS (cm)

Whitestone: white-stone.co.uk

The 109 aims to rip up powder yet be able to ski all-mountain with its extended Powder Rocker profile through the nose and grippier allmountain rocker length through its tail. We loved last year’s powerful big mountain Automatic and, like it, this feels sturdy and solid. It’s balanced and smooth at speed and in tricky terrain. It won’t let you relax, but aggressive, sharp skiers will enjoy its all-mountain ability.

RADIUS

£525

10 PER CENT OFF FOR SKI CLUB MEMBERS

This is a new ski that takes design cues from last year’s Venture, but opens up its width and shape. It’s grippy, sturdy and solid with power on tap and great on edge. The tip clears snow and maintains speed in deeper stuff with lots of punch coming out of turns, which powerful, fast skiers will love. Ease of use and playfulness is not its forte, and it can struggle at slower speeds and in quick manoeuvres.

SIDECUT (mm)

ATOMIC AUTOMATIC 109

Surfdome: surfdome.com

134-96-121

Lite Woodcore/Stepdown Sidewall/ Carbon Reinforcement

SIDECUT (mm)

16m (178cm)

RADIUS

168, 178, 188

LENGTHS (cm)

134-109-124

Hybrid Double Zone Core/AR Nose Rocker/Carbon Fibre Layup

SIDECUT (mm)

19.5m (189cm)

RADIUS

182, 189

LENGTHS (cm)

136-106-126

23.5m (178cm) 168, 178, 188

Powerful, grippy very strong ski

Capable on harder terrain and quicker speeds

Solid, fast, confidence-building at high speeds

Not the easiest to use at slow speeds

Feels quite heavy underfoot

Hard for lower level skiers, heavy swing weight

WE SAY: Strong stiff ski, good for long turns and aggressive skiing (Derek Chandler) Grippy, solid, loads of power, awesome for chopped up snow (Mark Jones)

E A I B

WE SAY: Stable and smooth, its versatile camber lets it ski all conditions (Chris Taine) I like it — it’s nimble and powerful and really engages with the edge (Al Morgan)

E A I B

WE SAY: Nice solid charging but gets heavy in tricky terrain (James Allen) For aggressive, physical skiers with the right legs and attitude it’s awesome (Derek Chandler)

PHOTO: Roos Woodhall / rosswoodhall.com

Several retailers were at the ski tests and they all offer a good range of skis. In addition, many offer discounts to Ski Club members.

MEN’S FREERIDE: ADVANCED TO EXPERT BLACK CROWS NAVIS

BLIZZARD COCHISE

Built for use all over the mountain in any conditions, this year’s Navis lowers the shovel to make it more aggressive and extends the sidecut for better snow contact. It feels fast and powerful, urging you to gain speed and lay the edge over in turns. It has great dampening and can power you out of turns — if you are balanced and accurate. A great ski for powerful skiers, but more tentative riders will find it tricky at slower speeds.

This benchmark ski has a new top sheet while its Flipcore again turns the ski to give it a natural rocker to help dampening and stability. It still gives a beautiful, smooth ride that feels fantastic for big, fast arcs. And the profile and strong construction give it punch through turns. For blasting in crud, it’s hard to beat, making tricky conditions smooth and easy. In deeper snow, the rocker and flex let it float with ease and make quick adjustments.

BUILD Longbow Profile/Fat Edges/Semi Cap

BUILD

£580

SIDECUT (mm)

134-103-121

RADIUS

21m (187cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

£580

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS

175, 185

LENGTHS (cm)

Powerful, strong for confident, accurate skiers

E A I B

Tail is hard to handle if you lack confidence

WE SAY: Fast, direct, with loads of power in the tail, it will punish you if you are in the back seat (Pete Davison) Strong, fast, feels built for speed (Mark Jones)

Flipcore Technology/Sandwich Sidewall/Wood Core

I B

28.5m (185cm) 170, 177, 185, 193

Smooth, superb quality, makes easy work of difficult conditions

E A

135-108-123mm

Quite hard so needs strength for shorter turns

WE SAY: One of the best, those able to handle it will love it (Derek Chandler) Grips on piste and blasts deep stuff with ease (Pete Davison)

Bulgaria & Slovenia Ski & Board Flights & Holidays from 7 UK Airports

Tester Profile:

JAMES ALLEN James Allen used to race on the FIS (International Ski Federation) circuit and has just finished his instructor exams. He now holds the highest Basi (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) Level 4 qualification. James works as an independent coach in Val d’Isère, France. Because of his race background he is accurate, very strong, always skis hard and fast, and is very clear on how a ski feels under his feet. As well as being awesome on the piste he loves off-piste skiing and touring. jamesallenskicoaching.com

• • • • • • •

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WOMEN’S FREERIDE: INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT Women’s Freeride

PHOTO: Roos Woodhall / rosswoodhall.com

Within freeride a lot of the women’s skis use the same design characteristics as the men’s versions. However, they tend to lighten up on core materials, while sidecuts tighten to give more of a reaction on the edge. Also bindings can get a heel raise to allow for easier turn initiation. There is also more choice of shorter lengths, although many of our women’s team yearned for longer sizes to cope with the realities of freeride skiing.

MOVEMENT BELIEVE

K2 REMEDY 102

A new fibreglass, carbon and wood construction gives this greater grip and rebound without compromising on weight. It makes effortless turns off-piste and feels reliable in any turn shape. Once in the arc, it’s easy to adjust and make a quick change of direction. On groomers it grips well, but is less predictable. Overall, an easy ski to use, well suited to powder.

This has full-length bamboo with a dense Aspen core underfoot and lightweight Paulownia at tip and tail. A fun, manoeuvrable ski rather than a hard charger, it is easy to use, particularly in chopped up snow. The width and rocker profile makes this an easy, fun ski in powder. Feels more out of place on piste, where the width and construction means it struggles to hold edges at speed.

£515

BUILD Poplar Light Core/Unidirectional Fibreglass and Carbon/Tip and Tail Rocker SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS

BUILD

130-99-118

19m (168cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

168, 176

Well balanced, reliable, easy in powder Not so strong for piste performance

ROSSIGNOL SAVORY 7

£450

£600 with bindings

This uses a lighter wood core with radical rocker shape paired with the ultralight Air Tip. One of the fattest women’s skis, it’s a dream in powder, with effortless float and rockered tip and tail making it easy to adjust turn shapes. Surprisingly for such a wide ski, it grips well on piste and the reactive sidecut gives great feedback. Overall a fantastic ski on and off-piste. BUILD Minicap Sandwich/Light Wood Core/ Air Tip

Bioflex 3 Core/All Terrain Rocker/ TwinTech Sidewalls

SIDECUT (mm)

136-106-126

SIDECUT (mm)

131-102-125

RADIUS

17m (178cm)

RADIUS

16m (170cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

162, 170, 178

LENGTHS (cm)

156, 163, 170

Very floaty in powder, but grips well on piste

Great fun in the powder, easy to use

Light tip gets noticed at speed with some flap

Struggles at speed on the groomers

E A I B

WE SAY: Light, manoeuvrable ski that floats well and is well balanced (Rowena Phillips) Will be there for you in all types of off-piste, but doesn’t hold a predictable edge on groomers (Lynn Sharpe)

E A I B

WE SAY: Quite easy to manoeuvre, but shape feels a bit unpredictable on piste (Lynn Sharpe) Playful in crud, and fun in short turns, but not great on piste (Steph Ede)

E A I B

WE SAY: Predictable and nimble fat ski with great edge hold on piste (Lynn Sharpe) Overall solid ski, needs to be worked a lot at times as it is not so turny, but light and floaty in powder (Steph Ede)

WOMEN’S FREERIDE: INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERT SCOTT LAYLA

FISCHER KOA 88 Ti

Similar in design to the men’s Adventure this has a light wood core, large shovel and tight radius designed to work well in all conditions. The shovel gives it easy float while powering through crud and powder. In long turns, it feels silky smooth, inspiring confidence. with its construction making it feel easy and fun whether on piste, in crud or powder. Cumbersome in short turns, but overall a great ski.

The Koa’s new lightweight core uses carbon fibre and Fischer’s Air Tec Ti to give great edge grip while keeping weight down. That narrow 88mm underfoot means it’s quick from edge to edge, gripping early in the turn. Strong on piste, it’s fun, with a reactive and playful turn radius. But being so narrow it lacks float and ability to surf and smear through turns in the deep stuff. A great ski, but more suitable for allmountain use.

This uses a full wood core and light honeycomb tip for easy turn initiation. It gives a smooth ride and loves being on edge. In medium to large arcs it’s super comfortable, smoothing out tricky terrain. It floats easily in powder and it’s easy to adjust and change direction through the arc. Whether on or off-piste, it’s great for easy cruising in big turns. In tighter spots, such as couloirs or trees it’s more restrictive and harder work.

BUILD

£500

SALOMON Q-96 LUMEN

£510 with bindings

£400

BUILD Flip Core/Sandwich Sidewall/Wood Core SIDECUT (mm)

132-94-118

RADIUS

15m (168cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

158, 168, 178

SIDECUT (mm)

Very impressive in long turns, shovel gives great floatation

E A I B

Less lively in short turns, harder work on piste

WE SAY: Smooth in long turns and an absorbent ride. Makes any offpiste feel easy (Rowena Phillips) Versatile and fun off-piste but feels a bit ‘tinny’ on piste (Lynn Sharpe)

Sandwich Sidewall/Freeski Rocker/ Carbon Tech

E A I B

128-88-115

Full Woodcore/Utility Rocker/ Honeycomb Tip

SIDECUT (mm)

RADIUS

15m (160cm)

RADIUS

LENGTHS (cm)

152, 160, 168

LENGTHS (cm)

Light, strong on piste, fast from edge to edge Needs more width in deep powder

WE SAY: Great on piste and for the odd dabble in choppy stuff (Lynn Sharpe) Stiff and solid underfoot, powerful, stable in crud (Steph Ede)

E A I B

128-95-114

18.4m (162cm) 154, 162, 170

Really smooth ride, works well in bigger arcs Harder to make shorter turns

WE SAY: An elegant, light ride, it floats well (Rowena Phillips) Fun and easy in bigger turns, floats well in powder (Steph Ede)

Book online at skiolympic.com or call 01302 328 820

WOMEN’S FREERIDE: INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED TO EXPERT DYNASTAR CHAM W 97

VÖLKL AURA

£510

£500

With a Paulownia wood core that is 25 per cent lighter than its male sibling, this is aimed at skiers who want something easy in powder. Its huge float and rockered shape make it incredibly easy to manoeuvre in deep snow. It’s effortless to make changes and adjust short turns. The shovel rises in powder and on piste leads into the arc, letting the rest of the ski do its job. It can flap and vibrate at speed, but overall a great ski.

The new Aura is totally redesigned with a full rocker and flat camber through the middle. It’s punchy, powerful and fairly stiff, demanding an assertive, strong technique. The shovel floats well, while that strong construction gives edge hold and stability, and works well for blasting off-piste. On groomers it got a mixed reaction, with some testers finding the shape unpredictable and harder to ride the edge.

BUILD

BUILD Full Rocker/Multi Layer Woodcore/Flat Camber Underfoot

Sandwich Construction/Paulownia Light Wood Core/Levitation Profile

SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS

133-97-113

SIDECUT (mm)

13m (166cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

RADIUS

152, 159, 166, 172, 178

LENGTHS (cm)

Great fun, easy to use in deep powder Can flap a bit at speed on piste

132-100-118

19.3m (163cm) 163, 170

Floats well with new profile, strong in powder

Shape can feel unpredictable on groomed runs

WE SAY: Great float and big rocker

WE SAY: Floats well in powder,

make it easy in short turns (Lynn Sharpe) Adaptable in all snow types, playful, fun and bouncy (Steph Ede)

but lacks stability on edge (Lynn Sharpe) Strong, powerful ski, excels in fast off-piste (Rowena Phillips)

NORDICA NEMESIS

ATOMIC CENTURY 102

£470

‘Wi-Core’ makes this 25 per cent lighter than traditional wood cores and it has a rockered tip and normal camber underfoot. It feels playful, easy to steer and adjust through curves. In powder it’s great for long turns with lots of energy and reactivity. It feels like it’s ready for action and up for any challenge, mainly down to its responsive flex and lightness. On piste its width makes it best suited to long turns where the stiff tail maintains grip to the end of the turn. BUILD SIDECUT (mm) RADIUS

17.5m (169cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

E A I B

BUILD Light Wood Core/Step Down Sidewall/ Rocker Tip and Tail

134-98-118

High energy, good grip, fun in powder Less strong in short turns, bit flappy at speed

WE SAY: Nice solid ski, playful and bouncy in powder (Steph Ede) Bestfor all-mountain (Rowena Phillips)

SIDECUT (mm)

129-102-120

RADIUS

16m (164cm)

LENGTHS (cm)

156, 164, 172

Strong at speed, stable, solid edge grip

153, 161, 169, 177

Shovel needs more width for deep powder

WE SAY: Not flappy, no quirks and

straightforward to ski (Steph Ede) A bit heavy, if the tip were stiffer it would engage faster (Lynn Sharpe)

ROWENA PHILLIPS Rowena has been on the Ski Club’s test team for eight years now and has probably tested more women’s skis than anyone else in the Alps. When not testing she is based in Zermatt, Switzerland, where she works as a ski school director and ski instructor. at European Snowport. Rowena holds the highest Basi (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) Level 4 qualification, and also holds the highly prized Swiss BBT and Patente, which is the highest Swiss Alpine licence. europeansnowsport.com

Ski test sponsors £400

A new ski, this uses a Step Down Sidewall for grip in harder snow, while its width, light core and rockered tip and tail are designed for powder. Strong on piste, its edge hold is rock solid, while it feels stiff enough for higher speeds and harder snow. Off-piste it feels comfortable at speed, with good stability. The shovel floats up, but takes less of a steering hold than other skis. Overall, a solid, goanywhere ski.

Wi-Core/Tip Rocker/ ABS Sidewalls

Tester Profile:

Thanks to Eider, Salomon and Scott who provided clothing for our test team in Kühtai, as well as for the Ski Club’s brand photo shoot 2014. Ski Club members can get savings on Eider, Salomon and Scott through the many shops in the UK which offer member discounts. EasyJet flies to Innsbruck from London Gatwick, Bristol and Liverpool. Flight prices start from £32.99 per person (one-way, including tax). Visit easyjet.com to book.

MEN’S FREESTYLE BOARDS

RIDE BUCKWILD

£420

LIB TECH SKATE BANANA

£445

SLASH HAPPY PLACE

£350

FLEX

PROFILE Flat

PROFILE Rocker

PROFILE Combo

SHAPE

True Twin

LENGTHS (cm) 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159 — 156W, 159W, 162W

True Twin

LENGTHS (cm) 145, 148, 149, 151, 152, 154, 156, 159, 162 — 153W, 156W, 159W,162W

PISTES:

LENGTHS (cm)

PISTES:

POWDER:

PISTES:

JUMPS:

POWDER:

JUMPS:

RAILS:

JUMPS:

RAILS:

The Ride Buckwild has been a popular board for a few seasons, but we are predicting a spike in sales of this year’s model thanks to Team GB’s Billy Morgan, who rode one all the way to the Olympic slopestyle final in Sochi. The board’s mid-soft flex makes it easy to turn, forgiving and fun to ride on pistes. Its nearly flat profile spreads the rider’s weight along the edges, making it less likely that they will catch an edge, while carbon reinforcements in the core mean it feels relatively stable at speed.

True Twin 149, 152, 154, 156, 158 — 155W

RAILS:

This is the board that kick-started the rocker revolution. Since it was released in 2007, its easy flex and playful feel have won it many fans. These attributes derive largely from its banana-shaped profile, which lifts the contact points of the edges, making them less likely to catch. This is great for park and rail riders learning new tricks, but it also means the board is easy to turn and learn on. It’s not the most stable at speed, but who wants to race when playing around is such fun?

POWDER:

Slash is a newish brand with boards designed by Austrian pro rider Gigi Rüf and built by Nidecker in Switzerland. Gigi’s never happier than when he’s throwing crazy tricks off Alaskan cliffs, but he also builds boards for those with a less extreme idea of a ‘happy place’. This board, with its mid-soft flex, is one. It mixes elements of rocker and camber to give it a mellow feel, making it ideal for the park. But it holds an edge nicely when carving on piste too, thanks to extra contact points along the edge.

PHOTO: Tristan Kennedy

The shape of boards is changing rapidly and Ski+board’s snowboarding guru Tristan Kennedy gives the lowdown on the latest transformations, starting with freestyle. Freestyle boards aren’t just for snow parks. They’re designed to be fun to ride all over the mountain, encouraging everyone from intermediates upwards to push themselves. One of the chief characteristics in recent seasons for freestyle boards (the other categories we will cover in the following issues are piste/entry level, all-mountain then big mountain boards) has been the wide variety of profile types, and the willingness of designers to experiment. This season’s crop is no exception. Back in the mid-to-late-2000s, rocker (or reverse camber) boards were first released, literally turning the conventional wisdom about camber on its head. The raised contact points made it less likely that you will catch an edge and gave them a loose, skateboard-like feel, which is forgiving to ride and great for trying new tricks. However, rocker boards tend not to have the natural pop or edge hold of their

SALOMON SABOTAGE

£320

Got a snowboarding technique query? Ask expert Simon Cooke at skiclub.co.uk/asktheexpert

£370

BATALEON EVIL TWIN

£370

FLEX

PROFILE Combo

PROFILE Camber

SHAPE

True Twin

FLEX True Twin

LENGTHS (cm) 148, 152, 154, 156, 159 — 158W

LENGTHS (cm)

PISTES:

POWDER:

JUMPS:

RAILS:

The Salomon Sabotage is the board that carried Britain’s Jamie Nicholls to a sixth place finish in the Olympic slopestyle in Sochi. With a mid-stiff flex and a flat section between the feet with camber towards tip and tail, this board has plenty of pop and power. These characteristics help it hold a nice edge on hard-pack, so it cruises comfortably at speed on piste too. If you’re just starting to learn tricks, you may find it too rigid, but if you want to start upping the ante this is a great board. Ski+board

BURTON NUG

conventional camber cousins, making jumping, especially off big kickers, harder. So brands started experimenting with combinations like the ‘CamRock’ profile seen on the Slash Happy Place, or even flat profiles like the Ride Buckwild. While pure rocker boards are far from dead, it is interesting to see how many freestyle boards on the market this season appear to be moving back towards variations on the conventional camber theme. Burton’s Talent Scout (a new model for this season) features a profile that is almost all camber, with only slightly raised contact points. Similarly Salomon’s Sabotage (also reviewed here) features a variant on the conventional camber profile, as do many of K2’s newer boards. After all but disappearing, it seems camber may be making something of a comeback.

OCTOBER 2014

142, 146, 150, 154

The Nug is an odd little beast, ‘little’ being the operative word, as it is eight to ten centimetres shorter than most boards. Despite its snub-nosed look, its edge is effectively the same as on a regular board. So while you might not want to ride it on sheet ice, it can hold an edge on piste. Where you really feel the benefit is trying tricks — it spins easily. It’s not built for the really big, prosized kickers, but if you want to have fun on piste or on smaller obstacles, this is hard to beat.

skiclub.co.uk

True Twin

LENGTHS (cm) 149, 152, 154, 157 — 156W, 159W

The Evil Twin is the board that made Bataleon’s name as a company and it continues to be one of their best-sellers year after year. It features their patented ‘triple base technology’ with raised sections at the sides of the base, which make it less likely that you will catch an edge. This gives the board a forgiving feel, which makes it great for trying tricks on. It’s not a beginner’s model by any means, but if you’re looking for an easy ride that will handle a wide variety of terrain, the Evil Twin is well worth a look.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE BOARDS WOMEN FLEX THEIR MUSCLE

When snowboarding started to gain popularity in the 1980s, women who wanted to give it a try had to take their pick from a range of models primarily aimed at men. But as more and more women took up the sport, snowboard manufacturers — starting with the legendary innovator Tom Sims — began to produce boards specifically designed with women in mind. These female-friendly models suit women’s lighter body-weights, smaller feet and relative strength. So they tend to be shorter, thinner and easier to flex than their men’s counterparts. In recent years, some women’s boards have also featured different sidecut shapes to reflect the fact that women’s centre of gravity is different to men’s. Tristan Kennedy is editor of action sports and adventure website Mpora and former deputy editor of Whitelines Snowboarding. He has reviewed boards for the past five years at the Snowboard Spring Break event in Kaunertal, Austria.

WHAT IT ALL MEANS FLEX:

Like all our star ratings, this is from one to ten, with one indicating soft and ten meaning a board is stiff.

PROFILE:

Camber profiles rise up between the rider’s feet and have four contact points — two at the nose and two at the tail at the end of the effective edge. Rocker or reverse camber profiles are the opposite — the main contact point is between the rider’s feet, while the ends of the effective edge are lifted. Combo profiles combine elements of the above, and flat profiles are flat under the feet, with the board rising only at the tip and tail.

SHAPE:

Directional boards have a setback stance, true twin boards have a centered stance with an identical nose and tail, while directional twin boards combine elements of both.

LENGTH:

The ‘W’ signifies that the length of board that precedes it comes in wide, so is suitable for riders with big feet — UK size 11 or over.

BURTON TALENT SCOUT

£370

DC WOMEN’S PLY

£270

FLEX

PROFILE Combo

PROFILE Camber

SHAPE

True Twin

LENGTHS (cm) 138, 141, 146, 149

True Twin

LENGTHS (cm) 142, 146, 149, 153

PISTES:

POWDER:

JUMPS:

RAILS:

A new board for 2014-15, the Talent Scout is built firmly with freestyle riders in mind. A key feature is the ‘squeezebox’ core, which is thicker in key places to provide more pop. Burton has aligned these thick sections to match the ‘duckfoot’ angles that most freestyle riders like to set their bindings at, optimising it for riders who practise tricks switch as well as regular. The board’s soft flex makes it easy to turn and, while it’s not as stable as some at high speeds, it is great for piste and park tricks.

BURTON SOCIAL

£330

DC has a reputation for providing bang for your buck and this latest version of the popular model is no exception. It features DC’s ‘lock and load’ camber profile, which gives the board a snappy, playful feel that belies its soft flex. It has a cheaper extruded base (as opposed to the faster, sintered bases found on some boards), but what it lacks in speed it makes up for in durability and the ease with which it can be repaired. This is a great all-round freestyle performer, especially given the price.

GNU B-NICE

£365

FLEX

PROFILE Flat

PROFILE Rocker

SHAPE

LENGTHS (cm)

True Twin 138, 142, 147, 151

PISTES:

POWDER:

JUMPS:

RAILS:

Burton’s Social has had an upgrade this season and now features a faster sintered base. But while this year’s model runs faster, its character remains largely unchanged. It’s a soft, easy-flexing true twin designed to make getting to grips with your first tricks as simple as possible, whether on rails, kickers, or small, piste-side jumps. It features an exaggerated scoop at the tip and tail, raising the contact points slightly and giving the board a loose, skateboard-like feel, making it a lot of fun to ride.

True Twin

LENGTHS (cm) 139, 142, 145, 148, 151, 154

Gnu is having a good 2014 — both golds in women’s freestyle snowboarding in Sochi were won on its boards. Neither slopestyle winner Jamie Anderson nor halfpipe champ Kaitlyn Farrington ride the B-Nice, but it features much of the technology their high-end models do, just wrapped in a more intermediate-friendly package. Its wavy ‘magne-traction’ edges grip icy pistes and the ‘banana’ rocker makes it playful and forgiving. A great entry-level all-rounder, this still has enough oomph to keep more experienced riders happy.

Serre_chevalier_ski_board_issue1_FP.qxp_Serre_chevalier_ski_board_issue1_FP 27/08/2014 16:41 Page 1

FRENCH ALPS

90%

of visitors can’t be wrong*

“We will return and will definitely recommend the resort to others.” “Serre Chevalier Vallée is a great all round resort.”

“It’s a gem of a place.”

“Suits all levels.”

“Very friendly.”

Photo accreditation: Agence Zoom

“Quiet “Great ski area – you have slopes.” to ski hard and fast.” *Based on survey of British skiers December 2013. **s/c accommodation inc. 6-day lift pass. Selected dates apply.

7-nights

€207p**p

from

including yo ur lift pass

“This resort represents great value for Brits compared with many of the other big French resorts and it has an excellent ski area and unique ambience,” says Dave Watts, travel writer and Editor of Where to Ski and Snowboard

Call our English speaking Reservations’ desk for this season’s special offers on 0033 (0)4 92 24 9898 or book online: www.serre-chevalier.com FOLLOW US

• Tree-lined pistes from 1200-2735m • Easy access: travel by road or rail • Airports: Turin 1.45hrs, Grenoble 2.45 hrs

SKI TECHNOLOGY

GPS GADGETS, APPS & MAPS

On-snow technology is developing fast, making it hard to keep up with all the advances in kit. Who would have guessed just ten years ago that we would be skiing with GPS-enabled tracking devices, watches and even goggles? These gizmos are undeniably clever, but are they worth it? Ski+board’s technology editor Gabriella Le Breton investigates.

Gabriella Le Breton 76

SUUNTO AMBIT3 PEAK WATCH

FROM £360

The Suunto Ambit3 Peak watch is everything a backcountry skier, mountaineer and outdoor enthusiast could ask for in one timepiece. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery powers an altimeter, barometer, compass and heart rate monitor. The GPS means you can track distance, speed, location, routes and points of interest. Using Suunto’s intuitive Movescount. com website, you can link the watch to your computer, tablet or phone to log, view and share your achievements as well as upload waypoints and routes from the site. The watch has dedicated functions for cyclists, runners, triathletes and swimmers with over 1,000 free Suunto apps for specific training goals. This is one brilliant piece of kit. suunto.com

TRACE TRACKER

£115

Trace is a light and durable GPS-enabled tracker, which is just 5cm (2in) in diameter and can be mounted on your skis or board. Come the end of the day, Trace connects with your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 and, within seconds, you receive data about the resorts you visited, your maximum speed, the distance, pistes and vertical you covered, how many calories you burned. It even claims to record any tricks you pull such as 360s and backflips. Trace has a seven-hour rechargeable battery and comes with a free app to let you compare your achievements with friends using Live Leaderboards for the day, resort or season. In short, it’s a vital piece of kit for bragging rights. activereplay.com

GTREK2 TRACKER

£100

This tiny box is essentially a beefed up geotagger, giving a detailed account of your day — not just where you’ve been but how far, high and fast. Its powerefficient logging ability allows it to collect data for up to 42 hours after a 20-minute charge and it can get a fix on up to 60 satellites in two seconds. It will also automatically geotag your photos so that once you download your data using the GPS software provided, you can replay your day on Google Earth in a 3-D virtual tour, adding in your geotagged photos, and share it with your friends on Google Earth. It may not be as slick as Trace, above, but it’s easy to use and does what it says on the tin. gtrek.co.uk

HIT OR MISS? RECON SNOW2 HEADSDISPLAY FROM £235

Thanks to Snow2’s GPS-enabled heads-up display (HUD), you can indulge your inner fighter pilot while navigating the slopes. You can buy the HUD unit separately and install it inside your existing goggles, or buy it pre-installed with select brands including Oakley and Uvex. A neat, digital display shows your speed, distance, altitude, vertical descent and airtime, as well as the local trail map and location of your friends. Snow2 provides further benefits — or arguably distractions — by enabling you to read text messages, view incoming calls, control music and share your data online through the Engage website and app. Its innovative mirror and prism technology means that you don’t need to refocus too much when viewing the HUD. Although the physical screen is tiny, the fact that it is so close to your eye means that the statistics and data it displays appear as big as if you are looking at a 14in screen from a distance of a metre and a half (5ft). However, it does take some getting used to. Fortunately, you can switch it off when it’s distracting you, which will also conserve the battery, which lasts about six hours on one charge. shop.reconinstruments.com

GARMIN OREGON £320 600 The latest, toughest Garmin Oregon represents a marked improvement on previous incarnations of this handheld touchscreen GPS device. Garmin has improved its software and hardware, making for better general use, easier navigation and faster satellite fixes. Thanks to a preloaded worldwide basemap, you can intuitively interact with maps, zooming in, panning out and rotating them (even with gloves on), while new reflective display technology makes the screen easier to see in bright sunlight. You can share photos, geocaches, routes and custom maps wirelessly and synchronise your data to the Garmin Cloud, so that you can access it via your smartphone. The Oregon 600’s dual battery system (rechargeable and traditional AA) gives an impressive 16hour battery life. All in all, this is the ideal handheld for the outdoor enthusiast — you’ll enjoy using it as much on your bike as you will on the slopes. buy.garmin.com Ski+board

OCTOBER 2014

skiclub.co.uk

SKI MOJO £390 INCLUDING P&P Skiing can prove tiring, which is why British inventor Owen Eastwood came up with the Ski-mojo. This device is discreetly hidden under your ski trousers and clips to the top of your boots, effectively springloading your legs with a couple of shock absorbers, taking much of the effort out of turning. And for the first time this season you can use it with hire boots. To begin with the Mojo feels weird, but soon you get used to the way it powers you through big turns on gentle runs. More advanced skiers should not rule it out either. Even off-piste, instructors could not tell when users had it switched on or not. If anything it improves technique, by pushing a skier’s hips forward. Devotees include comedian Sandi Toksvig, who noticed a big difference in exhaustion levels towards the end of the day. Be prepared to spend a bit of time setting it up for the first time, although this season much of the faff has been removed. An attachment can be clipped on to rental boots with no drilling involved and you do not need to cut the rods to length. skiallday.co.uk

RAX SKI £138 TO £210 PLUS P&P A good ski gadget should not require you to drastically alter your skiing. This is a drawback of the RaxSki. The idea behind these mini-skis sounds fair enough. Most of us struggle to turn long skis in powder, so why not give them just the front half ? After all that’s the bit that does most of the work. Well, aside from all the wisecracks you learn to put up with, part of the problem is that you need to lean back like crazy to steer the things. As well as ruling out an easy return to normal skis, this can make most pistes feel like cobbled streets, as you have no camber to absorb the bumps and no pressure on the front of the skis to cut through the crud. They are, admittedly, easier to turn than longer skis, but that is where it ends. Sorry, sometimes there are no short-cuts... raxski.com

SKI TECHNOLOGY

THE BEST APPS While we all appreciate the integral role of technology at work and in our homes, its function in the mountains is less immediately apparent. However, the ski industry is embracing technology in an unprecedented way, with smart phone apps telling us where, how far and how fast we’ve skied, making the mountains easier and safer to navigate and more fun.

or for a nominal sum. Alternatively, ITRAILMAP3D (£2.99) enables you to download overhead maps and 3D piste maps for over 750 ski resorts across the globe, using the built-in GPS to navigate the slopes. Although this means you don’t have to battle with paper maps on blustery chair lifts, not all the resorts have full 3D map support and running GPS on your phone burns down the battery quickly, while bright sunlight makes the screen hard to see. The race to create the technology that allows skiers to There are apps to help you get in shape before your trip see where they are on the panoramic 3-D artist’s rendition (SNOW FITNESS, £1.99) and decide what to pack (MAMMUT of the mountains that we are familiar with from paper piste PACKING LIST, free) as well maps has taken many twists as apps with step-by-step and turns. Viewers of BBC2’s guides for snowboard tricks Dragons’ Den may have seen (SNOWTRIX, £0.69) and split Jean-Claude Baumgartner win screen video analysis tools over judges Theo Paphitis to nail your carving (SKI and Peter Jones to his android SCHOOL, £2.99). interactive trail map, SATSKI The Ski Club’s free app or SATSPORTS. And indeed provides detailed snow when Ski+board tested it a few years ago, it worked remarkably reports, piste conditions, well — remarkable given that in weather forecasts and live his enthusiasm to get funding webcams for some 300 resorts Baumgartner fudged his facts across the world. And, handy Fatmap is launching a 3D mapping app that promises to show you and was jailed in 2012 for for the mountain geek, POINT where you are on the mountain, whether on or off-piste more than two years, stalling DE VUE (£2.49) synthesises the progress there. However, in December another company, landscape when you point your phone at it and identifies the FATMAP (FATMAP.COM) is promising to launch a 3D surrounding peaks, providing their names and altitudes. mapping app initially covering Chamonix, Verbier, Zermatt, Thanks to SKITRACKS (£0.69), you can monitor the Espace Killy and Paradiski from £2.49 per resort per year distance, vertical feet and speeds you travelled over the or £9.99 to include freeride areas. Ski+board will keep you course of the day while SNOWEDGE (free) ups the ante by posted with reviews. further tracking acceleration, G-force and air time, enabling It’s important to remember that apps aren’t just about you to compare your stats with friends. sourcing resort information but can also help to ensure your It should be pointed out, however, that the readings you safety on the mountain. The free MAMMUT SAFETY app is get for your maximum speed with such apps will often not good for off-piste skiers and riders: the software provides be accurate. If an app shows that you are reaching speeds global avalanche bulletins, a compass, clinometer, altimeter of more than 95kmh (60mph), this should be a sign to and an SOS button, which instantly transmits the coordinates treat it with suspicion, as these are approaching downhill of your location by text to the local emergency services. racer speeds. And some GPS enabled devices have ‘shown’ While this app is no alternative to an avalanche transceiver, recreational skiers to be doing 99mph — faster than any it’s a useful addition to the off-piste skier’s safety arsenal. professional racer. If you’re concerned that these apps will rack up huge data This is all the more reason to avoid the dangerous practice roaming charges on your mobile phone bill, download maps of trying to clock up the maximum speed on your phone. If before you leave home. Alternatively, look out for free WiFi you are determined to check your speed, some resorts have on lifts and in mountain restaurants. And bear in mind that dedicated speed race pistes, which show your speed on a the recent caps on roaming charges within the European sign at the end. Union and Norway, do not apply to Switzerland or Andorra. One day very soon we’ll all be finding our way around If you want to track your skiing day, but prefer not to use the pistes on mobile devices, as paper piste maps go the a mobile or buy a gadget, log on to SKILINE (SKILINE.CC) way of road atlases. Most major resorts offer free apps, and enter your lift pass number. It will generate an altitude providing users with piste maps which are interactive to a diagram showing how many kilometres and vertical metres greater or lesser extent, as well as local weather forecasts, you covered by recording your lift journeys in 100 resorts in real-time information on lift openings, piste grooming nine countries, including Austria, Switzerland and Italy. schedules and details of mountain restaurants. Should a resort not boast its own app, sites such as SKIDEA.COM and MOUNTAINDYNAMICS.COM enable users to download maps of ski resorts to GARMIN or MAGELLAN GPS devices for free

Give us your verdict on how the latest ski gadgets and apps perform at skiclub.co.uk/chatforum

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HEALTH&FITNESS

FITNESS TIME In this four-part series we start with stretches to improve your overall flexibility. It is very important to get ready before the ski season starts and the five exercises below are active stretches. They move away from the traditional static (stretch and hold) techniques and are far more effective in waking your skiing body up after summer. 80

1. ACTIVE PIRIFORMIS (DEEP BUTTOCK) STRETCH: A. Balance yourself standing and prepare to lift and twist one leg and catch it with both hands. B. Hold your ankle in one hand and your knee in the other. C. Repeat immediately with the other leg, catching your ankle and knee in the same fashion. This should be repeated ten times each side, with three sets of each. It can be done in a walking forward fashion or against a wall if you are having trouble balancing.

1. A.

The chiropractor and fitness expert has been in the ski industry for 15 years, working with ex-Olympians Konrad Bartelski and Graham Bell, and consulting for the Warren Smith Ski Academy.

2. ACTIVE HAMSTRING STRETCH:

A. Start upright, assuming a good, straight posture. B. Swing your leg keeping your knee straight out in front of you. C. Then let it swing back behind your body. Swing each leg ten times up and back, doing three sets each side. As you move through each block of ten, gradually increase the speed and range, kicking higher and higher. Use your arms as counter weights, allowing them to swing for balance.

You’re doing it wrong if you just catch your knee, without twisting your leg or holding your ankle. Be careful, as it is very difficult to remain balanced during this exercise. If done well, it will help loosen the deep gluteal muscles and aid that allimportant range of motion for the hip while skiing.

Myth busters

Craig McLean

Always stretch well before your first run

You’re doing it wrong if your knee is bent or if you don’t swing high enough. You should feel a gentle pull down the back of your leg.

You will have seen them on the slopes —those skiers doing big, extravagant stretches at the base of the lifts first thing in the morning, putting the rest of us to shame. However, you’ll rarely see a professional sportsman doing the same thing. You’re more likely to see

top footballers, say, jogging on the spot by the sideline. This is because research now shows that static stretches (when you stretch and hold for up to 60 seconds) actually increases your chance of damaging soft tissue. Other studies suggest that strength can decrease by up to 9 per cent in the hour after

HEALTH&FITNESS

3. ACTIVE HIP FLEXOR STRETCH:

HEALTH&FITNESS

3. A.

A. Stand ready for a lunge type movement. B. Lift one leg and step forward so your feet are a good width apart. C. With your feet apart, drop down by bending both knees as shown —you should feel more weight in your back leg. Be sure to keep your front foot in view and lift your opposite arm above your head. You should feel a pulling stretch at the top of the thigh of the back leg and at the front of your hip. Lean back slightly to increase the stretch. This should be done ten times each side — three sets in total. It can also be done in a walking motion doing 20 lunges at a time.

HEALTH&FITNESS

4. A.

HEALTH&FITNESS

4. ACTIVE CALF STRETCH/ STRENGTHENING: A. Stand with your toes on a step (the bottom step of a staircase is ideal) and let your heels float free. B. Focusing on one leg at a time, stand on tip toes, lifting the other leg off the ground for maximum stretch. C. Let it drop to the full range of your ankle. You should feel a deep stretch in the calf. Repeat this ten times and then repeat, focusing on the other side doing three sets in total. Ideally, go up and down every couple of seconds. But you can also finish it with a long, slow passive stretch.

Need some help with some stretches? Tweet us at @TheSkiClub with the hashtag #wakeupbody

You’re doing it wrong if you bend your front knee past 90 degrees, or if your legs are not wide enough apart.

You’re doing it wrong if you bend at the waist or don’t let the heel drop low enough.

A.B.

B. C.

5. ACTIVE LUMBAR ROLL: A. Lie on your back with both knees bent and both feet flat on the floor. B. Let both knees roll to one side. C. Repeat on the other side. The best way to do this exercise is to roll from side to side quite quickly and repeating the motion 30 times. Try to keep your shoulders flat on the ground, with your arms outstretched for extra stability.

static stretching, and that coordination of explosive movements (such as those involved in skiing) can decrease as well. This is because prolonged static stretching lessens the blood flow within soft tissue creating localised ischemia (a restriction in blood supply) and lactate build up. This can potentially cause irritation or injury of local muscular, Ski+board

OCTOBER 2014

tendinous, lymphatic, as well as neural tissues. So, what is the best strategy for your ski trip? The best approach is to use the first run as a gentle warm up, to get the blood pumping through those possibly tired, stiff and aching muscles. Then remove your skis and perform the exercises shown above —they are a great collection of active

skiclub.co.uk

You’re doing it wrong if you let your shoulders roll in the direction of your legs. Keep your shoulders planted to the floor.

movements that will improve your skiing performance throughout the day. Of course, the biggest challenge is to stop after that first run. It is so tempting, especially if there is fresh snow, to keep skiing. But, trust me, you won’t regret it and the exercises will decrease the chances of injury and will boost your skiing or snowboarding throughout the day.

HEALTH&FITNESS

ME AND MY OPERATION Bad accidents on snow are relatively rare, with experts estimating the average skier can expect to ski for 419 days without an injury that merits reporting to the ski patrol. ABIGAIL BUTCHER, however, was one of the unlucky ones. In the first of our new series, she reports on her accident… and recovery.

Abigail says: I ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a seemingly innocuous, low-speed fall in SaalbachHinterglemm in March last year. It was a beautiful, sunny Austrian morning — the first run of the day — and I was carving tight, rhythmical turns down a still icy red. Until, that is, I caught an edge and turned inside out a knee that was already weak from a road bike Medial accident three years before. collateral ligament The ACL is one of the four main ligaments in the knee to connect the Posterior cruciate lower leg to the upper leg. I knew I had ligament snapped mine when I felt the classic Anterior cruciate “pop” within my knee. ligament I lay breathless with pain for a few Lateral minutes, then stood up, gingerly put collateral ligament my ski back on and slid to the bottom. Not wanting to hold up the group, I insisted I was fine and took the gondola up the mountain — where my knee collapsed as I got out. I was sent back down to the doctor, who suspected an ACL rupture. It was early March and I cried briefly. Not only would I miss the rest of the ski season but also competing in that year’s Fastnet — I am an avid sailor. Two days later, back in the UK, total ACL rupture was confirmed by an MRI scan carried out by my surgeon, Jonathan Bell. I had also torn my lateral collateral, another main stabilising ligament, and the knee capsule. It is not vital to operate, but as I am an active person and ski off-piste, Bell — who treated me after my biking accident — recommended a reconstruction. After five weeks of “pre-hab”, to get the movement and muscle tone back, I had reconstructive surgery using a graft from my hamstring. I stayed overnight and the next day had a hydrotherapy session with the physiotherapist before going home for exercise, rest, elevation and ice — the latter via a machine that pumped iced water around a cuff covering my knee. Some people suffer more pain than others — I suffered a lot. I went to my physio each week and worked hard on rebuilding the muscles in my calf and thigh, and the stability, strength and flexibility of the knee and hamstring. My leg exercises began with simply trying to clench my thigh muscles and sliding my heel towards my bottom, progressing to squashing a soft ball beneath my knee. I moved on to calf raises and gentle balancing, among others. Within a couple of weeks I could bend my knee completely and was back in the gym doing upper body work and

Pilates. Building core strength really helped my recovery and exercising encouraged blood flow and a positive state of mind. I’ve never been able to sit still and I found the inactivity immediately after the accident draining. Two months later I could cycle gently on a exercise bike and walk longer distances. After three months, I started to ride and sail, albeit very gently as my proprioception — the sense of your body’s position that nerve endings give you — and balance was off. People thought I was mad to get on a horse, but after months of being unable to walk I thought of it as a furry wheelchair. It was good for my morale. My knee continued to swell and be stiff for months. It still does now, 18 months on, but I quickly learnt when to push it and when not to. Walking on uneven surfaces hurt for months, as did going down stairs. Ever determined, I returned to skiing in November, under the guidance of my physio, James Vickers, and Bell, in Hemel Hempstead’s Snow Centre. To have them there as I took my first few turns was very reassuring. I hated the first run, but it got easier. In December I had a minor operation to remove metalwork that was irritating my knee. After that, I never looked back. I still have to work on the power in my hamstring but, 15 months on, I am now cycling long distances and running again with hardly any issues. I skied many times last season, albeit never at ‘full steam’. I stayed on piste and away from bumps… and ice.

THE SURGEON Jonathan Bell is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon specialising in knees at Wimbledon Clinics at Parkside Hospital. He is also a keen skier. Bell says: Knees are one of the most common injuries for skiers. About ten per cent of people who rupture an ACL will return to normal life without surgical intervention, but knee reconstruction often lessens the risk of arthritis later. If you do minimal sports, you could just wear a brace, but I find it encourages some to skimp on the rehab. If you ski more often and go off-piste, I would push for surgery. The surgery is keyhole. I remove the old ligament, take strands of the hamstring to make it into a new cord and fix it in place of the natural ACL with a titanium screw. Over time, the knee synovial and bone grow over the new ligament, which picks up blood vessels. About five per cent of patients — normally slim females like Abigail — will find the screw causes irritation and will need it removed. The initial operation takes 90 minutes, and there are the usual minimal anaesthetic risks, along with a risk of wound infection (three in 100), knee infection (one in 400) and deep vein thrombosis. There is also a risk of re-rupture. Get expert advice from both surgeon Jonathan Bell and physiotherapist Craig McLean at skiclub.co.uk/asktheexpert

Ski mojo Luara 148x105

20/8/13

09:32

Page 1

Enjoy Spring Skiing... all season long

Photo: Olympic Mogul Skier Laura Donaldson with her ski-mojo

ET HE SECR S T R E V O D DISC THOUSAN K E E P I N GG LO N G E R SKIIN

Tel: 05603 458846 info@ski-mojo.com www.ski-mojo.com

TECHNIQUE:FREERIDE

STOP BEING SO DEFENSIVE!

How do you move from being a competent off-piste skier to an inspirational one? Mark Jones explains the tactics and mindset required.

Many skiers who love their off-piste get to the point where they can link short turns at a constant speed down most slopes, then use this technique to bag as many different off-piste routes as possible. However, if you watch highlevel skiers this is not how they ski the mountain. They look fast, flowing and playful, working with the terrain and conditions, rather than battling down it, fixated with the shape and number of turns they made. This is the difference between pros and the public. To make the step up requires a new approach, a different mindset and the motivation to try new feelings in familiar surroundings. There are some new sensations that you need to take on board, and before doing that you need to ask yourself a few questions.

Bring your pole forward to make contact and give you support on the transition

Release the pressure and move into the next turn

CAN YOU HANDLE SPEED? This doesn’t mean you have to be capable of going hell for leather. But it does mean you can handle the sort of speeds that you would use on a nice, open groomed run — if the conditions allow you to do so safely. This takes practice and merits spending a bit of time building up to bigger speeds and larger turns. ARE YOU BALANCED? This is important. You have to be effectively balanced most of the time before you can go for this type of skiing. This means you normally ski in an athletic stance, with your joints flexed, arms forward and have the ability to constantly vary your stance width. Crucially, your weight also needs to be centred over the middle of your feet. If you’re at a skiing level where you are ready to make changes, the key techniques you need are movement, controlling speed and smearing.

MOVEMENT The biggest difference is the basic movement you put your body through. For shorter turns directly down the hill, there will be a lot of rotary movements made with the legs, so you feel you are twisting them from one direction to another. For these new, faster and more powerful turns the main movement is lateral. This means it feels like your legs and body are toppling sideways, which is incredibly important. Essentially you are trying to make the same sort of moves you make when carving on piste. This means that there is no forceful twisting of the body and legs into the new direction, instead they move sideways and this causes the skis to turn. This should feel like a really easy move to make at the end of the old turn. The downside is that it takes confidence and the natural tendency is to think that you are going to topple over your skis. Trust me, you will not fall over — it

TECHNIQUE:FREERIDE

You are now at maximum edge angle. Get ready to start the new turn

TECHNIQUE:FREERIDE

will immediately take you in a new direction. Once this happens and you move through to the end of the turn you will need to rely on both feet to support you, rather than just the outside foot. Because of the depth of snow there is much less of a stable platform underfoot, so pressure has to be shared between both feet. If all the pressure is on the outside foot it’s much harder to balance because the outer ski will sink and be unstable. Release the pressure on your outer leg, this will allow your body to move laterally across the skis to start the turn. As you move across try and stay balanced and athletic

Keep going. Don’t lose your nerve at this point

CONTROLLING SPEED Before the advent of rocker in skis, this could all go horribly wrong when you needed to slow down. The profile of these older skis meant the best way out of trouble was to reduce speed by making a massive turn uphill, which was fine as long as there were no trees, rocks or people about. Controlling speed by finishing off the end of the turn is still your main method, however with new rockered skis there is another dimension of speed control that can be opened up.

SMEARING

Equalise the pressure on both feet and start looking for the point where you will exit into the new turn

Start feeling for support and pressure over that inner foot

Mark Jones is a director and coach at ICE (icesi.org), an instructor training centre and gap course provider in Val d’Isère, France. He is also a trainer for Basi, the British Association of Snowsport Instructors.

With rocker you can pivot and twist the ski really easily, even when you’re going fast. This is fantastic news for the skier who needs quick deceleration. When you’re in trouble, all that is needed is a quick twist of the skis. Once that is done they will instantly brush off speed and allow the skier to regain control, normally with the added bonus of plumes of snow billowing over your head. It’s called ‘smearing’ and, as well as working really effectively, it is brilliant fun and gives your run even more of a wow factor.

THE BEST SKIERS ARE ALWAYS TACTICIANS Changing your mindset and tactics can be seriously underrated, but these two factors will make more of a difference to your performance than focusing purely on technique. You need to look at the mountain in a different way. What sort of terrain is out there? Are there large banks, roll-overs or drop offs? In fact, is there anything you can use to help ride out the turns, keep your speed up and essentially flow down the mountain and play Ski+board

OCTOBER 2014

with these features? Thinking this way really opens up what freeride skiing is all about and allows you to use these skis to do what they were designed to do. Open up your turn shape, use large arcs, rely on the sidecut of the ski rather than forcing the turn. Once you have got used to the speed, you will find it’s far less effort and if anything feels far more natural than banging out a series of short turns. When skiing off-piste, there are many

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times where it’s good practice to stick to a set line, minimising the space you use on the mountain and keeping a tight handle on what’s going on. However, it’s very easy to be sucked into skiing like this all the time, even when the conditions don’t warrant it. Ski safe, but ride hard. Push it when you can, hold back when you have to. And above all treat each new pitch as a clean slate and work out a beautiful way to use it.

TECHNIQUE:OFF-PISTE

BEWARE WHAT LURKS BENEATH In the first of a new series, HENRY SCHNIEWIND reveals how to spot the dangers that lie hidden even just a few metres from the piste.

Off-piste accidents attract a lot of attention, and when Michael Schumacher was gravely injured in Méribel last season, media coverage reached a crescendo. Initially we heard he was off-piste without a guide, conjuring images of recklessness in remote locations, but then television images revealed he was metres from the piste, and had probably hit a hidden rock at speed. Avalanches do claim lives off-piste, but a large percentage of off-piste accidents happen within view of a lift or piste, when people hit rocks or tree trunks under the snow. Even when you are just a few centimetres off the marked runs, you are in an unsecured area, where there is no requirement to mark obstacles, warn you of dangers, or protect you from avalanches. Avoiding hazards in these areas can be simple, yet every year, I hear of skiers who twist knees, tear ligaments and rupture Achilles tendons due to obstacles lurking under thin snow cover. Schumacher’s accident in December emphasises how important it is to be conscious of obstacles under the snow, especially at the beginning of the season or whenever the cover is thin. Here are some common obstacles and how to avoid them. Rocks are the worst offenders. Because they are so hard, they are most likely to force your skis to release, sending you flying head first towards a head injury. Remember, rocks are social beings — where you see one, there are often many more lurking close by, so give the whole area a wide berth. Sometimes your skis don’t release when you hit a rock and this is when you risk injury to ligaments and tendons. Tree stumps can, like rocks, grab your ski and send you flying or divert your ski from the tip very quickly — twisting your leg and knee in the process. As with rocks, they tend to be clustered in one place. A good tip is to check an area of off-piste from a run below it or from a chairlift before you attempt it. What may appear to be a pristine patch of white

snow from above often reveals itself to be a sea of snow-capped rocks or stumps from below. Tree roots hold an added danger for the unsuspecting skier. If your tip passes under one, your bindings are unlikely to release so, while you won’t be thrown head first, the risk of a joint injury is that much greater. As with rocks and stumps, the danger is higher early in the season, when it is worth avoiding forests. Fencing wire is what you fail to see in those beautiful photos of wooden posts dotting snow covered pastures — but the wire is there! I am constantly on the look out for the posts that tell me there may be tripwire in between. Streams and other unexpected drop-offs can be dangerous. Yellow or orange goggles can help in flat light, but you need to keep them scratch-free. As soon as they get scuffed they lose much of their efficiency. In general, if you suspect the cover is thin, imagine that each irregular bump you see in the snow could be an obstacle. And try to keep your weight distributed on both skis. Perhaps most importantly reduce your speed to about 30 per cent of your pace on piste. This gives you more time to see obstacles and any trip-up will be much less violent.

AVALANCHE AWARENESS TALKS The Ski Club, in association with Ortovox, Henry’s Avalanche Talk, Ellis Brigham and Val d’Isère, is running avalanche awareness talks on the following dates:

OCTOBER 29 — Essentials Talk, Ellis Brigham, Manchester 30 — Advanced Talk, Ellis Brigham, Manchester

NOVEMBER 4 — Essentials Talk, Ellis Brigham, Covent Garden 5 — Advanced Talk, Ellis Brigham, Covent Garden 6 — Essentials Talk, King’s Arms, next to Ellis Brigham, Bristol 10 — Advanced Talk, King’s Arms, next to Ellis Brigham, Bristol 12 — Essentials Talk, Ellis Brigham, London St Paul’s 19 — Essentials Talk, Ellis Brigham, Cambridge 20 — Advanced Talk, Ellis Brigham, Cambridge The cost is £12 per ticket, but Ski Club members can get a discount of £2. To find out more visit henrysavalanchetalk. com or HenryOffPiste.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS

H W T TAKE BETTER PH T S If your shots never quite capture the beauty and fun of a winter holiday, chances are you need a masterclass. In this new series, Ski+board’s photo editor John Norris does just that for readers, revealing how it’s done.

Taking pictures in a snowy environment is often thought to be hard, with amateur’s efforts a world apart from professional shots. But even the photographers I feature in this magazine’s Exposure pages have had to start somewhere. So over the next four issues, I reveal the basic guidelines that will add a little sparkle to your photographs. In our first session, I explain the fundamentals of mountain photography, whether you are the proud owner of a state-of-the-art digital SLR, or pack a cheap compact for your holidays, or even if you only use your phone. [1]

[1]

WHERE’S THE LIGHT?

If in doubt, stand with your back to the sun, even if it is overcast. Nothing helps more to deliver a well-exposed, sharp image. Having said that, rules are made to be broken so don’t be afraid to shoot into the sun, particularly at the start or end of the day when it is low on the horizon. This can add great atmosphere, but you may need to force the flash to avoid making silhouettes of people’s heads.

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PHOTOS: John Norris/chamonixart.com

GET CLOSER

The legendary war photographer Robert Capa once said “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough” — and you have less to lose than he had! Getting close to your main subject is all the more important in snow as you are more likely to get an accurate exposure reading. A common mistake when shooting people is to stand too far back. Get really close for happy faces to fill the frame or place people to one side so you can see the view.

[2]

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KEEP IT SIMPLE

Avoid trying to fit too much in your picture in a bid to capture a sense of scale. Choose the elements you really want to record, such as the Matterhorn, and fill the frame with it. Often it is what you leave out that gives a shot impact. If you do want to take a wider view think about foreground. Find a snow-covered conifer say, move in close, and place it to the side to add interest to a long-distance shot. GEAR

TIP

[4]

SHOOT SNOWFLAKES

RECHARGE YOUR CAMERA EVERY NIGHT OR CARRY A SPARE BATTERY. THE COLD WILL REDUCE BATTERY LIFE, AS IT DOES WITH MOBILE PHONES

[4 ]

Don’t be afraid to get the camera out in falling snow. Obviously it is not good to get a camera wet, but ski holidays are about snow and when it is falling it is very photogenic. Shoot from under eaves of buildings or get a friend to shield the camera. Forcing a camera or phone to use flash will pick out the snowflakes to create wonderful snowy images.

GEAR

TIP

[5]

A GOOD CASE SHOULD BE WATER RESISTANT AND WELL PADDED – BOTH TO PROTECT THE CAMERA AND YOURSELF, SHOULD YOU LAND ON IT!

MOVE AROUND

Just as you mustn’t be afraid to get up close, experiment with your viewpoint. Stand on a rock or a bench for elevation, it guarantees a unique shot. If you are quick you can even shoot friends on the piste from a chairlift. Alternatively lie in the snow and get friends to gather round to put them against the skyline. You can also shoot up through trees or use branches to frame a shot.

Ski Club members can share their photos online at skiclub.co.uk/chatforum and all visitors can see the latest on-snow videos at skiclub.co.uk/skiclubtv Ski+board

OCTOBER 2014

skiclub.co.uk

[5]

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R E

A good place to start is the Ski Club website’s resort guide, which has vital facts and reviews. However, they say that you can’t beat a personal recommendation so that is why in this new section of Ski+board we have compiled a list of some of our writers’ favourite destinations. All the reviews are impartial, and written by skiers and boarders who may have visited the resorts on more than one occasion and fully explored the area. And given that many visitors will be travelling with non-skiing partners, we have also ensured they are well catered for, with activities ranging from sleigh rides to snowshoeing, and spas to shopping. Of course, any good recommendation should start with the question: “What are you looking for?” So we have grouped the resorts that we will feature in Ski+board’s four print issues as good for families, those on a budget who are looking for the best value, and those resorts that are most snowsure. In this issue we begin with ‘hidden gems’ — those resorts that you might not have skied and which may not feature in the big tour operators’ brochures, but occupy a special place in our writers’ hearts.

HOW RESORT INSIDER WORKS What we think… We have rated each of the resorts out of five for: snow cover and reliability; lift facilities; the lack of lift queues; restaurants in the resort itself; food on the mountain; charisma and charm; the quality of ski schools there; how much they suit skiers on a tight budget; and their off-piste potential.

1/5 5/5

S O

Pistes Under this heading we specify whether we are talking about the immediate area around a resort or the wider ski domain. We list the total length of pistes, as claimed by the resort, as well as their difficulty, as graded by what percentage are classified as double black (in North America), black, red, blue or green.

How much? Often the price of a lift pass is the same for the immediate area and the greater domain, but again we give the lift pass price for the area specified for a typical adult for six days. Some resorts offer discounts to older skiers. We also give the rental price for six days’ hire of economy skis at the local Skiset outlet or similar. This is the list price. Ski Club members can get a discount of up to 50 per cent at Skiset if they book ahead online.

Transfer times We give the actual time it takes to drive from the airport to the resort — some resorts claim much faster times. We generally take the closest airport serving the British market, so Innsbruck for Pitztal, Lyon for Sainte Foy, Grenoble for Vaujany, Québec City for Le Massif and Geneva for the rest. Altitude The altitude relates to the area specified under ‘Pistes’.

RESORT INSIDER:HIDDEN GEMS

PHOTO: swiss-image.ch/Thurgau Bodensee

O R

PITZTAL Why there? Ideal out-of-season weekend resort

RESORT INSIDER:HIDDEN GEMS

92 You might think that Austria’s highest glacial ski area would attract UK tour operators. Yet only one, Zenith, features this valley close to Innsbruck, which combines typically Austrian high-quality, affordable half board with dependable, year-round skiing. The best base is by the Rifflsee area, with its 28km (17 miles) of broad, red slopes on the glacier and a further 20km of steepish blue, red and black runs below. Cautious intermediates and families might prefer the Hochzeiger ski area, half an hour down the valley, with its 45km of gentle, mostly blue runs.

What makes a resort shine in the eyes of our writers? All of our selection give access to a reasonable amount of challenging terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers, whether in an intriguing destination relatively unknown to Britons, or as charming satellites of larger ski areas. By contrast beginners are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding traditional villages serving small, undaunting resorts, particularly in Austria. We also focus on places that may not be hidden gems for much longer. With the arrival of new lifts, some of our rising stars could be destined for greatness, which makes an early visit worthwhile. Others, we hope, will remain secret a little longer… Writers: Neil English, Colin Nicholson, Chris Taine, Arnie Wilson

SAINTE FOY

Can’t ski, won’t ski… As is typical of Austria, many hotels have nice spas, while gentle après can be found in the valley, including at the witch-themed Hexenkessl and in bars along the road served by horse-drawn sleds. CN √√ Funicular railway to glacier is useful in poor weather ×× Villages are spread out in the valley and many hotels are a walk from the slopes pitztal.com

WHAT WE THINK… Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste

HOW MUCH? Lift pass £183 Ski hire £68 Transfer 80mins

ALTITUDE 880m-3,440m 2,887ft-11,286ft

PISTES RIFFLSEE Lifts 13 Piste 48km/ 30miles

Why there? Nice slopes for all abilities If you turn off shortly before Val d’Isère, you will find the micro resort of Sainte Foy Tarentaise, largely built just a decade ago. This hassle-free outpost, with its six lifts and 40km (25 miles) of pistes now has a few bars, restaurants, spas and supermarkets and enjoys cult status among all abilities. A protected beginner area, with free magic carpets, feeds on to a long, rewarding green covering 1,000m (3,300ft) of vertical up to 2,620m. Intermediates have limited but uncrowded and challenging pistes, while the stunning backcountry descents back to Sainte Foy or the nearby villages of Le Miroir or Le Crôt, will satisfy experts. NE √√ Beautiful wooden architecture ×× Limited cruising for intermediates

saintefoy-tarentaise.com

WHAT WE THINK… Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste

25 10

HOW MUCH? Lift pass £125 Ski hire £77 Transfer 120mins

Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste

ALTITUDE 1,200m-3,275m 3,940ft-10,740ft

PISTES MONTEROSA Lifts 25 Piste 73km/ 45miles

HOW MUCH? Lift pass £163 Ski hire £58 Transfer 165mins

CHAMPOLUC Why there? Good off-piste not far away, quiet slopes and traditional charm At one end of the sprawling Monterosa Ski domain, Champoluc has access to the same prized off-piste as neighbouring Gressoney and Alagna, with the benefit of more family-friendly facilities and a wider selection of intermediate slopes. What it lacks in nightlife it makes up for in traditional charm and food The resort: Champoluc is the main town in the Val d’Ayas, which is also home to Antagnod and Brusson, two small, unlinked ski areas popular with locals and a haven on bad weather days. However, it is the massive offpiste potential of the Monterosa ski area that draws most skiers to this part of the Aosta Valley. While powder hounds head to Alagna, at the other end of the sprawling lift system, Champoluc offers a better base for mixed ability groups, families and intermediates. Accommodation is spread along the valley, but the village centre is compact and dotted with charming old buildings. Hire shops, ski schools and other essential services are clustered around the base of the ageing Crest gondola, which is the main access point to the slopes. Some 3km (2 miles) up the road, a sparkling new funicular railway shuttles skiers up from Frachey, an outlying hamlet. The slopes most easily reached from the Champoluc and Frachey lifts are wide-open, confidence-boosting reds. The off-piste terrain here is also ideal for those just finding their powder legs, as there are plenty of low-angle powderfields not far from the pistes. The highest lift-accessed point is Colle Belleforca at 2,727m (8,950ft), which provides the link with Gressoney-la-Trinité and Alagna beyond, as well as the renowned off-piste descents accessible from Passo Salati and Punta Indren. Pros and cons: It’s oh-so quiet. Other than on sunny weekends, which bring daytrippers from Turin, you will usually have the slopes to yourselves and will seldom stand in a lift queue. This means that the pistes often remain in top shape even at the end of the day, and there are pockets of powder to be found days

Ski+board

OCTOBER 2014

skiclub.co.uk

after the last snowstorm. The downside? You won’t find hedonistic après-ski, but Bruno’s Bar, on the red piste leading back to Champoluc, is one place to stop, plus there are good, affordable places to eat in the village. Monterosa has been called Italy’s answer to the Trois Vallées, but while its 73km of pistes are spread over three valleys, the comparison doesn’t really hold. There is only a single connection between Champoluc and the rest of the domain, the Bettaforca chairlift, which can be exposed to high winds. From Passo Salati down to Alagna there is effectively only one piste — black at the top and red at the bottom, so intermediates will find themselves covering the same ground fairly quickly. It is, of course, the rustic nature of the lift system and lack of motorway-style pistes that earns the area cult status among off-piste skiers. Head out with a guide or heli-ski to see the tumbling glaciers of some of Europe’s highest mountains. Can’t ski, won’t ski… You won’t find designer boutiques or many heart-pumping activities away from the slopes in sleepy Champoluc, but that is part of its charm. An outdoor skating rink is open in the coldest months, and a network of cross-country trails runs through the valley. Guided snowshoe excursions and winter hiking also let you explore the area’s quiet forests, sunny glades and tiny hamlets. The disjointed lift system isn’t ideal for sightseers, but the views of the Monterosa massif, studded with peaks over 4000m, are impressive regardless of vantage point. The predominantly three- and four-star hotels often have their own spas and restaurants. CT monterosa-ski.com

RESORT INSIDER:HIDDEN GEMS

WHAT WE THINK…

PHOTO: swiss-image.ch/Renato Bagattini

WHAT WE THINK… Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste Snowshoeing around the Zinal glacier in Val d’Anniviers

GRIMENTZ Why there? Traditional village with challenging runs and now more linked terrain

RESORT INSIDER:HIDDEN GEMS

With its rustic, old world village, cobbled streets and ancient granaries blackened by the sun, Grimentz has changed little in 60 years apart from a spot of ‘chalet creep’ on the road snaking up from Sierre. You can ski from Zinal to Grimentz down the famous Chamois black run, but until last winter had to take a bus back. Now the areas are connected by a 125-person cable car, meaning half of the 220km (140miles) of pistes covered by the Val d’Anniviers lift pass are linked. The other resorts, St Luc/Chandolin and Vercorin, are a

bus ride away. Grimentz has some great offpiste, much of it steep, but despite the new lift has not been discovered by the crowds — yet. Can’t ski, won’t ski:... There’s little nightlife but there are miles of spectacular snow-shoe trails; a 6km toboggan run; historic tours of the old village and tasting of the vin de glaciers, matured in 100-year-old barrels. AW

PISTES VAL D’ ANNIVIERS Altitude 1,340m-2,000m/ 4,400ft-6,560ft Lifts 43 Piste 220km/ 137miles 52

√√ Steep terrain, where red runs are true reds ×× Not for beginners or early intermediates — runs to the bottom are steep grimentz.ch

36 12

Lift pass £185 Ski hire £90 Transfer 120mins

WHAT WE THINK… Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste

PISTES GRAND MASSIF

SAMOENS

Altitude 720m-1,600m/ 2,360ft-5,250ft Lifts 46 Piste 125km/ 78miles 46 33 11

Lift pass £184 Ski hire £57 Transfer 120mins

Why there? Gateway to a big ski area that retains a rustic charm This is a very different sort of resort from most you will encounter in France. Apart from being a gateway to the vast skiing area of Flaine and the rest of the Grand Massif (including Les Carroz and Morillon), it has some delightful wooded slopes of its own — and the village, with its traffic-free centre and narrow streets, is historic. It was once a centre for stonemasons and many buildings reflect this. Samoëns is fairly quiet, with limited après-ski. The slopes are north facing so normally have

good snow with some dramatic scenery. But it can be awkward getting to and from them via the two main gondolas. You can’t ski back to the village, so a ski-bus ride is necessary, but perhaps that’s a price worth paying for an attractive base from which to reach Flaine. Can’t ski, won’t ski... There is snowmobiling, dog-sledding, an ice rink and snowshoeing. AW √√ Varied terrain leading to bigger resorts ×× Not the easiest access for the Grand Massif samoens.com

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Off Piste Skiing and Freeride courses at our bases in: • Gressoney • Dolomites • Grimentz • La Grave • Engelberg • Chamonix • Andermatt • The 3 Valleys • Val d’Isère / Tignes

See our website for details of: • Alpine ski touring • Ski touring techniques • Adventure ski 2015–16 • Early season ski test • AIARE – Level 1 avalanche course • Long weekends www.jagged-globe.co.uk +44 114 276 3322 or 0333 323 9699 ski@jagged-globe.co.uk Photo: Simon Christy

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WHAT WE THINK…

LE MASSIF Why there? Great food, great views

RESORT INSIDER:HIDDEN GEMS

For views like no other, go to Le Massif on Québec’s Atlantic coast, with its convex pistes appearing like springboards ready to throw you into the shimmering Gulf of St Lawrence below. Advanced skiers will enjoy dodging the trees in the glades, while for piste skiers, the twisting, turning runs open suddenly to reveal tankers picking their way through a maze of ice en route to the Great Lakes. Can’t ski, won’t ski... When you fly into Québec City, spend a couple of nights in the historic walled city, then stay in the artists’ colony of Baie St Paul, with its galleries and excellent restaurants, befitting Québec’s gastronomic capital. CN

Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste

35m-805m/ 114ft-2,641ft

PISTES LE MASSIF Lifts Area

6 406 acres

35 20

HOW MUCH? Lift pass £279 Ski hire £112 Transfer 60mins

lemassif.com

Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste

HOW MUCH? Lift pass £125 Ski hire £60 Transfer 80mins

VAUJANY Why there? Ski a huge area from a cute hamlet Vaujany is the ultimate ‘backdoor’ resort — a pretty, rustic village linked by cable car to Alpe d’Huez, with its 250km (155 miles) of slopes and 80 lifts. The area has some great runs and there’s lots of vertical with the famous 16km Sarenne run arguably the longest in the world, starting from the Pic Blanc at 3,300m (10,925ft) and descending 2,200m. The return to Vaujany can be made by cable car or on skis with a short lift back to the peace of the village. AW √√ Sunny outlook ×× No slope direct to village vaujany.com

Why there? Development of this pretty village is coming fast, so visit now

ALTITUDE

√√ Culture and good food in an awayfrom-it-all spot ×× Baie St Paul is 25 minutes from the slopes, but there is a train shuttle

WHAT WE THINK…

ANDERMATT

Andermatt was the secret retreat of a dedicated, offpiste cognoscenti before an Egyptian millionaire and Scandinavia’s SkiStar resorts started giving it a facelift, creating six upmarket hotels and 490 apartments on the outskirts of the village, which has two ski areas. The Gemsstock at 2,960m (9,720ft) is a huge off-piste area with no easy skiing at the top and just a couple of black and red runs groomed. The easier Nätschen mountain will be linked with Sedrun in 2015-16, creating a single area with more than 125km (80 miles) of pistes — hopefully before the crowds arrive. Can’t ski, won’t ski... Visit the church of St Peter and Paul (1602), richly decorated with gold, stucco and frescoes and the two museums. There are 20km of paths and tobogganing at Nätschen. AW √√ Many off-piste routes, good snow √√ Relatively simple train transfer from Zurich ×× Lifts to the two mountains are at opposite ends of the village ×× Could have a wider range of mountain restaurants andermatt.ch

WHAT WE THINK… Snow Lifts Lack of queues Restaurants Mountain food Charisma Ski schools Low budget Off-piste

ALTITUDE 1,445m-2,960m/ 4,740ft-9,720ft

PISTES ANDERMATT Lifts 20 Piste 86km/ 54miles

HOW MUCH? Lift pass £208 Ski hire £108 Transfer 195mins

46 32

How would you rate the resorts you’ve visited? Read details of more than 400 resorts alongside Ski Club members’ reviews at skiclub.co.uk/skiresorts then post your own review

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY October 15

October 24-26

November 15

Swiss Ski Demo

Ski and Snowboard Show North

Big Ski

The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead

Try out Swiss-made Movement and Faction skis with technique tips from Ski+board expert Mark Jones and avalanche safety workshops, plus wine and snacks. 7pm to 9.30pm. Free for Ski Club members who can register on a first-come, first-served basis.

October 17

Ski Club Leaders’ Alumni Buffet Supper The White House, Wimbledon, London

EventCity, Manchester

The Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Show brings the mountains to Manchester. 10am to 5pm (from 9am on Saturday). £10, two-for-one for Ski Club members.

Braehead SnowFactor, Glasgow

Try out this season’s skis with Ellis Brigham. 11am-4pm. Free with entry to SnowFactor, which is £36 for 4 hours’ slope time or £31 for 2 hours.

November 20 October 25

Ski Club Northern Drinks Reception and Ski Quiz Old Trafford, Lancashire CCC

Annual General Meeting of the Ski Club The White House, Wimbledon, London

Convivial evening of drinks and brainteasers. From 6pm. Free for members.

Ski Club members can have their say at the yearly meeting of the Ski Club of Great Britain. 7pm, free.

October 30-November 2

November 26

Ski and Snowboard Show London

Big Ski

6.30pm. £20 in advance.

Earls Court 2, London

The show comes to London in time for half-term. Thursday 11am to 9.30pm, Friday 10am to 9.30pm, weekend 10am to 6pm. £12, two-for-one for Ski Club members.

Tamworth Snowdome

Ellis Brigham’s ski demo gives you a chance to try out many of this season’s new skis in the Midlands. 8pm to 10.30pm. Free with entry to the Snowdome, which is £37 for three hours’ slope time.

For more details visit skiclub.co.uk/eventscalender or look at the Ski Club’s events page on Facebook — Ski Club members often get preferential rates or can register free.

IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE NOW YOU CAN SKI ANTARCTICA Skiing the seventh continent becomes possible as travel companies break new ground.

BOOT REVIEW These boots are made for… both walking and skiing. We rate this season’s models, which combine lighter weights and grippy soles with good performance on and off-piste. You can receive Ski+board for free by joining the Ski Club and can download it from the App Store (search for Ski+board Magazine). Read back issues at skiclub.co.uk/skiandboard

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* Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Valid only on production of a Ski club GB membership card at the till point or discount code online. Discount available on full price items only. Offer expires 31.12.14.