Sport magazine 475

Snow WinTeR SpoRT SpeciAl 2016/17

The best resorts. The coolest kit.

Snowboarders Travis Rice and Aimee Fuller

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s p o r t

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Snow cover: Tim Zimmerman/Red Bull Content Pool. This page: David Robinson/Red Bull Content Pool

w i n t e r

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“ t h e j u m p i n g i n m oto c r o s s g ot m e h o o k e d – i lov e d b e i n g a i r b o r n e ” p04

f e at u r e s

d e s t i n at i o n s

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aimee Fuller British snowboarder with big hopes in big air for the 2018 Winter Olympics

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crested butte The authentic jewel in the Colorado crown. Plus: Are and Cortina d’Ampezzo

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lech Charming Austrian resort ideal for intermediates; also, monkeys in Japan!

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travis rice Legendary US boarder on pushing himself to new limits on tricky terrain

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Finnmark A stunning Arctic Circle wilderness made for fans of remote backcountry

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la grave Head to France for some of the most challenging off-piste skiing on Earth

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k i t 20

skiing The best new skis, boots and jackets – plus the Douchebag you’ll be genuinely proud to own

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snowboarding The board at which you’ll happily chuck a grand

New tricks British snowboarder Aimee Fuller is ready for a big season on the slopes, with the 2018 Winter Olympics in her sights Words Sarah Shephard

Aimee Fuller’s first Winter Olympic experience ended in controversy. After

exiting the slopestyle event at the semi-final stage in Sochi in 2014, she moved into the BBC commentary box.

There, her enthusiasm for seeing teammate and good friend Jenny Jones win Britain’s first Olympic medal on snow proved too much for some. More than 300 people complained to the BBC about the excitable commentary from Fuller, presenter Ed Leigh and ex-UK snowboarding champ Tim Warwood, who all dissolved into tears after Jones secured her historic bronze medal.

Almost three years on, the 25-year-old is out to leave a rather different mark on the next Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018.

“I’ve learnt so much since Sochi,” she tells Sport. “It was a great experience, but I was young. I had this gung-ho mentality: ‘Go big or go home.’ I went big. It didn’t work out. But I’m excited to work towards the next one.”

David Robinson/Red Bull Content Pool

Olympic build-up starts now

“The first World Cup of the season is in Milan this weekend, where I’ll be competing in the big air event. It’s a new discipline in the Olympics, which I’m planning to compete in as well as slopestyle in Pyeongchang. Big air is basically about landing the biggest, most explosive trick you can. There’s no holding back – you have to give it everything. It’s the best feeling when you land a big trick for the first time in that high-pressure environment.”

All about air time

“The GB Park and Pipe team has facilitated Europe’s first ‘supertramp’ [a huge trampoline] in Scotland. It’s great to have the

opportunity to train in a low-risk environment in our own country. On a day you snowboard, you probably get in the air about three times per run, which is about six seconds of air time. On the trampoline, it’s easier to get more time in the air, which is so important.

It breaches the gap between our dry-land training – such as strength and conditioning – and what we do on our snowboards.”

Endure and explode

“Sometimes we start riding at seven in the morning and don’t get off the hill until six in the evening, so you need endurance to be able to ride all day. You also need explosive strength because each slopestyle run lasts about a minute and a half, and each trick is very explosive. Mobility on the board is important, too, so I’ve been doing yoga as well as a lot of strength work, like squats.

Our sport is fast, it’s dangerous and it’s high-impact. So you have to be ready to take those slams when things don’t go to plan.”

Motorbikes and leotards

“I did motocross from the age of four until I was 12. It really helped me because you have to read the line of the track and be able to flow with the transitions, which is very much like snowboarding. The speed and jumping got me hooked. I loved being airborne on a bike – I just wanted to go as big as I could on the jumps. I also did a couple of years of gymnastics from the age of 10. That gave me the ability to do backflips and other things that have only helped my snowboarding.” @sarahsportmag Keep up with the results of Aimee’s season on fis-ski.com and facebook.com/gbparkandpipe

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“Our sport is fast, it’s dangerous and it’s high-impact. You have to be ready to take those slams when things don’t go to plan”

ski to a happy life Outdoor and adventure travel writer Sophie Nicholson runs through the 12 resorts you simply don’t want to miss out on this season

Crested Butte United States Daniel Milchev/Getty Images, Howard Kingsnorth/Getty Images, www.jonaskullman.se

Best For Steep and deep skiers looking to channel their inner cowboy Arguably the last remaining gem in Colorado’s world-famous portfolio of ski towns, Crested Butte is overflowing with authentic skier soul.

Located a mere 35 miles as the crow flies from Aspen, Crested Butte has a vibe that couldn’t feel further away from the glitzy celeb-fuelled world that exists just over the hill. ‘Crusty Butt’, as it is also affectionately known, is a genuinely welcoming place of locally owned businesses and ‘real’ people who are fiercely proud of their funky little Rocky Mountain cowboy town.

And rightly so. The feel here is cute without being twee, friendly without being fake. It caters for all budgets and tastes

without making your experience feel too slick or manufactured.

The town is up there with some of the best resorts on the planet, but it’s the skiing that really sets Crested Butte apart. This is ‘steep and deep’ country, with acres of generally north-facing terrain best suited to intermediate and expert skiers.

Whether you’re looking to hone your tree-skiing skills or get comfortable with exposure, Crested Butte offers you an excellent opportunity to push the limits.

With an annual average snowfall of more than 7.5m, powder days are a regular occurrence – so make sure you bring your fat skis to the cowboy party.

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Altitude 2,715m HigHest Point 3,707m ski AreA 1,547 acres, 15 lifts online www.skicb.com Fly to Denver or GunnisonCrested Butte six-dAy liFt PAss Around $540, depending on dates

did you know?

Just 10 miles from Crested Butte lies Irwin, which receives three times the amount of snow and hosts a luxury cat-skiing facility

samoens

France

Best For Skiers of all levels wanting a traditional alpine gem Situated in the Grand Massif and reachable in an hour from Geneva airport, the family-friendly, traffic-free village of Samoens offers convenience, excellent skiing and alpine authenticity in equal measure.

With access to 265km of mainly northfacing terrain, the skiing in the Grand Massif is up there with the best in France. Piste skiers will love the 14km blue run ‘Les Cascades’, which goes from Grandes Platieres to Sixt-Fer-a-Cheval; experts will be kept happy for days in the fantastic Gers bowl – a huge off-piste area with 800m of vertical drop.

If you’re looking for a little après following a day on the mountain, the best place to head is La Reposette – a bustling bar with excellent service, delicious food and fantastic mountain views. If you prefer to refuel on hot chocolates and tarte aux myrtilles, then any number of the super patisseries and cafes surrounding the quaint main square will see you right.

If you like your resorts on the secret side, be warned – the word on Samoens is out.

With Club Med set to open a 1,100-bed super resort here next winter, the time to experience the original Samoens is definitely now.

Altitude 671m HigHest point 2,665m ski AreA 265km, 67 lifts online hiver.samoens.com Fly to Geneva six-dAy liFt pAss €242

did you know?

Samoens is the only French ski resort to be classified as a national heritage site

Åre Sweden Best For Skiers looking for a snow-sure resort with Scandinavian style Quite possibly the best ski resort in Scandinavia, Åre (pronounced ‘aura’) is a snow-sure destination located 220 miles south of the Arctic Circle. While temperatures might be a tad chilly from time to time, this is a warm and welcoming place with a cosmopolitan vibe.

There are three ski areas to choose from, offering a variety of terrain for all ages and abilities. Duved has the best slopes for practising carving, Åre Björnen is perfect for families with small children, and Åre By is the steepest and most challenging of the three.

Home to northern Europe’s greatest vertical drop, it offers 890m of excellent piste and off-piste skiing. The fantastic lighting system recently installed at Åre By means you can get your piece of piste from 8am right through to 4.30pm, so the lack of early-season daylight hours is no longer an issue.

The best resorts are the ones that combine brilliant skiing with a vibrant atmosphere, and Åre does both extremely well. The village

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itself combines the trendy with the traditional, and has plenty of excellent shops, bars and nightclubs to keep everyone entertained.

Gastro lovers might have their work cut out exploring Åre’s 75 eateries in one trip, but heading to one of the eight restaurants with White Guide status (for the best in the Nordics) would be a good place to start. k Altitude 565m HigHest point 1,274m ski AreA 100 runs, 42 lifts online www.skistar.com/en/Are Fly to Åre Östersund Five-dAy liFt pAss €198

did you know?

This winter you can fly to Åre Östersund airport direct from London Gatwick with easyJet

Finnmark Norway

Orsolya Haarberg/Getty Images

Best For Wilderness-seeking backcountry skiers looking to earn their turns in a magnificent Arctic environment With no lift system or marked pistes to speak of, and no snow cannons or ski patrol to facilitate the experience, Finnmark in northern Norway is definitely not your traditional ‘ski resort’. What it is, however, is one of the best areas for backcountry skiing on the planet.

Backcountry skiing – or ski touring – is one of the fastest-growing sports around, with an estimated six million participants in the United States alone. The flipside of this boom in popularity is that the backcountry is getting busier, which sort of negates the reason many got into the sport in the first place.

No such concerns here. Located deep within the Arctic Circle, Finnmark is a remote

and wild corner of the world that barely sees any human traffic, let alone ski-touring parties. In fact, you’re much more likely to find yourself following an arctic fox or mountain hare down the slopes than a fellow freerider.

This is a stunning place with endless summit-to-sea skiing, all set against the backdrop of the magnificent Arctic fjords.

It really is something else.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the best way to experience Finnmark is to go with a guide.

The Ski Club of Great Britain offers a seven-day lodge-based trip to the area led by Bruce Goodlad – an international mountain guide and technical director of the British Mountain Guides. k

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Altitude 12m HigHest point 1,011m ski AreA 45,757km2 – the whole area, in effect online www.nordnorge.com/en Fly to Alta six-dAy liFt pAss n/a

did you know?

The oldest preserved ski in the world was found in Finnmark – it was a positively ancient 2,300 years old

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lech Austria robertharding.com, Gonzalo Azumendi, lonelyplanetimages.com

Best For Intermediate skiers looking for a classic Austrian ski experience with an elegant twist There’s a charming village in the Austrian Alps where the modern and traditional co-exist, and the streets are filled with equal numbers of Porsches and horse-drawn sleighs. There seems to be no conflict between the old and the new here, and none of the exclusivity or obvious local grumblings that so often plagues other resorts.

This delightful place is Lech in the Arlberg ski area – and, while it may share the same ski pass with the infamous St Anton just over the hill, it is an altogether different kind of place.

The skiing is challenging rather than tough on this side of the Arlberg. Lech’s wide-open pistes are ideally suited to intermediate skiers and, crucially, they never get crowded: the

resort has a policy of capping the number of day passes sold during peak holiday periods.

If you’re looking for a leg-burning, on-piste adventure, the mighty White Ring circuit could be for you. The 22km loop takes in some of the best runs in the area and passes by some superb mountain restaurants that can keep you refuelled along the way.

Lech is all about quality, both on and off the piste, and its clientele are a refined bunch who appreciate the finer things in life. With more award-winning restaurants than any other village in Austria, Lech is literally big on taste. The après scene is sparkly and stylish rather than raucous and rowdy: think cocktails and cigars rather than oversized mugs of beer.

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Altitude 1,450m HigHest point 2,811m ski AreA 305km, 87 lifts online www.lechzuers.com Fly to Friedrichshafen six-dAy liFt pAss €262

did you know?

Four new lifts have enabled travel between the Lech and St Anton sides of the Arlberg ski region for the first time

Cortina d’Ampezzo Italy Best fOr People-watching, mountain-gazing, steep skiing

you’re looking at mega faceshot potential – all day, every day.

When you’re done, take a day off and visit the Jigokudani snow monkey park. Just 33km from Nozawa, the park is home to more than 200 of the famous pink-faced hairy little dudes, who are very good at posing for pics.

Reinhold Messner once described the Dolomites as the most beautiful mountains in the world. As one of the world’s greatest ever mountaineers, he’s worth listening to.

Cortina d’Ampezzo is the jewel in this most spectacular of mountain crowns – the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’, as it is known. Located two hours north of Venice, it is widely considered to be Italy’s most stylish resort and a destination of choice for wealthy locals looking for winter luxury, fine dining at altitude, and perhaps the odd bit of skiing.

There are many who head here for the freeride and not the Ferraris, however. The glitterati don’t venture off-piste much, which means there’s molto untracked potential around Cortina just begging to be explored.

If you’re prepared to hike for the goods, hire a guide and you’ll reap the rewards on classic itineraries such as the Creste Bianche, Bus di Tofana and Canalino del Prete. Then get stuck into an alpine ‘Spritz Hugo’ – a cool mix of Prosecco, elderflower syrup, sparkling water, fresh mint leaves and a slice of lemon. k

Altitude 565m HigHest pOiNt 1,650m ski AreA 734 acres, 20 lifts ONliNe www.nozawaski.com fly tO Tokyo five-dAy lift pAss 23.000 yen

Altitude 1,224m HigHest pOiNt 3,244m ski AreA 115km, 43 lifts ONliNe www.cortinadolomiti.eu/en fly tO Venice or Innsbruck six-dAy lift pAss €264

Nozawa Onsen Japan Best fOr International powder hunters with a penchant for snow monkeys and hot springs By now, we all know that Japan is the place to go if you’re looking for powder snow. With absurd amounts of high-quality, light, dry, fluffy stuff falling with a regularity that Alpine resorts can only dream of, the journey out east has become an annual pilgrimage for powder hunters from across the globe.

Niseko in Hokkaido sees the majority of this traffic but, as a result, it can feel more like Australia than Japan at times. The same can’t be said for Nozawa Onsen, near Nagano on the main island of Honshu. A far more historic and traditionally Japanese kind of place, Nozawa Onsen is as famous for the 13 onsens (hot springs) scattered around the village as it is for the excellent skiing on the mountain.

With annual snowfalls in excess of 10m, 50km of slopes to explore and a 1,085m vertical drop, Nozawa packs a considerable powder punch. Whether you choose to remain in-bounds or venture into the Nozawa sidecountry or backcountry with a guide,

did you know?

The hottest of the natural springs in Nozawa is the 90-degree Ogama Onsen, where you can watch the locals cooking their vegetables

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did you know?

Cortina is home to the steepest slope in the Dolomiti Superski area. The southfacing couloir Forcella Staunies is said to reach up to 64 degrees in places

laax Switzerland

GaudenzDanuser.com

Best For Jibbers and big-air enthusiasts who value style both on and off the mountain As Europe’s leading freestyle destination, Laax is the place to be if you’re into backflips and twin-tips. With four snow parks, 224km of terrain and the world’s largest halfpipe right on the doorstep, it’s little wonder that Laax has become the resort of choice for die-hard snowboarders and freestyle skiers.

When it comes to sessioning the superpipe or jibbing in the terrain park, it’s all about style – and the same can be said for the resort itself. The overwhelming vibe is cool but not grungy, laidback but not exclusive. The locals are friendly and easygoing, welcoming everyone from wannabe mini-shredders to more traditional downhill skiers looking for a more sedate mountain experience. The resort

offers accommodation for all budgets and motivations, from luxury hotels to mini wooden podhouses.

Located two hours from Friedrichshafen airport, Laax is easy to reach and even easier once you’re there. This is a dynamic, forward-thinking resort with a modern public transport network and ski-lift infrastructure that simply works. All the information you will possibly need can be accessed via the Laax Inside app, including weather reports, webcams, lift status and shuttlebus timetables.

With less to stress about off the mountain, you will be able to focus all your energies on finally nailing that switch 360 shifty. k

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Altitude 1,100m HigHest point 3,020m ski AreA 224km, 29 lifts online www.laax.com/en Fly to Friedrichshafen six-dAy liFt pAss 370CHF

did you know?

Completed in 2015, the new 3.3km 10-seater La Siala cable car was designed by Pininfarina – the same company that designs Ferraris

Like a rocket to Stansted Airport Faster to the slopes!

From only ÂŁ8.00 each way. Just 47 minutes, every 15 minutes, by train from London Liverpool Street. For best prices book online at stanstedexpress.com Average scheduled journey time 47 mins between London Liverpool Street (36 mins Tottenham Hale) and Stansted Airport, every 15 mins. Price per person, each way when booked online in advance, or when 4 travel Standard Class return. Online advance offer fares subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

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Baqueira-Beret Spain Best For Intermediate piste skiers and off-piste powder hounds with a penchant for tapas and Tempranillo With excellent snow cover and a great mix of both on and off-piste terrain, Baqueira-Beret offers world-class skiing with a refreshingly laidback Spanish vibe. The frantic first-lift chasing culture so prevalent in other resorts just doesn’t exist here, meaning you can relax and enjoy the unique combination of powder turns and tasty tapas at your own pace.

Located in the Aran Valley, just two hours’ drive from Toulouse, Baqueira-Beret’s ski area extends into four valleys, giving access to around 120km of long, cruising blue and red runs fit for a king. Quite literally, in fact: the current Spanish monarch, King Felipe, and his family are said to be regular weekend visitors throughout the winter season.

Baqueira-Beret is even considered luxurious enough for Victoria Beckham, who used to ski here during husband David’s stint at Real Madrid. A royal and Posh stamp of approval, then.

The pistes offer a royally good intermediate time, but it’s the quality of Baqueira-Beret’s off-piste skiing that makes it a cut above.

When moisture-laden air rolls off the Atlantic and meets cold mountain air, snowy things occur – and that happens on a regular basis here. With an average 9m of fluffy white stuff falling in the area each season, and a local clientele who seldom start skiing before 11am, fresh tracks are the order of the day. Rarely, if ever, do they sell out.

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Altitude 1,500m HigHest point 2,510m ski AreA 120km, 33 lifts online www.baqueira.es Fly to Toulouse six-dAy liFt pAss €240

did you know?

Baqueira-Beret offers some of the cheapest heliskiing in the world, with prices starting at €290 per person for two drops

Val d’Anniviers Switzerland

Best For Backcountry skiers looking for minimal crowds

Gonzalo Azumendi, martinsoderqvist.com, Johner Images

Zermatt, Verbier and St Moritz grab most of the Swiss ski headlines, but that probably suits the folks of the Val d’Anniviers just fine.

With 220km of long, sunny pistes and endless whoop-making off-piste potential, the quality of skiing in the Val d’Anniviers is just as impressive as in the bigger-named Swiss resorts. But there are far fewer people to have to share it with. Throw in superb mountain restaurants and stunning Alpine views, and why so many consider this the best-kept secret in Swiss skiing rapidly becomes clear.

Of the five picturesque and unspoiled villages included in the ski pass, Chandolin is the highest at 1,920m, Vercorin the smallest and St-Luc the sunniest. All five offer excellent skiing, but the best off-piste and ski-touring terrain is accessed from the head of the valley via the recently linked villages of Grimentz and Zinal. If you’re looking for freeride fun, head for the Orzival – a hidden gem of a valley behind Grimentz thought to hold the best powder in the area. It makes sense to hire a guide, who can introduce you to the best steep and deep terrain in this spectacular valley.

Altitude 1,340m HigHest point 3,026m ski AreA 220km, 57 lifts online www.valdanniviers.ch Fly to Geneva or Sion six-dAy liFt pAss 290CHF

did you know?

Access to the Val d’Anniviers is to get even easier, with SwISS announcing a new direct route from London City to nearby Sion starting in February 2017

la grave France Best For Serious skiers. Full stop What can you say about La Grave?

Well, the clue’s in the name: it’s serious.

Sitting in the shadow of the Meije – a spectacular 3,984m peak in the Massif des Ecrins – this legendary site offers some of the best and most challenging lift-accessed off-piste skiing on the planet. With a journey time of around 40 minutes from both Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d’Huez, La Grave is easily accessible – but the skill level required to ski here provides the automatic filter.

Location aside, it bears nothing in common with nearby mainstream resorts. With just 700 tourist beds available in a handful of no-frills guesthouses and hotels, La Grave cannot and does not cater for everyone. What’s more, there’s only one lift – a rickety old telepherique whose passengers tend to be harness-wearing pro freeriders and legendary mountain guides rather than families on their annual ski holiday.

The terrain here is equally raw: spectacular glaciers, crevasses, couloirs and steep rocky faces. There are no pistes, markers or snow

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cannons in La Grave; you don’t necessarily need to be an expert to ski here, but you do need to approach it with respect. The best way to do this is from the Skiers Lodge, which offers accommodation and a guiding service.

If you don’t take La Grave seriously, don’t be surprised if one of its legendary couloirs spits you out faster than you can imagine. k Altitude 1,500m HigHest point 3,600m ski AreA No slopes, one lift online www.la-grave.com/winter Fly to Grenoble six-dAy liFt pAss €258

did you know?

The lease for the historic telepherique is up this year, with locals fearing a commercially-driven takeover. If you’ve a spare €3m, they would love your help

Cervinia Italy

Nicolò Venturin Chabloz

Best For Early-season snow hunters and downhill demons Cervinia is all about superlatives. Boasting the best snow record in Italy, one of the longest ski runs in Europe and situated at the foot of the most iconic of mountains – the Matterhorn – it is rightly considered to be among the world’s top ski resorts.

Located on the sunny side of the Matterhorn, it might not have the international prestige of Zermatt – but this also means a week’s ski holiday in Cervinia has a far more palatable price tag. If you can save yourself £100 simply by purchasing your joint Cervinia/Zermatt lift pass over the border in Italy, then there are clearly gains to be had over on the south side of Toblerone hill.

The price of a coffee might be lower in Cervinia, but the quality of the skiing is tip-top. Long, wide open runs perfectly groomed with Italian precision make it the perfect place to come for some speedy downhill cruising in the sun.

Another mega-plus for Cervinia is its lofty location. Situated at 2,050m, it’s good to go when the early snow starts to fall and normally opens for action by late October.

As the old proverb says: ‘A wise man doesn’t spend his autumn counting down the days until his annual ski holiday. A wise man jumps on a plane to the Alps, gets some early-season turns under his skis in Italy and eats pizza in the sun.’ Be a wise man this autumn.

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Altitude 2,050m HigHest point 3,883m ski AreA 360km, 54 lifts online www.cervinia.it Fly to Turin, Milan or Geneva six-dAy liFt pAss €242

did you know?

Cervinia is home to the ‘Reine Blanche’ – the longest run in the Matterhorn Valley (22km) and one of the longest in Europe. One run, 2,000m of vertical drop

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the style and sophistication of Laax on and off the mountain, or a backcountry skier who appreciates the minimal crowds of the Val d’Anniviers, SWISS can deliver you there with hospitality as good as anything you will find on the ground – and with your skis or board travelling for free.

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Your first set of skis travel for free 17

“Impossible is really just a mindset” Snowboarder Travis Rice tackled the harshest conditions in Wyoming, Japan, Russia and Alaska for his new film Words Graham Willgoss

Travis Rice is something of a snowboarding rock star. The American has two X Games gold medals to his name, but it is his taste for adventure and talent for jaw-dropping manoeuvres in front of the camera for which he is best known.

Rice is also, he tells Sport, a hydrologist.

Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement and distribution of water. In his new film, The Fourth Phase, the 34-year-old follows the flow of the North Pacific Gyre on a 16,000-mile journey to take on dreamlike landscapes in Wyoming, Japan, Russia and Alaska, often in the depths of winter.

“Me and my team wanted to immerse ourselves in the hydrological processes that bring us winter in Wyoming,” Rice tells Sport.

“We went from Wyoming, sailed the Pacific to Japan, up to the Kuril Islands, to Kamchatka [Russia], then back across to Alaska, and down to Wyoming. What I find fascinating is going to places with challenging conditions, like Kamchatka, where you have to bring a

that had made arches at the bottom.

It didn’t really look rideable. But we rode it. And it became a pretty incredible shot.”

“The crew knows better than to use a blanket statement: ‘That’s

unrideable.’ ‘That’s impossible.’

Impossible is really just a mindset, and it’s kind of a lack of creativity. It really comes down to breaking down the simple matterof-fact elements of the task at hand.”

“This crack didn’t look rideable. But we rode it. It was an incredible shot”

everything. Whatever Mother Nature dishes out , we’re going to make the best of.”

“We were trying to film this night segment in Japan. Because of how we wanted to shoot it, we had to bring these heavy, highpowered backlights. So we’re in the heart of winter, it’s cold. Very cold. We have 20 people hiking deep into the backcountry with the goal of trying to pop off our first shots just after sunset. We’re shooting maybe five to 10 shots, but it might take until sunrise. So we’d spend entire

nights out in the brutal cold, storm conditions. That was difficult.”

different mindset to the table to operate. One of the biggest things is

“We encountered wildlife everywhere we went. Even in the cold, deep, dark middle of winter... I’m blown away with what I see.

I’ll be standing at the top of completely glaciated terrain where you just don’t think anything of any size will be alive, and

letting go of expectation. It’s such a set-up for disappointment and perceived failure.”

“Really, as snowboarders, we’re

just creatively expressing ourselves.

Scott Serfas/Red Bull Content Pool

“Snowboarding is so multi-dimensional.

Conditions, when you’re dealing with the biorhythms of Mother Nature, are constantly evolving. We didn’t have the single mindset of: ‘We’re there to ride the big mountain lines in the backcountry.’

Or jib [jump, slide or ride on] trees in the forest. We’re there to ride

there will be wolverine tracks across the ridge top – you’re

The more interesting the terrain and conditions, the more fun it is to try to figure out how to problem-solve your way through riding a particular feature. This crack we rode in Alaska was a very strange geological oddity. It was a shoot that maybe ran 1,200 feet and had 100m walls on the inside and several fallen chalkstones

looking down crazy spines that you’ve just been dropped off on the helicopter to ride.

You’re like: ‘You’ve gotta be kidding me.’” @grahamwillgoss The Fourth Phase premiered on Red Bull TV and is now available on Blu-ray and as a digital download

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kit: ski

All the gear, great idea

Main image of skier Johnny Collinson. Photography by Andrew Miller

Four pages of the best new snow kit on the market, from skiing and snowboarding to the modern rise of backcountry. We’re just too damn good to you

Oakley Mod 5 Helmet

Black Diamond Legend Gloves

Cébé Jorasses Sunglasses

Oakley’s first ever snowsport helmet, the Mod 5 is a premium product that delivers top-quality comfort and protection in droves. Pair the Mod 5 with an Oakley goggle for the ultimate fit, of course. £160 | uk.oakley.com

Black Diamond’s warmest under-the-cuff freeride gloves will keep your hands toasty on cold lift rides. Compressionmoulded padding protects your knuckles from mountain abuse. £105 | blackdiamondequipment.com

Lightweight and durable, comfortable on the nose and temples, the Jorasses come with light-reactive photochromic lenses and side protection that blocks out intense mountain light and glare. £77 | cebe-eyewear.co.uk

Columbia Women’s OutDry Ex Diamond Down Insulated Jacket

The Douchebag and the Hugger 30L

Atomic Hawx Ultra 120 Ski Boot

Lonely Mountain Sneachda Ski

Attach the aptly named Hugger (£130) to the coolest skibag on the block (£200) and you’re in Douchebag heaven. The simple hook-up system removes the need to carry a potentially heavy bag on your back. ellis-brigham.com

An impressive all-mountain boot for hard-charging skiers, the Atomic Hawx Ultra 120 ski boot delivers both power and customisation potential in an incredibly lightweight package. £350 | ellis-brigham.com

Handcrafted in Scotland, the award-winning all-mountain Sneachda really is something special. Playful yet stable, this ski is as happy on the piste as it is in the steeps. What’s more, it looks like a genuine work of art. £750 | lonelymountain.ski

Combining the highest standard of waterproof, breathable and insulation technologies, this game-changer ski jacket might be the only one you’ll ever need. £370 | columbiasportswear.co.uk

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Smith I/07 Goggles

The North Face Free Thinker Gore-Tex Pro

These interchangeable-lens goggles are designed to deliver the widest possible field of view in a range of mountain conditions. The integrated AirEvac ventilation technology helps to eliminate frustrating fogging-up. £190 | smithoptics.com/uk

A technical, innovative and robust ski jacket built to withstand the elements and enable advanced skiers to push their limits in the big mountains. Engineered with Gore-Tex Pro Shell 3L to deliver waterproof and windproof protection. £475 | ellis-brigham.com

Black Diamond Halo 28L JetForce Airbag Rucksack Ideal for powder hounds heading off on short mountain missions, the Halo 28L is a compact and well-conceived backpack that offers the added protection of an airbag should the worstcase scenario occur. £885 | blackdiamond equipment.com

Faction Skis Candide 4.0 Like the legendary French pro Candide Thovex, this version of the ski named after him combines the best of freestyle in the big mountains. Charge the steeps, surf the pow and hit some backcountry booters with these bad boys this winter. £579 | factionskis.com

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Kit: snowboard

Smith Maze Helmet A refreshingly simple and lightweight helmet, the bombproof Maze is made to deliver without overcomplicating the issue.

Ideal for riders who prefer minimal faff but still demand the very best in safety and tech features. £100 | smithoptics.com/uk

Spark R&D Surge Binding A stiff splitboard binding designed for backcountry use, the Surge delivers power, control and comfort across the board. The T1 Tesla system enables easy transitions and the binding is cramponcompatible. £355 | snowboard-asylum.com

Jones Carbon Solution Snowboard

Patagonia Women’s PowSlayer Jacket

The Carbon Solution is a stiff and stable splitboard designed for advanced backcountry riders with an uncompromising approach. Lightweight yet super-strong, it’s a powerhouse of a backcountry tool. £1,095 | snowboard-asylum.com

Main image of snowboarder Iris Lazzareschi. Photography by Fredrik Marmsater

The ultimate pairing for pow-shredding sessions, the PowSlayer jacket and accompanying bibs (£460) are designed to deliver premium storm protection for the deepest of mountain days. £540 | patagonia.co.uk

Burton Toaster Snowboard Boot Liners

Dragon X2 Bryan Iguchi Goggles

GoPro Hero 5 Action Camera

ThirtyTwo Lashed Boa Women’s Boot

Say farewell to frozen feet with the only heated snowboard boot liner on the market. The Toaster liners warm your boots up in less than a minute, using a built-in adjustable heating system. £160 | burton.com

Channel your inner legend with these goggles designed by the inspirational Bryan Iguchi. Built to deliver maximum peripheral vision and protection, leaving you free to focus on the ride. £185 | snowboard-asylum.com

One of the hottest tech gadgets of 2016, the Hero 5 is a fully waterproof 4k action cam with a range of clever new features, including voice commands and electronic image stabilisation. £349.99 | ellis-brigham.com

The best just got better. The world’s number-one-selling boot from ThirtyTwo now comes with BOA tech – a highly rated lacing system designed to deliver the best fit, flex and comfort. £229.99 | thirtytwo.com/uk

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Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Wait For Winter London | Cambridge | Milton Keynes | Bristol Tamworth | Manchester | Liverpool | Chester Castleford | Glasgow | Aviemore | Fort William

Speak to Our Team 0800 035 6483 www.ellis-brigham.com

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kit: backcountry

La Sportiva Sparkle Women’s Boot

Haglofs Touring Proof Jacket & Touring Active Pant

The lightest four-buckle alpine touring boot on the market, the highly rated women’s-specific Sparkle combines a super-efficient walk mode with a stiff forward flex for ultimate downhill performance. £490 | mountainspirit.co.uk

Optimised for backcountry travel, the Touring range is designed to facilitate uphill activity and protect from the elements. All products combine top-quality materials with minimalistic design. £300/£250 | cotswoldoutdoor.com

Main image of skier Sophie Nicholson. Photography by Bruce Goodlad

Dynastar Mythic 97 Skis

Arc’teryx Procline Ski Mountaineering Boot

BCA Shaxe Speed Avalanche Snow Shovel

Salomon MTN Lab Helmet

A serious boot for serious ski mountaineers, the new Procline is a hybrid boot designed to perform on both alpine climbs and technical ski descents.

Strong and versatile. £580 | arcteryx.com

It’s two-for-one time, with this avalanche rescue shovel that doubles as an ice axe. It also comes with hardware that converts skis with tip and tail holes into a rescue sled. £109.95 | freezeproshop.com

Incredibly light and comfortable, this helmet is rapidly becoming a must-have for ski mountaineers because it meets the safety standards for both alpine skiing and mountaineering. £120 | salomon.com/uk

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This lightweight, carbon-enhanced touring ski excels on the uphill and charges on the descent.

It is easy to manoeuvre in tight couloirs and holds a rigid edge when needed. £655 | mountain spirit.co.uk

Andrew Miller Johnny Collinson exploring the Stikine region of the Yukon.

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31/10/16 12:00