Posts tagged skiing news
Ski resorts opening early for winter 2008-09 season
Nov 24th
A report by snowboardclub.co.uk has revealed that a number of ski resorts have opened early for this season.
Italy’s Livigno resort has opened a fortnight early with offers of free skiing for early arrivals to the resort.
The Spanish resort of Formigal has opened at its earliest time for 15 years and is one of the largest ski areas currently open with around 63km of piste.
The Canadian resort of Alberta has all of its three Banff resorts now open, following the opening of Sunshine recently.
In addition to these around 20 resorts in the Alps and over 50 in Scandinavia have already opened providing British skiers with a wealth of choice for ski breaks this season.
Top ski resorts as season gets underway
Nov 5th
As the first flakes of snow fall on ski slopes throughout Europe and further afield, many ski enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting season at one of the many stunning winter resorts.
Some of the most popular resorts in Europe this season will include Arlberg, Austria, Chamonix, France and Verbier, Switzerland. America’s top destinations for the winter include Whistler, Sun Valley and Jackson Hole.
For top level skiiers looking to enjoy their sport in some of the World’s top skiing destinations Europe offers the Three Valleys resort if France, which is one of the most famous ski areas on the continent. It offers more than 410 miles of slopes connected exclusively by runs and lifts.
Those British skiiers seeking long and coasting slopes should look into winter holiday breaks at Switzerland’s Davos resort. Its five ski areas covering both sides of the valley offer an endless variety of terrain.
The Aspen ski resort in Colorado has long since been a favourite of British holidaymakers wishing to sample the “champagne powder” which covers the slopes. The three mountains that make up the resort, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountains offer a range of slopes for vaying abilities.
For skiiers seeking a skiing break on a budget there are a good selection of package deals and special offers on this season – holiday experts are advising travellers to shop around to find the best bargains.
Top tips for booking the perfect French ski break
Oct 13th
Recent research by the Guardian newspaper has compiled a range of top tips and useful hints for booking the ideal skiing holiday in France.
To avoid the crowds plan your holiday for January or March time, which have the best deals as they are outside of peak times.
A driving holiday will provide greater flexibility and drving over night could make travelling with children easier, as they are likely to sleep through most of the journey.
Skiiers with their own equipment will find flying with low cost airlines expensive due to the additional charges. Airlines such as Snowjet and BA may be worth looking into for good deals.
Ensure the children are well catered for in advance. France has some of the most sophisticated childcare in the Alps and ski schools are always very well organised.
Many French ski resorts offer loyalty discounts for returning skiiers, which could save money on lift passes and equipment hire. Many resorts also offer free or discounted passes for children, depending on their age.
Southampton now offers new ski break flights
Sep 26th
Flights from Southampton will now include the destinations Grenoble and Zurich which will be offered by Blue Islands, an airline based in the Channel Islands. Flights to Zurich will depart daily during the week with an extra flight being introduced on Sundays as of October 26th.
Blue Islands will join the airline Flybee in offering flights to Geneva.
Holidaymakers departing from Southampton will now have the choice of eight winter ski destinations across Europe.
Southampton airport customer service director, Mark Knox, said: “It‚s fantastic that Southampton Airport will be offering passengers such a wide variety of ski holidays this winter. Ski enthusiasts can fly from their local airport to literally hundreds of Europe‚s leading ski resorts.
New solar powered ski lift for Austrian resort
Sep 16th
The “SkiWelt- Kitzbƒ¼heler Alpen‚ ski resort in Tirol, Austria is to unveil a revolutionary news solar powered ski lift which will come into service for the coming ski season.
The solar powered conveyer belt and T-bar style lift will take skiers and snowboarders from near the swimming lake at Brixen up to a new 8-seater cableway.
The aptly named “Sonnenlift‚ is a worldwide innovation with a photovoltaic system that provides enough energy to power the lift even when the weather is poor.
From December this year the ski areas of Kals and Matrei will be joined and will form East Tirol‚s largest skiing area with 100kms of piste and guaranteed snow cover.
Spring may be prime time for a winter holiday
Sep 5th
Many american resorts are aiming to cater for the traditionally non-ski times of year with a range of new and exciting activities such as dogsledding, snowshoeing.
Activities such as kayaking are also highly popular with holidaymakers at holiday locations such as Lake Tahoe, voted number one ski destination by Orbitz in 2007/2008.
Holidaymakers are advised to research their winter holiday destination for non-ski events and activities that will add to their vacation experience.
Non-ski activities also provide travellers with the opportunity to get to know the culture and delights of the area around their chosen destination.
Return of avalanche cords
Aug 21st
Holidaymakers opting for a skiing holiday may soon be able to make their experience even safer. The “Flash Avalanche‚, a new avalanche safety system used largely by off piste skiers, is about to come onto the market.
The new concept provides an alternative to the previously very popular avalanche beacons. The selling point of the new product is four cords which are only released in the event of an avalanche occurring. The 10m red polyester cords disperse out around the skier who then follows a cord to the surface. The “Flash Avalanche‚, weighing a mere 220 grams and worn on the wrist, will be available in September 2008.
Other such products include the avalanche ball, a spring loaded ball with cord which is worn on the skiers rucksack.
For more information visit: www.flash-avalanche.com
Austrian resort has new snowmaking scheme
Aug 21st
The popular ski resort of Alpbach in southern Austria now has a new reservoir to enhance the snowmaking capacity of the system already in place.
At a cost of four million Euros the new Jochanger reservoir will eliminate the need to use high energy compressors for snowmaking. Instead using natural water pressure it will serve the snow making equipment of both Albach and its neighbouring resort Reith.
10km of new pipelines have been installed in addition to the new reservoir and a new pumping station has been installed higher on the pistes in the Wiedersbergerhorn area with extra care taken to preserve the natural environment of the location
easyjet to offer new Gatwick to Salzburg service
Aug 18th
From 13th December UK holidaymakers will be able to fly to Austria‚s popular skiing destination of Salzburg from Gatwick.
This newly announced service from easyjet puts an end to the frustrations of British skiers wanting a more direct connection between London and the Austrian skiing resort.
Easyjet will be offering the flights three times a week with prices starting from ‚£32.99 one way.
David Osbourne, the general commercial manager for easyjet, said: “We expect the route to be popular with passengers seeking both a city break away and a great ski destination for those looking to hit the slopes this winter.
