Messages posted by : J2SkiNews
Ski areas across the Alps have been reporting snowfalls of up to 20cm on their highest slopes over the last 24 hours. Italy's Passo Stelvio, one of four glacier ski areas currently open in the Alps, reported 25cm (10") of fresh snowfall as temperatures dipped (webcam image below). There was also heavy snowfall and low visibility on high slopes at Tignes and the Hintertux glacier (pictured above). 
The snowfall follows after the only glacier currently open for skiing in Scandinavia, Norway's Galdhopiggen, reported 40cm of snowfall in the past week. However, the unsettled conditions, with rain and fog at some lower altitude areas, has led to summer events being cancelled in many ski areas or postponed until conditions improve. Some glacier ski lifts were also temporarily closed. A fifth Alpine glacier resort, Switzerland's Saas Fee, is expected to open for summer skiing and what's effectively the start of its nine-month long 25-26 ski season next weekend. Summer snowfall is not unusual on glaciers but increasingly welcome as the bigger picture ifs of rising temperatures and rain rather than snowfall at high altitudes in summer. The cold weather and snow, mostly above 3,000m altitudes, has occurred just over a week after record high June temperatures pushed the freezing point several hundred metres above the summit of Mont Blanc in June for what's believed to be the first time ever. Bonneval, over the back of Val d'Isere, pictured below earlier today.  |
|
Schladming-Dachstein ski region is continuing its move towards bringing in international rock and pop stars for its season opening weekend, competing with fellow Austrian resort Ischgl. The resort has announced that the world-famous Backstreet Boys will take to the stage at Schladming to start the season. The US boyband follow a three nights-of-gigs extravaganza last winter with Bryan Adams, Sting and Simply Red playing successive evenings in 2024, and Robbie Williams who played two nights in 2023 The famous boy band, who have sold over 130 million records, renowned for their chart-topping hits and high-energy performances, will be performing exclusively on Saturday 6 December, bringing their iconic sound to the heart of the Alps. Fans can look forward to hearing timeless hits such as 'I Want It That Way' and 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)', as well as newer songs from their reunion and comeback albums. The Schladming-Dachstein holiday region is one of the biggest in Austria and the Alps, a four-sector ski area comprising Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm delivering 230 kilometres of slopes across nine mountains. This is complemented by 77 state-of-the-art cable cars and ski lifts, as well as over 100 ski huts. |
|
What's billed as the world's toughest 400 metres race, The Red Bull 400, returns to Courchevel's Le Praz ski jump on Sunday, July 13th. The race involves an average gradient of 36° but in reality getting progressively steeper, reaching 78° at the point where jumpers heading in the opposite direction would get airborne. "Success will require sheer strength of the legs and the mind. It's a dry climb, a short, ultra-intense race at an altitude of 1,300 metres, where each participant, whether solo or in a four-person relay, will have to find the resources to reach the finish," a Courchevel spokesperson explains. The contest attracts athletes from all walks of life, from fitness to running to crossfit and HIIT, professionals and amateurs, all united by the same desire: to push their limits and test their cardio. There are separate men's and women's competitions and a mixed relay where teams of four tackle 100 metre sections each. Courchevel say the race is the equivalent of a 40-storey uphill sprint... but against the void. Courchevel plan a full day around the competition itself to entertain participants and their supporters alike. There'll be other fitness activities throughout the day, an after-party and the possibility of bivouacking under the stars after the fireworks. 
Images credit: Stephane Candé / Red Bull Content Pool |
|
It's been a good few days at Australia's largest resort, Perisher, with the resort reporting powder conditions after another 35cm of fresh snow arrived overnight. The resort also announced that their new Mt Perisher 6 Chairlift (the 'Mt P 6') is now ready for guests to access Australia's highest lifted point and that it will spin for the first time this Friday 27 June.
The brand new $26M investment into the guest experience at Perisher will mean less wait times (almost halving the trip to the top when compared with the previous Mt Perisher Triple and Double Chairlifts), more choice of runs and a wider ride down Mt Perisher thanks to the removal of 17 lift towers during construction.
The new 6-seater lift will be comfortable, spacious and ultramodern delivering a faster load and a smoother ride. It will provide high-speed access to reach the summit in approx. 5.5 minutes and improve mountain flow, helping reduce congestion and improve guest circulation across the resort. It will also offer superior wind performance due to being built with a wider rope gauge and advanced technology to handle wind on Mt Perisher better than ever before. All of this means more laps, less waiting, and more time enjoying everything Mt Perisher has to offer.
Guests will also be able to access the newly named 'Legends' run, which was previously Towers Run. The new name is a tribute to the individuals who have significantly contributed to the resort's history. This "Hall of Fame" trail will be updated with new inductees over time, recognising their efforts and dedication to Perisher. |
|
The one US ski area that still has lifts and slopes open, above 6,000m, has staged its annual; 'Freedom Shred' in honour of the anniversary of the ending of slavery in the country. Since 2021 Juneteenth, officially 'Juneteenth National Independence Day' has been a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery for most in the US in 1865. Timberline ski area on Mt. Hood in Oregon is the only ski area still operating lifts and runs, above approximately 2000m/6000 feet, following the season-ends at Arapahoe Basin, Beartooth Basin and Mammoth Mountain last weekend. There's still a hike-to terrain park open weekends at Copper Mountain in Colorado however.
|
|
There have been some huge snowfalls in the Andes as the 2025 season in South America has begun. Nevados de Chillan, which is yet to announce an opening date, is pictured above on Friday. Chile's Valle Nevado is the first on the continent to open, reporting over 56cm (nearly two feet) of snowfall in its first 24 hours of operations. It's opened about a third of its terrain initially and the snow is expected to keep dumping through to Tuesday. Originally scheduled to open on June 20, Valle Nevado dropped the ropes a week early thanks to its high-elevation terrain, the current powerful early-season storm cycle, ideal snowmaking conditions, and the hard work of its mountain operations team. The resort also opened early in 2024 at the start of what turned out to be one of the longest and most successful winters in its history.
Ahead of the 2025 ski season, Valle Nevado has invested over $3.4 million USD in capital improvements and upgrades both on and off the slopes, setting the stage for an exceptional winter. Enhancements include lift modernization, hotel renovations, expanded terrain, and new on-mountain amenities designed to elevate the ski experience in the Chilean Andes. The only other ski areas to announce opening dates so far in the Andes are El Colorado, which shares the Tres Valles linked ski area in Chile with Valle Nevado and la Parva which announced yesterday it will open from Thursday. Portillo says it will open next weekend. |
|
New Zealand's 2025 season is underway with Cardrona (pictured), Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt and The Remarkables opening earlier today. These are not the first to open for 2025 with the Stratford Ski Club opening their Manganui ski field last weekend before rain stopped play and Whakapapa has had a snow play area maintained by all-weather snowmaking open at weekends too, however they are the first to fully open daily for the season. Mt Hutt opened with an impressive 125cm base and 80% of its terrain open, a much higher percentage than any other southern hemisphere ski area yet open. However there was a final twist in its aim to be the first in the country to open. Having had to abandon its plans to open early on May 31st then June 7th due to too little then too much snow, it had to cancel its plans to open on its original date, Friday 13th, after dangerous avalanche conditions above its access road led to a third delay decision. So it eventually opened a day later than planned, today. By Saturday though, weather conditions couldn't have been more perfect – a beautiful sunrise above the clouds, with cold temperatures and no wind. At Cardrona the snowmaking guns were on full blast and bragging rights were up for grabs for the 2025 First Chair t-shirt winners, with some of them lining up at the bottom of the Cardrona access road from 1am this morning. When the road opened at 5.30am, it was all on, and the six winners finished with a foot race to the McDougall's Chondola lift line to claim their spot on the first chairlift ride for the season. Eager skiers and snowboarders scored their first turns on McDougall's, and some of the country's smallest worked out their very first turns in the Beginners' Area.
Opening Day at Cardrona is a culmination of a summer of the biggest set of resort developments in modern New Zealand ski area history, including the new Soho Basin and Soho Express, which sees it now become the country's largest ski area. There's also a new base building with atrium, retail and dining, a t-bar to service world-class training facilities, sealing the bottom section of the access road, and snowmaking and carparking upgrades. The Cardrona team proudly launched their new Cardrona Corner retail shop, atrium space and courtyard today. The ski area will officially bless and hold the opening ceremony for the Soho Express chair and 150ha of new terrain on June 28th. More terrain and lifts will open as snow conditions allow. |
|
Eurostar has announced its snow train service between London St Pancras and the French Alps, Eurostar Snow, will return for next winter, the 2025/26 ski season. Tickets will go on sale in a month's time. The service, which involves a train change at Lille, will run for longer next season than last and the company says there'll be a new seven-day return option, alongside the existing eight-day return.
The service will run every weekend from December 20th 2025 to April 5th 2026 and tickets will be available from July 10th, with fares starting at £99 each way.
Iain Martin from The Ski Podcast travelled on the inaugural Snow Train service. You can listen to how his journey went in Episode 195. Provisional timetable (subject to change) OUTBOUND - SATURDAY London St Pancras depart 09:01 Lille Europe arrive 11:26 Transfer in Lille Lille Europe depart 11:50 Chambéry arrive 15:43 Albertville arrive 16:26 Moûtiers arrive 17:00 Aime-La Plagne arrive 17:23 Landry arrive 17:34 Bourg-St-Maurice arrive 17:45 INBOUND - SATURDAY / SUNDAY Bourg-St-Maurice depart 13:45 / 10:54 Landry arrive 13:52 / 11:00 Aime-La Plagne arrive 14:04 / 11:12 Moûtiers arrive 14:22 / 11:30 Albertville arrive 14:45 / 11:55 Chambéry arrive 15:45 / 12:50 Lille Europe arrive 20:00 /17:18 Transfer in Lille Lille Europe depart 21:05 / 18:35 London St Pancras arrive 21:27 / 18:57 |
|