J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

I think the answer depends on who you are and how you travel. Plenty of younger, fitter people would think the risk is acceptable; plenty of older, less fit people would say no it isn't. There are just endless arguments on either side. There doesn't seem to be much evidence that there's much coronavirus transmission on the slopes or lifts when virus measures are in place; the problems come with hotels and restaurants, but again where these are properly managed infections seem rare, ...and much lower than in workplaces, on city centre public transport and other cramped areas that continue to operate. You can find countries like Norway and Finland where ski areas are open with common sense restrictions in place that have low virus rates and countries like France and Italy where ski resorts are closed but there and still high rates. So there are double standards I think and shutting ski areas is the easier decision for governments, popular with the majority of the population that don't ski, and makes them look like they're doing something.

St Anton have announced this evening that they are also shutting down their skiing indefinitely due to the new regulations. Austria has also extended the closure of hotels to "at least Easter".

Crystal, the UK's largest ski holiday operator, have announced that due to the continued impact of Covid-19 on worldwide travel and ski resorts, it won't be operating any holidays this season.

All impacted customers will be proactively contacted to discuss a range of flexible options, the company says. These include amending their holiday to a future season with an incentive, or cancelling and receiving a refund.

Crystal say they are already seeing high demand for next winter and has a wide range of ski holidays on offer from 6 December 2021 until 10 April 2022 available to book now.

Chris Logan, Managing Director at Crystal Ski Holidays, said:

"We're so disappointed not to be able to get our customers to the mountains this winter and we'd like to thank them for their continued patience, understanding and support. We know skiers and snowboarders are desperate to get back on the snow and we're now looking forward to making next winter one to remember."

Several ski areas in Austria's Tirol region have closed until further notice after the province brought in new operating restrictions.

The most high-profile change is that skiers must now either be in possession of evidence that they have recently had a negative coronavirus test result (within the preceding 48 hours), or evidence that they have had, and recovered from, coronavirus within the past six months.

Random checks will be carried out at ski areas to check that skiers are complying.

Solden is one of the areas to announce its closure, issuing a statement saying,

"Due to the current developments with renewed tightening for the Tyrolean ski areas, the Bergbahnen Sölden unfortunately no longer see themselves in a position to guarantee a satisfactory and responsible ski operation."

However other areas, including the SkiWelt, have said they'll stay open for now.

Austria's re-opened its ski areas on Christmas Eve but only to people staying locally, with hotels closed.

More recently it required skiers to wear surgical standard face masks, the toughest mask-wearing requirement in the ski world.

A number of up to now mostly smaller ski areas have closed because of the various pandemic operating requirements and limited numbers of people able to buy tickets, saying its not viable for them to open.

SwingBeep wrote:They are concerned about the spread of the new variants, B.1.1.7 now accounts for 18% of new infections in Italy. It is likely that the COVID-safe operating procedures do not take into account the increased transmissibility of the new variants.

Yes I can understand their thinking. It just seems unfortunate they allowed resorts to believe they would be allowed to open, sell tickets, employ people etc up to a little more than 12 hours before opening. You would just have thought the B.1.1.7 variant fears would have been known sooner? But all academic now amyway...

SwingBeep wrote:According to reports in the Italian press the opening of the ski areas in Italy has been postponed until 5th March

Yes nice doing that the evening before they were ready to open, after lift tickets had been sold, slopes prepared and months of COVID-safe operating procedures worked out and seemingly painstakingly approved by all the different official bodies...

GB Snowsport athlete Charlotte Bankes has been crowned the 2021 Snowboard Cross world champion at the International Ski Federation Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships in Idre Fjall, Sweden.

25-year-old Charlotte was first in yesterday's qualifying and followed that up with a dominant performance in today's action. In a close final she beat current Olympic champion, Michaela Moioli, who took the silver and the current world champion, Eva Samkova who took bronze.

Charlotte, who clinched silver at the 2019 World Championships, said: "I am extremely proud to win gold at the World Championships and to be the first GB Snowsport athlete to win a Snowboard Cross World Championship. It feels like the hard work is paying off and everything is coming together.I've had a great week on this track, it's been really fast, and I am really pleased I managed to hold it together in the final and stay on my feet. I had fun racing with the girls, Michela and Eva pushed me all the way and I'm really sorry for Belle (Brockoff), it was a really tight race and unfortunately, she crashed out because of me. I want to say a massive thanks to the GB Snowsport coaches and wider team, but also the GB Snowsport Ski Cross team as well. We've worked as one team all preseason and it is great that they were there to watch and to be able to share this with them means a lot. This win means even more after the really difficult year we have all had. This medal is for all of GB."

Vicky Gosling, GB Snowsport CEO commented: "We have said that we will change perception, break boundaries and take Britain to heights way behind expectation and we are doing just that. It has been a particularly tough period because of cancelled events due to COVID-19, but despite this, Charlotte's resilience, spirit, dedication, and hard work has clearly paid off. It is an incredible result for Charlotte, and I want to give credit to the wider GB Snowsport team who are working hard behind the scenes to help make sure our athletes can compete at the highest level."

hymac580 wrote:Watch it live on BBC!
It's on BBC iplayer. Just watched men's super G.

So you're saying live, or available any time and completely free? Hmmm, I don't know, sounds too radical really. I just can't see that catching on when we can pay Amazon/Sky/Eurosport to not put it on...

That said, am only seeing the men's race? though that's better than Amazon Prime/Eurosport when if to form they wont have men's or women's Super Gs up until tomorrow...