Messages posted by : admin
Remember snow will fall some way below the zero line - latest forecast is showing snow down to about 2100m on Thursday and the following days to be a fair bit colder.
Could be any of a number of reasons - higher slopes can get stripped by wind (or lifts can shut due to wind), lower slopes usually have more snow cannons... and the resort may also be preserving major runs for the peak 2 weeks which start this weekend. Good luck! 8) |
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Snowing in Lech today, so there should be enough for the pistes to be good at least.
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Chamonix (and Morzine) should get a bit of snow tomorrow - looks like 10cm+, could be a bit more locally - and the end of the month is looking promising at the moment.
I think Ranchero said he's out (in Chamonix) next week so hopefully he can tell us what's what? |
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Snow Reports by e-mail - New Ski Resorts 2014
Started by User in Snow Forecasts and Snow Reports, 131 Replies |
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Sorry about that Icy - but you weren't the only one... We're transitioning to an updated forecast dataset and just ironing out a few gremlins... We'll be rolling out another batch of resorts shortly and I'll add a note here when they're available. |
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J2Ski Snow Report - December 11th 2014
Snow Report Summary While we continue to wait for decent snow to some parts of Europe, conditions are improving due to much colder weather and the onset of serious snow-making in parts. This Week's Headlines - Snow depths build in the Alps, Dolomites and Pyrenees as temperatures drop. - After early Dec cancellations, FIS gives go ahead for first World Cup races in the Alps. - Heavy snow in New England. - Rain in NW North America. - Scottish mountains turn white thanks to 'weather bomb.' - Big snowfalls in Scandinavia. 
Alpbach, 8th December 2014 The panic over poor snow conditions in Europe has eased over the last week as fresh, albeit generally light, snowfall has been reported daily across the Alps as well as in the dolomites and Pyrenees. Whilst the accumulations are not huge, they're healthy, and crucially have been accompanied by low temperatures allowing snowmaking guns to fire up and build bases for runs. Resorts that had delayed opening have begun doing so, including big names like Courchevel. There's also been fresh snow in Scotland and Scandinavia. Across the Atlantic conditions remain generally great across the continent, although the good news is not quite universal with the north west corner suffering from warm temperatures again. The latest heavy snow has been reported in New England with the deluge in Colorado and Utah finally over for the time being. In the forecast Alpine temperatures are likely to ease a little from the deep cold this week, with the Eastern Alps a little warmer than December averages for a few days. The weather models continue to hint at a change to un-settled (snowy!) conditions around the middle of next week, but they've been teasing us with that change for a week now and keep putting it back... and we're all getting a bit grumpy about that to be frank! Exclusive EXTRA discount on Ski Hire this week Check your Snow Mail! The Alps Austria Austrian ski areas are 'much improved' compared to a week ago with the country's huge snowmaking arsenal now fully operational and natural snow falling too allowing most areas that planned to open this weekend to do so as they hoped. The glaciers do still continue to offer the best conditions however with the Pitztal glacier Austria's highest slopes) reporting the biggest snowfall this week – 30cm in the last 72 hours. But most other resorts have had 10-20cm in the same period. France Most French areas are due to open this weekend if they have not done so already. Thankfully conditions have been improving all week at many French resorts with light to moderate snowfall and temperatures low enough for snowmaking so it looks like most will manage to open at least some terrain, some more than others. In a positive sign yesterday the FIS gave the go ahead to the woman's World Cup racing in Val d'Isere in a week's time having cancelled the planned men's race this weekend a week ago. Courchevel opened limited terrain on Tuesday, four days later than its scheduled opening last Saturday, but a day earlier than the fall back opening day of Wednesday they gave then. Four lifts were initially open (Verdons / Saulire / Vizelle / Marmotte) and three pistes (Verdons / Saulire / Creux) with more ski runs and ski lifts expected to open through the remainder of this week. Italy The snow cannons have been going like crazy all week in Italy, as temperatures have finally dropped low enough, there's also been some natural snow which resorts have been rapidly getting up on social media feeds. In fact the country has some of the best snow depths in Europe, including the deepest, at Passo Tonale, at 3.5m. But another half dozen areas are claiming 2m snow depths on upper slopes, including Cervinia which also has a foot of snow at resort level it says, allowing for top to bottom descents. Madesimo, the Val Senales glacier, Macugnaga and legendary Alagna in Monterosa are all looking very good too. Looking forwards, "A 'good number' of lifts and slopes will open in the next days in all 12 skiing areas of Dolomiti Superski," said sa statemenmt from the huige area, where snowfall is forecast on Sunday evening. Switzerland Swiss resorts have not, so far, been reporting the snowfalls of other parts of the Alps, although more snow is expected over the next few days. Andermatt, with a 290cm base, has the deepest snow in the country on its mountain peaks, but as with most Swiss areas, only has a few centimetres so far at resort level. It's a similar picture at Saas Fee, another of the snowier Swiss areas with a 2.1m base. Nearby Zermatt has an 80cm base at the top of its year round ski slopes, Europe's highest, but nothing in resort. Verbier has only 37cm up top. But generally its higher slopes that are syill looking the best bet across the country with resorts like Engelberg, Glacier 3000 and St Moritz boasting the best base depths. Most areas that have not already opened should be doing so this weekend, and most should be able to open at least limited terrain. Scandinavia Scandinavia continues to report the biggest snowfalls in Europe with Norway's Voss reporting one foot snowfalls every day for three days this week. Snow depths there have now reached 1.5m (five feet) on upper slopes. World Cup races which should have been staged in Courchevel and Val d'Isere this weekend after the Tour returned across the Atlantic will be staged over the next 72 hours at Are in Sweden instead (despite the fact it is not reporting big snow depths – in fact only 5cm on its slopes, possibly as it is not fully open/reporting properly yet – hopefully...). Pyrenees It's a slowly improving picture with some resorts reporting as much as 30cm of snow in recent days, plus temperatures have been low enough for snow making. Vallnord reported it has 40% of its terrain open so far and says it will open more this weekend. Eastern Europe Snow reports from Eastern European resorts remain even more limited than they always are, largely as many are not yet open. Bansko in Bulgaria has had limited terrain open for some time however and reports a 15cm base, up 5cm from last week. Scotland There's been heavy snowfall on Scottish mountains, but as a year ago these have been part of violent storms which saw 110mph storms reported on Cairngorm and pictures of waterfalls being blown back uphill appearing on social media. The road to Glenshee was closed by snow and extreme weather yesterday. So while it is not yet known if there has been 'enough' snow, if there has, when conditions become less extreme it seems likely that at least some Scottish areas will be able to begin opening quite soon. North America Canada Canadas 2014-15 season continues to look good across almost the entire country. It is still snowing in Alberta and British Columbia building on very healthy conditions, and there's been new snow in the East too. Quite a few BC resorts have now passed the 1m accumulated depth mark, with Revelstoke, home to the continent's biggest vertical also boasting the deepest snow pack in the country at present, it got another 23cm of snow in the last 72 hours to reach a 1.2m (four foot) base. But it's looking good at all inland BC and all Albertan ski areas. Whistler's base is slightly smaller at 15-70cm and locals report that in common with other resorts along the NW coast of north America it has been too warm and raining, however it has officially reported more than six inches of new snow in the past few days – presumably up on the glaciers at the top. USA After a great start to the season right across the US most resorts are now open with the deepest snow depths (up to 1.5m) actually being reported by resorts in the Midwest. Resorts around Lake Tahoe got a good snowfall over the weekend with Squaw Valley claiming 90cm of new snow in the storm. There's not been much snow in the West since then this wee though and the biggest snowfalls in the USA of the last 24 hours have been in New England where up to 40cm has been reported at resorts in Maine, Vermont and New York State with Sugarloaf in Maine claiming the biggest accumulations, but Stowe and Killington each reporting 25cm in 24 hours. Despite the generally positive news from the US it's not all good news. The NW corner is, as last season, suffering from little snow cover and resorts in Oregon are delaying opening until more of the white stuff. Crystal Mountain in Washington state, famed for its long season, has reportedly closed again due to limit cover and warm temperatures and Diamond Peak in Nevada has also delayed opening. |
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From the MSP Film "Days of My Youth", this descent of a narrow (!) gully by Cody Townsend won him "Ski Line of the Year" from Powder Magazine...
:shock: :shock:
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24th Bond film, Spectre, will be filmed in the Austrian Tirol
007, the most famous secret agent in the world, will start filming the 24th Bond film, Spectre, in the Austrian Tirol. Daniel Craig, will play Bond for the 4th time, embarking on his alpine adventures along with the other stars in the ski resorts of Sölden, in the Ӧtztal and Obertilliach, in the East Tirol region. This is the largest film production ever to be ‚made in Tirol' and will bring with it not only immediate economic benefits, but also long term media impact, creating future film-tourism opportunities. 
Photo (c) Tirol Werbung - Aichner Bernhard The British production company "B24" will begin filming over the next few weeks As well as lead actor, Daniel Craig, Other stars of the 24th Bond film include Ralph Fiennes, Christoph Waltz, Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux, with Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes ("American Beauty," "Revolutionary Road" and "James Bond - Skyfall"). It is because of the excellent cooperation between Location Austria (FISA Film Location Austria), local communities, tourist boards and mountain railway companies in the Tirolean villages as well as support from the Tirol region and Cine Tirol that James Bond will make his high alpine adventures in the region for the first time. Since January 2014 suitable filming locations were pursued around the world, including in Norway and Italy. Eventually the combined efforts, as well as the logistical and finanical support, convinced the director and production team to choose the locations of Oetztal and East Tirol. In August the production office was set up in Sölden, ready to co-ordinate the planned filming, which is scheduled to take place from mid-January to February 2015. A total of 22 filming days is planned in the Tirol, and at its peak the film crew will consist of 500 people, including 150 local filmmakers covering various positions. The economic benefit of this large-scale film project to the Tirolean region will be huge: taking into account production costs, with accommodation and meals, as well as transportation, accommodation and salaries of the local Tirolean filmmakers it is estimated that 6 million euros will be spent in Tirol. The impact alone on tourism is incredible: about 26,000 overnight stays will be generated by the film crew in Tirol. Furthermore, the filming of this movie will generate major media attention at an international level and also create future film-tourism opportunities for the Ötztal and lesser-known East Tirol region.
And Cine Tirol Director, Johannes Köck, reiterates: "James Bond in Tirol is the ultimate accolade for Cine Tirol, as the driving force for the region of Tirol as a filming location: this movie will draw the attention of the entire film industry to our region and help facilitate the acquisition of further international follow-up projects. In addition, 150 Tirolean filmmakers will get the chance to gain valuable experience in the context of such a large and prominent film production". He also adds: "Even though this will be the first time that agent 007 will be filmed in Tirol, there is an enduring connection between the most famous secret agent of all time and our region. Ian Fleming, the author of the Bond novels, lived in Kitzbühel in the 1920s and studied at a private school." The resort of Sölden in the Ӧtztal is renowned for its excellent snow reliability with access to two high glaciers, impressive lift system and very lively apres-ski. Its consistently good snow conditions along with over 140km of slopes makes it one of the Europe's top ski and snowboard destinations and is located close to Obergurgl-Hochgurgl. www.soelden.com Geographically not part of northern Tirol, the village of Obertilliach is located in the Lesachtal of East Tirol and remains largely undiscovered to the UK ski market. Located at 1450m, the village has a population of just over 700 inhabitants and the small skiing area is popular for beginner skiers and families as well as a centre for Nordic sports. To learn more about the East Tirol and its ski resorts take a look at this video here. www.osttirol.com For more information on the Tirol region www.visittirol.co.uk or keep updated at www.facebook.com/visittirol or @VisitTirol on twitter |
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Calm be uponst thou, kind fellowe! For all men art equal hither, who lust for skieth and snowe! Forsooth, gadzooks and scullery maids. Snow Cannons at dawn? |
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