J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

Val Thorens, Europe's highest ski resort, keeps moving upmarket whilst retaining its simplicity.


Picture (c) Val Thorens


A new five-star hotel is opening in December, with a gastronomic restaurant. The Fitz Roy hotel is becoming a five-star and new luxury apartments with a concierge service are also opening this season.

Koh-I Nor, the highest altitude 5 star hotel in Europe

The Koh-I Nor is the name of the 105.6 carat diamond set in the Queen of England's crown… It's also the name of Val Thorens' new diamond hotel. In Persian, the name translates as "mountain of light", which perfectly sums up this new hotel's unusual architecture. Situated on the mountainside and built largely from glass facades, the Koh-I Nor will be bathed in light. It will offer one of the most beautiful panoramic views in Europe. Holidaymakers will delight in luxuriating on its south-facing vast outdoor terrace overlooking Val Thorens' mountainous bowl… or pampering themselves in its Prestigious Spa offering Valmont treatments and beauty products.

Gourmet diners will enjoy dishes prepared by Yoann Conte, the two Michelin-starred chef who'll be taking the reins of the restaurant and the brasserie.

Val Thorens now has two Michelin starred chefs. Just like the talented chef Jean Sulpice, he also knows how to avoid the pitfalls of the high altitude environment: boiling an egg for example takes 2 minutes longer to cook up there, the lower atmospheric pressure makes yoghurt pots swell up, and the low humidity makes bread, pastries and cheese dry out three times faster than normal! Both renowned chefs have a great deal in common: both are in their early thirties, are native to or adopted natives of the mountains, and both come from families of restaurateurs, they also cook with the same aim: to rework, showcase, and perfect local produce!

Le Fitz Roy earns its 5th star

The legendary Fitz Roy Val Thorens hotel has undergone a "full redesign" for this winter… and has earned a 5th star in the process. A new chic, discreet and intimate setting with the cosy refinement of a large family chalet, winter holidaymakers will feel "right at home" here. Nestled by the fireplace, snuggled under a blanket in the library, relaxing peacefully on the slope-facing terrace, or even cosied up in their bedroom… not forgetting a moment of well-being in the spa and gastronomic discoveries at the Table du Roy… there really is something to delight everyone.

Val Thorens is open from 23 November 2013 to 11 May 2014.

www.valthorens.com

... as if she needed any more ... :roll:


Picture courtesy of the BBC, who say...

BBC wrote:British alpine skier Chemmy Alcott has suffered a setback in her preparations for next year's Sochi Winter Olympics after re-breaking her leg in training.
Alcott, 31, shattered her right leg in 2010 and pulled out of this year's World Championships after being told to rest following a high-speed crash.
She said she will miss the first races of the season but be fit for Sochi.

Chemmy's also posted the following herself :-

Chemmy wrote:Slight set back in my Sochi prep as the last day of a fabulous camp where I was skiing technically stronger than ever, I had a little whoopsie. Rebroken my leg. Clean, easy break already weight bearing. Medical opinion is I will miss first races but will be good to go full speed ahead after. Unfortunate set back but I am used to the adversity, just another chapter before the Hollywood finish in Sochi!!

Get Well Soon! :thumbup:

From memory (it's been 10 years+), I think it's the off-piste that you'll enjoy the most; definitely worth getting a guide for a day to show you some of the safer routes.

Families and mileage-hunters love the abundance of wide "motorway" skiing, but most people overlook the off-piste so there are often freshies to be had for quite a while after any new snow.

AllyG wrote:Don't worry about it - they've been doing stuff like that to me as well :(

I think you might be suffering from WWC (Wrong Warren Confusion) there Ally...

The above clip is from the Warren Miller Film (although Warren M. is no longer involved, just to add to the confusion).

It's Warren Smith's Ski Academy who run courses at various venues including UK snowdomes (Hemel Hempstead).

http://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com/

FWIW, they've just been skiing powder in Cervinia... :shock: in August!

We were pleased to receive the following PR today, though probably not as pleased as Graham Bell who was understood to be scheduled to be in two places at once at one point...

Amicable Resolution to Ski Shows Date Clash

As you may know, InTheSnow Live was formed to replace a show that's taken place at the NEC for the last 19 years.

VOS Media's Ski and Snowboard Show North is an extension of the VOS Media portfolio bringing the London based ski show that's celebrating 40 years this year, to the north.

At the time InTheSnow Live was announced, it was not known that VOS Media had plans to launch a new show in Manchester on the same weekend.

Whilst exhibitor numbers for both shows have been positive, the unfortunate clash of dates led to a dilemma for many exhibitors or potential exhibitors who did not have the resources to exhibit at both shows on the same weekend. As a result the two companies have spent much time discussing how this can be resolved to the benefit of the industry as a whole.

The logical conclusion was that there should be one ski show in the north of England this October and it's been agreed that the show will operate in Manchester under the VOS Media brand. Both companies will work to enable the smoothest transition possible for those customers already booked to appear at the NEC to switch to Manchester should they wish.

Dominic Killinger, Show Director at InTheSnow Live said, "Our show was formed to enable the long established show at the NEC to continue. At that time there was no knowledge of a new show starting in Manchester. However, we are very pleased that two competing companies in the market can sit down and agree what's best for the industry as a whole and work towards a common goal of attracting new skiers to a stronger market."

Damian Norman, Managing Director at VOS Media said, "It's clear that the industry cannot withstand two shows in one weekend however they are placed geographically and it's testament to both companies' passion for the ski industry that we have been able to agree a way forward to the benefit of the industry. We welcome the publishing arm of Dominic's business as a ski media partner across both our ski shows and very much look forward to a stronger working relationship into the future."

Edgeoftheworld wrote:....Video has been removed by the user :/

They moved it! Link is now fixed... 8)

Over the next month many of Great Britain's ski and snowboard stars will be competing in New Zealand across the disciplines of Ski and Snowboard Halfpipe, Ski and Snowboard Slopestyle and Alpine Skiing.



For Great Britain's freestyle skiers the FIS World Cup Halfpipe kicks off the NZ Winter Games in Cardrona on Friday (16th August) with the finals taking place on Saturday 17th August. GB Sochi 2014 hopeful Murray Buchan (21, Edinburgh) will lead the charge with Peter Speight (20, Sheffield) and Rowan Cheshire (17, Stoke) – GB's one female entrant in halfpipe - hoping to come into form.

On Sunday 18th and Monday 19th of August six GB snowboarders will compete in the FIS World Cup Snowboard Slopestyle competition, also part of the NZ Winter Games. Triple X Games gold medallist Jenny Jones (33, Bristol) will be hoping to capitalise on her experience as well as inspiring exciting new talent Aimee Fuller (22, Belfast) and 15 year old Katie Ormerod from Brighouse, West Yorkshire. For the men, Sochi medal hopeful Billy Morgan (24, Southampton) will lead the charge alongside Nate Kern (27, Breckenridge, USA) and Sam Turnbull (22, Darlington).

In the FIS Snowboard Halfpipe, qualification takes place on Thursday 22nd August with the finals running on Saturday 24th August. Olympian Ben Kilner (24, Banchory) and the accomplished Dom Harington (29, London) will try and mix it up with the world's best in the pipe as both eye spots at next year's Olympic Games.


Woodsy in his usual environment... picture courtesy of British Ski and Snowboard

One of GB's best chances of medaling in the NZ Winter Games will come in the form of overall World Cup champion James 'Woodsy' Woods (21, Sheffield) who will compete in the FIS World Cup Ski Slopestyle event in Cardrona from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th August, the final competition of the NZ Winter Games. Reinforcing the strength of freeski in Great Britain at the moment, there will be four other GB representatives in the form of Paddy Graham (25, Sheffield), Tyler Harding (16, Halifax), Zhach Pham (20, Hamden, USA) and Anna Vincenti (17, Edinburgh).

In Alpine Skiing it has been a good summer for female racers Alex Tilley (19, Aberdeenshire) and Charlie Guest (19, Balbeggie) with podium finishes earlier in the season and a fourth place in the Ladies GS at Coronet Peak this week for Guest. Both will compete in the Australia-New Zealand Cup in Coronet Peak, New Zealand which takes place from Sunday 18th to Friday 23rd August. As well as Tilley and Guest, Sochi 2014 hopeful Dave Ryding will be competing in Slalom, and Jack Gower will be competing in GS.

Later in the month in Cardrona the NZ Freeski Open will take place from 28th-31st August with halfpipe and slopestyle competitions. Then in September the Burton High 5's, involving both Snowboard Slopestyle and Halfpipe, takes place from 10th-13th September in Cardrona.

For full profiles of all British Ski and Snowboard athletes visit www.teambss.org.uk or the Ski Club of Great Britain website www.skiclub.co.uk.

For more information on the NZ Winter Games visit www.wintergamesnz.com and for all FIS results visit www.fis-ski.com

GMarc wrote:And make sure one of you has a shovel..

No.

If you're off the piste and the avy risk level is more than about 1... make sure everyone in your party has a shovel (and a probe and a transceiver).

One buried shovel is no more use than no shovel at all...