J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

A new 'National Schools Snowsport Week' is launching next month at 21 ski slopes across England.

The initiative is the latest from Snowsport England, who have been working to increase the numbers of people giving snowsports a try, with initiatives like GoSkiGoBoard.

Snowsport England work with the country's indoor snow centres and dry slopes to offer free or discounted lessons for first timers, and the plan is much the same for the National Schools Snowsport Week' which will run from 22 – 29 April 2016. Some activities will be free and others will be offered to schools at affordable prices. www.nssw.co.uk

The number of schools taking children away on ski trips has dropped virtually every year for the past two decades and is now a fraction of what it was in the 1980s and 1990s. Snowsport England believe that the new national initiative will bring thousands of pupils into skiing and snowboarding. It is being backed by Visit Andorra as 'destination partner of choice' with the principality keen to promote its credentials as a good destination for school ski trips.

Throughout National Schools Snowsport Week there will be a range of events at different slopes including taster ski and snowboard sessions for all pupils, alternative snow activities such as tobogganing and tubing and even freestyle or racing taster sessions at some slopes. There are also expected to be guest appearances from snowsports stars and celebrities throughout the week.

The activities at different slopes are open to all school ages and to any school keen to get involved.

Schools can join in with whole classes, whole year groups, or even with just a handful of students.

"If you want to snowboard professionally then getting into it when you are young is key," said Winter Olympian and GB Park and Pipe Snowboarder Aimee Fuller, adding, "Skiing and snowboarding are also really social and fun sports, through snowboarding I have met some of my best friends and had the opportunity to travel the world competing. It also is a great way to stay fit and strong. It is great seeing big school groups at the slopes in the UK, and hopefully this initiative will get even more schools giving it a go."

"Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most addictive and exhilarating sports around, and we find most children who give it a go are hooked. We are expecting hundreds of pupils to get involved, and hopefully get addicted," Tim Fawke, Chief Executive of Snowsport England commented.

Slopes involved in National Schools Snowsports Week:

Ackers Adventure, Birmingham
Alpine Snowsports Centre, Southampton
Bracknell Ski and Snowboard Centre
Chatham Ski and Snowboard Centre
Chill Factore, Manchester
Gosling Ski and Board Centre
Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre
Impulse Racing (at The Snow Centre, Hemel)
Mendip Snowsports Centre
Norfolk Snowsports Club
Plymouth Ski and Snowboard Centre
Silksworth Ski Slope, Sunderland
Ski Rossendale
Ski Torquay
Skiplex Reading
Skiplex Basingstoke
SnowDome, Tamworth
Suffolk Ski Centre
Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre
The Snow Centre/ Hemel Ski Race Club
Yorkshire Rollerski Club (York Sport Village)

www.snowsportengland.org.uk
www.goskigoboard.org.uk
www.visitandorra.com

Jaguar Cars have released a YouTube video showing former British Olympic ski racer Graham Bell hitting speeds of 100mph, they say, whilst being towed behind a Jaguar in Austria.



The company say they have entered a technical agreement with Graham Bell with plans to break the current Guinness world record for speed on skis, held by Simone Oregone who achieved 156mph skiing downhill.

As well as 'ski-joring' behind a Jaguar XE, Graham will wear a unique suit propelled by twin micro jets.

"I approached Jaguar to become my lead technical partner due to their experience in aerodynamics and love of all things involving speed. As lead technical partner in the attempt, Jaguar will provide the aerodynamic expertise to develop the Iron-Man-style suit I need, as well as helping me acclimatize to speed and external forces using high performance vehicles including the Jaguar XE AWD - designed to provide maximum traction in adverse conditions including snow and ice," said Graham.

Jaguar Land Rover's cold weather testing facility in Arjeplog, Sweden will host the record attempt on an as yet undecided date in 2017.

Oregone's record was set on a flying kilometre downhill course, with no powered assistance, so whilst it will be both interesting and impressive to see Graham Bell go faster with the aid of power, there is not a direct comparison.

Coincidentally a Norwegian group is also trying to beat Oregone's record, but in their case using an unpowered sledge, which they have been testing recently in a German wind tunnel. If successful they would take the record for the fastest unpowered human speed, as sliding on snow is faster than freefalling, apparently.

(Image credit: Alp Leisure Ltd www.alpleisure.com)

Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards will attempt to set a new World Record a week on Friday 11 March as part of a team trying to ski the equivalent of the height of Mount Everest in one day to raise funds for charity Ski 4 Cancer.

Eddie has confirmed that he will be taking part in the Ski Everest World Record attempt which will see skiers from all over Europe skiing the vertical height of Mount Everest in one day. Over 100 British skiers have already signed up to take part in the record attempt, the first of its kind, and to achieve it all will need to descend the equivalent of the height of Everest (29,029ft) on the day.

"Having Eddie with us for the World Record attempt is a huge boost," said Ski4Cancer's Andy Hayward, adding, "If anyone would like to join us, it's not too late. There are still lots of beds available in Saalbach for the weekend of the challenge. Inghams are currently offering a week at the suberb Pinzgauerhof in Hinterglemm, leaving the UK on 5 March for £699 including flights, transfers and all meals."

Eddie will lead the record attempt in Saalbachm which, with more than 270 kilometres of piste and 70 ski lifts, thanks to its new connection to Fieberbrunn, is the largest in the country.

In addition to Eddie Edwards, who has been a Patron of Ski 4 Cancer since 2014, several of the charity's other patrons will also take part in the challenge. The famous Everest climber Rhys Jones will be participating as well and will be giving a lecture about Everest the night before the event.

Andy continued, "So whether you're based in the UK or elsewhere across mainland Europe, why don't you come and join us? The event is taking place on the same day as the FIS European Cup event so the atmosphere in resort is going to be amazing. Attempt to become a World Record holder and help people living with cancer at the same time!"

Ski 4 Cancer was set up by a group of keen skiers and snowboarders who have all lost a close relative or friend to cancer. By providing a range of alpine respite holidays for families living with cancer, Ski 4 Cancer gives families something to look forward to at the end of treatment schedules or after a loved one has died. Ski 4 Cancer also makes grants to palliative care centres and supports research into the positive effects of exercise and how it can both prevent cancer and assist in recovery post diagnosis.

www.ski4cancer.org/everest

GB Park and Pipe's Billy Morgan claimed a prestigious bronze medal in last night's Snowboard Big Air finals at X Games Oslo.

Morgan performed a backside 1440 triple cork to take the bronze on one of the largest ski or snowboard jumps ever built.

Billy said of his medal: "I've always seen X Games as one of the biggest, raddest things out there. So to be on the podium and compete with so many riders I look up to is amazing."



Pic Above Credit: GB Park and Pipe

The promised heavy snowfall in the Alps has arrived with powder alarms for Saturday-Sunday snowfall of at least 20cm in 24 hours issued by hundreds of ski areas in France and Western Italy and Switzerland.

There were also some powder alarms in the Pyrenees with several resorts on the French side including Pyrenees 2000 reporting 20cm of snow.

And the snow has also reached the Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio in Trentino reported 40cm of fresh snow by this afternoon.

The heaviest snow so far appears to have fallen right on the French /Italian border with 50cm in 24 hours reported at Bonneval-sur-Arc in France and Pila in Italy.

Other big snowfalls of 30-40cm were reported by Tignes (30cm) and Val d'Isere (37cm). Zermatt reported 25cm in 24 hours. Nearby Saas Fee is pictured above earlier today.

The heavy snowfall is currently continuing.

A major snowstorm that's expected to bring up to a metre of snow to parts of the Alps is imminent, according to forecasters.

After a comparatively dry week, Chamonix has reported the biggest accumulation of the past 24 hours, reporting a foot of fresh snow on upper slopes since yesterday. Some forecasts predict it is one of those set to see the biggest snow accumulations in the coming few days.

Val d'Isere reported 12cm of snow overnight, La Plagne, Verbier and Zermatt 10cm a piece.

However it was a return to clear skies and sunny weather for many areas today, including Chamonix, pictured above by a webcam this morning.

What is perhaps most interesting about the forecast snow is that it looks set to bring heavy snow to parts of Europe that have largely missed out on previous big storms over the past two months.

These include the Italian Dolomites, where in some cases well over a metre of snow is forecast, and the Pyrenees, where up to 80cm is expected, or up to 50cm in Andorra.

A new bullet train line opening in Japan in a month's time will make it possible to travel overland (and sea) to the northern island of Hokkaido, and see the rugged beauty of northern Honshu and southern Hokkaido, rather than taking an internal flight, as most skiers heading to Niseko and other ski areas on the island have done up to now.

Travel times will be roughly comparable to the airport check in / flight / collect baggage / transfer process of the existing flight connection. Train travel will also be included in the Japan Rail Pass meaning visitors can plan travel to multiple resorts for a single inclusive price.

After the service opens on March 26th, skiers heading up from Tokyo will make a 4hr 10min bullet train journey to Shin Hakodate in southern Hokkaido from where it's a 2.5 hour JR train line to Niseko Village. Train changes may be required at Shin Aomori, Shin Hakodate and Oshamambe stations, and the estimated travel time from Tokyo – Hirafu is approximately 7.5 hours.

The link between the two islands, first considered over a century ago, is made via the existing 53.85 km (33.46 mile) long Seikan Tunnel, the deepest rail tunnel in the world at 100m below the sea bed and the second longest in the world after the recently opened Gottard Base tunnel in Switzerland.

Trains will travel at up to 260km per hour through the tunnel although most will have their speed restricted due to the danger of shockwaves from passing trains derailing freight trains, which are heavy users of the tunnel. Outside the tunnel trains will operate at 320 km/h (200 mph).

The leading British rock band Muse have been announced as the headline act for this year's Top of the Mountain concert which is the traditional highlight of the closing weekend at Ischgl.

Ischgl famously starts and ends its five month log ski season with a major concert, the spring event being the slightly larger of the two, attracting around 20,000 concert-goers.

Although it's not quitter the Superbowl half time show, it's the closest thing to it in skiing and there's now an increasingly long list of several dozen global superstars who have played the gig over the years including Elton John, Robbie Williams, Diana Ross, Deep Purple, Kylie and Rihanna.

Muse has a reputation for delivering an exciting and energetic live performance and scooped their second Grammy award for best rock album last weekend.

The gig takes place lunchtime concert on Ischgl's mountain top stage at 2300m in the Austrian Alps on Saturday 30 April – the penultimate day of the Tirolean resort's season.

Concert admission is included in the 95 Euro skipass price for concert day – compared with the regular day pass price of 46.50 Euros – but regular rates apply for four day passes and more.
www.ischgl.com