J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

After a period of warmer weather and slightly diminishing bases in the Alps some healthy snowfalls have been reported over the past 24 hours.

Chamonix has reported one of the biggest snowfalls so far with 40cm of snow in the last 24 hours, whilst Val d'Isere and La Plagne in France and Lech in Austria say they've had a foot of fresh (30cm).

Most other resorts in Austria, France and Switzerland have reported 20 – 30cm in the last day too. Alpe d'Huez (pictured above) has had 27cm so far.

The snowy weather is expected to continue for the next few days.

Over 100 Brits have already signed up for the Ski Everest World Record Attempt in support of UK ski charity Ski 4 Cancer. The challenge will take place on the slopes of Austria's largest ski area (Saalbach) on Friday 11 March 2016.

To secure a new world record, 251 skiers will need to descend the height of Mount Everest (29,029ft/8848metres) on Friday the 11th of March 2016. This is the first time such a world record has ever been attempted.

Entitled the 'Everest Challenge', the Guinness approved world record attempt will take place in the Austrian ski resort of Saalbach. With more than 270 kilometres of piste and 70 ski lifts, the Skicircus is the largest ski area in Austria linking the resorts of Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fieberbrunn.

Several Ski 4 Cancer patrons are expected to attend and take part in the challenge. The famous Everest climber Rhys Jones will be participating and will be giving a talk about Everest the night before the event. Other Ski 4 Cancer patrons are expected to take part including Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards.

Participants in the World Record attempt will also be able to benefit from discounts off the cost of their ski holiday. Ski 4 Cancer is working closely with UK ski holiday providers and several local hotels in Saalbach to make it easier for people to take part in the challenge.

Andy Hayward, Trustee at Ski 4 Cancer explained, "We're looking for people from across Europe who want to become World Record Holders! To enable people to take part, we have teamed up with a number of local hotels and travel companies to make the costs very affordable."

"So if you've yet to book your ski trip for this year, why not join us?" Andy continued, "Become a World Record holder and help people living with cancer at the same time. We're expecting at least 500 skiers from across Europe to take part. With a number of check-points and entertainment zones on the course, this event is going to be a lot of fun. There'll be prizes for individuals and teams who raise the most funds for the charity and they'll be a massive party afterwards for all those who have taken part."

To find our more or to register for the event, visit http://www.ski4cancer.org/everest-world-record

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.

Well I am disappointed to see these clearly bullet proof numbers ;) challenged, this must be the first time in history that a survey carried out on behalf of a PR agency has turned out numbers that some may dispute, but I had asked the time period question and have now got the answer,

"According to the survey results, the skiers who answered our survey have been skiing an average of 5.2 times. The snowboarders who answered our survey have been an average 4.7 times so there really isn't much discrepancy here."

A survey of over 1,000 skiers and snowboarders has found that a quarter of skiers obtain injuries compared to only 13% of snowboarders. Half of these injuries (52%) were considered to be 'not that serious', but over a third (38%) were rated as serious, and over half (58%) ended up going to hospital as a result of their injury. On average, skiers and snowboarders lost nearly two days of their holiday as a result of the injury they sustained.

The survey was carried out on behalf of London Bridge Hospital, which operates a dedicated Winter Ski Clinic throughout its specialist Orthopaedic departments. It is not known if it considered how many ski trips the skiers had been on on average compared to the snowboarder sample.

The survey also found that only half (52%) of skiers consider themselves to be a safe skier and, just 28% of snowboarders admit to being safe; as well as that less than two thirds (60%) wear a helmet when skiing and just over a third (36%) wear a helmet when snowboarding.

Mr Simon Owen-Johnstone, comments: "Helmets do not make you invincible - it is still possible to sustain a head injury despite wearing a helmet, but research points to the benefits and there is no reason or excuse not to wear one."

Mr Christopher Uff, Consultant Neurosurgeon at London Bridge Hospital adds, "All ski hire shops offer ski helmets with ski and boot hire. Some people may have a misguided view that wearing a helmet is not 'cool', but the consequences of a slip can be devastating. Without a helmet, any head injury you sustain will be far more severe than if you were wearing a helmet. A helmet could mean that you recover faster and make any physical or psychological disability less severe. Of course you can still get a head injury with a helmet, but you may just walk away from it with a badly damaged helmet and bruised ego."

Whilst winter sports holidays are a chance for adventure, Mr. Simon Owen-Johnstone, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at London Bridge Hospital, urges people not to push themselves beyond their capabilities; "Every winter my clinics are full of injured skiers and boarders who have simply been too ambitious. Staying safe is all about being sensible. Making a realistic assessment of the environment, and your own abilities. If you're in a party, the least able sets the pace. Be ready to change plans, don't overestimate your ability, and don't be too proud to admit defeat."

In terms of the injuries sustained, Mr Simon Owen-Johnstone states "upper limb winter sports injuries are not as common as lower limb injuries. Sprains and strains are the most common, but after those the most likely are shoulder dislocations, collarbone fractures and disruptions of the acromio-clavicular joint, located at the end of the collarbone."

Commenting on the preparation for holidays Mr Simon Owen-Johnstone continues, "winter sport is hard athletic activity. It's not something you can do well after 51 weeks of inactivity. To enjoy it properly you'll need to have a level of fitness, and that needs to start at least six weeks before departure, preferably longer. Thigh and knee endurance is the most useful, but spine flexibility is important too.

"If you get injured, whether you have treatment abroad or not, you're likely to need ongoing care on return to the UK. Injuries take time to recover. Some injuries are not apparent until days or weeks later, so if you have symptoms when you're home they should really be checked out.

"The best advice I can give you is accept that your ten-year old is a better skier and don't try to keep up!" concludes Mr Simon Owen-Johnstone.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents states that approximately 10,000 UK skiers and snowboarders are admitted to hospital every year with injuries following their winter-sports holidays.

Two skiers died on Sunday in an accident at a German ski area.

Mystery surrounds exactly what happened as the two men, a French and a German national aged 29 and 30 respectively, are reported to have been skiing on an almost flat beginner slope at the ski area of Feldberg when they appear to have collided.

The slope was described as "practically empty" and the accident happened at the end of the day after lifts had closed.

Adrian Probst from the local mountain rescue told news agency DPA said it was hard to explain how the fatal accident could have happened, but that although the slope where the accident occurred was fairly flat it was still possible to reach speeds of up to 100km/h at the site of the accident.

Police cordoned off the area and are interviewing witnesses, the exact cause of each death is not yet known. Both men are reported to have been wearing helmets.

(What happens when you pop a map of a big ski area on top of a map of Blighty?)

You've probably never even thought about it before, but a new app released today by the promotional organisations for French ski areas and French holidays - France Montagnes and Atout France – will tell you how your local town or city measures up to a selection of French ski resorts.

The descriptively named, 'French Ski Area Over My Town' app enables you to see exactly how large the key French ski areas are by measuring them against the size of your own town, overlaying the two maps.

The results are slightly more impressive than we may have thought, which is probably the point, and help gives you an idea of how far you may have skied on your holiday. And indeed how much work must go in to preparing the pistes and maintaining safety at these resorts.

For example, who knew that the Three Valleys would sprawl across much of Sussex between Brighton and Crawley? Or that the Espace Killy of Tignes and Val d'Isère would cover much of Central London, from Highgate and Hampstead in the north, to Greenwich in the southeast?

To download the app visit: www.frenchskiareaovermytown.com

The Compagnie du Mont Blanc is running a free bus service to Megève and Saint Gervais this winter from Chamonix for all MONT BLANC Unlimited lift pass holders.

The service is designed to highlight the fact that the company now runs the lifts at Megève's ski area, creating one of the world's largest lift pass systems.

Holders of the MONT BLANC Unlimited lift pass can now ski on the slopes above about a dozen separate resort towns and villages. Megève's ski area and that of Verbier, also included in the pass, extend to around 400km each and the Chamonix Valley and Courmeyeur another 800km, giving around 1,600km of runs in three countries on the one ticket.

There are two departures each morning from Chamonix centre at 8am and 9:20am and two return buses from Megève at 4:45pm and 5:30pm stopping at Saint Gervais 20 minutes later.

The service runs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until 7th February then runs daily until 5th March when it runs three days a week again until 2nd April.

Advance booking you seat on the service is mandatory, which must be done at least the day before travel and is subject to availability.

A new study which compared the exchange rates in a number of ski countries this week with the prices in the same week a year ago has found that Canada and Norway have got considerably cheaper. Switzerland too is more affordable than 12 months ago whilst the US Dollar has got more expensive still. The rate against the Euro is almost unchanged.

The value of Sterling compared to other countries' currencies depends very much on where you draw the time line. It has declined in value a little against the Euro in recent months even though it is only 0.2% down in value overall over the past year, whilst if you look at a longer time period it is up in value 35% against the Norwegian Kroner (according to the Norwegian Tourist office) but is still down on a few years ago against the Swiss Franc.

Canadian resorts are highlighting that their currency is at its weakest in 12 years and Banff recently posted a graphic showing that $50 US dollars now bought more than 7 bottles of maple syrup whilst a 50 Canadian dollars only bought five (http://www.skibig3.com/us-exchange-rate/) The pound has also dropped around 40% of its value against the US dollar since 2008.

New analysis of Jan (19th) 2015 and 2016 prices comes from global currency business Centtrip who found the pound is worth a 13.6% more against the Canadian Dollar today than it was 12 months earlier, 8.4% more against the Norwegian Kroner and 7.3% more against the Swiss Franc. However, it's down against the Dollar (-6.5%), and the Swedish Krona (-1.6%). The exchange rate against the Bulgarian Lev dropped nominally, falling by only 0.04%.