J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

It's perhaps not enough to get excited about, but there has been some fresh snow in the Alps over the last 24 hours, the first this month in many cases.

In most resorts it is a case of 'a dusting' on higher slopes but some heave measured what they've got – the biggest 15cm/6 inches claimed by Obergurgl, slightly ahead of the Stubai with 14cm. Verbier, Ischgl and Laax have all reported 10cm a piece.

Whilst this is not enough to transform conditions and allow for skiable off-piste, it is a small step forward. In terms of groomed terrain most areas are managing to function with a mix of surviving snow from the snowfalls in late November and machine made snow whenever temperatures have been low enough.

So in most cases it's a much better picture than a year ago when resorts struggled to open any terrain with a very warm autumn until the last weekend of the year.

Resorts in the Dolomites have had very little natural snowfall but none-the-less have been able to open hundreds of kilometres of piste thank to snowmaking and will be staging World cup races over the next few weeks.

The most snow in Europe in the past week has actually been in Scandinavia where Hemsedal in Norway reported 24cm of snow this week.

But the really big snow storms are happening still in Western North America, where whistler has had three feet of snow in the last seven days, Snowbird in Utah, four feet.

Although the 2015-16 ski season has hardly begun, Crystal has, as is now traditional. Launched their programme for the winter after this, and bookings up to April 2017 are now possible.

Crystal do not normally make their big announcements of new ski destinations, flight routes and other new initiatives until the spring, but it does provide a few new titbits and tells us what's back for the coming season.

In terms of new destinations the company has announced two resorts in Finland which it says are new to Crystal, with flights from Gatwick to Kittila opening up the option of visiting two of the country's leading resorts Levi and Ylläs, which have some of the biggest ski areas available in the region as well as lots of other Lapland-style activities on offer.

Most Crystal flights go on Saturdays, but due to Christmas falling on a Sunday in 2016, in the run-up to Christmas and New Year, Crystal say they're switching their Sunday flights to selected resorts to leave on Tuesdays giving customers a seven day ski holiday and the benefit of still being able to ski on Christmas Day. There'll also be the option of a five-day break, from Tuesday 3 January to Sunday 8 January when Sunday flights resume from then.

Some of Crystal's early booking incentive deals are back including 2 for 1 ski/board hire or ski carriage when you book before 30 March 2016 and 2 for 1 on lift passes in Fernie, Jasper, Panorama or Tremblant which can save up to £598 if you were planning to buy a 13 day lift pass in Tremblant. Lift pass included is included on packages at La Clusaz, Valloire and Chamrousse in France and Engelberg in Switzerland.

There's also £100 off childcare for booking made before 27 April 2016 at selected Crystal-run child care facilities for children aged 6 months to 11 years in selected accommodation and dates in Alpe d'Huez, La Plagne, Tignes (France), Niederau (Austria), Claviere (Italy). There are also free child places on every departure date.

Crystal Ski Plus packages are also back from £435 per person – these include local lift pass and rentals or carriage as well as the usual flights, transfers and week's accommodation).

Prices start at £335 per person (based on four sharing) for a week's self-catering at the Residence Sunotel in Les Carroz, France, departing on 7 or 14 January 2017 from Gatwick including airport transfers.

www.crystalski.co.uk

St Moritz has launched a wide range of improvements to it ski experience this winter including earlier opening of its most famous runs each day, a new lift, snowpark upgrades, snowmaking improvements, better connections between its key sectors and a new ski safari.

On Corvatsch the new Mandra quad chairlift has replaced the ski lift next to the Corvatsch Snow Park, halving the peak waiting times on this extremely popular run.

In the park itself, one of the largest of its kind in the Alps, a new flow line now replaces the classic route with half-pipe and kicker lines.

The new flow line contains moguls and steep banking curves and is also aimed at more leisurely skiers and families.

From this winter onwards, the famous Hahnensee Piste from Corvatsch to St. Moritz-Bad will be opening earlier to skiers and snowboarders each day – now from 9 am onwards.

In another improvement, in addition to the regular bus service, the free Hahnensee-Express ski bus will run every half-hour between St. Moritz-Bad and the Corvatsch valley station so that snow-sports enthusiasts are able to commute between the two skiing areas more easily.

There's also a new guided Snow Safari opportunity this winter. The new service runs every Tuesday and takes those who sign up on a tour of the best pistes of Corvatsch and Corviglia.

Experienced local ski instructors will accompany Snow Safari participants across two summits above 3000m. The safari encompasses nine great pistes, twelve mountain railway and ski lift journeys and takes in a total of 88km of pistes, and 4444m of skiable vertical. The tour runs from Furtschellas via Corvatsch to St. Moritz-Corviglia and on to Celerina-Marguns.

On Corviglia a newly built natural reservoir at Lej Alv has begun operating. With a capacity of just under 400,000 m3 it is filled during the snowmelt without the use of any pumps whatsoever.

The electricity saving is the equivalent of 2,000,000 kWh or a 16% annual reduction in the total electricity needs of the Engadin St. Moritz Mountains AG.

(Pic Credit: ENGADIN St. Moritz http://swiss-image.ch/ Christof Sonderegger)

Unfortunately The Dolomites largely missed out on the snowfalls of late November which provided a pre-season boost to ski areas in the Alps and Pyrenees – albeit since followed by warm weather in December until the last few days when it has got colder again.

That hasn't stopped the huge Dolomiti Superski network of 1200km of runs and nearly 500 ski lifts leap in to operation with several of its 12 individual valley areas opening the last weekend of November and the rest last weekend. Around 450km of runs will be open this weekend.

Also this weekend the lift operators have announced that the iconic Sella Ronda network, the hub of the entire ski pass system with around 40km of pistes and lifts (26km of it ski runs) circling the vast Sella Massif, will be open in both directions.

"At the moment, the temperatures are low and the snow making systems can keep on producing snow. This will allow us to open further slopes and lifts in the following days," said Diego Clara of Dolomiti Superski (who sent the library picture above).

Britain's Sports Minister Tracey Crouch visited the Chatham Ski and Snowboard Centre recently to meet local school children as well as GB Paralympic Games gold medalist Charlotte Evans and English Park and Pipe skier Mike Rowlands.

The minister emphasised her belief that skiing is affordable, particularly on Britain's dry slopes; that the government wanted everyone to be able to choose sport, including snowsport; and that it was important for children to start skiing or boarding young.

Reputed to be a keen skier herself, the minister was impressed by the slope skills of the young skiers from Hempstead Junior School in Medway and wowed by the tricks of rising talent Mike Rowlands. She also learnt more about Snowsport England's national snowsports programme, GO SKI GO BOARD, and the impact it has had on participation at UK slopes.

The Sports Minister's visit followed the government's pledge of increased funding for sport in the UK in the Autumn Statement, which Snowsport England see as a timely announcement for a sport which has seen a rise in participation since the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

"What we want is for people to have access to any sport they want to participate in, and that may well be a sport like skiing or snowboarding," said Tracey Crouch, adding,

"It was great to meet Charlotte (Evans) and Mike (Rowlands), who is on the pathway to success in freestyle skiing. These are the guys who have started their trade here, and who have carried it on. I think it is brilliant, and it really does inspire the next generation to get involved and see it is on their doorstep.

"The cost of snowsports really is reasonable. You can come and ski here for just £6 and that includes all your equipment. I think skiing is an accessible sport and there really aren't any barriers. People think they have to go away to do it, and it may be a costly affair, but what we are seeing is more people doing skiing and snowboarding on artificial slopes. This is what the success of Chatham is all about," the minister continued, concluding,

"I think it is really important to get people to use their local slopes. It is a great activity for schools, and something that can be done as an entire class. Certainly when I learnt to ski, we went down to the slope as a class, and learnt to ski and to fall over together. Getting children in when they are young and developing that love for it as well as developing commitment and determination is key."

Figures released by the organisers of The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Show report that numbers visiting this autumn's show at its new venue were down from an estimated 35,269 in 2014 to 25,587 at the show last month.

However although visitor numbers saw a big fall, headline admission prices more than doubled so it is not known how revenues held up.

The show moved to London's Battersea Park from Earl's Court and drew praise for its more intimate feel and for a more vibrant feel with a real snow slope and a comedy tent, as well as more authentic Alpine-style food stands. The Travel Genius Bar provided free, impartial travel advice from leading industry experts.

Stats released by the Show's organizer include the fact that 96% of visitors were going on winter sports holidays, with 71% of those skiers, 14% snowboarders and 15% across both, whilst 38% classed themselves as an expert.

New visitors to the show exceeded 30%, with the top reasons for attending to see the latest products, to buy clothes & accessories, to speak to and find out about resorts and to watch demos & competitions on the kicker.

"We worked incredibly hard to bring our new concept to life in Battersea Park. We always aimed to create an authentic alpine feel, whilst still remaining true to our market and we attracted a premium, high-net worth audience this year. We're already planning next year's event and will be moving back into the school holidays with a focus on families, as well as expanding on the excellent après atmosphere. In addition we'll be introducing more signage, along with more covered and seated areas, as well as aiming to grow our visitor numbers without losing our core snow sports market, " said Lindsey Guy, The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Show, Show Manager.

Four-time Winter Olympian and friend of J2Ski.com Chemmy Alcott has joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and ABTA in recommending more Brits ensure they have insurance on the slopes this winter, and that if they do have insurance, they check it's adequate for their needs.

"With the winter season about to begin and millions of British nationals setting off to resorts across Europe and North America, we want to ensure that everyone enjoys their time in the mountains. ABTA's research suggests that almost a third of Britons are travelling without checking their insurance, so it's important to take note of our advice and #SkiSafe this season," said Michael Vibert, Head of Consular Communications, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are perhaps slightly optimistic in their figure of "millions" of Britons expected to hit the slopes this winter, but whatever the number, they're highlighting the findings of a new survey from ABTA which has found that nearly a third (31%) of travellers do not check whether they have the correct insurance to cover winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, before jetting off.

Those in the over 65 age bracket are most likely to travel without appropriate insurance, with more than half (55%) of this age group failing to check if they're covered for winter sports before they travel – well above the 31% average.

The younger end of the market, those aged 25-34, were found to be the most safety conscious in the study of 600 people, with less than a quarter (24%) travelling without ensuring they have suitable winter sports insurance.

There have been 45 British deaths from skiing and snowboarding holidays reported to the FCO in the last three years, with thousands more having suffered injuries both on- and off-piste.

To help raise awareness of the importance of being prepared, the FCO have teamed up with ABTA and former British Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott to provide this travel advice from pre-departure to après ski.

Chemmy Alcott's top ten tips for a safe trip this winter:

Pre-departure

• Take out comprehensive travel insurance with winter sports cover and check what it covers
• If heading to Europe, travel with a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to get free necessary treatment at public hospitals
• Make sure your passport is valid before you travel
• Check the FCO's travel advice for the country you are visiting
• Keep up to date with the local weather conditions before you go and while you're in resort
In resort
• Stick with your mates when walking back to your hotel or chalet and follow the signed paths
• Only ski off-piste if you are a confident skier, aware of the risks and are with a qualified guid
• Wear a helmet
• Remember the effects of drinking alcohol increase at altitude – your judgment, coordination and reaction times may be affected
• Make sure you and your friends know that in an emergency, the number to call is 112 in Europe and 911 in USA

ABTA has advice for people heading on a winter sports holiday at http://abta.com/news-and-views/campaign-zone/winter-sports-tips

Canada meteorological service has announced that it expects the next two months to be an average of around 2C warmer than usual in the country. They say this is predominantly down to the current El Nino affect from the Pacific.

The news has brought mixed reactions. Last January parts of the country experienced record cold temperatures, so it being slightly less cold is being widely welcomed.

And in the West of the country, which has seen more snowfall than anywhere else in the world over the past month, with Revelstoke in BC posting more than 4m of snow in November alone, slightly higher temperatures, whilst still below freezing, are not being seen as a bad thing.

The only part of Canadas that has been struggling to date with temperatures much more than two degrees higher than normal is in the Eastern Side of the country, particularly Quebec. It's an area that looks likely to continue to be hit hardest by the Canadian Meteorologists predictions, shown in the map above.

Temperatures have been too warm for snowmaking and there had been no natural snowfall in November, although that has changed a little in the past 48 hours with some areas in the region reporting fresh snow. Mont Sainte Anne and Tremblant have both opened limited terrain with a very thin base.

Whistler on the West is also shown in the 'red zone' as likely to see warm temperatures, but it is also being shown by snow forecasters as likely to be the most dumped-[on ski area on the planet over the next 10 days with some forecasters expecting a metre of snow ion the next three days and another metre the following week, so again warmer temperatures may not be too big a problem so far as snowfall is concerned, they may even encourage it.