J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

Although increasing numbers of ski areas are calling it a day on the 2014-15 ski season, heavy snow is still falling in parts of the Alps and the Rockies.

Snow has been reported at many areas in the Alps since Easter Sunday and it is still snowing in the Eastern Alps where several Austrian resorts have seen constant snowfall for the last 24 hours (Zell am See pictured yesterday above).

In many cases it is the last week of the season in the country and the temperatures are expected to rocket up to double figures by the weekend, but in the meantime there are 'mid winter' conditions.

Across the Atlantic up to 20cm of snow has been reported across the US at ski areas from Vermont through Colorado even to Squaw Valley in California where most resorts closed early for the season last month after the terrible winter for snowfall there.

North of the border the biggest snowfall reported was at sunshine near Banff in Canada with 38cm in 24 hours to Easter Monday, there's still more than a month of the season to go there.

Safety gadgets such as avalanche airbags are giving skiers a false sense of security with many taking unnecessary risks while going off-piste according to travel insurance policy provider Alphatravelinsurance.co.uk

While the contentious subject of skier safety and helmet usage has been brought to the forefront of consumers' minds in recent years, there is a risk of creating an illusion of safety, with several reported incidents of safety gadgets causing harm instead of protecting its user, the company says.

In one case reported to the company this year, a skier was caught in an avalanche while skiing off-piste. Although he was prepared and was wearing an avalanche airbag, the deployment apparently sent him hurtling into a tree.

"Attitudes in the holiday industry are changing, with the onus being put back onto the customer when it comes to safety," said Chantelle Dadd, brand manager for Alphatravelinsurance.co.uk

"With that in mind, injuries that involve another person carry a risk of being part of a liability claim later on, with the injured person(s) able to make a claim within three years after the incident, and children being able to do so until the age of 21. The rising popularity of personal injury lawyers reflects the way in which our culture is changing, showing that incidents while on holiday can extend beyond your own personal claim for medical expenses, often incurring hundreds of thousands of pounds, if not more," added Chantelle Dadd.

Ah, understood, thanks - no I wasn't familiar with the deteriorated state of the glacier and hence got fooled, but am now, sad. They were still posting pictures of the imaginary hot tub late yesterday so clearly the Swiss don't have the noon rule and they were really enjoying the joke of Verbier spring skiing and giving something back to their season pass holders ;)

I suppose. But is my memory wrong that they offered glacier skiing in the 1980s and 1990s? Wouldn't it be possible to offer skiing on the glacier if they wanted to open as they once did (in the way Verbier, Hintertux operate 365 days a year), or has it now moved on? That was what i was thinking, but I've got to learn to be less gullible :)

Yep just heard from the resort I was fooled, doh! And I thought they had to be funny, think Swiss must do April Fools differently.

Or after noon... If it is an April Fool, please tell them they need to throw in more clues - free skiing for people with blonde hair or something liked that.

We didn't think this one was an April Fool… But it was.

Verbier announced this morning (April 1st) that following three feet (90cm) of snowfall over the last few days they are to keep the lifts running and slopes open on the Mont Fort glacier up to 28th June.

"The start of the season was difficult, the snow was not what would be desired and the period w frustrating for both skiers that for Téléverbier," a statement from the lift company reads, "The idea is therefore to benefit all fans of the white gold with these excellent conditions for a longer period and reach new customers, since glacier skiing in late spring is only available at a few resorts."

Verbier did previously offer summer skiing in the late Twentieth Century but has not done so for 15 years except for a few 'one-off' weekends in the past few years.

Existing season pass holders will be able to ski for no extra costs, everyone else will have to pay a 'low' 40 Swiss franc daily rate.

The mountain Restaurant des Gentianes will also be open and offer a lunchtime a bbq daily and its terrace will also be equipped with a giant jaccuzzi that can accommodate over 50 people.

The number of centres offering late spring and summer skiing has declined by half over the past two decades and from mid-May to Mid-June …before southern hemisphere ski centres open and when summer glacier areas in France and some other places have not yet re-opened for summer operations... there are, at some points, less than 10 areas open worldwide at any one time.

Ski Patrol at a Scottish ski resort have identified a potential health and safety risk brought about by continuing snowfall, despite the arrival of spring. Nevis Range will be introducing its new Powder Policy today.

The Powder Policy introduces a minimum height and other measures for skiers and snowboarders on powder days. New customers will be need to be measured when buying their ski passes, while Season Ticket holders and regular customers will be able to purchase a "Powder Pass" meaning they will not need to be measured before getting on the gondola.

In addition, all skiers and boarders venturing off-piste will be required to wear orange armbands. Air-pumps will be available at all entrances to the Back Corrie as well as at the Ski Patrol Summit HQ where customers can have their armbands inflated professionally by a Ski Patroller.

Jeff Starkey, Nevis Range Ski Patrol manager stated that "This new policy has been introduced due to the increasing risk of disappearances on power days, both on the front of the hill and in the Back Corries. With Braveheart now running, more and more people are venturing off-piste and we must take steps to ensure that everyone stays safely on top of the snow."