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(Photographs by LA(Phot) Joel Rouse)

Around 900 skiers and snowboarders from across the Royal Navy were churning up the snow in France's Northern Alps for the Service's annual Alpine championships which were held in Tignes this year.

The sailors and Royal Marines usually attend for just one of the two weeks available – the first week is training and the second is racing for serious competitors.

The event offers the opportunity for Service personnel to let off steam between deployments and boost their skiing skills and personal goals, as well as allowing team coaches to look for new talent ahead of the inter-services competition later in the season.

"The discovery of excellent new talent to come through and replace the 'old guard' was extremely encouraging and bodes well for the future," said Petty Officer (Physical Trainer) Lucy McKenna, the Ladies snowboard team captain and snowboard team manager.

For the first week there were beginner lessons for those that have never been on the snow before, plus novice (one step up from beginner), intermediate and advanced lessons to cater for all abilities.

Most people opted for two days of instruction to improve their technique plus a race to test themselves against the competition.

The options for racing were very varied and included boarder-cross, skier-cross, slope style snowboarding, slalom and giant slalom. Additionally most of the disciplines were broken down into 'A' races for the more experienced skiers and boarders and 'B' races for those who were newer to the sport.

Once the RN ski and snowboard squads arrived in the resort the ante was upped and longer races were scheduled. For skiers this included the Super Giant Slalom (the 'Super G') and the Premier Super G races (which competitors have to qualify for from the earlier Giant Slalom races), and for the boarders the big crowd pleaser, the slope style.

These last few events are the final chance for potential team members to impress their captains and earn their spot in the RN team for the inter-services competition.

The winners were:

Women's board: Leading Hand Erin Pinkerton - HMS Ocean
Women's ski: Able Seaman Jade Convery - HMS Richmond
Men's board: Marine Connor Gemmell – 42 Commando Royal Marines
Men's ski: Marine Kyle Coetzee - HMS Ocean

The Sellaronda, a circuit of lifts and pistes around the Sella Massif in the Italian Dolomites is on the 'must ski' list of most skiers' bucket lists.

The roughly circular network of around 40km of lifts and ski runs acts as a hub with some of Italy's most famous valleys including Gardena, Badia and Fassa radiating off. Some estimates calculate that there are some 500km of runs interconnected around it, the world's second biggest ski area. It also boasts some of the ski world's most stunning scenery.

But given the size of the network (it involves up to around 25km of skiing and several hours sat on lifts) it can happen that a skier sets off from one resort with all lifts and runs open, only to find part of the way round that due to bad weather, fog, avalanche danger, heavy snowfalls or even occasional technical problems, part of the route is closed and it is not possible to complete the Sellaronda that day.

That's the idea behind a new information system launched this winter designed to keep skiers informed on conditions right around the circuit, wherever they are on it.

A system of what Dolomiti Superski describe as 'mega-monitors' have been installed in the valley stations of the major lifts en-route and these communicate prevailing weather conditions and other relevant factors from right around the circuit.

This way, the hope is, skiers can continue their journey across the valleys and avoid any logistical difficulty, perhaps modifying their route to avoid any problems flagged up.

Other relevant information including indications of any queues that might build up and advice on time to allow to complete routes is also up there, along with tourist information on events and offers at restaurants and resorts en route.

There's a bit of a world class freestyle frenzy going on at present with the Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg in Austria underway and the surviving (and original) X Games kicking off in Aspen today.

The fact that the two events clash, forcing some global superstars to choose whether to defend their World Championship crowns or go for (generally) the better money and media exposure that the X Games provide have led some to publically criticise the FIS for staging the Championships on the same dates as the X Games, suggesting it is a deliberate move by the 'old guard Alpine skiing' organisation.

The FIS argue they set their dates before the X Games, but American sports stars say the X Games have long been positioned in this date slot which is a crucial window in the American football season in terms of media exposure.

Most of the British team are in Austria and won their first medal yesterday, but James Woods is in Aspen for the X Games and starts his campaign for glory there today.

Yesterday Sheffield-born Slopestyle skier Katie Summerhayes took silver in the Ski Slopestyle completion at the Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Championships (pictured above with the British coach Jamie Matthew after her success).

In a historic day for British skiing, the 19 year old, a member of the GB Park and Pipe Team, held off strong competition to win the Silver medal, beaten into 2nd spot by Germany's Lisa Zimmerman.

Katie was in 2nd place going into the final run after a classy second run, which scored 81.40. She managed to better her standing with a score of 82.80 on the third run, but she could not beat the second run score of Zimmerman, who took the title with a 85.80.

"I'm really stoked, I stepped up each run the way I wanted to. It's taken a lot of hard work to get here and all the girls put on an awesome performance today, it was a great atmosphere out there!" said Katie.

"Today's result is all down to the dedication and hard work Katie has put in throughout the summer and in the build up to these Championships. On a fast, icy course she put in a great performance and I couldn't be happier with today's result," added Park and Pipe Team Coach Jamie Matthew.

Over in Aspen today, James 'Woodsy' Woods will tackle the Ski Slopestyle eliminations at the X Games. The action kicks off at 7pm UK time. If he makes it through the Ski Slopestyle finals take place on Saturday at 6pm UK time.

'Woodsy' is the UK's top ski contender in the competition and will be hoping to add to the bronze he won in the Men's Ski Slopestyle at the Winter X Games 2013.

The 23 year old, who also comes from Sheffield, grew up skiing on the former Sheffield Ski Village but managed to save up for a one way ticket to Colorado when he was 16, determined to earn a place amongst the best slopestyle skiers in the world.

The following year, he skied his way onto the Dew Tour, and in 2012, he was invited to Aspen as an X Games alternate. After narrowly missing out on a chance to compete, he finally made it to the X Games last year and stunned the field by qualifying No.1. In the final, he was the only skier to post two scores in the 90s and took bronze behind Nick Goepper and Henrik Harlaut.

James Woods was also the overall winner in the 2013 FIS rankings for the ski slopestyle and finished fifth in the ski slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Back in Austria today sees James Machon riding in the Ski Halfpipe finals, which start at 17.00 UK time (live on British Eurosport 2) after qualifying in a fantastic 10th place yesterday.

Unfortunately Murray Buchan and Molly Summerhayes didn't make it through to the finals, with a 19th for Murray and 11th for Molly in her World Champs debut. Tomorrow sees Billy Morgan, Rowan Coultas and Sam Turnbull compete in the Men's Big Air Qualifiers, with finals taking place on Saturday.

In Ski Cross, Pam Thorburn, Liz Stevenson and Ed Drake are all in action in Kreischberg in the Ski Cross qualifiers on Saturday, with finals taking place on Sunday. The Big Air finals on Saturday and the Ski Cross finals on Sunday will both be shown on British Eurosport and on the red button on the BBC.

Finally, for the Delancey British Alpine Ski Team, it is a busy time for many of the athletes. Dave Ryding will tackle the Slalom course on Sunday at the Kitzbühel World Cup, looking to improve on his 25th place in Wengen last weekend. The action can be seen live on Eurosport, with the first run taking place at 9.15am UK time.

American downhill ski racer Lindsey Vonn, who once famously asked the FIS if she could be allowed to race with the men, has broken a 35 year old record to become the woman who has won the most world class Alpine races in the history of the sport.

The 30 year old who equalled the record of 62 wins set by Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proll in 1980 on Sunday, and took her 63rd victory in the Super G yesterday, had returned to World cup racing after a year away from the sport due to injuries.

Vonn said breaking the record at Cortina was fitting as she had won her first World Cup race there. Her victory was watched, apparently unbeknown to her, by her boyfriend Tiger Woods who had secretly flown in to be there, and congratulated her afterwards on her achievement.

Vonn will be heading to Colorado in a few weeks to compete at the Alpine Skiing World Championships staged this time in her home resort of Vail Beaver Creek, where there are likely to now be extra special celebrations.

This Sunday 18th January 2015, the 4th edition of World Snow Day will take place.

Organised by the International Ski Federation (FIS) with the aim of encouraging more people, particularly children, in to snow sports. The event is set to exceed previous numbers with 645 Events in 45 countries staging events to celebrate all things on snow.

The 4th edition of World Snow Day will include nationwide event in eight cointries, one more than last year. Austria, Canada, China, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Russia Sweden will stage events throughout their countries.

These nationwide events include: 'Apen Bakke' (Open Day) in Norway, where a record 103 resorts will open their doors to an estimated 130,000 participants for free skiing and snowboarding; School snow sports concept in Austria includes 138 resorts offering school children the chance to try snow sports for as little as five Euros; while in China 15 resorts across the country will support free and discounted passes for children.

In addition, World Snow Day in Latvia will see a record 113 events will take place with lessons, safety demonstrations and fun races included. Canadian Ski Patrol World Snow Day will host over 20 events to show children the fun of snow sports with an emphasis on safety. World Snow Day Iceland has a record nine resorts hosting free or discounted ski passes for families.

Half price children's lift passes at Serbia's major ski resorts, Mongolia's first World Snow Day with free lessons and passes at Sky Resort Ski Complex, Denmark's debut World Snow Day snow soccer event and free instruction for adults and free lift passes at Killington and Pico Mountain (USA) are just a few of the other World Snow Day activities

In Britain hopes are high that Scotland will be able to play a larger role than ever before in World Snow Day as all five areas are in good shape after heavy snowfall in the last few days.

Snow fun and events are planned at the five mountain ski areas and at indoor snow centre Snow Factor at Braehead near Glasgow.

"We expect that all, or most, of our mountain ski areas will be open and celebrating World Snow Day on Sunday," said Chair of Ski-Scotland, Heather Negus.

Events planned include taster sessions, discounts and fun events for children, in keeping with World Snow Day's theme of "bringing the children to the snow" and so encouraging future generations of skiers and snowboarders.

Glencoe Mountain will have children's races, an igloo building demo, snowman building competition, free sledging, free chairlift access for children and rides in the tracked Snowtrax "car".

Nevis Range has ten half price ski or boarding lesson packages available for complete beginners to book by phone on a 'first come' basis, half price snow shoe hire, a snowman building competition, sledging and some special World Snow Day après-ski.

Glenshee is offering under 16s free use of the Baddoch Chair, a fun ski race, sledging, a snowman making competition and a hot drink promo for parents.

All mountain events and competitions are dependent on snow, weather and roads conditions and everyone is advised to check these before leaving, on the official website www.ski-scotland.com/conditions.

Of course Snow Factor's indoor real snow is guaranteed and there on Sunday, kids accompanied by paying adults can get free lift passes, free sledging and can even eat free in the bar. More info about the Day's events at all the ski areas are on www.ski-scotland.com/worldsnowday .

"We certainly have some great fun on offer on Sunday," continued Heather, "and we are hopeful that all mountain ski areas will be open for World Snow Day."

"Many global events slow down or disappear by their third edition. This is not the case for World Snow Day," said FIS President Gian Franco Kasper, "Organisers have shown that there is a strong global drive to bring children to the snow. I congratulate the Organisers of the 4th edition of World Snow Day, you are the best this event has ever seen."

www.world-snow-day.com

(Pic credit Vanessa Fry)

A French court has come down against the Ski Club of Great Britain's leading service in the country.

Under the service, which the Ski Club had operated in more than 30 resorts in seven countries worldwide, and has done for more than 50 years, volunteer Ski Club Leaders take Club members on ski trips around resorts, showing them the best spots on and off piste.

The outcome from the hearing held on 8th December 2014 in Paris against Ski Club of Great Britain Leader, Ken Piddlesden was announced yesterday and the court has found against the Club.

The action was brought after Piddlesden was stopped on the piste in Val d'Isère, France in April last year and questioned by the gendarmerie (military force charged with police duties) in relation to Art.L.212-1 of the French Code du Sport. Under this article it is a legal requirement to have the relevant and appropriate qualification(s) to instruct, lead or guide skiing (groups) if remuneration is received.

The Ski Club's position is that as Club leaders are non-remunerated volunteers the club continues to maintain the action is misguided and inappropriate.

Ski Club Leaders are understood to receive practical and logistical support in resort and it is unclear if the French Court has decided this amounts to 'remuneration' even though Leaders are not paid directly.

The case is similar, but wholly separate, to two others going through the French courts. One against ski teacher Simon Butler accused of teaching without the correct qualifications accepted in France, one against British tour operators for offering free 'hosting' familiarisation tours of easy marked pistes in resorts to their clients.

An initial hearing originally scheduled for 1st September 2014 was delayed until 8th December to allow the French authorities more time to prepare their case.

Yesterday afternoon (12 January) during the hearing, presided over by Emmanuelle Bouyé, the Club leader was fined 10,000€ of which 5000€ was suspended. The judge also awarded a symbolic damages payment of one Euro to the ESF.

There is no custodial sentence for Ken or the Club. This outcome means that the Ski Club will continue its current Ambassador programme in France.

"We have asked our lawyer to immediately lodge an appeal to the court in Chambery. He will also be lodging an official complaint with the European Commission on our behalf," said Frank McCusker CEO at the Ski Club of Great Britain.

"This is the outcome we expected. By adapting our services to members we are able to continue resort operations this season and we look forward to helping people to get the most out of their stay in the French resorts. Our Ambassadors whilst not able to ski alongside the members can still help them to plan an epic day on the mountains by suggesting routes and organising instructors and guides to optimise their time and experiences on snow. It is sad that skiing with a Ski Club Leader will not be reinstated in France this season.

"Thankfully the Ski Club's Leader service in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Andorra, Canada and America is unaffected by this outcome and is fully operational. We have also introduced our new 'Catch-Up' service that helps members to connect with each other to find a ski, boarding or socialising buddy in resort. We must thank everyone who has helped us to fight for the right to ski together socially. We will be continuing that fight," Frank concluded.

France was the main nation where the Ski Club operated its Leader programme and with its removal the nuber of resorts where the service is currently provided dropped from more than 30 to less than 20. It has just added Mayrhofen in Austria to the list however bringing the number of leader resorts back up to 18 while the number of Ambassador resorts in France remains at 11.

Remaining Ski Club Leader resorts:

ANDORRA: Soldeu
AUSTRIA: Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Mayrhöfen, Obergurgl, Zell am See,
CANADA: Whistler
ITALY: Cervinia, Sauze d'Oulx
SWITZERLAND: Davos, Grindelwald, Klosters, Murren, Saas Fee, Verbier, Wengen, Zermatt
USA: Jackson Hole

Resorts on the East and West sides of the Scottish Highlands have begun re-opening today after four days of storm closures, during which hurricane force winds reached as high as 113mph.

The storms have also brought snow though, with resulting road closures over the past few days at Glenshee, Tomintoul near The Lecht and the Cairngorm access road. Glencoe reported 30cm of fresh snow today (the picture above was taken on the new dry slope at the base).

Nevis Range was able to open the lower mountain today, saying it was still too windy on upper runs. In the east The Lecht, which had been forced to close due to lack of snow last week, was able to re-open thanks to widespread new snow coverage.

The other Eastern ski area, Glenshee, which had also closed due to lack of snow, said it was close to re-opening.

The access road to Cairngorm was blocked by snow earlier today but it too is reporting lots of fresh snow.

Glencoe also hopes to open soon, the centre reports lots of new snow but also storm damage needing repairs and the situation is still being assessed.

More stormy weather is expected over the next 24 hours but also more snow so the five centres are optimistic of better conditions once the weather settles down – hopefully towards the end of this week.

The season of rollercoaster weather in the Alps is continuing with temperatures reaching double digits above zero yesterday and resorts across the region reported rain at lower elevations overnight.

However temperatures have dropped today and up to 20cm of fresh snow has been reported at some resorts, primarily in Austria, down to low levels.

Fieberbrunn has had 20cm of new snow and Kaprun (pictured above this morning) 15cm. There's also been a couple of inches of new snow in the Skiwelt and 10cm at Solden.

There have been moderate snowfalls in France and Switzerland too. Valmorel, La Clusaz and Tignes have reported 5-6cm each, most other French areas 2-4cm.