J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

Britain's lone World Cup Alpine racer Dave Ryding finished 2014 on a high with two top 20 finishes in successive slalom races just before Christmas at Are in Sweden then Madonna di Campiglio in Italy. The FIS point winning performances ended a year in which 28 year old Ryding also took 17th place in the Olympic slalom at Sochi.

The Delancey British Ski and Snowboard team racer finishing 16th overall in the World Cup night Slalom in Madonna di Campiglio three days before Christmas, posting the second fastest time in the second run, faster than the likes of Benni Raich and Marcel Hirscher.

The Italian result followed Ryding's 17th place in the World Cup Slalom in Are the previous week, with a starting bib of 39, having been training immediately before up in the Arctic Circle at the little known Finnish resort of Salla.

"It was a great night in Madonna, a great venue and a great atmosphere," said Dave, "I'm chuffed to be so confident in my skiing to be able to have a go at the second run and slot in the second best time."

The first week of 2015 has seen Ryding continue with his full-on schedule and the first weekend of the season saw him secure a 2nd and 4th place at the Europa Cup Slalom Races in Chamonix. On Friday under the floodlights and with wet conditions, Ryding was in 2nd place after the first run, but dropped down into 4th after the second run. Saturday's race was moved to earlier in the day, and Ryding skied well to take 2nd place in a strong field.

Unfortunately the World Cup Slalom in Zagreb, Croatia yesterday where Ryding had a starting bib of 38th went less well and he failed to qualify for the second run.

"Pretty disappointing evening all in all tonight. I didn't get into the course at all. Let myself slip back into my old habits and coupled that with some mistakes... so a pretty poor showing," he commened on social media.

Ryding, who races exclusively on Fischer equipment and is a member of the famed Kandahar Ski Club, begins 2015 ranked 21st in the world in the event. He races again in four days' time,

There are reports of significant snowfall over the past 24 hours in Austria from the latest storm system crossing the Alps.

Schladming, Flachau and Obertauern (pictured above) have all reported 30cm (a foot) of fresh snow in the past 24 hours.

Some resorts have reported still more with 45cm for the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun and Solden has reported 20cm+ falls for each of the past two days.

The fresh snow news from Flachau came in just as the FIS confirmed that the Ski World Cup slalom scheduled to be staged there a week on Tuesday on 13th January 2015 has got the official go ahead today.

Unfortunately earlier in the weekend the precipitation falling in the Western Alps on French and Swiss resorts fell partly as rain and sleet up to quite high altitudes for a time, with Arc 2000 and Verbier amongst resorts reporting rain, although resorts with very high slopes such as the Chamonix Valley, Val Thorens and Zermatt did post 20-25cm accumulations on upper runs.

Mayrhofen in the Austrian Tirol has created a new fun run for all ages and abilities. The 650 metre long Funslope Ahorn offers three areas with different challenges in each.

There are waves, High Fives, Low Fives, basins and steep turns, but, "…this isn't about speed or looks, it's all about pure fun," said a lift company statement.
The Funslope incorporates specially designed elements and the design also takes snowboarder and ski-cross influences. Children and beginners can improve coordination and motor skills that are needed on the slopes and more experienced riders can tackle the slope with more speed.

What makes the slope special, the resort says, is that it's very moderate and the waves, steep curves and basins are designed in a way that they can actually be navigated by any winter athlete – from skiers to snowboarders, whether beginner or advanced.

The upper part of the Funslope, next to the practice lift, is the sector particularly suited to beginners and lower intermediate skiers, due to its simple elements while the central part of the slope is a bit more challenging with a series of waves following the first curves.

After a short breather on the Funslope photo point, you can jump and ski in a basin for an extra shot of adrenaline. The final Funslope section in the lower part takes you through a unique forest environment.

Every morning a professional team hand-prepares the Funslope with shovels in order to provide the best conditions for safety and fun.

(St Moritz Yesterday)

The snow storms which started in the Alps a week ago have continued to bring healthy accumulations to the slopes and returned the region to something more like 'normal' conditions for the start of 2015 after the unusually dry and warm December.

The Chamonix Valley at Argentiere is reporting the biggest accumulation of more than 90cm in the last seven days, with most leading resorts reporting 40-60cm (16 inches to two feet) of new snow in the same period.

Grindelwald, in the Swiss Jungfrau, which was almost completely closed over Christmas week, and was finally able to open one run at its First area for Boxing day, has had 70cm of new snow since.

French and Swiss resorts have reported the most new snow but Austrian and Italian areas have been reporting consistent snowfall in recent days.

Snowfall is expected to be light over the first week of 2015.

The snow has started falling in the Alps, beginning to transform conditions at many resorts where snow has been badly needed.

Resorts across the region have reported up to 30cm of snow in the past 24 hours and up to three times that much is forecasted for others over the next 72 hours.

As usual it's a mixed picture rather than a blanket deluge and forecasts are changing by the hour, but generally the picture appears to be finally improving with low temperatures down to low altitudes allowing the mighty arsenal of snowguns across the Alps to fire up once again.

For most areas the total forecast is around 30cm (a foot) and many resorts in Austria reported 20cm overnight this morning.

Those who have been in the Alps over Christmas with limited open terrain on-piste only have been able to ski powder today (unfortunately the last of their week for many on package trips, but then better than if it started on Saturday).

The picture above shows Wengen which received 15cm of snow overnight and has a further 30cm forecast to fall over the weekend, all snow guns are fired up too particularly on the Lauberhorn race route.

La Plagne has just issued this statement regarding its Christmas opening:

After the opening of the altitude sites of the ski area on December 13th, this Saturday, December 20th, is the official opening of La Plagne. For Christmas week, the occupancy rate in resort is 54% on average with a total of nearly 200 000 night stays. With the current snow conditions, about 40% of the ski area will be open. The Paradiski ski link between La Plagne and Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry will not be opening yet. The local tourist offices and service providers are ready to offer alternative activities and entertainment.

The ski area

What will be open

It snowed 16cm on Wednesday, December 17th. The warm temperatures have meant that it has not been possible to make a lot of artificial snow this week. Subject to favourable weather conditions, the Société d'Aménagement de la Plagne can now offer about thirty runs and fifty lifts between 1250 metres and 3250 metres, on Bellecôte glacier.

The ski link with Plagne-Montalbert is not open for the time being.

The Vanoise Express is open but the Paradiski link between the ski areas of Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne is not yet accessible to skiers. Pedestrians (without any ski/snowboard gear) can take the Vanoise Express to see the new graphics by artist Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.

The SAP teams are continuing to work to offer the best conditions possible with the changing weather conditions.

Practical information:
- "First snow" rates applicable exceptionally 20 - 26 December.
Special early season rates for every type of pass from 4 hours to 21 days.
1 day La Plagne: Adult: 37€ instead of 49€ - child/senior: 29€ instead of 38.50€
6 day La Plagne Adult: 181€ instead of 241€ - child/senior: 141€ instead of 188€

- Snow Bulletin updated in real time: http://www.la-plagne.com/fr/hiver/actus/bulletin-neige.html
N.B:
- Season pass holders are asked not to go skiing to avoid too many skiers on a limited area.
- For the safety of all, it is strongly recommended that you only ski on the groomed runs.

Alternative activities
Walks on the Dou du Praz, hikes with the ski school guides, descents on the Olympic Bobsleigh track (preferential rates early in the day), adventure park, giant zipwire, ice grotto, extra films at the cinema, additional opening hours at the swimming pool, discovering the local heritage, additional events with the events team. In Champagny en Vanoise: cross-country skiing, zipwires, sled dogs with kart, paragliding…

Les Arcs issued a similar statement:

Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry ski area opened on Saturday December 13th. On the ground, our teams are doing everything possible to welcome holidaymakers:
Saturday 20th December: 16 ski lifts/10 slopes will be open at the unique rate of 25€ per day.

From Sunday 21st December, all sites (except Villaroger) will be connected with guaranteed ski-in, ski-out to the resorts.

Furthermore, at altitude – the Aiguille Rouge peak reaches 3226m - allows for quality skiing.

Pricing:
Pricing has been adjusted to fit the current situation. Up to 25% discount will be applied to all our ski products [details on available offers at lift pass offices].

For Example:
Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry 6-Day Pass: 185.50€ per adult (instead of 245€)
Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry 1-Day Pass: 38€ per adult (instead of 49.50€)

Vanoise Express:
The Vanoise Express cable car, connecting Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry to La Plagne is open but not accessible to skiers yet. Holidaymakers will be able to board the Vanoise Express (pedestrians only) providing the unique opportunity to discover a preview of the new covering by designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac [which will be officially unveiled 20th December 2014].

Please pass on this statement as widely as possible. Our reception and sales points remain at your disposal if you should require any further information on this matter.

New technology created to produce high-quality snow is being tested in Obergurgl in the Austrian Tirol.

The artificial cloud the machine creates produces low-density snow using considerably less energy and water than traditional snow machines, which its designers hope could potentially revolutionize artificial snow-making.

The new technology, produces "close-to-natural" snow crystals according to its backers, and is much more sustainable than current snow production methods.

The artificial cloud can make up to 15 cubic metres of powder snow, with a low density of 80-220 kg/m³, from only 1 cubic metre of water. The powdery snow will initially be used for specific areas within a skiing resort where high quality snow is important, such as beginner slopes or fun parks.

"From an economic and ecological point of view, the new technology is very interesting as it uses considerably less energy and water," said Michael Bacher, the scientific leader of the project who has been interested in this topic for many years.

Bacher is working with colleagues from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna and the Vienna University of Technology. They have filed a patent "Dendritic Snow Production" and founded the company "Neuschnee" (fresh snow) this year.

The centre piece of the apparatus is a cloud chamber in which water droplets and ice nuclei are mixed together. Just like in a real cloud low outside temperatures (ideally -5°C) are necessary to produce snow.

Water droplets are sprayed into the cloud chamber, creating a small, artificial cloud. Due to the low temperatures the droplets cool down below 0°C, but don't freeze. Crystallization nuclei (small ice particles) are added to the cloud, which now contains water in three states: frozen, liquid and gaseous. Just like in a real cloud, the ice particles act like magnets and bind the gaseous water molecules, thereby growing to bigger crystals and eventually falling out of the cloud in the form of snow.

As the dimensions of clouds and weather fronts in the atmosphere are much bigger than the artificial cloud in the apparatus, the process of snow crystallization needs to be intensified to produce the necessary amounts of snow. To achieve this, the density of particles in the artificial cloud is twice as big as in natural clouds.

The amount of snow produced also depends on other factors, such as wind and temperature, all of which will be tested over the next months in Obergurgl.

"The knowledge we gain by testing the cloud might allow us to use the first cloud operationally next season – in Obergurgl of course," said Bacher.

The machine's cover was created by the designer Walter Klasz of the Institute for Structure and Design at the University of Innsbruck. Klasz and his students have also designed additional applications of the technology, such as a "snow printer". Their ideas are presented in an exhibit at the University Centre Obergurgl.

The technology, which is located near the Hohe-Mut gondola, will be tested throughout this winter season before being hopefully introduced on a large scale.

The artificial cloud was presented for the first time during the TMI (Tourism Meets Industry) event in Seefeld in October. Economy and tourism representatives then saw the cloud in operation and discussed future snow production and piste management during the "Fresh Snow Symposium" at the University Centre Obergurgl. "This project is very important for Tirol. We support the idea and want the company to be successful", says Harald Gohm, managing director of the Agency of Economy and Science Tirol.