J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

The British ski racing fraternity returns to Les Houches for the fifth time over the coming weekend for their opening championship of the season.

The Chamonix valley, which has a long association with British Alpinism and hosted the first winter Olympics 90 years ago in 1924 will be hosting nearly 350 young British ski racers from 4 to 7 January, for four days of Alpine ski competition.

Mostly of the racing will take place on a section of the Men's World Cup downhill course, la Verte des Houches and races will count for the Anglo Scottish Cup and provide a basis for selection to the GB national ski teams.

"Full credit must be given to the Compagnie du Mont Blanc and the resort of Les Houches for their magnificent co-operation enabling us to stage this major British event," said organiser Eddie Guest.

The slopes of Les Houches have provided the training ground for most of the British ski team of the last decade.

"I am delighted to see so many former academy athletes now competing on the World and Europa Cup circuits. But watch out for our next crop!" said British Ski Academy director Malcolm Erskine.

Also this weekend the resort of Chamonix will host two slaloms of the Europa Cup circuit.

David Ryding, Olympic hopeful, winner of the 2013 Europa Cup slalom series and currently fourth in the standings, will be one of the favourites. Chamonix will then host the Anglo Scottish FIS night slaloms (on the 5th and 6th of January), with many British international racers participating.

Disability Snowsport UK Chief Executive Fiona Young has been honoured with an OBE in the New Year's Honours List.

Fiona Young, who combines the roles of CEO and Technical Director, has been involved with DSUK for around 20 years. She has designed and taught the courses that the British Association for Snowsports Instructors (BASI) provides for those wishing to gain competence to instruct disabled skiers and receives her award for services to disability sport.

Fiona is seen here being presented with a cheque last summer from Simon Cross for £55,000 which Crystal Ski staff raised during the last winter season to support the charity's work

Seems to be more the speed of impact and possibly the limited snow cover off piste that was the cause more than the gradient/type of terrain.

Good news from press conference is "An improvement" although "not out of danger"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25558709

While part of Europe have been suffering a dry spell throughout December, that has largely eased with snowfalls since Christmas, it's a similar if not more severe picture on the Pacific coast of North America where ski areas are yet to benefit from some of the deep powder for which they are famous.

The problems have largely been caused by a ridge of high pressure that has hovered over the region for a month or so.

The snow shortage is particularly affecting coastal resorts in states and provinces like California and British Columbia whereas once you move inland to states like Colorado And Utah conditions are more 'normal.'

In some large areas, such as Canada' BC, there's also more snow at inland ski areas than coastal ones.

2010 Winter Olympic venue Whistler Blackcomb reports 'lower than average' snow cover but still has top to bottom skiing on its pistes. The famous resort actually opened a day early in November and has used snowmaking and the base it built up in Autumn to see it through recent weeks, along with a few small snowfalls. A spokesperson told local media yesterday that business levels were 'normal.'

At the south of the region Mammoth in California is also snowmaking at capacity when cold enough and reports 85% of groomed terrain open, although its base of 30-60cm is well below the norm.

The problems are most severe on Vancouver island where Mt Washington, often one of the snowiest resorts in the world, has been unable to open so far this season. The picture above was taken there in June 2011 when the area was unable to open summer biking operations due to too much snow.

Mt Baker, which is located on the Pacific Coast in Washington state and IS officially the world's snowiest resort is said to have' bucked the trend' and dopes have a reasonable snow base of up to 1.7m, although it still lags behind its seasonal average.

Nevis Range ski area near Fort William in Scotland has announced special low priced skiing dates in 2014, with one discounted date a month from January to April.

Full day passes are available for less than the price of a gondola ascent, and less than half the price of a normal one day ski pass.

On selected dates adult day passes will be only £11.50 and for children only £6.75, compared to a normal day pass price of £30 for adults and £18.75 for children.

Those selected dates are Sunday 12th January, Saturday 1st February, Sunday 2nd March and Saturday 5th April 2014.

No pre-booking is required, just turn up, but remember to check the conditions, up dated daily, at the 'Snow Report' section at www.nevisrange.co.uk

Our main story updated.

BBC say he has been moved to Grenoble, the accident happened as he was skiing between two pistes and he was the only one involved although skiing in a group. Injury described as 'serious but not life threatening' and that " The German is receiving the attention of Professor Gerard Saillant, a close ally and friend of Schumacher and his former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt."

The Compagnie du Mont-Blanc which runs the lifts at most of the ski areas in the Chamonix Valley has installed two new cable-cars on the Flégère lift for Christmas.

After a week of closure up to December 20th for the final fitting the sleek, modern panoramic cubicles were installed providing great views of the surrounding mountains as you ascend to the summits.

The company has also just inaugurated its new glass terrace 3842m up on the Aiguille du Midi which allows visitors to step out on to a glass balcony thousands of metres above the valley below.

Finally, the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc is also pushing its new 'RapidCard' – priced at 50 Euros for an annual subscription, which then guarantees purchasers the lowest price on daily lift ticket rates as well as exclusive 'flash special offers.' compagniedumontblanc.co.uk