J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

Well here's the press release text on Folgaria, there a few web addresses in there:

Folgaria and Lavarone, in the south-eastern part of Trentino (North Italy), is a mountain that is wanted by families, by sportsmen and athletes: it follows the rhythms of both, giving everyone the right space. A mountain with old towns to be lived day and night, easily accessible (18 km from the A22 - exit Rovereto Nord) and near the main cities in the North of Italy. The flagship of the winter offer is the Skitour dei Forti made up of 100 kilometres slopes between Folgaria and Lavarone, with a variety of tracks and views that are good for both body and mind.

With three new four-place chairlifts the Carosello Ski Folgaria (www.folgariaski.com) has provided a link with the nearby Veneto and, for the fist time, it gives the skiers the chance of skiing at an altitude of 1820 metres: it is now possible to admire one of the most exciting views of the Southern Trentino; skiers can open their eyes on wide panoramas and new horizons they have never seen before: from the top of Pioverna and Costa d'Agra the sight expands to the exciting outlines of the Brenta Group, of the Pasubio massif, of the Stivo mountain chain, the Vigolana and its background, the Group of Lagorai. In addition, the South Tyrolean Alps and the unmistakable contour of the Marmolada's south face. It also means joining an area where the natural snow is an absolute certainty from November to April. Together with the downhill skiing a further important offer is addressed to the lovers of snowboarding. Two fields have been reserved specifically for snowboarders: the Mazinga Snow Park (www.mazingapark.it) in Folgaria and the Prinze Snow Park in Lavarone. These two new Parks which are exclusively reserved for snowboarding, represent the best children and young people might wish for a holiday on the snow made to their taste and liking.

This is a special weekend in the history of British skiing as it marks the anniversary of 50 years since the first permanent dry ski slope opened, at Torquay in Devon.

There had been earlier dry slopes, a temporary one in what was to become Lillywhites store in London's Piccadilly in the 1950s and others for shows and exhibitions dating back at least to the 1920s, but this was the first permanent slope that anyone could use, and it's still operating today with a healthy local ski club.

After the Torquay slope opened up to 150 more followed (the number peaked in the late 1970s, early 1980s) in the UK and hundreds of thousands, pethaps millions of Brits learned to ski, while British made dry slope surfaces were exported to created hundred more dry slopes all over the world. Around 60 are still operational in Britain.

Dry slopes have also been the launch pad of many British ski racing careers with most of the current British ski team started out on dry slopes.

The first dry ski slope in Britain was at Barton Hall, Torquay. Torquay Alpine Ski Club (TASC) - the club that operates it - is now one of the oldest skiing institutions in the country

"In 1963 a group of visionary individuals constructed the first outdoor ski slope in Britain. The philosophy has always been one of a club and after many years of passing the baton between dedicated volunteers, arch enthusiasts, quality instructors, supportive suppliers and selfless committee members the club continues to thrive – this is a truly remarkable achievement for an amateur snowsports club," said Ralph Howle, Chairman of TASC.

The idea was conceived by a group of local enthusiasts aided by the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR), who persuaded Fred Pontin (later Sir Fred) to set up the slope at his Barton Hall holiday camp in Torquay.

There was a grand opening ceremony at the slope which included demonstration of skiing by members of the British Ski Team and European Ski Instructors from the Swiss Resort of Champery. In honour of this historic occasion, Champery has sent two ski instructors to represent them at the anniversary dinner.

In addition to teaching thousands of local people to ski. The club has had outstanding success in ski racing competition over the last 30 years, in particular the last 20 years have seen national age group children's champions nearly every year and near continuous representation of the club in national teams. Most successful of the club's racers has been Jai Geyer who recently held a place in the British Senior Alpine Team, being one of a team of only six racers, which included Chemmy Alcott and European Cup Winner David Ryding.

Originally called the "Wessex Ski Association" and then "Wessex Ski Club", TASC has continued to be at the forefront of skiing activities in Britain and in 2012 it became the first club in the South West to be awarded the prestigious Snowmark award.

TASC celebred the anniversary with a dinner at the Grand Hotel, Torquay on the 5 Oct 2013 with Olympic and World Cup Ski Racer Chemmy Alcott and Olympic Ski Jumper "Eddie the Eagle" Edwards as Guests of Honour. Other guests included members of the club who were present at opening of the slope and who were part of the first ever group to qualify as UK Artificial Slope Ski Instructors.

"The opening of the first permanent dry ski slope in 1963 is a major milestone in British Skiing and marks the first time that skiing became widely accessible. Since then hundreds of thousands of people have learnt ski on these types of slope and it all started with Torquay slope and the club that operates it. The heart of our sport in the UK is based around clubs and it's great to know that this club is still going strong after 50 years," said Tim Fawke, CEO of Snowsport England.

A new cable car connection between the neighbouring ski areas of Zinal and Grimentz in the Swiss Val d'Anniviers will create a 120km ski domain within the wider valley pass this December.

The link is one of an unprecedented five such link-ups announced in the Alps this coming winter, including two in Austria (Flachau to St Johnann im Pongau and Lech to Warth/Scrocken), another in Switzerland (Arosa to Lenzerheide) and one at Folgaria in Italy.

The new lift was first proposed in 2006 when the two neighbouring lift companies looked at ways to make their companies viable in the longer term, construction began a year ago after a 14 month planning process.

There has in fact been a black-grade route between the two areas for some years, which has been groomed in recent years, but the new cable car allows people of all abilities to travel between the two areas, regardless of snow conditions.

The 3.5km long lift has two 125 person cabins and travels at 10m per second taking around 7 minutes, 20 seconds to make the journey. The lift ascends 1,100 vertical metres and can carry up to 825 people per hour. The project has cost 18.6 million Swiss Francs.

The Val d'Anniviers is made up of three resorts, St-Luc/Chandolin, Grimentz/Zinal and Vercorin, all a short distance from one another and linked by a shuttle bus included in the area pass.

Arabba/Marmolada is adding another kilometre of piste to the huge Dolomiti Superski Pass this winter with a new ski run.

The new slope "Rutort" an intermediate red, will descend 970 metres from "Bec de Roces" and the Campolongo Pass descending 228 vertical metres at an average 24% steepness.

Arabba is also installing a new six seater high speed detachable chairlift, dubbed the "Alpenrose" in the area of Pont de Vauz.

The 1.2km long lift ascends 131 vertical metres and has an hourly capacity of 2,600 persons.
This modest ascent helps avoid skiing a relatively flat route down in the valley and provides access to more enjoyable skiing.

Arabba is located on the famous Sellaronda circuit, which inter-connects around 500km of slopes around a 40km 'hub' of lifts and runs with valleys including Fassa, Badia and Gardena radiating off.

Ischgl have spent €18.5 million (approx. £15.6m) on an impressive new lift which will open up high altitude, high quality powder snow freeriding this winter, as well as provide access to a new red run.

The new cable car at the Tyrolean resort is 1.5 miles long and enables Ischgl's first terrain expansion in nearly 25 years.

It will run to the Piz Val Gronda peak at 2812m known for many years for its deep powder fields and take five-and-a-half minutes to make the ascent.

Final work is currently underway to complete the lift ahead of the start of Ischgl's long season, which will run to early May and kicks off with a free concert by Nickelback at the end of November.

In the past these powderfields were accessed only by the most dedicated skiers and boarders who were towed up by snowcat.

In addition to the newly accessible freeride terrain a new intermediate red run, three kilometres long, will allow skiers and boarders who prefer to stay on the slopes to also enjoy the views of the Fimbatal valley and surrounding peaks including the Fluchthorn, Wildspitze and Hohe Riffler.

"This new area will enhance Ischgl's status on the freeriding scene and present skiers and snowboarders with an exciting new challenge," said Paznaun-Ischgl Tourist Director Andreas Steibl.

Colorado passed a law in November last year which allowed people aged over 21 to grow and own a small amount of cannabis each year, and to gift small amounts to friends too.

The law also allowed for cannabis to be sold, within these volume limits, through licensed retailers to member of the public, but crucially a decision on whether to license retailers to sell the drugs 'for recreational purposes' is being left up to individual Colorado towns to decide.

The decision making process has taken some time since the original announcement of the new law, and in some cases is on going. However Telluride became the latest ski town this week to say that it would allow the licensed sale of marijuana, joining Crested Butte, Silverton and Aspen where four shops currently licensed to retail the drug for those allowed to buy it under a former law allowing need for medical purposes, are expected to become retail sellers to all over 21 on 1st January 2014.

Although the ski resorts themselves have not been mentioned, Summit County, home to Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain and Keystone, three of the world's 10 highest ski areas, has said it will also allow licensed retailing of the drug.

However Vail has decided not to license any retailers and Breckenridge, which currently has one licensed medical supplier, has also says that it will not, and that the medical supplier will be closed when its building's lease expires. Steamboat has also said it will not license any retailers but may review their position in three years time after it has seen how legalisation has worked out across the rest of the state.

Colorado will impose similar safety laws on drug use for drivers as they do for alcohol, there have been no announcements on any plans for a drug use safety law for skiers.

Incredible!

Skiplex in Reading is kick-starting the winter season with an Olympic themed road show on Sunday 6th October featuring two of Great Britain's most well-known skiers – three-time Olympian Chemmy Alcott and BBC Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell.

Slide2Sochi Sunday is being run in conjunction with governing body Snowsport England as part of the new 'Go Ski Go Board' campaign and their 'Slide To Sochi Roadshow' to try to encourage more people in to snow sports. It's one of many events in the new initiative being staged at dry slopes, indoor snow slopes and on Skiplex's case on the 'endless' conveyor slope during October.

For those not already in the know Skiplex is a new way to learn how to ski or snowboard, get your ski legs back or fine tune technique. The revolving slopes, a similar concept to the runner's treadmill, are made of a forgiving carpet-like material which is much softer than the traditional dry slopes and the speed and gradient of the slope can be altered to suit all abilities. Skiplex has opened a number of the centres in the UK so far and other companies have been opening more around the world. The idea has been popular in the Netherlands and the USA for more than 50 years.

"With the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in February less than six months away the roadshow will be buzzing with Olympic fever with visitors able to sign a giant good luck snowball for the British wintersports athletes, have their face painted with their favourite country's flag," said a statement from the organisers, "There will also be a big barbeque on offer for all visitors, making it a great day out for all the family."

Visitors have the chance to get coaching tips from both Chemmy and Graham as well as ski or snowboard for free or for a hugely discounted price on the Skiplex endless slopes.

"It's a great way for the public to get involved with us, the athletes, and experience the latest way to learn to ski at Skiplex. It should be a great day and I am looking forward to seeing everyone there!" said Chemmy Alcott.

Anyone wishing to book slope time for Slide2Sochi Sunday should call 0845 6003599 or visit skiplex.co.uk. More information on all Slide2Sochi roadshows is at www.slide2sochi.org.uk