Messages posted by : J2SkiNews
The Ski 4 Cancer charity ski race is getting underway today (20 March) 0n La Tania in the French 3 Valleys with plenty of fresh snow to enjoy. During the event, which continues tomorrow, 21st March, entrants attempt to ski either the equivalent of either the vertical height of Mont Blanc (4807 metres) or Everest (8848 metres) in just one day. The challenge will focus on the green, blue or red pistes, which run adjacent to La Tania's main gondola, dropping from a height of 1900 metres to 1368 metres. With a vertical drop of 532 metres, skiers will need to complete 9 runs to ski the height of Mont Blanc and 17 runs to descend the equivalent height of Everest, dependent on their ski experience and ability. Ski 4 Cancer provides alpine based respite days and short-breaks for British families affected by cancer. They also make grants to UK based care institutions and fund research into the positive effects of sport and how it can help both prevent cancer and assist in recovery post diagnosis. The event has recently received sponsorship from car rental comparisons website Carrentals.co.uk , who's Managing Director Gareth Robinson commented, "We are delighted to be supporting Ski 4 Cancer and their Mont Blanc & Everest Ski Challenge. This type of challenge highlights how innovative fundraising efforts can be and allow those taking part to have fun whilst raising vital funds for such a worthwhile cause." Ski 4 Cancer is part of the 4 Cancer Group which includes sister charities Run 4 Cancer, Sail 4 Cancer and Bike 4 Cancer. To make a donation or to find out more about its current and upcoming fundraising event's visit: www.ski4cancer.org |
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For the past decade or so the annual World Lift ticket Price Report has found ski areas in Iran among the world's cheapest for a lift pass, coming in at around £50 for a six day ticket thanks to a rather favourable exchange rate. But until the end of April a British ski slope is offering a more affordable ticket option even than that, the Chill Factore 180m long indoor real snow slope (www.chillfactore.com/ski ) is offering visitors a weekly Unlimited Lift Pass deal which allows holders to hit the slope for part of all of everyday of a week for just £40. The offer runs until Saturday 27th April 2013 and applies to a seven day booking from a Saturday through to a following Friday and must be booked online. The ski day indoors is longer than outdoors too – Chillfactore is open from 9am – 11pm every day except Wednesday when the hours are longer from 7.30am – 11pm. However there are terms and conditions – slope time should be pre-booked and a maximum of two hour slope time can be pre-booked at one time. Guests wishing to use the slope for longer than 2 hours per day need to request a longer duration lift pass at the Guest Services desk on the day of their booking which is subject to availability. |
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Big snowfalls have been reported in the Alps over the past 24 hours. The French Alps have had particularly big falls with many resorts reporting at least a foot (30cm) of fresh snow since yesterday, some as much as 80cm. That biggest fall (80cm in 24 hours) was reported by Alpe d'Huez, with Courchevel second snowiest in France with 40cm of new cover. Les Arcs, Meribel, Tignes, La Plagne, Val d'Isere and others report 25-30cm of new snow. A large number of French resorts have had 40-80cm over the past seven days, much of it in the last 72 hours. Other resorts in the Alps have had significant snowfalls too. Italian ski areas had big falls too with Bardonecchia reporting 60cm (two feet) in the last 24 hours and Alagna and Sauze d'Oulx 40cm each. Courmayeur and Bormio got around a foot (30cm) each. Swiss resorts reported 15-30cm, with Andermatt getting the biggest falls. Austrian areas got up to 10-15cm with Obergurgl and Bad Kleinkirchheim getting the biggest falls. |
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Cervinia (cervinia.it ) will join a growing trend set by resorts like Les 2 Alpes over the border in France by hosting its first downhill mountain bike race on snow from 30-31 March. The race will see pros and amateurs take to a 1000 vertical metre, 6km course which is entirely on snow. The event kicks off on Saturday evening with an exhibition of athletes from the club White Xperience and the 1st Contest Dirt Jump del Cervino – a jump competition on a snow ramp. The following morning competitors will head to the start line at 8:30am and race on three ski runs – 26, 4 and 5 – before arriving in Campetto, Cretaz. |
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The UK's third largest ski travel operator Neilson is reported to be up for sale again, probably, as current owners Thomas Cook struggle to get on top of their debt burden, reported to be £1.6 billion. Harriet Green, who became chief executive of Thomas Cook last summer, is reported to be considering selling Neilson as one option to reduce the debt, although so far this appears to be (on going) media speculation rather than an announced policy by the company. Neilson is a key name in the ski industry, established nearly 40 years ago but having had multiple owners over that time in common with most other major ski travel businesses. Some commentators report that selling Neilson would also weaken Thomas cook by reducing its income potential, but others say the company can make more money concentrating on winter sun destinations. The two biggest tour operators are TUI, which own market leader Crystal as well as Thomson and smaller niche brands including Flexiski. Second place Inghams also operates Esprit Ski and Ski Total. Thomas Cook also own the Swiss Travel Service. According to figures in the annual Ski Industry Report compiled by Crystal (http://mag.digitalpc.co.uk/fvx/crystal/sir2012/), Neilson's market share has been declining for several years and the company took 73,000 people on holiday last season, this is still well ahead of fourth placed Esprit (44,000) and represents around 8% of the UK market. |
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Some of the UK's biggest comedy star will be in the Alps over the coming fortnight for gigs in both Meribel and Mayrhofen. One of the biggest ever comedy superstars Eddie Izzard has just been announced as the headline act for the Altitude Festival in Mayrhofen and the men who started Altitude, and will indeed be there this year, are also performing at a separate gig the week before in the resort where it all began, Meribel in France. That first gig in on Thursday 14th March at the Méribel Auditorium when Irish comic and co-founder of Altitude, Andrew Maxwell, will be joined by Jen Brister and Canadian funny-man Paul Myrehaug. The evening will be hosted and presented by TV comedian and snowboarder (and the other Altitude co-founder) Marcus Brigstocke. Music will be provided by local artists The Wingmen, Hobo Chic and The Ram Raid (www.takingthepiste.com) . The concert starts at 8.30pm, tickets 16 Euros in advance or 20 Euros on the door. Then the next week, the man described by John Cleese as 'the lost Python', Eddie Izzard will headline the Altitude Festival in Mayrhofen which runs from 18-23 March, this month. "Hailed as one of the foremost stand-ups of this generation, he's got almost too much talent for just one stage and has stormed the acting world too, with major US roles such as General Erich Fellgiebel in Valkyrie with Tom Cruise, Roman Nagel in Oceans Twelve & Oceans Thirteen alongside George Clooney & Al Pacino and he's even been in The Simpsons!" said a statement from Altitude. Altitude, now in its seventh year, fuses the adrenalin rush of a ski holiday with the madcap thrills of a top notch comedy festival, and is the brainchild of Andrew Maxwell and Marcus Brigstocke. It has seen the pantheon of comedies greatest stars gracing its line up in previous years and this month Eddie Izzard will be joining a litany of previously announced comics including John Bishop, Germany's No.1 comedian Michael Mittermeier, Scotland's comedy prodigy Daniel Sloss and Never Mind the Buzzcocks veteran Phill Jupitus. Plus Craig Campbell, Benny Boot, Brendon Burns, Phil Nichol, Howard Marks, Rob Beckett, Keith Farnan, Mark Walker Kai Humphries, The International Impro Allstars; Andy Smart and Steve Frost and Paul Provenza (The Aristocrats, Northern Exposure and The West Wing) . "He's one of the funniest people on the planet and one of the nicest comedians to boot and he is sure to bring the house down in Mayrhofen!" concludes the Festival organisers. A full Week Festival Wristband costs £169 via www.ticketline.co.uk/altitude-festival |
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A dozen leading UK tour operators are reported to have met yesterday (28 February) to agree their support of Le Ski, the long established tour operator in France which has been taken to court over offering a ski hosting service to its clients. Ski hosting has now been declared illegal. "Ski hosting or social skiing is where a representative from the holiday company takes guests on familiarisation tours of the slopes, show them good lunch spots and how to avoid queues. They do not go off piste. No instruction is given," said a statement from Crystal, one of the 11 operators supporting Le Ski which has launched an appeal at a higher court in Chambery after losing the initial case in Albertville. This is due to be heard in the near future. All ski operators present were fully supportive of Le Ski in their appeal as ski customers are currently unable to benefit from this popular service. The tour operators present were: Alpine Elements, Crystal Ski, Inghams, Le Ski, Mark Warner, Neilson, Ski Esprit, Ski Olympic, Ski Total, Skiworld, Thomson and VIP Ski. According to French law it is illegal to offer ski guiding without French ski teaching or guiding qualifications if you are paid to do so. Part of the legal disagreement is based on whether showing skiers around some of the blue and red pistes to help orientate them on arrival in resort counts as ski guiding. The Ecole du ski Francais, which has supported the French court case although it did not instigate it, says that ski teachers from other countries are allowed to work on French mountain slopes, however British tour operators say that the French do not allow ski teachers with non French qualifications below BASI level 3 or those who have taken 8-12 week intensive courses to get ski teaching qualifications in Canada or New Zealand to work on French ski slopes, even as hosts for social skiing groups. |
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Gotta love the promo video - only the Austrians would promote a multi million Euro lift with a couple of puppets, genius...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=cpQVzTlSy3Q |
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