J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

Another snowsports participation study has been published, this time from the Ski Club of Great Britain.

The Club's annual 'Snowsports Analysis' had similar findings to the Crystal Ski industry report published in July – both reporting the rate of decline in sales of ski holidays had slowed to almost flat-lining.

Tour operators are currently reporting increased sales on this time last year so putting the two together we could hope for a return to growth after four seasons of decline that has seen somewhere between a quarter and a third less Brits now taking a ski holiday compared to the records levels reached the season before the economic crash. But no one is daring to suggest that.

The Ski Club's report confirms that the rate of decline in the snowsports market has slowed significantly and, despite the overall drop of 1.5%, some companies reported an increase in passengers for the 2011/12 season.

"Although we have seen a drop in the overall numbers of people skiing overseas, the snowsports market remains above one million and has shown resilience. A dedicated base of experienced skiers and snowboarders seem unwilling to forego their winter holiday," said a statement from the Ski Club.

Some key findings from the report include:

Austria has increased market share by 2%. This is the sixth season in a row that Austria has seen a rise and now holds 25% of the market compared to 18% in 2007.

"This year's growth in share was likely boosted by the impressive amount of snowfall and superb skiing conditions found in Austria, combined with consistently good value holidays," said the Ski Club.

France has pulled back 3% market share and remains the most popular destination with 41% of British skiers choosing to holiday there.

"This could have been due to booker's confidence in France's high altitude, snow sure resorts (following a poor 2010/11 season) and tour operators offering some exceptional value inclusive deals there," the Ski Club thinks.

Eurostar increased the number of services and subsequently their passenger figures grew by over 13% year-on-year (although, overall, the market share of people travelling by train to ski remained the same). Eurostar has also expanded their number of direct resorts to the Alps this year.

Sport England participated in compiling the study this year and it reported that the share of those skiing and those snowboarding differs quite considerably for those on holiday and those participating in snowsports within England on artificial slopes. According to Sport England's Active People Survey: 61% of people ski on artificial slopes and 39% snowboard. This compares to 81% skiing on holiday.

Snowboarding's relative popularity on English slopes could be due, in part, to the number of established skiers who were keen to try out the sport but prefer to spend their holidays skiing. The strong freestyle scene at English slopes also draws a dedicated crowd of skiers and snowboarders.

A full copy of The Snowsports Analysis 2012 can be downloaded at: www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/presscentre/snowsportsanalysis.aspx

Sochi

A new study scanner by Skyscanner (skyscanner.net), a leading global travel search site for millions of flights on over a thousand airlines, has found that Russia's new 2014 Olympic ski resort; Sochi, is the most expensive ski destination for Brits this winter.

The company looked at 21 ski resorts across Europe (requests from J2ski.com for a full list of what the 21 were has not yet received a response) in reaching its verdict, compared the cost of seven nights' accommodation, return flights, six days' lift pass, ski and boot hire.

However in ranking Sochi most expensive at £1820 for the week, Skyscanner said that flight cost has a significant effect on the overall cost of a ski holiday: Sochi ranked as 4th cheapest ski destination when the cost of flights was excluded.

The Swiss resorts of Verbier (£1633) and St Moritz (£1630) were ranked second and third most expensive respectively with accommodation costing up to three times that of the cheaper ski destinations. Again Skyscanner have not yet responded to the question as to whether Zermatt, which has Europe's most expensive lift tickets, was included in the 21 ski resorts included in the survey.

The study found that heading east, though not so far as Sochi, will cost skiers less than half the price of ski breaks in Russia and Switzerland, according to the survey's findings.

Slovenia's Krvavec resort was ranked as the cheapest of the 21 ski destinations surveyed for British ski enthusiasts at £736 for the week, with Bulgaria's Borovets second cheapest (£753) and Serbia's Kopaonik third (£883). Glenshee in Scotland was rated fourth (£911) cheapest but again it's not known if the other four Scottish ski areas were included in the 21.

"It's important to consider all costs of a ski holiday, both in the resort as well as flights and transfers as costs can vary significantly across Europe. Skyscanner's top tip for a good value ski holiday this winter is to head east," said the company's Victoria Bailie.

PS On the helmet wearing rules, I knew about Italy being obligatory for under 14s and thought it was for France too but it seems not. A few obscure places - New Jersey in the US, Nova Scotia in Canada and Lower Austria also have it as a legal requirement and apparently Norway and Slovenia do too.

First of all, less of the 'Miss' please gents, I've been married 23 years so am definitely a 'Mrs' - or perhaps 'Ms' to the more politically correct. Secondly on the whole helmets debate I just thought you'd like to be kept updated on the latest development - love it or hate it... Maybe we need to take a vote on whether to ever have another helmet story again??? Oh and for the absence of doubt - I've always been the one and only J2SkiNews, there've been no changes, and Admin is someone else.

Snow chains and car ski rack specialists Thule (thule.com) are keen to show just how easy it is to fit their snow chains and so decided to go for a world speed chain fitting record (yes, there is one).

The venue was the Lecco Ice Sports Complex in Italy and the kit included 24 Citroen C4 Aircross cars positioned on the ice in three rows of eight. Thule Easy-fit snow chains were positioned one meter from each wheel and, on the starting signal from Guinness World Record judge Lorenzo Veltri, a team of 12 people tried to fit as many snow chains as possible in 60 seconds.
The result was a staggering 81 chains fitted within the minute; an average of 6.75 per person or less than nine seconds to fit one chain – a Guinness World Record-breaking feat.

Thule's Easy-fit chains (RRP £260.00) have won several awards for innovation and there are only three quick steps to fitting it which of course the company were keen to demonstrate with the World Record.

Peter Barker, UK Business manager at Thule comments, "The name says it all – 'Thule Easy-fit' takes the traditional passenger car snow chain to the next level, with a huge step towards the easiness for the end consumer. This is a fantastic achievement, which goes to further endorse both the quality of our products and the innovative designs that our internal development team is constantly striving to achieve."

Travel Insurance company Essential Travel (essentialtravel.co.uk) has taken the on-going debate on helmet use to a new level by insisting that anyone taking out a ski travel insurance policy with them wear a helmet on the slopes, "skiers who do not wear a helmet will risk invalidating their policy," says a company statement.

Essential Travel say they came to their decision after determining that 77% of skiers and boarders now wear helmets on the slopes, an increase of 15% since a "Use Your Head" campaign to promote helmet wearing was launched in 2010.

A study of skiers and boarders by the company also found that 73% of respondents believed that skiers and boarders who did wear helmet deserved to be rewarded by insurance companies with reduced policy prices.

"Whilst it is true that a helmet does not reduce all sports injury, it seriously reduces the risk of potentially fatal injuries," said Essential Travel's Stuart Bensusan, "That alone warrants making wearing helmets compulsory and we chose to support safety conscious skiers by rewarding them with reduced premiums."

That reduced premium equates to a 15% discount, the company says. Essential Travel are also donating £1 for every new policy sold to brain injury charity Headway (headway.org.uk)

(Hemsedal last week)

Norwegian ski areas have begun opening for winter 2012-13 after heavy snow in many parts of the country at the weekend.

One of the largest resorts, Hemsedal, will open this Thursday 1 November, a day earlier than planned.

"With up to 40 cm of snow, this is the best Hemsedal season opener ever," said an excited report from the resort, which says it will now be open for 6 months to the start of May 2013, or 182 days to be precise.

"Hemsedal has the best possible foundation and excellent skiing conditions during the season opener this week. There is 15 cm of fresh snow and favourable conditions for snowmaking," said operations manager Andrew Smith-Erichsen of Skistar Hemsedal.

Another of Norway's top resorts, Trysil, will open on Sunday after receiving 15cm of fresh snow.

The resort will open track 15 (2.4km long) and run 21 in the children's area Adventure and the lifts to serve them including the T2 Fjellekspressen 6-seater express chairlift.

Hemsedal will initially open the Lynx Trail in the children's area along with the Hollvin Express lift and Hemsedal trail and lift wolf and the Troll Trail that runs between Hemsedal Alpin Lodge and the "base area". Restaurants, dining and shops will be open as normal from Friday 2nd November.

The new Wildspitzbahn gondola has begun operation at Pitztal in Austria.

Oitztal is one of seven Austrian glacier ski areas already operating for 2012-13 and the new lift is already being used by skiers and boarders.

The new 8-seater gondola accesses 3,440m high Hinterer Brunnenkogel, Austria and Tyrol's highest glacier.

The new lift is located just 100m away from the top station of the Gletscherexpress so users can travel in comfort in the Doppelmayr gondolas with their heated seats.

The new lift is faster than its predecessor taking just under six minutes, travelling at six metres per second, to reach the Hinterer Brunnenkogel and has a greater capacity of 2,185 people per hour in each direction. The 2km long lift rises 591 vertical metres.

The unusual architecture of the new Wildspitzbahn has been harmoniously integrated into the Pitztal glacier landscape.

At the top mountain station a breathtaking view awaits users of the 3,774 m high Wildspitze – either from the suspended sun terrace or from the wide panoramic windows in Café 3,440, -Tirol and Austria's highest café.