J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

We may be feeling cold enough already, but Saas Fee's ski slopes open this Saturday, 14th July for their summer skiing and boarding season. In fact unlike most summer ski destinations Saas Fee doesn't actually close again in the late summer or early Autumn, it's open right through to May 2013 – an impressive 10 month ski season.

Saas-Fee remains popular throughout the year, and with its 20km (nearly 13 miles) of summer trails on the glacier, and a vertical of up to 800 metres ( 2630 feet) it's a popular summer training ground for the national teams of the US, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and others. If you fancy a day out too, nearby Zermatt's year-round ski area is an easy trip.

You can either go an ski or board the glacier yourself in the morning, or sign up for one of the summer camps for a full on experience and professional training. These include camps organised by Brit Warren Smith (www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com) with training right up to competition and instructor level available.

But anyone staying in Saas Fee can make use of its newly declared status as, "the Free Republic of Holidays." They'll receive the new Saas-Fee passport which provides free use of all local buses and cable cars and also provides 10% discounts on summer and winter ski passes, as well as a lot of other benefits including reduced rates on many sport and leisure activities.

Sales of ski and snowboarding holidays from the UK have dropped for a fourth successive winter according to a report from the company that dominates the market, Crystal Ski.

It had been hoped that winter 2011-12 would finally see a return to growth after the rate of decline slowed to around 5% the previous winter from double digit drops immediately after the economic crash, but the double dip recession appears to have out pay to that.

However the rate of decline has dropped further to less than 2% with a total of 894,700 people going skiing, down 16,200 on the previous winter and just over 27% down on the peak 1,227,000 immediately before the economic crash in 2007/8.

France remains the most popular destination for skiers, as it has been for several decades, with 34.6% of the market, but Austria, the former number one, is continuing to regain lost ground, now back up to 27.9% of the market. Andorra and Italy also increased market share while Switzerland, North America and Bulgaria dipped.

Within the overall figures Crystal, who get their data from tour operators' own statistics, Snowsport GB data, CAA published statistics, tourist office figures and travel agency feedback found that the top eight ski operators' market share increased to 86% (up 1%) of the total tour operator market.

The stats also showed the number of people booking packages through tour operators rather than independently continued to grow in terms of market share, slightly, which the report attributes to increasing baggage or passenger costs on no frills airlines and the expansion of 'all inclusive' (or nearly all inclusive) packages from tour operators which have proved very popular in recent years.

Worryingly, the study found the schools and student market showed the biggest fall (by 4.1% to 117,700, down from 122,700) mainly due to the economy as families struggle to pay for their child's first ski experience on a school trip – which has been attributed as being the biggest single source of new skiers according to new YouGov research, commissioned by TUI Travel PLC.

"The ski market has been resilient despite challenging market conditions. Tour operators regained a marginal share of the overall market due to their ability to produce exceptionally good value ski holiday packages," said Simon Cross, Managing Director Crystal Ski,

"In 2011, an increasing number of skiers turned to online channels to research and book their holiday. We expect this trend to continue into the next season and beyond."

The full report is online at: http://mag.digitalpc.co.uk/fvx/crystal/sir2012/

Sorry to interrupt but back to the subject in hand ...looks like about 4 people turned up and didn't cause much of a stir from the pics I've seen... They looked happy though.

Snow-Camp (www.snow-camp.org.uk), an innovative youth charity that uses a unique combination of skiing, snowboarding and life-skills programmes to support inner-city young people have announced that their two day endurance fund raising event will be back in the French and Swiss Alps next January.

Previously known as the 'Everest Challenge' the 'Alpine Challenge 2013' involves teams of four riders who must cover 150km of GPS tracked skiing or boarding over two non-stop days across the dozen ski resorts of the massive Portes du Soleil ski area which straddles the French/Swiss border. In addition all team members must complete a 10km mountain hike during the night between the two days.

Taking place from the 17th – 20th January 2013, up to 25 teams are expected to compete for the Alpine Challenge trophy. Last year's event raised £25,000 for the charity despite challenging conditions.

Anyone who believes they can do it and wants to raise money for Snow-Camp can apply to take part.

For each team of four people there is a £400 registration fee (£100 per person) and each team then commits to raise a minimum of £2,000 or £500 per team member – this is the cost to participate without any 'holiday' package.

The full 'Alpine Challenge Package' includes all flights, transfers, hotel accommodation in Morzine, ski passes, night hike guides, GPS equipment, team bibs, meals, medals and trophies and the support of the Snow-Camp staff team.

For each team of four people there is a £1,000 registration fee (£250 per person) Each team then commits to raise a minimum of £5,000 or £1,250 per team member. If you require superior accommodation the registration fee is £1,500 per team.

In some cases five people may be allowed in a team and singles and couples who don't have friends or relatives wanting to join them can still apply and will be combined in to a team.

"Yes, it's a competition, and yes it's an endurance event (otherwise why would people sponsor you?!) but as anyone who completed the Challenge in the past will tell you, it's also great fun and a fantastic experience! With so many snow sports enthusiasts all in one exclusive hotel, and with everyone primarily out to raise funds for charity there is a really positive and supportive (as well as a little competitive!) atmosphere throughout the event!" says a statement from the organisers.

The new Emirates Air Line gondola in London has been attracting the attention of skiers and boarders.

The £45m project connects Greenwich Peninsula with the Royal Docks and was opened last week by Boris Johnson.

But it doesn't go to any ski slopes.

The team at specialist snow holidays travel agency Ski Solutions are concerned that as a result commuters using the lift may not know what gondolas are designed for and rather rhan wait five more months for the start of the main ski season, intends to get his ski gear back on and hit the new Emirates Air Line in London this Saturday to show London how real skiers use gondolas.

Skiers and boarders are welcome to join in this Saturday, 7 July 2012 at 3pm at the Emirates Greenwich Peninsula Emirates Cable Car Terminal, Edmund Halley Way, London, SE10 0FR

Please come in full ski kit – all of it! "Think the north face of the Matterhorn in a blizzard," says Digby.

There'll be an après party at the Fox Bar ExCel straight after the gondola ride.

Well that's probably too dramatic a headline, most ski areas don't dirty themselves with issues like discounting... But some of the big names have some new initiatives announced for 2012-13 that may be worth considering if you can meet the criteria.

They're doing almost everything except reduce the prices, but you can at least pay the same as last year.

In France the world's biggest ski region is seeing quite a big 6% price hike to 260 Euros for a six day adult 3 Valley pass next winter – meaning it's likely to be one of the two most expensive outside of Switzerland (the Chamonix widest regional pass has already reached about that and Paradiski is usually up there).

However a new initiative, the 'Tribu' pass, allows you to buy the ticket for only 1 Euro more than it cost last year (245 Euros). The catch? ...you just need to buy it as one of three friends buying their passes together. Apparently you don't need to be related, and it's not yet clear how strong your friendship has to be – could you have just met in the queue for example - but you do have to pay 735 Euros between you.

Over in Switzerland the newly formed 'Free Republic of Saas Fee' has announced it will issue free-of-charge 'Passports' to guests staying there overnight. These will then offer a 10% discount on lift ticket prices for holders, reducing a six day ticket cost from 344 to 310 Swiss francs apparently.

In Austria families with children are set to benefit in the country's largest ski area, the SkiWelt, if they're prepared to travel 'off season' – which translates to pre-Christmas or from mid-March. The deal here is free lift passes for all kids aged under 16 if an adult with them buys at least a three day pass.
No doubt more deals to appear soon...

Courchevel is installing a new six seat chairlift Biollay for next winter.

The new Biollay chairlift will be, "more powerful, faster, more secure and comfortable," ...than its predecessor according to the famous 3 Valleys resort.

In fact all of the chairlifts in the Courchevel Valley will be more secure next winter, for children at least, as they will all be fitted with the innovative 'Magnestick' system which uses a special device won on a child's ski jacket to magnetise them to the chair as the lifts ascends, releasing them at the unload station at the top.

The system, used primarily by ski schools, was pioneered at the resort and has since been introduced at others in Europe and North America. It's designed to avoid the occasional accidents where children slip under the restraining bar on the lift. All 18 of Courchevel's chairlifts will be fitted with the safety devices for the first time next winter.

Other improvements announced include 58 new snow guns with the introduction of snowmaking on the slopes of Les Creux and of Cospillot.

Canadian skiing is superb, but it can be just a tad cold and dark in mid-winter and ninety-five years ago next season, Banff hosted its first 'Winter Carnival' to try and add a bit of fun to mid-winter.

The event reportedly saw enthusiastic participants hit the ice on the local Bow River for some curling, and strap on their skis and snowshoes for fun in the snow.

Nearly a century later, a full slate of festivals and activities are still offered in mid winter, now called simply 'Snow Days' events from January 14 - February 12, 2013 will include ice climbing, outdoor skating, hockey, ice carving, curling and snow sculptures among others.

Events already lined up for next winter include a variety of mid-week activities and weekend festivals of all kinds.

These include a new Mountain Adventure Festival on January 14 and 15th and an Ice Magic Festival from January 20 - 29 over two weekends which will see the world's best ice carvers and the creration of a new ice playground.

February 11 and 12 will see a ball hockey tournament and hi-tec treasure hunts will test Banff heritage knowledge with a Geocache challenge.