J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

The two Scandinavian glacier ski areas that have been open through the past few months have announced they're closing to the general public.

Norway's Fonna summer ski centre announced last week that it would end its 2024 season this coming Sunday, 28th July, but then decided yesterday it would actually close at the end of the ski day today, Saturday 27th July, blaming the unfavourable forecast for Sunday.

The other still-open centre, Galdhopiggen, also in Norway and with Scandinavia's highest slopes, has just announced it will close from 1st August next Thursday, however it plans to re-open in October when it expects conditions to improve. It normally stays open into November.

"For safety reasons, we remain open only for professional ski teams from 1. August, We will open to everyone when more snow comes in October," a resort statement explained.

Both centres say they'll continue to offer on-snow training facilities to race teams.

A third glacier ski area, Stryn, ended its short summer ski season in June.

Scandinavia's 24-25 season is due to kick off in just over two months when Levi and Ruka in Finland open thanks to snowfarming. With few glacier ski areas in the Alps planning to open in September anymore it will mean that with Galdhopiggen reopening and more Norwegian and Swedish centres planning to open later in the month, Scandinavia may start to outnumber the Alps for choice of centres open in the first half of the Autumn.

The French Alps and Utah have been conformed as hosts of the next two Winter Olympics & Paralympics after Italy hosts the 2026 Games at an IOC meeting ahead of the start of the Paris 2024 Summer Games tomorrow.

The two bids had previously been confirmed as the most likely hosts so the IOC confirmation this week is something of a rubber stamp.

The decision means that at least the next three Winter Olympics and Paralympics will be in "the West" after the previous three Games took place in Russia, South Korea and China.

The announcement of the 2034 hosts a decade ahead of Utah hosting is also unprecedented but comes at the end of a period of soul searching by the IOC who have had issues in recent years with few countries submitting bids any more with some of the few that have subsequently pulling out and reports that climate change will mean fewer and fewer locations will e able to reliably host the Games as the century progresses. The organisation is hoping there will now be some stability moving forwards.

The 2030 French Winter Olympics almost four decades on from hosting the Albertville Games in 1992, the last time they were in France, will see some of the venues reused, including La Plagne's bobsleigh run and ski jumps at Courchevel. However a new Haute Savoie Zone will see cross-country skiing staged at La Clusaz and biathlon at neighbouring Le Grand Bornand. Alpine skiing will be at Courchevel, Méribel, following on from their successful hosting of the Alpine Skiing World Championships last year and freestyle skiing and snowboarding will be staged at Serre Chevalier and Montgenèvre.

For the 2034 Games Utah is also set to reuse many of the venues that were used the last time the Games were staged in the USA in 2002.

The charitable trust which operates the oldest ski slope in Wales, among other sports and leisure attractions, has been saved by a £1.3m bail out by the local council.

Pontypool Ski Centre was established in 1974 and is celebrating its 50th birthday this year.

Torfaen Leisure Trust was established as a stand-alone charitable body by Torfaen Council in 2013 to run its leisure service and, prior to the pandemic, had been reducing an annual subsidy it received from the council of around £1.3m by 5% each year, according to local media reports. Since the pandemic however the Trust had been struggling with increasing losses and councillors were advised it was in danger of being forced to cease operations without the additional bail out money.

Pontypool boasts a 230 metre main slope, one of the UK's longest, a novice/beginners area, a Poma ski lift, sprinkler system and mogul run.

In addition to open skiing times, the centre runs its own ski school which offers instruction for all standards of skiing and snowboarding from 'novice to expert'.

During debate before awarding the extra funds some councillors argued that the Trust's operations should be taken back under council control then put back out to tender however an independent survey of the Trust's operations found the shortfall was caused by inflationary pressures on operating costs.

Prior to the Trust's establishment Pontypool dry ski slope had struggled financially and was shut down in summer 2011 to save on operating costs as the council made £9.2m in cuts in the aftermath of the worldwide financial crash.

The slope was also in the news for being damaged in an arson attach in summer 2022.

Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), are launching a new fundraising campaign on Friday encouraging people to get active and raise money during the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, in a bid to raise £10,000 to support grassroots adaptive snowsports in the UK.

The #TeamDSUK 10k for £10k initiative, is tasking individuals and groups to set their own 10,000m goal to be completed between 26th July and 8th September, with all monies raised from activities going directly to helping more people with disabilities in Britain experience the benefits of adaptive skiing and snowboarding.

The charity advises the 10k distance can be achieved by taking on anything from a run, swim or cycle to skiing or snowboarding 10,000 vertical metres. All monies raised from each challenge will contribute towards their £10,000 target.

CEO or DSUK, Virginia Anderson says, "Adaptive snowsports provides an incredible sense of freedom to people living with disabilities and injuries. The skills and confidence that can be developed on the slopes are hugely transferable into everyday life. As a small niche charity, we want to harness this incredible summer of sport and encourage people to get active and help raise funds for DSUK, so we can expand our reach and enable more people to experience the life changing physical, mental and social benefits snowsports provides."

To take part in the #TeamDSUK 10k for £10k challenge or to learn more about Disability Snowsport UK visit www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk/events/10k-for-10k

Pictures © Cameron Ross Hall // Holmlands

Saint Martin de Belleville is set to unveil a state-of-the-art spa complex this winter.

La Bellevie Wellness Centre will feature indoor and outdoor pools, with waterfalls, sauna and jacuzzi.

With a new modern design, the centre is the result of a €17m investment.

Other facilities will include a Herbal Tea Room and events space for up to 500 people.

The building also has a green energy ethos and has been designed to be energy efficient.

Update 22 July: Snowfall totals of nearly a metre mow confirmed and much more terrain opened. Perisher leading the way at 90% open and 44/46 lifts operating.

French ski resort Saint-Gervais will unveil its Valléen project this winter after several years in the making. The project is a 'soft mobility' initiative which ewill see a two-stage gondolas connect first between the railway station and the resort centre and then between the resort centre and the key on mountain ski slope hub of Bettex above.

Saint-Gervais say the new initiative will reduce traffic and thus CO2 emissions in the area by 12 to 15% whilst improving mobility options not just for skiers but also local people moving around the town year round.

The lower section of the Poma built cable car will depart from the SNCF and bus station of Le Fayet, a major axis where TGV, TER (Paris, Lyon, Annecy, etc.) and Facilibus bus lines (100% ecological and free shuttles/ski buses from Saint-Gervais) stop in summer and winter, and climb 1,800 metres in length and 225 vertical metres to the town centre of Saint Gervais (850m).

A second section from Saint-Gervais to Bettex, following a similar route to the one that led to the creation of the ski area in 1936, will be 2.5km long and climb 600 vertical metres. Two gondola will feature 10-passenger cabins and will meet within a single intermediate station, thus increasing the current capacity of the St Gervais/Le Bettex cable car while smoothing traffic.

Along with delivering an enhanced quality of life for locals who gain mobility in their daily lives, Saint Gervais believe the new lifts will increase the attractiveness of the resort. The heart of the town will be better protected from the nuisances linked to the petrol vehicle traffic and tourist activities will be more accessible throughout the year.

Mammoth Mountain in California ended its 23-24 season earlier than usual (in late May when it normally stays open into early summer, or last year, August), as it is replacing one of the key lifts providing access to the high terrain.

Currently known as 'Broadway Express', the lifts from the original base lodge was originally the resort's third lift, a T bar, installed in 1953. It became a double chair in 1955, the resort's first, then a high-speed quad in 1988. It cut ascent times to under 4 minutes and nearly tripled uplift capacity from 900 to 2,400 skiers per hour. The new lift increases capacity further to 3,200 skiers per hour and cuts ascent time by nearly another minute.

The new Broadway Express is being replaced with a Doppelmayr D-Line 6-seat detachable high speed chairlift. The new chairlift will provide up to 25% more uphill capacity, improving lift line wait times on busy days.

The new lift will also feature enclosed top and bottom terminals, enabling chairs to be stored indoors during big storm cycles. Ability to store chairs indoors will also allow fast lift openings after big storms, enabling guests to enjoy the fresh powder faster.