J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

I thought the average J2skier actually wrote the old I Spy books. Actually, like Top Trumps, they are back, my two younger sons have been avid collectors for a few years now...

Skiers and boarders will be able to enjoy two extra days on Austria's slopes with the launch of new rail-inclusive ski packages to three resorts in the Tirol: Alpbach, Hopfgarten, and Söll.

Skiers will travel by Eurostar to Paris and then take a City Night Line sleeper train to Wörgl station, from where it is a short taxi ride up to the resorts.

The packages, offered by ski tour operators such as Skiline, include rail travel at preferential rates, in a joint venture between tour operators and Deutsche Bahn, arranged by ski-rail website snowcarbon.co.uk.

The new rail packages will benefit families in particular: children under 15, if accompanied by a parent or grandparent, will pay only 20€ each way on the City Night Line, plus their Eurostar fare.

"Few skiers realise that Austria can be reached easily by overnight train. The City Night Line isn't a traditional "ski train" – there's no disco carriage – but it's fun, kind of romantic, and comfortable." Says Daniel Elkan, co-founder of snowcarbon.

"Travelling to the slopes by train creates a fraction of the pollution of flying or driving, and when you arrive at Wörgl station the next morning, you are minutes from the slopes."

The change of station from Paris-Nord, where the Eurostar arrives, to Paris-Est, from where the City Night Line departs, is a ten minute walk or seven minute taxi ride. Although there is a taxi-rank at Paris-Nord (15€ for a four-person vehicle), Skiline can include a pre-booked taxi pick up from the end of the Eurostar platform (60€ for an eight-seater vehicle, from British transfer company Paris City Line).

"It's great that more people are weighing up their options and considering travelling to Austria by train. The two 'extra' days skiing on arrival Saturday and departure Saturday are often the best days, as traditionally this is resort changeover day so the slopes are quieter". Says Holger Gassler if the Tirol Tourist Board (www.visittirol.co.uk).

An example journey could involve leaving London St. Pancras on a Friday at 15.31 by Eurostar and arriving Paris-Nord at 18.47 with around 90 minutes to change stations before departing Paris-Est on the 20.20 City Night Line service and arriving at Woergl at 09.41 the Saturday morning. You could leave London earlier and have time for dinner if Paris. A similar return journey leaves Woergl at 20.48 on Saturday night and arrives St Pancras at 12.28 on Sunday. The ski resorts are 15-30 minutes from Woergl station by taxi.

And now Val Thorens has now delayed opening a week too! But Ruka has at last opened in Finland, 1 month and 1 day late!

British Ski and Snowboard (BSS), the National Governing Body for Skiing and Snowboarding in the United Kingdom, has announced that the 2012 Delancey British National Alpine Championships will be held in Méribel, France.

The Senior/Junior championships will be held from 25 March – 2 April 2012, and the Children's Championships from 3–6 April 2012.

Méribel offers some of the best recreational and competitive skiing in Europe as well as outstanding facilities and with support from Méribel tourism, and sponsorship from specialist real estate investors Delancey, this will be the biggest event on the British alpine calendar this winter.

"We are delighted to provide the opportunity for British athletes to race on the same pistes that have been chosen by FIS to host the Finals of the Alpine Ski World Cup in 2015,"said British Ski and Snowboard CEO Dave Edwards.

"We are very proud to be entering into our second year of sponsorship, particularly given the fact that 2012 is such a huge year for British sport generally," said Jamie Ritblat, Chairman and CEO of Delancey.

Following on from Jamie's comments, Sir John Ritblat – Chairman of Delancey's Advisory Board, president of the old British Ski Federation, and one of skiing's strongest supporters and funding lobbyists said, "The British National Alpine Ski Championships is one of the most important dates on the British Ski calendar, and it is therefore only right that it is held in one of the world's most prestigious ski resorts. Over the years, Méribel has played a huge part in supporting British skiing and I am greatly looking forward to working with the ESF, Meribel's tourist office and the team at British Ski and Snowboard, to ensure 2012 is the best year yet for competitors and spectators alike."

Davos has now delayed opening to the 25th :(

Although several dozen ski areas are now open in the northern hemisphere, particular in the USA, it's November 18th/19th that looks like it will see the most big names resorts opening, including Davos, Val Thorens and Park City.

They'll join recently opened resorts including Breckenridge which opened yesterday (11.11.11) for its 50th season, Cervinia, which has been reporting heavy snowfalls and Lake Louise.

Davos begins a five week period of offering free lift passes to anyone buying an accommodation through their website up to Christmas Eve while Val Thorens finally provides a second French resort to choose from besides Tignes which opened back on October 1st.

Over in the USA Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar at each end of Lake Tahoe in California are both scheduled to open on Friday 18th November with Squaw Valley, which has invested $50m in upgrades over the past season, following on 23rd November.

A recent Arctic cold front has brought wintery weather and close to a foot of fresh snow to the slopes of Lake Tahoe last weekend. With another round of winter storms on track to deliver more snow for the Northern Sierra, another memorable winter looks promising as long range forecasters are calling for a return of the same powerful La Niña weather pattern that resulted in over double the average annual snowfall for the region last season.

Taking advantage of the recent cold temperatures, Lake Tahoe resorts have also begun supplemental snowmaking efforts to ensure early season coverage. Home to the largest snowmaking systems on the West Coast, Lake Tahoe is renowned for its reliable early season conditions and top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding in late November and early December is the normal regular occurrence.

Heavenly Mountain Resort plans to open for the season on Friday 18th November thanks in part to its state-of-the-art snowmaking system capable of covering 73% of its trails with machine made snow. Opening week festivities include a screening of Warren Miller's new film "Like There's No Tomorrow" and concerts by recording artists Bush and Jonny Lang.

Northstar California has also begun snowmaking on a number of its runs including Cat's Face where a new Shaun White signature 22-foot halfpipe will be custom built this season. The resort is slated to open for skiing and snowboarding on Friday 18th November when the more than $30 million in offseason capital improvements will become apparent.

Opening Day Last Winter

Mammoth Mountain (www.MammothMountain.com) opens for the 2011-12 season this Thursday 10th November 2011. The resort's Big Winter Kick-Off (BWKO) will begin the party in Californian style with a weekend of snowboarding and skiing, live music, film premieres, parties and more.

The first chair of the 2011/12 season will depart at 8:30am on Thursday 10th November with the Annual Opening Day Champagne Toast following on the Main Lodge Sundeck at 11am where there'll be live music from noon. At 7pm DC Snowboarding will present the premiere of TB20 by Standard Films and Good Look by People Films at Hyde Lounge and from 9pm until 'Late' - The After Party with DC Snowboarding at Hyde Lounge,

The next three days will see many more band and dj performances and parties as well as ski and board celeb autograph signing sessions.

A weekend highlight will be the The Black Lips and Ra Ra Riot concert on Saturday 12th November marking the first of eight scheduled music events for the Mammoth Concert Series taking place throughout the coming winter and spring. To date The Naked and Famous on 17th December and Handsome Furs and Soft Pack on 14th January are confirmed. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and is open to those aged 21+.

With 1.3 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is currently the third most frequented ski resort in the United States. If you want to get there for the opening of its (probably) nearly eight month season, Ski Independence (0131 243 8097; www.ski-i.com) offers 7 nights there from £789 per person. This price includes seven nights slopeside in a standard room at the Mammoth Mountain Inn (room only), direct return flights from London Heathrow to Los Angeles with British Airways and car hire for 7 days, and is based on two people travelling in December (so it might be even cheaper in November!).

Disability Snowsport UK's (DSUK) National Skiathon Olympic Challenge will take place on Tuesday May 17th 2012 with a target to raise £35,000 from the event.

The challenge is to ski 2012 runs in six hours and the event will be held simultaneously at six indoor ski centres across the UK: Chill Factore in Manchester; Tamworth Snowdome in Staffordshire; The Snow Centre – Hemel Hempstead and the Sno!zones at Glasgow, Castleford (West Yorkshire) and Milton Keynes.

"No need to be an expert skier or boarder: everyone is welcome and the Olympic-themed quizzes and games give teams the chance to win extra runs. Early fund-raising will also increase the chances of winning: the more money raised, the less runs your team has to ski, so start now." said a statement from the charity.

Skiers and boarders of all ages and abilities are invited to enter in teams of up to eight, or as an individual to make up a team. The entry fee is £15 per person (includes equipment hire for the day and goodie bag) - with a required pledge to raise a minimum of £150 per person. To enter or for more details contact the fundraising team on 0161 749 2290 or email fundraising@disabilitysnowsport.org.uk.

"Spend a fun day out on the slopes with many skiers including members of the British Disabled Ski Team, skiing celebrities, university ski clubs, DSUK members. By taking on the 2012 challenge you will help DSUK bring joy and excitement into the lives of many people living with disabilities throughout the UK." Said the charity's statement.

Established in 1980 Disability Snowsport UK brings people living with disabilities the chance to experience the thrill and joy of skiing alongside, on an equal basis with, able-bodied helpers. The intention is to enhance quality of life for disabled people through fitness, mobility, freedom, social interaction and independence and also to identify and nurture potential athletes and help disabled people to conquer the barriers that confront them in daily life.