J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

Kicking Horse

Kicking Horse turns ten this year and is celebrating by opening its 4th Alpine Bowl.
The resort, located in BC just over the border from Alberta and reached fastest from Calgary, has rapidly built a reputation as one of the world's hardcore skiing capitals.
It has tried to soften that image in recent years with more family friendly facilities but for winter 2010/11 is going back to its roots by opening up the new terrain, known by local mountain enthusiasts as 'Super Bowl.'
Accessible with a traverse from the resort's existing Golden Eagle Express gondola, the terrain will add a further epic selection of advanced and expert skiable terrain with 15 new advanced and expert chutes. The entire bowl will have an off-piste feel but within a patrolled and avalanche controlled area. It will increase the number of steep runs and chutes at the resort from 70 to 85.
"Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is excited to announce the addition of a 4th Alpine Bowl to its already impressive roster of terrain, this opening is a perfect lead in to the 10 years of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort celebrations while continuing to demonstrate the resort commitment to improving the overall guest experience." said Steve Paccagnan, the resort's President and CEO
Super Bowl is situated south of the existing Kicking Horse Mountain Resort ski area boundary and positioned within the original controlled recreational area. The bowl's terrain is made up of North, South and East facing slopes with a ski out that exists at the top of the existing Terminator run.
"Super Bowl has always been a part of the resort's Controlled Recreation Area (CRA) and original master plan. However, the bowl has never been open and skiable terrain. The decision was made to open this new terrain and provide our valued guests with safe access to one of the best alpine ski/snowboard bowls and chutes in North America." Steve Paccagnan added.

Les Gets

Irish pubs seem to have conquered the ski world more than any other restaurant or bar style, except perhaps Italian – you can get a pizza anywhere. But it seems every ski country on earth – or thereabouts – and more than 70 now have ski areas – has a slopeside Irish pub. You'll find Europe's highest pub is in fact an Irish one in Val Thorens and even over in Japan where MacDonalds have not yet cracked the ski scene, there's an Irish pub in downtown Niseko.
The latest crop for 20210-11 include a new establishment in Les Gets, France. Not messing about with any complex title like 'The Shamrock Bar' - The Irish Pub aims to become a key après ski venue, complete with live music and yummy tapas but it's particularly popularity is the micro-brewed beers.
Given the Irish image, it's perhaps slightly confusing that patron Colin follows German brewing methods using only water, malt, hops and yeast. His beers are therefore completely natural without any chemicals or preservatives.
The three resulting brews include La Rua, a warm, golden 'Irish' beer particularly popular with the Brits and served at room temperature. Second is L'Avalanche, a very refreshing pale ale and a lighter taste and the third option Getoise, a lager with a deep aroma made from a recipe similar to Belgian beer.

Cervinia

Italy seems to be about the only country in the world that's still opening new black runs.
Last season steep new trails opened in the Dolomites, this winter two of the country's most famous resorts, Madonna di Campiglio and Cervinia, are adding new blacks.
At Cervinia the two runs are located opposite the south face of the Matterhorn and have, firstly the unnerving name of 'Vertical Ski Passage' and secondly, the initially less terrifying title, 'Piste Number 24.'
Of course those who know Cervinia will know that Piste Number 24 is actually a fairly scary steep run and actually this new run is a new improved version of it, that's still black but longer, wider, following a slightly different route and a little less steep – but still black.
Over at Madonna di Campiglio the new black (and a red) run are part of sa two year project, planned for decades, to connect the rest to neighbouring Pinzolo. Due to be completed next year (with another black run, reportedly) it will create an area of some 150km of excellent piste linking the two resorts as well as already connected Marilleve and Folgarida.

The Canyons

The three ski areas that surround Utah's ski town The Canyons together offer more skiable terrain than any other ski resort in North America, it's just a shame there's no sign that they'll ever work together to such an extent that they'll cross the narrow boundaries between their slopes with lifts and runs. On the other hand it's easy to sign up for a topur that takes you between them and on to other nearby ski areas.
All three ski areas in the 2002 Olympic venue have lots of improvements this winter as they do every year, but perhaps most interesting is Canyons, formerly 'The Canyons' which has recently come under new ownership.
Canyons was at one time a small 'local's ski hill called Park West but was changed beyond recognition by the now defunct American Ski company during their heyday a decade ago when they bought ten resorts (Including Killington, Steamboat and Heavenly) and made The Canyons in to one of North America's biggest ski areas investing it lots of fast quad chairlifts to open up the area.
This winter new owners Talisker Mountain Inc are adding a new chairlift, realigning the access gondola, adding still more terrain and spending on more snowmaking.
"We believe that a mountain is something that connects to a person's soul and inspires them," says Paul Boardman, new to the ski industry as the recently hired director of brand strategy and development at Canyons. "Our mission is really to allow that connection to flourish."
The new chair will be the first in North America with a pull down weather protection hood in tinted orange plastic and with heated seats. The relocated gondola will eliminate an annoying walk previous required through an exposed area to get on it and the new terrain will be 300 acres of northwest-facing slopes on Iron Mountain in the southern reaches of the resort. There'll be tren new runs taking the resort tally to 176.
"The new lift will enhance the ease of skiing both north and south off of Lookout Peak and guests will be able to ski directly to the Red Pine area," explains Libby Dowd, spokesperson for the resort. "The south end of the resort is accessible via Timberline Lift which you can ride in both directions. It has stations at the bottom of Tombstone and the bottom of the new Iron Mountain Lift."

Kaprun - the ski season has been underway for months...

If you have any spare time over the next six weeks or so before the ski season proper kicks off, you'll find 20 or so glaciers in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland are offering special pre-season deals, events and testing of new 2010-11 gear.
In the case of the Diablerets Glacier, now called Glacier 3000 and owned by investors from neighbouring Gstaadm, there are 'Stöckli Ski Test Days' on 19th – 21st and 26th – 28th November y
At these you can check out several models of new Stöckli ski equipment and a low-priced package deal is available including two nights in a hotel, a two-day ski pass, a welcome cocktail, a technique course with a Stöckli Ski-pro including test equipment and video analysis. You'll also receive a coupon for 70 Swiss francs towards the purchase of a pair of skis.
Similar offers are available at many other European glacier ski areas. On Saas Fee's slopes for example 13 different ski and 15 snowboard brands are currently available to test until 28th November.

Bansko - British Consul In Town

There'll be extra safety and security services for skiers and boarders on Bulgaria's ski slopres and in resort this winter with a serties of announcements fropm the country's leading ski areas.
Pamporovo says it will launch a "ski police" service this winter made up of ski patrol and skiing policemen who will seek to avert 'incidents' on tslopes and stop skiers and boarders from entering dangerous areas. Other duties will include preventing drunken or aggressive skiing tourists from getting on the piste.
Meanwhile in Bansko the British Embassy's consul to Bulgaria, Jon O'Shaughnessy, will be stepping up his efforts to ensure visiting Brits have a safe and enjoyable holiday. The consul is visiting the ski town this month to consult with local businesses and is keen to promote safety and awareness of the services that are and aren't available in the country when things go wrong. He recommends skiers visiting Bulgaria take a look at: www.ukinbulgaria.fco.gov.uk and Facebook page UKinBulgaria.

I did try it in Peisey Vallandry and it was fun, well the target shooting was, skiing about 200m was a killer! It was on the edge of the national park and i was warned not to hit any Chamois on the distant slopes, but I think they were just taking the Michael out of my accuracy...

The Snowy Slopes of Park City

Over 100 people arrived in Park City's in Utah's Town Lift Plaza at the weekend to participate in the ski area's second annual 'Thriller' dance with the aim of making it snow. The dance seems to have paid off as its been snowing heavily in the famous ski town ever since.
The resort introduced the Thriller dance last autumn in tribute to Michael Jackson and everyone participating recreates the famous dance from the video at the base of the lifts. Snow fans of all ages took part, some dressed in Halloween costumes and make up, others in scary ski wear from times of old.
A two hour dance lesson was provided by Brooke Clawson and Jamyn Miller from Precision Dance Camps and zombie-like face painting was available free-of-charge prior to the snow dance.
The ski area is scheduled to open on Saturday, November 20th.