J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

Lenzerheide will be able to guarantee more snow cover next winter than in past years, so long as the temperatures are low enough for snowmaking.

New equipment has been installed in the Scalottas, Danis and Stätz regions, which makes these zones snow-sure from the start of the season.

Snow can now be made to cover 55 out of 155 kilometres of slopes. The current snow report as well as live pictures from the ski resort will be available at www.lenzerheide.com
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tino_11 wrote:in hospital with fractured shoulder and skull.

:shock:
Ouch... hope you're being well looked after! "get well soon" sounds a bit inadequate for that but, er, get well soon... on the plus side you should be fit for the Euro ski season.

Dave

I would say go high at Easter. February half-term is the most crowded week (or two) of the season and best avoided if you can. Early in the Easter holiday is usually good for snow and generally not too crowded, and you have the added bonus - usually - of good, sunny weather.

Les Deux Alpes? The main beginner's slopes are high on the mountain, so the snow is always good, and you can return to the resort in the gondola.

It's big enough to have a wide range of accommodation, and is generally better value than the other French mega resorts .

Work has begun on the construction of further rail and road tunnel connections between the 2014 Winter Olympic venue of Sochi, a city on the Black Sea coast, and the inland ski areas around Krasnaya Polyana, about 50km (30 miles) inland.

The new tunnels, which will extend for about 25km (16 miles) in total will further cut journey times, already shortened by the opening of an initial tunnel several years ago by then president Vladimir Putin, a keen skier and crucial backer of the 2014 Olympics who owns a condo in the area.

Some Western commentators have criticised preparations for the 2014 Games pointing to ski area development delays and saying that construction may not be completed in time. In part this is said to be due to the drastically diminished fortunes of some of the wealthy private investors in Games venues due to the worldwide economic downturn.

The construction of facilities for the 2014 Games has also been criticised by local and international environmental groups who claim it is encroaching on formerly unspoilt wilderness areas.

However Games organisers dispute all criticisms saying construction is on target and will not cause damage to the environment and that criticism is due to prejudice against Russia rather than reality.
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The leading Argentinian ski resort of Las Lenas, which opened for its 2009 season this week, is the latest to make safety helmet wearing compulsory for children younger than 12 years of age.

The resort has purchased 600 new helmets this year and is offering them for rental.

"In Las Lenas guest security is our fundamental responsibility and we constantly work to improve it year after year", said Fernando Montero Commercial Director of Marketing the resort,

"In Las Lenas we prepare the mountain and we work on infrastructure improvements all year in order to be able to start the winter season with the highest standards of excellence. More than 70 people carry out maintenance tasks in the mountain during the summer," he added.
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The Kitzsteinhorn Glacier above Kaprun, one of about a dozen European glacier ski areas still offering summer skiing, has announced added attractions in the coming weeks.

The Kitzsteinhorn's Ice arena will open next Friday, June 26th. Facilities include snow slides served by a magic carpet conveyor lift, a 'PistenBully' snow grooming vehicle for children to play on and a snow beach with Ice bar, a panorama terrace at the summit station and a 362m long panorama tunnel straight through the Kitzsteinhorn. In addition the Panorama terrace Glocknerkanzel provides a view of the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain. There is also a secured glacier path across the eternal ice and a daily free guided panorama hike across the glacier on offer.

On Sunday July 5th the centre celebrates all these facilities and opportunities by staging a festival for the whole family with free use of many of the facilities. The program includes a guided summit tour up to 3203 meters, a guided panorama glacier hike, access to the Ice Arena with its sliding areas and snow beach, PistenBully rides and a special program on the day for children.

Children up to the age of 15 get a return day ticket for skiing free of charge, youth and adults pay special prices of 12.10 Euros for a return ticket or 21.50 Euros for a ski ticket for youths, or 15.20 for a return ticket or 28 Euros for a day's ski ticket for adults.
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Sun Valley in Idaho, the resort that gave the world the chairlift and probably the hot tub, will unveil a new gondola next winter.

"The new Gondola on the River Run side of Bald Mountain will carry passengers from the base of River Run to the Roundhouse mid-way up the mountain." said resort spokesperson Shannon Besoyan

The new lift is part of the first phase of a recently unveiled 50-Year Master Plan for the resort created after two years of consultation by owners Mr and Mrs. Earl Holding.

"The Master Plan is as notable for what it does not do as what it does. It does not build out to its potential - in fact in almost every case, the plan reduces the maximum unit development by a third to one half. Through the foresight of Mr. and Mrs. Holding, this development program will allow Sun Valley Resort to maintain its world-class standing for decades." Said a company statement.

Along with the new gondola, phase one of the Sun Valley Master Plan includes the construction of the new Guyer Ridge and Seattle Ridge ski trails; the addition of snowmaking on Olympic Lane, Upper and Lower Broadway, Guyer Ridge, Upper Cozy, Upper Hemingway, Christmas Bowl and Brick's Island runs and the removal of the Exhibition lift. A terrain park will be created on lower Greyhawk.

More new runs, snowmaking, three new quad chairlifts and another new gondola are planned for phase two.
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Les 2 Alpes will stage the Japanese themed 'board sport event' on its glacier on July 3, 4 and 5, 2009 with 10,000 Euros and trip to Tokyo up for grabs to the winner.

Describing the contest as, "THE boardsport event of the summer," Kumi Yama follows on from last year's successful Taravana freestyle with its Tahiti theme.

The event brings together all European Freestyle skiing and snowboarding professionals, and Japanese riders are also invited to take part.

There are two competitions: Slopestyle, which involves teams of three, and a new "one on one" Super-pipe contest.

There is also a professional and amateur photo competition as part of the contest.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc