J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

The unfortunate failure to launch the Alpine speed ski racing season has continued with all three men's races cancelled over the past three days at Beaver Creek.

The planned two World Cup Downhill and one Super G races were cancelled for various reasons including too much snowfall, low visibility and strong winds.

The cancellations take the total number of races cancelled so far this season to 5 out of 5, with the attempt to stage an inaugural two Downhill races on the new high-altitude cross-border course between Zermatt and Cervinia failing to happen for the second successive year.

Hopefully the 23-24 speed tour will now finally start on the weekend of 15-16 December when a Super-G and Downhill are scheduled for Val Gardena.

Each year, two World Cup races take place on the famous Saslong corse in Val Gardena in the week before Christmas – a downhill (since 1972) and a Super G (since 2002), however it is not thought that the tour has ever started in Italy in the World Cup era.

Traditionally the men's speed racing tour has begun at Lake Louise in late November, but that venue has no plans to stage races currently due to financial issues.

"Skiing is an outdoor sport and we know we are dependent on the weather, of course," said Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr, adding, "How does it feel as an athlete when you're looking forward to start the season, but there are no races yet? Of course we are sad, but it is part of skiing. It's neither the first or last time that races will be cancelled. You try to stay positive and focused on the upcoming races."

After a late start to the 23-24 season in France compared to previous autumn, and December beginning with only Tignes and Val Thorens open in the French Alps, this weekend will see around 15 of the countries centres running some lifts and grooming runs.

Those now opening early, that hadn't planned to before all the November snowfall, include the world's largest area, the 3 Valleys, saying that in addition to the slopes of Val Thorens, many of the connections between the valleys will be open. Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil will also open for a "preview weekend", a fortnight early.

Those that had already planned to open this weekend include Alpe d'Huez, La Clusaz, Les 2 Alpes and Montgenevre as well as half a dozen French ski areas in the Pyrenees.

However avalanche danger bureaus are warning off-piste skiers that a combination of heavy snowfall, strong winds and periods of rain to high altitudes has created an unstable snowpack with the danger level generally at 3 ("considerable") on the scale to 5, and in some places 4 ("high").

La Plagne (pictured top this week) has announced it will open a week early for a preview weekend on the 9th/10th of December.

Vail Resorts, the world's largest ski resorts operator, have confirmed that they're buying Crans-Montana ski area in Switzerland, the company's second Swiss resort.

Crans Montana is one of Switzerland's larger ski areas and future host of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2027. It's located two and a half hours away from Vail's other owned and operated European resort in Andermatt-Sedrun.

Vail Resorts is acquiring an 84-percent ownership stake in Remontées Mécaniques Crans Montana Aminona (CMA) SA, which controls and operates all the resort's lifts and supporting mountain operations, including 4 retail and rental locations. The company is acquiring an 80-percent ownership stake in SportLife AG, which operates one of the ski schools located at the resort. Vail Resorts is also acquiring 100 percent ownership of 11 restaurants located on and around the mountain.

"Crans-Montana is an iconic ski destination in the heart of the Swiss Alps, with a unique heritage, incredible terrain, passionate team, and a community dedicated to the success of the region," said Kirsten Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of Vail Resorts. "Our acquisition of the resort aligns to our growth strategy of expanding our resort network in Europe, creating even more value for our Pass Holders and guests around the world. Much like Andermatt-Sedrun, we believe Crans-Montana has a unique opportunity for future growth."

Vail Resorts plans to include access to Crans-Montana Mountain Resort on select Epic Pass products for the 2024-25 ski and ride season although the resort will not be included on the Epic Pass for any remaining part of the 2023-24 ski and ride season after the deal closes.

The Epic Pass currently provides access to Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, as well as European partner resorts, including five days at Verbier4Vallées in Switzerland, seven days at Les 3 Vallées in France, seven days at Skirama Dolomiti in Italy and three days at Ski Arlberg in Austria.

In a media statement, Vail gave the following financial details of the purchase:

Subject to closing adjustments, the valuation for the resort operations is expected to be CHF 118.5 million, including approximately CHF 7 million of debt that will remain in place. Vail Resorts anticipates that the resort will generate approximately CHF 5 million of EBITDA in its fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, the first full year of operations following the expected closing later in fiscal 2024.

Vail Resorts anticipates EBITDA growth over time from the inclusion of the resort on the Epic Pass products, network synergy, and investments in the guest experience. Subject to the timing of capital project approvals and completion, Vail Resorts is planning to invest approximately CHF 30 million over the next five years in one-time capital spending to elevate the guest experience, and the resort is expected to generate over CHF 15 million of annual EBITDA following these investments and including the impact from incremental Epic Pass sales. This initial phase of growth of the resort is expected to be primarily driven by operating and marketing initiatives along with capital investments focused on maximizing gastronomy efficiencies and improving and expanding snowmaking capabilities. After closing the transaction, normal annual maintenance capital expenditures for Crans-Montana Mountain Resort are expected to be approximately CHF 3 million.

The transaction is expected to close during the 2023-24 ski and ride season, subject to certain third-party consents. Operations at Crans-Montana Mountain Resort for the 2023-24 winter season will continue in the ordinary course of business. Vail Resorts is committed to retaining the vast majority of employees, the existing operational infrastructure, and local expertise. Vail Resorts will incorporate areas of expertise from its business strategy, including enhancements to data and analytics capabilities, accessibility with the Epic Pass product line up, and best practice sharing from its mountain operations.

Vail Resorts own about 40 resorts worldwide, the majority in the USA but also three leading Australian resorts as well as North America's biggest ski area of Whistler Blackcomb in Canada and its Swiss resorts.

The snowy end to November in the Alps has brought some very enticing scenes to skiers and boarders, but those thinking of heading off piste this early in the season are asked to be aware that avalanche danger levels are currently widely at Level 3 or "considerable" on the scale to 5, with some resorts in Switzerland, including the Jungfrau region, seeing Level 4 or "high".

"The new snowfall has been accompanied by strong wind, particularly at high altitudes. It's been very blown about, with some deep accumulations forming and plenty of wind slab, particularly on E to S facing slopes. This fresh snow is lying on top of hard or icy surfaces, and not bonding to these," the first Off Piste Snow Report of the season produced by Henry's Avalanche Talks for winter 23-24 notes, adding, "In the short term (24 to 48 hours after these snowstorms) there is an increasing risk of natural avalanches, which could travel a long way. After this, with the increasing and decreasing temperatures accompanied by rain/snow, things should start to stabilise in the off-piste though as things refreeze and solidify (especially in those areas that got a good remelt or drenching!)."

About 50 ski areas are currently open and base depths are growing quickly in the Alps. Val Thorens, the Kaunertal Glacier and Solden have all seen their upper slope base depths pass through the 2 metres mark over the past few days. Tignes is pictured above.

More ski areas in the Alps and Dolomites have announced they'll be opening ahead of schedule, this coming weekend.

Italy's Val Gardena (pictured above this week) and Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil region both say they'll have pre-openings of limited terrain from Saturday.

In Val Gardena the Dantercepies area above Selva will open on the 2nd with a gondola and two ski lifts running, providing access to around 50km of slopes. The full Val Gardena area will then follow from Tuesday 5th December with 180km slopes open including and links to the Sella Ronda.

For Avoriaz there'll be a partial opening of their terrain this weekend with the Arare and Chavanette sectors will open and a discounted lift pass rate of 21€ per day and 40€ for the full week-end.

About 50 ski areas are already open in the Alps, Dolomites and Pyrenees and about 100 more had already announced plans to open from this coming weekend including big names such as Chamonix, Les 2 Alpes and St Anton.

Austria's promising start to the 23-24 season continues with heavy snowfall reported down to low-levels through the weekend, and more forecast.

Although it's mostly high altitude and glacier ski areas open in Austria so far, ski areas with slopes down below 1,000m altitude have been reporting up to a foot (30cm) of snowfall down to village level ahead of the season start.

Fieberbrunn, which says its season will start on December 1st, this Friday, says it has had 30cm at the base of the slopes, 60cm up high. The Zillertal Arena reported a 40cm accumulation on Saturday – Sunday.

Lech-Zurs had to put a special reassurance on the images of snowy conditions it posted, insisting these were current 'November 2023' pictures, due to the amount of snow in resort streets.

The news isn't all good though, some areas have seen the avalanche danger rise to level 4 on the scale to 5, because of the heavy snowfall.

Fieberbrunn is pictured above at the weekend.

The remarkable American ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin has taken an unprecedented 90th World Cup win.

Competing in the slalom race on home snow in Killington, Vermont, a race she has won five times previously, the 28 year old was leading by nine hundredths of a second after the first run.

Slovakia's Petra Vlhova who had been lying third out down a storming second run, but Shiffrin held on for the win, by .33 of a second.

It's her second win of the 23-24 campaign, after taking the second Levi slalom a week ago, her 7th win at the Finnish resorts, where each winner gets a reindeer, as well as prize money.

She became the most successful ski racer of all time last March when she equalled then overtook the previous record of 86 wins, which had stood for 34 years, set by Sweden's Ingermar Stenmark.

Shiffrin named one of her reindeer Ingemar, as a token of esteem and with his permission.

Morzine-Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil region has a new snow-fun attraction for thrill-seekers this winter, the 'Avo-Kart'.

"The Avo Kart is a three-wheeled vehicle, equipped with hydraulic brakes and designed with a low centre of gravity for excellent road handling," a statement from The resort explains.

They've designated a 3.2 km (two-mile) long track, descending a total of 600 vertical metres, for Avo-Kart riders.

"Settle down into the bucket seat, take hold of the handlebars and set off!" the spokesperson enthuses.