J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by J2SkiNews

iainm wrote:I did read that ADH have increased the price of their day pass

They do seem to be concerned about misinformation spreading, this was the response:

There have been a number of reports in European publications in recent weeks and months that ski areas might either be required to limit/stop using electricity as part of a kind of rationing to beat supply limitations caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, or that the high cost of energy will mean ski resorts won't be able to afford to run lifts and other hardware such as snowmaking machinery.

One French media report focussed on the SATA group which runs the lifts at Alpe d'Huez and les 2 Alpes with company bosses telling French media they currently faced a 10 fold energy cost increase from about 2 million to 20 million Euros for the season.

The ski lift operators are clearly aiming to put pressure on governments to help, but the publicity of the issues is also causing skiers to question whether its safe to book, and whether lift pass prices could rise dramatically to cover the huge costs increase.

Now SATA have taken to social media to stress lifts will run, resorts will stay open and lift ticket prices won't increase.

"Following a number of enquiries I would like to reassure you that it is out of the question that Alpe d'Huez will close during the season. L'Alpe d'Huez will stay open," said Fabrice Boutet, the SATA Group's Director General, who added that no lift pass prices would increase at all either.

Mr Boutet said that the group had already been working hard to reduce energy consumption for environmental reasons anyway and would now accelerate their plans as part of their strategy to limit the cost increase.

Other ski areas have responded to the reports by saying they'll look at ways to limit energy use but again insist key operations won't be impacted.

The Austrian Ski Jewel (or Juwel) region celebrates 10 years this winter.

The region was created in 2012 by linking the long established Alpbachtal and Wildschönau regions to create one of the country's 10 biggest ski areas and linking the slopes above the villages of Alpbach, Auffach, Oberau and Niederau.

The region is making a big celebratory spend on a new detachable 6-seater chairlift with weather protection hood and seat heating above Alpbach, replacing the old Hornlift 2000, a fixed-grip quad.

The new top station "Top of Alpbach" will feature an observation tower as well as a platform with a unique panoramic view.



At the same time on the Wildschönau side the new Schatzberg Zwergenland at the Schatzbergbahn mid-station above Auffach.

The large area offers enough space to learn to ski and to play in the snow with a new children's ski school/beginners' area including a Snowball playground, Big Schatzberg IGLOO, Ski carousel, Photo wall and three magic carpets with 9 + 12 meters long.

The Children's fun area include an XL magic carpet, T-bar lift, course with small bumps with fun elements and the start of the toboggan run into the valley.

There's been fresh snowfall reported on glaciers in parts of the European Alps and in the Canadian Rockies over the past 24 hours.

The snowfall in the Alps has been particularly welcomed after a low snowfall start to the year was followed by record levels of heat at altitude closing a number of summer ski areas, including the highest Zermatt, which has operated 365 days a year other than closing at the start of the pandemic in 2020 or the odd bad weather day, for many years.



Only Hintertux in Austria is currently open to skiers and boarders from the general public, however, Italy's Val Senales, pictured above, announced today it would open on schedule in a weeks' time following the fresh snowfall there.

A number of other areas are due to open later this month and ski areas like Saas Fee and Zermatt and another Italian resort, Passo Stelvio, that are officially currently only temporarily closed while awaiting better weather may be able to re-open.

The end of next month is also due to see the start of various FIS World Cup tours in Solden, Les 2 Alpes and Zermatt.



Across the Atlantic snowfall had already been reported at the start of the month on high peaks in Colorado, but today's snowfall at Sunshine near Banff in the Canadian Rockies, due to open for its 22-23 season in about two months' time, is believed to be the first of the autumn.

Winter 22—23 has quite a few big anniversaries coming up – tour operator Erna Low, the UK's longest established, turns 90; world-famous French ski gear manufacturer Salomon 75, and Europe's highest resort (and by some measures therefore the whole 3 Valleys – the world's biggest ski area) will celebrate 50 years.

At Val Thorens the Tourist Office has launched limited edition skis to celebrate the resort's 50th anniversary.

Just 200 pairs will be available to buy from the Tourist Office, and from many of the resort's ski shops to those who snap them up quickly enough. They will also be showcased by SETAM employees, who will be using them throughout the season.

The skis will be made in 3 lengths: 161 / 169 / 177cm and retail at €600 for the skis, €240 the bindings.

To bring the project to fruition, Salomon's technical and creative teams worked closely with Axelle Gacon from Val Thorens to come up with the special anniversary "All Mountain" ski, in line with the French outdoor sports brand's technical and graphic requirements.

"I got in touch with Quentin Boutry, Salomon's Alpine Ski Product Manager, and graphic designer, Cyril Vial, and the three of us worked out the technical requirements, understanding exactly what we were capable of creating together," said Axelle, adding, "They sent me the ski files so that I could incorporate the design directly onto them. I based myself on the Val Thorens 50th anniversary logo graphic that I had already created with the Marketing team -it encompasses an image that stands out, creates an impact, and remains understated. These are the three key elements!"

After much research and many test versions, the 50th anniversary ski were finalised just a few weeks ago in August.

Both Salomon and Val Thorens teams agreed that no two skis should be the same in this collector's edition! The left and right skis have a different top sheet; you can see the whole image when you put both skis on, side by side.

The skis highlight the fluorescent blue of the Val Thorens 50th anniversary logo, which contrasts with the snow, and the iconic lines created by the Aiguilles de Péclet.

"The skis are currently being produced, and I can't wait to see them. I take great pride in the fact that I designed them, as this was a childhood dream for me!" said Axelle.

The long-established Snoworks autumn GAP ski course is back next month but will move from its previous base at Tignes in France to be based in Cervinia, Italy.

The new ski instructor course will takes place over 8 weeks from October 15 to December 10, 2022 initially on the glacier above Zermatt in Switzerland, accessed from Cervinia, before the resort opens up further with new snowfall.

The training programme prepares skiers for the BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) level 1 and 2 exams. The level 2 exam allows those that qualify with UK passports to potentially take up instructor jobs in countries including Japan, Canada, America, New Zealand and Australia. EU passport holders can also search for work in Austria and Switzerland. In either case Snoworks offer help with securing ski instructor jobs following successful completion of the course with the main ski season beginning in many resorts the week after the course is completed.

Anyone that is over the age of 18 and with the £7,950 required to sign up can participate in the course. Skiers should though have around a minimum of 10 weeks experience on snow and be comfortable skiing all groomed terrain and happy to venture onto easy off-piste slopes.

The 8 weeks is split between training (5 weeks) and exams (3 weeks) and the fee includes all accommodation on a full-board basis, training, lift pass and avalanche safety training, plus many other additional training session and benefits.

"Cervinia is an ideal location to hold the course, with guaranteed snow on the glacier and a high-altitude resort that often gets some of the earliest snowfalls in the Alps. The beauty of this course is that our pupils can gain their qualifications before the season even starts, so they can work as instructors immediately and start earning money," said Course leader and Managing Director of Snoworks Pro, Lee Townend.

The course cost of £7,950 includes 8 weeks of on-snow training, 5 days a week, with Snoworks Pro instructors, accommodation in the 3* Hotel Astoria in Cervinia including breakfast, packed lunch, dinner (twin room basis), lift pass, BASI membership, BASI Level 1 and 2 exam fees, off-piste and avalanche safety training, race training, ski tuning training, off snow training.

The World Meteorological Organization has announced an expected La Nina pattern for the Pacific Ocean over the coming winter.

The two dominant systems, known as El Nino or La Nina, refer to the Pacific Ocean's surface temperatures.

These impact weather systems, particularly in North and South America but to some extent other parts of the world as well.

In any case, both are used by marketing departments at ski resorts to herald probable great snowfall.
La Nina means a large-scale cooling and it's the third year in a row it has been predicted, hence the prediction of a rare "triple-dip." Three years in a row has only happened three times since the 1950s.

Meteorologists say it could mean more powder in Western North America – which is suffering a multi-year drought – meteorologists say, although it varies.

"We tend to see wetter than normal conditions across the northern mountains, whereas portions of the southern mountains like the San Juans kind of get blocked from the systems," one said.

That certainly isn't guaranteed though, last year was also a La Nina inter but though there were extreme heavy snowfall weather events on occasion, much of last winter was dry.

However, some meteorologists argue that the year-on-year cooling means that while last winter wasn't so great for snowfall, the cumulative impact, which last year took Pacific surface temperatures to their coldest since 2010, means 22-23 could a be good one for snowfall – as 2010-11was well above average.

The deepest reported snowpacks in Australia have passed the 2 metre mark as we enter springtime (by the meteorological measure of the seasons).

Some winters Australia ski areas struggle to open much terrain due to a lack of snow cover and reaching the metre mark on higher slopes is a sign of a healthy snow depth, so reaching two metres is a sign of a good season.

Thredbo and Perisher in New South Wales both report there's now just over two metres of snow depth on their upper slopes, just below a metre on lower runs.

After several winters when ski areas in the country were frequently closed during eight separate lockdowns and only opened on a limited basis in the brief periods that they could, winter 2022 has seen bumper business and resorts operating at capacity, sometimes having to turn skiers away as facilities have repeatedly reached their maximum operating limits.

The season started with the biggest snowfalls for more than 20 years and although there have been a few warm and wet weather events most centres have had all terrain open with mostly good to excellent conditions all winter.

Most larger Aussie ski areas stay open to the first week of October and it remains to be seen if some will opt to extend their seasons this year if conditions remain good through September.