Messages posted by : admin
:thumbup: The GVA easyJet scrum is much less stressful if you can fly any other day apart from Saturday... and, to be fair, they usually do keep it flowing well. Not flown either of the others from Geneva recently. The queues for security are usually worse at GVA! As you're heading for Les Arcs, how about flying to Lyon or Grenoble? BA have just announced some additional flights for the winter - British Airways add Ski Flights for 2017 p.s. I think our SkiA competition needs a scary tough-mudder picture... |
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As we start to look at next winter, British Airways has announced two new ski routes and additional flights from Heathrow; with many seats priced under £40.
Picture courtesy of British Airways New Heathrow flights to Grenoble will depart on Saturdays (from December 2) with fares starting from £39 each way. Skiers will also be able to reach the Italian slopes via Turin from just £40 each way. The airline already operates flights between Gatwick and the Italian and French ski hubs during the winter season, so the new flights from Heathrow will take the number of weekly flights from UK to the two cities up to 18.
Flights to Salzburg from Heathrow will double from two to four per week and there will be two additional weekly services to Innsbruck. Frequency to Reykjavik will also be doubled with two direct flights a day from Terminal 5 and Sofia and Zurich will benefit from an additional service each week. For skiers keen to carve up the slopes in North America, British Airways recently launched direct flights from Gatwick to Oakland, which is one of the closest international airports to the slopes of Lake Tahoe. The airline has also re-timed flights to Calgary specifically to help customers meet public transport connections to the biggest ski resorts. THE SMALL PRINT! - *Skis of up to 190cm - All each-way fares are 'hand baggage only' fares and are subject to availability. British Airways Ski route frequencies for winter 2017 - Turin, Italy - 2 flights per week (Sat, Sun) - Grenoble, France - 1 flight per week (Sat) - Tallinn, 2 flights per week (Mon, Fri) - Innsbruck, Austria - 6 flights per week (Mon, Thurs) - Salzburg, Austria - 4 flights per week (Mon, Fri) - Zurich, Switzerland - 41 flights per week (Sat) - Sofia, Bulgaria - 8 flights per week (Sat) - Keflavik, Iceland - 14 (twice daily) |
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Summer Solstice Competition - win a SkiA Sweetspot Ski Trainer
Started by User in Ski Deals and Competitions, 8 Replies |
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Win a SkiA Ski Trainer and help fine-tune your centered balance in-time for the 2017-18 winter ski season
Post a picture of your summer fitness and fun to enter our competition. 
To celebrate the summer solstice (for the northern hemisphere), we've got a quick competition to win a SkiA to help you build your ski fitness. The SkiA is a simple but effective balance-trainer that gives you the perfect excuse to get your ski boots back out and start wearing them around the house!
You have the chance to win a SkiA Ski Trainer by entering our competition. How to Enter We know many of you stay active over the summer, whether it's road cycling, hill walking, base jumping, surfing, triathlons and tough mudders or whatever. We'd like to see what you do! So to enter our competition, all you have to do is reply to this post with a relevant picture. We'll pick the photos that best represent "summer fitness and fun" and draw the winner at random next Monday (26th June). Terms and Conditions Prize includes 1 SkiA Ski Trainer at RRP of £45, not transferable for cash, delivery of product to UK address free of charge, there might be extra charges for delivery outside the UK, prize not transferable, prize must be taken within three months of draw. 
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Winter weather for New Zealand on the shortest day
Started by Admin in Australia and New Zealand, discussing Treble Cone |
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Whilst the northern hemisphere celebrates the longest day, it is - of course - the shortest day for the southern hemisphere. The winter solstice looks set to bring a chunk of wintry weather into New Zealand over the next 24 hours.
Forecast precipitation for New Zealand over the next 3 days, from Ventusky From the New Zealand Herald...
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If you're looking to get ski-fit before next winter, this could be the answer... a genuine Skier's Edge S4 up for auction on Ebay...
eBay auction for Skier's Edge |
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J2Ski's Where To Ski or Snowboard In June 2017
J2Ski's Where To Ski or Snowboard In June 2017 Top 100 Snowiest Ski Areas Worldwide This Week's Snow Headlines - June skiing follows big snowfalls in both northern and southern hemispheres. - Mid-winter conditions as mid-summer nears at some European and North American resorts. - All three Norwegian glaciers open by first weekend in June. - Three Australian ski areas open early. - Killington open for free skiing on June 1st; first June opening in 15 years. - Three French summer glacier areas to open by last weekend in June. - South American ski areas open early for 2017 season after big snowfalls. - Cross border Swiss-Italian skiing from end of June. - Mammoth extends skiing to August, for first time in 22 years. - Skiing under midnight sun in June in Sweden. May was a snowy month for many mountainous areas in both northern and southern hemispheres. On several occassions it was snowing simultaneously in North and South America for example. The snowfall in parts of Western North America was unprecedented with some areas receiving 50-60cm snowfalls in 48 hours around mid-May leading to mid-winter conditions (in late spring!) at the still-open ski centres. In the southern hemisphere too there have been more big snowfalls, following early snow, in Australia and New Zealand. May saw snow on the slopes of ski areas in southern Africa, Argentina and Chile, meaning all three continents are currently looking promising for the main 2017 southern hemisphere ski season. In fact several ski areas in Chile have opened already, up to a month ahead of their proposed opening dates, following big snowfalls in late May. An Australian ski area also plans to open a week early, on the first Saturday of June, following snowfall there at the end of May. In the Forecast There's snow forecast for the highest peaks in Europe this week, but that's more of an issue for climbers than a blessing for skiers... In the southern hemisphere, New Zealand looks to be inline for some more snow this coming week, with possibilities also for South America. Always check local conditions and resort opening times directly before travelling!
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE The Alps We start June with what's probably the smallest number of ski areas open in the Alps at any part of the year, with no areas open in France, one a piece in Italy and Switzerland and a handful in Austria. By the end of June this small number will have at least doubled in Italy (to two!) and the three surviving French summer skiing destinations will have opened for the season. In Austria four of the country's eight glaciers are open – although two are scheduled to close through the month, with another due to open, leaving three operating in to July! Still open all month are Hintertux (year round) which has a 2.5m base, and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier near Kaprun. The Kaunertal and Stubai glaciers are also currently open but scheduled to close on the 5th and 19th of June respectively. However the Molltal glacier, which closed in early May, should re-open on June 15th. In France the three glacier areas of Val d'Isere, Les 2 Alpes and Tignes are all scheduled to open later this month on the 10th, 23rd and 24th June respectively. Temperatures in Val d'Isere were reported to have hit 29C at resort level at the end of May so it could be challenging. In Italy Passo Stelvio re-opened on the last weekend of May, just as the Presena glacier was scheduled to close. Stelvio had a lot of April and May snow so is in good shape for summer skiing this year. Cervinia will re-open on the last weekend of June, a second Italian option and offering cross-border summer glacier skiing with Zermatt. Speaking of which – after Engelberg and the Diavolezza glacier near St Moritz closed for their seasons in late May only Europe's highest ski slopes high above the famous Swiss centre remain open in the country. They'll be re-joined by Saas Fee in July, but until then it is Zermatt only. Scandinavia It's ski-under-the-midnight-sun time in the Swedish Arctic Circle with Riksgransen building up to its end-of-season grand finale Midsummer's weekend opening, always a sell out. The base of 1.6m should easily see the centre through the final weeks of the season, especially as fresh snow was falling over the last weekend of May with more mid-winter than mid-summer-like conditions. Elsewhere in the region Norway's three glacier ski areas are open or opening with deep snow. The Folgefonn glacier is already open and is joined by Stryn on June 1st for a six week ski season, and by the Galdhoppigen glacier on the 3rd. North America Half a dozen ski areas in the USA closed after the last Monday in May, the Memorial Day bank holiday in the US, and the last two still-open ski areas in Canada since autumn 2016, Sunshine at Banff and Whistler Blackcomb, ended their seasons the Monday before that. But at still-open ski areas the season is going strong after the huge winter snowfalls and further May snow top-ups. Mammoth in California claims the largest open ski area in the US, still has a huge base and will be open at least to August (it recently announced another month, at least, beyond its previously announced July 4th provisional-end-of-season date) for the first time in 22 years. Squaw Valley to the north is also still open with plans to stay open all year, although on Saturdays only from July. Arapahoe Basin in Colorado has extended its ski season to June 11th and is open weekends only, but may extend its season later still. Nearby Copper Mountain will re-open and use stockpiled snow to create a terrain park for summer camps. Other US options include Timberline at Oregon and Boreal, a third Californian resort, will re-open with the aid of an all-weather snowmaking system it purchased last year. If you're fast enough, Killington is opening for one day only of free skiing on June 1st, it's first June opening in 15 years, and they're even giving a free T shirt to the first 250 on the slopes. North of the border Whistler Blackcomb is due to re-open for summer glacier skiing from 9 June. SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Australia The Aussie ski season traditionally starts on the Queen's birthday Weekend public holiday whether there's any snow or not at most of the country's ski areas. This year that's the 10th/11th June and a couple of resorts had invested in all-weather snowmaking systems which can operate in positive temperatures if that weekend had proved to be warm and snowless as it quite often is. However they may not prove necessary in 2017 as big end-of-May snowfalls bringing up to 30cm of fresh snow has meant it's looking like a good start to the season coming up, assuming there's not a rapid thaw (which looks unlikely with more snow in the forecast for the start of June). The continent's biggest resort, Perisher, has announced it will open limited terrain on 3rd June, a week early, thanks to the snow. Then Mt Buller also announced early opening, just before Perisher on June 2nd in as bid to be first. But then Mt Baw Baw trumped the other two by being the first to open, on June 1st! New Zealand There's due to be a change in the opening order at New Zealand ski areas as Ruapehu, the country's biggest resort and located on the North Island, has invested in an all weather snowmaking system and plans to open some terrain on June 3rd – when it is usually one of the last areas in New Zealand to open each season in late June or early July. And that will still be the case for its main area. South Island ski areas will start opening around June 10th however and at the start of June things are looking good here too with up to 50cm of natural snowfall and cold weather for snowmaking leaving slopes looking very promising for the start of the season – so long as it keeps cold. South America Most South American ski areas were set to open on July 17th or 24th but after 50-80cm of snowfall in late May three of Chiles larger areas – El Colorado, La Parva and Valle Nevado decided to open up to a month ahead of schedule in the last week or so of last month. This is very much a repeat of 2016 when similar conditions occurred although last year it got rather warm with less fresh snowfall in June and early July after the good May snowfall, with some areas then having to delay planned openings in late July, so they'll be hoping for no repeat of that scenario and that the snow keeps falling. Southern Africa Both Afriski in Lesotho and Tiffindell in South Africa are aiming to open at the start of June. The area has had several good May snowfalls raising expectations for the 2017 season, although both can fully operate with snowmaking if the natural stuff fails to arrive. But so far, it's looking like a good start to the season. Until next month! |
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J2Ski's Where To Ski or Snowboard In May 2017
Here's the first of our monthly guides to help you find the snow during the northern summer and southern hemisphere's winter. 
Tignes Les Brevieres, with a little fresh this morning Top 100 Snowiest Ski Areas Worldwide This Week's Snow Headlines - Heavy late April snow in many ski regions leave excellent conditions for the start of May. - Ski areas in California extend season to the end of July. - No French or Italian ski areas will be open after May 8th. - USA has 9 ski areas open at start of May, Austria 7. - Heavy pre-season snow reported in Australia and New Zealand. May is traditionally one of the quietest months in the world's skiing calendar. Almost all of the 6,000+ ski areas in the northern hemisphere close for the season by May 1st, even quite a few of those that will re-open for summer skiing later. And of course ski areas in the southern hemisphere haven't started their main winter ski season either - it really kicks off in early June although any early winter blast (and there was one in Australia and New Zealand last month), could see centres opening early, in May, as they did in parts of South America last year. Spring has, so far, been typically odd. As with much of winter 16-17, spring started in March much warmer than usual, but in late April we did get a succession of big snowfalls, in the latter case after the vast majority of resorts had already closed for the season. But the result is that most of those areas that are open into May have some quite fresh snow cover up high. In many places April has been snowier than December was. More than half of the still open ski areas in Europe closed after the last weekend of April, leaving around 20 ski areas open through May - or most of it - fairly evenly divided between North America and Europe. In the Forecast Surprisingly enough, there is more European snow incoming in the northern French, Swiss and Italian Alps over the next few days. J2Skiers have reported good (for April/May!) conditions from Verbier, Engelberg and Chamonix in the past few days. Temperatures are still cool for April, and it's snowing in many places - including the Chamonix valley - to quite low levels as we write. Things should warm through the next week, before what surely must be the last call of winter for the North next weekend... when heavy snow again looks likely! Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, cold and snow are continuing to crop up in the forecasts for Australia and New Zealand, although there's nothing open there yet! There's still snow in Europe, but very few open resorts now; check local conditions and resort opening times directly before travelling!
The Alps Austria Austria has the biggest selection of glacier ski areas in Europe, or at least the most that endeavour to open outside the main ski season (France has about as many but they are open less and less outside the main ski season). All eight of Austria's glaciers are open into May too, but Pitztal, with Austria's highest lifts and Solden will call it a day on the 16-17 season on May 7th and will not re-open until September or October. The Molltal glacier will also close, but will re-open in June at the start of a nearly 11 month long season! Austria's other five glaciers – Hintertux, Kaunertal, Kitzsteinhorn, Stubai and Dachstein will be open at least in to June, most much longer. The good news is that unsurprisingly the glaciers have the best snow depths in Austria (1.8-2.8m) and fresh snow! France There's little skiing to be had in France during May with most of the country's few still open resorts at the end of April – including Chamonix, Val d'Isere and Val Thorens - closing on or by 1st May. Unlike Austria most of its highest resorts like La Plagne, Les Arcs, Val Thorens and Chamonix don't try to open after the main season ends. Only Tignes, with a 1.5m (Five foot) base on its Grand Motte glacier, will be open for the first week of May, but it no longer operates year round and it too closes for six weeks or so from May 8th until summer skiing and boarding gets underway. So there's no open lift-served skiing in France in May after the first week of the month. Italy Italy, like France, has seen a decline in centres staying open through late spring and now only has Cervinia as a summer skiing destination. Cervinia closes on May 1st though but Val Senales, a glacier area that once stayed open all summer, will be operational until May 7th. The Presena Glacier, near Passo Tonale, will be open from the 2nd of May to the 4th of June for spring skiing, for advanced skiers. Otherwise Italy too has no lift-served skiing after the first weekend in May, but it does have a summer ski area opening on the last weekend of May – Passo Stevio is due to re-open on the 26th. Switzerland Swiss resorts too got some good snowfalls in the last week of April with Engelberg (open to May 28th) and Zermatt (Open year round for snow sports) both issuing powder alarms for 20cm+ snowfalls in 24 hours. The Diavolezza glacier near St Moritz is also open to the end of May and Glacier 3000 to the first weekend of the month. Scandinavia Spring skiing is popular in Scandinavia, up to a point, with many of the region's larger resorts staging celebratory weekends for the start of May. There's also been a good deal of late April snow to make these better than some years. However once the Mayday parties are over, most Scandinavian ski areas that are still open also call it a day on the season. Up in Lapland Ruka, which has been open since last October, claims the longest ski season of any non-glacier resort on earth and used to keep open until June. It seems to have given up on that these past few years though and says it will close on May 7th. In Sweden though the 'spring skiing capital of Europe' Riksgransen is in good shape and will soon be offering its traditional 'ski under the midnight sun' sessions when 24 hour daylight returns by mid-May, it's open through to midsummers in June. And in Norway too, the Fonna (Folgefonn) glacier has just re-opened for the summer skiing season and reports great conditions too. Scotland Despite some fresh snow (the first in over a month) in Scotland in the last week of April, the desperately hoped for 'unseasonal snow deluge' has not materialised so far and the ski season remains possibly the worst for 35 years. That said, The Lecht did manage to re-open a few runs on the last few days of April after a winery blast. High pressure rolling in for the start of May is likely to end the season, however. Pyrenees All ski areas have closed for the 2016-17 season, despite heavy snowfall in the area down to low levels in the last few days of April. Eastern Europe All ski areas have closed for the 2016-17 season. NORTH AMERICA Canada Lake Louise closes in early May leaving Sunshine ski area at Banff and Whistler Blackcomb the two ski areas open through most of the rest of the month – closing around the 2nd. After that there'll be no lift-served skiing in Canada for 12 days or so – until Whistler re-opens for summer glacier skiing for most of June and in to July. Lake Louise, which has a 1.5-2.6m base for the start of May, reported 24cm of fresh snow on 24 hours on the last Tuesday of April, providing great end-of-season conditions. USA The US has the most ski areas in the world open for any one country as we enter May – with at least nine areas to choose from. Most of those that are open have, like the Alps, seen healthy snowfalls in the last days of April, leading to comparisons with 'January conditions' and enthusiastic reports of powder snow. For some US areas that are still open, a target is to stay open to the Memorial Day Holiday at the end of May. Resorts aiming for this include Snowbird in Utah, Mt Rose in California and Mt Bachelor in Oregon. Also still open are Loveland and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado – the former due to close after the first weekend in May, the latter likely to stay open to early June. In California both Mammoth and Squaw Valley, which have reported by far the deepest snow bases in the world all year (and still both at 8m+ and 6m+ respectively) have said they'll be open to at least July 4th. Squaw has said it may try to stay open all summer and autumn through to next season. Which would give it a similar season to Timberline in Oregon, another open resort. Finally, on the East Coast, Killington remains open although it is not clear for how long. SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE No ski areas have yet opened for the 2017 southern hemisphere ski season. Tiffindell in South Africa and Afriski in Lesotho may open in May if there's natural snowfall or cold enough weather for consistent snowmaking. Ski areas in Australia, New Zealand and South America are due to begin opening from the start of June and it's possible some could open in May if there is excessive pre-season snow, as happened in Chile last year. Resorts in Australia and New Zealand reported good pre-season snowfalls in mid and late April. |
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