Once the ice and snow leaves, all that's left are cracked rocks which cause dangerous rock slides.

Rock slides blocking prominent alpine routes have become a prominent issue in the Alps.

Due to global warming, the permafrost is unfreezing by degrees, giving way to a fast erosion of high peaks like the Swiss Matterhorn.

An interdisciplinary team from the Universities of Basel and Zurich and other organisations are researching the processes involved in a project called “Permasense” and have installed battery-powered sensors in some of the key affected areas including the Matterhorn above Zermatt and the Jungfraujoch to gather information.

Continue reading ‘Researchers dig into Alpine rockslides caused by global warming’

England's Chill Factore indoor snow centre.

The British government has decided that skiing and ski tourism are a worthwhile investment.

Snowsport England has announced that it is to receive £985,000 of Government and National Lottery funding to get more people skiing and snowboarding in high quality environments.

Manchester’s Chill Factore is one of the venues set to benefit from the funding. In the past year, more than 1,500 schools from across the North West have taken part in activities at Manchester’s indoor real snow centre, with many building snowsports tuition into their school programmes. Chill Factore also trains some of the country’s most promising young talent.

Continue reading ‘British ski centres get government funding’

Ski cross was one of the most exciting events in Vancouver.

After the introduction of Ski Cross to the Olympics last month, the sport may be taking off outside of it’s North American roots.

The next generation of ski cross racers will be taking to the slopes of Les Arcs in the giant French Paradiski region for The Gavaggio Master Cross race on the 28th of March.

The GMX race will be one of the first ever ski-cross event for youngsters aged 11 to 14. Enak Gavaggio, a multiple winner in the sport, will be spearheading the event and passing on his experience to the kids at this unprecedented contest.

Continue reading ‘Ski cross takes European leap forward with GMX’

St. Gervais ski resort

There has been a long and bitter rivalry between ski resorts in Europe for almost 200 years. In fact, I have no trouble imagining a couple of Gallic Neanderthals turning their noses up at the slopes outside their neighbours caves several thousand years ago. However, one can only really go on the recommendations of people who have already been.

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This toboggan run has a long history.

The famous Cresta Run at St Moritz was first built as a toboggan run several decades before downhill skiing took off as a winter sport.

Built by visiting British tourists in the mid-1880s, the run celebrates its 125th anniversary this winter.

The Cresta Run remains privately-operated by the British St. Moritz Tobogganing Club, which is based in the original St Moritz luxury hotel, The Kulm. The Club still only allows men to descend the run, except on the last day of its operation each winter, and the high speed run on a small metal sled is not for the faint-hearted. The ‘Cresta kiss’ impact injury is a common occurrence.

Continue reading ‘The run that’s older than skiing itself’

Chamonix takes in number 1 spot with British skiers as per EasyJet's compilation.

European discount airline Easyjet recently released the top-10 winter ski resort destinations by  British skiers and have compiled them into a hot list. Ski Rebel Magazine has managed to get a copy and has them available for you if you read on…

Continue reading ‘Europe’s top 10 ski destinations as chosen by UK travelers’

The stairs and bridge were put on Gold Hill, seen on the left.

Telluride ski resort in Colorado has airlifted a new bridge and staircase to Gold Hill on left shoulder of Palmyra Peak.

Canadian helicopter company Heliqwest airlifted two steel staircases and a bridge over the ski resort to its final resting place, the span between Gold Hill Chutes 8 and 9. The new stairway is already open for skiers.

The two sets of stairs measure 48 and 54 feet, and weigh 3304 and 3324 pounds, respectively. The bridge measures 24 feet in length and weighs 2750 pounds. All three components measure 30 inches wide, feature hand railings on both sides and serrated grated steel walking surface. Together, the stairway and bridge combine make up 126 linear feet ascending Gold Hill.

Continue reading ‘Telluride installs chute access stairway’