Whistler village is the centerpiece of Whistler-Blackcomb.

With the upcoming sale of Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort, potential buyer Vail Resorts is staying quiet about whether it’s interested in acquiring it’s North American rival.

Vail’s Chief Executive Officer Rob Katz did not make direct comment when asked by journalists whether Vail Resorts might be interested if such a purchase became a possibility. The question came up during a media question and answer session on Vail’s second quarter earnings.

Continue reading ‘Vail Resorts stays mum about Whistler sale’

Scotland's Glencoe ski area

Scotland’s five mountain ski areas have been blessed not only by lots of snow this winter, but also more customers than any winter since 2001.

They’ve already passed 250,000 skier days and this is around two months before the season is expected to end. This total is 100,000 more than last season, which wasn’t a bad one.

This is excellent news not only for the ski companies, but also for the surrounding areas, with the season so far estimated to have generated at least £25M for the Scottish economy, of which £20M will have been spent in nearby local businesses.

Continue reading ‘Scottish ski crowds are the biggest in nine years’

The kids will be skiing safely and in style.

There’s going to be a new look for the British Children’s Ski Team after new deals struck with equipment companies.

Helmet and goggle manufacturer CASCO is now their official supplier for headgear. The team will be supplied with SP Race helmets and goggles fitted with the new Vautron lens.

The first group took delivery of the new kit at the Team’s final UK training and fitness session at The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempsted.

Continue reading ‘Brit ski kids get shiny new gear’

British ski tourists are getting back out on the hill.

The newest evidence of a recovery in the European ski industry is growing sales numbers from a French Alps-based ski rental company.

Ski Republic has reported its ski rental sales are up 34% this season compared to the winter of 2008-9. UK customers represent 55% of turnover and around 50% of all bookings now being received online the company’s website.

Continue reading ‘Growing ski rental sales another sign of industry recovery’

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’

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’

Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada is one of the major resorts on the Fortress/Intrawest chopping block.

It appears the troubled company which owns major North American ski resort operator Intrawest has been granted another chance to survive.

The Fortress Investment Group LLC owns Intrawest, operator of leading Canadian resorts of Mont Tremblant and recent Olympic venue Whistler. Fortress is reported to have reached agreement with its creditors to extend the time it needs to refinance its debt through to mid-April.

Continue reading ‘Whistler and Tremblant stay in Intrawest-Fortress hands, for now’