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.

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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’

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…

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One of SeaFrance's Superferries

For British skiers looking for cheap Alpine vacations, a good place to start could be to carpool and take a ferry from Dover.

SeaFrance ferry service is offering a £25 crossing for a car with up to five passengers, which could mean £5 per person each way. SeaFrance operates Dover-Calais ferries up to 15 times daily.

Compare this to Ryanair, which charges £40 each way to carry skis this season. It’s cheaper for vacationers to travel with SeaFrance than it is for just their skis to fly to the Alps.
Continue reading ‘Cheap channel crossing offered by SeaFrance’

Lone British rider James Stentiford at Chamonix.

The 50 best freeriders on the planet put on an amazing performance at Chamonix at the end of January at the first event of the Freeride World Tour.

They showed the 3000 cheering spectators the top of their game on the difficult face and challenging snow conditions. Against the beautiful backdrop of the Mont-Blanc, the Freeride World Tour 2010 kicked off in on the 500 metre “Pentes de l’Hôtel” face at the Brévent ski area in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.

The Tour finally got underway perfect weather conditions at Chamonix on January 31st after heavy snow and strong winds led to the postponement of the first leg, which had been planned for 2014 Olympic venue Sochi in Russia earlier last month. Unsuitable weather also postponed the Chamonix stage by a day.

Continue reading ‘Amazing show at Chamonix for Freeride tour’

The view from the top of Semnoz.

Located above Lake Annecy at an altitude of 1,704m with amazing 360 views towards the Lake and Mont-Blanc, Semnoz is quite the find.

The little-known French resort has 18 slopes for downhill (7 green, 5 blue, 6 red) and 11 lifts (2 chairlifts, 7 drag lifts, 2 rope lifts) as well as a ski school (ESF) and a kindergarten. There’s a snowshoeing area and a toboggan slope with magic carpet lift for kids.

There are also 46km of cross country slopes which is a pretty big area. Cross country trails include three greens (Le djinn 2.5 km, Le lynx 2 km, La panoramique 5 km); three blues (Les alouettes 3 km, Le puma 4 km, Les gazelles 8.5 km), two reds (Les lamas 3.5 km, Les frelons 4.5 km) and a black (La panthère noire 13 km).

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Freeskiing in Chamonix, France.

The first stage of the Freeride World Tour scheduled to take place in Sochi, Russia last week had to be postponed due to heavy snowfall and wind at the 2014 Olympic venue.

What was to have been the second stage in Chamonix last Saturday turned out to be the opening 2010 Freeride World Tour event. Freeride World Tour Ski World Champion Aurélien Ducroz, who was born and bred in Chamonix, was the hometown favourite on the 400 metre.

A make-up event in Siochi should be scheduled soon.

Continue reading ‘Freeride World Tour kicks off at Chamonix’