Wintersports Rediscovered
CairnGorm Mountain chief executive Bob Kinnaird has told the BBC that snow conditions for the season had been of a high quality. “We are becoming increasingly optimistic that we could be offering skiing on Cairngorm into May.” He said.
Continue reading ‘Scottish ski resort “Increasingly Optimistic” that season will end in May’
La Chamoniarde, avalanche prevention and rescue society is holding its final avalanche safety days on the 15th and 22nd April, aimed at people who regularly ski off piste.
The days have four themes - information, the group, the avalanche, and the glacier.
The day is free of charge but participants are responsible for their lift pass. Participants must also be 16 years and over, with good ski ability on all terrain. There are limited places and potential participants should register in advance in person at the High Mountain Office or by calling + 33 (0)450.53.22.08
« La Chamoniarde » aims to contribute to improving mountain safety by developing skier’s and boarder’s knowledge of their mountain environment.
www.ohm-chamonix.com
Last April 11th turned out to be ‘amazing’ day skiing prodigy and X Games star Simon Dumont of Bethel, Maine broke the world record for highest air on a quarter pipe. The local resident executed a corked 900 tail grab and peaking at a height of 34.5 feet (11.5m) above the top of the quarter pipe in front of him town friends and family at Sunday River in Maine.
Continue reading ‘Simon Dumont sets new World Record on quarter pipe at Sunday River’
Plans for the redevelopment of an old, and largely defunct, ski area in New York State have been given the go ahead by local officials.
Ski Bowl Village will be created over seven years and will be completely overhauled to the tune of $250 million in investment in the heart of the Adirondacks. The former North Creek Ski Bowl will be reopened to skiers after being turned into a snow tubing area.
The facility will be rebuilt and operated by the US government owned Olympic Regional Development Authority which manages adjacent (and potentially lift linked) Gore Mountain and other facilities in the area associated with the Lake Placid Winter Olympic games.
Along with the renewed ski area, the Ski Bowl Village will include a horse riding centre and golf course and have wide ranging lodging options including a hotel, inns and several hundred self catering condos and houses.
The centre is located about 112km ( 75 miles) north of Albany in the town of Johnsburg
Four days of early-April snowfall brought nearly three feet (90cm) of snow to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, pushing the area well past the 500-inch mark and setting the stage for the many spring events still to come.
Snowbird is reporting a base of 155 inches at mid-mountain and 532 inches season-to-date for the resort that averages 500 inches a year.
In the first 11 days of April, Snowbird received 40 inches (one metre) of snow at the base and significantly higher accumulations at mid-mountain.
Skiers and riders can enjoy Snowbird’s great conditions and many events with the $279 Spring Season Pass, valid now through Snowbird’s closing date on May 26th (conditions permitting). The resort offers the longest ski and snowboard season in Utah and plans to operate daily through to May 11th and then weekends (Friday-Sunday) through to closing day.
Upcoming spring events include a visit by Mission:Wolf, a non-profit captive wolf sanctuary, which brings live wolves and wolf-dog crosses to Snowbird to teach about wolf captivity. This happens next Friday, 17th April at 7pm in the Rendezvous Room on Level 2 of the Snowbird Center and admission is free.
www.snowbird.com
A new study by Colorado University has determined that the levels of airborne dust and pollution in the state have increased by 500% over the past 200 years. The
report’s authors blame human activity for the trend.
The study was carried out by a team led by Assistant Professor Jason Neff of the university’s environmental studies program, who told local media that increasing dust levels can increase allergic reactions and respiratory illness.
Continue reading ‘Dust is the latest threat to snow in western North America’
The French ski resort industry has set up a new committee organized by the Association Nationale des Maires de stations de Montagne” (ANMSM / National association of mountain village mayors) and the French A.D.E.M.E (environmental agency).
On the recommendation of the environmental body, Mountain Riders, nine of the country’s leading 101 ski areas, including the glacier ski area of Les 2 Alpes, are currently participating in a comprehensive environmental study which aims to measure carbon levels in the resorts.
Continue reading ‘French ski industry studies greenhouse effects and aims to set targets’