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’

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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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’

Groups have been trying to stress ski safety and helmet use.

Ski resort safety was brought back into the forefront this weekend after two skiers died after hitting trees at Canadian resorts.

A 27-year-old man from the Vancouver area died after snowboarding in-bounds and slamming into a tree at Big White Mountain. Efforts were made to administer First Aid, but the victim died of his injuries. Police have not released the man’s name. Whether he was wearing a helmet is unknown.

On the opposite end of the country, a 38-year-old Quebec City man died while sliding down an unlit ski slope at Mont Ste. Anne, 40 kilometres northeast of the provincial capital, early Saturday.

Continue reading ‘Two deaths at Canadian ski resorts mark dark weekend’

An artist sketch of Meadowlands Xanadu snow complex.

The story of the giant Xanadu complex in New Jersey, which incorporates North America’s only constructed, if not open, indoor snow centre continues to rumble on.

According to some media reports, the State of New Jersey may be considering seizing the land on which the ‘ultimate mall’, previously considered, “too big to fail” is located. This seems unlikely since owners Colony capital have paid $160 million in advance rent through to about 2020.

On the other hand billionaire Steve Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins football team, is reported to be in negotiations to bridge a $500m gap left by the collapse of investment bank Lehman brothers, potentially enabling it to be completed and opened.

Continue reading ‘New Jersey Xanadu getting closer to fruition’

Valle Nevado ski resort was far enough to not be seriously damaged by the earthquake.

Last Saturday a massive earthquake struck just off the Chilean coast near Concepcion which is south of Santiago.

Santiago, located 310 miles north of the epicenter, suffered damage to some buildings, many of which were older structures located principally in the city’s downtown.

Fortunately, Valle Nevado ski area and the road that connects the resort to Santiago were not affected. Following an exhaustive inspection engineers found only a few minor cosmetic damages at Valle’s hotels and buildings.

Continue reading ‘Valle Nevado ski area not harmed by Chilean earthquake’