The Swiss spa ski resort of Leukerbad, famous for its healing waters since roman times and the resort that brought us the cinema swimming pool, is adding the “Legendary Valais Sauna Night” from January.
The resort’s sauna village in the Lindner Alpentherme will host the new event with Andreas Weissen, a narrator of fables and legends who hails from the Upper Valais, who will recount tales from the mystic world of legend in the Valais.
Mt Weissen will be accompanied by Alpine horn blowers, culinary specialities from the Valais will be provided, and of course there’ll be a wide choice of different sauna experiences on offer.
The ‘Legendary Valais Sauna Night’ will take place every fourth Saturday evening from 8.30pm to 11.30pm.
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The snow-covered Rocky Mountains of
If you’re an avid fan of skiing, then you are probably dying to get out and play this winter on some of the advanced sections of Breckenridge’s Ten Mile Range. Continue reading ‘Guide to advanced skiing in Breckenridge’
When the 53rd edition of the “Critérium de la Première Neige” rolls into Val d’Isère next month and officially launches winter, many officials will be looking to see how their master plan comes together ahead of the World Championships planned at the resort next year.
This will be the final test event prior to the 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, a warm up event for this Savoyard village on the eve of a great skiing extravaganza.
On December 12th, Val d’Isère will officially start the season with the “Critérium de la Première Neige” once again. The race has been run in Val d’Isère since 1955 and became an official FIS World Cup event in 1967/68.
Even though the traditionally sporting aspect of the event remains unchanged, the race route has been completely changed.
Traditionally organized on the slopes of La Daille, the World Cup is to be run this year on the Bellevarde “Face”. The “slope of our era” offers an ideal exposure and breathtakingly steep slopes. 90% of the slope is visible from the Finish Area.
The 2009 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are to be held on this very same slope so the organizers are hoping to use this event as a final trial run prior to the February event.
Many aspects of the event will be put to the test such as the preparation of the slope, the smooth running of the races, the positioning of the various enclosures (Finish Area, media and athletes’ zones, official guests and VIP galleries) as well as the new traffic and parking plan.
Volunteer training and management, the accreditation process, telecommunications, the press and media unit as well as the WIFI service will also play an important role in this trial run: an impressive challenge for the Organising Committee.
www.valdisere2009.org
After some great skiing and snowboarding on the Austrian glacier resorts offering summer snow sports, now it is time for the real winter ski season 2008/2009 in Austria.
The travel planet may be going through a downward spiral, excluding European skiing in Austria. It embraces its own in the global market. The skiing crowd has evidently increased in Austria. Austria comes just subsequent to France in amass of fashionable European ski objectives. Austria is the number one target for pop idols and crowned heads, with its well-appointed choices and chocolate box scenery.
Continue reading ‘Austria ski holidays season 2008-2009: the Ice-Breaker’
Doppelmayr, the world’s leading ski lift builder, in common with several other of the world’s leading ski industry businesses, is continuing to post increased sales despite the global economic slowdown.
Doppelmayr reports sales revenues increase by 3.2% to EUR 680 million and more skiers and boarders than ever were riding on its lifts.
Continue reading ‘Business looking up again for Doppelmayr’
It’s no secret that British Columbia is the host province for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Add superior facilities with tried-and-true terrain and you have one golden training opportunity for the 2008/09 season. Let us count the ways:
Vancouver Island’s Mount Washington Resort will host the Canadian, Swiss, Swedish and US Snowboard race teams; on the nordic side, the resort’s Raven Lodge will welcome the Swedish Cross Country and Biathlon teams alongside the German Biathlon athletes. www.mountwashington.ca
Both the men and women’s Canadian National teams will suit up at Cypress Mountain on Vancouver’s North Shore. www.cypressmountain.com
Whistler Blackcomb will be centre stage as a training ground for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team; athletes from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada (among others) will train for Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge disciplines at the Whistler Sliding Centre. www.whistlerblackcomb.com; www.whistlerslidingcentre.com
Sun Peaks Resort, in the Thompson Okanagan, welcomes the Austrian Ski Team for the third year in a row, as both the men and women’s teams prepare for Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G events at the lift-accessed training centre. www.sunpeaksresort.com
Nordic reigns supreme at Silver Star Mountain Resort as the Norwegian Cross Country and Biathlon teams set to cross paths with the squads from Finland and Australia; also on the mountain, Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre will provide the track for teams from Norway, Russia, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada. www.skisilverstar.com; www.sovereignlake.com
Further south at Apex Mountain Resort, National Aerialist teams from Canada, Australia, Japan and the Ukraine will take to the skies. www.apexresort.com
With the only dedicated Paralympic Training Centre in Canada, Kimberley Alpine Resort will welcome teams from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the US to the Kootenay Rockies. www.skikimberley.com
September 2008 marked the first foray into transformation territory for Hudson Bay Mountain, formerly Ski & Ride Smithers, a Northern BC mainstay for skiers and boarders who love the steep and deep. Long revered for its stash of powder, Hudson Bay Mountain set in motion their master plan for development - a multi-year expansion that promises the introduction of residential units to the slopeside scene in 2009. And that’s not all. Added acreage is also in the works, thanks to the development of the Trail to Town, or Rotary Community Trail, set to better connect the mountain to the town of Smithers and increase the skiable area on Hudson Bay Mountain by five per cent. This project guarantees growth: an overall increase in vertical of 52 per cent, offering skiers and boarders 1,750 feet of lift-serviced access, plus additional terrain to ski your way into town. As added icing on the cake, the Rotary Community Trail, spanning eight kilometres and ready for riding in the 2008/09 season, ensures that Hudson Bay Mountain will now boast one of the largest vertical drops in BC. Situated just outside the town of Smithers, east of Prince Rupert, Hudson Bay Mountain is nestled between the peaks of the Hudson Bay and Babine Mountain ranges – a snowy spot that beckons the powderhounds. And with further plans in the works for Spring of 2009, Hudson Bay Mountain is just starting to turn up the heat. In a frosty fashion, of course. www.skismithers.com
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Carves Unique Tracks for Skiers with a Disability: Consistently ranked as North America’s premier ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb has a big reputation. And an even bigger incentive to keep raising the bar for every skier and rider. The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program’s Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Lessons do just that with a series of adventures geared to bring out the burgeoning skiers and boarders in people of all abilities. A non-profit organization aimed to make sports accessible, the program caters to a broad spectrum of skiers and boarders from beginner to advanced; a line-up of highly-trained, certified instructors, guides and assistants ensures access to every glide and turn is more than just a winter night’s dream. Instruction is tailored to each participant, and options are as bountiful as the powder. Programs include: Sit-skiing with Bi-skis and Mono-skis, ideal for adventurers with limited lower body strength and disabilities; offerings for visually and hearing impaired skiers; programs for standing skiers using two, three and four track techniques, and innovative programs for individuals with developmental or cognitive disabilities. The latter functions as a therapeutic program, focusing specifically on individualized ski or snowboard instruction with the use of specialized equipment. Should boarding be boss, the program also offers up an array of powder-packed outings perfect for breaking out the snowboards. Beyond the tutored turns, Whistler Blackcomb’s snowy setting also proves an ideal environment for individuals to develop social skills, improve communication and build self-esteem. And with the landmark unveiling of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola (complete with wheelchair accessibility) December 12 - a daring venture that will unite the two towering mountain peaks that define this destination - there’ll be even more incentive to take to the slopes. www.whistleradaptive.com; www.whistlerblackcomb.com
Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing Tempts First-Timers to Hit the Heights: Looking for a little elevation, complete with snow and skis? Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing will take the tracks to new heights this snowy season with an offering aimed specifically at first-timers – or anyone else looking for a quick heli-ski vacation. After all, who better to bring into the fold than eager newbies seeking a novel powder adventure. First Timers Dream Package banishes the notion that heli skiing is all about helicopter costs, long minimum stays and hard-to-reach operations with a two day/two night package priced at just $2,000. That’s not a typo. And forget about being an expert. This operation, the heart of the Cariboo and Monashee mountains, will showcase first-hand why the combination of specially-designed wide powder skis or boards with the natural variety of terrain in the mountains allows intermediates to experience one spectacular environment. With unlimited vertical skiing at an operation revered for its snow, adventurists can take it all in with professional guiding, powder skis or snowboards, safety equipment and run after endless run. Hearty meals, including a few dining experiences sure to be out of the stratosphere, full spa facilities and luxury accommodation amid handcrafted log chalets provide the indoor perks that pull this package artfully together (make sure to book by December 24, 2008). While Wiegele has hosted princes, presidents and plenty of movie stars, this is one operator anxious to expand his loyal following by offering up an elevated experience of a lifetime. Just the kind of thinking you’d expect from one of the province’s pioneer heli ski operators. Time to make some new tracks. www.wiegele.com
The Lecht ski area in Scotland expects to re-open today after heavy snowfall closed the access road over the weekend. The snow gates on the road opened at 8.30am today on both sides providing access from Inverness-shire and Grampian.
Particularly heavy snow on Sunday afternoon filled in most of the runs.
The Eagle 1, Grouse and Chairlift served runs are now complete but there’s no beginners area available yet. A 150m vertical is expected to open.
www.lecht.co.uk