skiwear4less blogger || bringing you the latest ski news!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

2011-12-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

We at Skiwear4less wish you all a very lovely Christmas and all the best for a Happy New Year!!

To all of those who are spending them on the slopes I am very very jealous of you! but hope you have a fantastic time!! The Holiday period is one of the busiest in resort so the final dump of snow has definately helped you have brilliant conditions!

If your going skiing in the New Year then you are still able to pick up a bargin in time at www.skiwear4less.com

To all those students who are off on their Uni Ski trips we have some brilliant deals for your essential accessories for you

And for those who are first timers we have a whole section to helf you out on our website to make sure that you have all the things that you will need, can stay warm and have an amazing time !!! 'First time Skiers'

Food you must try when skiing!!

2011-12-27T05:44:00.000-08:00

There are some foods that you absolutly have to try when your away skiing! not only because they are really nice but also because they will warm you up.

I am the most fussy eater in the world and really struggle with alot of textures of food rather than the taste, so to most these might not seem like the best food that you can eat when on the slopes but to me they are and if its your first time in a country then you have to atleast try them..

Last week I was in Austria Skiing with my family and I struggle alot there with food because I dont really eat pork but my winter warmer and midday love was definately
Goulash soup! If You want to try and make it yourself if only takes 15minutes to prepare and about an hour to cook. It has a sweet yet spicy flavour and is a beautiful blend of beef tomato and paprika. Give it a google and have a go!

When I was younger we always skied in France and I think I scared my parents with the amount of Tartiflette I ate out there, I would happily have eaten it for breakfast lunch and dinner if I had been aloud. I don't 0ften like cheese but this is deninatelly my exception to the rule! It is a rich warm filling dish of cheese, creamy potatoes and baco the is ideal to share with friend and really easy to make.

Now this is not my favourites but it definately goes down extremely well with my family and there is never any left even my 4 year old sister is happy to fill herself silly with a cheese fondue! Whenever we ski across the boarder from france to switzerland this is what all my family order. Made from a mixture of cheeses and white wine served with crusty bread to dip in and eat till you think your going to pop!

Although I don't like cheese fondue I am a total sucker for a chocolate fondue. How can anyone turn down a mixture of melted chocolates and loads of fruit to dip into it, although marshmellows are an amazing alternative but can become very sickly much faster.

I hope you enjoy these and give them a try especially when your out in resort! Happy Skiing!

Its all about the money in Vegas!!!$35 million face lift for the ski resort!

2011-08-01T03:59:00.000-07:00

After an 8 year back and forth with the Forest Service, the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort's master plan has been approved.

It includes 10 new chair lifts, 50 new ski runs, more parking, a new lodge and more jobs for locals.

The LVSSR's parent company, Powdr Corp is making a major investment in Las Vegas.

"This type of expansion is going to bring tourism dollars, jobs and huge business growth for the ski area itself and it's going to really give us a year round recreational destination on Mt. Charleston," said President and CEO of LVSSR Kevin Stickelman.

But it wasn't an easy run to approval. The original plan was submitted back in 2003. After eight years of changes and re-submittals the master plan was finally approved by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Service last week.

Protecting the environment was a critcal factor in their approval of the master plan. The main concern was the Mt. Charleston Blue Butterfly.

"It's really just a set of best management practices that we are going to put in place during this master plan that will safeguard some of their habitat, said Stickelman.

The LVSSR says the expansion will take 10 to 12 years to complete.

It's expected to cost Powdr Corp more than $35 million to complete and some of that will be passed along to customers.

But prices shouldn't go up significantly until the major transformations begin.

"We're on the lower end of the pricing scale already, an I intend us to stay there but we will eventually go up as we add more lifts and more terrain and more amenities for the guest," said Stickelman.

He assured Action News prices will remain the same this coming season.

The resort's first order of business will be adding five additional snow makers. They'll also expand the youth ski school, along with adding more parking and outdoor seating.

The new lifts and ski runs will come in the following years.

Source: http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/125768603.html

Breckenridge Ski Resort's expansion gets the OK!

2011-06-13T04:31:00.000-07:00

Breckenridge Ski Resort's expansion has advanced after the U.S. Forest Service on Friday backed the resort's plan to develop skiing on Peak 6 despite environmentalists' opposition.

Breckenridge, which is owned by Vail Resorts , hopes to develop 550 acres of lift-served and hiked-to skiing on the peak within its existing permit of 5,700 acres, of which 3,100 acres are currently in operation. A six-person lift would be built to access the terrain.

"We are excited to see the approval process move forward because we firmly believe the proposed Peak 6 expansion will greatly enhance the recreational experience for our guests," Breckenridge senior vice president Pat Campbell said in a news release.

The proposed development also includes a 150-seat guest-services facility located at the proposed lift's midstation and a top terminal ski patrol/warming hut.

Scott Fitzwilliams, forest supervisor of the White River National Forest, which encompasses the ski resort, said he approved the proposal because it accommodated increasing daily visitation levels and reduced congestion.

Past community resistance has delayed Vail Resorts' push to expand on Peak 6. Some environmental groups say expansion would hurt lynx and other wildlife habitats by cutting down trees for the ski runs.

Paul Joyce, west slope field director of Colorado Wild, said he saw a marketing ploy that had no concern for socio-economic and environmental issues.

"I see an industry thriving on our public lands and abusing an opportunity to get people out there with their real estate development," Joyce said.

Ellen Hollinshead, president of Summit Winterlands and Trails, which is working with the U.S. Forest Service to find a compromise for the expansion, said she was concerned about losing the "unique relief" that Peak 6 offered.

"It's the first place where you can go and bushwhack through the woods and not see another person," Hollinshead said.

Fitzwilliams said the U.S Forest Service was engaged with the Peak 6 task force to address some of those issues.

The service recently prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement that disclosed the environmental effects of the Peak 6 project.

Source: Denver Post

Sister Site

2011-06-02T03:47:00.000-07:00

We have a new sister site - www.outdoorgear4less.com

For camping in the UK outdoorgear4less online camping shop has the best prices. Looking for a cheap tent or cheap tents? Our discount tents are the best buys for the great outdoors. Vango tents, cheap pop up tents, Gelert tents, festival tents. Check out our tent sale where you can buy a 6 man tent, 4 man tent, 3 man tent, 2 man tent - we have a cheap camping tent for you.

For all your camping needs - sleeping bags, outdoor equipment, outdoor furniture, rucksacks, outdoor clothing, waterproof jackets, waterproof trousers, hiking and walking boots.

Hundreds of camping accessories including airbeds, sleeping mats, backpacks and camping stoves.

Our outdoor store has the best outdoor clothing and outdoor gear in the UK. Buy your rucksack, your walking shoes and your outdoor clothes for less.

FOR EXTRA DISCOUNTS!!!!

2011-02-25T03:41:00.001-08:00

For extra discounts online and instore sign up for our newsletter at www.skiwear4less.com

“8848 Altitude Has Arrived!”

2010-10-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

We have just received our latest range of products from Swedish manufacturer 8848 Altitude. This range originated from a project that was set up to provide clothing for the first successful Swedish ascent to Mount Everest in 1990. The know how from this first ascent in utilizing breathable materials through a wide range of temperatures and climatic conditions has been incorporated throughout our entire range.
Do you prefer Futuristic or classic? Solid or multicoloured? Active or loose fit? The freedom to combine and the variety of styles has never been broader. Get inspired by our range of jackets, pants, gloves and hats at fantastic prices way below RRP.
“TOP OF THE RANGE”
Our top of the range Sonic Jacket features “Duratec Supreme” the latest in technical fabric. A fully wind- and waterproof and breathable laminated material, a lightweight fabric made to defeat the toughest weather conditions. This jacket has an incredible 20,000 hydrostatic head, plus optimum breathability and wind resistance. It’s available in Blue and Red and is available to you IN ALL SIZES for £199.99, a saving of £90 off the RRP.
“THE FREERIDER”
If you´re all in for serious powder and big mountain sessions, go for brave, retro-inspired colours and pieces with relaxed cut and lots of room for movement. The Mels Jacket is down £70 to just £159.99 and is the freeriders’ favourite this season. The “Muddie Soft Shell” at the same price is a truly stunning jacket with superb performance. Featuring Duratec technical fabric, this jacket fits close to the body and allows you to move freely. Waterproof, breathable and windproof with great looks – what more could a girl want? How about waterproof zips, powder skirt, underarm vents and zip off storm hood to name but a few.
“THE SKI TEACHER”
Active fit, dynamic lines, striking colours, high-tech materials – and loaded with intelligence. Those are the key words for the upcoming winter’s most versatile ski garments. The number one alpine look this season screams: Functional – Fun – Fast! Check out the Asto Soft Shell Jacket just £179.99, a saving of £80 of the RRP! It’s on page 14 of our Best Sellers Catalogue or click the web link below and you’ll get the idea.
With matching Smith, Gun and Mila Pants from just £99.99 and gloves and hats too then why don’t you visit our website at www.skiwear4less.com.

SCHWARZENEGGER KILLS CALIFORNIA HELMET BILL

2010-10-01T02:27:00.000-07:00

September 30, 2010
SAM Magazine—Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 30, 2010—It could only happen in California: last Friday, governor Arnold Schwarzenegger first approved a bill that required under-18 skiers and snowboarders in the state to wear helmets, but then vetoed companion legislation that would have required resorts to take a number of other actions to further safeguard visitors. Since the two bills were linked, the veto of the second means that the first won't become law, either.

Had the bills both passed, California would have the country's strictest laws regarding helmet use and ski safety.

The bill Schwarzenegger vetoed, AB 1652, mandated that all California ski areas increase the number of hazard signs, boundary markings, and install safety padding on potentially dangerous obstacles. The bill also would have required resorts to prepare an annual safety plan, and to publish monthly reports of any fatal incidents.

"Many California ski resorts are located on U.S. Forest Service land, and are already required to compile and file safety and accident reports with USFS as well as maintain some of this information in the resort management office," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "Ski resorts in California also already mark their ski area boundaries and trails with appropriate information. This bill may place an unnecessary burden on resorts, without assurance of a significant reduction in ski and snowboard-related injuries and fatalities."

Senator Leland Yee, author of the bill requiring helmets for all skiers and riders under age 18, said he will reintroduce the helmet bill next year as a standalone measure. This bill had the support of the California Ski Industry Association, and will likely have that support again.

Should helmets be compulsory? Let us know what you think on our forum at www.skiwear4less.com.

SPORTEN - A TRADITIONAL SKI COMPANY

2010-09-25T03:05:00.000-07:00

Sporten is a traditional ski company founded more than 100 years ago. At that time each pair of skis were made in small workshops by skilled craftsmen and each pair of skis were truly original.

Time has changed, but in Vysocine where Sporten still make their skis, many things are still the same. Sporten don’t go out and buy the cores for their skis like other manufacturers. Instead they go and buy trees direct from sustainable forests. They strip the bark and cut the wood into planks before storing it for three years outside to season correctly. Prior to production each plank is hand checked for shape and curvature before the final kiln drying process. Once a piece of wood enters the factory it is cut, finger grooved for strength then re-cut for shape and only then does it enter onto the production line.

Once the wooden core enters the production line it is added to a mixture of more modern components including ABS sidewalls, a structured top sheet, biaxial fibreglass wrap, titanal plate, anti-vibration ply, steel edges and sintered base. All these ingredients are inserted into a heavy-duty steel press and with great pressure compressed into a modern ski. The completed ski is then hand trimmed and flex tested to ensure the pair match before final waxing and packaging.

Sporten still make traditional hand crafted skis, but in a more modern way. if you would like any more information visit http://www.skiwear4less.com. MJ.

EXTRA 10% OFF WEBSALE ON NOW!

2010-09-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

With winter well on its way now is a great time to get sorted for the slopes. We here at skiwear4less are sad to see the end of our fantastic British Summer (boohoo!)…and can’t wait for winter and the coming snow (hurrah!). It’s when we like to come out and play!

To celebrate the end of British Summer Time (just around the corner next month *) we are offering a further 10%...YES a massive 10% MORE off everything from our website for a limited time only!

Simply go to www.skiwear4less.com and place an order before midnight on Thursday 30th September, enter the Voucher Code xxx at the checkout and you will receive a further 10% off your order. Now how good is that!

Ooh! and did I mention the fantastic range of skis, boards, boots, poles, bindings, clothing, gloves and hundreds of other ski and outdoor accessories for all age ranges and abilities…that’s a 10% discount on everything on our website for a limited time only which ends at 12 o’clock midnight at the end of September…that would be Thursday 30th to be precise! Don’t delay and get on our website today! Do it NOW! Don’t wait! Click on the link straight away! You know you want to!

* (For your information British Summer Time clocks go back 1 hour on Sunday 31st October 2010 when it becomes 01.00am Greenwich Mean Time!)

NEW JUNIOR SKI BOOT EASES YOUR INVESTMENT

2010-09-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Italian company Roxa has invented an innovative new system that allows the ski boot to adjust as your children’s feet grow bigger!

The New Junior ‘Chameleon’ starts at UK size 11 (mondopoint size 18) and can be adjusted over time up to UK size 2 (mondopoint 21.5) . So now instead of having to buy, borrow or steal new boots every time your children’s feet grow you can buy a boot that grows with them.

The ‘Chameleon’ has a patented system which allows the shell to extend just like a rental binding. It also has 2 buckles with adjustable ratchet plus a comfort liner that will expand as the foot grows.

This boot is perfect for the little ones as their feet grow and perfect on you and your wallet!

The Junior Chameleon has a Recommended Retail Price of £90 but is now available for £55 in our shops and online at our website http://www.skiwear4less.com. That’s a saving of £35 off the RRP.

Now that’s something to write home about and tell all your friends. MJ.

Price of skiing stays the same in Aspen!!

2010-08-17T01:24:00.000-07:00

ASPEN — The Aspen Skiing Co. is holding the line on the prices of its two most popular ski passes and it is resurrecting the two-day-per-week pass, which had been eliminated prior to last season, the company announced Monday.

The Premier Pass — which offers unrestricted access to all four Skico ski areas with no blackout dates — costs $1,099 for members of local chambers of commerce in 2010-11. The price is $1,499 for individuals who aren't chamber members. Both prices are the same as last season.

In all cases, season passes are cheapest when purchased before a Sept. 24 “super early deadline.” Prices go up Sept. 24 and again on Nov. 12.

“The message there is buy your passes before Sept. 24,” said Skico spokesman Jeff Hanle. About 80 percent of season pass buyers heed the advice and purchase before the first deadline, he said.

The Flex Pass prices, good for one day of skiing or riding per week, sells for $699 for chamber members and $819 for non-members, if purchased before Sept. 24. Those prices are also the same as the prior season. Extra days can be added for $49 per day.

The price of Premier Passes was dropped by $200 last season for chamber members and $270 for individuals, so the skiers and riders who hit the slopes most often are paying less than they have since the 2004-05 season.

Even without a price increase, the Skico's full-season pass remained the most expensive among Colorado resorts. Telluride charges $1,298 but customers can knock that down to $998 per person when four people team to buy passes. Steamboat's current price is $999 while Crested Butte is charging $949.

Vail Resorts, which is more vulnerable to competition for Front Range skiers, is charging $599 for an Epic Pass, which buys access to Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin as well as Heavenly in California.

Most other Colorado resorts raised their pass prices by a modest amount for the 2010-11 winter.

The Skico's decision to keep pass prices flat was partially an acknowledgment of the ongoing tough economic times, Hanle said, but there's also a philosophical statement involved.

‘Double Flex Pass' created

In addition to holding the prices the same as 2009-10 for the major passes, the Skico brought back an old favorite. The two-day-per-week pass is now dubbed the “Double Flex Pass.”

Among people who objected about pass options last season, the biggest complaint was about the loss of the two-day-per-week option. Critics said they could only hit the slopes twice per week, Hanle said. They didn't want to pay more for the Premier Pass because they knew they couldn't use all the days. But they also wanted more than a one-day-per-week pass.

The Double Flex sells for $949 for chamber members and $1,199 for non-members if purchased by Sept. 24.

When the two-day-per-week pass was last sold, in the 2008-09 season, the price was $919, so the increase was $30 over two seasons.

Two other passes that were eliminated last season won't be brought back this season. The seven-day Classic Pass remains buried, and no option will be offered for Aspen Highlands only.

A five-day Classic Pass is $259, up $10 from last season.

The Escape Pass offers a pay-as-you-go option. It is $319 if purchased by Dec. 17, then $49 per day it is used. The upfront cost is up $20 from last season.

The cost of the five-day Classic Pass is $259, up from $249 last season.

Article from www.aspentimes.com :)

Ski Helmets?...Useful?Uncomfortable?....What's your views?

2010-07-29T01:34:00.000-07:00

Under promoted or over hyped? Useful? Uncomfortable? Another marketing con? Essential for safety? You could help a new study being conducted into people's attitudes and beliefs into wearing one.

It's being compiled by The University of Surrey.

It's findings will not give a definite view of whether wearing a helmet makes you safer, and if so by how much, but we reckon at PlanetSKI that it will make for some interesting reading.

It is about attitudes and beliefs.

Each question has a rating scale of 1-5 depending on how much you agree or disagree with the statement or question.

First it asks your level and how many weeks you have been skiing or snowboarding for.

Then it asks whether you think wearing a helmet is necessary, about social pressure to wear one and whether you believe it makes you ski or snowboard in a different way.

The vexed question of compulsion is also tackled in amongst many other questions and areas.

Compulsory for kidsCompulsory The researchers say it takes 20 minutes to complete.

Here at PlanetSKi we did it in under 10 minutes and would strongly recommend you contribute your thoughts to the debate.

The research is being done by Mary Ondrusz who is a regular competitor on the FIS Masters circuit and her husband, Tom, has coached many of the UK's leading young skiers at UK ski centres.

There is precious little accurate research into wearing a helmet and it should make a valuable contribution to the debate.

The survey is about attitudes and beliefs, rather than hard facts.

A recent Candian survey, conducted over 10 years, concluded that people are 33% safer with a helmet on, than without one.

It appeard in The Canadian Medical Association Journal.

At one end of the spectrum of views people are quite evangelical about wearing a helmet and, at the other end, some say they actually increase the risk of injury.

The most recent research in North America concluded that wearing a helmet does not increase the risk of neck injuries.

A handful of ski areas in North America are extending the level of compulsion and in California legislation is currently going through The Senate to make it compulsory for everyone under 18 year of age.

Some welcome this sort of law as it promotes safety, others fear the onward march of the nanny state.

In Europe children are made to wear a helmet in certain circumstances, but any form of widespread compulsion in Europe seems unlikely according to this story we wrote last season here on PlanetSKI.

For links to the survey and more on this story check out......http://www.planetski.eu/news/1892

NEW FIVE SEASONS!!!NOW IN & REDUCED

2010-07-22T04:17:00.000-07:00

check out our new Outdoor Clothing section on our website...www.skiwear4less.com!!We have just recieved new five seasons outdoor stock and we are selling it at amazingly reduced prices!!!....check it out at...www.skiwear4less.com!!!! :)

Heather Mills Sets Her Sights on Sochi 2014!!

2010-07-01T05:41:00.001-07:00

The former model, activist & charity campaigner has a new priority on her list, which is to compete in the next Winter Paralympic Games.

Heather Mills lost part of her left leg in a motorcycle incident in 1993. However, being the strong-willed person that she is, she has shown the world that being an amputee doesn't stop you from fulfilling your dreams. Mills proved this to us after taking part in TV shows Dancing with the Stars in 2007 and Dancing on Ice early 2010.

However, most recently Mills participated in Disability Snowsports UK's National Skiathon in May joining teams in Milton Keynes at the SNO!zone indoor real snow slope, having to complete 666 runs in six hours.

Reading from the Sunday Express' online article it was the experience that gave Heather Mills the inspiration to set her goals to joining in the Winter Paralympics in Sochi in 2014, where she would become a part of the Great Britain Paralympic Alpine Skiing Team.

"If I manage to compete, It would be phenomenal - very inspiring for all the kids that I counsel"

Express.co.uk, Heather Mills.

8 times Gold Winner Retires!

2010-06-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

Lauren Woolstencroft, who has dominated the Paralympic ski events has announced her retirement from the sport after winning 5 gold medals in the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games. Over 3 different Winter Paralympic Games she has won 8 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze, in events like the Slalom, Giant Slalom, Downhill, Super G and Super Combined., all of which Lauren won in 2010.

She started racing aged 14 and retires aged 28, born without legs below the knee and a left forearm she used prosthetics to achieve her amazing success, so having her last wins at home in Vancouver must have made it extra special.

Lauren has shown herself to be a fantastic competitor and a very determined one at that, her 5 gold medals are the most that any female athlete has ever won before in a single Winter Paralympic Games.

Snowboarders killed in avalanche

2010-04-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

Relatives of ten people, most of them German snowboarders, who were killed by an avalanche in Russia's remote Kamchatka region at the weekend are expected to arrive at the scene of the accident today.

The ten died when the helicopter carrying them was hit by an avalanche after landing on a ski slope on Saturday. The alarm was raised after their helicopter disappeared from radio contact and a search operation was launched. The Mi-8 helicopter had been carrying 18 people, including 12 tourists from Germany and Belgium, on an extreme heli-ski trip, and had landed at the top of a slope. When rescuers arrived they found that the helicopter had been completely crushed by the avalanche and carried more than 200 metres down the slope. Two of the three crew members died, while one miraculously survived and was cut from the wreckage.

All the snowboarders had left the helicopter at the time of the avalanche – eight of them were killed, and one was seriously injured, while five were rescued unharmed. The local authorities said that the avalanche contained around 2 million cubic metres of snow, and was most likely set off by the snowboarders moving down the slope.

Kamchatka is a sparsely populated peninsula dotted with pristine lakes and active volcanoes in the Far East of Russia, thousands of miles and eight time zones away from Moscow. Every year it attracts a small number of Russian and foreign tourists seeking extreme adventure. It is perhaps the only place in the world where it is possible to ski down the edge of an active volcano while looking out over the ocean. Tourist companies based on the peninsula say they accept only extremely competent skiers and snowboarders .

Despite the fact that the peninsula is roughly twice the size of Britain, there are few populated points outside the capital, Petropavlovsk, and most transport around Kamchatka has to be done using an aging fleet of Mi-8 helicopters.

There were two teenagers on board the helicopter – a 13-year-old German boy and the 15-year-old grandson of the captain. The Russian boy died, while the German survived but lost his father to the accident. The bodies of the victims are expected to be transported to Moscow tomorrow.

April skiing continues at resorts

2010-04-08T01:19:00.000-07:00

With a late season delivery of new snow, Brundage Mountain Resort near McCall now plans to be open for weekends at least through the end of April, with daily operations continuing through April 11.

Resort officials said that snow conditions and depths are the best they’ve been all season, with more snow since March 21 than fell in all of February.

“We’ve had a bunch lately, we got four more inches (Monday), enough to make us confident in announcing our first two bonus weekends,” Brundage Mountain Resort communication director April Russell said. “ And if we continue to get more snow than what we’ve seen, we’ll continue to extend our weekends beyond April if that’s possible.”

People can expect discounted prices on the bonus weekends, now set for April 17 and 18, and April 24 and 25.

“One of the things that makes the bonus weekends so exciting is regionally most of the ski resorts are closing, down so we have the chance to not only draw local skiers, but the diehard skiers from farther away who aren’t ready to quit,” Russell said.

According to the Web site for Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, the resort plans to close on Sunday, with activities scheduled including a PBR ribbon hunt, spring kids’ scavenger hunt, and more. The resort on Tuesday reported a base snow depth of 71 inches, with 87 inches at the top.

At Sun Valley Resort, the 74th winter season will continue through April 18 on Bald Mountain, according to a recent press release. The final day for Seattle Ridge and The Bowls is set for Sunday.

Dollar Mountain operations concluded Easter Sunday.

Sun Valley reported 81 inches at the summit of Bald Mountain on Tuesday, with 23 inches at the base.

British Skier Killed By Avalanche In Italy

2010-03-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

A British skier has been killed after an avalanche in the Italian Alps, mountain rescue officials have said.

The 36-year-old man, who has been named as James Richard Ryan and is believed to come from Huddersfield, was swept away by tonnes of snow as he skied with a group of five friends and a guide, who were all British. The Foreign Office has confirmed the death, and is providing consular assistance to the family.

Mountain officials say heavy snow in the last few days means there is an increased risk of avalanches, as the fresh falls have not yet had a chance to bind to the mountains. The tragedy happened at Val Di Rhemes near Aosta at an altitude of 2,800 metres on the Mt Rosso mountain, as the group made its way down a run called the Punta Paletta.

The avalanche happened at around 5pm local time and was around 400 metres long and 100 metres wide, engulfing the victim and one of his companions immediately. Rescue teams managed to pull both men alive from the avalanche, but one died en route to the Parini hospital in Aosta.

Mountain rescue commander Delfino Viglione said: ''The group were skiing off piste when the avalanche took place.'' When asked if it had been caused by the group he said: ''That will be a question for the investigating magistrate, who has opened a file and is speaking to the group and the ski guide.''

Across the Italian Alps - which is preparing to welcome holidaymakers on Easter breaks - there was a series of avalanches over the weekend.

On Friday, a Norwegian man was killed at Courmayeur and his companion, who was skiing with him off-piste, has been charged with manslaughter for causing the avalanche. A dozen people have been killed in avalanches in the region this winter, leading officials to consider whether to launch rescue attempts for people who ignored warnings and got caught out.

Ski slope report gets green light

2010-03-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

Councillors have approved a report recommending price rises and cuts to staff costs at Scotland's biggest artificial ski slope.

The report recommended Midlothian Ski Centre at Hillend stayed open for the next five months while a series of efficiency savings were implemented. The plan is to make it more marketable to aid the search for national backers.

Midlothian Council, Scotland's second smallest authority, has spent more than £5m subsidising the centre since 1996. The plan is for council officials to come up with a strategy for the sale or lease of the site in August. It follows Midlothian Council's announcement it could not pay the site's £500,000 a year losses.

The report, which councillors voted on on Tuesday, also said it would cost £1.2m to close the slope down as there would be £300,000 in redundancy costs and £900,000 in dismantling fees. The proposed efficiency savings include increasing charges, improving the cafe and making staff changes.

Woman dies on ski slopes

2010-03-18T02:38:00.000-07:00

A woman from Mississauga died Wednesday after crashing into a tree while snowboarding at the Beaver Valley Ski Club east of Markdale.

Police were called to the ski club at about 11 a.m. to respond to a report of a seriously injured snowboarder, Grey County OPP said in a news release. "Investigation revealed that a 48-year-old . . . woman was snowboarding on the hill when she left the ski slope and entered a wooded area where she struck a tree."

The woman was taken by ambulance to the Markdale hospital, where she died, the release said. A post-mortem was to be held today in Barrie to determine the exact cause of death, police said. The woman's name was not being released pending notification of her family.

skiwear4less forum - now live!

2010-03-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

If you love to chat to fellow skiers/boarders then the skiwear4less forum is the perfect place for you! We could talk about skiing all day long, so we've set up our very own forum so that skiers & boarders can chat about anything ski related. Share your holiday tales & advice, give your opinion & reviews on the latest ski equipment or even help someone decide which ski boots would be best for them - it's all happening on the skiwear4less forum.

To join our online community simple click HERE, register as a user and you're all ready to go!

Staff members will be visiting the boards regularly, so if you've got any technical questions or queries you'd like answered regarding products, then please just add a post to the forum.

Enjoy and have fun!!

Briton found dead in ski resort

2010-03-16T03:48:00.000-07:00

A 24-year-old British man has been found dead in a ski resort, the Foreign Office said.

Police believe Paul Rea wandered off and got lost in freezing temperatures after becoming separated from friends on a night out in Pas de la Casa in Andorra. His body was discovered on Friday covered in snow in the Envalira tunnel close to the French border.

A spokesman for police in Andorra told Spanish news agency Europa Press the body showed "no signs of violence" and it was likely Mr Rea died of hypothermia. He said police believed he became "disorientated" and headed off in the wrong direction away from the centre of the resort.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Andorra on March 12. "Next of kin are aware. We are providing consular assistance and a post-mortem is under way."

Doctor's wife dies in ski accident

2010-03-10T05:17:00.000-08:00

A DOCTOR'S wife from Doncaster has died in a skiing accident in the Alps after tumbling 650ft down a slope and hitting a tree.

Experienced skier Brenda Smith, 56, is believed to have lost control on black ice and skidded off the piste in the French resort of Les Deux Alpes before suffering fatal head injuries. Mrs Smith was in the resort with her oral surgeon husband Keith. Dr Smith, a consultant at Sheffield's Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, was in the region for a conference.

Maurice Barker, who is married to Mrs Smith's mother Kathleen, said: "Keith is devastated. We all are, she was such a lovely woman. They went skiing twice a year. She would easily have been able to cope with a black slope." A former neighbour said: "They didn't have children and were devoted to each other.

"It's such a shock to find out that this has happened, Keith will be absolutely distraught. Brenda had an operation about six months ago on a knee she damaged whilst skiing. She has had a couple of operations as a result of skiing but it never put her off."

Scots ski resorts in bumper year

2010-03-05T06:39:00.000-08:00

Scotland's five mountain ski areas have had their best season since 2001 with spending by winter sports enthusiasts generating £25m, Ski-Scotland has said.

Unprecedented falls of snow have been reported at CairnGorm, Glencoe, Glenshee, Nevis Range and the Lecht. National body Ski-Scotland said more snow has been forecast meaning the season could last through to May. It said local businesses, such as bed and breakfasts, have also benefitted from the numbers of people skiing.

Nevis Range managing director Marian Austin said the amount snow that has fallen has allowed it to extend its skiing area. She said: "Unlike the ski areas in the east, we do not normally ski to our car park. "But this amazing snow cover - even at low level - has allowed us to offer skiing from 1,190m (3,900ft) down to 100m (330ft), which is about 4.5km, or close to three miles."

Pieter du Pon, of the Lecht Ski Company, added: "The snow this year has been fantastic with constant cold and great skiing conditions." Snow has just piled up week after week since before Christmas, with another metre falling in 36 hours last week."

Glencoe ski site 'is world's snowiest'

2010-02-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

The ski centre at Glencoe Mountain had the most new snow of any winter sports resort in the world on Wednesday, its operators have claimed.

Spokesman Andy Meldrum said data collected by the British Ski Club revealed the area experienced a fall of 80cm over 24 hours.

Heavy snowfalls were also experienced at other Scottish ski resorts.

Snow fell to a depth of 70cm at CairnGorm, 60cm at both The Lecht and Nevis Range, and 50cm at Glenshee. Mr Meldrum said: "We have had a colossal amount of snow. At car park level we've probably got a metre of snow. "The amount of snow on the mountain is absolutely epic." Mr Meldrum added: "We must have a metre and a half of snow up there."

Glencoe came out ahead of the Sugarbush and Mount Snow resorts in the USA which had 76cm of new snow on Wednesday.

Quarter or Bristish skiers still drunk from the night before when they hit the slopes

2010-02-23T05:25:00.000-08:00

Almost a quarter of skiers are unknowingly taking to the slopes still drunk from the night before, a survey today shows.

As many as 23 percent of British winter sports enthusiasts have seven units of alcohol still in their blood stream when starting a morning's skiing, the poll by More Than travel insurance found. This is the equivalent of being almost twice over the legal drink-drive limit, with morning skiers in this condition not likely to come down to the four-unit mark until at least 11am.

The poll of 1,072 skiers and snowboarders also showed that 74 percent reckoned drinking heavily the night before did not affect their skiing ability the next day. As many as 45 percent planned to drink every night during a winter sports' trip, while 31 percent wrongly believed their insurance would not be affected if they cause a serious accident on the slopes having drunk heavily the night before.

More Than spokesman Pete Markey said: 'The findings of the research are extremely concerning. 'Brits abroad have a reputation for drinking to excess but throw a high-speed downhill sport into the mix and you have a very nasty combination. 'Drink-driving is severely frowned upon and drink-skiing should be too. It can be just as dangerous.'

'Weather has not been our friend,' ski officials admit

2010-02-12T02:28:00.000-08:00

Olympic officials are insisting that forecasts of days of rain and fog won't put a damper on the Games, although they admit there could be delays and postponements.

"Weather has not been our friend and it's continuing to challenge us," said Cathy Priestner Allinger, 2010's head of sport, Thursday.

First it was Cypress Mountain, where 9,000 cubic metres of snow had to be trucked in as rain drowned the courses.

This week it was fog at Whistler, which forced the postponement Wednesday of the men's downhill training runs. Priestner Allinger said that although the men's training runs went ahead Thursday, the women's training runs had to be postponed because of fog.

"It's raining on Cypress and there's a lot of fog," said Priestner Allinger. "We're continuing to protect the field of play as much as we can."

She said visibility was a more current problem on Cypress.

"Today, visibility is 100 to 400 metres," she said. "We need 250 metres on the moguls to be able to execute the races."

Despite the weather forecast, which calls for more rain and warm temperatures for the next five days, she said she was looking forward to the men's downhill race on Saturday.

"As it sits today, we're counting on running that race," she said.

She said the International Ski Federation will make the decision whether to delay or postpone races based on conditions.

Once a decision has been made, Olympic officials work with FIS, the broadcasters, and Environment Canada to work out when to try to reschedule the race, along with Olympic transportation and ticketing officials.

She warned that sometimes spectators won't learn of delays until they get to the venue.

"It's our No. 1 priority to get the event off the day it's scheduled," she added.

John Furlong, 2010 CEO, said he couldn't remember a Winter Games that didn't face weather challenges and delays.

"Hopefully we won't have too many but I don't think it's reasonable to think that, in 16 days, there won't be some things that have to be moved," he said.

Bluffers Guide to the Events

2010-02-12T02:24:00.000-08:00

Having trouble picking your slalom from your Super G? Your luge from your skeleton? Your freestyle moguls from your Nordic Combined? Then here's our handy guide to what you'll be watching in the next couple of weeks. SKIING There are five skiing disciplines. Downhill does exactly what it says on the tin. Fast, steep, slick and with no margin for error, it is top to bottom against the clock.

Slalom is a short course race through a series of up to 75 gates, with quick turns making agility essential.

Giant slalom is similar but longer with fewer gates and longer, smoother turns while Super-G combines downhill and giant slalom.

The combined event has one downhill run and two slalom runs, all in one day.

Ski jumping comes in three events - the normal hill, large hill and team events.

Cross country skiing is on the flat (and sometimes a bit uphill) and takes place over courses from 1.5km to 15km to 50km.

Freestyle skiing has three events. Aerials involves being catapulted from ramps up to 50 feet in the air and performing acrobatics. Moguls is a speed race over a course of bumps, while skicross is like motocross on snow with speed, jumps and tricks all required. SNOWBOARDING Snowboarding halfpipe involves a series of spectacular leaps with unintelligible names, such as '1080 double cork'. Snowboard cross looks like BMX on snow, while snowboard parallel slalom is a head-to-head race between two riders. ICE DANCING Ice dancing, figure skating and ice hockey are well known to British viewers, as is bobsleigh, which comes in two and four-person events. CURLING A little like bowls on ice. It is better known to us since Rhona Martin's team's gold for Great Britain in 2002. LUGE/SKELETON Luge and skeleton have become two of the most exciting events to watch. Both are a bit like bobsleigh. Luge involves hurtling down the track at 85mph, feet first, flat on your back on a fibreglass pod shaped to your body.

Skeleton is even more madcap as competitors go head first on a glorified tea tray half the length of a body. Neither luge or skeleton offers any margin for error.

Biathlon Biathlon is incredibly gruelling. Cross country skiing with a gun on your back gets the heart pumping and contestants then have to stop on each lap to shoot at five targets, sometimes lying down, sometimes standing.

Nordic combined starts with a ski jump before going on to a cross country race. SPEED SKATING Speed skating has two disciplines. Short track is manic, with skaters battling each other over an oval course the size of an ice hockey rink.

The longer track has races up to 10km in a twoperson head-to-head, leaving the thighs burning and the lungs bursting.

Brit lad crushed by snowman

2010-02-08T05:22:00.000-08:00

A BRITISH toddler stopped breathing after he was crushed by a giant snowman at a luxury ski resort in Austria.

Three-year-old Louis Kindal's parents watched in horror as the youngster was engulfed by the 10ft high snowman. The youngster was placed in a coma after being flown to hospital in nearby Innsbruck with his mum, Michelle, from Chorleywood, Herts, by air ambulance. His desperate dad Yves Kindal, 31, told how he clawed at the snow with his bare hands to pull his son free at the Leutasch ski resort in the Tyrol.

He said: "I ran over straight away and my only thought was to get my son out as soon as possible. "But the snow was like concrete. I was ripping and tearing at the snow and my hands were bleeding but I didn't care." He added: "By the time I pulled him out from under the snowman he had turned blue and was no longer breathing. We had to perform artificial respiration to get him breathing again."

This morning hospital medics said Louis was out of danger and has now been moved from intensive care to a normal children's ward. He said: "We are used to responding quickly here to winter sports accidents. Rapid transport of the patient and fast treatment have ensured a quick recovery. "The child is now out of danger and we anticipate he will soon be able to leave the ward."

The family had arrived in the resort from the UK only minutes earlier and were waiting outside their hotel when the accident happened. A local artist had constructed the snowman for a resort festival and today police launched an inquiry into why it collapsed.

Cops are consulting prosecutors over possible criminal charges. Inspector Johannes Adentung said: "A report is being prepared for prosecutors who will decide how to proceed. "There were a number of other snow sculptures in the area and in order to ensure the safety of the public these have now been dismantled."

No skiing at Scottish resort -- too much snow

2010-01-15T06:28:00.000-08:00

Skiers found the slopes at a Scottish resort closed on Friday, not because the snow was sparse, but rather there was too much of it, the resort's managers said.

Cairngorm Mountain in northeast Scotland more often deals with a lack of snow but this year it is grappling with a different problem -- 185 centimetres (73 inches) of snow since Christmas in the worst bout of winter weather since the 1970s.

Resort staff toiled all day Thursday to clear snow, but they arrived back Friday to find their hard work was in vain after strong winds blew snow across access roads, creating 15 foot (4.6 metre) high drifts.

"We have come in this morning and it feels like groundhog day -- all our work yesterday has been filled in again," said Colin Matthew, the head of ski patrol.

"The mountain and all facilities, access roads and car parks will be closed today to allow digging out after major drifting during the storm," he said.

The resort's snow ploughs cannot even get through the drifting and it has had to hire special heavy diggers, said resort spokesman Colin Kirkwood, adding it could be Monday before the resort reopens.

But despite the temporary closure, Kirkwood said this year's harsh conditions had provided a welcome boost for business at Cairngorm, which faced controversy in recent years after a funicular railway ran well over budget.

"We're about 300 percent up on the point we were at at the same point last year," he said.

Cairngorm, Britain's sixth highest mountain, is one of the main resorts in Britain's small ski industry north of the Scottish border, with 10 lifts and 30 kilometres (19 miles) of ski runs.

Most of Britain has seen substantial snowfalls over the last month, in the country's severest winter for decades, although warmer temperatures in the last few days have melted much of the snow and ice further south.

Child's life saved by ski helmet

2010-01-15T06:23:00.000-08:00

A young girl who collided with a tre when skiing at Afton Alps ski area in Minnesota may have died had she not been wearing a helmet, according to a doctor who treated her. The 6 year old broke her nose and leg, but a dent in her helmet appears to indicate it saved her from more serious head trauma.

"The helmet is probably the thing that saved her from truly serious injury, " said Dr Michael McGonigal who treated the girl. He hoped Julia's accident would offer an example to parents about the difference a helmet can make. "You've got to get them tuned in with the people that are doing it, and probably one of the most important things is to get them involved in wearing those things at a very young age, so it's just a natural thing."

Ski lift fault traps skiers in gondolas

2010-01-14T04:28:00.000-08:00

Skiers had to be airlifted to safety yesterday, after a broken-down ski lift trapped 43 passengers in gondolas for several hours at a southern German resort.

A technical failure in the lift system at the alpine Brauneck resort in Bavaria triggered the automatic shutdown of the whole system, leaving skiers hanging up to 70 metres above the ground in 30 four-person gondolas. The rescue operation took almost three hours.

About 100 firefighters and mountain rescue specialists helped to lower many of the trapped skiers to safety, while others had to be rescued by helicopter, said police spokesman Harald Bauer. None of the skiers were injured, despite below-freezing temperatures. The resort is about 60km (40 miles) south of Munich.

"I was stuck up there for two and a half hours until the helicopter came to rescue me," skier Peter Gutmann told Associated Press. He said he was trapped alone in a gondola dangling more than 50ft (15m) above the ground.

UK weather colder than European ski resorts

2010-01-08T01:58:00.000-08:00

Parts of the UK were colder than European ski resorts last night as temperatures matched their lowest levels so far this winter.

The temperature in Benson, Oxfordshire, and Woodford, Greater Manchester, reached -18C, a degree lower than some manufacturers recommend for freezing food at home and 2C warmer than the south pole – although it is the height of summer in the southern hemisphere. By comparison, the popular ski destinations of Davos, in Switzerland, and St Anton, in Austria, saw temperatures of -12C and -8C respectively.

A low of -18C was recorded earlier this winter – in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on 29 December.

Snow brings delight to ski centres

2010-01-07T02:37:00.001-08:00

Scotland's ski centres said they had enjoyed the best start to the season in decades thanks to the continued cold snap.

Heavy snowfalls and consistently low temperatures have led to a bumper year for ski centre visitors, despite severe weather warnings and problems on many of the surrounding roads.

The Nevis Range centre in Fort William has enjoyed its busiest start to the ski season for a decade, while the Cairngorms centre, near Aviemore, reported the best snowfall it had seen since 1996.

Avalanche buries ski patroller

2010-01-07T02:36:00.000-08:00

A member of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol suffered critical injuries when he was buried in an avalanche Wednesday, officials said.

Mark Wolling, 58, was caught in the slide at about 8:25 a.m., before the slopes were open to the public, as he and other patrollers conducted avalanche hazard reduction work in the Cheyenne Bowl at an elevation of 9,350 feet. Wolling, a Jackson resident known by the nickname "Big Wally," and another patrol member were setting off explosive devices called hand charges when the avalanche triggered above them, according to a resort news release.

The other patroller was able to stop himself on a tree but Wolling was swept up in the sliding snow. Wolling was carried along for most of the 1,000-foot slide, including over a 25-foot cliff, according to the resort. It took fellow patrollers about 10 minutes to find Wolling, who was buried in about 6 feet of snow.

Wolling was rushed to the Teton Village Clinic and then St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. He was flown Wednesday afternoon to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where a hospital spokeswoman said he was in critical condition. "It has been an extremely tough morning for all our patrollers and staff," Jerry Blann, resort president, said in a statement. "I am very grateful to everyone for their efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark and his family right now."

Wolling has been on the ski patrol since 1989 and has worked for the resort in other capacities since 1978, said Anna Olson, a resort spokeswoman. "His family are aware, and we have a lot of people looking out for him," Olson said.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort had received 10 inches of snow in the 24 hours before the avalanche occurred and substantial snowfall in the previous week. Wolling was in the upper area of the Cheyenne Bowl when the avalanche occurred, Olson said. The area has not been open to the public this season because of insufficient snow.

11 year old boy collapses & dies while skiing down hill

2010-01-07T02:34:00.000-08:00

An 11-year-old Newton boy reportedly collapsed and died while skiing with his father and brothers Sunday in New Hampshire.

The boy was identified by school officials as Joseph Kelly Heilbron, a fifth-grader at the Pierce School, according to the Newton Tab. Josephwas the youngest of six children. Police in Henniker were unavailable for comment last night. The ski facility Pat’s Peak in Henniker, N.H., did not return a call for comment.

Officials at Joseph’s school told the newspaper the boy’s death has shocked and saddened the entire community. “The mood of the school is very sad and (this was) very sudden. This was a very sweet child that was an integral part of our school,” Interim Principal Ruth H. Chapman told the paper.

According to a letter Chapman sent home to parents, Joseph was on the last run down a hill and winning a race with his father and brothers when his body gave out and he collapsed, she wrote. Grief counselors were on hand for students at the boy’s school yesterday.

Girl falls from ski-lift

2010-01-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

Police are looking for a German couple who fled after a 10 year old girl was seriously injured when she plunged 30ft from a ski lift.

Emily O'Rourke from Mullingar, Ireland, dangled for nearly a minute before she slipped from the grasp of fellow skiers onto the ice and snow below in Westendorf, Austria. Yesterday she was being treated for three cracked vertebrae in hospital in nearby Sankt Johann. Soctors said they expected her to make a full recovery after Sunday's fall.

Skiers watching from the ground said they had seen the unidentified German pair clinging onto the child. Police said they grabbed Emily and according to witnesses tried to hang on to her until the lift could reach the landing station – but she fell to the ground when they could no longer hold on. The couple were initially praised but refused to discuss how the lift bar had been raised during the trip and then fled saying they wanted to enjoy their remaining time on the slopes.

Hansjoerg Kogler, the boss of the lift company Bergbahnen Westendorf, said: "I really cannot understand their behaviour. We wanted to question the couple about the events, but they were not co-operative, they had nothing to say, they said they only had half day passes and therefore wanted to go skiing.

"There are still many open questions about how the accident could have occurred. The couple did not even leave their contact details in case of any inquiries and of course now we need to speak to them to see what went wrong."

Police said that adults travelling with children had a duty of responsibility to make sure the safety bar was down and that they were secure.

Best skiing in 14 years at resort

2009-12-31T01:42:00.000-08:00

A Highlands winter sports centre said it has had its best Christmas holiday season in 14 years.

CairnGorm Mountain said over a four-day period following Christmas Day it has had more than 8,000 skiers and snowboarders using its runs. The resort in the Cairngorms near Aviemore said blizzard conditions forecast for Thursday were expected to give way to bright sunshine on Friday.

Further snowfalls were expected over the weekend.

In 2007, Scottish ski resorts said they were suffering one of their worst seasons in years. A lack of snow and the presence of high winds were blamed for keeping skiers and snowboarders off the slopes. Bosses of the Glencoe Mountain Resort, meanwhile, have been working with government agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in drawing up plans for the future.

Scotland's oldest ski centre was taken over by a consortium of winter sports enthusiasts earlier this year. Headed by businessman Andy Meldrum, the group plan to develop the site as an all-year venue through the creation of mountain bike trails.

An adventure playground and a revamp of the cafe have also been proposed.

Riddle as ski body had no shoes

2009-12-31T01:41:00.000-08:00

Ski Brit Myles Robinson had no shoes on when his body was found, it emerged last night.

Sources in the Swiss resort of Wengen revealed he was wearing just one sock at the foot of an icy ravine.

Initial tests show the 6ft 5ins former public schoolboy, from Wandsworth, South London, was four times over the drink-drive limit.

But Newcastle University graduate Myles's relatives don't think he fell and suspect foul play.

They are demanding more answers from Swiss police.

2 other Devil's Head ski lifts need repairs, inspector says

2009-12-30T01:50:00.000-08:00

After a ski lift malfunction injured 14 skiers and snowboarders at Devil's Head Ski Resort in Merrimac, a state inspector found two more ski lifts at the facility that require replacement of devices that would prevent a similar accident.

The inspector recommended replacing anti-rollback devices on two other ski lifts so the ski chairs won't begin moving backward.

On Dec. 17 one of the ski lifts began moving backward, prompting many people to jump off. When a state inspector arrived the next day she saw three chairs had come off the wire rope near the loading area and another chair had come off at the first tower. She also noticed the anti-rollback device was rusted and corroded.

Skier Nigel Jackson’s body found after Christmas Day avalanche

2009-12-28T02:23:00.000-08:00

A British skier who went missing on Christmas Day has been found dead in the French Alps after being caught in an avalanche.

The body of Nigel Jackson, 43, who had been staying in an hotel in the resort of Chamonix Mont Blanc, was found under snow on Boxing Day. Mr Jackson, who was originally from Liverpool but had moved to London, went skiing in Le Tour ski area on Christmas Day with three friends, despite bad weather.

The party, which included Mr Jackson’s girlfriend, were staying at Les Aiglons hotel. They had decided to ski one last run, though Mr Jackson, a keen skier, separated from the group and agreed to meet them at the bottom. When he failed to arrive, his worried friends contacted the mountain police and a search involving a helicopter began. Police believe that he skied between two marked pistes and was caught in a small avalanche.

One friend said: “We are in shock. It was a freak accident. The avalanche was not even big.” Mr Jackson’s parents have flown to France to meet police and to arrange for his body to be returned to Britain.

A police spokesman said: “We found the body of a British man at 3pm on Saturday at Le Tour. We think he had been skiing between two pistes and was caught in an avalanche. The weather was very bad on Christmas Day. “A ski patrol searched for him and then we searched with a helicopter but we couldn’t see anything. He was not wearing an avalanche transceiver.”

The avalanche risk in Chamonix, which is near the French borders with Switzerland and Italy, has been classed as “considerable” over the Christmas period. Mr Jackson’s death is the second fatality in a week in the area. A French skier from Limoges was caught in an avalanche with two other people who managed to remain on the surface of the slide. The skier who was killed was also not equipped with an avalanche transceiver and was buried.

Meanwhile, the parents of a British man who went missing in a Swiss ski resort last week are continuing to hunt for their son. Myles Robinson, 23, from London, has not been seen since the early hours of Tuesday as he returned from a bar in the Swiss ski village of Wengen, southeast of Berne. His family and friends are conducting their own door-to-door inquiries in the search for the former Charterhouse public school pupil.

Swiss police have called in specialist search teams using heat-seeking devices and helicopters to find Mr Robinson, who was last seen escorting a family friend back to her hotel. He had spent the evening playing pool and drinking beer with Amy O’Brien and other friends in a bar. He walked Ms O’Brien to her door, only 300 metres from his own apartment, but has not been seen since.

More than 70 friends and villagers joined Mr Robinson’s family to knock on doors in Wengen. Cara, 25, his sister, said: “We are asking villagers if we can come into their houses and look around their properties. There might be some clue. The police, who have been so good, said they can’t search houses without applying for search warrants.”

A friend said: “He was perfectly capable of walking home. He wasn’t really drunk. She presumed he was going to walk back to his family’s apartment which is just a few minutes’ walk away.” Mr Robinson’s mother Sarah, 59, is a former president of the British Alpine Racing Ski Club.

Girl who fell from ski lift is out of hospital

2009-12-23T02:19:00.000-08:00

A 4-year old who fell from an Alta Ski Resort chairlift is now out of the hospital.

Unified fire says the girl, who fell saturday night, is now in good condition. Witnesses saw the girl fall 30 to 35 five feet from the Sunnyside lift and called for help.

Ski patrol found the girl not breathing, but were able to revive her. She was flown to primary children's hospital.

Early season snow spells holiday weekend relief for Tahoe ski resorts

2009-12-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

Heavy snowfall is coming early this year, and area ski resorts couldn't be happier on the eve of some big holiday weekends.

“There's never enough snow — we always want more,” said Kirstin Cattell, Northstar-at-Tahoe's communications manager. “But I think last year proved that skiers and snowboarders who want to come out will come out.” A year ago, the Lake Tahoe Basin didn't see its first significant snowstorm until around Christmas, and not much fell the entire season after that.

This year, two major snowstorms hit the Tahoe/Truckee area the past two weekends, leaving many downhill resorts with as much as 60 to 75 inches at upper levels. All but Diamond Peak, Homewood and Tahoe Donner Downhill — which open this week — are open for the season. Savannah Cowley, spokeswoman at Squaw Valley USA, said the resort is optimistic about the early snow and already have more bookings than last year.

“As a lot of the locals know, the past four winters have been pretty late, and we have always been scrambling to get the resorts open,” she said.

From December 6-13 this year, Cowley said Squaw accumulated 78 inches of snow. While this year's early-season snow is appreciated, Cattell said the month of February — the ski season's typical highest snowfall month — will decide if this year will be a prosperous.

According to the National Weather Service in Reno, after a likely chance of a rain/snow mix Wednesday, high temperatures should hover around 40 degrees into next weekend, with little or no snow in the forecast.

Skiing Starts Thursday at Boise’s Bogus Basin

2009-12-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

Thursday at 10 a.m. the first skiers and snowboarders will be screaming down the runs at beloved local ski resort Bogus Basin, and Boise snowboarders, skiers, snow retailers, resort employees and pretty much everybody else is smiling. The annual transformation to ski-town is here.

Tuesday’s storm dropped enough snow on the mountain to add up to nearly 30 inches at the base and 32 at the summit, and the resort announced a Thursday opening.

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB SMASHES 30-YEAR RECORD FOR SNOWIEST MONTH EVER WITH OVER 5.5 METRES (18 FEET) OF SNOWFALL

2009-12-03T01:27:00.000-08:00

As the calendar flips over to December, it's now official that November 2009 will go down in history as the snowiest month on record at Whistler Blackcomb, dating back to when the collection of weather data began 30 years ago.

November 2009 has seen a total accumulation of 560cm (18 feet) of snowfall, nearly four times that of November's average snowfall of 148cm (58 inches). This is an increase of more than 19 per cent over the previous record of 469cm (185 inches) set in January 2006, and a 22 per cent increase over January 1992's record of 459cm (181 inches).

And now, with the record broken, there is still an entire season of skiing and riding to look forward to. With a season that offers 192 days of skiing and riding, Whistler Blackcomb is already over half way towards the resort's average annual snowfall of just over 10 metres (33 feet).

Mongolians take to the slopes at first ski resort

2009-12-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

Mongolians used to harsh winters now have a new outlet for winter fun at the country's first ski resort, located on a sacred mountain just outside of the capital Ulan Bator.

For the locals, Sky Resort is a welcome distraction from at a time of year when temperatures fall well below freezing, but it rarely snows in the arid capital. The resort relies on Italian-made snow guns to cover the trails with artificial snow.

"It is a great way to have fun with our children, and they are picking it up really fast," said 40-year-old visitor Tsedsuren Luvsandorj.

Bumps and bruises lie ahead for many Mongolians who are new to the slopes. But if they like the sport, they'll find plenty of other ski mountains to try in neighboring China, which has also taken up skiing with a vengeance since it debuted in the 1990s. The Sky Resort, on the sacred Bogd Khan Uul Mountain just fifteen minutes drive from Ulan Bator, is mostly aimed at beginners and intermediates. But it has nine runs, two chairlifts, and even a dedicated racing slope.

Still, the new fad doesn't come cheap. At $24 for lift tickets and ski rental, a day of skiing equals nearly a week's salary for the average Mongolian.

Colorado Ski Resorts Get November Snow

2009-11-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

"Winter Storm Warning" are the three words every ski fanatic wants to hear in November. It means snow is on the way and they are that much closer to strapping on the board(s) and catching some time on the slopes. A big October storm followed by an even bigger November storm set up many Colorado resorts for stellar snowmaking.

The snow really started pounding right about the time the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Expo pulled into town at the Colorado Convention Center in Downtown Denver. Every resort in the state made it and was set up and ready to go. The snow messed up traffic and kept up through the weekend, getting everyone in the mood to ski and ride.

Snowmass received 16 inches up top in the mid-November blast. Eldora, outside of Boulder, is open with a 24-inch base, four lifts, and four trails. Loveland opened Chair 2, and the U.S. Ski Team is training there. Monarch opens Nov. 25 with 5 feet of snow so far, and a 36-inch base.

The winter blast turned Steamboat into a Winter Wonderland with 14 inches of snow on Storm Peak. "Snow is something we're used to here in Steamboat. The past two seasons have seen more than 400 inches of snow accumulate. This is just another in a series of storms that started in October and is an early season reminder of what's to come," says Andy Wirth, with Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp.

Indoor ski slope opens at Bootle’s Strand shopping centre

2009-11-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

THE UK’s first ski slope in a shopping centre was unveiled in Merseyside.

The artificial slope, measuring 14m long and standing 3.5m high, was an immediate hit when it opened in Bootle last night. But it almost did not arrive when the truck transporting it to The Strand shopping centre broke down.

Bootle town centre manager Chris White said: “The slope has provoked loads of interest. We are looking forward to having office people on the ski slope in their lunch hour.”

It opens from 10am-3pm Fri 27th and Sat 28th Nov.

About 50 fancy dress runners also took part in a 1k race in North Park.

Foreign office to tackle alcohol misuse in ski resorts

2009-11-25T07:17:00.000-08:00

A major safety awareness initiative by the Foreign Office to tackle alcohol misuse in ski resorts and emphasise the necessity of full travel insurance cover will come into full swing in December when the first British skiers will be heading for the French, Swiss and Italian ski slopes. This campaign is a security and safety awareness campaign. The theme is to ski safely in relation to the abuse of alcohol, which can lead to accidents during or after skiing.

The safety awareness programme has been initiated by the Foreign Office for areas in which many ski resorts are located. It has been supported by French police and rescue services, tourist offices and airports in the regions of Savoie, Haute Savoie, Isère, Rhône as well as Geneva airport and several major Swiss ski resorts. In Italy, which joined the project later, resorts in the province of Turin will be involved for the forthcoming season.

British tour operators including the number 1 UK ski specialist Crystal Ski, Thomson Ski, First Choice Ski as well as student specialists Off the Piste and Ski Alpine have agreed to collaborate. It is a poster campaign which supports a diverse range of exciting and innovative education projects that aim to reduce alcohol misuse and make a tangible change in ski resorts. Projects range from posters in restaurants, bars, airports and other public spaces, as well as leaflets and display material in British tour operator owned chalets, club hotels and bars.

This campaign was initiated after several accidents in ski resorts which were directly related to alcohol abuse by young people. The aim of this campaign is to avoid accidents and deaths in ski resorts as alcohol can affect you more quickly at high altitudes and seriously limits your awareness of danger and cold.

"We are committed to supporting educational projects which make a positive difference to people lives and ensure that they have good, safe fun on their holidays" said Mathew Prior, MD of TUI Ski.

New gondola opens in time for ski season at Sun Valley

2009-11-24T02:17:00.001-08:00

The new Sun Valley Roundhouse Gondola celebrated its grand opening Saturday.

Nine Sun Valley Olympians were some of the first to ride the new gondola on Bald Mountain. A spokesperson with the Sun Valley Resort said that 3,200 people took advantage of the free gondola ride.

The gondola carries passengers up two-thousand feet in less than eight minutes to the resort's Roundhouse restaurant midway up the mountain. Sun Valley's 74th ski season starts on Thanksgiving Day.

Snow forecast good news for Colorado ski areas as holiday nears

2009-11-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

Much of the Western Slope is under a winter weather advisory for 24 hours as another round of snow moves into Colorado, according to the National Weather Service office in Grand Junction.

A trough of low pressure could leave behind up to 7 inches of new snow on much of the northern and central mountains. Higher elevations could see up to 8 inches, according to forecasters. The advisory started at midnight. Skiers will feast on a smorgasbord of newly opened slopes for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Monarch Mountain, Crested Butte and Steamboat open Wednesday. Thursday is the season opening for Aspen Mountain, Snowmass and Telluride. Purgatory at Durango Mountain opens Friday, according to Colorado Ski Country USA. Snow showers but no significant accumulation are expected along the Front Range today.

Ski jumpers denied Games bid

2009-11-16T02:33:00.000-08:00

Women ski jumpers have been grounded after a B.C. court denied their appeal but they say they’re fine with men still getting their chance to soar at next year’s Olympics.

The B.C. Court of Appeal ruled Friday that VANOC is not in breach of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by staging only men’s ski jumping at the Games. In the women’s original lawsuit, they asked that both sexes be allowed to jump or that the men be grounded as well. Spokesman Deborah Folka said the 14 plaintiffs don’t plan to protest at the Olympics: “We will not do anything to take the dignity of events from other athletes,” said Folka.

She said that a very slim possibility of the women being allowed to jump rests with the International Olympic Committtee. “We will not make it to the 2010 Olympics by legal means, but there is still the possibility that the IOC changes its mind,” said Folka. VANOC responded that “(it) remains supportive .... of having women’s ski jumping added to the roster of future Olympic Winter Games.”

Big Opening Weekend for Skiing 09-10

2009-11-16T02:31:00.000-08:00

Many of the world's major resorts in at least 10 countries are opening for 2009-10 season this weekend. In Europe, the ski season begins in Andorra with Grandvalira opening a fortnight early after heavy snowfall in the Pyrenees.

In the French Alps, Europe's highest major resort, Val Thorens is the second resort to open in France, joining Tignes which has been open for nearly two months already. In Austria, Obergurgl is opening and in Switzerland, Andermatt, Davos, Klosters, Flims and Laax join Engelberg, Zermatt, Verbier, Les Diablerets and Saas Fee which are already open.

In Italy, Livigno is opening early and is running its lifts free of charge this week with no lift pass required. More resorts are opening in Finland, Norway and Sweden joining the 20 or so already open in Scandinavia.

Across the Atlantic In Canada British Columbia's Big White, Sun peaks and whistler resorts have opened this weekend, joining Alberta's Banff resorts, Lake Louise, Marmot Basin and Nakiska which have opened in recent weeks.

More areas are opening in the today US too including Boreal in California and White Pass, they join the latest openers Mt Baker in Washington State and Breckenridge, Colorado, which opened a few days ago.

Female ski jumpers head back to court

2009-11-12T04:44:00.000-08:00

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Female ski jumpers are heading back to court Thursday in another attempt to compete in the Vancouver Olympics.

Fourteen jumpers are appealing a lower court's decision that the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee doesn't control whether they can compete. The jumpers argue that organizers are subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and their failure to include women's ski jumping is discrimination.

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge ruled in July that the power to add sports rests solely with the International Olympic Committee. The IOC rejected women's ski jumping for the 2010 Games in 2006, arguing the sport had not yet met the criteria to be included.

The appeal will be heard over two days by a panel of judges in Vancouver.

Alpine ski season off to earliest ever start due to heavy snowfalls

2009-11-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, skiers and snowboarders enjoyed outstanding conditions for this time of year as a handful of European resorts opened earlier than expected following snowfalls of up to 20ins (50cm) in the past week.

In Saas Fee, Switzerland, snow depths have already reached more than 3ft (1m) on upper slopes, while the Austrian resort of Kitzbühel earlier set an 80-year record by opening on October 24.

In Switzerland, the resorts of Zermatt, Saas Fee, and Verbier have lifts running at weekends boasting “excellent” conditions following snowfalls in Thursday and overnight on Saturday. Resorts in France and Italy are also offering weekend skiing.

Despite not being among the highest of the Austrian resorts, Kitzbühel was one of the earliest to open its lifts last month, after heavy falls over the last three weeks.

Many Alpine resorts had been becoming increasingly nervous about the unseasonably warm weather of late, which saw temperatures as high as 65F (18C) – fearing a repeat of the dire season of 2006/7.

Concerns have also been raised over the impact of the global economic crisis and poor exchange rates that have forced up the cost of holidays in Europe, especially for British tourists.

Experts said that a plethora of cheap deals available this year are also helping fuel sales.

Last year many Alpine resorts experienced the best snow conditions in a generation.

Heavy snowfall has some Wash. ski areas opening

2009-11-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

MOUNT BAKER, Wash. - Heavy snowfall in the Cascade Range has some Washington ski areas preparing to open.

Mount Baker Ski Area says it's received more than 45 inches of new snow in the last few days, and it plans to open on Thursday.

Crystal Mountain, meanwhile, says it's gotten about 2 feet recently and could open for limited operations on Wednesday.

New season on the Southampton ski slopes

2009-11-05T02:31:00.000-08:00

An alpine activity firm is celebrating the launch of its seventh winter season running Southampton’s ski centre.

Filarinskis has been welcoming more than 50,000 skiers and snowboarders a year to the council facility at the sports centre in Bassett. City leisure chiefs hope that the forthcoming Winter Olympics will inspire even more people to give skiing a go on the centre’s dry slopes.

Ski holiday ideas in Slovenia

2009-11-02T02:44:00.000-08:00

Slovenia is celebrating the 2009/2010 ski holiday season with the debut of a new cable car and ski piste linking the local Kanin resort to Italy’s Sella Nevea resort.

The joint ski area will be accessible with one lift pass, allowing skiers from both the Slovenian and the Italian sides of the mountain to enjoy the slopes at both resorts. The internationally connected ski centre will be the first of its kind in an area where, for most of the previous century, there was a strict border divide between the two countries.

The connected ski centre is expected to be called Kanin–Canin and will be one of the largest ski areas in Slovenia. Kanin is Slovenia’s only resort with slopes over 2,000m and the high altitude means its season often lasts into early May.

The resort has a good mixture of advanced, intermediate, beginner and cross-country trails. The link to Sella Nevea will provide an even greater choice of runs, particularly for beginner skiers.

Croatian ski slopes could be busy this winter

2009-10-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Skiers will abandon pricy mainstream resorts to go off the beaten track this winter, according to the Ski Club of Great Britain, which could make many consider a holiday in Croatia.

Traditional skiing locations such as the French Alps and Austria may be too expensive for many during the period of economic downturn, so a lower-cost alternative may be in demand. Even moving further down a particular valley can affect the cost of a ski holiday dramatically.

Vanessa Fisher, spokesperson for the club, said: "Resorts that are slightly off the beaten track are going to be popular as they are slightly cheaper. [They have] still got access to skiing and those are the types of resorts that skiers will be looking for." As the pound weakens against the euro, the price of ski holidays has risen by around six per cent. That could lead many skiers to seek out an up-and-coming ski destination such as Croatia.

Last week Tim Holmes, manager of the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show, said that snow fans have too much passion for skiing to give up their winter break because of the credit crunch.

Chamonix, France: best ski resort for advanced skiers

2009-10-29T03:28:00.001-07:00

Chamonix fully deserves its reputation as one of the world's classic ski resorts: set in the heart of a dramatic high-alpine environment at the base of Mont Blanc, it has some of the most extreme off-piste skiing in the world and a boisterous party scene to boot. The bustling town has a long mountaineering history and has always attracted hardy, outdoors types although it's becoming increasingly glamorous, with trendy bars and hotels popping up left, right and centre.

On the flip side, Chamonix's five ski areas (Grands Montets, l'Aiguille du Midi, Le Tour, Brévent and Flégère) are frustratingly dispersed, its cult powder status means fresh tracks are hard to find and even the infamous 12 and a half-mile off-piste Vallée Blanche route can feel like a busy thoroughfare at times. However, despite its foibles, every passionate skier should visit Chamonix at least once in their lifetime.

Snow ski centre planned for Sunderland’s Stadium Village

2009-10-28T02:26:00.000-07:00

Plans have been unveiled for a giant indoor snow ski centre with real snow in a North-East city. The multi-million pound development planned for Sunderland’s Stadium Village – surrounding the city’s football stadium – could also house an ice rink, leisure facilities, specialist sports shops, bars and restaurants.

It would be a first for the region and the only facility of its kind between Leeds and Glasgow.The Stadium Village already boasts the Stadium of Light and the £20m Sunderland Aquatic Centre, which opened last year. Sunderland City Council’s cabinet will consider the blueprint when it meets next Wednesday. The document, known as a development framework, could then be put to further public consultation.

The development framework suggests the area between Hay Street and the Metro line as the location for the centre.

Ski operators are said to be confident for this coming winter season

2009-10-28T02:24:00.000-07:00

While ski operators are cautious, they are also confident for this coming winter season, snow loving timeshare owners will be pleased to hear.

Al Morgan, information manager at the Ski Club of Great Britain, pointed out that ski operators have been offering some early season deals. The industry is also pulling together to approach existing skiers and snowboarders as well as first-timers, he continued. While he admitted that the credit crunch hit the snowsports industry at a bad time, he said the skiing market is resilient and operators are feeling positive about this winter season.

He made his comments at the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show, held at London Olympia. According to Ski Club of Great Britain figures, France is still dominant in the UK snowsports market with a 43 per cent share and this has remained the same since 2007/2008.

The overall UK snowsports market now stands at 1.27 million people, the data also shows.

Jet2 flights to carry skis and snowboards for free

2009-10-27T05:19:00.001-07:00

There’s great news for those of us planning a skiing holiday in Chamonix or somewhere who are flying with Jet2. The budget airline has announced that it will carry skis and snowboards for free.

If you use the Jet2 promotional code FREESKI, you will be able to get one pair of skis or one snowboard carried free of charge. This offer applies to flights from all airports and you can use the code right up until the end of March.

Jet2 fly to a number of Alpine airports which serve a huge number of ski resorts, so why not book you own flights and accommodation, rather than relying on a package.

Skiing: Finn edges out rivals

2009-10-26T03:03:00.000-07:00

Tanja Poutiainen made a winning start to her defence of the giant slalom World Cup title in Soelden, Austria - albeit by just one hundreth of a second. The Finn produced a storming second run to edge out home favourite Kathrin Zettel. "This is a dream start to the season," she said.

Italy's Denise Karbon was the leader at the mid-point but lost vital time in the closing stages of her second run and dropped to third. Great Britain's Chemmy Alcott made a solid if unspectacular start to her campaign, coming home in 19th spot. The opening race of the season was marred by an injury to Austria's Nicole Hosp.

Hosp, the 2007 overall World Cup champion, crashed in the morning run and was flown to hospital in Innsbruck with torn ligaments in her right knee.

Result:
1 T Poutiainen (Fin) 1:12.14 1:12.82 2:24.96
2 K Zettel (Aut) 1:12.40 1:12.57 2:24.97
3 D Karbon (Ita) 1:11.52 1:13.76 2:25.28
4 T Maze (Svn) 1:13.01 1:12.79 2:25.80
5 M Pietilae-Holmner (Swe) 1:12.56 1:13.28 2:25.84
6 A Paerson (Swe) 1:13.34 1:12.57 2:25.91
7 K Hoelzl (Ger) 1:13.32 1:12.84 2:26.16
8 V Rebensburg (Ger) 1:13.52 1:12.76 2:26.28
9 L Vonn (US) 1:13.30 1:13.05 2:26.35
10 C Alfieri (Ita) 1:14.73 1:11.70 2:26.43

Ski Season Begins Early

2009-10-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Early snow fall, colder temperatures and perhaps a sprinkle of P.R. have led ski resorts in North America, Europe and elsewhere to open early.

Loveland Ski Area, a small family-oriented resort about 50 miles west of Denver, opened on Oct. 7, about the same time that Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, about 45 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, welcomed skiers. They were followed closely by Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Boreal Mountain Resort on Lake Tahoe.

Even the Mammoth Mountain Si Area in California, which wasn’t scheduled to open until mid November, got dumped on last week and opened lifts, according to the L.A Examiner.

Similar snow reports are coming from the Alps, the Indian Himalayas and the Japanese Alps, according to the online Ski Magazine, First Tracks. Saas Fee and Zermatt got plenty of snow and are already open, as are with Cervinia, Val Senales and Passo Stelvio in Italy.

Huge snow complex plan unveiled

2009-10-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

A multi-million pound giant snow complex could be built in Blackpool on the site which had been earmarked for a super-casino.

Developer Greenbank Partnerships said the proposal included five ski slopes, bars, shops and a hotel and would see 3,000 jobs being created. Blackpool Council said the plan was at a very early stage but the development could change the face of the resort.

In 2007, the resort was overlooked as the destination for a super-casino. Officials chose Manchester before the project was abandoned altogether. Greenbank Partnerships has now been given permission to conduct a feasibility study on the Central Station site over the next 18 months.

It estimates that two million people would visit the facilities each year. Chris Baybutt, from Greenbank Partnerships, said it was a "significant development" for the resort which was an "obvious choice" for the project.

Metro Ski and Snowboard Show

2009-10-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

Could there be a better way of ushering in the new winter sports season than with a giant snowball fight? If there is, I can't think of it - and just such an event is taking place at this year's Metro Ski and Snowboard Show, which starts this week.

Organisers of the show are transporting ten tons of the white stuff in refrigerated trucks from the Milton Keynes Snowzone to Olympia in London - and they want as many people as possible to start throwing it around in an attempt to get into the Guinness Book Of World Records for the biggest indoor snowball fight ever recorded.

The five-day show at Olympia, which starts on Wednesday, will be followed by yet another winter sports extravaganza in London - the Freeze Snowboard, Ski and Music Festival, more of which later.

Adult ticket prices are £5 for the Wednesday, £9 (advance) or £12 (on the door) Thursday and Friday, and £13 (or £16) for the weekend.

1st snow kicks off area's ski season

2009-10-19T05:07:00.000-07:00

The first cold snap of the season brought the first snowfall of the season overnight Saturday. But the cold will be a memory by midweek, when temperatures are expected to be as high as 73, according to the National Weather Service.

Two inches of snow was reported at Mount Mitchell, an inch of snow fell near Banner Elk and in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and about a half-inch covered the ground in Waynesville, said Scott Krentz, a metereologist with the National Weather Service, on Sunday. “Areas at 3,500 feet and above got about a half or so,” he said. The shining sun doesn't mean it's going to warm up right away; Krentz said the forecast calls for temperatures 10 degrees below normal for today, with a high around 59 degrees and an overnight low of 30. A freeze warning was in effect overnight, set to expire at 9 this morning, for much of Western North Carolina.

But the harsh cold isn't bad news for everyone in WNC. The folks at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley started making snow Sunday morning and will open at 1 p.m. today. “It's the earliest opening in our history,” said Tammy Brown, spokeswoman for the ski area. “We are going to stay open as long as we can.” It was 25 degrees when they started making snow at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, Brown said.

Skiers will have to battle the heat before long, though. Warmer weather returns the middle of the week, with highs once again reaching the low 70s and lows in the mid-40s to around 50, according to the National Weather Service.

Skiing: Maier calls it a day

2009-10-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

Austrian Alpine skiing champion Hermann Maier fought back tears as he announced his retirement from the sport. The Olympic gold medallist, who had been planning a return to the World Cup circuit in November after recovering from a knee injury, said he wanted to retire while he was still in good health.

Maier competed on the circuit for 13 years, winning four overall World Cup titles, four Olympic medals, including two golds in 1998, and three world championship titles. A late developing ski racer, who had previously mixed working as a ski instructor at his father's ski school in Flachau with brick-laying in the summer, Maier's career appeared to be over in 2001 when he nearly lost a leg following a motorcycle accident, requiring seven hours of surgery.

However, he made a remarkable comeback after more than a year on the sidelines, winning the World Cup super-G race at his favourite Kitzbuhel in January 2003.

Eastern Europe offers best value ski deals as prices on the slopes rise sky high

2009-10-12T04:10:00.000-07:00

British skiers should head for Eastern Europe for the best deals on the slopes this winter but are being warned that even prices in traditionally cheap ski resorts have jumped.

Top-value ski destinations are Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia, according to a survey by the Post Office. Including basic week-long costs such as equipment hire, lift passes, meals and drinks, Romania's Poiana Brasov ski resort offered the best value at £195.76. Borovets in Bulgaria (£250.87) was the next-best resort in terms of value for money, with High Tatras in Slovakia third (£264.97). In contrast, Banff in Canada had costs of £429.06 and Verbier in Switzerland was £422.21.

However, Poiana Brasov prices had risen 4% compared with this time last year, while Borovets was up 14% and High Tatras was up 20%. Elsewhere, Norway's Geilo resort saw the biggest price rise with travellers facing an increase of 26%. But some popular resorts had lower prices than last year, with Courchevel in France down 11% at £298.87 and Vail - in Colorado, USA - also down 11% at £372.83.

New base for freestyle aces

2009-09-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

Sheffield has been announced as the new training base for some of Great Britain's freestyle team.

The English Institute of Sport will now play host to the 30-strong British, English and Yorkshire squads. Peter Styring, an England Moguls coach, said: "We've got a young squad who are already performing at a high level, so it gives us great things to look forward to for future Winter Olympics."

London hosts World big air event

2009-09-25T01:18:00.000-07:00

A World Cup big air event, featuring top British and international skiers and snowboarders, is returning to Battersea Power Station on 31 October.

More than 10,000 fans flocked to the venue last year to see the industrial site transformed with a 32m high ski jump, packed with 500 tons of snow.British Olympic hopefuls Ben Kilner and Dom Harington will compete alongside last year's winner Peetu Piiroinen.

"It will be great preparation for me in the lead up to Vancouver," Kilner said. "I'm looking forward to taking on the world's best snowboarders, especially in front of a home crowd." And in the freestyle ski event, Winter X gold medal winner Tanner Hall will compete against British hopeful Paddy Graham.

The three-day event kicks off on 30 October with a Battle of Britain ski and snowboard contest and music from acts including Orbital and Friendly Fires. Marcel Looze, snowboard race director for the International Ski Federation, said: "The very special location at Battersea, the enthusiastic crowd and great performance of the riders made the first FIS [International Ski Federation] World Cup in London a success.

"FIS is proud to have London in the calendar again." Big air is not an Olympic sport but all riders can score crucial World Cup ratings points which will improve their chances of qualifying for the Winter Olympics, which are being held in Vancouver, Canada, in February 2010.

Ski resorts cutting prices to lure locals

2009-09-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

A struggling economy is turning out to be good news for skiers and snowboarders who live close enough to mountains that they can hit the slopes every weekend.

Many ski resorts are slashing prices on season passes and offering locals-only discounts in an effort to boost revenues from nearby metropolitan areas at a time many U.S. travelers are choosing to vacation closer to home. In few places is this trend more evident than in Utah, where snow lovers can drive from downtown Salt Lake City and be in a lift line in roughly 30 minutes.

"It's a no brainer," said Nick Como, Solitude Mountain Resort's marketing director. "There's so many people down there that don't ski. There's a great market that's just untapped." Labor Day is the traditional kickoff to preseason winter deals, with discount offers generally expiring every few weeks until the season starts.

Solitude, like many other resorts around the country, has begun offering new season ticket packages at reduced prices on the heels of a winter in which skier visits nationally dropped 5.5 percent in the 2008-09 season from the record 60.5 million visits the season before, according to the National Ski Areas Association. The association's annual report said destination resorts fared the worst last winter, with resorts close to major cities weathering the economic downturn the best. Many Utah resorts noticed a dip in room reservations from out-of-state tourists, but an uptick in season passes purchased by Utah residents.

"Salt Lake feels really fortunate to have a large local population near us. A lot of our resorts are reaching out to locals maybe more this season than you've seen in the past," said Jessica Kunzer, spokeswoman for Ski Utah, the ski industry's marketing arm in the state. "A lot of the resorts are saying they've extended their early season offerings and discounts. ... The consumer really wants to make sure they get the best bang for their buck."

In Colorado, the reigning king of skiing in the U.S., a growing number of resorts are offering payment plans for season passes, refusing to raise prices and creating special packages for tourists and locals. "What we're finding is that people are still willing to find a way to make skiing happen this year," said Colorado Ski Country USA spokeswoman Jennifer Rudolph. "So the planning is happening, yet they're still looking for a deal at the same time. Resorts are trying to answer the call for both groups of skiers."

Rudolph said Echo Mountain, the closest resort to Denver, is offering special deals on night skiing for children in an effort to get local families on the mountain throughout the week. Early indications are that Colorado's discounts and new packages are working, Rudolph said. "We took a pulse of our members after the Labor Day weekend to see how pass sales were. The majority of them reported very robust pass sales, if not higher, than last year," she said.

In Vermont, the most skiied-in state on the East Coast, resorts are resisting offering new bargain basement deals. Only about 20 percent of the ski industry's market in that state lives in Vermont, with the rest coming from areas like Boston and New York. "The deals have always been there, but now people are doing their homework and people are seeking out deals," said Jen Butson, spokeswoman for Ski Vermont.

While Vermont noticed a decline in skier visits last season, Butson said it was on par with the state's five-year skier average. "Last year and the year before were good snow years. That makes a difference on the people making last-minute decisions and people who live in our drive market," she said. "Snow always trumps a bad economy."

Some winter enthusiasts are looking for snow a little closer to home, though. New York vaulted ahead of Utah to become the fourth-most skied in state last season by depending on the millions of people who can drive a couple of hours for a day of skiing. Western resorts aren't giving up on out-of-state skiers, though.

Utah tourism officials were meeting Thursday to finalize their winter advertising plan, which in addition to national ad buys includes targeted markets like Los Angeles and New York. "Certainly, the general feeling is that flat is the new up. We want to hold steady. Last year was the fourth largest skier day year, which despite the economy, was very good for us," said Leigh von der Esch, director of the Utah Office of Tourism. "My counterparts in New England, they love it when the gas prices are low. ... We like it when the air fares are low."

Still, von der Esch recognizes the importance of being a tourist in your own state. "We're really trying to encourage the folks who live in Utah to think, 'Greatest snow on Earth. Just around the corner,' " she said.

Katy Perry To Launch Ischgl Ski Season

2009-09-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Pop superstar Katy Perry has been announced as the main act to launch Ischgl’s ski season at the end of November. The giant ski area which straddles the border with Switzerland and shares its lifts and runs with neighbouring Samnaun has an increasingly long standing reputation for starting and ending it’s long winter season with free concerts starring top music acts from around the world.

Katy, 24, who was born in California and has topped the charts all over the world with her singles I Kissed A Girl and Hot N Cold, will perform in the Tirolean village on Saturday 28 November, the day after the lifts open on the 27th. She follows in a long line of headline acts that have launched the season, including Leona Lewis and Gabriella Cilmi last year and prior to that Rihanna, The Corrs, Lionel Richie, Ronan Keating and Pussycat Dolls.

Entrance to the concert, which kicks off at 6pm, will be by valid lift-pass. A one-day lift ticket for 28 November will be 55 Euros (covering skiing and the concert). A two-day lift ticket will cost 8 Euros. Skiing opens at Ischgl, one of Austria’s highest and most snowsure resorts, on Friday 27 November.

Man dies in fall off Lake Tahoe ski-area chairlift

2009-09-02T02:13:00.000-07:00

Authorities in Nevada say a 51-year-old man has died and his wife injured when he fell from a chairlift in the Heavenly Ski Area. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office says the man fell from the Tamarack Express Chair and down a mountain in the area Monday afternoon. It was not immediately known how far he fell.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fall but say preliminary findings show equipment malfunction with the chairlift. The Reno Gazette-Journal identified the man as Mark Alan Dickson, most recently of Glendora, Calif. It says his wife, 47-year-old Rebecca Gonzaga, suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Year Round skiing in Virginia - August 2009

2009-07-30T02:03:00.000-07:00

August wouldn't come to mind as the right time of year for skiing, unless you were headed to South America. But a year-round ski facility called the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre is scheduled to open in Lynchburg, Va, at Liberty University on Aug. 29.

Its slopes will be layered with a synthetic material that simulates snow for skiing, boarders and tubing. Snowflex will be open to the public as well as to students. The facility will include a main slope, two grind rails, an 11-foot-high quarter pipe, and a beginner slope. Equipment rentals will be available.

Cost of skiing holidays expected to soar

2009-06-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

Skiers and snowboarders can expect to pay up to 20 per cent more for trips this winter as operators cut the number of holidays on offer.

Peak-season dates will be particularly expensive but even at other times there will be fewer heavily discounted holidays.Ski industry insiders say that, with operators cutting back on capacity by as much as a third, prices are unlikely to come down. Demand is already outstretching supply during February half-term, which for the second consecutive year will fall on the same week for most schools in England and Wales.

The increase in prices and a reduction in the number of holidays follows what was a particularly good winter for skiers – with heavy snowfall across the Alps – but a disastrous one for most operators. The collapse of the pound against the euro and the US dollar wiped out profit margins and left many smaller operators in debt. The main operators normally bring out their ski brochures in April – but this year they are still number-crunching in June. To the consternation of smaller operators who use their prices as a yardstick, the brochures are unlikely to be released until next month.

The outlook is brighter for skiers prepared to holiday in January or March, when prices will be up by around 10 per cent on average, rather than 20 per cent for peak-season dates. If you shop around carefully, it may even be possible to match last year's package costs. Airlines, hotels and even lift companies are beginning to realise that if they want to keep the pound-poor British market they must offer travel firms discounts or special deals. Wise skiers will pay for as many essential extras – such as lift passes and equipment rental – in pounds before they leave home

Follow skiwear4less on Twitter!

2009-06-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

That's right, skiwear4less is now officially on the twitter network! You can follow us by clicking the link on the right hand side of the page. We'll bring you all the latest ski gossip, the hottest new trends and equipment, piccys of celebs hitting the slopes in style and a great range of our latest fantastic deals! It's simple, just click HERE to be taken directly to our twitter page! Then click the "follow us" button and you'll get all our latest updates direct to your twitter page.

Still snowing in Spain

2009-04-01T01:24:00.000-07:00

Skiers in the Spanish and Andorran resorts enjoyed a late season dusting of fresh powder over the weekend, promising good conditions for Easter.

10cm of fresh snow fell on Monday in Formigal, Spain’s largest resort, on top of an upper slope base of 230cm. Over the border in Andorra, our featured resorts also enjoyed some fresh snow on Sunday but this has not dramatically changed the skiing as typical spring conditions still dominate. It's predominantly sunny this week, which means that although the snow is firm in the mornings, it will soften during the day, especially on the lower and south facing slopes. However the good news is that temperatures are forecast to remain around freezing until next weekend maintaining the good snow conditions. Cloudy weather is also expected for the middle of the week, which could deliver further fresh snowfalls.

The Vallnord resort of Arcalis is reporting the deepest snow base depths (140/250cm), but all of the other Andorran resorts we report on have at least a metre of snow on their lower pistes and around two metres on their upper slopes. Formigal is offering free lift passes with to all new bookings until the end of the season, which has been extended by another two weeks into May thanks to the great snow conditions.

Two climbers die on Eiger

2009-03-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Two mountain climbers have frozen to death on the Eiger after being trapped by a storm.

The accident occurred last week, and is the first accident on the 3970m high mountain this year, which is regarded as one of Switzerland's most dangerous.

The 21 year old men were attempting to climb the peak's notorious north face, which is one of the most challenging in the Alps.

The two mountaineers, who have not yet been named, are thought to have frozen to death on a ridgeline leading back towards a mountain hut and the Jungfraujoch railway station, a popular tourist attraction.

Both climbers were from the Swiss army's mountain training centre based in Andermatt, and would have been experienced and well prepared. They are thought to have reached the summit before becoming trapped.

A rescue operation was attempted by a mountain rescue station in Grindelwald late on Monday night, but the weather deteriorated to a point where a helicopter rescue was impossible. "We just couldn't reach them," Marc Ziegler, head of the Grindelwald rescue station told Swiss news website, swissinfo.ch. "That is unusual but the conditions made it not possible.

The body of one man so far has been retrieved by rescue services.

One more time?

2009-03-25T02:11:00.000-07:00

With fresh snow still falling in the Alps and the Easter holidays falling late this year, there's still plenty of late winter skiing to be had.

Easter is a flexible holiday, changing date every year regardless of the weather, and for many people it signals the end of the ski season. However there is often there is good snow still to be found at this time of year. Al Morgan, Information Manager at the Ski Club thinks this is definitely the year to make the most of the excellent snow conditions. "Skiing in March and April offers long days for skiing, sunny terraces for leisurely lunches and less people than the busy periods. Get out there if you can!”

April can produce some of the best conditions of the winter with good snowfalls, long days, uncrowded slopes and reduced prices. One of the most popular Ski Freshtracks holidays is the May Bank Holiday blast in Tignes that attracts a committed band of skiers, and they've still got loads of on and off-piste holidays, including ski touring, on offer between now and the first May Bank Holiday. Remember that the snow isn't necessarily like it is mid-winter. For the best conditions, aim for one of the high resorts, and lower slopes can get slushy by the end of the afternoon after a day in the spring sunshine so head out early.

Resorts open until 26th April include: Flaine, Les Arcs, Avoriaz, Meribel, La Thuile, Bormio, Davos, Wengen, Zermatt, St Anton and Lech.

Resorts open until 3rd May include: Val d’Isère, Val Thorens, Are, Pas de la Casa, Soldeu, Ischgl, Obertauern, Obergurgl, Solden, Andermatt, St Moritz, Cervinia and Hemsedal.

Natasha Richardson dies after ski accident

2009-03-19T02:54:00.000-07:00

The 45 year old British actress has died in hospital after suffering a head injury in a skiing accident in Mont Tremblant, Canada.

The actress fell and hit her head during a supervised ski lesson on a nursery slope. She was not wearing a helmet at the time. She initially appeared coherent but an hour later complained of a headache. As her condition worsened, she was flown to a hospital near her home in New York City, where her family gathered.

Neeson’s publicist announced her death. “Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha,” he said. “They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

Part of one of Britain's great theatrical dynasties, Richardson was the daughter of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, 72, and the late director Tony Richardson.
She was also the granddaughter of Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, the sister of actress Joely Richardson and the niece of Lynn Redgrave.

Actress in hospital after skiing accident

2009-03-18T02:37:00.000-07:00

Actress Natasha Richardson has been left in a critical condition after a skiing accident in Canada, according to media reports.

The Canadian Press reported that the 45 year old British actress suffered a head injury yesterday whilst skiing in Mont Tremblant resort near Montreal.
She is thought to have first been brought to Centre Hospitalier Laurentien near Mont Tremblant, and then transferred to Montreal's Sacre Coeur hospital.

Richardson, 45, is the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and is married to actor Liam Neeson with whom she has two sons. Neeson was reportedly in Toronto at the time of Richardson's accident filming the movie 'Chloe' with Julianne Moore, and has now left Toronto to be at his wife's side.

Met police officer dies in ski plunge as wife looks on

2009-03-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

A Metropolitan police officer died in front of his wife on a skiing holiday in France.

Michael Probert, 43, lost control as he skied down a slope in Alpe d'Huez, and fell into a 10ft ditch, hitting his head. His wife Emma, a Scotland Yard Royal Protection sergeant who was praised for her work on the day of the 7/7 bombings, was watching as the tragedy unfolded. Mr Probert, a pursuit driver based in Harrow, was declared dead at the scene on Saturday. He was with his wife and friends skiing within sight of the village of Villard-Reculas, part of the vast Alpe d'Huez resort, where they had just begun a week's holiday.

Mr Probert was an inexperienced skier, and was on low slopes considered safe for beginners and intermediates. The group had just finished lunch when they began descending a low gradient blue run - the third hardest after black and red - with few obstacles. But as he approached the ditch he lost control and fell into it, said emergency workers who attended the scene by motorised sledge. They arrived in minutes, but Mr Probert had suffered a heart attack and could not be revived even though his injuries appeared slight. A spokesman for the French high mountain police said: "The emergency services reached the victim extremely quickly but could not save him. Cause of death was a heart attack caused by the shock of the fall.

"The victim has been out skiing with his family and friends, some of whom witnessed the accident." Mrs Probert was praised for her work following the 7 July terrorist attacks when she was a sergeant in Camden. She was among the first officers on the scene in Tavistock Square where suicide bomber Hasib Hussain killed 13 when he exploded his rucksack bomb on a bus. Neighbours of the couple in StAlbans said they last saw Mr Probert on Friday evening when he was looking forward to the coming week.One neighbour said: "He was a lovely man and so friendly. I think he believed in working hard and playing hard and that's why they loved their skiing holidays and, when they could, they would take their boat to go waterskiing."

In Alpe d'Huez, the slopes were crowded with weekend skiers and snowboarders enjoying unseasonably warm weather. Conditions in the resort were good with bright sunshine and excellent visibility. A spokesman for the local tourist office said: "Serious accidents, especially fatalities, usually take place off piste where conditions can be extremely dangerous." It is unusual to have a fatality on low pistes because they are usually extremely safe."

Ryanair check-in to go online by October

2009-03-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Skiers may soon have to think twice about taking a large suitcase on a Ryanair flight, after it was announced this week check-in desks will be scrapped and baggage fees increased.

Ryanair first announced plans to abolish check-in desks last month, saying most of its customers already check in online, and they will be able to use baggage drop desks for their luggage if needed.

Desks will be phased out and check-in fees will increase in the meantime. From 19 March the fee to check-in luggage at airport desks will double to £20 per passenger per flight. Passengers who book their tickets by 1 May will still be allowed to check in at the airport, but by 1 October, there will be no check-in desks at any of its airports and passengers will only be able to check in online.

Michael O’Leary, Chief Executive of the Irish airline, told The Daily Telegraph, “All we will have is a bag drop where passengers can drop off their luggage, otherwise everything will be done online. Ultimately, we want just one in five people to check in luggage.”

Ryanair is already known for its 'no-frills' policy, with passengers being charged for extras ranging from cups of tea to using a credit card to pay for their ticket. O'Leary also recently told the press he is thinking about installing credit card-operated toilets on airplanes and charging passengers to use them.

Skiers injured in chairlift fall

2009-03-09T03:12:00.000-07:00

A structural failure on a chairlift in Spain’s Sierra Nevada resulted in 23 skiers being injured in the resort on Monday.

Six of the chairs chairs dropped approximately six metres to the ground and injuring 23 people after the top section of the tower gave way on one side.
Two skiers were taken to hospital with minor chest injuries and at least 21 suffered cuts and bruises and were treated for shock after falling from heights of up to 26 feet. At least another 35 people had to be rescued from chairs on the lift after it ground to a halt in the resort which is situated in the mountains above Granada. Most of the guests on the lift were ski instructors with their clients, and the Sierra Nevada Ski Patrol, Guardia Civil, Local Police and the Emergency Department immediately implemented an emergency lift evacuation procedure.

Recent snowfall had served to cushion the blow and saved many from serious injury. "Fresh snow beneath the lift no doubt cushioned the fall," said Mariano Gutierrez, a spokesman from the Sierra Nevada National Park. The chairlift is built by Doppelmayr and was installed in late 80’s. A world-leader in lift design and manufacturing, Doppelmayr lifts are in operation throughout the world and have a good safety record. The regional government of Andalucia, Guardia Civil, Doppelmayr and Cetursa, the company that manages the ski resort, have opened an investigation into the incident.

Getting heavy in Heavenly

2009-03-09T03:10:00.000-07:00

The Californian resorts in the Tahoe area have been battered this week by the biggest winter storm this season, which has brought huge amounts of snow and some high winds.

In Heavenly and Squaw Valley, they received a colossal 200cm of snow on Sunday night when the storm began. 91cm alone fell on Tuesday night at Heavenly and that was on top of the 85cm that fell the previous night! It continued to snow all day Wednesday but the skies have cleared to reveal a landscape covered in nearly eight feet of new snow. Despite this they are only reporting four lifts closed, so the powder hounds should be out in force this weekend.

In California, Mammoth has also been getting dumped on, with their most recent reported snowfall being 61cm on Tuesday night. It has supposed to continue snowing all through Wednesday and Wednesday night and their upper base of nearly five metres is way above average for the time of year. This season so far is one of their best in a long time, with over ten metres of snow having fallen so far.

German politician found guilty over ski accident

2009-03-09T03:08:00.000-07:00

The German politician who was charged earlier this week with manslaughter over a collision on an Austrian ski slope in January, has been found guilty.

The politician, who was involved in a fatal collision with a fellow skier at the intersection of two runs in Austria, was convicted on Tuesday of involuntary manslaughter. Dieter Althaus, who is a German state governor, could not attend Tuesday's trial because he is still recovering from head injuries sustained in the collision which took place at the Riesneralm ski area in Austria.

Prosecutors said Althaus has told them that he has no memory of the accident but takes responsibility for the 41-year-old woman's death. The court fined him 33,000 Euros and ordered him to pay another 5,000 Euros to the victim's husband. The Slovakian woman who had 4 children, died from head injuries as a result of the crash. She was not wearing a helmet, whilst the politician was, which has led to a re-opening of the debate over whether to make helmet wearing compulsory.

Following the incident, a new law requiring all children age 15 and under to wear a helmet on the slopes will be rolled out across 23 small ski resorts in lower Austria from 20 March.

Twitter and iPhone help find lost skier

2009-03-05T05:23:00.000-08:00

A missing skier in the Swiss Alps has been rescued with the help of Twitter and an iPhone, but a snowboarder was found dead after the two were separated from the rest of their group on holiday in Verbier.

The Foreign Office has confirmed that the man who died was entrepreneur Rob Williams, 29, who went missing on Monday. Entrepreneur Rob, from Liverpool, was discovered in a stream at the foot of a cliff. He is thought to have fallen more than 60ft after getting lost near the resort. He was on holiday with a group of internet entrepreneurs including Michelle Dewberry, a former winner of the second series of The Apprentice.

Williams, and Jason Tavaria who was also 29, got into difficulty after becoming separated from fellow snowboarders in the resort. Tavaria survived and was found after Michelle Dewberry launched an online rescue on Twitter where she reportedly wrote, "2 of our ski party been missing since 4pm. Conditions terrible. 1 guy found but trapped. 20 man team searching for other." A helicopter search was not possible due to the bad weather conditions, but a GPS signal from Tavaria’s iPhone was used to guide in the rescue services. The rescue attempt continued to unfold on Twitter as details of the whereabouts of the two men were relayed back and forth. The search sadly ended with the discovery of the body of Rob Williams but Jason Tavaria was found unharmed about 6 hours later.

Winter returns to the Alps

2009-03-05T05:19:00.000-08:00

Looks like it's not spring just yet. The recent warm and sunny weather in Europe is expected to come to an abrupt end this week, as another winter storm is expected to hit France, Switzerland and Italy bringing lots of snow and much colder weather with it.

In France, Argentiere is expected to receive the most snow of the French resorts in the next five days. 60cm of snow is forecast to fall on the upper slopes and the temperatures will probably be fairly mild in the first half of the week with freezing levels around 1500m, so rain could fall on the lower slopes and in the towns. However on Thursday the snow is expected to start falling even harder and the temperature should drop, meaning fresh snow to all levels.

The same is true for Switzerland during the coming week. The resorts are forecast slightly more snow than France, with Verbier expecting 68cm of snow this week, and 50cm of this should fall on Wednesday and Thursday alone! The same heavy snow is forecast in Zermatt with 31cm of snow expected to fall on Wednesday followed by a further 20cm on Thursday. The combined five day total is a whopping 66cm!

And whilst the rest of Europe is catching up with the two weeks of snow that Austria has been enjoying, some Austrian resorts are still staying ahead with more snow of their own to come. Zell am Zille is also expecting lots of snow, with 48cm expected to fall in the next five days. As with France and Switzerland, this could fall as rain on the lower slopes in the first half of the week but significantly colder weather is expected by Thursday. And in Obergurgl, the snow was still falling on Monday and neighbouring Solden also received 5cm of fresh snow. So Austria is still ahead of the game!

British tourists killed in ravine fall

2009-03-02T03:41:00.000-08:00

Two British tourists have died after falling down a ravine in Les Deux Alpes following a night out with friends.

Richard Ryan, 27, and Christopher Lockwood, 28, fell while returning home after a night out in the ski resort. The pair were both from Leeds and were last seen by friends leaving a popular British-style pub to return to their chalet at about 2am last Thursday. The two men were "probably very drunk" when they fell into the Combe Noir ravine, police in the resort have said. A Deux Alpes police spokesman added, "Their friends alerted us that they were missing in the early hours of Thursday. Interviews with friends also revealed both men had drunk large quantities of beer that evening. The spot where they fell is very steep and, although unprotected, there are signs everywhere." The two were among a party of eight British skiers who were due to fly back to Britain at the weekend. Their families have been informed by the Foreign Office.

Holidaymakers pile onto the pistes

2009-02-23T05:24:00.000-08:00

Ski weekend breaks are snowballing in popularity thanks to excellent conditions on European slopes, it was revealed today.

Flights for weekend trips from the UK to airports close to French, Swiss and Italian ski areas increased by more than 16% last month compared with January 2008, figures from low-fare airline easyJet showed.

Snowfalls at European ski resorts this season are thought to have been the best for many years.

EasyJet's UK general manager Paul Simmons said: "Early last year, as the credit crunch began, we noticed that ski weekends became popular even though the snowfall wasn't as good.

"This year we've really seen a jump in weekend flights with people wanting to hit the slopes quickly and cheaply."

He went on: "Airports like Innsbruck, Grenoble and Geneva are proving particularly popular for ski weekends. They have a short flight time from most UK airports and some of Europe's best ski resorts within an hour's drive, so people don't have to waste time on airport transfers.

"You can set off from the UK and be on the piste in one of Europe's top ski resorts like Chamonix and Flaine (in France) in under four hours, making them perfect for those who want to get a quick 'ski-fix' for a weekend."

Heavy snowfalls in Pyrenees bury ski lift

2009-02-23T05:22:00.000-08:00

Cauterets ski area in the French Pyrenees has been digging out its ski lifts after recent heavy snowfalls, and the Andorran resorts have also benefitted from last week's heavy snow.

The ski area of Cauterets has reported receiving more than five feet (160cm) of snow between 11th and 12th February and a further 280cm over the following 7 days! The resort is currently reporting an impressive snow depth of 450cms on the upper slopes at 2415m.

Conditions are generally pretty good in the French Pyrenees and Andorra at the moment following the heavy snow last week. The sun is out but the pistes are remaining firm and are perfect for those wanting to fine tune their technique, with the greatest piste depth in Andorra to be found in the Vallnord resort of Arcalis (270cm on upper slopes).

The Pyrenees, which contains about 60 ski areas in France, Spain and Andorra, has had a particularly memorable winter with big snowfalls through the season. It’s good news for the region which has seen a slight drop in the numbers of British visitors over the last three seasons (from 7% in 05/06 to 4% in 07/08) but with this bumper snow figures should be back on the rise.

Cheap tents, sleeping bags, outdoor gear & accessories!

2009-02-20T07:18:00.000-08:00

Our brand new sister site is now live and online for you to view! If you're looking for cheap tents, sleeping bags, rucksacks, outdoor furniture, camping stoves, water carriers or even first aid kits - then look no further! Outdoorgear4less has all the best stock at the cheapest prices on the web! So if you are looking for camping & outdoor gear or know a friend that is, then point them in our direction.

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Austria gets dumped on

2009-02-19T02:35:00.000-08:00

Austria is enjoying the best of the snowfall this week, and the resorts we report on are in excellent shape as temperatures remain comfortably cold. Many resorts are expecting further snowfall this week with up to 50cm expected in some places. Wunderbar!

Most of the country is benefitting from the storm, which is set to last into this week bringing a further 50cms in places. Obertauern is in superb condition following 30cm of fresh snow falling on Sunday.The cold temperatures mixed with sunny spells this week are providing good visibility, so it's a great week to make the most of the resort's powder! The same snowstorm that dumped heavy snowfalls on Obertauern also boosted the conditions at Zauchensee which is very close by. The base depth in the whole resort is up to a metre, as is the base at Waidring in the Steinplatte area. 30cm of new snow fell there on Sunday increasing the base depth on the upper slopes by 50cm.

Kaprun's base on the upper slopes has increased significantly to 258cm, partly due to the fresh snow that has fallen this weekend but also due to improved depth measurements.

Heavy snow forecast for half term skiers

2009-02-12T03:36:00.000-08:00

Ski resorts across Europe and North America are expecting heavy snowfalls ahead of next week's half term holiday. Forecasters are predicting up to half a metre of snow in many resorts across France, Austria and Switzerland and almost a metre in some US resorts.

In France, which last season attracted almost half of Britons 1.4 million skiers, the popular Les Trois Vallèes (Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens) is expecting 23cm of snow, while the Espace Killy (Tignes and Val d'Isère) has 16cm forecast. However, it is the lesser known resorts of the Portes du Soleil ski area (Morzine and Avoriaz) which will see the heaviest snowfalls in France, with around 45cm expected. In the popular family resort of Obergurgl, in Austria, forecasters are predicting 36cm, while in Arosa, in Switzerland, 45cm of snow is expected. In North America, the US resort of Mammoth is expecting up to a metre of snow, while in Whistler, Canada, 29cm is set to fall.

Thousands of British families will be heading for the slopes this weekend, with France, Canada and Austria being among the most popular destinations. February half-term is traditionally one of the busiest, and most expensive, weeks in the ski season calendar. Last year, Telegraph Travel reported that the price of a family ski holiday for this February half-term had risen by almost 65 per cent due to the half term falling on the same date for all British schools as well as coinciding with school holidays in many European countries.

However, families that do not make it to the Alps, or have opted to avoid the crowds and expense of foreign ski resorts can opt for one of Scotland's five ski resorts, which are currently experiencing some of the best conditions in more than a decade. Scotland's resorts already have a good snow base and are expecting up to 10cm to fall during the next few days. Last weekend around 15,000 skiers took to Scotland's slopes. A spokesman for Visit Scotland advised families heading to Scottish slopes to pre-book their lift passes and equipment in advance through their chosen resort. A spokesman for the Ski Club of Great Britain warned that temperatures across European resorts will be extremely low during the start of half term and that skiers should wrap up warm to feel comfortable on the slopes.

Icy temperatures plunge to -18C

2009-02-09T02:25:00.000-08:00

Temperatures in parts of the Highlands have plunged as low as -18C overnight as much of Scotland had its coldest night of the winter.

Aviemore recorded the coldest February temperature since 1986 (-18C), Altnaharra in the Highlands was down to -15C and Aberdeen was -12C. The Met Office warned of freezing temperatures leading to the risk of widespread ice on untreated roads. Temperatures in Glasgow and Edinburgh were about -1C despite snow falls. There was more snow over much of southern and central Scotland overnight.

The freezing conditions provided a boost for Scotland's ski centres over the weekend. Skiers flocked to the slopes to make the most of the weather. At Glenshee Ski Centre the car park was full by 1000 GMT, with 1,500 cars parked. However, some people were reporting that their cars were getting stuck in the snow and Grampian Police was forced to close the snow gates on the incoming roads in an attempt to persuade new arrivals to go elsewhere. The centre's website said that conditions were "nearly perfect". At Nevis Range ski centre near Fort William there were about 800 people already on the slopes by 1030 GMT.

Isola 2000 cut off by avalanches

2009-02-09T02:23:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of people were said to be trapped by heavy snowfall in the British-built ski resort over the weekend, after three avalanches blocked the winding mountain road leading up to resort. There were no reports of injuries, but the French army and police officers had to be called in as well as an emergency team to work round-the-clock to try and clear a path to Isola 2000. According to the Isola 2000 website, the road between Isola Village and Isola 2000 has now re-opened. The resort has experienced heavy snowfall throughout the season, contributing to a huge current snowbase of 3m! The resort had around 30cm of fresh snow last week, and were expecting another 30-50cm over the weekend.

Airboard inflatable sledge now in & reduced!

2009-02-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

We're sure you've read the recent coverage of an accident involving a sledge which resulted in a child being killed. It's very important to use a specifically manufactured sledge, not a makeshift one, due to safety reasons. Our new range of Airboards took 10 years to develop, and are a safe way to have some fun sledging in the snow.

The Airboard inflatable sledge offers a completely new snow experience. Lying low on the air cushion on your stomach, helmet first, you take every curve as if you're flying. The ribbed underside of the board lets you control your direction mainly by shifting your weight. This close to the ground, the speed is all the more exhilarating! Brake by shifting the air board sideways.
Airboards are made exclusively from tough 'soft' materials to minimise the risk of injury in the event of falls or collisions. On impact, the Airboard acts like an airbag. The same applies on rough terrain - the flexible air cushion design compensates for ground irregularities.
Airboards were developed by Joe Steiner from Zug, Switzerland. It took 10 years of meticulous work to bring the Airboard up to his stringent requirements as far as comfort and security were concerned. Airboards are extremely convenient when you are on the move; they fold up into a small, light rucksack for carrying on your back. They also make great seats or recliners in the snow!

Going down the piste on an Airboard can be compared only to body-boarding on snow!
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