Best skiing in 14 years at resort

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Still snowing in Spain

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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Austria gets dumped on

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

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

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

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!

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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British skiers make the most of the snow

More than six million people are reported to have taken the day off work yesterday, and more than 3,000 schools were shut due to the heavy snowfall. It was weather that many people have not seen for 18 years, and as a result many railway stations, bus stops or roads were closed or impassable. Many people headed instead for the nearest park or field instead to throw a few snowballs.

One North London skier told how she and some friends headed up to Primrose Hill yesterday with their skis, via the London Underground. "The reaction from everyone on the tube was pretty much as you'd expect, the odd raised eyebrow and I'm not sure everyone appreciated the safety factor of checking the tube map out on the way home to make sure we knew where we'd gone." "We bumped into some seasoned long-skis-with-rear-entry-boots chaps on the top of Primrose Hill, then bumped into some guys from our season and were able to hijack their kicker. We were mildly perturbed by the grassy nature of the run-up and the even-more-grassy landing, but we acquired an audience at the top cheering each descent and started feeling like celebrities. We then skied off down to the pub for a spot of après where we were unceremoniously refused Jaeger-bombs, Chartreuse and Genepy, so settled for pints of Amstel instead".

Heavy snow hits the UK

South-east England experienced the heaviest snowfall for 18 years yesterday, and major airports were closed, motorways slowed to a standstill and many train services were cancelled as a result of the extreme weather. In London, commuters struggled to get to work after buses were suspended and many parts of the Underground stood down due to the dangerous conditions. Despite snow ploughs working to clear tracks, rail services in and out of the South East of England were mainly cancelled or severely disrupted. On the roads thousands of gritters were out but there was gridlock reported on many major routes including the M25.

The North Downs and Pennines bore the brunt of the blizzards with at least 10 inches reported in many places. However the snow extended across much of the country with four inches of snow being commonly found. In Scotland, heavy snowfall shut dozens of schools and caused difficult driving conditions and flight cancellations. Airports in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen have cancelled more than 60 flights due to the extreme conditions south of the border. The heavy snowfall hasn't hit all the Scottish resorts as yet, but Cairngorm and Glenshee have had some light dustings and all the resorts are expecting more snow during the coming week.

The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning for England, Wales and eastern Scotland, and more snow was forecast for today.

Clothing & Accessories for Winter Survival!

If you've had the joy of experiencing the recent heavy fall of snow across the UK, you'll understand the need to keep a supply of warm winter clothing for such unexpected weather conditions.

Here's a list of the basics to ensure you're kept warm during this cold spell

Layering is an important concept to understand

Instead of wearing one heavy jacket, wear layers so you can peel them off when you get warm and start generating sweat. You'll keep moisture from building up. Moisture, or sweat, will contribute to you being cold.

Here are some tips for dressing, whether you're going sledding for a few hours or on a backcountry trek:

Socks: Wool is best. For extra warmth you can start with a pair of light synthetic or silk socks covered with wool socks.

Footwear: Snow boots or heavy-duty, waterproof hiking boots.

First layer: Silk, synthetic or light wool thermals.

Mid-layer: Synthetic fleece (not cotton fleece), or wool sweaters make good insulating layers.

Outer bottom layer: Ski pants or wool pants.

Outer top layer: A ski jacket or wind and waterproof shell jacket is a must for the outer layer.

Gloves: Ski or snowboard gloves or wool mittens work well.

Head gear: Hats are easy. Any ski or snowboard hat works well. Also, make sure you put your safety first if you're heading for the slopes and purchase a ski helmet.

You'll find all these items and much, much more at skiwear4less.com, where we bring you the best products at the very best prices!

New Mexico ski areas offer ski helmet rentals

All of New Mexico's ski areas will now offer helmet rentals for skiers or snowboarders under the age of 18. State Sen. Eric Griego had been planning to introduce legislation to require slopes around the state to offer the rentals but the ski industry beat him to it.The issue became moot after Griego approached ski industry officials. He learned that only three of New Mexico's eight downhill ski areas—Santa Fe, Sandia Peak and Pajarito Mountain—didn't already offer such rentals. The three ski areas have since agreed to begin renting youth helmets, said George Brooks, executive director of Ski New Mexico.

"The senator and the ski areas in New Mexico have the same interests," Brooks said. "We all want the consumers, our guests, to be safe and enjoy the sport."

Geraldine Link, director of public policy for the National Ski Areas Association, said no states mandate youth helmets on the slopes but most ski areas nationwide offer rental helmets and many parents choose to purchase helmets for their children. "Through voluntary measures, we have achieved high usage rates," she said. Griego became concerned about the availability of children's rental helmets after taking his godson skiing at Santa Fe Ski Basin on Dec. 30. He had promised the boy's parents he would put the kid in a helmet.

"I got up there and found out they didn't rent helmets," Griego recalled.

So he purchased a $70 helmet, the On the same day at the ski area, a 10-year-old girl from Bushland, Texas, died after crashing and sliding into a tree. She wasn't wearing a helmet; investigators said she sustained head trauma. "My feeling was that if they're going to rent skis and snowboards, they ought to rent helmets, too," Griego said. cheapest model offered. Griego said some were selling for as much as $300.

We have some fanastic priced helmets including a new range of Rossignol ski helmets, so be sure to have a look at www.skiwear4less.com before you leave for your next ski trip.

X Games Gold for Briton Jones

Jenny Jones, 28 from Bristol, has become the first Briton to win a medal of any colour at the annual X Games, clinching victory with the last run of the competition. Her overall score of 90.00 gave her victory by almost three points from Spencer O’Brien of Canada in second on 87.66. The invitation-only event, held in Aspen, Colorado attracts the world’s top competitors. An ecstatic Jones said: “My first run was sketchy, my second run I cleaned it up, so it looked better and I felt happy with the run but it wasn’t enough. I just had to go for it on the last run with the last jump”

“I was so pleased to win and suddenly the emotions went crazy and I had to try hard not to cry. It means so much to me to win an X Games medal and to win gold is the icing on the cake”

Britain’s other competitor, Zoe Gillings, was eliminated in the semi-final of the Snowboard Cross but withdrew from the consolation final after injuring her heel. There was encouraging news however for British skier Chemmy Alcott. Returning from injury, Alcott managed15th place in the woman’s World Cup giant slalom in Cortina.

Rossignol ski helmets now in & reduced!

We've just received a new delivery of Rossignol ski helmets, which are now available to purchase online with huge savings! It's very important to keep safe on the slopes by wearing a helmet and our Rossignol range is an absolute bargains with helmets reduced from £68.99 to just £34.99!
Make sure you buy yours now for next ski trip! Click the image above to check out the range now!

Heavy snow returns to Europe's ski resorts

Storms are set to bring heavy snowfall to European ski resorts this week after a two week sunny spell.

More than a metre of snow is forecast for the French resorts of Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d'Huez, La Plagne, Les Arcs and Meribel, and the Swiss resort of Verbier. Lech and Obergurgl, in Austria, are expecting more than half a metre of snow, while the Italian resorts of Cervinia and La Thuile are expecting almost a metre. Many other European ski resorts are expecting between 25 and 50cm.

"This new snow has come at the perfect time," said a spokesman for the Ski Club of Great Britain. "It's been cold and sunny over the past few weeks, which was starting to affect conditions on south facing slopes," he added.

Snow has already begun to fall in some resorts, the French resorts of Val d'Isère and Tignes received 20cm of snow on Sunday and have a further 75cm forecast. In the Italian resort of Courmayeur, 15cm fell on Monday and a further metre of snow is forecast to fall before the weekend.

"These are some of the best conditions that I've ever skied in Courmayeur," said Jonny Baird, a mountain guide in the Courmayeur and Chamonix area. "There is powder everywhere and it's thigh-deep in places."

This latest heavy snowfall will top up Europe's pistes ahead of the February half-term. However, many resorts already have an excellent base layer after heavy snowfalls in November and December, which saw the best start to a winter ski season in Europe since 1974.

In Britain, heavy snow in western Scotland over the past week has enabled Nevis Range to open for the first time this season and the resort is expecting a further 16cm of snow by the weekend. Glencoe, also in western Scotland, has 18cm forecast this week and is expected to open on Wednesday.

All Scottish ski areas open for first time this season

All five Scottish ski centres will be open by Wednesday this week, as heavy snow in Western Scotland allowed the two remaining centres yet to open for 2008-9 – Glencoe and Nevis Range – to open for the first time.

Glencoe plans to open this Wednesday at 10am, a spokesman commented, “Heavy snow over the last couple of days has improved the overall situation on the mountain. All runs are now complete although some are narrow in places.”

A spokesperson for Nevis Range to the north commented, “We are open for skiing! Fresh snow at all levels and most main runs complete but unconsolidated. Pisting is in progress and more runs will open as the week progresses.”

There has been less fresh snow in the East where the other three centres are located, and have been operating intermittently since back on Halloween 2008. However all three remaining centres there (Cairngorm, Glenshee and The Lecht) are open with limited terrain.

Ski death provokes helmet debate

The death of a woman in a highly publicised skiing collision has shaken holidaymakers and sparked debate about safety on the piste.

There has been plenty of early snow in the Alps and the ski season is in full swing. But in Kitzbuehel, the news of a fatal skiing accident has overshadowed the usual frivolous atmosphere at this time of year. People in Germany and Austria have been shocked by the recent ski accident involving a senior German politician, Dieter Althaus, and it has triggered a debate about wearing helmets.

In the accident, which happened on New Year's Day, a Slovak woman was killed and Mr Althaus, the governor of the eastern German state of Thuringia, was seriously injured when they collided while skiing. Mr Althaus, 50, was flown by helicopter to hospital in Schwarzach and he was placed in an artificially-induced coma. According to surgeons, he suffered injuries to the skull and brain. Neurologists said it was likely that the helmet that he was wearing saved his life.

Beata Christandl, a 41-year-old mother-of-four, was not wearing a helmet. She died on the way to hospital after suffering from multiple skull injuries. The accident happened at a junction of two pistes in the Riesneralm ski resort in Austria.

According to reports in the German media Mr Althaus was skiing on a red, intermediate, slope which crosses an easier slope, on which Beata Christandl was travelling. One investigator said both skiers were travelling at around 50km/h (30 mph).

Josef Schmid, a spokesman for the Austrian skiing federation, urged all those on the slopes to err on the side of caution. "We recommend that all skiers should wear helmets, it's not just young children, adults also need protection," Mr Schmid said.

"With the new carving skis, people tend to ski faster these days and they overestimate their own abilities. The slopes are very busy and it's much safer for everyone if you wear a helmet," he said. Politicians and leading figures in sport have called for the wearing of helmets to be made compulsory for skiers and snowboarders in Germany and Austria. In Italy, it is compulsory for all children under the age of 14 to wear a helmet on the ski slopes. And the idea has support from among skiing's elite." A helmet would help to reduce the severity of injuries," said Hilde Gerg, the 33-year-old German Olympic slalom champion, who has now retired from professional skiing, in an interview with Bunte magazine.

Over at our main website www.skiwear4less.com we have a great selection of adults and childrens ski helmets for you to choose from. So be sure to purchase one for your next ski trip, to ensure you and your family stay safe.

More snow on the way

The high pressure which has dominated weather in the Alps for the past few weeks, is set to make way for snowier and milder weather in parts of Switzerland, Italy and Austria early next week.

We've been waiting a little while for another good dump of fresh stuff, and whilst the consistently cold weather has kept the snow in good shape, powder hounds will be pleased to see what the weather has in store over the next few days.

It looks like Switzerland will receive the lion's share of this weather front, with Verbier expecting a whopping 44cm of fresh snow in the next five days, St Moritz 50cm and Zermatt 38cm!

French resorts will also get a look in, with Les Deux Alpes expecting 20cm of snow on Sunday night which should help to boost the already good conditions, and a further 18cm of snow is forecast for Monday.

In Tignes, conditions are still very good thanks to the cold weather and lovely sunshine this week but a top up of 14cm is forecast for Sunday, which should get heavier on Monday night.

Parts of Austria already had some snow this week, with the Piztal area receiving 15cm of snow and powder conditions can already be found across the whole resort. Whilst the weekend is forecast to be largely sunny, clouds will be gathering again by Tuesday when a further 13cm is expected, and Bad Gastein further East should also see 22cm fall by Tuesday.

In Italy, Selva Gardena received 8cm of fresh snow during the middle of the week, and a heavier band of snow is expected to move over the area on Monday night, bringing with it up to 20cm of fresh snow.

Back in the UK, snow fell across most of the Scottish ski resorts this week and the forecast is for temperatures to fall across Scotland over the weekend and more snow to fall from Friday onwards. Glencoe has 25cm of snow forecast and all of the other resorts are expecting at least 10cm.

So it looks like it might be time to put the sunglasses and sunscreen away for the time being, and get those goggles and fat skis back out by the front door.

Heavy snow falls on Canadian ski areas

A number of ski holiday resorts in the province of Alberta, Canada have seen heavy snow over the past few days.

Travel Alberta reported that more than half a metre of fresh snow has fallen over the past three days in the ski areas of Mt Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village in Banff national park.

Skiers and snowboarders are now taking advantage of fresh powder covering almost 8,000 acres of terrain.

People taking holidays in the area this month will have the chance to attend the Ice Magic festival on the shores of Lake Louise from January 23rd to 25th, which includes a 34-hour ice-sculpting competition.

Other popular activities in the Banff national park and Lake Louise region include spa trips and wildlife tracking, with deer, elk, cougars, moose and even grizzly bears roaming free through the park''s protected forests.

Calgary and Edmonton, two of the biggest cities in Alberta, can be reached by taking flights with airlines including KLM and United Airlines.

Rossignol ski luggage now in stock!

We've got a great new range of Rossignol luggage now in stock, all with huge discounts! We've got a selection of boot bags, 175cm ski bags, 195cm ski bags & a wheelie bag that can hold 2 or 3 pairs of skis. We've slashed the prices, so be sure to check them out!

Huge snowfalls in North America

After a lacklustre pre-Christmas start to the season, resorts in western North America have been reporting increasingly spectacular snowfall over the past few weeks, particularly in the northern US states and in British Columbia, Canada.

The snow has caused practical operational problems in some cases and avalanches in others with about a dozen deaths across the region.

At Whitefish in Montana, the resort reports it received more than five feet of new snow between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. As a result total snowfall to date is now approaching last season’s record numbers. “We got off to a bit of a slow start, snow-wise,” said Donnie Clapp, spokesman for the resort. “We certainly didn’t expect to have this much snow by early January when we opened.”

In Utah, Snowbird Ski Resort crossed over the 200inch (five metre) season-to-date snowfall total mark this week thanks to 29 inches (73cm) of new snow that has fallen over a three day period. “Nine feet of snow fell in December, and January is already proving to be another significant and productive snowfall month,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. “The mountain is in mid-winter form and skiers are raving about the conditions.”

The weekend storm brought Snowbird’s season-to-date snowfall total to 207 inches and the mid-mountain base to 86 inches. The Little Cottonwood Canyon resort averages an annual snowfall of 500 inches, providing the longest ski and snowboard season in Utah. Last season Snowbird received 611 inches and remained open until June 22nd.

It’s a similar picture north of the border with Fernie reporting more than a metre (40 inches) of new snow in the past week and stating accumulations were building in feet rather than centimetres! Good news indeed.

Alpine farmers making cold cash by selling snow to ski resorts

Cash-strapped Alpine farmers are raking in a fortune harvesting snow and selling it to desperate ski slopes.

Despite a freezing winter, snowfall levels at lower altitudes are down and Austrian resorts have had to buy in trailerloads of the stuff from higher up the mountains.

Across the country, thousands of tonnes of snow have been dug up from high Alpine ski fields and shipped to keep ski pistes open. In Austria, the biggest "snow harvesters" are the owners of the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrassen AG (GroAG), a 65-kilometre stretch of road 2,500 metres above sea level that is Europe's highest Alpine crossing.

GroAG spokesman Dietmar Schondorfer said, "Even if it doesn't snow, every day we have tonnes of snow dumped on the road by the wind, all we have to do is drive back and forward to scoop it up."

Fatal Avalanches Rattle Ski Country in the West

Whistler Blackcomb resort in British Columbia has stationed guards at the top of some areas to prevent skiers and snowboarders from entering hazardous terrain. Grouse Mountain resort, in North Vancouver, has suggested that government action may be needed to deter skiers and snowboarders from using off-limit areas. And Jackson Hole in Wyoming has already burned through nearly half of this year’s budget for avalanche hazard reduction work, one month into the season.

Resorts throughout the western United States and Canada are struggling with avalanche hazards as weather patterns have created uncommonly widespread conditions of instability, wreaking havoc on mountains crowded with skiers of all levels at the start of ski season. Last week, avalanches at Whistler Blackcomb killed a snowboarder and a skier on terrain outside the resort’s boundaries. On Wednesday morning, a controlled slide ran past Jackson Hole’s $10 million Bridger Restaurant — already damaged by a recent avalanche — while the mountain was closed to the public.

Avalanche forecasters anticipate that hazardous conditions could persist well into the season throughout the backcountry in the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest and the Tetons. The Teton County Sheriff’s Department reminded the public last week — for the first time in its 17-year history — that search and rescue may be significantly delayed or unable to respond to backcountry incidents because of heightened avalanche hazards.

Skier suffers from exposure

A guy who dangled upside down from a ski lift with his bare bottom exposed probably doesn't want to hear any "ski bum" jokes.

Officials at Vail Resorts in Colorado say the 48-year-old man was trying to get on the Blue Ski basin lift on New Year's Day. They haven't said what went wrong.

Workers stopped the lift, backed it up 10 or 12 feet and rescued the man after about seven minutes. His name hasn't been released.

Bystanders snapped photos and posted them on the Internet, showing a man who looks to be hanging by one ski boot, his ski pants and underwear apparently snagged in the chair and reaching no farther than his knees.