February 2023

AllEnvironment

Athletes Increase Calls To FIS To Do More To Fight Climate Change

Over 420 athletes (including superstars like Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR)) have now signed a letter demanding greater action and transparency on climate by the sport’s governing body, the FIS (International Ski & Snowboard Federation). The letter, written by ski racer and Protect Our Winters Ambassador Julian Schütter, was initially delivered to the FIS just after the Men’s Downhill ski race at the FIS Alpine World Championships in Courchevel on Sunday 12th February, but has remained open to further athlete signatories since, with the list continuing to grow. The FIS has responded to the athlete’s letter with an online media release which focuses on British government roles connected to climate change, as well as charitable endeavours to…

Snowhunter 27th February 2023 2

AllWeatherWebsite tips & info

Major Snowfalls Across North America

Ski areas across North America are reporting big snowfalls as storms move in from both East and West coasts. The range of temperatures between the hottest and coldest parts of the continent is currently reported to exceed 100 degrees and in some places the snow is arriving along with ultra-low temperatures as well as gale force winds impacting operations. California is receiving heavy snowfall and gales just ahead of the Palisades hosting the FIS Alpine Ski Racing World Tour this weekend. The latest reports are that the races are currently still on but accompanying festivities including a big music concert have had to be cancelled. The world’s deepest snow depth at Mammoth Mountain which had reached 6.6 metres (22…

Snowhunter 24th February 2023

AllRoundups

WORLD SNOW ROUNDUP #279

Issued: 22nd February 2023 By Patrick "Snowhunter" Thorne European Roundup North American Roundup Asia Roundup World Overview Showdown A fairly quiet week for snowfall across much of the Northern Hemisphere's ski regions. In fact, base depths have dropped a few centimetres on a week ago and above-freezing temps have been recorded across much of Europe and the Eastern US, where it's been mostly sunny and dry The snow has been falling in some areas though, including right across Canada, up in Scandinavia and particularly in the US Rockies as well as in New Mexico where several resorts have reported 2-3 feet (60-90cm) of snowfall in the past week. In the wider world there has also been heavy snowfall in the…

MarcD 22nd February 2023

AllEvents

The Brits Heading Back To Scotland After 32 Years

The Brits are returning to where it all began more than three decades ago, after 30+ years of being staged in the Alps. This April the UK’s official Snowboard and Freeski Championships will take place at Cairngorm Mountain in the Scottish Highlands. “A lot has changed over the past three decades; snowboarding is well established, freeskiing has risen in parallel, and as two of the favourite disciplines of the Olympics (and with the standard of UK riding being Olympic-medal-winning) we know this is gonna be one hell of a show!” said BRITS organizer Stuart Brass. Taking place at Cairngorm Mountain, on 1st-2nd April 2023, 32 years after the original event, Cairngorm created its first halfpipe back in 1991 and the…

Snowhunter 22nd February 2023

AllTechnique / Safety

U.S. Edges Closer to Allowing in Unvaccinated Skiers

The United States is currently open to tourists from all over the world, but unusually among major nations, it is still required for non-US citizens to prove they are vaccinated against Covid-19 to be allowed to enter the country. However the US House of Representatives has now passed a bill that would remove this requirement, however the bill still needs to successfully pass through the Senate and also receive President Biden’s approval. There appears to be some politics at play with the measure to end the requirement introduced by the Republicans, although seven Democrats joined the 3/5 majority vote in favour of dropping the vaccination requirement on arrivals by air. It is unclear how soon the bill will be heart…

Snowhunter 18th February 2023 4

AllLifestyle

US Ski Area Re-Opens

Tenney Mountain ski area in New Hampshire has re-opened again, hopefully for good. The mountain first opened in 1960 but closed, apparently permanently, in 2010, after operating for 50 years. However the centre was purchased in 2015 and briefly reopened for ski operations in March 2018, but was then closed the past two seasons through the pandemic. It reopened on February 10th after poor snow conditions delayed its doing so earlier this winter. The centre, under new ownership since last year, has been used by ski tourers, but now has two elderly chairlifts back in operation. The new owners have plans to expand and rebuild the lodge and expand the skiable area having already spent about $1.5m getting the chairlifts…

Snowhunter 15th February 2023

AllRoundups

WORLD SNOW ROUNDUP #279

Issued: 15th February 2023 By Patrick "Snowhunter" Thorne European Roundup North American Roundup Asia Roundup World Overview Sun Peaks After the very cold temperatures in north eastern North America just over a week ago, temperatures have warmed up to just below freezing in the region. Most of the rest of the continent’s ski areas have reported some fresh snowfall in the last week, if nothing spectacular, and sunny spells with generally cold temperatures. So, essentially, almost everywhere is open, most with good snow cover and many fresh cover. The Rockies and the west coast mountains continue to post many of the world’s deepest snowpacks. In Europe, the snowfall in the eastern Alps seems to have stalled for now and it…

MarcD 15th February 2023

AllSki Resorts

Banff Resort Plans New Gondola as Centenary Nears

Mount Norquay ski area near Banff is planning to replace its North American Chairlift, originally built in 1946, with a two-station gondola running from the main lodge area to the Cliff House restaurant. The plan is part of Norquay’s ‘100 Vision’ which has been set out ahead of the centenary of the famous Canadian ski town’s centenary in 2026. “For nearly 100 years, Norquay has served as Banff’s backyard, an iconic destination for skiers and sightseers, often providing visitors their first introduction to Banff National Park. As we start to look towards our second century of operation, we are putting plans in place to improve the visitor experience and make ourselves more accessible as well as environmentally and economically sustainable,”…

Snowhunter 14th February 2023 2

Environment

Protect Our Winters Urge FIS To Do Much More on Climate Change

Protect Our Winter (POW) have used the global focus on the current bi-annual Alpine World Skiing championships in Meribel and Courchevel to call on the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to do much more is the fight against climate change. The group, which has grown over the past two decades into the global snow-sports community’s main advocacy body in fighting the climate emergency, presented the FIS with a letter calling on the world governing body of ski and snowboard competition to do much more. Hundreds of snow sports athletes including Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde are reported to have signed the letter as well as many other top racers like Italy’s Federica Brignone and Marta Bassino and previous…

Snowhunter 12th February 2023

Environment

Swedish Ski Resort of Sälen to Create Sugar Cane Summer Ski Slope

The SkiStar group, which runs Scandinavia’s largest ski resorts has announced the a ski slope made from sugar cane will be a new attraction this summer at their Sälen resort. Sugar cane can be used to produce a type of bioplastic called polylactic acid (PLA), which is a biodegradable and compostable material. The process involves converting the sugar from sugar cane into lactic acid, which is then polymerized to create PLA. “We want to get more people moving and to be able to offer an active and relaxing holiday all year round. We want more people to enjoy and access the amazing Scandinavian mountain environment even in summer. Previous years have also taught us that summer brings an increasing interest…

Snowhunter 10th February 2023

Uncategorised

ALPINE FLEET – THE NEW TRANSFER SERVICE FROM GENEVA

Airport ski transfers to the Alps have often consisted of either costly private transfers or regular, less expensive but less flexible buses. Alpine Fleet aims to improve those services. Alpine Fleet is a new transfer service that enhances the customer's transfer experience with hassle-free, reliable, and conveniently shared transfers from Geneva Airport to ski resorts across the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. Alpine Fleet says it provides unrivalled shared and private rates for all budgets and provides quality service. See here for further details on the Alpine Fleet website Simon Carrelli, the founder of Alpybus, has joined with two others from within the industry to create Alpine Fleet SA. “We offer shared, standard, and luxury private transfers for any kind…

snowfore 10th February 2023

Lifestyle

Snurf the Dolomites

An upmarket Italian hotel in the ski resort of Alta Badia in The Dolomites is offering the unusual option of ‘snurfing’ to guests who have already mastered snowboarding. “Snurfing”, widely seen as the precursor to snowboarding, is a winter activity that was invented in 1965 by American Sherman Poppen. Jake Burton and other snowboarding pioneers of the 1970s began on Snurf boards, competing in national snurfing contests in the USA. “Snurfing” requires guests to balance and slide down slopes on a plank – a combination of monoski and surfboard – whilst hanging on to a short piece of rope, used also for steering. Snurfing was largely forgotten after Burton and other pioneers released their first snowboard prototypes, but the boards…

Snowhunter 8th February 2023

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