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AdventuresTechnique / Safety

Warren Smith Ski Academy Offers Summer Courses on Swiss Snow

The Warren Smith Ski Academy is going ahead with its summer 2020 program based in the Italian Alpine resort of Cervinia, with skiing taking place high up on the Matterhorn glacier, accessed from Italy but on the Swiss side of the border. The courses take place on the summer ski area high above the resort at almost 3,900 meters and run for five 5 days during the week, from 08.30am until 2pm. The focus is on developing pupil’s skills and confidence to improve their skiing to help with carving, steeps, short radius turns, personal development, moguls and even the foundation for powder snow conditions. “The snow is in really great shape right now and we’re really looking forward to welcoming…

Snowhunter 7th July 2020
Uncategorised

Snow Bases in the Andes Near 4 Metres (13 feet)

Corralco ski area in Chile (below) has now reported a 3.8 metre (nearly 13 foot) base of snow on its slopes at what should be approaching the start of the main ski season in South America. However all ski areas in Argentina and Chile remain closed as both countries continue their lockdowns with no clear end in sight.  Argentina’s Las Lenas resort has already said it wont open this winter whilst Portillo in Chile has delayed opening ‘indefinitely’ until they have some clear indication they might be able to open. But the situation for skiers is ironic, to say the least, with a month of almost constant low temperatures and heavy snowfall leaving most ski areas in the Andes with…

Snowhunter 6th July 2020
Uncategorised

Fresh July Snowfall on Four Continents, North and South of The Equator

There’s been fresh snowfall in the past few days in Europe and North America in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as in South America, Australia and New Zealand. The most unusual snowfall was in Norway where the Fonna Glacier (pictured top today), one of three currently open for skiing in the country, was closed on Friday 3rd June as 35cm (14 inches) of snow fell, closing the centre’s access road. It’s not that unusual for fresh snow at any point in the summer on Norwegian glaciers, but it’s less common for it to happen as part of snowfall happening around the world. Higher slopes in parts of North America have also reported fresh snow although all but Timberline in Oregon…

Snowhunter 3rd July 2020
LifestyleRoundups

“Face Coverings Are Part of Our Culture”

Whilst acknowledging there are many questions about how ski areas will operate next winter, senior management from North American ski centres have said that part of the message they’d like to convey is that ski centres remain good for physical and mental well-being. "It's important to share the benefits ski areas have to offer - there's space to spread out," said Kelly Pawlak, president/CEO of the National Ski Areas Association in the USA, pointing out that the majority of the day is spent outside on a ski trip and that snowsports are great for one's mental health.  “Face coverings are part of our culture," she added. Kelly Pawlak was speaking at an online briefing for journalists organised by the North…

Snowhunter 2nd July 2020
Roundups

WORLD SNOW ROUNDUP #146

Issued: 01 July 2020 By Patrick "Snowhunter" Thorne North American Roundup European Roundup Asia Roundup SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE OVERVIEW We’re up to double figures in terms of the numbers of ski areas open in the southern hemisphere now with more ski areas opening in New Zealand and Australia over the past week.  The five Australian and six New Zealand areas currently open join one in southern Africa, Lesotho’s Afriski, taking us to ten in the southern hemisphere (just behind the thirteen in Asia, Europe and North America).  That situation should be reversed by the weekend, if not before, with more than half a dozen more Australian and New Zealand ski areas due to open by then. The other big news of…

MarcD 1st July 2020
RoundupsSki ResortsTravel

Increasing Concern For Any 2020 Ski Season in South America and South Africa

There’s increasing concern that any ski area will be able to open in the Andes for winter 2020. It’s not looking good in South Africa either, although one ski area in Africa, Afriski in Lesoho, was the first in the southern hemisphere to open in early June. The Andes have seen big June snowfalls with several areas reporting more than a metre (40 inches) of snowfall in the past week, however Chile has recently extended its state-of-emergency by three more months to mid-September. This is close to the end of the country’s normal ski season. Chile has been one of the countries hardest hit by the virus in South America and is one of the seven worst hit worldwide at…

Snowhunter 30th June 2020
RoundupsSki Resorts

New Zealand Ski Areas ‘Suffering’ Says Country’s PM

More of New Zealand’s ski areas opened at the weekend after some significant snowfalls brought up to 50cm of new cover.  However, although the fact that the country’s ski areas are the envy of the world, as they can operate without restriction due to the successful suppression of the virus in New Zealand, resorts are suffering from a lack of international travellers. Coronet Peak, Cardrona and Treble Cone have all opened, joining Mt Hutt. Speaking at the opening of Cardrona ski area (pictured top) for winter 2020 New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern noted that the lack of foreign visitor due to New Zealand’s largely closed borders would hit the country’s ski areas hard this winter and asked New Zealanders…

Snowhunter 29th June 2020
LifestyleTechnique / Safety

Snowsports Charity Running Virtual Auction on 4th of July

The Ellie Soutter Foundation is staging a virtual auction, this Saturday, July 4th, 2020. The charity, which is dedicated to supporting talented young people in snow sports, will stream the auction live from the French Alps on Saturday 4th July between 4:30-7:30pm CET. Items available to bid for include a holiday in Thailand, game fishing in Portugal, a pair of limited-edition skis, a 3-night B&B stay in Morzine and much more. The online auction is already live now and will close at 7pm CET on Saturday 4th July, to bid simply follow this link. There is also a raffle featuring a whole host of amazing prizes to be won, including: ski lessons with LGS Snowsports tuition, a pair of Summit…

Snowhunter 29th June 2020
LifestyleRoundupsSki ResortsWeather

Over A Metre of Snow Falls in the Andes But Ski Areas Can’t Open Due to COVID-19

Ski areas in Chile, where the 2020 ski season should just be getting underway, have been reporting snowfalls of up to 1.2 metres (four feet) in the past few days.  Valle Nevado is pictured top. With South America currently one of the epicentres of the coronavirus-COVID-19 pandemic however, the governments of both countries have them in full lockdown, which means ski resorts can’t open. The situation is being seen as ironic by some who note that recent seasons have seen challenging starts in the Andes due to a lack of snow. Now there’s plenty, people can’t ski due to the pandemic. Portillo on Wednesday 24 June 2020 as the snow continues to fall. So far there’s no immediate sign of when the situation might…

Snowhunter 26th June 2020
Environment

Protect Our Winters Ask Skiers & Boarders To Join Mass Virtual Lobby of MPS on 30 June

The UK branch of Protect Our Winters (POW), the global movement of skiers and boarders to fight climate change, is urging skiers and boarders to join a virtual lobby, aimed at asking British MPs to take action for a better future. The virtual lobby is being organised by a group called The Climate Coalition, a group of over 100 member organisations including POW. “We are at a turning point. As we build back from the current health crisis, we can choose to tackle climate change and nature’s decline, and rebuild a resilient economy that benefits everyone in society. Or we can let the moment for change pass us by, go back to old ways and wait for new crises to…

Snowhunter 24th June 2020