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| Avalanche Training Winter 2010 | 13/12/2009 15:07 |
| After a few years gap it is good to see that Chamonix Experience are once again running the AIARE Level 1 courses in Chamonix this winter. The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education course curriculum is the result of collaboration between Canadian, Swiss, and American mountain guides. If you are in Chamonix this winter then these courses are an ideal introduction to backcountry travel in the winter. | |
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| Perfect storm for ski resorts? | 29/11/2009 5:46 |
| Could the combination of the credit crunch and a poor start to the season be the perfect storm for ski resorts? After early storms France has been basking in record breaking temperatures during November. Chill wind is blowing for Ski Republic owner | |
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| Review of the 2008-2009 ski season in France | 15/11/2009 17:58 |
| Snow cover in 2008/9 was very good in all the French mountain ranges, especially in the Pyrenees, the border areas with Italy and Corsica. The Pyrenees and Southern Alps saw periods of severe natural avalanche activity that closed ski areas and damaged infrastructure but despite some injuries no-one was killed by these incidents. Spring skiing at the New Year | |
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| Ski Test Tours 2009/10 | 10/11/2009 14:54 |
| Want to test some skis? There are two events which may be of interest. The season kicks off with the Ski Force Winter Tour and four resort dates. You can test skis from manufacturers belonging to the FIFAS body (Atomic, Dynastar, Elan, Fischer, Head, H2, Kastle, Movement, Nordica, Rossignol, Roxy, Salomon, Scott and Volk). The Ultimate Ski Test Tour has grown out of the Swallowmania event at la Grave and is aimed at freeride skiers. | |
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| Watch Henry?s Avalanche Talk at home | 01/11/2009 9:02 |
| Henry?s Avalanche Talk is aims to help off-piste skiers and boarders understand for themselves how to stay safe and have more fun. They have now produced online versions of the avalanche talks that means you do not need to attend a live event. | |
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| Pay Powder | 31/10/2009 5:14 |
| How much would you pay to ski fresh powder? Does it even have a price? Squaw valley seems to think so. Squaw is built on private rather than forestry service land with limited access to the backcountry. That is set to change as it re-jigs lift pass prices in light of the credit crunch. | |
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| Freeride/Ski world tour | 29/10/2009 1:08 |
| Two world tours this year for freeriders and two world champions. The freeskiing world tour is already underway with the first leg in the southern hemisphere held at la Parva in Chili at the start of September. The freeride world tour starts in January at the 2014 Olympic Site of Sotchi in Russia. | |
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| AlpControl claims world?s lightest wide skis | 25/10/2009 9:41 |
| AlpControl claims its new carbon fiber skis weigh under 2000 grams (4.3lbs) a pair in 175cm with a shovel of 120mm. That?s less than some of the skinny competition skis used the the Pierra Menta competition. However it is ultra durable, the manufacturer claims it might be the best investment in your skiing life. | |
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| October snowmaking surprises and angers locals | 23/10/2009 3:09 |
| The snow canons at one of the ski resorts above Grenoble in the French Alps were running at full capacity all week-end. Meanwhile a severe drought in what has been one of the driest summers on record has led to water restrictions in the region. France 3 news report - http://france3.fr/ | |
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| Ski lift operators notice fewer Brits | 15/10/2009 8:28 |
| According to the French Ski Lift operators organisation (SNTF) France saw 58.6 million skier/days in 2008/9 up 6.6% up on 2007/8 but the share of British skiers dropped 3% to 21%. Overall 75% of skiers are French but in the big resorts nearly half of all guests are foreign. | |
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