Featuring at Sno!zone this year...

This week’s roundup brings further news of the imminent 09/10 ski season with snowmaking in North America, a new chair in Pitztal and the opening of a luxury hotel in Whistler ready for the Winter Olympics. Amongst the expected ski season stories you can find the eco-adventurer that will travel the world on a bus powered by rubbish and recycled cooking oil. Read on for all the latest happenings in the worlds of skiing, snowboarding and all things snow…

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES

2009-10 Season Snowmaking Begins in North America
Switzerland’s 08/09 Season Best For Five Years
Big Stars Sign For World Alpine Rockfest
Ski or Board Free As a Typical Brit At The SNO!storm In SNO!zone
Vail To Offer “More Adventure” For Intermediate-Advanced Skiers
Eco-Adventurer Sets Off On “Rubbish Expedition Around The World”
2009-10 Season Kicks off With New Chair For Pitztal
World Tour “Freerides” Again
Swiss Glacier Ski Slope Plans October Opening For Race Training
Whistler’s Latest Luxury Hotel Opening For Start of Olympic Season

2009-10 Season Snowmaking Begins in North America

Cold temperatures and natural snowfall have arrived earlier than expected in Colorado, USA allowing Loveland Ski Area, one of the world’s highest altitude resorts, to officially kick-off snowmaking for the 2009-2010 ski season.

“Our Trail Maintenance department has been busy preparing the hill, and have started beautifully with all the necessary conditions to start blowing snow. The weather forecast for the next few days looks very favorable for snowmaking,” said Eric Johnstone, Loveland’s Snowmaking and Trail Maintenance Manager.

Loveland Ski Area has started making snow on the Catwalk, Mambo, and Homerun for Opening Day 2009. These trails form a top-to-bottom run of 1,000 vertical feet (330m).

“Everyone at Loveland is just very excited to start the new ski season. The temperatures look good right now, the equipment is in place, and the crew is fired-up to make snow. We got together this morning and decided that today was the day.” said Bob Magrino, Director of Mountain Operations.

Snowmaking updates are available atwww.skiloveland.com/snowmaking. The site is updated continuously with pictures and reports of our snowmaking progress.

Loveland usually opens in the first half of October, but other resorts in the state which won’t open until closer to Thanksgiving in late November have also reported fresh snow for the start of autumn.

At Steamboat Ski Area the first snow of the season was reported just below the top of Christie Peak at about 8,000 feet with between a trace to half an inch as you moved up from the top of the gondola up to the summit of Mt. Werner. The Steamboat Ski Area opens for the 2009/10 season in two months on November 25, 2009.

North America’s only ‘near-year-round’ snowfield is scheduled to re-open at Timberline, Oregon this weekend after a few week’s annual maintenance closure.

www.skiloveland.com

Switzerland’s 08/09 Season Best For Five Years

An annual study of business reported by Switzerland’s ski lift operators has revealed that the country enjoyed its best winter for five years last season.

“In spite of the global economic turmoil it was the early arrival of reliable snow conditions, coupled with favorable weather at weekends and holidays throughout the winter season that did it.” Said report author Laurant Vanat.

Confirming winter 2008/09 as the best in the last five years for Switzerland, the Report recorded a rise in attendance at Swiss resorts of 2.2% compared to the previous season, and of 7.3% compared to the average of the last four seasons.

Resorts reported a total of 29.3 million skier-days and business turnover was up overall by 1.9%, to 862 million Swiss Francs.

Davos-Klosters was again the most popular resort in the country in terms of skier-days and in fact the top 13 places in the table remain unchanged from last winter.

www.vanat.ch/RM-CH-palmares-JS2009-R.pdf

Big Stars Sign For World Alpine Rockfest

American skiing superstars Bode Miller and Ted Ligety are among the first to sign up for the first ‘World Alpine Rockfest’, which is being staged on December 22nd by the Paganella ski pass region in the Italian Dolomites with a prize purse of 100,000 Euros ($150,000 US) for the winner.

“I’ve been saying we need something new in the world of skiing, and this is just the kind of event I was looking for, so I signed up right away”, said Miller.

The event will see 16 world-class skiers battling it out to win the Paganella Ski World Alpine Rockfest. Twelve ski stars will automatically take part, alongside four other athletes who will be selected before the competition.

Each of the stars has the chance to choose two friends-colleagues from their national team who will race against each other in a sort of afternoon pre-qualifier.

The real race will be held at night under the floodlights – and the finest four will make it to the final and rather than the head-to-head format that has been popular in recent years, each participant will race against the clock with the slowest four eliminated after each of the four runs,

The four finalists will be left to battle it out for the final victory and the 100.000 euro prize.

The twelve ski stars will be selected on the basis of their popularity, their success in sports events, their style, their fame, and their nationality. Each of them will have the chance to “invite” two other athletes. Davide Simoncelli – the local champ – will be able to choose four.

The 26 “selected” athletes will compete in one run, and the first four will make it to the select group of 16 finalists. The athletes who have already confirmed their participation include Bode Miller and Ted Ligety, USA, Felix Neureuther, Germany, Julian Lizeroux, France, John Kucera, Canada, Marco Buechel, Liechtenstein and Mattias Hargin, Sweden.

“The second big thing at the Paganella Ski World Alpine Rockfest is the combination of Great Music and Ski Champions. In fact, there will be a concert with an internationally renowned rock band at the end of the competition, a great chance for fans to dance with their favourite World Champion Skiers.” Said Sabina Fedrizzi of the organisers Consorzio Skipass Paganella Dolomiti.

www.paganella.net

Ski or Board Free As a Typical Brit At The SNO!storm In SNO!zone

SNO!zone will kick off the British Snow Tour with The Pre-Snow Tour Party on Friday 2nd October.

The event, from 7pm to 12 Midnight will see SNO!zone, join forces with The Brits crew to kick off the 09/10 ski and board season in style.

The British Snow Tour Slopestyle Course will be open for all to test out ahead of a competition on the course on the Saturday (you can try the course whether or not you’re entering the competition!).

There will be two lines offering something for everyone and the rest of the CASvegas SNO!storm park to enjoy too, as well as the Rookie park and free coaching available from the pros.

As an added extra, if skiers and boarders arrive fully kitted up as a stereotype Brit, they’ll receive a free session on the slopes! Participants are invited to dress as Punks, Chavs, Pearly Kings and Queens, Flat caps and tweed or even in top hat and tails. Anyone in riding full fancy dress will receive a FREE 1 hour slope pass to use throughout October!!

There will be clothes stalls, giant screen showcasing the latest snowboarding and ski films, graffiti artists and face painters in the SNO!bar, plus Chuck Buddies will be here demonstrating their crazy lil’ snowboarding dudes on their very own mini snow park.

Music wise it’s ROCK V’s HIP-HOP sound clash on the slopes. Back by popular demand DJ Angel will battling it out with DJ Poultergeist in a 2 hour musical mash up. Closely followed by Dr Mark playing the finest in Drum and Bass and Dub Step sounds.

The SNO!bar will see DJ Badly Dressed Boy laying down a heavy mix of hip-hop, reggae and funk.

Vail To Offer “More Adventure” For Intermediate-Advanced Skiers

Vail Resorts have unveiled a new program for the 2009-2010 ski season tailored to give guests a whole new way to explore the mountain with an expert guide at the company’s five resorts of Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail in Colorado and Heavenly in California.

Skiers and riders will gain insider’s knowledge of each resort and receive tips to improve their skiing and riding throughout the day. The program is geared towards intermediate and expert level skiers and riders who are looking for more adventure with the locals’ view of the mountain and less of an instruction and class setting of a standard ski school class. The cost will be comparable to a ski school group lesson.

Guests will be teamed in small groups with other like-minded ski or ride enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their day. The group will receive special access to move to the front of the lift lines, go places they might not see on your own, enjoy the best terrain and conditions available, and pick up tips and technical information along the way from the Vail Resorts expert guides from its world class Ski & Ride Schools.

“Skiers and Riders are always looking for the inside information about our resorts and we wanted to create a program that provides our guests with an enhanced understanding of each of our resorts without a rigid ski school class structure,” said, Rob Katz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vail Resorts.

The groups will meet from 9:15am until 3pm at Vail’s Colorado resorts and start and end 15 minutes later at Heavenly.

www.snow.com

Eco-Adventurer Sets Off On “Rubbish Expedition Around The World”

Andy Pag (34 London), the eco-adventurer who drove a chocolate powered lorry to Timbuktu using waste cocoa butter and organised the Grease to Greece Rally where teams had to scavenge chip-fat to power their vehicles across Europe, is now setting off to drive around the world on an eco-expedition that can best be described as … Rubbish!

Pag has recycled a scrap yard school bus and turned it into a state of the art eco-home using a mix of reclaimed trash and cutting edge green technology. Not only is the 20 year old “Biotruck” made from rubbish, but it’s been modified so it can run on rubbish too, specifically used cooking oil thrown away by restaurants and caterers.

“By 2050 the experts say we’ll each have to be emitting less than 2 tonnes of CO2 per year to avoid the worst effects of manmade climate change.” says Pag, “In the UK we currently emit around 10-13tonnes. I’m curious to see what people in other countries are doing about their footprint, and to see if it’s possible to travel around the world emitting less than 2 tonnes myself, by using energy-from-waste and other technology.”

The first fill up comes from Uptown Oils in London who produce fuel from locally collected used cooing oil. When full, the Biotruck has a range of around 5000miles (8000km), but Pag intends to keep the tank topped up during the 12 month journey from chip shops and burger bars along the route through Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia and the Americas, with the help of an on board Zuwa collection pump, Greenfuel tanks and an Oilybits filtering system.

The expedition’s CO2 is being monitored by consultants Terra-Ambiente, and onboard the Biotruck, every effort has been made to avoid fossil fuels. Cooking is on a woodgas stove, washing is with water heated bythe sun, lighting is by ultra low energy LED bulbs from the Good Energy Shop, sleeping is on an Abaca organic mattress, and the call of nature is answered on a Separett waterless composting toilet.

To get the most of every drop of fuel, Pag has fitted EcoVolt solar panels on the roof which power a Magdrive hydrogen generator, supplementing fuel with Hydrogen gas so that on sunny days the Biotruck will cover more miles per gallon. Total Vehicle Technology have serviced the engine and installed a Clean Diesel Technology Particulate Filter which reduces the exhaust emissions to that of a vehicle 1/10th its age.

“I’ve no idea how easy it will be to find used cooking oil in places like Iran, India or Brazil but it’s going to be fun finding out. Driving around the world is a massive challenge, and trying to do it using sustainable fuels, with a tight carbon budget makes this the toughest expedition I’ve ever attempted.” confessed Pag a former engineer and journalist who has been organising overland expeditions for 14 years.

www.biotruckexpedition.org

2009-10 Season Kicks off With New Chair For Pitztal

Pitztal in Austria has already opened for winter 2009-10 thanks to operating Austria’s highest ski lifts on glacier ski slopes which now have a new special snowmaking system from Israel which can produce abundant fresh snow from water with minimal energy requirements.

For the full winter season however, due to commence on December 1st, the centre will add a new chair lift, the new Sunna Alm.

The new lift will lift skiers from an elevation of 2,130m to 2,350m and replace the old Mulden ski lift.

The ultra-modern Sunna Alm chairlift will provide a much more comfortable ride up to access the various blue and red slopes, as well as the Sunna Alm restaurant. It will also improve the training possibilities for teams and ski clubs.

World Tour “Freerides” Again

The Freeride World Tour has announced the dates for its third season. The world’s best skiers and snowboarders will once again be battling it out in four ski resorts spread across the world.

The tour will start on the Russian slopes of Sochi in January, followed closely by the next stage in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France. The competition will then journey to the United States to hopefully “ride” the Tram Face at Squaw Valley in late February, although that has not yet officially been cleared for a freeriding competition. Finally, those riders with the top ratings will compete in the Tour’s grand final in Verbier in March during the Nissan Xtreme by Swatch which celebrates its 15th year.

“It is with great satisfaction that we announce the Freeride World Tour’s third season. This year the Tour will be staged in some of the world’s most renowned ski resorts. Our partner, Nissan, co-founder of the Tour, continues its unwavering support. Swatch, among other partners is reinforcing its involvement by presenting two of the Freeride World Tour’s stages this year. Ensured by the participation of the world’s top freeriders, we are very keen for the FWT’s third season to kick off” commented Nicolas Hale-Woods, founder of the Freeride World Tour.

Who is going to follow in the steps of Aurélien Ducroz – FRA (ski/men), Xavier de Le Rue – FRA (snowboard/men), Ane Enderud – NOR (ski/women) and Susan Mol – USA (snowboard/women)? The pressure is already on. Most riders have already begun their physical and mental pre-season work outs.

“The level among the riders has increased constantly since the first edition of the Tour. It is no longer enough to be a great skier to take part of the Tour. Physical and mental preparation, thorough inspection of the competition face, and top gear, are all important elements that has helped develop freeriding to a professional sport, becoming more and more known by the broad public,” says Freeride World Champion 2009 Aurélien Ducroz of France.

www.freerideworldtour.com

Swiss Glacier Ski Slope Plans October Opening For Race Training

The Diavolezza glacier ski area near St Moritz in the Swiss Engadin has announced plans to open next month (October) for race training, subject to snow conditions.

The Diavolezza Training Special will see the slopes open daily between 17th October and 20th November from 7.45am to 4.30pm, with a one hour lunch break in operations from noon to 1pm.

Packages are availabl inclusive of lift ticket and lodging based in the All in One Hotel Inn Lodge in Celerina and the Berghaus Diavolezza by the lift station.

Whistler’s Latest Luxury Hotel Opening For Start of Olympic Season

The Aava Whistler Hotel will open its doors to the world on November 26th, aiming to offer a quiet and intimate refuge a few steps away from Whistler Village.

“After two years of construction, the Aava Whistler Hotel is ready to welcome the Whistler guest looking for it all – location, value, service and style,” says Jaime Dunn, Director of Sales and Marketing. “From the design to our amenities, Aava is a hotel with panache, but not at the expense of practicality.”

Amenities considered vital by today’s discerning traveller will be available in all guest rooms; free wireless Internet, iPod docking stations and high definition flat screen televisions. The Aava, formerly the Coast Whistler, features luxurious furnishings including cloudlike duvets, Aveda bath products, and Kohler rain showers and soaker tubs.

High service standards are intended to be a key characteristic of the new hotel. The Aava will offer 24-hour concierge staff to ensure each guest takes in the best of Whistler.

The hotel will also offer secure ski storage and clothing dryers on a complimentary basis for guests as well as a fitness centre, sauna, sun deck with heated outdoor pool and hot tub; and the on-site White Spot restaurant for fresh and casual dining. The White Spot in Whistler will aim to become a flagship location featuring a new design direction with natural elements like wood and rock, fireplaces, an open kitchen and cozy booths. The Aava’s guests will be able to access White Spot through an underground tunnel from the hotel.

www.aavawhistlerhotel.com