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Snow Matters - Ski News - August 2009

Snow Mail

Ski Resort and Snow News - August 2009

Squaw Valley Adds New Triple Chairlift

Published : 31-Aug-2009 10:48

This summer, Squaw Valley USA's old double chair, the-High Camp Lift, is being removed to make way for the new High Camp Triple Chairlift.

The change is needed because over recent seasons the Monster Park at Riviera has seen a huge expansion. Providing access to the Ford Belmont Park, the Riviera Superpipe, and the numerous jump lines and jib features of the Central Park and High Camp Rail Yard, the High Camp Chair has become the hub for park riders of all tastes and abilities.

 Read the full Article : Squaw Valley Adds New Triple Chairlift
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Views : 2,792

Also on J2Ski :-  Palisades Tahoe  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels

New Italian Gondola Is World First

Published : 31-Aug-2009 06:34

A new gondola at Plan de Corones in Italy's huge Dolomiti Superski is a world first, the resort claims.

The 10 seater "Marchner" cableway will have a capacity of 3,000 skiers-per-hour and the cabins are fitted with what the resort describes as, "elegant heated leather chairs."

 Read the full Article : New Italian Gondola Is World First
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Views : 3,232

Also on J2Ski :-  Dolomiti Superski  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

High Speed Cable Car For Monterosa

Published : 25-Aug-2009 06:57

New High Speed, High Altitude Cable Car For Monterosa

The new lift will link Passo dei Salati to the Indren Glacier high in the Italian Monterosa ski area.

The Doppelmayr built lift will ascend from 2960m and travel just over 1.5km (just under a mile) in just under five minutes to reach the glacier at 3275m.

 Read the full Article : High Speed Cable Car For Monterosa
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Views : 3,920

Also on J2Ski :-  Monterosa  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

Fire Beneath Chamonix Gondola

Published : 25-Aug-2009 05:55

A fire broke out last week beneath the Planpraz gondola high above Chamonix, leading to the evacuation of 200 people on the lift and in the area.

The lift carries about 3,000 passengers per day in summer and it is thought one of these threw a lit cigarette butt from one of the gondolas cabins, which caused the fire between the tenth and eleventh support towers, close to the lift's top station at Brévent (1900m).

 Read the full Article : Fire Beneath Chamonix Gondola
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Views : 2,080

Also on J2Ski :-  Chamonix  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

New Run To Mammoth Village Scheduled To Open This Winter

Published : 16-Aug-2009 10:03

Work is underway in California on a new ski run which will make it possible to ski down from Mammoth Mountain ski area to the resort village.

The US Forest Service are reported to have given permission for the trail to be constructed at the start of this year and construction work got underway earlier this month.

 Read the full Article : New Run To Mammoth Village Scheduled To Open This Winter
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Views : 2,212

Also on J2Ski :-  Mammoth Mountain  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels

Vancouver 2010 Olympic Course Recreated On Australian Snow

Published : 16-Aug-2009 09:04

Perisher ski resort has thrown its weight behind Australia's Vancouver Winter Olympic campaign, building a replica of the key features of the snowboard-cross and ski-cross course that will be used in the 2010 Games.

Snowboard-cross and ski-cross races are won, more often than not, by the racer who gets an edge out of the start gate and down the first section of the course.

 Read the full Article : Vancouver 2010 Olympic Course Recreated On Australian Snow
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Views : 2,450

Also on J2Ski :-  Cypress Mountain  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels

China’s Top Resort Moves Up Market

Published : 16-Aug-2009 07:58

Yabuli, the largest ski resort in China, will complete a $100m spend this winter with the opening of the third five star hotel in the resort in the past year.

It's a dramatic change for the centre which lies 1200km (750 miles) north of Beijing in Heilongjiang province, and is frequently criticised for awful hotels, restaurants and ski slopes by international visitors.

 Read the full Article : China’s Top Resort Moves Up Market
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Views : 2,499

Also on J2Ski :-  Whistler Blackcomb  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels

Intrawest To Sell European Properties

Published : 16-Aug-2009 07:01

Resort developer Intrawest, the company behind many of North America's successful resorts including Whistler, but currently under financial pressure due to the economic slowdown, is to sell its two European resorts.

Pierre & Vacances Group and Intrawest Hotels & Residences have signed an agreement for the acquisition of Intrawest's lodging and commercial operations at the company's flagship Arc 1950, which was completed last year and the Flaine Montsoleil resort which is still under construction.

 Read the full Article : Intrawest To Sell European Properties
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Views : 19,940

Also on J2Ski :-  Courchevel  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

New Biathlon Centre At Seefeld

Published : 11-Aug-2009 06:30

Seefeld is opening a new biathlon centre this winter, and it will be open to visiting skiers and noarders to try out the facilities.

For those not in the know, biathlon is one of the world's most exciting winter sports, with ceoss country skiers racing with rifles strapped to their backs, then stopping at a target range every few kilometres toi try to shoot five targets from a standing, or lying ("prone") position. The winner is rarely the fastest skier, but the skier who balances his speed with staying relaxed enough at the range to be able to hold the rifle steady and hit the targets.

 Read the full Article : New Biathlon Centre At Seefeld
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Views : 3,818

Also on J2Ski :-  Seefeld  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

New Six Seater Chair For Courchevel

Published : 11-Aug-2009 06:28

Courchevel has announced a further upgrade to its extensive lift system for the coming winter.

The new Roc Mugnier high-speed six-seat detachable chairlift will; replace two old chairlifts: Prameruel and Roc Mugnier.

The lift will be the sixth to incorporate Courchevel's so far believed to be unique 'magnestick' system, which incorporates magnets in the back of chairlift seats which activate as the lift ascends, holding children who are wearing special body protection incorporating metal parts safely in place on the chair, with the magnetic force cut on arrival at the top so that children can disembark safely.

 Read the full Article : New Six Seater Chair For Courchevel
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Views : 1,782

Also on J2Ski :-  Courchevel  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

24 Hour Off Piste Race For Gastein

Published : 10-Aug-2009 12:55

Austria's Gastein ski region will take the growing trend of 24 hour ski racing to a new level in February with the launch of a new of piste race on the Graukogel, which it dubs, Gastein's touring mountain.

The race, scheduled for February 27th and 28th, is open to singles as well as teams of men and women, it is also open to amateurs as well as experienced racers.

 Read the full Article : 24 Hour Off Piste Race For Gastein
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Views : 2,593

Also on J2Ski :-  Gastein  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

More Snowmaking At Lenzerheide

Published : 10-Aug-2009 09:20

Lenzerheide, one of Switzerland's largest ski areas, has announced that more of its ski slopes will be covered by snow making machinery for the coming season.

The new snowmaking equipment has been installed this summer in the Scalottas, Danis and Stätz region, which the resort believes will makes these zones snow-reliable from the start of the season on December 5th.

 Read the full Article : More Snowmaking At Lenzerheide
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Views : 2,131

Also on J2Ski :-  Lenzerheide - Valbella  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

La Plagne reduces Energy Needs

Published : 10-Aug-2009 07:33

New Technology And Smart New Thinking Helps La Plagne Cut Power Use For Snow And Ice Fun

La Plagne, part of the giant French Paradiski region, has re-thought how much snow and ice it needs for three of the popular attractions that help to make it a world leader.

 Read the full Article : La Plagne reduces Energy Needs
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Views : 2,753

Also on J2Ski :-  La Plagne  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

New Funicular For Aosta Valley

Published : 10-Aug-2009 07:31

A rare new funicular railway built especially for skiers, is currently under construction in Italy's Aosta Valley.

Although funicular railways were one of the original means for skiers to get uphill a century ago and earlier, new ones only appear very occasionally because of the high capital costs of construction with cable cars and gondola alternatives usually costing less and able to transport more passengers per hour.

 Read the full Article : New Funicular For Aosta Valley
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Views : 3,051

Also on J2Ski :-  Aosta Valley  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

Chacaltaya’s Glacier No More

Published : 10-Aug-2009 06:09

The 18,000 year old glacier which was home for more than 60 years to the world's highest ski area, Chacaltaya in Bolivia, has now melted away completely due to global warming according to a report by Bloomberg.net.

The loss of the glacier has far greater significance than the end of skiing in Bolivia, the glaciers melt water helped power hydro-electric plants and provide water supplies to the 2 million residents of capital La Paz below,

 Read the full Article : Chacaltaya’s Glacier No More
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Views : 2,054

First Snow Event For Abu Dhabi This Autumn

Published : 06-Aug-2009 05:45

UBMi UAE have confirmed that they are working with Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, operators of Ski Dubai, to bring the first snow event to Abu Dhabi this autumn. The Adrenaline Sports Live festival, will run from October 8th to 10th October.

Adrenaline Sports Live is the country's first and so far only annual meeting point for the extreme, adventure and adrenaline sports communities and related companies. Adrenaline Sports Live 2009 aims to be what the organisers describe as an innovative action-packed family day out, where visitors can try out new sports, see professionals demonstrate their skills, get advice from local sports clubs, buy sports equipment and clothing and book adventure holidays directly at the festival.

 Read the full Article : First Snow Event For Abu Dhabi This Autumn
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Views : 25,122

Indoor Snow Scheduled to Fall In USA This Month

Published : 06-Aug-2009 05:43

A new report on the Xanadu complex in New Jersey, USA reports that the development's backers remain optimistic that the mega-mall which includes North America's first indoor snow centre will open next year as previously announced.

The indoor snow centre and most of the other facilities at Xanadu have been built and are more-or-less ready to open, but opening which had been planned for this year has been delayed due to a number of factor, primarily the world economic slowdown and its consequences for the likely success of the facility.

 Read the full Article : Indoor Snow Scheduled to Fall In USA This Month
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Views : 1,960

Ghana Ski Team In Canada

Published : 05-Aug-2009 07:15

The Olympic Games have the power to generate some extraordinary stories. Just think of Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards at Calgary, AB, at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, AB, or the Canadian men's hockey team striking gold in 2002 in Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong—an African skier who lives in the UK and is known as the "Snow leopard of Ghana"—hopes to add his tale to that list at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, BC, next year.

 Read the full Article : Ghana Ski Team In Canada
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Views : 3,407

Also on J2Ski :-  Whistler Blackcomb  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels

New Slow Skiing At Davos

Published : 03-Aug-2009 03:09

The traditional ski region of Schatzalp/Strela at Davos will reopen in December for the winter 2009/10 season after a period of closure.

The operators of the Schatzalp funicular wants to offer the area to skiers who prefer their winter sport "slow and easy."

 Read the full Article : New Slow Skiing At Davos
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Views : 3,894

Also on J2Ski :-  Davos  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

New Salomon Skis Feature Fibre Five Times Stronger Than Steel

Published : 03-Aug-2009 08:08

Salomon has launched a new range of skis especially designed to provide optimum performance in the park or pipe.

The new Suspect Skis feature Salomon's 'Double Edge Armor' which has been specially designed for intense park and pipe use and consists of an extremely resistant polyethylene fibre cord, cross-laced between the ski edges for less edge depression and wrenching.

...read more...

 Read the full Article : New Salomon Skis Feature Fibre Five Times Stronger Than Steel
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Views : 2,230

New 6 Seat Chairlift at Les Arcs

Published : 03-Aug-2009 06:11

Les Arcs will add its latest six seater chairlift this winter with the installation of the new Arpette chair. The aim of the new lift is to carry skiers more comfortably and quickly to the top of Arc 1600/1800 ski area, and to get to Arc 2000 area much faster.

 Read the full Article : New 6 Seat Chairlift at Les Arcs
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Views : 3,139

Also on J2Ski :-  Les Arcs  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire

Courchevel has half the First Five Star Hotels in France

Published : 03-Aug-2009 06:09

Six of the first 11 hotels in France to be awarded Five Star status are in Courchevel.

A recent change to French accommodation assessment has allowed hotels to claim 'five star' status in line with the maximum level in most countries around the world. Previously the highest grade a French hotel could achieve was 4 star deluxe.

 Read the full Article : Courchevel has half the First Five Star Hotels in France
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Views : 2,755

Also on J2Ski :-  Courchevel  Snow Forecast  Ski Hotels  Ski Hire