July’s Skiing Snippets
1st July 2022
Last modified on July 29th, 2022
– British Woman Dies in Dolomites Fall
– Two Climbers in New Zealand Survive Overnight After Avalanche
– Women & Men to Race Same Distances in Nordic Skiing
– Funding Confirmed for GB Winter Sports Ahead of 2026 Olympics
– Fancy a PR Job in the UK Snowsport Industry?… LIVE & UPDATED
Here we cover anything that takes our fancy.
Short news stories, eye catching videos, amusing cartoons, things that make us smile/things that make us shout at the screen… in fact anything that catches our eye in the world of snowsports.
Check out all the ‘snippets’ from the past few months:
- January’s Skiing Snippets
- February’s Skiing Snippets
- March’s Skiing Snippets
- April’s Skiing Snippets
- May’s Skiing Snippets
- June’s Skiing Snippets
We’re mixing it up:
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British Woman Dies in Dolomites Fall
56 year old Louise Atkinson fell 30m while walking with her husband in the Italian mountain range.
The pair was hiking on the via ferrata Santner trail that climbs to over 2,000m.
She was a teacher from North Yorkshire.
Tributes on Facebook described her as a “wonderful” and “inspirational” teacher who would be “sadly missed”.
Her husband was evacuated by helicopter and an investigation is underway.
The British Foreign Office has been informed.
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Two Climbers in New Zealand Survive in Snow Hole Overnight After Avalanche
The men, aged 22-years old and 25-years old, were caught in the avalanche in white-out conditions at The Remarkables near Queenstown on the south island.
They raised the alarm but rescue services were unable to reach them due to the poor weather.
Winds were gusting up to 50mph with low visibility.
As the weather closed in the climbers decided to leave the area but started an avalanche.
They were caught in it but manged to dig themselves out.
See here for a TV report on the incident:
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Women & Men to Race Same Distances in Nordic Skiing
The Cross Country Committee of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation, FIS, voted by 57% for equal distances for women and men.
There will now be the following standard distances:
- For World Cup: Sprint | 10km | 20km | 50km with Skiathlon being 20km (10km + 10km)
- For U23 WSC and JuniorWSC: Interval 10km | Sprint | Mixed Relay 4x5km | Mst 20km
- For Youth Olympic Games: Interval 7.5km | Sprint | Mixed Relay 4x5km
The main argument in favour of equal distances was that there should not be any doubt about whether women were capable of racing the same distances as men.
The main argument against was the amount of time that women need to cover the same distance as men.
Nordic skiing. Image © PlanetSKI
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Funding Confirmed for GB Winter Sports Ahead of 2026 Olympics
UK Sport is to provide £24.2 million with Six sports and two Para sports are covered.
Curling, ski and snowboard, bobsleigh and skeleton, luge, skating and ice hockey are included, plus Para snow sports and wheelchair curling.
Skiing and snowboarding will receive the most funds at £7.2 million while curling will receive £6.4 million.
The funding cycle formally starts on October 1st.
“We enter this new funding cycle having seen the most successful season in British skiing and snowboarding history,” said GB Snowsport.
“With Dave Ryding’s Alpine World Cup victory, Charlotte Bankes’ Snowboard Cross Crystal Globe, Mia Brookes’ dominance of the Freestyle Snowboard Europa Cup circuit, the medal-winning performances of the Simpson brothers, Ollie Hill, Menna Fitzpatrick and Gary Smith, and Millie Knight and Brett Wild at the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games.”
“And a total of 51 podium positions at World Cup, World Championship, and Europa Cup level, including 10 medals at the World Para Snow Sports Championships in Lillehammer, as well as previous successes for Zoe Atkin and Charlotte Bankes at World Championships proving GB Snowsport’s ability to develop athletes capable of competing at the highest levels of global snowsport.’
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Fancy a PR Job in the UK Snowsport Industry?
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Swiss Fears for Energy Next Winter
It is claimed that Switzerland could face electricity and gas shortages in the winter of 2022/23.
“We’re witnessing the first global energy crisis, with Europe at the centre,” tsaid he head of the Federal Office of Energy, Benoît Revaz.
Switzerland currently has sufficient supplies at the moment and considerable reserves.
He said efforts were underway to ensure energy supplies in the coming winter months, including an awareness campaign to encourage energy saving.
The head of the government’s advisory commission for electricity, Elcom, said the water levels of the reserves in the Alps were at a long-term average.
However, electricity production is comparatively low due to a dry spell and an early glacier melting season this year, according to Elcom director, Urs Meister.
The Swiss government three weeks ago, outlined possible scenarios to compensate for potential shortages of Russian gas deliveries as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.
See more on Swissinfo.
Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
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Man Pushes Peanut Up a Mountain With His Nose
A man in the US state of Colorado has broken an unusual record by pushing a peanut up a mountain with his nose.
Bob Salem took a week to cover the 11- mile trek.
Man Breaks Record For Pushing a Peanut 11-Miles Up 14,115-Foot Pikes Peak, CO, With His Nosehttps://t.co/TOApL9f88O pic.twitter.com/DLDQBUD9VM
— SnowBrains (@SnowBrains) July 18, 2022
He completed the challenge on Pikes Peak, the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
“I don’t think I’m nuts. I think I’m eccentrically challenged,” Salem said.
Four people are members of The Pikes Peak Peanut Pusher Club.
The club started as a bar bet in 1929, and Salem is the first person since to join the club since a rockabilly singer 60 years ago.
He has raised money for a homeless charity.
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Ukrainian Snowsport Athletes Training in Utah
18 Ukrainian freestyle skiers, 13 family members and four coaches are living and training at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City.
The initiative is part of a larger Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation project.
Nine Ukrainian curlers and one coach have also been training at the Utah Olympic Oval and the Weber County Ice Sheet while living at the University of Utah.
The freestyle skiing group arrived in June and is scheduled to stay until the end of August.
For more see this article in the Aspen Times.
Those who are interested in donating to the Ukrainian Olympic and Paralympic Solidarity Fund can visit utahcf.org/give/ukrainian-olympic-and-paralympic-solidarity-fund.
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Cool Down at an Indoor Snow Centre
Out on the slope it is -2c, and the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead is also encouraging people to come and work in its cafe during the heatwave.
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Ten Greatest Ski Edits of All Time
The list has been put together by Newschoolers.
Its audience voted on their favourites from a selected Top Twenty.
“We then pitted the top eight against each other in a head-to-head bracket, voted by our members,” said Newschoolers.
Footage courtesy of the following, use the links below to watch the full edits:
Rainy Days – Skiing: Dale Talkington. Film: Evan Williams https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/w…
Rob A Bank To Get Rich – Skiing: Antti Ollila, Valentin Hänninen. Film: Keesh https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/w…
Welcome To Jiberish – Skiing: Sean Jordan, Clayton Vila. Film: Stept Studios https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/w…
One Of Those Days – Skiing: Candide Thovex, Aziz Benkrich. Film: Candide Thovex, Aziz Benkrich https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygxuf…
Jiberish: A Walk In The Park – Skiing: Adam Delorme.
Film: Tony Dryer https://vimeo.com/40878018
FUCK! – ClownSchool – Film: Evan Heath https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/w…
Slumdog Illionaire – Skiing: Simon Dumont. Film: Drew Lederer https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/w…
Sovereign – Skiing: Jake Carney, Connor Warnock. Film: Ryan Braun https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/w…
Tom Wallisch SuperUnknown – Skiing: Tom Wallisch. Film: Level 1 https://vimeo.com/22148465
Team America JOSS ’09 – Skiing: Tom Wallisch, Simon Dumont. Film: Josh Berman (Level 1), Tyler Hamlet (Poorboyz Productions) https://vimeo.com/4077559
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Remembering Lydia Crisostomo
This is one for UK snowsports industry colleagues.
Many of us knew Lydia who worked in the PR department of Inghams.
A fund-raiser has been launched for a friendship bench that will be placed in her local park in London.
It is being organised by her very good friend and another UK ski industry legend, Becky Horton.
All contributions, large or small, are very welcome.
RIP Lydia from us all at PlanetSKI. XX
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Millie Knight to Represent England in Karate
The former paralympic skier has been selected to compete for England in the Para Commonwealth Games.
Now she is turning her attentions to karate.
View this post on Instagram
She has also recently become England champion.
View this post on Instagram
See here for our full report:
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Another Huge Snowstorm Hits New Zealand
A major snowstorm is currently hitting New Zealand, some resorts have posted 60cm (two feet) already. Here’s @brokenriver and @MtHutt pic.twitter.com/FZJBMNn8Y8
— Snow Forecast.com (@SnowForecast) July 12, 2022
Related Articles:
- More ski resorts in Australia open as New Zealand sees more snow
- Now its the turn of New Zealand as more snow falls
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Moose Cool Off in Sprinkler at Beaver Creek Ski Resort
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Caught in the Path of an Avalanche
Nine British hikers and one American were on a guided tour of the Tian Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan when an avalanche came roaring towards them.
One person had his camera out.
Here is the account of the incident from the man taking the video, Harry Shimmin.
“We’d just reached the highest point in the trek and I separated from the group to take pictures on top of a hill/ cliff edge.
“While I was taking pictures I heard the sound of deep ice cracking behind me. This is where the video starts.
“As I was there for a few minutes already, I knew there was a spot right next to me to shelter.
“I was on a cliff edge, so the only place to run was towards the avalanche and away from the shelter next to me (hence why I don’t move).
“Yes I left it to the last second to move, and yes I know it would have been safer moving to the shelter straight away.
“I’m very aware that I took a huge risk.
“Regardless, when the snow started coming over and it got dark/ harder to breath, I was bricking it and thought I might die.
“Once it was over, the adrenaline rush hit me hard.
“I knew the rest of the group was further away from the avalanche so should be okay.
“When I rejoined them I could see they were all safe, although one had cut her knee quite badly and rode one of the horses to the nearest medical facility.
“Another had fallen off a horse and sustained some light bruising.
“The whole group was laughing and crying, happy to be alive (including the girl who cut her knee).
“It was only later we realised just how lucky we’d been.
“If we have walked 5 minutes further on our trek, we would all be dead.
“The path we were suppose to take was completely covered by the landslide/ avalanche.
“Massive ice boulders and rocks had been spread further than we could have run, even if we acted immediately.
“Live, laugh, lanche is now the motto for the group.”
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New Sports Centre for Val Thorens
This winter, make sure you check out the stunning new sports/aqua centre in #ValThorens #Les3Vallees #InfiniteMountainExperiences @Val_Tho pic.twitter.com/vXyBDAdQdv
— Les 3 Vallées (@3Vallees_france) July 10, 2022
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10% Rise in Prize Money for FIS World Cup Events
The increase starts at the start of next season.
It will be funded by the event organiser with the International Ski Federation contributing 20%.
The move was approved by the FIS Council that is currently meeting in Zurich.
It will apply to men’s and women’s competitions across all disciplines.
In the 2021-2022 season Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt had the highest prize money for men with winning £488,000.
He competed in Giant Slalom, Super-G and Downhill.
For the women it was Petra Vlhova of Slovakia who took home £352,000.
She competed in Slalom and Giant Slalom.
Here she is in action in the slalom at the Merivel/Courchevel event.
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Australia Removes Final Covid-19 Border Restrictions
It is good news for anyone heading to the ski slopes of Australia this summer.
The Health Minister, Mark Butler, has said proof of vaccine will no longer be required for international travellers from 6th July.
“The Chief Medical Officer has advised it is no longer necessary for travellers to declare their vaccine status,” he said.
“Unvaccinated Australians, as well as certain groups of visa holders, have been able to travel to Australia for some time.
“We will continue to act on the medical advice as needed.”
Arriving international travellers are still required to wear masks on flights.
They must also obey any state rules requiring masks on internal flights.
The requirement for all travellers to complete a passenger declaration form has also ended.
The ski season in Australian is underway following a record-breaking start to the season.
Skiing in Perisher, Australia. Image © PlanetSKI
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Skiing at Copper Mountain in Mid-Summer
A small pocket of snow has been preserved at the US resort of Copper Mountain in Colorado.
It allowed skiers and snowboarders to celebrate in the middle of summer.
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Summer Skiing in Sunshine Ends
Sad news is summer skiing is over, good news is our 2022/23 Season Passes are deep on sale until July 9th!
Secure your spot on Canada’s Best Snow!https://t.co/Fe62pBN6Cx pic.twitter.com/4IVuDwLCi1
— Sunshine Village (@SunshineVillage) July 4, 2022
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Summer Training for GB Athletes
British athletes were back on snow this month as pre-season training kicked up a gear ahead of the resumption of the 2022/23 World Cup programme in October 🤩💪
Find out more ⤵️https://t.co/m0yBi97vRV
📸: @Jossi_j#GBSnowsport pic.twitter.com/cNm9xnjLMv
— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) July 1, 2022
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Spain Eases Border Rules for UK Travellers
British travellers can now use the Automated Border Control eGates at certain Spanish airports.
The airports include Barcelona that is a gateway to the Pyrenees mountain range including ski resorts in Spain and Andorra.
People are advised to ensure they get their passports manually stamped on entry.
Most British people can only spend 90 days out of 180 in any EU or Schengen area country
Due to the UK leaving the EU people had to use the manual non-EU lanes to enter and exit Spain.
This has now been reversed to cut huge queues at border controls.
Other Spanish airports include Alicante, Bilbao, Girona, Madrid, Valencia, Fuerteventura and Seville.
The Foreign Office warned Brits to ensure they have their passports stamped by border officers upon entry.
“If there is no record of entry a person could be accused of overstaying and face possible penalties,” advised the UK Foreign Office.
“On arrival or departure, check you are eligible to use the e-gates and that you are in the right queue.” \
PlanetSKI in Andorra. Image © PlanetSKI
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What’s going on at SnowCamp Next Winter?
Step forward Jenny Jones and Ed Leigh…
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Fancy Heading to the Mountains this Summer?
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New Zealand Resorts Focus on Women in Snowsports
Cardrona and Treble Cone have made a short documentary about women’s experiences in the snow sports industry – All In.
It challenges the NZ ski industry to commit to equal gender representation in snow sports media.
The ‘All In’ campaign is a result of the finding that only 29% of the skiing and snowboarding in their social media content featured women.
45% of the social media audience are women.
“This film is a starting point. It’s where we begin the conversation,” said the resorts in a joint statement.
“It’s not all that needs to be done so we’ll keep asking questions, learning, and making change.
“We’re committed to equitable gender representation in all our marketing media, and we’re starting with our women.”
Produced by Geneviève Montreuil Additional filming by Roy Schott, Cal MacPherson, Troy Tanner and James Mulcahy
Photography by Troy Tanner
Mixed by Danny Fairley Graphics by Rymi Sakimura
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