October’s Skiing Snippets
1st October 2022
Last modified on October 30th, 2022
– Blow to Vancouver 2030 Olympic Bid
– 100 Days to Go
– Winter X Games is Sold
– Tributes to Red Bull Co-Founder Who Has Died
– Austria Ski Association Renews Partnership with Tirol…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:
We’re mixing it up:
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Blow to Vancouver 2030 Olympic Bid
The Government of British Columbia in Canada has said it will not support a Vancouver bid to stage the 2030 Winter Olympics.
In a statement it said “the Province is declining to support a bid”.
It said that the billions of dollars in direct costs and indemnity liability risks could weaken its ability to address current problems.
It says it want to focus on “the cost of living, health care, housing, public safety and building a strong work force”.
“We are disappointed to hear that the Government of British Columbia has declined to support the indigenous-led efforts to bring an Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games back to Canada,” said the Canadian Olympic Committee in a statement.
Current likely bidders include Sapporo in Japan, but that has been weakened by corruption scandals over the recent Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.
Salt Lake City in the USA is in the running, but it is thought it would prefer to host the 2034 Games.
A Pyrenees/Barcelona bid has already folded.
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100 Days To Go…
The Aline Skiing World Cup has just begun and the countdown to one of the season’s highlight has started.
The Meribel-Courchevel 2023 World Championships:
1️⃣2️⃣ days of competition 1️⃣3️⃣ races 6️⃣ disciplines 5️⃣4️⃣ medals 🥇🥈🥉 7️⃣5️⃣ participating countries 🌍 6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Athletes ⛷
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Winter X Games is Sold
ESPN has sold its majority stake to MSP Sports Capital, a sports-focused private equity firm that also has stakes in McLaren Racing and some European football teams.
The Winter X Games pushed minority skiing and snowboarding disciplines into the mainstream and created some superstars.
The most well know being Shaun White.
GB athletes have shone too:
“We’re proud of what we’ve created with our employees and the athletes over nearly 30 years of world-class X Games events and content,” said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN and Sports Content.
ESPN will remain a minority partner in the events and will continue to televise them.
Next winter’s Winter X Games are due to take place January 27th – 29th in Aspen, Colorado.
Logo c/o X Games
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Tributes to Red Bull Co-Founder Who Has Died
Dietrich Mateschitz, the co-founder and owner of the Austrian energy drink, has died.
He was aged 78.
Red Bull has supported legions of ski and snowboard athletes.
Last Sunday at the opening alpine ski race of the season the winner, Marco Odermatt, pointed at the Red Bull logo on his helmet after the race.
“I hope I have given him something to take along,” said Marco Odermatt.
“We spoke with the Red Bull team here and I passed on my condolences.”
“He has done so much for our sport, for the skiers, for other sports. An incredible human being, and I am very grateful for what he has done for me and for other athletes,” said the Norwegian racer, Henrik Kristoffersen, who took third place in Soelden.
Image c/o Red Bull
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Austrian Ski Association Renews Partnership with Tirol Tourist Board
The long-term partnership is due to run until 2028.
A “Letter of Intent” was signed as the resort of Soelden in Tirol staged the opening stage of the 2022-2023 Alpine Ski World Cup season.
The women’s event had to be cancelled due to the weather but the men’s race took place as we reported last weekend:
It is an extension of a partnership that has run for more than 30 years.
It is expected to include a commitment to continue hosting World Cup events in the region.
“The fundamental decision supported by the state of Tirol lays the basis for the perception of the ‘Tirol’ brand in winter sports,” said the managing director of Tirol Tourist Board, Karin Seiler.
The governor of the Tirol, Günther Platter, said the co-operation has made a “major contribution to our country being the number one sports country in the Alps today”.
Soelden, Tirol, Austria. Image © PlanetSKI
See here for a list of the major sporting events taking place in the coming season in the Tirol:
PlanetSKI was based in the Tirol last season and we wrote a rolling blog on our adventures and travels around one of our favourite alpine areas:
Ski Juwel, Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI
Ski Welt, Tirol, Austria. Image © PlanetSKI
St Johann, Tirol, Austria. Image © PlanetSKI
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Arson Suspected at Stoke Ski Centre
A fire that caused damage totalling about £14,000 to a dry ski slope centre is being treated as arson.
The blaze at Stoke Ski Centre on Festival Way, Stoke-on-Trent, took place last weekend.
A wooden lodge was destroyed and about 40 mats on the ski slopes were damaged.
The slope remains open.
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Ikon Pass Offers Skiing in the Dolomites
Dreaming of the Dolomites with @DolomitSuperski ❄️🎿 Enjoy over 29,000 acres and 450 lifts, plus unique Italian eateries and aprés with the fabulously friendly locals 🥂 pic.twitter.com/xAK9YbAksz
— Ikon Pass (@IkonPass) October 1, 2022
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GB’s Mia Brookes in Top Ten
Two top 10’s @bigairchur today for the team! ⚡️
Highly respectable first World Cup appearance for @mia_brookes finishing 9th and @zmaizz 10th 😎
@billy_cockrell22 close to a lovely backside 1140 indy but just missing the landing 🏂#gbsnowsport pic.twitter.com/I9YDdnnREQ
— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) October 22, 2022
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Russia & Belarus Athletes Remain Banned from FIS Events
The International Ski & Snowboard Federation will continue to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The decision was made by the organisation’s governing council and is in line with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee.
“The FIS Council decided, with due regard to the integrity of FIS competitions and for the safety of all participants … to continue its policy to not allow Russian and Belarusian teams and athletes, to participate in all FIS competitions,” said FIS.
Russian and Belarus were banned last March following the Russia invasion.
FIS logo © International Ski Federation
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Spanish Pyrenees Opens Up for Unvaccinated UK Skiers
British people travelling to Spain can now enter the country without having to prove their Covid or vaccination status.
Travel restrictions have been dropped.
People had needed to show they were fully-vaccinated, provide a negative Covid test or prove they had recently recovered.
Other ski destinations such as France and Italy have already lifted their rules.
The Spanish Health Ministry has said that people entering from outside the European Union would no longer be subject to the controls, effective from Friday.
PlanetSKI logo
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Snowboard Park + Pipe World Cup Trailer
The 2022/23 FIS Snowboard Park & Pipe World Cup season sees Big Air, Slopestyle and Halfpipe action with 13 competitions at nine different venues across Europe, North America and Asia.
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Freestyle Skiing World Cup Trailer
The 2022/23 FIS Freeski World Cup season sees big air, slopestyle and halfpipe with 13 competitions at 10 different venues across Europe, North America and Asia.
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Fancy a Short Transfer from Airport to Resort?
The independent ski holiday company, Absolutely Snow, has come up with its recommendations.
Including Les Gets, Chamomix, St Anton, Courmayeur and one more.
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Trondheim 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships Logo Unveiled
It has been inspired by a drawing competition where thousands of children in Norway took part.
People holding hands was a main theme of the drawings.
Six dots represent selected United Nations sustainability goals.
The range of colours refer to diversity and equality.
Trondheim 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships Logo
“The new WC [World Championships] symbol shows the world a clear picture of a future-oriented championship,” said the Trondheim 2025 head of marketing and brand, Haakon Jensesen.
“The WC in 2025 is founded on community, public celebration, inclusion and sustainability and with a clear goal of using the championship to create lasting values for skiing and society.
“The new profile makes it easy to communicate that.”
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First Snowboard Cross & Ski Cross World Cup Races Called Off
They were was to have taken place in Les2Alpes 28th-30th October and 4th-5th November but won’t happen due to a lack of snow.
The Snowboard Cross has been moved to 02nd-03rd December, leaving the organisers with five weeks time to produce the snow and get the venue ready.
The Ski Cross competition in Les2 Alpes has been cancelled, and therefore Val Thorens scheduled for 07th-09th December will be the season opening race for the ski cross circuit.
Elsewhere the alpine race season gets underway this weekend with Men’s and Women’s GS races on Soelden, Austria.
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Fancy Skiing in Saalbach Next Winter?
The short break specialist, SkiWeekends has added the Austrian resort to its offerings for 2022/23…
See here for more about SkiWeekends.
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Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Swap
Ahead of the season The Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club’s annual Ski & Gear Swap is set to take place on October 15th.
It a community event aimed at keeping gear in use.
People can sell unwanted ski and snowboard gear and purchase new kit.
The proceeds go to local student-athletes in competitive alpine and Nordic skiing, freeride skiing and snowboarding, and backcountry education.
See here for more: jhskiclub.org/skiswap
Image c/o Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club
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Courchevel Méribel 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships 95% Ready
The Secretary General of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, Michel Vion, made his remark after the final inspection of the site.
The event is due to take place next February.
“Four months is not a short time, but the clock is ticking, and on February 6 the world will be looking at Courchevel and Méribel.
“Together, we will pay attention to every detail.
“Fourteen years after Val d’Isère, the FIS and the entire ski world can’t wait for the party to begin.”
Courchevel Méribel 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships
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Time is About to Run Out on Cheaper lift Pass for Park City
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How to Behave as a Tourist in Switzerland…
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Switzerland Moves Forward With Solar Energy
The government is to make the installation of solar panels on some new buildings compulsory and ease the construction of large-scale photovoltaic plants in the Alps.
New buildings with an area of over 300 sq meters must be equipped either with a PV system on their roofs or facades or with a solar thermal installation.
Each canton is able to introduce the solar obligation also for buildings with an area of less than 300 sq metres and to approve exemptions from the requirement.
Solar power installations must be set up in all suitable areas on federal public buildings by 2030.
The new regulations provide also for an acceleration of solar projects, especially in the Alps.
See more here Renewables Now
Zermatt, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI.
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New Italian PM Underlines Support for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Giorgia Meloni has met the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
“These Games are very important for us,” said Georgia Meloni.
“Italy is more than able to stage magnificent Games, and we want to impress the world again.
“You can count on us.”
The far-right Brothers of Italy party heads the coalition that won a majority in the recent general election in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
“We are committed to a very close and trusted cooperation, to make these Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 a resounding success for Italy, and for the entire Olympic Movement,” said Thomas Bach.
Image c/o 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
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Master Le Grand Combin in Verbier, Switzerland
Here at PlanetSKI we are bombarded with alternative activities to do in the mountains.
Some are more adventurous than others.
This one from Verbier has dropped into our in-box:
The Grand Combin is the legendary mountain of Verbier and its region.
From the top of its 4,314 m, this mountain and its glaciers command respect and capture the imagination.
Accompanied by a mountain guide, adventurers begin their journey from Fionnay before ski touring to reach the Panossière hut.
Following a short night’s rest (departing at 2.30 am) the serious stuff begins.
The start of the climb involves skiing up the Corbassière glacier.
At the foot of the couloir du Gardien, tensions rise as the summit approaches.
Here, crampons replace skins for the final six hour ascent.
Once the summit has been conquered, emotions run high and there’s just enough time to take in the view before starting the long descent into the pristine wilderness.
A two-day trip, when expressions such as “pave your way” and “leave your mark” take on their full meaning.
Ski level: good to excellent.
Little mountaineering experience required.
This trip is priced from approximately 950 CHF pp (for two people), for more information visit www.guideverbier.com
Fancy it?
Grand Combin. Image © PlanetSKI
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Polaris Festival Returns to Verbier
Polaris returns for its eighth edition on the Swiss mountain top in Verbier.
In 2019 Polaris premiered its new home – a huge dome built on top of the mountains.
The home in the dome will make a very welcome return for the 2022 edition after Covid-19, with music inside and breath-taking views outside.
For its 2022 edition, the festival will be held across two weekends:
- 18-19 November 2022
- 25-27 November 2022
The first weekend features an opening collaboration with the Montreux Jazz Festival.
The festival will feature some of electronic music’s most respected and exciting players of the moment including Bicep, Audrey Danza, and The Blessed Madonna.
A day ticket to the festival is priced from 99 CHF / £89 pp.
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
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Private Lessons May Not Be As Expensive as You Think
That’s according to Masion Sport:
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Avalanche Hits Climbing Base Camp in Nepal
A huge avalanche has struck the base camp of Mount Manaslu in Nepal.
It comes a week after two people, including an Indian climber, were killed in an avalanche.
A few tents were destroyed, but no casualties were reported, according to Tashi Sherpa, who spotted the avalanche.
#WATCH | A fresh avalanche has hit the Manaslu Base Camp today. It has come a week after the last one, which had left two persons dead.#Nepal
(Video source: Tashi Lakpa Sherpa) pic.twitter.com/XLTbDVFq2G
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2022
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The White Lady Slope in Cairngorm Gets A Ski Tow Lift
It is perhaps the most famous ski slope in Scotland and permission has been given to build the lift.
It will however only run up a short section of the red run.
The T-bar lift was closed in the 2006/07 season after a pulley wheel at the top of the tow was catapulted to the ground during a maintenance run.
No-one was injured.
Cairngorm in May – image © Rod Frazer
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Russian Winter Athletes Called Up to Fight Against Ukraine
The government says athletes should not have “exclusive privileges”.
The European figure skating gold-medallist Dmitri Aliev has been summoned to potentially serve in the Russian army.
Aliev is a double European men’s singles medalist.
He took silver in 2018 and gold in 2020.
He won bronze at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics.
The call-ups come after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation of troops for his war against Ukraine.
The Russian Snowboard Federation has said two unnamed snowboarders have been asked to attend the military registration and enlistment office.
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Majority in Japan Support Sapporo 2030 Olympic Bid
A nationwide survey in Japan has revealed that the majority of people still support holding the 2030 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.
It comes despite the developing bribery scandal connected to the Tokyo 2020 Games.
55% of respondents said they supported the bid in the poll run by newspaper The Asahi Shimbun.
70%of people in their 30s or younger said they backed the bid.
However, enthusiasm is cooler in Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands where Sapporo is the capital.
Prosecutors are investigating allegations that board member Haruyuki Takahashi accepted bribes in return for helping companies become sponsors of last year’s Summer Olympics.
The 78-year-old has been accused of accepting bribes of up to ¥127 million yen (£765,000) from companies.
The mayor of Sapporo Mayor, Katsuhiro Akimoto, and Japanese Olympic Committee President, Yasuhiro Yamashita, have made a joint commitment to ensure that the city’s bid for the Winter Olympics is free from corruption.
Vancouver in Canada and Salt Lake City in the USA are also in the frame for the 2030 Winter Games.
Catalonia in Spain has also expressed interest.
Earlier this month, Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto cancelled a planned visit to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne where he was due to meet President Thomas Bach.
Image c/o Sapporo 2030
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Worth a Watch
Enter a world of ice ❄️ Sir David Attenborough returns with Frozen Planet II.
— BBC iPlayer (@BBCiPlayer) September 8, 2022
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Skier in New Zealand Deploys Airbag in Avalanche
NZ Avalanche Advisory has posted the incident on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
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