January’s Ski News in Brief – Live & Updated
1st January 2023
Last modified on January 31st, 2023
– Casinos Continue in Liechtenstein
– World Champion Freestyle Skier Dies in Japan Avalanche
– Shiffrin Misses Out on Chance to Equal Record Number of Wins
– World Cup Moguls Bronze for GB
– PlanetSKI Is Out On The Scottish Snow…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.
Plus links to some of our main stories on PlanetSKI so you can keep up to speed on the ever changing world of snowsports.
See here for:
We’re mixing it up:
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Tuesday, January 31st
Casinos Continue in Liechtenstein
Voters in Liechtenstein rejected a proposed ban on casinos in a referendum
It has 6 casinos in the tiny Principality that has been dubbed the ‘Las Vegas of the Alps’.
73% of those who voted rejected the ban and 27% backed it.
There was a turnout of 70%.
See lower down this article on January 24th for more details as we looked ahead to the vote.
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Monday, January 30th
World Champion Freestyle Skier Dies in Japan Avalanche
The former US world champion freestyle skier Kyle Smaine has died in an avalanche.
The 31-year old died on the east slope of Mount Hakuba Norikura in Japan.
He was a 2015 World Championships halfpipe gold medallist.
A skier from Austria died in the same incident.
Smaine was on a trip with friends when the tragic accident happened.
In an Instagram post Smaine’s friend Grant Gunderson described the incident as an “absolute worst case nightmare scenario.”
“It was supposed to be the last day of the trip so we were just out for a mellow tour to freeski, as we had one of the best days ever skiing/shooting the day before.”
“A second skier from the other group {in the transition area} triggered an avalanche that stepped down into a massive avalanche on an adjacent slope.
“The slope that they had now done two runs on didn’t slide.”
Smaine and two people he was with tried to run, before Smaine was “thrown 50 metres by the air blast and buried and killed.”
See our first report:
Two Foreign Nationals Rescued in Japan Avalanche
The authorities have said the two men were dug out after an avalanche on Sunday.
13 people in three different groups were skiing outside of patrolled areas near the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in the village of Otari.
The men were found in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest, according to police.
Five people were caught in the avalanche and three managed to free themselves.
The nationality of the two men who were rescued has not been revealed.
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Shiffrin Misses Out on Chance to Equal Record Number of Wins
She won the World Cup slalom at Spindleruv Mlyn in the Czech Republic on Saturday but came second in the race on Sunday.
Germany’s Lena Duerr prevented the historic win for the Mikaela Shiffrin as she took top spot.
Shiffrin now has 85 World Cup wins.
That is one behind Ingemar Stenmark’s record of 86 that has stood since 1989 – six years before Shiffrin was born.
Though Shiffrin missed the Stenmark record she did secure the slalom Crystal Globe for a record 7th time.
The World Cup circuit will now take a break until February 25th as the Alpine World Ski Championships take place in Merivel & Courchevel from February 6th to 18th.
Sunday, January 29th
Moguls World Cup Podium for GB
Congratulations Makayla Gerken-Schofield.
A first World Cup medal.
It’s bronze in the dual moguls in Val St. Come in Canada.
Saturday, January 28th
PlanetSKI Is Out On The Scottish Snow
Again.
See here for earlier articles from our Scotland reporting team of Rod and Dianne Frazer.
Glencoe, Scotland. Image c/o Dianne Frazer
PlanetSKI Reader Reaction to Jura Article
It is always nice to get feedback from PlanetSKI readers and old friends who we haven’t seen for a while.
Our editor, James Cove, has been in the Jura mountains in France and has posted this one:
He has just received this message from Bénédicte Lapeyrère, who is both a reader and a friend.
Their paths crossed when Bénédicte worked in the French ski tourist industry for France Montagnes a few years back.
She is now a paramedic in Brighton.
Here is her message:
“I just wanted to thank you for your excellent article about Mijoux and Lelex.
You might recall this is my village and where I grew up.
You have passed our house few times, we are just opposite the church.
I am glad you enjoyed your stay there, you describe it exactly the right way: a really special place, off the beaten tracks.
This where I spent my youth.
I never skied anywhere else than Mijoux until I was 17-years-old.
I skied there every weekend and every holidays and never got bored.
I am actually going back end of February for 3- days to see my mother.
Enjoy the rest of your road trip and well done James.”
Bénédicte Lapeyrère
Jura mountains, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Friday, January 27th
More Medals for the Brits
It’s hard to keep up with all medals being picked up by GB skiers and snowboarders.
Congratulations to one and all, especially snowboarder Charlie Lane, who’s got his second medal at the European Youth Olympics, and this time it’s gold.
His success today makes him Team GB’s first double medallist at a Winter EYOF in 24 years, after he landed silver in the big air earlier in the competition.
The only other Team GB athlete in history to achieve the feat is alpine skier Chemmy Alcott, who picked up silver and bronze at the Poprad-Tatry 1999 Winter EYOF before going on to represent Team GB at four consecutive Winter Olympics.
“It feels amazing to win gold. It’s quite an insane feeling, I couldn’t believe it at first – it just doesn’t feel real,” Charlie said.
He added: “It’s been a fantastic week, an experience I’m going to remember for the rest of my life, and I couldn’t ask for more.”
He’s not the only medallist today (and see also our post below on Tuesday 24th for more news of podium success).
Meanwhile, GB has three freestyle athletes competing at the prestigious X Games in Aspen, Colorado, which start today.
Good luck to Kirsty Muir, Mia Brookes and Zoe Atkin.
Read our feature on Kirsty & Mia – GB’s young sensations.
EasyJet Profits Set to Rise
The airline is favoured by skiers & snowboarders and it expects to surpass market expectations for profits this year.
It has seen record booking levels in January.
It hit record numbers of sales on several days this month.
The CEO Johan Lundgren said that it ‘filled five aircraft every minute in the peak hours, with three record-breaking weekends for sales revenue.’
EasyJet reported a pre-tax loss of £133m for the final quarter of last year.
Easyjet at Innsbruck airport
PlanetSKI Turns into a Unicorn
It seems our editor, James Cove, lost his bet.
Thursday, January 26th
PlanetSKI Video Goes Viral – 650K views
This short video that we filmed in Bruson near Verbier and that we posted on the PlanetSKI Facebook page seems to have caused some interest.
650K+ Views, 750+ Likes with hundreds of comments.
What’s your view of how fast people should go and how much room to leave others?
Wednesday, January 25th
Cairngorm Funicular Re-Opens
Tuesday, January 24th
GB Skiers & Snowboarders on a Roll
It’s been a good few days for GB Snowsport athletes.
It started off with double silver on Sunday.
Then on Monday came news of gold in the Para Snowsports World Championships.
The latest success, today, comes courtesy of 15-year-old Charlie Lane.
He has won silver in the Snowboard Big Air at the European Youth Olympic Festival 2023 in Italy.
“It feels amazing to win a medal,” Lane said.
“I was very overwhelmed at the time but all the hard work that has gone into this has finally paid off. I was a bit stressed when I was competing but I tried to keep my cool, we stuck to the plan and the plan worked.”
He added: “It’s been my dream to come to a European Youth Olympic Festival and to get a medal is just the cherry on top.”
Charlie Lane. Image c/o Team GB
Earlier there were two podiums the World University Games.
Scott Johns won Britain’s first ever British WUGS Ski Cross Gold and Thea Fenwick picked up a bronze in the Freeski Slopestyle.
Congratulations to them all.
Vote on Casinos in Liechtenstein
The tiny Principality sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland is known as the ‘Las Vegas of the Alps’ – but for how much longer?
It is a tenth the size of London with 40,000 inhabitants, but has six casinos.
Gamblers come from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to try their luck.
On January 29th Liechtenstein holds a referendum on whether to ban them.
If the referendum passes, the casinos will have to close by 2028.
It is estimated the casinos generate 50m Swiss francs (£44m) for the government.
It is urging people to vote again any ban.
The 25km-long principality is more usually known for its medieval castles, alpine landscapes and villages linked by a network of hiking trails.
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Monday, January 23rd
Work Set to Start on Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Village
The building permit has been formally approved by the local authority.
There were some legal challenges but these have been rejected.
The consortium behind the project have promised the project will create “a resilient community that promotes the health and wellbeing of citizens,” and to promote “biodiversity, enhancement of natural capital, forestry and urban agriculture solutions.”
See more on Inside the Games.
Sunday, January 22nd
GB’s Mia Brookes Takes Silver
Wow!
She turned 16 just a few days ago and now Mia Brookes is on the World Cup podium.
Saturday, January 21st
Owl Attacks Skiers in Canada
Four ski trails in an area south of Kamloops in British Columbia were closed after an owl attacked several skiers.
One skier wet to hospital for a tetanus vaccination after his skin was punctured by the animal.
“I was tucking down a small hill, and the owl first took a pass at me and hit my poles that were sticking out behind me,” said Joel Wood.
“About 100 metres later, it took another pass at me and hit me in the head with its talons and scratched my ear a bit,” he told CBC’s programme Daybreak Kamloops.
“It really spooked me out, getting hit in the head like that.”
It is thought the animal was defending its nest.
The Overlander Ski Club, about 30 kilometres away from the city closed its Little Joe trail for the entire day.
Three other trails, Ponderosa, Hoss and Sk’elép, are closed from 5 to 10 p.m. because of a “very aggressive” great horned owl flying around those areas.
Friday, January 20th
EU Smart Border System to be in Place for Next Winter
The Entry Exit System (EES) for non-EU travellers has been postponed until after this summer but it is still planned to be in place for next winter’s ski season.
Airlines and airports have welcomed the summer delay to the new EU smart border system.
The delay gives airlines, airports and national authorities chance to test the EU smart border system.
UK citizens will need to use due to Brexit and the UK leaving the EU.
Gatwick airport. Image © PlanetSKI
Wednesday, January 18th
Snowboarding in a Bikini
Well, could you?
Monday, January 16th
Stuck on a Chairlift for 2 Hours
Minutes after Emma Claire Spring went on a chairlift at Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana, it came to an abrupt stop.
Spring and other guests were told the ski lift lost power and they would be evacuated soon.
However, nearly two hours later, no one was evacuated. Spring was not alone.
Molly Thibert also found herself trapped on the lift with her husband and two little boys.
When the ski patrol finally showed up, her 6-year-old son was first to be lowered with a rope.
Sunday, January 15th
Mind The Gap
It is always important to leave a small gap at the side of the piste as you make your way down the slope.
PlanetSKI’s editor, James Cove, was teaching a friend and videoing her for feedback purposes.
Two near(ish) misses in under a minute.
Also the same when you stop at the side of the slope.
Leave a small gap – just in case.
Saturday, January 14th
Wizz Air Launches New Route from Gatwick to Lyon
The airline will operate flights four times a week during the winter season.
It is a gateway to the French Alps that is being used by an increasing number of skiers and snowboarders.
Flying in to Lyon airport. Image © PlanetSKI.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of yet another new route from Gatwick Airport. It is only a short drive away from world renowned ski resorts in the French Alps,” said the managing director of Wizz Air UK, Marion Geoffroy.
Lyon airport, gateway to the French Alps. Image © PlanetSKI.
Friday, January 13th
Woman Critically Injured in Avalanche in Japan
A foreign woman has been critically injured in an avalanche at Mount Yotei on Hokkaido.
It is reported by broadcaster NHK she was in a group of 10 people.
Hokkaido Prefectural Police were called at 2:25 pm on Friday and a woman reported in English that an avalanche had occurred.
The police said the woman who was injured was hit by the avalanche when she was climbing the 1,898-meter-high mountain with a group of about 10 foreign nationals.
She remains unconscious in hospital.
Avalanche danger. Image c/o PlanetSKI.
Wednesday, January 11th
Police Officer Dies in Avalanche in Canada
The Nelson Police Board says one police officer has been killed and a second has been critically injured in a backcountry avalanche near Kaslo, in southeast British Columbia.
Does Climate Change Mean Shorter Ski Season?
Tuesday, January 10th
Sapporo Residents Oppose Winter Olympics Bid
A new opinion poll has found that two-thirds of people living in Sapporo do not want the Japanese city to host the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
The poll was conducted in December by the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper.
According to the paper, 67% voted against holding the Games.
That’s a big increase from the 37% who opposed the bid in a poll carried out in September.
The city authorities and the Japanese Olympic Committee have already decided to put a hold on their bid as a result of the damage caused by the Tokyo 2020 corruption scandal.
But they insist they have not abandoned it altogether.
If it is dropped, only Salt Lake City in Utah remains as a possible candidate for 2030.
IOC flag – photo © IOC
Second Body Found in US Avalanche
The body of a second snowmobiler killed in an avalanche in Colorado has been found.
Crews with dogs recovered the body of the 52-year-old man in the in the Corona Pass area near the resort of Winter Park.
Search and rescue teams had earlier managed to locate a 58-year-old man at the site of the avalanche on Saturday afternoon, as we reported below on Sunday 8th.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Avalanche danger in the area at the time was said to be “considerable”, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
Monday, January 9th
The Climber, Skier and Skateboarder Defying All the Odds
BBC Ski Sunday’s Jenny Jones meets climber, skateboarder and skier Vasu Sojitra, who is challenging the perception of what is possible for an athlete with a disability.
Sojitra’s right leg was amputated when he was nine months old because of septicaemia.
Now 30, he is defying all the odds by climbing and skiing some of the highest mountains in the world, and doing so on one leg.
See the film from the BBC:
Sunday, January 8th
Snowmobiler Dies in Avalanche in USA
Another man remains missing in the incident near Winter Park in Colorado.
The deceased has been identified as a 58-year old man from Colorado.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rescue authorities suspended the search for the other man as the weather closed in.
Next-of-kin have been informed.
“Unfortunately, this is the second fatal avalanche that we have experienced this season in Grand County,” said a statement from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims.”
At least four people have been killed by avalanches so far this winter season in Colorado.
Friday, January 6th
Iglu Ski Supports Disability Snowsport UK
The travel agency Iglu Ski has partnered with the UK’s leading adaptive snowsport charity, Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), to raise funds to help disabled children and adults to be more active, make friends and have fun.
Iglu Ski is giving its customers the opportunity to make a small contribution to DSUK at the time of booking, and also inviting browsers on their site to make a donation.
Established more than 40 years ago, Disability Snowsport UK offers inclusive skiing and snowboarding for everyone regardless of disability, injury or experience.
They provide:
- Expert adaptive teaching across the UK
- Holidays and activities in the UK and worldwide
- Social and recreational skiing groups
Iglu Ski supports DSUK. Image c/o Iglu Ski
‘DSUK is incredibly grateful for the support of Iglu Ski and their customers, said Virginia Anderson, CEO at DSUK.
“There is much to be done to help the snowsport sector to include more disabled people. By supporting DSUK, Iglu Ski are helping a huge range of disabled people with a variety of life changing conditions to be able to build their fitness and confidence, and enjoy being part of the brilliant skiing and snowboarding community. It can be life changing.”
Wednesday, January 4th
28-Year Old Dutch Woman Dies in Hintertux
She slipped on ice in the Austria resort while skiing and slid 100m down the slope, crashed through the safety net, flew 20 meters through the air and hit a tree.
Her 27-year old friend also fell on the same patch and is seriously injured.
Current conditions in Hintertux in the Tirol are described as ‘grippy, partially hard’.
Many resorts in the Alps are coping with poor levels of snow and deteriorating conditions as we have reported in this article:
The Dutch Ski Association has issued a warning to skiers and saying the snow that is around is often of poor quality.
They are advising people to moderate their speed and be extra careful.
The Association said that the lack of snow means pistes that are open are narrower and busier than normal.
Ski Accident. Image © PlanetSKI
Tuesday, January 3rd
Snow Conditions Remaining Good in the USA
This week’s Snow Before You Go forecast, is presented by Meteorologist, Chris Tomer.
See here for an earlier PlanetSKI report on the conditions in the USA:
US Motorsport Legend Dies in Snowmobile Accident
55-year old Ken Block was riding a snowmobile up a steep slope in Wasatch County, Utah, when the vehicle upended and landed on top of him.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The local sheriff’s office said that Block had been riding with a group, but that he was alone when the crash occurred.
He was a rally driver since 2005 and was Rally America’s Rookie of the Year in his first season.
He went on to win rallycross medals at the X Games and podium finishes at the World Rallycross Championship.
He also competed in other actions sports, including motocross, skateboarding and snowboarding.
American rally driving legend Ken Block has died in a snowmobile accident at the age of 55https://t.co/dySBlFEQ3w
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 3, 2023
He earned wider fame later in life for his “Gymkhana” video series on YouTube.
The former British Formula One world champion Jenson Button calling him “a talent that did so much for our sport”.
Block is survived by his wife, Lucy, and three children.
Monday, January 2nd
Light Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing in Dolomites
22-year-old pilot, Silvia De Bonwas, made the landing on snow after her plane’s engine stalled mid-flight at 2,700m above the Dolomites in Italy.
She was on was on a short flight with her brother and his girlfriend.
She and her two passengers were not seriously injured, but she lost consciousness after landing the plane.
The other two passengers remained conscious and called for help.
Rescue teams were shortly on the scene.
See more details on Euronews
The Dolomites. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunday, January 1st
Snow Cannons Vandalised in Les Gets
Two snow cannons have been vandalised, causing €30,000 worht of damage.
Cables were cut and the machines were daubed in environmental grafitti.
The Extinction Rebellion logo was painted on to the machines but the local Annecy brand of the movement has denied any involvement.
“We are not eco-saboteurs, so this is clearly not our mode of action and it has never been discussed within our collective,” representatives told France 3 Régions.
The police are investigating the incident.
Les Gets, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Swiss Hospitals Under Pressure
A mix of Covid, flu and ski injuries is straining emergency rooms in hospitals in some Swiss ski resort areas.
Hospitals in towns and cities throughout much of Switzerland are facing severe staffing shortages, those in ski resorts face the additional challenge of accidents on the slopes during the winter months.
The hospital in Sion in the canton of Valais, home to well-known ski resorts such as Zermatt & Verbier, reported that more than 90% of beds were occupied in the final week of December.
Clinics in canton Bern including Interlaken have similar occupancy levels.
“The numbers correspond to reality: they are worrying,” said Valais hospital director, Eric Bonvin.
Read more in Tages-Anzeiger.
Ski Accident. Image c/o PlanetSKI
First Avalanche Death of Winter in Colorado
An avalanche caught four snowboarders near Winter Park.
Two were fully buried and one died.
The 44-year-old victim was the first person to die in an avalanche in Colorado this winter
Eyewitnesses were able to dig out one person in time but not the other.
“The second subject, a 44-year-old male, was located and unfortunately, lifesaving measures performed by bystanders were unsuccessful and the male was pronounced dead at the scene,” said a statement from the local police.
“The Coroner’s Office is working with the victim’s family.
“The decedent’s identity and cause and manner of death will be released by the coroner when appropriate.”
It’s a Dog’s Life
Nala went missing after she was separated from her owner during a Christmas Eve hike in the mountains near Waterfall Canyon in the US state of Utah.
She spent the night of Christmas Eve alone after her owner failed to find her.
When her owner eventually did find Nala she was above a waterfall – but he was unable to reach her because of steep and icy terrain.
He reported her missing to the authorities and Weber County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team were able to locate her.
The team rescued Nala and returned her to her family.
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