September Ski News in Brief

Marcel Hirscher Training in New Zealand to Race for Holland

16th September 2024

The Austrian legend Marcel Hirscher is undergoing a rigorous summer training in New Zealand as he gears up for his return to racing.

• Hirscher is back and aims to be racing for Holland

See here for a video on FIS of the legend in action.

Marcel Hirscher has won everything there is to win in skiing and set a series of records:

• He has won the overall World Cup eight times in a row
• The Crystal globe in slalom and giant slalom six times each
• 67 World Cup victories
• 138 podium places
• Two Olympic gold medals and one silver

Do You Like Raclette?

15th September 2024

If so there is only one place to be later this month: Verbier in Switzerland.

It’s the 20^th edition of Bagnes Capitale de la Raclette and the  in Verbier, Switzerland

The 13 Valais districts to come together in Verbier to celebrate raclette and the rich cultural heritage of the region.

From 21st to 22nd September people will have the opportunity to savour raclette, the traditional dish that has brought fame to the area, and to immerse themselves in the vibrant local culture.

The program for this event in Verbier includes:

• Raclette tastings,
• Gastronomic stands,
• A queen fight,
• A folkloric procession,
• An equestrian show
• Entertainment, music, and a ball.

Join in the 20th edition of Bagnes Capitale de la Raclette in Verbier and experience the authentic, festive atmosphere of the Val de Bagnes.

See here for more:, Bagnes Capitale de la Raclette.

Verbier: www.verbier.ch

Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI.

250 Ski Flights Per Week from Gatwick Next Winter

14th September 2024

They will go to 15 gateway airports in the Alps and beyond.

The French ski gateways of Chambery, Lyon and Grenoble will be served by more than 50 flights a week in the peak season.

Ski routes will also run to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Finland and Bulgaria.

Airlines offering flights to winter sports destinations include British Airways, EasyJet, Norwegian, SkyAlps, Swiss and Tui Airways.

Flying into Innsbruck. Image © PlanetSKI

“Every winter we welcome more than a million passengers jetting off with their skis and snowboards, so we know how popular these destinations are with our passengers,” said Gatwick aviation development vice president, Stephanie Wear.

“We are delighted to be able to offer such a breadth of choice this winter, with fantastic connectivity to a number of the best ski resorts across Europe.”

Gatwick airport. Image © PlanetSKI

Marmolada Glacier in Italy Predicted to Disappear Within 16 Years

13th September 2024

The Marmolada is the highest peak in Italy’s northeastern mountain range and is known as the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’.

The glacier has seen 70 hectares of its surface disappear in the last five years – the equivalent of 98 football fields.

Measurements from 136 years ago show it extended for about 500 hectares and was as big as 700 football fields.

The Marmolada glacier is losing 7cm – 10cm of thickness per day, according to scientists, and risks melting away completely by 2040.

Since the beginning of scientific measurements in 1888 it has retreated by 1,200m.

“The Marmolada glacier is dying and covering it with sheets is therapeutic obstinacy with the sole aim of protecting the ski slopes,” a spokesperson for Legambiente, the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps, Cipra, and the Italian Glacier Committee.

It added that the ice cap was now in an “irreversible coma”.

• Threat to Italian glaciers increases
• Final death toll in Italian glacier collapse reaches 11

Marmolada ice collapse. Image c/o Alpine rescue services.

Another of Italy’s most well-known glaciers, Dosdè, is retreating.

Taking a Child Out of School for a Ski Holiday

11th September 2024

Latest figures show more pupils in England were off school without permission in the last week of the summer term than at any point in the academic year.

A smaller number of parents take their children away to the mountains in the winter during term-time.

The BBC has reported on the issue here.

It uses the example of Megan and Michael Hall as to why parents do so.

The couple received their first fines after taking their two children on a ski holiday in March and this summer booked a two-week summer break.

“The kids will be missing 10 days of school, which is a worry because of the new fines,” Mrs Hall told the BBC.

The couple run a pub and bed and breakfast in Northumberland.

They said if they took their children – aged four and eight – away during their busy summer season they would incur a cost to their business as well as higher holiday prices.

“I won’t stop doing holidays because that’s what family is about,” added Mrs Hall.

“The alternative is to not have family time, or to teach your kids to lie, saying they are sick, which is something I’m not happy to do,” she added.

The government is tightening rules to try to stop parents taking their children out of school to go on holiday.

Fines issued to each parent have gone up from £60 to £80 per child, which will be doubled if it happens again within three years.

Those with a third fine in a three-year period now face prosecution.

Family skiing. Image © PlanetSKI.

Utah Man Who Threatened Snowboarder With Shotgun Has Weapon Confiscated

10th September 2024

Keith Robert Stebbings accosted a snowboarder near his home in the ski resort of Brighton last February.

The snowboarder was lost and going down a road near Mr Stebbing’s  house.

The confrontation went viral after being caught on video as Loren Richardson was confronted as he took a shortcut near the resort of Brighton.

“Do it again and there will be holes in you,” the property owner threatened.

The man shouted “I have every right to protect my private property!”

The mayor of Brighton, Danial Knopp, said at the time that the armed man in the video has been visited by police several times about similar aggressive confrontations.

A court accepted a plea agreement that dismissed the threat of violence charge and agreed to his gun being held by police for “safekeeping” until December 2025.

Mr Stebbings said that following the incident, police offered to patrol the area more often, and told him to record future trespassers on video.

Brits in Action in New Zealand

9th September 2024

They were competing in the World Cup Freestyle half pipe in Cardrona, New Zealand.

Freeski Halfpipe Season is officially HERE! 🚨

Huge congrats to Zoe Atkin on a 5th place finish in the first WC of the season🎉 and a massive shoutout to Liam Richards on his World Cup debut for Britain, with an impressive 17th place! 🙌👏#gbsnowsport pic.twitter.com/Vqjiw3mKFe

— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) September 9, 2024

Half Pipe World Cup Finals Postponed

8th September 2024

The FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup Finals presented by La Roche Posay & Cardrona Alpine Resort have been postponed today due to conditions in the halfpipe. 

The finals in New Zealand will be rescheduled for the weather day, Monday 9th September.

Freeski Halfpipe action is heating up at Cardrona this weekend! 🇳🇿

Zoe Atkin and Liam Richards are ready to represent Britain in the @fisfreestyle Halfpipe World Cup—Liam making his debut under the British flag! ⛷️

Let’s kick off the season in style! 😎https://t.co/47uLzwsiV8 pic.twitter.com/D9rBNFrJ57

— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) September 5, 2024

GB has already reached the podium in Cardrona.

Mia Brookes took silver in the snowboard slopestyle last weekend:

• GB’s Mia Brookes takes silver in first World Cup event of the season

Mia Brookes. Image c/o Winter Games NZ.

The Seasons are Set to Change

7th September 2024

Autumn is approaching and that means one thing – winter is next.

Many resorts are posting some great videos and pictures.

Here’s Jackson Hole in Wyoming, USA:

The Cathedral Group (Grand Teton, Mount Owen, Teewinot) looking majestic with a fresh fall dusting. After last week’s snow up high, we’re getting stoked for colder weather ahead! Are you? @GrandTetonNPS #jacksonhole pic.twitter.com/MdxMRJ2Y0q

— Jackson Hole (@jhski) September 3, 2024

GB Athletes in World Cup Action This Weekend

6th September 2024

It’s freestyle halfpipe in New Zealand with two British riders in action.

One is something of a veteran, the other is a rookie.

Freeski Halfpipe action is heating up at Cardrona this weekend! 🇳🇿

Zoe Atkin and Liam Richards are ready to represent Britain in the @fisfreestyle Halfpipe World Cup—Liam making his debut under the British flag! ⛷️

Let’s kick off the season in style! 😎https://t.co/47uLzwsiV8 pic.twitter.com/D9rBNFrJ57

— GB Snowsport (@GBSnowsport) September 5, 2024

GB has already reached the podium in Cardrona.

Mia Brookes took silver in the snowboard slopestyle last weekend:

• GB’s Mia Brookes takes silver in first World Cup event of the season

Mia Brookes. Image c/o Winter Games NZ.

Opening Dates for Some Utah Resorts

5th September 2024

We are getting information about when resorts will open, weather conditions permitting.

We are posting them as we receive them.

Here’s the latest from the Utah in the USA:

• Brian Head – November 8th, 2024
• Park City – November 22nd, 2024
• Alta Ski Area – November 22nd, 2024
• Snowbasin Resort – November 29th, 2024
• Sundance Mountain Resort – December 2nd, 2024
• Deer Valley Resort – December 7th, 2024

Park City, Utah. Image © PlanetSKI

If you want to find out more about skiing in the USA then there is an event in London on Friday 13th September that may be worth attending:

• Skiing in the USA

Skiing in the USA. Image © PlanetSKI

Cairngorm Boss Retires

4th September 2024

Susan Smith leaves as CEO of the Scottish resort at the end of the month.

Her tenure has seen huge problems with the main funicular lift that remains out of operation.

“Being chief executive of Cairngorm Mountain has been the role of a lifetime and I will miss the mountain and my friends and colleagues more than I can say,” said Susan Smith.

“After a career spanning almost 40 years in economic and community development with HIE, this has been the most challenging situation I have ever faced, but also the most inspiring.”

• Cairngorm funicular works to continue into November
• Cairngorm funicular closedown continues
• Cairngorm funicular out of action

Cairngorm Funicular. Image c/o HIE

“Susan has been an exemplary leader at Cairngorm Mountain,” said Peter Mearns, who chairs the independent board that oversees Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland).

“It isn’t only that she has steered the business through severe challenges, including Covid and the absence of our unique attraction, the funicular railway.

“Just as importantly, she has shown great tenacity in holding firm to a clear vision of developing Cairngorm as a popular, modern resort offering a diverse range of activities for whole families to enjoy in every season of the year.”

CMSL plans to recruit a new chief executive next year, after the funicular has returned to service and the resort is again operating at full strength.

In the meantime, CMSL board member Tim Hurst will become interim chief executive, supported by technical operations manager Colin Matthew and land manager Jim Cornfoot.

Cairngorm National Park. Image © PlanetSKI

Holiday Dates for Next Season

3rd September 2024

A few readers have been asking us when half-term week is next year.

Others have been asking about Easter, and the dates of the school holidays.

So, here they are:

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Friday 20th December 2024 to Friday 3rd January 2025.

Xmas in Verbier. Image © PlanetSKI

FEBRUARY HALF TERM
Friday 14th February 2025 to Friday 21st February 2025.

Teenage skiers at half-term. Image © PlanetSKI.

EASTER HOLIDAYS
Friday 4th April 2025 to Monday 21st April 2025 with Easter Sunday falling late on April 2oth.

Easter Egg in Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria.Image © PlanetSKI

We’ll be posting the dates of the half-term holidays in the alpine countries later, so do check back.

Alpenhorn World Record Broken

2nd September 2024

More than 1,000 people gathered at the weekend in the Swiss Alps.

🎶 Over 1,000 alphorn players gathered at the Klewenalp Festival in Switzerland to set a new world record on Saturday! 🌍
An epic celebration of Swiss tradition! 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/F0Vn5mczGS

— About Switzerland (@AbtSwitzerland) September 2, 2024

And here’s what it sounded like:

Can it get more Swiss than this?🇨🇭A new world record was set on the Klewenalp. More than 1,000 alphorn players gathered to play in unison, creating the largest alphorn ensemble in the world! 😍 pic.twitter.com/YwzS2UmvXm

— Switzerland (@MySwitzerland_e) September 3, 2024

Worldwide Glacier Melt Continues

1st September 2024

There has been a funeral for 15 glaciers that have disappeared or are in critical danger as the planet heats up.

CBS News national correspondent Dave Malkoff reports.

In the Alps the summer melt continues.

The raw power of melt water on a hot summer day as seen out of the #glacier portal at Rhonegletscher.

This is water nourishing one of the biggest streams of Europe from the Alps down to the Mediterranean Sea. Dynamics will change though once the ice is gone… pic.twitter.com/GIiUbcRaHg

— Matthias Huss (@matthias_huss) August 29, 2024

Dates Confirmed for Les Menuires Yogiski

1st September 2024

The 9th edition of Yogiski in Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville takes place from April 6^th to 11^th 2025.

• Morning yoga at an altitude of 2800 metres,
• Day retreats with Nordic baths and saunas,
• Après-ski,
• Meditative evenings in a mountain refuge with descents under the stars

To find out more see this article from PlanetSKI’s Katy Dartford who joined the event last winter.

• Yoga and skiing in Les Menuires

Experience introductions to Ayurveda, Tai Chi, naturopathy, candlelit Yin yoga, foot reflexology, sound baths, wellness and savour vegetarian meals.

Image c/o Tourist Office Les Menuires

Maison Sport Teams Up With Ski Lifts

1st September 2024

Maison Sport, the online platform that connects skiers and snowboarders with instructors, has announced a partnership with the transfer service, Ski Lifts.

Both Maison Sport and Ski Lifts share their commitment to the independent ski market.

Maison Sport says that with its network of over 1,300 qualified ski instructors situated across over 400 ski resorts, transportation to customers’ chosen locations will be simplified.

The new partnership also highlights Maison Sport’s dedication to providing the best service to ski enthusiasts, as well as championing local knowledge and passion.

“We are excited to announce our partnership with Ski Lifts,” said the co-founder and CEO of Maison Sport, Nick Robinson.

“This relationship aligns with our mission to make ski lessons more accessible and affordable to all.

“Ski Lifts’ extensive transportation network ensures that Maison Sport customers can easily reach hundreds of resorts where our world-renowned ski instructors teach, enhancing the overall skiing experience.”

For more details, visit maisonsport.com.

Image © Maison Sport