October Ski News in Brief

1st October 2024

– Marcel Hirscher Granted Wild Card by FIS
– New Ski Flights From Jersey To Grenoble
– Details of X Games 24/25
– Zermatt Lift Company Has Best Financial Year
– Motorbiking & Paragliding Over the Alps…NEW

Marcel Hirscher Granted Wild Card by FIS

1st October 2024

The former Austrian ski legend is racing for Holland next season and is now eligible for the opening World Cup race of the season in Soelden on October 27th.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation, FIS, confirmed that the application filed by the Dutch federation is “valid and compliant.”

The wild card allows the double Olympic champion to secure a bib for World Cup events without the need to earn FIS points in other competitions.

Hirscher has an Austrian father and a Dutch mother and holds both nationalities.

He represented Austria throughout his career before retiring in 2019 as one of the most successful skiers the country has ever produced.

He has a record number of eight overall World Cups, 67 World Cup victories, five world titles and three Olympic medals: two gold and one silver.

Image © PlanetSKI

New Ski Flights From Jersey To Grenoble

1st October 2024

Blue Islands has expanded its partnership with Channel Islands tour operator, Allez Ski.

Next winter flights will operate every Saturday from 21st December 2024 to 15th February 2025.

“Depart Jersey and arrive in the Alps two hours later and enjoy easy access to some of the world’s best ski resorts,” said Blue Islands chief executive, Rob Veron.

“We have been proudly partnering with Allez Ski to provide its charter flights from Jersey and Guernsey to the slopes since 2018.

“Whether it’s Christmas, New Year, February half-term, or prime skiing in January or early February, we’re excited to increase to a nine-week season of direct flights to Grenoble this winter and offer a flight-only option.”

Details of X Games 24/25

1st October 2024

The X Games are returning to Aspen, Colorado next January for the 24th consecutive year.

There is also the X Games Street Style Pro event in Copper Mountain, Colorado,

In collaboration with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the newly added competition takes place 20-21 December.

The winners from both the halfpipe and street style contests will receive automatic invitations to X Games Aspen 2025.

The X Games Street Style Pro will feature night-time competitions and music.

“It will enhance the daytime halfpipe events with a vibrant party atmosphere,” said the organisers.

X Games Aspen 2025 will feature men’s and women’s ski and snowboard competitions in the disciplines of Superpipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, Knuckle Huck, and Street Style.

Logo c/o X Games

Zermatt Lift Company Sees Best Financial Year in its History

1st October 2024

The Swiss ski resort has one of the highest lift ticket prices in the world and during the season of 2022/23 had an operating income of CHF 90m (£79.5m).

Summer business was highlighted as one of the main reasons along with the winter lift pass.

“Thanks to the highly successful excursion business in summer 2023 and substantial transport revenue during the 2023/24 winter season, overall results for the fiscal year surpassed the outstanding performance of the previous period,” said Zermatt Bergbahnen.

High demand from visitors from Asia and North America saw the company achieve new record results in its excursion business.

The mild and sunny summer of 2023 brought out sustained high visitor numbers from neighbouring regions and more distant markets, resulting in a 22% rise in revenue from summer traffic year on year.

The resorts uses the dynamic pricing model with the growth in online sales continuing.

This now accounts for 41.7% of sales in the winter season.

“The best-price guarantee for early bookings and the publication in the online store of anticipated price changes underpinned the positive development,” said the lift company.