December Ski News in Brief
1st December 2024
Last modified on December 11th, 2024
– Skiing Continues to Boom in China
– World Record for Skiing in Jeans Smashed
– Avalanche Buries Three on Safety Course
– La Plagne Emphasises Green Credentials
– Fancy Skiing With Mike Tindall for Charity?
– Melting Permafrost Threatens Swiss Huts … UPDATED
Skiing Continues to Boom in China
11th December 2024
In 2023/24 season 30 new areas opened in China – 15 outdoor and 15 indoor.
The total number of ski resorts in China is 719, an increase of 22 on the previous year.
There are 60 indoor ski resorts China, that account for 8.34% of the ski areas in the country.
The outdoor ones are generally small with a limited number of lifts and terrain.
See her for the latest report.
12.8 million took part in some skiing –a 14.49% increase compared to the previous year’s 11.8 million people.
- World’s largest indoor ski centre opens in China
- Snowsports continue to grow in China
- China claims success in aim to involve more in snowsports
- 2 billion watched Beijing Winter Olympics
Image c/o Beijing 2022
World Record for Skiing in Jeans Smashed
10th December 2024
3,320 people turned out in denim in Jackson Hole, a rise of 200 on last year.
“The first Ski in Jeans Day last year was such a runaway success, we knew we had to bring the event back this year. And our guests certainly didn’t disappoint,” said the Wyoming resort’s marketing director, Ned Wonson.
“We’re thrilled so many people showed up from all around the world to set the new record, and we can’t wait for more guests to experience Destination December events as the holiday season approaches.”
Ski in Jeans Day 2024 Recap 👉 . World Record ACHIEVED ‼️ with 3,320 denim-clad skiers and riders bringing to stoke for ski season to #jacksonhole! Thank you to everyone who came out in their👖, and to @pit_viper, @ripton_co, @monsterenergy and @ggaijackson for activating and… pic.twitter.com/0qBc4HriOv
— Jackson Hole (@jhski) December 8, 2024
The first “ski and ride in jeans” day in Jackson Hole was held in December 2023.
It broke the record of 102 skiers and snowboarders in jeans that was held by the resort of The Remarkables in New Zealand.
Avalanche Buries Three on Avalanche Safety Course
9th December 2024
They were amoung dozens of people participating in a safety course in the Oberalp Pass in eastern Switzerland.
The 30m slab avalanche hit some of the group and they were rescued by others in the group.
The forty people had been carrying out exercises as part of an avalanche course on a slope near the top of the pass in the canton of Graubünden.
“Practice became serious,” said the Swiss rescue service, Rega.
A rescue team was despatched but others in the group managed to dig the three out within 10 minutes before the team arrived.
“They were in good condition, given the circumstances,” added Rega.
One person was flown to a nearby hospital for a checkup.
Rega stressed that rapid rescue was the most decisive factor for the survival of people buried in avalanches.
Avalanche danger. Image c/o PlanetSKI.
La Plagne Emphasises its Green Credentials
8th December 2024
Last June La Plagne was awarded the Flocon Vert certification, affirming its commitment to sustainable development and eco-conscious tourism.
The award recognises resorts for their dedication to environmental responsibility.
La Plagne has implemented a range of initiatives:
- Energy-efficient infrastructure
- Robust waste management programs
- Water conservation measures
- Wildlife protection efforts
By encouraging visitors to embrace eco-friendly travel options, such as the Eurostar Snow Train and integrated bus services, La Plagne has reduced its carbon footprint.
The resort’s all-inclusive travel packages prioritise train or bus journeys.
La Plagne: https://en.la-plagne.com/
La Plagne, France. Image c/o PlanetSKI
Fancy Skiing With Mike Tindall for Charity?
6th December 2024
The ex-England rugby player and husband of royalty is leading a trip to Saalbach in Austria this winter and a prize has been donated through A Noble Gift, the charity web site.
Mike Tindall MBE is married to the daughter of Princess Anne, Zara.
Zara & Mike. Image c/o Wings for Life
“Make it a done deal – secure your two spots to ski hard and party in style with Mike and friends at Mikey’s Mountain Miles,” said A Noble Gift.
“Pack your bags for the ultimate ski adventure hosted by Mike Tindall MBE in Austria’s stunning Saalbach resort.”
- Enjoy 4 nights stay in 5-star accommodation
- Breakfast, group lunches and après ski celebrations
- Ski hire and ski pass
- Optional ski guides to guide you through the challenge and help you achieve your personal goals
- Themed dinners and top-tier evening entertainment
- Transfers to and from the airport
- Whether you’re a seasoned skier, snowboarder, or adaptive skier, this adventure promises memories that will last a lifetime
- So mark your calendars, gather your friends, and get ready to make unforgettable memories in one of the world’s best ski resorts. Remember, “What Happens in Saalbach, stays in Saalbach,” so you know this is going to be a legendary experience
- Bid now to secure your two spots to ski hard and party in style with Mike and friends at Mikey’s Mountain Miles.
Saalbach holiday. Image c/o Wings for Life
See here for more details: A Noble Gift
Mike’s chosen charity is Wings for Life who is helping to find a cure for spinal cord injury.
A Noble Gift is one-off gifts and experiences platform, with 100% of the winning bid going to charity.
The platform is designed for consumers to purchase Gifts and Experiences donated by renowned brands and benevolent individuals who generously donate to support worthy causes.
Key Boxes Banned for Short-Term Rentals in Italy
5th December 2024
The nationwide decree will impact tourists in the Alps & Dolomites who will not be able to access short-term rentals using key boxes.
Owners must verify the identity of guests in person.
The move has been brought in as a security measure aimed at preventing risks from “the possible housing of dangerous persons and/or persons linked to criminal or terrorist organisations”.
For some, the boxes have become symbols of overtourism.
See here for more on the BBC.
La Thuile, Aosta Valley, Italy. Image c/o PlanetSKI
Protected Status of Wolves Downgraded by EU
4th December 2024
The number of wolves has grown in recent years in the Alps and elsewhere in Europe.
Their number in the EU has almost doubled, from 11,000 in 2012 to over 20,000 today.
Several thousand are thought to be in the Alps.
Now 45 years of strict protection for grey wolves in Europe has come to an end.
It follows a growing number of wolves attacking farm animals and livestock.
Wolves will be moved from Annex II (strictly protected) to Annex III (protected) of the Bern Convention.
This will remove many of the safeguards that have allowed the animals to flourish in Europe.
From the beginning of March next year, each EU country will be able to set an annual quota of wolves to kill.
We have reported on the growth of wolves in the Alps in the past on PlanetSKI:
The Worldwide Fund for Nature, WWF, has called the decision “extremely disappointing”.
“Wolf populations have barely recovered after going extinct in most parts of Europe, and weakening their protection could jeopardise this fragile recovery,” said the WWF in a statement.
Wolves in winter. Image © PlanetSKI
Utah Avalanche Awareness Week
3rd December 2024
The Utah Avalanche Center is focusing in avalanche awareness this week.
Six avalanches in the Salt Lake Mountains were reported over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Three Die in Bus Crash in Pyrenees Mountains
2nd December 2024
The accident happened near the ski resort of Porte-Puymorens in the French Pyrenees on Sunday evening.
Seven people remain critically injured and a total off 33 people are being treated.
The bus ran into the side of a cliff, but the cause is unknown.
The bus had come from L’Hospitalet de Llobregat near Barcelona in Spain.
The injured were taken to French hospitals in Toulouse, Perpignan and Foix and Puigcerda in Catalonia, Spain.
An investigation is underway.
Verbier Express Offers Discounts on Ski Passes
2nd December 2024
From 15 December 2024 to 27 April 2025, the Verbier Express offers a direct weekend rail link from Geneva to Verbier.
It’s an all-in package combining train travel and a day’s ski pass.
For even greater savings, Verbier has teamed up with RailAway to launch the Snow’n’Rail offer.
- 20% off train tickets and 30% off ski passes from 2 to 23 December 2024.
- Up to 50% off train travel and 10% off ski passes from 1 January to 28 February 2025
- 30% savings on pre-booked April ski passes and ski passes for 1 to 27 April 2025.
Outside these dates, Snow’n’Rail continues to offer 10% off Verbier ski pass year-round.
Verbier: www.verbier.ch
Verbier, Switzerland. Image © Lucia Harrison.
Third of Swiss Alpine Huts Threatened by Melting Permafrost
1st December 2024
Permafrost is the frozen rocks and water at altitude that many structures are built into and rely on for stability.
As well high-altitude mountain huts some ski lifts may also be affected with pylons and lift stations built into the permafrost.
The Swiss Alpine Club, SAC, in a new study says the mountain huts could be unstable in the future due to thawing permafrost.
In addition, 42 huts are endangered by landslides from permafrost zones.
The supply of water to mountain huts is also set to reduce.
29 huts close to glaciers may lose the water supply from glaciers by 2030.
By 2050 a further 25 will lose access to water supplies.
- See more on Swiss Info
A fund set up by SAC will not be sufficient to finance construction projects it says.
The Club is asking for partnerships and donations.
“While the retreat of glaciers in the 21st century has been widely recognised, permafrost changes in cold regions worldwide are far less visible despite being similarly important,” says a recent pan-European study published in Nature.com.
“This permafrost warming and degradation has implications for the stability of steep, perennially frozen mountain slopes with potentially far-reaching impacts and risks to both human safety and infrastructure, as well as effects on ecosystems and hydrological processes.”
Zermatt, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
Venezuela is First South American Country to Lose All Its Glaciers
1st December 2024
The final one was downgraded to an icefield earlier this year.
The change is blamed on global warming and has altered the landscape significantly.
CGTN’s Stephen Gibbs reports from the city of Merida.
How to Stay Safe When Skiing
1st December 2024
Ski Accident. Image © PlanetSKI
Snowboarding Legacy in Jackson Hole
1st December 2024
There’s a new generation of boarders in the valley that have been on a rampage since they stepped foot into Jackson Hole.
Cam FitzPatrick, Cooper Branham, and Yuki Kadono have been making their mark on Snowboarding and the Jackson scene over the last handful of years, and they are in the mix for the 29th annual film Beyond The Fantasy.
Dive into this On Location episode, where generations of snowboard culture and history rooted in Jackson Hole come to life.
Check out the information on all that is new in Jackson Hole for next winter in this PlanetSKI article:
